14th September, 2000
Notice
Board
GRACE KELLY
Born Patricia Kelly in 1929 , she became a popular US film actress. She starred in High Noon 1952, The Country Girl 1954, for which she received an Academy Award, and High Society 1955. She also starred in three Hitchcock films - Dial M for Murder 1954, Rear Window 1954, and To Catch a Thief 1955. She retired from acting after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco 1956. She died in a car accident on this day 14th September 1982
DOUGLAS PARISH BUILDING FUND
Fashion Show
Rochestown Park Hotel
Thursday 28th September
Fashion by Brown Thomas
Models: Illusive Model Agency
Tickets @£10 Available ;
Brown Thomas , Patrick St.
Parish Office , St. Columba's Church
St. Patrick's Church, Rochestown Road
THE BESNARD FAMILY
(NOTES ON THE BESNARD FAMILY from MSS. written
about 1870)
Taken from Con Foley's "A History of Douglas"
Julius Besnard
A pious man of excellent character. Married Miss Jane Heron of
Kilkenny. After his marriage he built a residence in Douglas and
formed a hamlet of cottager's, who worked in his linen factory at
Factory Ville. For some time before his death he lived in his
town house at Nelson Place. Died 1815, in old age.
Peter Besnard
Named after his French ancestor. Some of his family emigrated to
Canada, Australia and United States. Married Ellen Pope of Cork.
Their daughter, Sarah Pope Besnard, became the wife of
Bartholomew Gibbings, J.P. Mayor of Cork, and lived at Gillabbey.
Julius Caesar
Solicitor of the firm of Pope and Besnard, 52 South Mall. Married
Mary Pope, sister of Ellen Pope, his elder brother's (Peter) wife
and his partner Thomas. He was Town Clerk and Law agent for the
Cork Corporation. Deeply interested in Art, literature and Local
Antiquities. Died of a fever in London, while attending a
Committee Meeting of the House of Commons. Buried with his wife,
opposite the West Door of St. Luke's Church, Douglas, where so
many Besnards lie.
John Besnard
Justice of the Peace, Alderman of the Corporation, manager Cork
Savings Bank. Married Sophia Baker, daughter of Valentine Baker,
a Bristol Merchant. One daughter married Rev. William Wilson,
Rector of
Dungourney, afterwards Dean of Cloyne. The Besnard pedigree was
compiled by Canon T.E. Evans, grandson of Julius Besnard Senior.
After Canon Evan's death, the MSS. were entrusted to John Besnard
who
outlived his brothers and sisters. Lived in residence adjoining
Savings Bank.
Robert Besnard
Medical doctor. A highly gifted man with a talent for acting.
Took part in many Shakespearean plays for charity. (Richard
Milliken, the poet of Blarney and Castlemartyr, Co. Cork was one
of the company of actors). Struck down by paralysis a few years
after qualifying, just before a rehearsal of "The Merchant
of Venice." This dramatic society known as the Apollo
Society was instituted in 1805. Performances were held in the
King's Theatre, Tuckey Street.
Julius Besnard
Son of Peter Besnard and Ellen Pope. Sheriff of Cork. Never
married. A friendly club met at his house at Douglas. A rose
painted in the centre of the ceiling in the meeting room
indicated freedom of speech and confidential communications -
from the Latin "sub rosa" (literally, "under the
rose," but meant, in confidence). Meetings were said to have
been entirely decorous, wit and humour predominating, but, in
another quarter, "The Friendly Club" was looked on as
an insidious organisation designed to stifle what little
democracy there was. Neither was Julius in any way, tolerant with
anyone attempting to upset the political status quo.
Next week, The Perrier Family
BRIDGE
The Mills Bridge Club at the Douglas Bridge Centre/Cork School
of Bridge has been having tremendous success in recent years.
Eileen Hegarty and Carmel O'Sullivan came second in Ireland, Ed
Kelly and Frank Heffernan 3rd in Ireland in the national Novice
championships for 1996/1997.
