14th June, 2001
Notice
Board
DOUGLAS
TIDY TOWNS
Dear Michael,
I am glad to report that the Business Premises are now painting
their place of business and flower boxes and hanging baskets are
making an appearance. South County Bar have the painters on site
and are ready to put hanging baskets on display .
Cork County Council must be congratulated for the flower boxes at
the two roundabouts opposite Douglas Village Shopping Centre and
Douglas Court Shopping Centre. The Community Park river is also
undergoing major improvement with new fencing in place.
Also excellent work has been done to the river near the ICA hall.
The Street Sweep commenced for the first time last Wednesday and
new people are always welcome (time 7.00pm to 9.00pm) meeting at
the Community Centre , Church Road.
I was delighted on behalf of Douglas Tidy Towns Committee to make
a presentation to Father Liam ,who celebrated forty years work .Also
thanks to all who organised an excellent evening. Father Liam
keep up the good work.
Cork Corporation are in the process of putting tubs at the Well
road and at the entrance to Douglas East.
I would like to hear from your readers whether Douglas is looking
better for our efforts
Is mise le meas
Sean O'Riordan Chairman ,
Douglas Tidy Towns Committee
ALL THATS BLOOMS
If there is a prerequisite required starting any business, it
must be to like what you are doing. That means the people you
deal with will are sure to get that extra care and attention that
makes all the difference in the quality that inspires good
customer confidence. Once you've achieved that you're on a winner.
Claire Caulfield has always loved flowers and has always enjoyed
working with them. When she was sixteen years old she went to
work in a florist. For nine years she studied and learnt,
practised and perfected everything there was to know about being
a florist. From the very beginning it had been her intention to
open her own flower shop and when she saw the opening for a
Florist in the Ballintemple / Ballinlough / Blackrock / Douglas
area she did not hesitate to provide one. So with the help and
support of her family and friends and some neighbouring
businesses, her dream has come true.
Claire's florist shop, appropriately named " All That Blooms"
is now open at Churchyard Lane in Ballintemple, if you are not
familiar with the area it's next to the Silver Key Bar. Claire
offers a full comprehensive range of floral services. Flowers for
every occasion; Birthdays, First Communions, Confirmations, 21'sts,
Engagement Parties, Weddings, Anniversaries, Funerals, no matter
what the occasion Claire knows how to say it with flowers and
floral arrangements. But what else would one expect from someone
who loves her work. Give her a call on (021) 4295040.
ROMANIAN FUNDRAISER
Best of luck to the staff of the Touchdown, who are off to
Romania on a fundraising
expedition next Tuesday. Those participating would like to extend
their thanks to Barry
O'Connell of O'Connell's Food Hall The Lough for his generous
sponsorship and also
to the owners and management of the Touchdown.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS
E-Commerce Act
The Electronic Commerce Act 2000 came into legal effect in
Ireland in late September 2000. If you are using the Internet and
email at work, it may be of interest to you to learn how this Act
provides a legal framework for online business activities.
If a person wishes to make an application, make a claim, lodge a
return or carry out any transaction with a public body, the Act
provides the necessary legal framework to be carried out online
or by other electronic means. For private transactions, including
the formation of contracts between private persons or businesses,
these may be transacted by electronic means in a secure legal
framework.
Membership Directory 2001
The Chamber’s Annual Membership Directory contains contact
information for all it’s members. Due to be published for
the coming year all members recently received an update form with
each company’s current listing. Changes/additions must be
sent to Helen for immediate publication. Members should note that
if the form for their company is not returned, the Chamber will
presume the current information is correct and proceed with
publication. Helen can be contacted at 4509044
Chamber visits Fota House.
On Monday evening Prof Tom Raftery, Secretary of Fota Trust
welcomed Chamber members and guests to Fota House for a Business
After Hours event. Fota House is one of Cork’s most
important historic buildings and is currently undergoing an
expansive restoration programme costing £5 million, 2 million of
which is being generated by a private fundraising campaign.
Visitors say the work completed on the main structure of the
house and got a taste for what is to come in the second
restoration phase due to start in July.
DUNLEA WINS SILVER MEDAL
Back in May local boy Damian Dunlea made his
fourth trip to the National Stadium on the South Circular Road in
Dublin to participate in the National Boxing Championships. He
was then the present BantamWeight Champion weighing in at 54
Kilos. There were seven other contestants in his class all
champions of their own Provinces and Counties. Damian was drawn
against the Leinster Champion, Vincent Monaghan whom he defeated
in the second round, - after Vincent got two standing counts the
referee stopped the bout.
In the semi-finals Damian was up against Owen O'Malley from Eagle
in the North who he beat on a 10 -4 scoreline.
