13th September, 2001
Notice Board

DOUGLAS COMUNITY SCHOOL

Parents Badminton Club

We are currently looking for new members to join our club. The Club meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at the Sports Hall in Douglas Community School at 9.00pm. If you are interested,you are welcome to come along any night. Contact (after 6pm) Marian Leong 4362139 or Charlie Vaughan 436990.

Back Chat: Focus on Chiropractic

Back, leg, neck, shoulder and arm pains, sports injuries, back pain in pregnancy, arthritis, headache, migraine, whiplash and disc injuries sound familiar? Have you ever considered chiropractic treatment? After medicine and dentistry, it ranks as the third largest primary healthcare profession in the western world.
What is Chiropractic? The word 'chiropractic' is derived from classical Greek and means 'done by hand'. Chiropractors are specialist manipulative practitioners who concentrate on diagnosing and treating disorders of joints, muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons. They pay attention to the spine, as its close relationship to the nervous system can result in head, arm, trunk and leg pain, pins and needles or numbness. Treatment is aimed at providing or curing symptoms such as headache, facial pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, 'frozen shoulder', 'tennis elbow', buttock, hip or groin pain, sciatica, 'slipped disc', knee and ankle pain. Chiropractors focus on adjusting the vertebrae thereby improving the function of the joints, relieving pain and muscle spasm. They also utilise treatments such as soft tissue techniques, ergonomic advice and exercises in order to promote full active rehabilitation and a prompt return to full health. Apart from x-rays for diagnosis, drugs and surgery are never used.
How did it start? The first chiropractic treatment was given by Daniel David Palmer in 1895, Davenport, Iowa, when he treated a janitor called Harvey Millard for deafness!
Chiropractic Education. A frilly trained practitioner will hold a BSc degree in chiropractic and is well educated in subject areas such as neurology, biomechanics, radiology, radiography, anatomy, physiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics and pharmacology.
An initial visit to a chiropractor can last up to one hour, with subsequent treatments of shorter duration. All treatments are subsidised by BUPA and VHI and are now available at the Douglas Village Chiropractic Clinic 021 4361559.
Dr. Nichola Dunne, Chiropractor.

RELAXATION

Learn the art of deep, physical and mental relaxation, enabling you to let go of the stress, tension and worry caused by the strains of modern living
Whatever age you are you can become that relaxed, healthy, energetic and shapely person you've always wanted to be, naturally and easily!
A session of these easily learned Yoga Postures will leave you calm, relaxed and invigorated, while giving you a supple, well-formed body.
Learning how to breathe properly through simple, effective breathing exercises, will increase your energy and give you a greater sense of well being and health while having a calming effect on the mind.
Improve your health, energy and mental state by eating correctly. Learn how to lose unwanted flab naturally, while firming up the body quickly and safely without hunger.
Yoga is popular with top models, celebrities, musicians, movie stars and business executives. Its daily practice leads to increased energy, vitality and the ability to deal with stress.
One of the great things about Yoga is that it is suitable for all age groups and there are now morning classes at the Rochestown Park Hotel as well as at the Grange/Frankfield Community Centre and the Douglas GAA club. You can now enrol for parent / child yoga classes so that family members can enjoy exercise together in a fun way. Prices vary for different courses; for example there is a five-week course for £35. And there is a six week pregnancy / post natal class for £48. For more information contact Nodlaig Twomey on her mobile at 086 8680652.