The following year ('97/'98) the club went one better; Michael
Lynch and Eamon McCarthy came 1st in Ireland, Tim Murphy and Ann
Mulcahy came 2nd, and Leo O'Hanlon and Des White came 3rd.
Unfortunately this championship has been discontinued. However
the club is doing very well in the South Munster Regional
Competition.
Last year was another very successful year for the Club. They are
now making their mark in the Intermediate Competitions. Mick
Madden & Sean Wanglin won the intermediate B competition in
the South Munster Region Regional Pairs and Otto Eisenring and
Christy Halligan came first in the Intermediate 'B' competition
of The South Munster Region Simultaneous Pairs. These are the two
major competitions of the South Munster Region and it is a matter
of pride that players from this club hold both of them. We were
again successful in the major Novice Competitions. Brien Elliott
& Ted Long won the Novice Munster Region Pairs Competition
and Ann Marie & Declan Roche won the Novice section of the
South Munster Region Simultaneous Pairs.
On the Congress front, Sue O'Connell & Eileen Hourigan won
the Novice Competition at the Cork Congress and in doing so
retained the Cup that we have now won ever since it was first
played for. Tom & Deirdre Moriarty came first in the Novice
section of the Tralee Congress and Ann Marie & Declan Roche
won the Novice at the Killarney Torc Congress and, a few months
later went on to win the Novice section of the South of Ireland
Congress at the Lake Hotel Killarney retaining for the club
another cup that they have won every time it has been played.
INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
Question. How long should it take to get a Certificate of Tax
Free Allowance?
Answer. Once you have sent in Form 12A it should not take long (2-3
weeks) before you receive your "Certificate of Tax Free
Allowances" or Tax Exemption if applicable. Your employer
will at the same time receive a shorter version which will tell
him what your total Tax Free Allowances are and what tax you have
to pay.
WESTBROOK HOUSING CO. LTD
Dear Sirs,
Permit us to reply to a letter published in your July issue
objecting to a Planning Application by this company for housing
at Cooneys Lane in Grange, as follows;
You published part of an Appeal against Planning Permission,
which was granted by Cork County Council after full and proper
consideration of all relevant issues.
The Appeal is pending and we await the outcome.
We should have been consulted and our views sought and published,
in the normal way and in the interests of fair play and balanced
journalism.
Prior to seeking Planning Permission we engaged in open and
honest discussions with Cork County Council and made written
submissions through the proper channels. These submissions are on
record for all to see.
The layout, design, housing density, house types, and the
provision of amenities were all subject to careful scrutiny by
the Council Planners.
The letter published refers to Planning Permission for over 300
houses. In fact the Planners reduced us to 270 houses.
The lands in question comprise some 38 acres in total of which 25.5
acres will be developed as housing and the remaining 12.5 acres
will be developed as sports and amenity land.
The ratio of 270 houses to 38 acres is 7 houses per acre. This is
not high density by current standards and the ratio of amenity
land to building land is very high.
We have already replied in detail to the concerns expressed by
local residents on traffic volume and movement in our submission
to An Bord Pleanala on the Appeal.
We will not repeat them here except to say that much of the
criticism published by you was unfairly directed at this company
and also inaccurate.
However most alarming and most unfair was the statement published
that this Developer already has a poor record on health and
safety in other sites. This is untrue.
The Directors of this Company have been building houses for more
than 20 years and have an excellent safety record in every way.
In 20 years there has only been one serious injury on our sites
and for which the injured man was fully compensated by our
insurers. The man concerned returned to work with us, and remains
a valued member of our workforce.
Both on-site and in the vicinity of our sites we take care for
safety and we take trouble for cleanliness. Our record and finish
at Dunvale speaks for itself.
Our record of compliance with Planning Permission, and of
finishing our estates to a very high standard , is second to none.
In the interests of fair play and redressing the damage done to
our good name and reputation we request you to publish the above
prominently in your next issue.
Westbrook Housing Company Limited.
BUILDING PROJECT GETS FINAL GO AHEAD
St. Columba's Boy's NS in Douglas has just received the good news
that it can go ahead with major refurbishment and new extension.
