4th April, 2002
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Web Site

Hi There,
This web site is great for people to talk to others around the world on the internet without using the long-distance phone. You can talk to five other people at different parts of the world at the same time. Check out the site & let me know what you think.
My wife's family come from county Cork. We are planning to come to Ireland next year.
Thanks
Bob Proctor
http://www.letsorbitalk.com email: bob@bobpro.com

Riding for the Disabled

Dear Editor,
I am an Area Representative for Riding for the Disabled (Incorporating Driving), Ireland or RDAI and would be keen to explain what this very worthwhile charity does.
We enable both physically and mentally disabled adults and children to ride horses and ponies. The activity gives mental and physical stimuli and is a marvellous social avenue for the riders. There are over eighty Groups nationwide. Our own Groups work out of Hitchmough's Riding School, Monkstown on Mondays and Thursdays, 12.30 to 2pm. We are always keen to recruit voluntary helpers to be side -walkers or horse/pony leaders. " No experience necessary - training will be given "!
Considering the trepidation many able-bodied people would have if they considered mounting a horse, I have great respect and admiration for our riders. It is a great contrast generally to their usual daily routine.
Perhaps you may like to call up to see us in action.
Sincerely,
Lyn Cronin.

In Search of Relatives

Howdy,
My wife and I are planning our first trip to Ireland in May of this year. My grandmother, Mary Kelleher, was born in the township of Rathmacullig, Douglas, as were (according to her birth certificate) her parents John and Julia nee McCarthy. We were wondering if there might be a genealogical society in the Douglas area? Or perhaps someone in the area who might be interested in that sort of thing, the local history buff, if you will. Rathmacullig, as we understand it, lies at the eastern end of the east-west runway of the Cork airport (romantic, hey?), an area these days of 20 or 30 houses. Might someone at the paper know what roads are in that area?
According to the Golden pages on the internet, there are 26 Kelleher's in Douglas...if we knew what roads were thereabouts we might make a few cold calls and see if we might scrum up a relative and get an invite for dinner....a long shot, I know, but as Fats Waller said, "One never know, do one?"
Griff Wolf
Cleveland, Ohio
gwolf@core.com
P.S. I know this is a lot to ask of a weekly but you're the only show in town.

Thank You Douglas Hall Ladies

Hello,
I'm Cynthia and I'm French. I'd like just write few words to say thank you to the Hall Ladies soccer club.
"I played with you during 5 months and I want to say thank you for your kindness and your good mood. It was a real pleasure for me to play with you.
Thanks to all the team and the staff.
Thanks as well for this unforgettable night last Monday.
I'LL MISS YOU SO MUCH. "
Cynthia Martin, French girl from Nantes

Carrigaline View
Dear Sir,
I would like to make your readers aware of the work that is currently been carried out on the walkway between Kilnaglery car park and O`Leary`s Cross when this work is completed it will mean that the walkway will be elevated above the road and the view of the estuary and Old Carrigaline will be obstructed. Anyone wishing to raise their concerns about this development should attend the Carrigaline Community meeting which will be held in the Community Hall Carrigaline on Monday 8th.April at 8pm.
Regards,, Michael McGloin , An Oige PRO

Letter from America

Hi there Michael,
This is Pat Barry from across the road. I have gone to the US for the summer. I spent a month in Chicago and did a bit of site seeing but didn't really like it up there that much. No matter how warm it seemed when you looked out the window, the cold chill that came when you walked out your door was very cold and as Johnny Grimes would say it would cut you in two.
Things were very tough up there for everybody. 9/11 is still foremost in every body's mind. One funny thing though. I travelled from Shannon and went through customs there and I had no problem what so ever and I was surprised. Not a word was said to me, even though I had everything but the kitchen sink in the bag. When I travelled down from Chicago to NY, now that was a different story. I checked my bags in (thought of another comment) and then I was randomly selected to get my luggage checked. So I said fine. So they took me aside and put my actual suitcase through an x-ray machine that they had. All was fine so I just went down to the next area. On route we had to go through metal detectors to make sure that we weren't carrying on anything dangerous. So I went up and the alarms went off. Just my luck says you. So I had to empty my pockets, take off my jacket and then the funnies thing of all was that I had to unlace and take my boot off and they were sent back through the x-ray machine. All was fine again. So I got my thing together and headed for the boarding gate. Got there and then again I was the subject of another random search. Same thing again. Jacket and boots off. I mean the security was strict. I suppose it is mainly because of the 9/11 so I wasn't to pixxed off.
Getting back to checking my bag in. I travelled with an airline called ATA. Not bad but the one disconcerting thing that I found was that anyone who was going on a flight with ATA, to any part of the USA all checked in at the same desks. I found that a bit slow and stupid. What if your bag is put on the wrong flight. You wouldn't have much chance of getting it back.
One great thing that I noticed in Chicago was that they had drive thru ATM machines. You didn't have to get out of your car. And that was the case for most things (mainly fast food joints). The cars out here are ridiculously big. Insurance though seems to be on a much better system than what is in Ireland. It is based on the value of the car and not so much on the litre of the car. And it is the car that is insured. So once the car is covered, this means that anyone with a license can drive.
I was driving myself a bit in Chicago and I thought it was fine. One thing I found was that if you came to a cross roads with no lights, the person who comes to a complete stop first goes.
One other little thing. You are at most time allowed to turn right on a red light which is very handy. It would be like turning left on a red back home ( if there was no traffic of course).
Any way Michael Just thought I would send on those comments to you from the US.
I left my girlfriend behind me until she finishes college in June. Here Name is Ciara. Can you just say hi and let her know that I love her very much.
I will get some slagging from the lads back home about that one but what harm.
Take care and say hi to your family for me.
That's all for now, Patrick Barry. The Gladiator

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