Nora Herlihy - Patron Saint of the Credit Union?
Part 4 by George Thompson

Around the time of the setting up of the Dublin Central Co-operative Society (D.C.C.S.) in 1954, a new type of organisation had also come to Nora’s attention. Developed in America, it was known as a credit union and Nora became very interested and impressed with the knowledge of this new approach.
At the time it was said that Credit Unions had played a big part in the United States in protecting wage earners from loan sharks. Credit Unions were co-operative savings banks but provided loans at reasonable and clearly understood rates of interest.In November 1954 Nora wrote to the Credit Union National Association (C.U.N.A.) in America mentioning that the society which she represented was interested in the possibility of adopting the idea of credit unions in Ireland Over the next few months the correspondence continued with the replies from America opening up all sorts of possibilities.
C.U.N.A. continued to send material and books and the information concerning one particular case which excited Nora. It was an account of how a Printing Co-op in Toronto called Garden City Press had been formed by the workers when the original firm had gone bankrupt in 1945. The Co-operative purchased all of the assets and procured a charter for a Co-operative. They elected a board of directors on a rotating basis and they in turn appointed a Manager to run the business. Profits were paid out to the workers in equal amounts or they could avail of ‘A Loan Certificate Fund’ giving them security for the future. The account concluded - “one of the co-operative’s main functions was to keep the members out of the hands of the loan ‘sharks’ who are all too prevelant.” Further communications with C.U.N.A. urged Nora on in her search for a Credit Union system for Irish needs.
By the end of 1955 the D.C.C.S. was almost a year in operation but had failed to get any practical activity off the ground to justify their ambitions. The initial enthusiasm of the committee was visibly disappearing and some members had resigned.
The D.C.C.S. was still a member of the National Co-operative Council who were supportive of Nora’s campaign with one council member recalling at the time, “it was Nora who initiated talks about Credit Unions with the Council. She was the one person who seemed to understand what the movement was all about. We on the Council, spoke of and discussed Co-operatives in general but Nora was single minded. She got her group together and explored the Credit Union System. She was very sincere and indeed the Credit Union is the biggest success of the Co-operative ventures.
The National Council decided to set up a sub committee to examine the whole field of credit unions and their application to Irish life. Nora was secretary of this sub committee and at the third meeting she proposed that they call themselves the ‘Credit Union Extension Service’ and it was the same C.U.E.S. That became the spearhead of the Credit Union Movement in Ireland.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS

Cork Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Public Enterprise,Mary O’Rourke, T.D., sanctioning the expenditure of £86m for much needed developments at Cork Airport.
In it’s recent submission to the Aviation Commission, the Chamber, on behalf of a widely representative Cork Consortium, strongly argued for the implementation of the current investment programme. The existing terminal and car parks were built to accommodate 1 million passengers and are now catering for 1.8 million passengers. The proposed investment is in fact essentially ‘overdue catch up investment’.
Michael Geary, the Chief Executive of Cork Chamber of Commerce stated that “the Consortium emphasised in it’s submission that the need for the investment was to meet customer demands for enhanced facilities and thus ensure that Cork Airport was not at a competitive disadvantage in the widest.

DOUGLAS CYCLES

At Douglas / Cycles and prams we now have in stock a large range of Christmas bikes to suit all ages. From little two year old boys and girls right up to adult mountain bikes, tourers and racers. And to make paying for your Christmas a little easier, Douglas/Cycles and Prams have now opened their Christmas club. We also guarantee an excellent after sales service and indeed with every new bike sold the first service is absolutely free! Why not pay a visit to our nursery department (located upstairs) where we stock Graco, Brevi, Britax and other baby products to cater for new-borns to toddlers.
Leeside Cycling Club together with their main sponsor Douglas Cycles / Prams would like to say "Well done" to all members who attended racing, touring and triathlon events this year and especially to our club member Tim Barry a word of congratulations for his success on the National and International road racing circuit. New members are always welcome to Leeside Cycling Club which emphasises that they are mainly a touring / leisure club. Training spins will continue throughout the winter months every Tuesday and Thursday at 6.15pm. Leaving Douglas Cycles / Prams. For more information contact Brian Lynch at 4364340, so why not call Douglas Cycles / Prams and order you Christmas bike today.

MOTORING MOMENTS

Before he ever raced cars Tazio Nuvolari won 300 odd motorcycle races. The Monza Grand Prix 1928 is the one best remembered as he had a bad spill in practice and broke both legs. The doctors put casts on his legs and told him to resign himself to a month in hospital. On the morning of the race he was on the starting line , legs in plaster and tried to the bike. Two mechanics held him upright until he got underway and stood bye to catch him at the end. He raced 300Klm, won and coasted in at 3mph to be caught by the mechanics.
Dan Dempsey's 24 hour rescue & Recovery, Kinsale 086-8217777

