23rd March, 2000
It's Monday night and I'm writing this and Sky
News is on in the background, I freeze as I hear Pope Paul has
visited Mount Nebo, I didn't even know he was in Cork! Our
Northside neighbours must have fierce influence in Rome.
I like happy endings. The story about the Romanian Refugee who
went to open a bank account on Collage Green and was turned away
(He should have went to a Credit Union to open an account, they
treat everybody with dignity) Anyway he had £4, he spent £3 on
the lotto and a few hours later he was worth £1,113,471. Now
both he and his wife are hoping they will be allowed to stay in
Ireland. I figure his chances of being deported are about the
same as getting a smile from Van Morrison.
If you want to know anything about the traffic recommendations
for the Douglas area make sure you call to the information bus in
Douglas Village shopping centre on Thursday (today) and Douglas
Court shopping centre (to-morrow) Friday. Any questions you might
have will be dealt with by people who know exactly what the plans
are.
The concept of a Nature Walk through Douglas is a wonderful idea.
We are to have a walk from Douglas West, parallel to Shamrock
Lawn, passing Amberly Heights and eventually ending in Grange, a
lovely idea, and the view of Douglas and the City is beautiful.
Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world where everybody
appreciates what the Council is doing. A reader who lives in
Amberly Heights rang me to inform me that the Council has put ten
bench seats below the houses. Now young people are gathering
there with the familiar plastic bags of six packs. I've seen the
evidence. I took a walk through St. Columba's School on Sunday
morning and at the top of the steps where young people sit the
familiar sights were there plastic bags and broken bottles.
Budweisser and vodka bottles smashed on the path with glass
everywhere in the grass on the path where young children go to
school everyday. This was not one bottle accidentally dropped,
these were bottles smashed on the concrete. This was criminal
vandalism. A few weeks ago 30 windows in the school were broken
at night, this was not a stray football, this was also vandalism,
why do they do it? I don't know. We have a huge young population
and youth clubs, like John Wayne Wester's are a thing of the past.
Can we give them access to some kind of youth centre, and if we
do will they use it, or is a naggin of vodka more exciting.
I know the Off Licences in Douglas are very strict about who they
sell alcohol to, but do the people who buy it and pass it on to
the 14 and 15 year old teenagers realise what they are doing. The
Amberly resident rang the council to express his opinion on the
seating for 60 (each bench will seat 6) the reply was that people
should not be dictated to by a few unruly teenagers, and the
Gardai could move them on. Douglas Garda Station is closed every
night at 9.00pm and telephoning Togher about a problem in Douglas
seems to me not be the answer. Does anybody have any suggestions?
I just heard on the News that banks in England have been over
charging (if they had guns it would be called robbing) their
customers to the tune of £5 Billion annually, now where did I
hear that before?
Nemo Rangers are selling their lands, including playing pitches
and moving to the other grounds next to the Tramore River. I'm
sure everyone will wish them well in their big move.
It takes a West Cork man to come up with a unique and practical
service, and Vincent O'Shea has done that. A Wheelie Bin cleaning
service. Once a month Vincent will call to wash rinse disinfect
your bin for only £2 per month. Vincent can be contacted @ 087-2041640
Many Thanks to Knight of the Road Willie Higgins who came to my
aid last Saturday morning. Willie I owe you a pint.
Birthday Greetings to Douglas Books, De Barbers and Pouladuff
Upholsters, who this month celebrate a total of fourteen years in
business. Long may they continue.
Finally I read that Celine Dion is about to sue an American
magazine for printing the story that Celine is expecting twins,
she is looking for £20 million. That works out at £10 million
pound a baby. It was just as well they didn't say that she was
expecting quads!
Bye for now,
Michael O'Hanlon.
