17th February, 2000
The Noticeboard

MONEY MONEY MONEY

It's a rich man's world, but apparently not rich enough for ABBA who have just turned down an offer of $1 Billion for a reunion concert in the United States. The group feel their image is best left undisturbed. Considering they were the biggest group in the world during the seventies and their hits compilation album "ABBA Gold" was a best seller two years age, fifteen years after they called it a day, in a way it's hard to blame them for wanting to stay forever young. Now we will always remember them the way they were. But isn't it reassuring to know that there are people in the world who cannot be bought. It's a pity they're not in the Dail.

FRANKFIELD BUS

Congratulations to Cllr. Peter Kelly for inviting everybody in the Frankfield and the surrounding area, and all other interested parties, to a public meeting about the proposed Frankfield Bus. The meeting took place at Maryborough House Hotel on Wednesday and was addressed by Mr Joe Fitzgerald of Bus Eireann. Unfortunately the meeting clashed with our printing schedule so we are unable to give it coverage. Hopefully we will have news for next week

Cogan calls for new Garda Station in Carrigaline

Cllr. Barry Cogan highlighted to the Department of Justice the need to build a new Garda station, in the fastest expanding South-Cork town of Carrigaline, with a population nearing 15,000 people. The present station which was built in the early 1940's to cater for a sergeant, who resided in the married quarters, and three Gardai. Cllr. Cogan said that today the building is totally unsuitable and is inadequate to cater for two sergeants, 14 Gardai and a clerical assistant. He said these conditions are unacceptable in the 21st century.

There is little or no provision to cater for the general public who call to the station on business. People have to stand in the hallway and queue outside the front door, often in cold and damp conditions. There are no facilities to receive deputation's, or room where one can discuss something in private with a member of the Gardai. Cllr. Cogan said Carrigaline needs an ultra modern Garda station & needs it urgently.

HEADLINES FOR HORSELIPS

The band that invented Celtic Rock is to reform to do three concerts in the U.S. They have already been paid $75,000 per man for the three shows. That's probably more than they ever made on the road in Ireland. On top of that they are to re-release one of their top compilation albums and again they have received an advance of $20,000. No news yet of any home gig but no doubt it will happen. It would be a shame if the most innovative band in the history of the Irish entertainment were not to appear in their own country.

WORLD DARTS IN CORK

On February 19th eight times world champion Phil Taylor takes on the world's current No 1, Peter Manly at the Arcadia (CIE Club) Lower Glanmire Rd. Also on the bill, Jason Cavanagh v. Stephen Coveney. Tickets can be purchased from Game Shot in Shandon St, - 021 309011.
Or you can win two tickets for the event by sending us the answer to the following question;
In dart terms what's a "Bed and Breakfast"?
Answers to Douglas Weekly please include phone number.

BRING & BUY SALE

The Boys Brigade are holding a Monster ‘Bring & Buy’ Sale in St. Luke’s Church Hall, Douglas, on Friday 25th February at 7pm.
On sales will be cakes, flowers, books, plants, and raffle tickets.
All proceeds are in aid of company funds and all are welcome to the evening.
See you there !

VOCATION AND SAINTHOOD

There is an open invitation to all who wish to join this discussion group, to be held in the Legion of Mary hall, Douglas, on Thursday 17th February, 2000 at 8.00pm. Rec. Br. Gilbert will also speak and light refreshments will be available midway. These meetings are held each month (usually on the third Thursday) to enable Catholics to discuss issues affecting Catholic life in a relaxed atmosphere.

VOICE OF THE ELDERLY

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament - Voice of the Elderly (Cork area) will be holding an open meeting of Affiliates and other Pensioners on Thursday 17th February, 2000 at 2.00pm in Connolly Hall.

MESSIAH FOR ALL

Douglas Parish celebrates Jubilee 2000 on Wednesday 23rd February at 7.30pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Rochestown.
Conductor for the evening is Dr. G. Spratt, with soloists Helen Hassett, Sonya Keogh, Robert Craig and Gordon Garde. The Cork School of Music will be the orchestra and the leader is Adrian Petcu. All are welcome.

BAIT THE HOOK

Go; bait the hook to suit the fish
And you will catch your pray,
Help to fulfil another's wish
By seeing things their way
Get them to place their trust in you,
Show them they're not alone,
And then present your point of view
As if it was their own,
Arouse in them an eager want,
An urge to raise up high,
And the idea you wish to flaunt,
You'll find they 'll. want to buy,
For to ourselves, we're each a slave
We're burdened with our greed,
We only care for what for what we crave,
And not what others need.
So, if another's help you wish,
To get things done your way,
Just bait the hook to suit the fish,
And you will catch your prey.

Ronnie McGinn

Do You Want to Learn to Dance?