RENT ALLOWANCE - THE FACTS

Rent Supplement or Rent Allowance as it is more commonly known is a payment available from the Health Boards for unemployed people living in the private rented sector. This includes people on various schemes including Community Employment and Back to Work/Employment schemes, subject to income levels
Depending on the amount of rent paid, claimants in Cork currently receive up to £52.50 per week for a single person living alone, or £152.50 per week for a lone parent or couple with three or more children Similar payment's are available for unemployed people with mortgages
Potential claimants are advised to visit their local Community Welfare Officer and are advised that each case is assessed on its own merits. Also everyone is entitled to an appeal written or oral, through the Community Welfare Officer if they are not happy with his/her decision.
On a cautionary note, for a variety of reasons many landlords will not accept tenants claiming rent supplement. If adverts for houses specify "'professionals only", this may be translated as "we do not accept rent supplement". Rent supplement can be paid direct to the landlord or to the claimant but, generally, landlords are required to sign acceptance to form for the Health Board every six months.
If you require further advice or information on rent supplement or on any other housing matter please call Threshold on (021) 427 1250 or contact our website on www.threshold.ie
The Threshold advice centre in Cork is at 8 Father Mathew Quay, (beside Holy Trinity Church) and opens from 9.30 -1pm and 2 - 5pm.

DOUGLAS HARMONIA SINGERS

Every area or community has it's own Choir/Choral Group and Douglas is no exception. Douglas Harmonia Singers are a choir based in the Douglas area. It is a mixed voice choir male/female, soprano, alto, tenor and base. Our repertoire is varied from light and romantic pieces to more classical choral pieces. We meet every Monday night 7.45p.m.,for practice at Ardfallen Centre on the Douglas Road. This wonderful facility is made available to us by the Wesley community, and we really appreciate it's warmth and comfort on cold winter nights.
We participate annually in the Cork Choral Festival, various other competitions, concerts, carols at Christmas, and interc-hoir social events throughout the year. We have won many prizes and accolades over the years, e.g., 1st. prize in our category at Feis Maitiu for two consecutive years.
Choir practice resumes this week after a two months Summer break . We would dearly love to increase our size and strength for the coming year, and the future. The choir is currently 35 strong. Douglas is a large and growing area, with many people, no doubt, who enjoy singing, so why not join us? An ability to read music is not necessary.
The choir will hold an 'Open Night' on Monday 24th September 8.OOp.m., at Ardfallen Centre (next to the Briar Rose) all are welcome to come and hear us and enjoy a cup of tea and a bun.
If you would like to know more about the choir you may contact: Tony 0'Mahony at (087) 6847664 / Noelle Nolan at 4361261 / Jo Madden at 4895007

CARRIGALINE TOASTMASTERS

Following the summer break, Carrigaline Toastmasters first meeting will took place last Monday the 11th of September in the Carrigaline Court.
Although you may or may not have heard about Toastmasters previously this is the core of what Toastmasters offers. The opportunity to everyone to improve communication skills, be more effective in meetings and get points across more concisely. It is impossible to sum up what you can learn and how you can benefit from the club in a short article, but once the initial step is made to attend a meeting most never turn back.
The ability to communicate is a highly regarded skill and the Toastmasters club can help you develop your ability to communicate and build your confidence. Members move entirely at their own pace and are encouraged every step of the way.
Members have opportunities to: Learn and practice techniques of effective public speaking. Prepare and deliver formal speeches on subjects of their own choosing. Give impromptu talks on assigned topics. Gain speaking experience that relates to specific career needs. Sharpen their listening/evaluation skills. Learn proper parliamentary procedure. Gain valuable leadership management experience. Gain personal confidence that will help when speaking to one person or one thousand.
All existing members are familiar with the venue and times, for anyone looking for a club to join for the coming winter months, meetings are from 8-10pm with a break for coffee and Guests are most welcome.

CLLR. DEIRDRE FORDE WRITES ...

