28th September, 2000
The first public meeting of the newly formed
Douglas Tidy Town's committee took place last Thursday night at
the community centre. Although the attendance was small the
people who turned up on the night gave their opinions on what
they saw as some of the problems facing Douglas, now that we have
decided to enter Douglas in the Tidy Town's competition. Local
businessmen Sean Fitzgerald of Daily's, Dave Halpin of Eco's
Restaurant and Derek Rusk of Douglas Court Shopping Centre were
also there. I thought one of the best suggestions and offers came
from Derek Rusk who offered the committee a stand in the shopping
centre to highlight the formation and future plans of the Tidy
Town's committee. Thousands of people pass through the two
shopping centres every week, and a stand with a backdrop of
Douglas (another suggestion from Derek) would be a great way to
tell the people of their future plans for Douglas as a tidy town's
entrant. We will keep you informed as things develop.
I didn't see it but I'm told the Late Late Show was fairly
controversial last Friday night. Two of the guests were a
paedophile and his victim. Listening to Eamon Dunphy on his radio
show today, I learnt that there is a movement within some
European countries which is beginning to promote the message that
that adults who have an unlawful interest in children are really
not that bad, and that we should recognise the fact and
understand their needs, maybe they want us to think it's only a
game they want to play. My suggestion would be that if you wish
to play a game, play amongst themselves, a game of blind mans
bluff on a windy night on the white cliffs of Dover, I'll pay
their fare.
What is happening with Irish Multi Channel lately? Every second
night and day we are losing sound, picture, it’s going from
bad to worse. Last night Sunday at 8.30 we lost BBC 1 BBC 2,
Channel 4 and UTV, and we were left with Rupert Murdoch Bilge,
Sky, and The Monster from Outer Space. I wonder do the Murdoch
family all sit around the telly with popcorn and a few six packs
watching “The World's Scariest Car Chases” He's turning
us all into idiots, and we love it! However I fought the urge and
called into M&M video club and took a video home.
Now we come to the subject of Lotto. A reader told me that he
checked his lotto ticket on Saturday night to discover that he
had four numbers, and on Sunday he was £35 richer. Last
Wednesday night he called into his local shop to do the midweek
lotto, he gave the assistant the slip with his winning numbers to
pay for the Wednesday night. The assistant scanned it and told
the customer “No Win” his ticket was not returned, he
asked for his ticket, (which the assistant had crumpled) to be
returned to him, it was. He demanded to see the manager who was
not on duty. He is calling back to the shop. His point to me was
that if one buy a lb. of ham in a shop the weight and the price
is seen both by the shop assistant and the customer. However with
the lotto machine only the assistant sees the result of screening
the customer's ticket. The screen result should be two ways, it
should print “Win” or “No Win” that way
people behind the winner wouldn't know how much the customer has
won. My reader also suggested that the machine emit a winning or
losing sound, especially for customers who are visually impaired.
I am sure 99% of shop assistants are honest but it's the 1% that
worries me especially if they operate a lotto machine. I am
sending a copy of this article to Ray Bates C/O National Lottery,
I will let you know if I get a reply.
Next Friday night Oct 6th is the annual Douglas Weekly person of
the year awards night. As most of you now know the recipient of
this year's award is Michael O' Mahony, Principle of Regina Mundi
Girls College Douglas. Michael's contribution to the education of
thousands of young girls in their formative years has been
enormous. I have spoken to many of his former and present
students. Anytime I asked the question “What is Michael O'
Mahony like? Back came the answers “He's sweet” “
He's a dote” He's very nice”. I met Michael last week
in Dunmahon Esso Service Station (opposite Regina Mundi) he was
buying a sandwich for his lunch, I said “Michael don't get
knocked down crossing that busy road, especially before the 6th
Oct, it would ruin the big night”
Some time ago he told me he loved the music of ABBA, so on his
special night music will be provided by Abbaesque a band as close
to the real ABBA as one will get, and our own Declan Ryan will be
the support act on the night. P.S. Michael promised he'd have his
dancing shoes on to dance the night away. The carvery in
Rochestown Park Hotel will be open from 6.00pm on the night, so
if you feel like a meal before the show the Rochestown Park Hotel
is the place to be on Friday Oct 6th. Tickets are on sale from
the hotel, Laser Discs, Blacktrack Record Store, Dunmahon Esso
Service Station, Douglas Road and the Douglas Weekly office. Hope
to see you there. Altogether now, “Friday night and the
lights are low, looking out for a place to go”
Congratulations to the Cork Minor football team and the big
contribution made by our local players. Good luck to Nemo Rangers
on Sunday, belated birthday wishes to Joe Lynch (who does a great
job keeping Douglas clean) and also to Ned Breen. Get well soon
to Hilda Mulcahy.
Stop Press! This morning Wednesday the rain is teeming down and
an angry reader who lives in Donnybrook just rang to complain
about the “Lake” at the end of Donnybrook hill (opposite
Breens) pedestrians are being soaked by passing cars. County
Council please take note!
Bye for Now,
Michael O’Hanlon.
