18th November, 1999
Last Thursday night I called down to St
Columba’s Hall to attend a farewell party for two of our
local Gardai, Dan Griffin and Ronan Keneally who are moving to
other stations. I’ve said it before, we must have the best
bunch of men and women in the Douglas Garda Station, I’m
sure all our readers, like me will wish Dan and Ronan the best of
luck in their new positions, the esteem in which the lads were
held was evident by the huge crowd which turned out on the night
to wish them well.
At functions like these I usually have a pint of shandy, move
around take some photographs and generally mix, which is what
community is all about. Ritchie “Mandella” Kavanagh was
there to say goodbye to his friend Eldene who was returning to
South Africa. On the dance floor they were a treat to watch. Then
Alfie Kavanagh took over from Ritchie on the floor, that man can
sure dance, next to entertain us was Cyril “The Bird”
Kavanagh with his standard version of “Save Your Love”,
the person next to me turned and said “Michael aren’t
those Kavanaghs very talented”. So say all of us. A great
night was had by all, well done the hall.
Are we ever going to see an end to the road works in Douglas
every day they’re digging up some place new, and then they
patch it up and move on and look for another patch to dig. The
roads in and around Douglas are a disgrace. Did I read somewhere
recently that only a ninth of what we pay in road tax goes
towards roads, does anybody know where the other eight
ninth’s goes? Speaking of roads, a reader approached me last
weekend in a shop and she asked me, “What do you think of
the Kinsale Road Roundabout?” My reply was “I never use
it now, anytime I did use it I found it dangerous, and most of
the drivers seem to be like me, totally confused. Someday it will
join that famous list of questions Who Killed Kennedy? What was
Dev doing in West Cork in August 1922? Has anybody ever won the
£50,000 Prize Bonds Draw, and who designed the Kinsale Road
Roundabout?
Good news for Shoppers in Douglas Village Shopping Centre, as
from next week there will be 50 extra car spaces as you enter
from Douglas West (opposite St Patrick’s Mills). While I
think
of it drivers please don’t park in the spaces reserved for
Disabled Drivers, not even to use your bank card, which lye heard
some drivers say to the security man who reprimands them.
You’ve got legs use them.
Last week I met a young local Douglas Man who expressed his
opinion on the Douglas Weekly. His comments were kind but he
asked me to write some articles for young people, my reply was
“You’re young why don’t you write something on
what it’s like to be a twenty something in Douglas?” He
said he would and like so many people who I meet and, they
promise they will write in.
I thought that was the end of it, but I was wrong. Yesterday,
Niall dropped in his article to the office and it appears in this
issue. To any other person, young or old the Weekly is your
voice, and we would love to hear from you on matters that concern
you. Darragh McManus who began his journalistic career with the
Douglas Weekly is now the Editor of the official G.A.A. Magazine
“Highball”, so get those pencils and E-mails sharpened.
Im sitting here on Tuesday Night writing this and watching
Oireachtas Report, Noel Dempsey is explaining why there was such
a low turn out in the latest Bye-election. Noel gave a litany of
reasons. Deirdre Clune suggested Sat & Sun voting might
increase the numbers of voters. My suggestion would be to give
every voter who votes a Lottery Scratch Card, and your chances of
winning the £10,000? About the same as electing a decent
politician. Oireachtas Report now on the T.V. has moved from the
Dail to the Senate, who are these people who were never elected
by the people?, what purpose do they serve. Some of them claiming
£40,000 a year on expenses while an old woman lies on a trolly
in a hospital for 48 hours. Wealthy people rob the State (The
People) of millions while a young man with a drink problem robs a
jacket worth £39 gets a three month prison sentence and then
hangs himself, and the politicians wonder why people are not
voting? God Help Us.
Get well soon to Jane Riordan who’s in the Mercy Hospital.
We all miss you Jane, hurry home soon.
Good news for all music lovers. The Pinecroft is now providing
music every Saturday night. Also spot prizes and no cover charge.
Finally I hope to see you all at the Rochestown Park Hotel on
Sunday Night for a special tribute to our own Joe Mac. Tickets on
sale at the usual outlets. It will be a night to remember.
Bye for now,
Michael O’Hanlon.