Readers, l am writing with mixed feelings this week as our Community has been traumatised by events over the past few days. All I and anyone else can do is offer our prayers, love and support to all concerned and hope our community will emerge in the future an even more closely-knit mutually supportive and caring one.
CaIderwood residents have asked that Council to upgrade the area near the 'crash barrier' on Caldewood Road. By this they mean clearing deadwood and trimming overgrowth and supplying shrubs for planting at this stretch. Council have agreed to this and the residents would help maintain the area thereafter.
Rochestown residents have again asked me to pursue the matter of a footpath on the Rochestown Road between Coach Hill and Bambury House and also the provision of a Bus
Shelter at the Bus Stop. I will be discussing same at the next Area Road Committee and
Expect they will contact Bus Eireann on the matter.
Taking in Charge: I have been informed that the Council is considering a policy decision on Marklands Wood / Delfern Grove Estates and are hopeful that Contract Documents can be issued by the end of September 2001. Once the tenders have been received and accepted then it is hoped that work on the estates can begin in the New Year. Also Phases 1-5 Westgrove Castletreasure Title documents are currently with the County Solicitor. Estates Dept are awaiting the submission of "as constructed" drawings at which time I am confident matters will progress fairly quickly.
I have also written to the Engineers 'with regard to the resurfacing of Gartan Park. Indeed. Indeed there has been so much going on in this area. The residents deserve all the roads to be upgraded as soon as possible.
Cllr Deirdre Forde ph: 4363318

THE MISSING LINK

Hidden there upon the bookshelf,
An old familiar book,
That for some impulsive reason,
I reached out and took
And I found between the pages,
In a place I'd never look,
And just how it came to be there,
Don't ask, 'cause I don't know,
That little note that I once wrote
To Nellie, long ago.

My heart and soul got all shook up,
That blast from history
Made golden moments live once more
Within my memory,
God knows such things that might have been,
Were never meant to be,
And why - I never sent it,
It's too late now, to know,
That little note that I once wrote
To Nellie, long ago

Ronnie McGinn.

Cllr. DEIRDRE CLUNE WRITES ...

Good News for Douglas

Cork Corporation’s transportation committee, in conjunction with Bus Eireann has approved the provision of a bus priority route from Douglas to the City centre and this should greatly reduce the journey time and encourage commuters to use buses particularly as they are to be quicker and more efficient.
Obviously not all of the route can accommodate a bus lane but lanes dedicated specifically for buses will be accommodated where space allows and buses will be given priority at junctions and wherever they have to negotiate in traffic. The success of the QBC’s (Quality Bus Corridors) in Dublin have been proven beyond doubt. Buses, dedicated bus routes and more of them will play an important role in facilitating the movement of people in Cork in the immediate future.
Traffic congestion and endless queues continue to be one of the major issues facing residents in the Douglas area. This week, ‘back to school week’ has seen a return to the gridlock as we join queues to exit housing estates, to join another queue to get onto the local road or the link road.
Public Transport is the only real alternative to solving traffic problems. If the public are assured of a regular, reliable, efficient service then they will use it and leave their cars behind. Bus Eireann have been asking the Corporation to facilitate their service as traffic is acting against them. C.I.E.’s annual report for 2000 stated that peak journey times from Donnybrook to the City centre was 25 minutes in 1991. It increased to 30 minutes in 1997 and has now increased to 45 minutes (longer I would say!) in 2001. So the challenge is to encourage commuters to leave the car at home.

Deirdre Clune, T.D.

THE HISTORY OF DOUGLAS

Part 56 - Education on the Move -
continued from last week

In the new modern schools, which include 'Facilities for the Deaf' , have at the present moment, appointments for sixty-five teachers. Contrast that with the three teachers just a hundred years ago! Even allowing for the smaller numbers in present day classes, it will give a clear indication of the 'population explosion' in this district.
To show this startling development in another way, would be to state that the number of Douglas children today receiving primary and secondary education is far more than the entire population of the district forty years ago.
The Mary Anne Hogan mentioned already (see last week's Douglas Weekly) lived in "An Crianan" (The Sun Bower) now the local C.A.A. Club just below the boys' school. This school (and St. Mary's Presbytery) occupy some of the land donated by the Hogan family, years ago. In this way the connection of the Hogan family with the school has been revived and continued. The register for Douglas Boys R.C. School in 1856 gives the following enrolment:
1st Class 25
2nd 22
Sequel 9
3rd 11
4th 3
Total 70