The project will cost £400,000 and will involve the creation of
2 extra classrooms in the main building, relocation of the
existing toilet areas, a computer room and administrative wing
with staff room and reception area.
Webaven Ltd. have been appointed as main contractors. Fr. Christy
Fitzgerald, chairperson of the Board of Management said that he
was absolutely thrilled that the final go ahead had been given
and that he hoped work would commence within the next three to
four weeks. On completion facilities at the school would be state
of the art and would be in keeping with the on going improvements,
which have been made over the last number of years.
DOUGLAS WEEKLY'S PERSON OF THE YEAR
Michael O'Mahony
It's hard to know where to start. I originally
lived on the Lough Rd, just down the road from the Lough Church,
and attended the local primary school, Greenmount, which is now
the Lough Community Centre. My family moved to the Mardyke in
1960, and I've been living there since. Among my neighbours were
the Piper family who came to the Mardyke for two months each year
(May and September). I have happy memories of the merries. I was
sad to see in last weeks Douglas Weekly that Jack Bergin has
passed away. I went to Pres. Secondary School, and did my Leaving
Cert. in 1966. I was always interested in the Sciences, and after
my Leaving cert. I studied Science in U.C.C. for three years and
did my final year in University College Galway where I got my
Degree in Physics.
After completing my degree, I worked in the Technical Dept. of
Dunlop's here in Cork for a couple of months. I decided to go
back to U.C.G. to do my Masters, and while I was waiting to sign
up for Galway, I applied for a Teaching position in a city school.
A couple of days later a lady called to the door, and asked
"Are you Mr. 0'Mahony?" I said I was and then she said
"Tell me Mr. O'Mahony, do you believe in the concept of God?"
I said in my own mind, this must be a Jehovah Witness or
something like that, but I answered her and said, "Yes, I do".
I was trying to think of an excuse to close the door, when she
asked me did I apply for a Science Teaching job. I said I did,
and she said "I'm Daisy Corrigan, the Head of Regina Mundi
School, and I'd like you to come over to us on Monday about the
job". She gave me instructions on how to find the school, I
had never heard of it at that stage.
So on Monday I went over assuming I would be going for an
Interview. I met Daisy and she introduced me to Joan Creedon, who
was the Asst. Principal, and Science Teacher. As soon as we met
she said, "Michael, you'll be starting up now". I had
presumed there would be an interview. But she told me I would be
teaching First Year Students immediately. Explaining to her I had
never taught before, but she answered " You'll be fine".
A funny thing happened then, Joan gave me a jar of Kidney Bean
seeds and told me to take them over to the Class and give each
student a bean seed for study. I didn't know what I was going to
do or say about these seeds, but over I went, and introduced
myself to the Class. I passed around the jar of seeds and asked
them to take one each. I then asked if they had Science books,
which they had, and one of them gave me hers, and luckily enough
there was an article in it about the seeds. I said "Right,
Girls, we are now going to study these seeds". Just then one
of the girls put up her hand and said "Mr. 0'Mahony, what
seeds?" "The seeds I gave you", I replied. They
looked at me with looks of horror on their faces and told me they
had eaten them. I got such a fright I from ran the classroom over
to Joan Creedon and told her my story. I was convinced that she
was going to tell me to get out, that I was a dangerous
individual, but all she said was "Here's another jar, and
this time tell the girls not to eat them, they're to be studied".
So we put them in jars with cotton wool and water and watched
them grow. That was my first day in Regina Mundi, and I thought
it was my last. That was way back in January 1971.
In April that year I was due back to U.C.G. to do my Masters, and
I told Daisy about my plans But she was very persuasive, and said
it would be more to my advantage to do the H.Dip instead, and to
take a year off from College. She felt it would be an extra
qualification, and I could take up teaching at any time in the
future. So I spoke to the people in U.C.G. and they suggested
holding off for another year for my Masters.
