11th November, 1999
The Noticeboard

RTE - MAKING CHANGES

The new Broadcasting Bill allows for a company, DigeCo to be established to develop the digital television transmission infrastructure. RTE is to hand its transmission network to the company in return for a shareholding of 40% and remain as a public service programme provider.
The Bill also provides for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) with enhanced status), covering programme and advertising standards and new TV services. However RTE will not be liable to the Commission for programmes which are not charged for viewing. Whether this implies we will be getting free TV licences is not made clear. In any case RTE will be required to report annually to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht on how the TV licence revenue is spent. This of course means that 'Scrap Saturday' won't be back and that RTE will definitely not be playing any of Dickie Rock's recordings.
The good news is that the digital terrestrial system, in which RTE is a significant shareholder, will be able to provide around 30 channels all over Ireland. The new system lets you receive channels through your standard TV aerial. The existing TV services will be broadcast alongside the new digital services for several years to allow viewers to gradually make the transition from the existing analogue system to digital.

FAREWELL TO FR. GALVIN

The Grange-Frankfield Community association held a very enjoyable function in Ryan’s Golf Club on Friday 5th November, to wish Fr. John Galvin, our Parish Priest, a fond farewell as he takes up his new position in Passage West.
He was Parish Priest in Frankfield for the past 8 years. During that time he was responsible for transforming the Sanctuary of the Church, and also for making extensive improvements to the external structure. He landscaped the grounds around the church. He introduced Benediction on Sunday nights which became very popular with parishioners and in every way he encouraged community life. He also organised a parish social every year. Presentations were made from the various groups of the parish with which he was involved. He will be missed by all and we wish him good luck for the future.

WEB-SPEAK

If you are having problems with modern technology, E-mail, computers etc. A new California based company called One-Voice-Technologies Inc, has launched a unit that allows people to talk with their computers. It can understand everyday speech and all the main European languages. What it means is that you can surf the web send e-mails in any language just by talking to it. It's called the Intelligent Voice Interactive Technology (IVIT). Well so much for the computer courses.

E.U. - Commissioners must toe the line

Neil Kinnock, Vice-President charged with reform of the European Commission has announced wide-ranging changes to the structure and senior appointments of the Commission. Senior staff will be expected to move jobs regularly, and a shake up of director-generals means that by 2002 none will have been in post for more than seven years. Top appointments will be made primarily on the basis of merit and experience, (now there's an example for the Irish Government to follow) and not determined by nationality. Kinnock also intends to come forward with proposals to ensure a higher number of women in senior management. Finally, the poor old Commissioners are going to have to give up their right to tax-free alcohol, tobacco, petrol and to VAT free goods and pay through the nose like everybody else. These reforms are not before their time.

BYE BYE BOW WOW

A reader called to our office during the week and showed us his version of a new traffic plan for Douglas. His plan involves the removal of the Bow-Wow Bridge and making the Old Carrigaline Road part of a one way system between Douglas East and Douglas West. At first glance it looks like a pretty good plan and we have asked our reader to let us have a copy for publication. In the meantime what about the bridge? Could we manage without it? Or would its historical value override the need for a better traffic plan. It has been suggested that the bridge could be removed stone by stone and erected somewhere else, such as the community Park and in this way it would be preserved as a historical monument. It might be something worth thinking about.

N.C.T. NOT M.O.T.

The testing of private cars (this includes second hand imports) will commence on January 4th 2000. The test will be known as the National Car Test (NCT). And you'll be getting a letter in the post about eight weeks before your car is due for a test. Throughout the year 2000 all cars registered before 1st January 1992 will be subject to a test. In the year 2001 all cars registered between 1992 and 1996 will be covered. From 2002 onwards all cars 4 years old or more will be eligible. The fee for having your car tested will be £35and a re-test will be £19.50. Your car will be tested for; Brakes, Exhaust Emissions, Wheels and Tyres, Lights, Steering and Suspension, Chassis and Underbody, Electrical systems, Glass and mirrors, Transmission, Interior, Fuel systems, Miscellaneous items (e.g. number plates, towing bracket, adaptations for disabled drivers). Once your car has been tested you will be obliged to display a NCT Disc on your windscreen, without it you will be unable to tax your car or for that matter pass a Garda Checkpoint. Car testing is compulsory in all EU states.

GARDENING - YOUR OWN CONSERVATORY

When choosing a frame for your conservatory timber can be the cheapest option, but softwood (apart from cedar) does not last well. Aluminium and PVC do not require any maintenance but make sure aluminium has thermal breaks to avoid condensation problems.
When it comes to glazing make sure you choose double or toughened laminated glass. Pilkington K glass is suitable for a conservatory but it can prove expensive. Polycarbonate roofing should be 16mm(5/8in) thick and triple walled to provide reasonable insulation.
Remember however that rain sounds very loud with polycarbonate and if you think you may find this irritating specify that you want another roofing material. The light through glass roofing is better for plants but avoid tinted or anti-sun glass. You need a roof sloping at least 25* to allow debris to wash off.
At times it may not be very warm outside but conservatories trap sunlight and can reach temperatures as high as 30'C in summer. But keep in mind that most plants become stressed at temperatures over 29*C. Ventilation is necessary in your conservatory, not only to cool it, but also to prevent plant diseases. You can have manual vents installed but automatic vents are very handy, if you don't think you will remember to open and shut the manual ones. They should be adjustable to alter temperature in winter. If you are buying a new conservatory, insist on plenty of vents and windows. If you intend to grow a lot of plants you will need one roof vent and one side window per 1.8m (6ft) width of conservatory. Also make sure the windows have fastenings to allow you leave them partly open but secure. Blinds can also be used to cool down a conservatory. External blinds are quite expensive, and internal blinds can become mouldy and tangled up with climbing plants. Plants themselves can be used for shading and cooling. An alternative is to whitewash the outside of the conservatory. You can use a fan in the summer to improve ventilation and lower the temperature. . More next week