A glance at this table readily indicates the drop in numbers proceeding to the higher standards. This figure of 70 must be viewed in its historical context, also bearing in mind that the Act establishing the Board of Commissioners for "National Education" (the italics are mine) was but twenty five years old. The enrolment increased with the passage of years and by 1874, a fifth standard appears on the school register. A monitor was in charge of the junior group, an assistant teacher for the middle group and the senior classes were taught by the principal. By 1885 there were two fifth classes on register, known as VI and V2. The register for I877 makes interesting reading particularly from the point of view of the disparity of ages in the higher standards.

A footnote on each page of the school register would be of interest to the parents, pupils (and teachers!) of today. It stated that "The Attendance's entered should have reference Only To The First Five Schooldays Of The Week. Saturday Attendance's are not to be counted under any circumstances."

Music Review

‘Is This It?’ – The Strokes by Aoife Barry

They wear Converse All-Star trainers, leather jackets, skinny ties and pinstripe suits. One of them has a semi-afro. They sound like the Velvet Underground and Thin Lizzy. The lead singer is called Julian Casablancas. Who are they? Only the most hyped band of the year – The Strokes! With five Q stars, numerous gigs, and a cult following under their belt, The Strokes are fast becoming one of the biggest bands all year – and listening to their debut album, ‘Is This It?’, it isn’t very hard to see why.
Weighing in at only 36 minutes, it takes a very, very tight band to pull off something this good, and by all means they’re musically tight – in fact the only thing remotely ‘loose’ about the album is Casablanca’s vocals – gruff at times, incoherent at another, yet all the while charmingly so. In fact, while most of the time you can’t make out what he is saying, you get a definite sense that the lyrics certainly do mean something to him, that lines like ‘New York City cops/they ain’t so smart’ (New York City Cops) or ‘put on your new trench coat’ could possibly have an infinitely deeper meaning. But even if they don’t, (and they probably don’t!), it’s all part of this NYC boy’s charms.
Each and every song (especially ‘Hard to Explain’, ‘Soma’, ‘Someday’ and the very cool ‘Last Nite’) makes you want to get up and prance around the room like you have ants in your (tight) pants and shake your booty to these white boys funky music – it’s like a little bit of the seventies in your own living room. (Anyone who suggests I actually did this is er... so wrong.) But you get a bit of a shock when you find out that this distinctly seventies music was created by twenty somethings still in their diapers when the forerunners of rock were making records. Stuck in a time warp they may be, but they sound great all the same! This is in effect the only thing that even slightly perturbed me about the Strokes – they may be original for 2001, but that’s only because this music hasn’t been done since around 1979!
But this aside, it is obvious that these guys are born to be rock stars – as a glance at the inlay card will attest to. Black and white grainy shots of the band only serve to cement their rock status – and make a good substitute cover if, like me, you’d prefer to look at them rather than the perky posterior on the front! Public Enemy may have said ‘Don’t believe the hype’, but I can guarantee you that this is one situation where you can believe whatever you want!
9/10 – Buy it!
MUSIC NEWS:
The MTV Music Video Awards took place last week, and as usual there were a few surprising moments (Mudvayne winning the MTV2 award), a few predictable moments (Lady Marmalade winning way too many awards) and a few cringeworthy moments (Eve’s luminous dress, almost everyone being completely unable to read the prompter properly). All in all it was pretty unspectacular, but it beats watching Pat Kenny anyday!……….The Handsome Family play Pine Lodge, Myrtleville, the 29th October. If dark, off the wall alternative country is your thing, then check it out – I will be!……..Dj Otzi and his absolutely abominable song have been knocked off the top spot, finally, by none other than Eve and Gwen Stefani – and about time too!……..Victoria Beckham appeared on T4 on Channel 4 on Sunday and did a great job of lip-synching her new song……………Local Douglas band X31 played a gig alongside Barberskum, PCF, and the new and improved No Remorse at the Attic recently. They are definitely ones to look out for – remember you heard it here first!…….Finally, look out for my review of Wyclef Jean’s album, ‘The Ecleftic’ next week!

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