In the final Damian boxed Paul Lockhart from Golden Cobra in
Tallagh who had previously knocked out both of his opponents.
Damian had already beaten Paul Lockart by a point the year before
so he knew it was going to be a hard contest. And so it was, it
went the full distance and Paul Lockart won on a two-point
decision (8-6). This meant that Damian won the Silver Medal and a
place on the Irish Team.
If he can repeat this or even win the Nationals next year he will
be going to the Celtic Junior Olympics in Scotland.
The Douglas Weekly would like to congratulate Damian on winning
the Silver Medal and to wish him every success in the future.
Damian of course says its all thanks to his Dad, David, who
helped him with his training and dieting throughout the year.
"PUT YOUR FEET UP DAD"
Father's Day is a day on which the people of many
Western countries express gratitude and appreciation for their
fathers by giving them gifts or greeting cards. It is generally
accepted that Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June. The
concept itself appears to come from some ancient tradition, but
surprisingly enough it is a relatively modern idea and as we
shall see it is typically American.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington State, U.S.A, got
the idea to set aside a special day to honour fathers in 1909,
after listening to a sermon on Mother's Day. She wanted to honour
her father, William Jackson Smart. Smart's wife died in 1898, and
he raised their six children on his own. Dodd drew up a petition
recommending adoption of a national father's day. The Spokane
Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian
Association (YMCA) supported it. Through Sonora Dodd's efforts,
Spokane celebrated the first Father's Day on June 19, 1910. Over
the years, many resolutions to make the day an official national
holiday were introduced. Finally, in 1972, President Richard M.
Nixon signed Father's Day into law. It must be the only positive
thing in Nixon's Presidency for which he gets any credit. Over
the years most countries around the world have included a Fathers
Day in their calendar .
WATCH OUT WHEN BUYING A SECOND HOUSE.
by Josephine O’Herlihy
Always make sure that the deposit paid to the
Auctioneer is paid “subject to contract”. This means
that if for any reason you decide not to purchase prior to
signing Contracts for Sale, your deposit is safe and will be
returned to you by the Auctioneer.
Make sure the property is thoroughly checked by an Architect or
Engineer prior to committing to the deal. You have no comeback if
you find defects later because the principal “let the buyer
beware” applies when purchasing a second hand property. Be
careful.
It is not necessary to own the Freehold of your property (i.e.
forever). Some purchasers are anxious to “buy out the ground
rent”. Often the ground rent can be as little as 5p per year
and provided the Lease is for a lengthy term it is still good
Title. However always ask your Solicitor if there are any
conditions in the Lease which may restrict your use of your new
home.
It is very important to take out a Mortgage Protection Policy to
cover your borrowing’s with the Financial Institution. In
the event of the death of the purchaser or either of them if
there are more than one the proceeds of the Mortgage Protection
Policy are used to pay off the Mortgage.
A house purchase usually takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks so be
prepared to wait. A purchaser however should try and ensure that
he or she inspects the house prior to final completion to ensure
that no damage has been done to the property and that the house
is as it was when first inspected.
For further legal advice phone 021-4966166.
THE HISTORY OF DOUGLAS
by Con FoleyPart 44 - continued from last week
MONTPELIER
Across the road to the left of Donnybrook House, could be seen
until recently the ornamental iron gates of Montpelier House. The
name itself was enscrolled on the gates. This was once the
residence of the O'Donovan. Richard O'Donovan is said to have
studied for twenty two years in the University of Toulouse, where
he obtained the degree of Doctor of Laws.
He was elected member of parliament for Baltimore but resigned to
Jeremy O'Donovan of Rinogreany. He married Catherine Ronayne of
Ronayne's Court, Rochestown (now derelict), the aunt of Mary
Ronayne, wife of Morgan O'Donovan, the ancestor of the O'Donovans
of Montpellier. Morgan O'Donovan Montpellier is listed in the
Cork Directory of 1867. (Montpellier itself, is a town in France,
31 miles south-west of Nimes. It has a university noted for its
faculty of medicine. There are distilleries, printing works and
other industries).
Colonel William O'Donovan, The O'Donovan, J.P., D.L., Chieftain
of the ancient Irish sept of o,Donovan, of Clan Cathal, Liss Ard,
Skibbereen, only son of Henry Winthrop O'Donovan, The O'Donovan,
M.A., J.P., D.L., and his wife Amelia, daughter of Courcey
O'Grady, The O'Grady of Kiliballyowen, Co. Limerick; educated at
Haileybury and Magdalen College, Oxford, B.A; Licut. Colonel
commanding 4th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusilliers, Special
Reserve (late South Cork Militia), served with the Battalion in
the Boer War 1899- 1902; mentioned in Dispatches. Justice of the
Peace and Deputy Lieutenant, Co. Cork.