So I signed up for the H.Dip in Cork, and when I finished, Daisy
asked me to stay in Regina Mundi. She wasn't too keen on me going
away, and three or four years later Joan Creedon retired, and I
got the job as Vice-Principal in 1976. Four years later Daisy
retired, and I took over as Principal. Daisy remained on as
Manager of the School. So I've been Principal for 19 years and of
course I never got back to doing my master's.
Back then I still had a huge interest in Science Education. There
was no talk of computers at that stage. Apple or any other
computer companies had not arrived. It was just the traditional
companies like Fords, Dunlops, and Gouldings, to name a few.
I got very much involved with the Dept. of Education Science
Development Programme, particularly in the Curriculum Development
for Physics. When I was doing the H.Dip, I was teaching about 20
hours a week - a full teachers workload, unlike other H.Dips who
would only have three to four hours teaching a week. I taught
First Year, Second Year and right up the line. During that year I
was also doing Leaving Cert. Honours Maths. This was new to the
school. Daisy was introducing new subjects, and Honours Maths was
one of them. She also introduced Physics, which was also new as
very few girls were doing either of these. Daisy was very
farseeing and really doing pioneering work with these subjects,
which I was doing with her, there were no other schools doing
these subjects at the time.
I got involved with the Dept. of Education and also with the
Professional body representing Science Teachers and attended
meetings up and own the country. I learned a lot from all these
meetings with the Science Teachers Association, more than I had
learned in my time in College.
I must have put almost 2000 pupils through the school system
since I started in 1971, and occasionally I meet them out and
about. I have to tell you that my one failing is I have a
terrible memory for names and faces - I've had that failing all
my life. I sometimes pass my own relatives and friends in the
street. It would be upsetting to me that people would think I'd
do it deliberately or because, this is not so; it's just that I
have a bad memory for names and faces.
As for holidays, being Principal I have a lot of administration
work to do and this could go on until the end of June with the
Leaving Cert. Taking up most of the month, I have to be here in
the school. So in July, I try to get away. I used to visit my
sister in the States, during July, but she has moved to Arizona,
and I now visit her at Christmas, when it is cooler. My mother
used to travel with me every Christmas, but she died two years.
When I come back from Arizona (with its desert climate) I have a
great boost of energy, which helps me to settle into the horrible,
dark, wet winters here.
As for hobbies, I have a great interest in Art, and also love
hill walking and orienteering. I climbed the McGillacuddy Reeks,
and enjoyed it very much, but over the past few years I haven't
done a lot. I tend not to do a lot of physical activity nowadays.
I never took up Golf, although my relations aregolf addicts and
tried unsuccessfully to get me involved. As you know Rugby was
the big game in Pres., but I never even kicked a rugby ball while
I was there. I do like soccer and have been to the Cork City
matches. I also watch the G.A.A. matches. When I was in College I
was on the rowing team, and we used to train in Blackrock and we
had many a cold frosty Saturday and Sunday morning when we had to
chip at the ice so that we could get out on the water.
I also got involved in Film making both in school and outside
school. The group I'm involved with run a Film Festival each year,
it used to be in the City Hall, it was held for the past two
years in the Rochestown Park Hotel, they are The Cork Youth
International Film/Video Arts Festival. This is part of the
Institute of Amateur Cinematographers, which is a worldwide
organisation, and involves amateurs in filmmaking. We place
particular emphasis in providing an opportunity to those who are
less privileged or have greater challenges in their life to
exhibit their talents. Our Lady's School for the hearing impaired,
which is here in Douglas, was a regular contributor to the
festival as is Lota and various other groups. Some of our former
contributors have gone on to big achievements in the Arts, Crafts
and Film and have overcome their disabilities.
My preference in music could be summed up by the fact that one of
my favourite programmes is 'Oldies and Irish' on 96FM on Sunday
morning. I always listen to this if I'm around, as I like the
broad range of music, which Derry O'Callaghan plays. I like
Classical and Irish music. I'm probably a typical 'Middle -of -the-road'
listener I'm afraid the heavy metal music is beyond me.