You can learn to set dance at the Owenabue Valley Traditional Group's 4th Annual Set Dance Workshop Weekend, in Carrigaline GAA Pavilion, on March 10th, 11th and 12th. The tutor, Pat Murphy (Toss the Feathers) is renowned throughout the world as the best, by both beginners and improvers.
Friday 10th is the gathering night with a traditional music session in the lounge followed by a Ceili Mor with the Tadhg Kearney Ceili Band. On Saturday 11th registration is at 10.00 am, with the workshop from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm, breaking for lunch from 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm. The Ceili Mor is from 9.30 pm - 1.30am with a break for tea, sandwiches and scones, music by the Michael Sexton Ceili Band.
Sunday morning Aifreann as Gaeilge is in the Church of Our Lady & St. John at 10.00 am. Back to the GAA for the morning workshop from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, followed by an afternoon ceili from 2.30 pm. to 5.30 pm, ceol by Michael Sexton. It promises to be a great weekend with many inquiries received from at home and abroad. The organisers are sparing no effort to make everyone welcome, especially beginners and improvers.

COMPUTERISED CODOLOGY

From my earliest days I have been fascinated by high-technology. Though lack of financial resources seriously hindered my advancement to higher education, my mind was never far removed from the sciences of the future. In the late 1970s, convinced of the vast potential of the computer I undertook a course at an established education facility in the hope of developing the appropriate skills with which I could change the world. I am a great believer in hands-on experience, but if I thought I would get my hands on a computer keyboard just like that, I am afraid I was sorely disappointed. Before I even got to see a keyboard I would have to learn about the intricate technology by which this extremely complicated machine functioned. Try as I might I could not come to terms with the fact that the computer recognised only two numbers, 1 and 0 which are called binary numbers, and that these binary numbers were located in little boxes within the computer. How on earth could any normal country boy who's formal schooling finished when he reached the picture of the Kerry cow in his English Reader see sense in such rubbish?
When I was learning to drive a car away back in 1955 nobody told me that beneath the bonnet there was an engine block which housed among other things, a crank-case which contained a horizontal crank-shaft with four con-rods attached by means of big-end bearings and that on top of each con-rod, connected by a small-end bearing was a piston-head. These piston-heads were, in conjunction with a set of valves, to perform the functions of fuel-induction, compression, ignition and exhaust. When the compressed fuel/air mixture ignited within the combustion chambers the con-rods were forced downward in a particular order, thus turning the crank-shaft which transferred the power to the drive-shaft which in turn transferred the power to the rear wheels via a crown-wheel and pinion gearing system. Nobody told me about syncromeshed gearboxes, diaphragm clutches or servo-assisted brakes. I was totally ignorant of ring-gears, release bearings and radius rods. Yet after a few short driving lessons I was away in a canter, driving as if I was born with a steering wheel in my hand, improving with every passing day, ignorant of the weird and wonderful events taking place under the bonnet and almost totally oblivious to their presence.
Over the past forty years the motor car has changed dramatically, but my knowledge is just as basic as it was when I learned to drive the Baby Ford. Yet in that time I have managed to utilise the motor car in a variety of situations such as leisure, courting, shopping and to earn my living. Why then, when I attend a computer class must I be compelled to have what almost amounts to a Masters Degree in Computer Technology with a thorough understanding of Bytes, Kilobytes and Megabytes; Floppy Disks, Hard Drives and CD Roms when all I want to do is use the word-processor to write a letter to my maiden aunt, (that’s the one with all the house property and oil shares) indulge in my favourite hobby of poetry and short-story writing, or compose a whole cocktail of codology which, hopefully will suffice when I submit my humble efforts for publication in Douglas Weekly.

CLUB CUPLA FOCAL

Two retired gentlemen met for the first time last Thursday night at the Club Cupla Focal in the Carrigaline GAA Pavilion & discovered they had more than the love of Irish in common. Both are experts in Morse Code & were the source of great amusement for the large gathering when they had a conversation in Irish through Morse Code. Anyone interested in speaking Irish is welcome along any Thursday from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

BEREAVED PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP

The Bereaved Parents Support Group is an Irish voluntary non-denominational group mainly comprising of bereaved parents offering friendship, support and understanding to anyone suffering bereavement, especially child loss. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm at Christian Brothers Centre, Sullivans Quay, Cork.
Their new handbook is now available. Please send SAE (9in x 6in) and donation to Tony Healy at 106 Kevinton Close, Grange Heights, Douglas, Cork. Tel: 021-364695.

VOLUNTEER FOR OXFAM

Give Oxfam four hours a week for one month and they can buy an emergency shelter kit for a refugee family of eight. Give Oxfam four hours a week for two months and they can afford a distribution tap stand (a metal frame with six taps) for use in refugee camps.
Give Oxfam four hours a week for one year and they can provide 12 clean water wells in Shinyanga in Tanzania.
As you can see your time is valuable to Oxfam which works to alleviate poverty and suffering in over 120 of the poorest countries throughout the developing world. And while you are giving even one hour to Oxfam’s vital work, the organisation in turn can help the volunteer acquire new practical skills and experience in the retailing world.
We provide training in all aspects of retailing from management techniques to keeping accounts, from creating eye-catching window displays to sorting and displaying an exciting range of clothes, books, bric-a-brac and fair trade products.
Or you may just want to get out of the house, have fun and meet some new people in your locality. Whatever the reason the poor people in the developing world will benefit.
Oxfam welcomes people with different levels of skills and experience. To find out more about the mutual benefits of volunteering contact the shop manager at your local Oxfam shop on (021) 275490.