DESIGNING CITIES
Forum on the Value of Urban Design
'Designing Cities' is a major forum on urban design and
development, which will take place on Tuesday June 26th in Cork¹s
Millennium Hall. Developed and organised by the National
Sculpture Factory and Cork Midsummer Festival, the forum will
provide an opportunity to explore the challenges faced by
architects, engineers, town planners and developers in meeting
new demands for redevelopment, regeneration and expansion.
The forum which will feature keynote national and international
speakers and practitioners, will be preceded on the evening of
Monday June 25th by 'Designing Cork', an outline of the Cork city
development plans and a presentation by architect Beth Galí who
is designing the redevelopment of Patrick Street. This is a free
public lecture, which will take place at 6pm in the Crawford
Municipal Gallery.
Speakers at the 'Designing Cities' forum will include, Joe
Berridge, of Urban Strategies Inc, and specialist in urban design
and development, Architect and Property Developer Roger
Zogolovitch, of Lake Estates Ltd and Joe Gavin, Cork City Manager.
The forum will feature two panel discussions, the first
'Regeneration or Redesign?' will be chaired by Noel Brady and
will feature, amongst others, Beth Galí, Neil Hegarty, Cork City
Architect, Fred Manson, Head of Regeneration and Environment in
Southwark Council, London.
The second panel event will examine the Role of the Government
and local authorities in setting the agenda to encourage better
urban design and architecture. This session will be chaired by
Sean Ó¹Laoire director and co-founder of Murray Ó¹Laoire
Architects and will feature Joanna Averley, head of Project
Enabling, Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment
UK, Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, The Irish Times and John
Fitzgerald, Dublin City Manager.
MATERNITY LEAVE
The Maternity Protection Act 1994 sets out the main entitlements
of pregnant employees. The Act applies to all pregnant employees.
There is no need to have worked for any specific period of time,
or to work any minimum hours per week. Any contract which
attempts to diminish the rights given under the Act is void.
Once a pregnancy is confirmed there is an entitlement to take
reasonable time off to attend ante and post natal medical check-ups,
without loss of pay.
The basic maternity leave entitlement is 18 weeks at least four
weeks must be taken before the birth of the baby and four weeks
after, the balance of ten weeks can be taken as the employee
decides.
It is the right to leave from employment, not paid leave, which
is covered by the Act. During these 18 weeks Maternity Benefit
may be paid by the Department of Social, Community and Family
Affairs, as long as the PRSI requirements are met . This payment
is based on a rate of 70% of the employees gross earnings subject
to a minimum of £98.70 and a maximum of £183.00.
Up to 4 weeks additional maternity leave may be taken, however,
this will not be covered by the Maternity Benefit payment.
Some contracts of employment provide for additional rights to
payment during the leave period, for example, that the employee
will receive full pay, less the amount of Maternity Benefit.
Whilst on Maternity Leave, apart from pay, the employee must be
treated as if she had been at work during her maternity leave. As
a result, if pay or other conditions have improved the employee
is entitled to benefit from that when she returns to work.
Maternity Leave cannot be counted as part of any other leave
entitlement e.g annual leave entitlement. Employees on Maternity
Leave are entitled to have the credit of any public holiday(s)
during the Leave period.
Once the maternity leave period is over there is a right for the
employee to return to the job that was previously being done by
her, on terms at least as good as were in existence before that
leave. If it is not practical for the employee to return to the
exact same job then the employer must provide them with suitable
alternative work.
Under the terms of the Act four weeks notice must be given in
writing of intention to take Maternity Leave and four weeks
notice of intention to return to work. The importance of
following these and other associated rules cannot be
overstressed, failure to do so can seriously affect the employees
rights.
This information was provided by the Citizens Information Call
Centre. The centre provides free, confidential information, on
all rights and entitlements. The service is available on lo-call
1890 777 121 from 9.30 am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
"A NONSENSE SONNET"
for Fr. Liam O'Regan , by Fr. Jim
Good.
Saint Peter was in rather nasty mood
He didn't know his new computer well.
Some saintly people nearly went to hell:
Some entered heaven who were by no means good.
"O Regan, Liam is here", said he, and stood
At heaven's gate. "A single look will tell
I've done my forty years and feel quite swell;
They said you'd let me enter if you could."
"Not quite so fast," said Peter with a frown.
"O'REGAN my computer prints 'UNKNOWN',
And first-name LIAM has no computer key.
Get back to earth, and there you'll wait and see
Your further sentence in this vale of tears:
P.P in Douglas Parish - TEN MORE YEARS."