I am happy in my work, at times the administrative side of it can
be very tedious. I miss being in the Classroom and especially
teaching Science, and all it involves. I used to joke with the
girls that working with the equipment in the Science room was
like being a little boy again and playing with my toys.
I'm also very aware of how expectations of Society have effected
people. Everyone is rushing around and pushing to get to the top
with this Celtic Tiger economy, but I feel that there are many
forgotten people out there. I would consider that I have a strong
social conscience, and I am very aware of the good work done by
Simon Community and St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Regina Mundi College is also aware of how problems at home can
spill over into the classroom, and sometimes we help these
students with their problems by putting them in touch with the
various Agencies that are available to them.
We have a history to be proud of here in Regina Mundi. Yes, I am
happy in Regina Mundi and have enjoyed the years I have spent
here.
A friend once asked me why I never married, settled down and had
a family? My reply to him was I've got the biggest family in the
world.
DOUGLAS LIBRARY
Tionólfar an chéad chrinniú eile den
Chiorcal Cómhrá ar an Aoine, 22 Méan Fómhair, 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 September 22nd.
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.
NEAR EYERIES
A few weeks ago we printed a number of
articles "World War Two Air Accidents in Cork and Kerry"
by Ger. O'Regan. We received such a very positive response from
some of our many readers that we are now delighted to publish
some more of Ger's material. No doubt our readers will join with
us in commending Ger on his diligent devotion to the subject and
for the enormous amount of research he has done.
BZ802V a Liberator of 86 Squadron took off from its base at
Aldergrove near Belfast on August 27th 1943. The aircraft carried
a crew of 7. The Pilot was Flying Officer Robert Kildea.
Their mission was hunting U-boats in 'The Bay of Biscay'. Most of
their flight was uneventful because they didn't locate any
submarines due to dense fog. Sometime around 7pm as they headed
homeward the Radio Operator informed the Pilot that land was
showing on his radar. The aircraft dropped altitude to locate
their position. F.O. Kildea identified the outline of Roncarrig
lighthouse at the East End of Bere Island and advised his crew to
set a course for home that would take them over pat of neutral
Ireland. They were way off their intended course.
As they passed over the sentry post at the West tip of Bere
Island, the aircraft was so low that the soldiers on duty could
see the face of the Pilot peering down at them.
The aircraft only made it over Mount Eagle (North of
Castletownbere) with a few feet to spare. But it wasn't so lucky
with the ridge above Eyeries.
BZ802V collided with the first of the three ridges at Goulane,
killing 5 of the crew instantly. One crewman hauled the body of
his dead comrade away from the wreckage to sit on a rock where he
subsequently died. F.O.Kildea still alive but badly crushed, was
trapped in the narrow passage way between the pilots seat and the
bomb-aimers compartment. A local man on whose land the plane
crashed, enlisted help and went to the scene of the carnage which
was engulfed in dense fog. As Neilly Harrington tapped the side
of the fuselage, calling " Is there anybody alive in there?"
a voice replied, "Help me Paddy, get me out of here".
The B.24 Liberator was a huge aircraft. One wing had been torn
off and the fuel tanks had been ruptured, the area around the
crash-site was soaked with kerosene. Neilly tried with all his
might to free Robert Kildea but without success.
Shortly afterwards, a unit of the Irish Army's Coastal Defence
Engineers at Bere Island arrived on the scene and cordoned off
the area. Neilly was at pain to point out that one of the crew
was still alive within the wreckage but no action was taken.
During the night, Robt. Kildea died. The following morning, army
personnel recovered the body of Robert Kildea.
A number of high-ranking officers of the Royal Air Force visited
the crash site for many days afterwards. They ensured that the
top-secret aerial torpedoes, the aircraft was carrying, were
disposed of in a correct manner. The huge controlled explosions
were heard over a wide area.
In 1983 and on the 40th anniversary of the accident a party of
relatives of the crew and local people visited the crash-site. At
the precise time of the accident, 7.28pm, the grandson of F.O.
