24th August, 2000
It's been a tough and sad week. On Friday morning
while I was delivering Douglas Weekly's, I got a phone call from
my daughter telling me that "Vincent had a heart attack".
"How is he", I asked, "He's dead" was my
daughters reply. This couldn't be, not my sisters husband,
Vincent Twomey aged 48, Vincent who had won an All-Ireland medal
for Cork in 1970. Later on he married my sister Jennifer and he
went to live in Ballincollig, where Vince became a member and
player with Ballincollig Rugby Club. A man so full of life and
fun, the first out on the dance floor, where he never took no for
an answer from a dancing partner he had chosen, his favourite
dance was the twist. A few years ago when we all went to my
nephews wedding in Louth we decided to go by train. The train had
only left Kent Station when Vince produced a pack of cards and a
pocketful of change, and the shout, “Anyone for poker”.
It seemed the journey only lasted a five minutes.
The huge crowd at Vincent's removal and funeral was testimony to
his popularity. One person I spoke to at the funeral said to me
"I only knew Vince through meeting him in the pub, where he
always seemed to be joking and laughing, but looking at the huge
crowd here today he must have been a popular guy". He was I
replied, and he left us a good legacy "Don't take life too
seriously, make the most of it and do a good turn along the way"
Vince I like many others will miss you, especially at parties and
functions where your personality shone through like a beacon. I
was proud to know you as a brother-in-law and friend. I won’t
say ‘rest in peace’, you never did. A man said to me
after the funeral, “Vince (he was a fitter) is up there now
telling St Peter there's nothing wrong with the gates, a drop of
3 in 1 oil should do the trick.”. Thanks for the good times
Vince, and I'll finish with a line from a song, "So long, it's
been good to know you".
A reader told me to look up the website, realcork.com. I did and
I was surprised! Filth rubbish, dilapidated buildings etc,
Douglas also gets a mention. Do shock tactics work? Take a look
and decide for yourself. Speaking of rubbish I drove through
Douglas West on Sunday morning and the contents of the litter bin
at the corner of Morris House were all over the place, mostly
white paper. On Monday morning I walked through Douglas East
Village and the streets were littered with rubbish, the time was
10.30p.m., the litter bins were overflowing, some of their
contents were on the street outside Deirdre Clune's constituency
office. I called in to be greeted by Deirdre and Simon Coveney. I
asked them had they noticed the condition of the business heart
of Douglas? The ugly roundabout that greets visitors to Douglas
compared to Carrigaline with the flowers, fountain and silver
bird. Deirdre suggested that I ask the financial institutions in
Douglas East to sponsor a roundabout. I agreed it was a good idea,
so I called into one and I spoke to the manager. However my
suggestion was met with a smile that suggested I keep on "taking
the tablets". I left but I am not giving up. Watch this
space.
Most of you motorists will have noticed the green filter arrow
light which allowed cars to turn left from the Well Road into
Douglas has disappeared. I spoke to a local Garda who told me
that there were several accidents with motorists assuming that
the green arrow meant that they had right of way! What about an
amber arrow with a yield sign. If motorists don't understand that
sign they shouldn't be on the road. Finally on this subject,
motorists should not be allowed to turn right at this junction,
one car turning right can hold up 20 to 30 cars behind. Speaking
of lights, are the traffic lights at Curragh Woods ever green
when one comes down the Frankfield Hill? And is the new shuttle
bus service to Frankfield as frequent as it used to be? Next
month sees the school goers returning to school, and they will
depend on a good regular bus service.
Donnybrook Hill is being dug up again! What is it this time? Good
manners would dictate that residents and motorist are told what's
happening, but perhaps manners are like the ‘Hula-Hoop’
a thing of the past.
I read last week that the Queen Mother took a walk downstairs in
Buck House. The ultimate ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ scenario,
she spoke to one of the staff asking and pointing to something
she saw "What's that?" back came the answer "that's
an ironing board mam" no wonder she lived 100 years old.
I'm off on a week's holidays to recharge the batteries, see you
next week.
Bye for now,
Michael O’Hanlon.
