3rd August, 2000
Congratulations to Douglas Football Team on a
great win last Saturday night. To win by the last kick of the
match is the stuff that dreams are made of. we telephoned around
looking for a photograph of the lads, but unfortunately nobody
had one, so we'll just have to make do with offering our
heartiest congratulations, and the best of luck in the next round
to Douglas.
I drove down to Crosshaven last Saturday morning. Just past the
Carrigaline G.A.A. grounds I came upon an unusual sight or should
I say sign. Two men in yellow jackets were doing what looked like
surveying work, a car was parked with its hazard lights on, but
what caught my eye was the road sign, which was positioned at the
rear of the car. To be fair I don't know if the two men, who had
an engineering company's name on their jackets were connected
with the car and the sign, but I didn't see any other form of
transport parked in the vicinity. I stopped my car and got out to
take a photograph of the sign (see page 12). Be truthful I am no
prude I have been known to use the F word the odd time,
especially as we approach deadline on Wednesday, but what I saw
on the Crosshaven road was, I thought, taking things a bit too
far. A lot of visitors and tourists would take a trip to
Crosshaven on the weekend and is this a good impression to leave
them with? Whoever put the sign there probably thought it was
‘cool and funny’. What do you think?
I was saddened to hear that Donie McNamara of Passage West had
died. Many years ago in another life I had a chip shop in Passage
West. I'll always remember I opened for business on April 20th (Hitler's
Birthday) but I lasted longer than the Third Reich! anyway Donie
worked a few doors down in David O'Briens pub and every night
after closing Donie would call into my chipper for his (and the
staff on the bars) suppers, a lovely man, never said a bad word
about anybody, always smiling and cheerful, that's a good legacy
to leave. If there is a lounge bar in Heaven I know Donie is
pulling pints up there. My sympathy to his family and friends, R.I.P
Isn't the Frankfield Bus Service fantastic? I seem to see that
small bus every minute of the day up and down the Grange hill. It
was a long time coming, but wasn't it worth the wait.
As I am writing this article at 1.50 am I have just realised that
its my Birthday so excuse me while I go to the drinks cabinet for
a shot of Russian Vodka, Ah that's better. The three things I
like about Russia are, their vodka, their army choir, my son-in-law
Sergei not forgetting his mother Rita, whose here on a short
visit, and the fact that Russians beat the master race back to
Berlin in 1945.
One of my advertisers told me that one of my competitors (I didn't
realise I had any, now Michael don't be arrogant. I'm only joking)
told him that the Douglas Weekly was not really a representative
of the Douglas people and the area. Is that why everybody reads
the Weekly? On a serious note as the weekly approaches its third
year. I believe that its success is due to you the readers, and
not just in Douglas. But I know one reader who works in Douglas
and is under orders to bring a copy to the family home in
Mayfield every week. Together we have got things done in our area
and beyond, and we will continue to highlight issues and most
important of all to be your voice should you wish to express your
opinion on something that concerns you. Is the Douglas Weekly a
representative of the area? Only you can answer that.
Coming out of Douglas Court Shopping Centre last week. I saw a
taxi parked in the taxi & hackney rank at the bus stop, on
the dashboard of the taxi was a copy of the Douglas Weekly. I
tapped on the window and introduced myself and asked the driver
if I could take a picture of him (see page 7) with the Weekly
“No problem”, he replied, “I'm Paddy Monaher from
Grange, and I’ll tell you a better one, the taxi I'm driving
now here I bought off the back of the Douglas Weekly up in
Douglas Renault”. Paddy, you made my day. Not to mention
Moss Kennedy and the staff of Douglas Renault, when they read
this.
The best of luck to local young lady Maria O'Flynn who just
opened her own business (Pretty Paws). I spoke to Maria last week
and what impressed me the most was her gentleness with a little
dog she was grooming and her genuine love of animals. Anyone who
is kind to animals is No. 1 in my book!
Enjoy the long weekend, don't let your children go swimming on
their own, drive carefully, belt up, take your time and you'll
still get there. After all, if you drive too fast, what will you
do with the few seconds you save? Think about it.
Bye for now. Michael.