Robert Kildea played the "Last Post" on the trumpet as
the memorial stones were unveiled by Robt. Kildea Jnr.
I am indebted to Victor Sullivan who excellently researched this
sad loss.
"Lest we forget".
Ger O'Regan
KUMON MATHS COMES TO DOUGLAS
Ireland's first Kumon Maths centres are opening this week, and
one of them is in Douglas. Kumon is an all-round maths skills
programme from Japan, now proving extremely popular in over 40
countries world-wide.
Originally devised over 40 years ago by a secondary maths teacher
to help his own son, Kumon Maths is now studied by approximately
2.75 million students world-wide. Kumon hopes in Ireland to
repeat the tremendous success found in the US and the UK. The
positive emphasis that Irish parents place on children's
education leads the Kumon Douglas Study Centre's instructor,
Abigail Duignan to expect a very high uptake for the programme.
Children enjoy Kumon because they see their own results clearly,
work at their own pace and can feel part of a 'club'. The Kumon
programme is not designed purely for maths learning as an end in
itself. It aims to develop the potential of each and every child
through increased self-confidence. There is no such thing as
failure with all students working at their own carefully
monitored levels. The precise level at which a student will slot
comfortably into the system is determined by diagnostic exercises.
From the outset, work is pitched at a level where the child can
score 100% in 10 minutes on a daily basis. This 'little and often'
approach boosts confidence and allows the student to build from
solid foundations. Beginning with counting, the programme extends
through many thousands of finely calibrated worksheets in a
logical step-by-step manner. Students practise topics as and when
necessary moving from stage to stage only when they have
developed sufficient mastery to enable them to do so with
confidence. Other benefits of the programme include improved
concentration and the development of good study habits. Kumon,
though suited to all ages and abilities, is particularly popular
with the 5-15 age range. It is not a 'quick fix', but a long-term
individualised programme designed to complement and reinforce
schoolwork.
The Douglas Study Centre is in the Scout Hall, Church Road,
Douglas every Monday and Thursday from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
Interested parents should phone Abigail on 021 489 6836 or 087
682 0504 to discuss the programme and receive further information.
AN OIGE CORK/KERRY
Sep.17th. Sun. Leisure Walk. Meet Lee Valley Bar Drisey. 11am.
Tel.
Leonard 021-7334705.
Sep. 22nd-24th. Cycle w-end. Meet Kent Railway station 7.45pm.
Saturday Killarney to Dunquin hostel. Sunday Conor Pass, railex
Tralee.
Tel. Kevin 021-4968142.
CURE FOR A HANGOVER?
Taking vitamin C blunts the effect of alcohol and helps people
sober up faster; an exciting new university study shows. Men who
took five grams of vitamin C - that's 10 x 500mg. Capsules -
regularly got rid of alcohol faster, the eye-opening study found.
As a result, their hangovers were shortened. What's more, their
co-ordination was less affected by the alcohol, the tests showed.
Noted pharmacologist Dr. Vincent Zannoni said 20 male students,
ages 22 to 30 took part. After taking vitamin C daily for two
weeks, they were given pure alcohol in ginger ale - an amount
equivalent to five large cans of beer -, which they drank within
two and a half hours. Of the 20 students who took vitamin C, 14
showed less impairment of their own co-ordination after drinking
alcohol. In 13 men, the alcohol cleared their bodies faster - as
much as 74% faster than normal. The vitamin did not appear to
counteract the dulling effect of alcohol on thinking ability, Dr.
Zannoni said. Based on his study's results, Dr. Zannoni advised
regular drinkers to take five grams of vitamin C daily to reduce
the effects of alcohol. No one in the study suffered any side
effects from taking five grams of vitamin c daily, Dr. Zannoni
said. But in a few people it could cause diarrhoea, he said. (Oops!).
SOCCER SHOCKER
Did you ever wonder how the game of soccer originally got started?
Well researchers in London say the sport was born centuries ago
when Celtic warriors got bored. They would chop off the heads of
their enemies and kick them around the battlefield
