24th February, 2000
The Noticeboard

DOUGLAS LIBRARY

Tionólfar an chéad chrinniú eile den Chiorcal Cómhrá ar an Aoine, 25 Feabhra, ag 11.00a.m.
Beidh fáilte roimh einne gur mhaith leis/léi Gaeilge a chleachtadh, nó le bhualadh ar Ghaeilgeoirí eile, nuachtáin is irisí Ghaeilge a léamh, nó le caint I nGaeilge,
agus le cupán tae d'ól.
Saor cead isteach.

The next meeting of the Ciorcal Comhrá is on Friday February 25th February at 11.00 a.m. in Douglas Library.
If you would like to practice speaking Irish, to read newspapers and books "as gaeilge", listen to somebody speak in Irish, you are very welcome to come along.
Admission is free.

SUMMER CAMP 2000

Once again the Douglas G.A.A. Club will be organising the annual Summer Camp. This event is now one of the most important calendar dates for the young boys and girls of the area.
All the usual events and more will be organised again this year. It begins on the 3rd July and runs until 21st . Each week is geared to a different age group. For further information contact Eddie Murphy (camp co-ordinator) @ 087 2765414.
Application forms are now available and the camp fee is £30 per week. Ages and numbers are limited.

ST. FRANCIS RACE NIGHT

St. Francis College Parents Association will hold a race night on Thursday, 2nd of March @ 8:30 p.m. in Rochestown Park Hotel.

NEWS FLASH - BOWYER TO RETURN

The "Hucklebuck Tour" featuring Brendan Bowyer and the Showband Show is to return to Cork next Nov. Hopefully it will be back in the Rochestown Park Hotel, where such a good night was had by all a few of weeks ago. Joining Brendan on tour this time will be Roly Daniels. Now that's something to look forward to. We'll keep you informed as the time approaches.

CHARITY QUIZ

Douglas Community School Parents Association is holding its annual Charity Quiz in aid of St Vincent De Paul on Tuesday February the 29th 2,000 at Nemo Rangers G.A.A. Club, it starts at 8.30 PM and the entry fee is £12.00 per team of 4. All Welcome!

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PARISH

Friends, Look out next week for a special message delievered to you from the Parish.
I ask you, please, to take just two minutes to read it.
Many thanks, talk to you soon, Fr. Liam.

WATCH THIS SPACE

Telescopes collect light, magnify and focus an image so that it can be studied. There are two main types of optical telescopes, the refracting telescope, which uses lenses, and the reflecting telescope, which uses mirrors. There are three types of reflecting telescopes, Newtonian (shown in diagram), Cassegrain and Coude. The Newtonian being the most popular with amateur astronomers because it is cheap to build and easy to maintain.

THE HISTORY OF THE TELESCOPE
The development of the telescope started in 1609 when Italian astronomer Galileo Galilee based his design on the eyepiece used on the European battlefields. Glass was first manufactured in Western Asia. In about 2000BC early civilisations soon realised a curved piece of glass had magnifying properties. But spectacles were not invented until around 1300AD and it took about another 300 years before the first telescopes were invented.
The instruments and working techniques of professional astronomers today have radically improved. Although telescopes today still collect light they also collect other formers of radiation, such as, radio waves, infrared, x-rays, gamma rays, ultra violet and micro waves. Additional to telescopes being used on earth can also be found orbiting the earth. The most famous of these telescopes is The Hubble. In space optical telescopes can produce clearer pictures or images because they do not suffer from the distortion of the earth's atmosphere. In 1990 The Hubble telescope was launched by the space shuttle 373 miles above the earth. Its 8ft mirror was initially incorrect in shape.
Ireland has not been left behind; we've had the largest telescope in the world from 1845-1917. It is located at Birr Co. Offaly, home of the Parsons family. William Parson (the 3rd Earl of Ross) devised and built the telescope Leviathan with local craftsmen and labourers. It took two years to complete this 50ft long tube and built at an estimate cost of £20,000. Astronomers travelled from all over the world to see this.
Kilkenny born Thomas Grubb (1800-1878) was a self-taught mechanic and engineer, who designed and built telescopes from the 1830's. His telescopes were exported all over the world. After him Howard Grubb (his son) devised smaller instruments such as the celostat which was first used to verify Einstein's theory of relativity in Sobra, Brazil in 1919.

WEBBING OUT WITH KEARYS

Kearys Motor Group is inviting you to log onto our web site http://www.kearys.ie where you will find one of the most informative and interactive e-commerce motoring web sites in Ireland.
And for the romantic month of February, Kearys are running a special promotion where you and your loved one (or just a buddy!) could be dined out in style compliments of Kearys, the No. 1 Toyota dealer.

INTEGRATED ROAD AND TRAFFIC MANAGERMENT PLAN

The Consultants Oskar Faber provided a report at the Carrigaline Area Road Committee on Monday 21 February 2000. They outlined a number of options, short term, medium and long term. Among the options proposed was another road linking Douglas East and West; a Bus lane on the Grange Road towards Douglas Village; improved traffic signals and junction lay out; review signing strategy in general; introduce traffic calming measure on Rochestown Road. Move access to Cinema nearer Douglas Court Roundabout; Pedestrianise East Douglas Street between Church street and Carrigaline Road or make East Douglas Street one way southbound between Church Street and Carrigaline Road. I stress that these are only some of the proposals under consideration.
A long-term option proposed was a passenger sail ferry from Passage West/Cobh to the City. Southern Ring Connections /N25 Connections - West of Douglas - Grange Road/N25 Link or Inchvale Link Connection. However, the Consultants advised these latter long term measures should perhaps be only considered after the Kinsale Roundabout Flyover is in operation as this will hopefully have a positive effect on the traffic situation.
As you will see, there is plenty of food for thought. Cork County Council will provide a Caravan which will be stationed in Douglas Village. People can drop in and view the photos and maps and proposals in their entirety. The Consultants and Engineering staff will be on hand to elaborate on the plans and to hear all viewpoints. I have asked that notices would be displayed in all the local newspapers including Douglas Weekly to ensure people are aware of it.
I would appeal to people to call to this caravan to inform themselves of all options and to voice their opinions. I have asked that the Consultants listen to these views, do a swot analysis of all the proposals; list the benefits and drawbacks of each option and to ultimately present the final best plan of action. This to be done sooner rather than later.
I will be happy to provide a copy of these proposals to anyone who contacts me at 021 363318 or 087 2837780. This plan is of major importance to the people of the wider Douglas area. Ultimately, a successful properly managed road and traffic plan can only contribute to the quality of life of all residents and improve the economic and social development of the area. I also believe that every effort has been taken to fully consult local people in order that they may have their say. This is, after all, only as it should be. Local government for the people, by the people and of the people.
We have waited patiently over the years for action and the County Manager and Engineers are to be congratulated for finally focusing their attention on the problem. The fact that this Plan has now been produced and will, when finalised, be implemented is to their credit and for this I thank them.
Deirdre Forde, M.C.C.C.