7th September, 2000
Last Sunday the Gods were smiling on us. I had
been promising my grandchildren I would take them to Garnish
Island and on the way to the island we would see the seals
basking on the rocks. As most of you will know Garnish Island is
just a short boat trip from Glengarriff. On the way down we
passed through Enniskeane and Ballineen, two beautifully kept
villages spotlessly clean, baskets of flowers everywhere and a
row of old cottages all painted in different bright colours.
Dunmanway was also beautifully kept. What have these villages and
towns got that we haven't got? Community pride would seem to be
the answer.
One good piece of news I have to report. Two weeks ago I reported
that the roundabout at the entrance/exit to Cork Airport was an
ugly mess of weeds. Last week the weeds were destroyed, and on
Sunday on the way to West Cork I noticed that the roundabout was
completely dug up, so hopefully the sight that will greet our
visitors will be a brightly coloured mix of flowers. Well done to
whoever organised the clean up.
Deirdre Clune T.D sent me a letter this week (see letters page) I
agree totally with the sentiments expressed by Deirdre. She
states that the county council would be interested in speaking to
anybody who wishes to contribute to making Douglas an attractive
place to visit/pass through/live in. If the county council wishes
to contact me I will give them the names of two companies
situated in Douglas who will pay to have the two roundabouts (at
Tesco entrance and at the other at Douglas Court entrance)
beautified, what more do they need? Don't tell me you don't know
what the long term plans are for those two roundabouts. That's
not good enough. How long have these roundabouts been there for?
Years! Lets do something now and let tomorrow take care of it
self.
I was sorry to hear that Jack Bergin had died this week. Another
link with Pipers in Douglas and Crosshaven is gone. Everybody who
ever went on the swinging boats in the "Merries" will
remember Jack, with his powerful shoulders he brought the boats
to a gentle stop. The brake was a long piece of timber, which he
raised under the boat, thereby stopping its movement. I'm told
many years ago, perhaps 75 or so, a young boy walked into Pipers
in Croshaven looking for work, and for the rest of his working
life he became a part of the Piper family. Every springtime he
would paint the wall at the entrance and tend the flowers there.
Years ago a plaque was erected at the wall in honour of his
dedication to the upkeep of the site. My wife summed up Jack
Bergin when she heard he had died "he was a gentle man on
the boats slowing it down very gently, and putting his hand out
to help women and children out of the swing boats". What
more can I say except "Thanks for the rides and the happy
memories Jack" Rest in peace.
I met a local painter Paul Murray and his wife Mary this week in
the shopping centre. I congratulated them on the birth of their
sixth child, a little girl. I'm told that a blessing now days for
women giving birth is the Epidural. I asked Mary did she avail of
this wonder of science, her reply was "Paul was my epidural,
he held my hand" what more could I say except
Congratulations.
Well done to our local hurling team of Douglas G.A.A. Club who
came back from Mosney with silver medals. Everybody is very proud
of you, well done to Eddie Murphy and the rest of the crew
involved in getting the lads to an All-Ireland final. I am sure
that there are a couple of future Cork team players in the squad.
well done to all concerned.
Young people are dying on our streets now almost every weekend.
Stabbings, fights, knocked down and the boots go in for the head.
People are worried when their youngsters go out on the weekend to
the City Centre. They wait for the sound of a hackney/taxi and
finally the sound of the key in the door, and that's the way it
should be. Unfortunately life's not like that anymore, the cause?
I firmly believe we are programmed by media aggression from the
cradle to the grave. The children's cartoons are filled with
aggression, manners are a thing of the past, to say please or
thank you is a sign of weakness, pop music culture is an
aggressive thumping beat. Advertising on television is noisy and
aggressive. Driving on our roads is becoming a form of aggression,
we are been brain washed with aggression, and the sad fact of the
matter is that we are not aware of it.
The good news is that next month, Oct 6th the annual Douglas
weekly person of the year awards night will take place at the
Rochestown Park Hotel. Watch this space.
Bye for Now,
Michael O’Hanlon.