CHRISTMAS COOKERY DEMONSTRATION

The Farmers Cross District Residents Association are holding a Christmas Cookery Demonstration on Monday 22nd November at 8.00pm. It is to be held at the Harlequin Park (near the Airport) and presented by Bord Gáis. All are welcome and admission is £3.00.

WATCH THIS SPACE

1799, 1833, 1866, 1899, 1933, 1966 were the years that Comet Temple-Tuttle provided us with spectacular displays. But the last few visits were a disappointment, for example in 1966 the shower happened for Europeans during a period of daylight, and we missed it.
Last year 1998 it wasn’t great from here in Cork as a result of cloud cover. So hopefully this year on November 17th we will be fortunate enough to witness this huge display of the Leonoid shower. This year is going to be a better show than last year if we get to see it.
The shooting stars, or meteors, of November 17th are caused by dust left behind Comet Temple-Tuttle, which orbits the sun, approximately every 33years. They are named the Leonoids because the tracks they leave in the sky appear to point back to a region in the constellation Leo. The meteors will be travelling at about 71km/sec the typical meteor is about 12km/sec
What can the amateur do? A lot can be achieved from the naked eye. It has been suggested that communications satellites maybe be out of action causing general chaos. Will this happen?
But above all, this magnificent spectacle shouldn’t be missed. So let us hope for clear skies on November 17th The Leonoids are unreliable and they may fail us but on the other hand we may be treated to a display of cosmic fireworks.
Valda and Eugene Furlong.

BROAD DALE

My Mothers name was Kitty, came from the town of Cork
From a place just off the North Main street that's long ago been knocked
Before she took my father's hand Sullivan was her name
She was known as Kitty, who came from old Broad Lane.

Now Cork it was a busy place, back in 'twenty four,
People tried to earn a bob to keep hunger from the door
Like her sisters and her brothers me mother had to work
Find away to make a life in the dear old town of Cork

And in Patrick Street you can hear the trams travel through the rain
As Father Matthews Statue tried to help us to abstain
But the greatest joy in being alive, I heard me Mother say
Was the happy sound of growing up that came from old Broad Lane

Me Uncles fame was far and wide when he was seventeen
For pitch 'an ' toss and pigeon lofts, his kind was seldom seen
Me Aunt she was a dealer to the Coal Quay she lay claim
Spent all her life a hundred yards, from the place they call Broad Lane.

Note; Broad Lane ran from the North Main Street to the Marsh. The houses were knocked to make way for the new St. Francis Church. The people were moved and went the North, and the South of the city, to England and all over America. My people came from Broad Lane on my mothers' side. Hearing stories from my relations I brought out the above song on tape (4 times). The words, I hope will bring warm me memories to some readers of the Douglas Weekly.

by Pete Duffy

ANIMAL CARE

Last week I had trained D-For with some fairly simple commands. My Diary of his training brought to mind his toilet training days and in this weeks article I thought a few hints and tricks learnt would be of some use in your dogs house training.
Most dogs would prefer absorbable materials to do their business on - be it a carpet or a pile of clothes, so the best thing to do when first training your puppy is to provide a lot of newspaper spread quite literally around.
With D-For at the start, I had quite a few ‘accidents’. However, I found that if I caught him just as he was about to squat and rushed him to the newspaper, he slowly got the idea.
As D-For grew bigger I was able to reduce the area covered by newspaper and slowly I began to lay a trail of newspapers leading outside.
I found usually after a meal, first thing in the morning and last thing at night were the usual times D-For needed to relieve himself. So, after each of these times I began to take D-For outside. It usually took about 10-20 minutes waiting while he sniffed around and then finally relieved himself. I felt a bit ridiculous praising his toiletry efforts but he seemed to appreciate my encouragements.
Eventually, through persistance, a lot of newspaper, loads of praise and encouragement, as well as the right timing, I finally had D-For toilet trained to a point where he didn’t need the newspapers spread around the kitchen.
However, it is good to remember some dogs will not get the idea to use the newspaper, you may have to be quite firm and if your dog persists on relieving itself on the carpet or in a hidden corner, you may find you’ll have to scold him.
You must be patient with your dog, it may take a few weeks or even months for them to be fully trained and even then they will still have some accidents, but be patient, most dogs will eventually learn.
Good luck and I hope my experienced with D-For help training your pet.

ASHTON ARTISTS

Douglas Library are holding an exhibition of paintings (most of which will be for sale) from the Ashton Artists Adult evening classes on Tuesday 9th November
to Saturday 20th November.
All are welcome and admission is free.