13th June, 2002
Notice
Board
THE LAW AND YOUR DOG
Cork County Council Veterinary Department, Control of Dogs Act,
1986 & 1992; Control of Dogs Regulations 1998
On the 1st February 1999 new Regulations came into effect
regarding dog control.
All dogs must be licensed.
The annual dog licence fee is £10 (€ 12.70)
Licences can be purchased at any post office
The general dog licence, relating to an unspecified number of
dogs at a specified
premises, is £200. (€ 253.95)
All dogs must wear collar identification
All dogs must be under effective control while in a public place
Certain breeds of dogs must be muzzled and leashed at all times
while in a public place namely: the American Pit Bull Terrier,
English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff,
Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Rhodesian Ridgeback,
Rothweiler, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa and Bandog and every
other strain or cross of every breed or type of dog described
above.
Fines of up to £1,000 (€ 1269.74) can be imposed for
breaches of the above legislation.
If you do not hold a current dog licence when the dog warden
calls, or if you are in breach of any of the above legislation,
you can be liable for a fine of £25 (€31.70) for each
offence, or a fine of £1,000 (€ 1269.74) for each offence
if taken to court.
Under the anti-litter legislation, dog owners are also required
to clean up if their dog fouls certain public places. £50 (€
63.49) On The Spot Fine,
Maximum fine £1,500 (€ 1904.62)
Copies of the legislation can be obtained from the Government
Publications Sales Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 1.
CORK HOCKEY SUMMER CAMP
With the arrival of the school summer holidays,
kids this year are being offered a unique opportunity in the Cork
area with the Cork Summer Hockey Camp, which is being run in
Ashton School, Blackrock in the first week of July. The camp is
aimed at 11 – 14 year olds, and caters for both boys and
girls of all levels and skills.
With the main focus of the camp concentrating on skill
development and team play, participants will also learn the
importance of stretching in sport and game tactics in a fun and
friendly environment. They will be encouraged to learn
creativeness within the game and will leave the camp a better,
all round player.
The daily schedule consists of a warm-up, followed by two
sessions of skills development, interrupted by a break. After
lunch, there will be another activity such as rounders or
football and in the final afternoon session the skills learned in
the morning will be incorporated into a match situation. On
Friday there will be a tournament followed by an award ceremony,
where participants will be presented with t-shirts, awards for
improvement and medals, as well as a personalised written
evaluation from the coaches. Each day will be based on enjoyment
with plenty of time for participants to experiment with and
increase their range of skills.
The camp will have three experienced coaches, two of whom coach
senior ladies’ teams. Camp directors Simon MacAllister and
Philip Oakley wanted to provide the young hockey players in Cork
with an opportunity to stay in touch with their skills that they
have learnt in school and to develop youth hockey in the area.
With the recent decline of players in schools hockey, this is
seen as a welcome opportunity to increase and maintain numbers
within the game and to encourage more kids to play hockey.
With the cancellation of the Kilkenny Hockey Camp this summer,
the Cork Hockey Summer Camp will no doubt prove to be a success
for the sport of hockey in the region as interest has been huge.
For more information on the camp phone Simon MacAllister on 086
8304580 or Philip Oakley on 086 8252046, but hurry because places
are limited!
BOYHOOD DAYS OF YORE
by Ger O'Regan
The very early years were spent with summer holidays in Drinagh,
West Cork and day trips to Inchageelagh and Kilnamartyra. The
latter to those beautiful parts of mid-cork. We had cousins by
marriage in Kilnamartyra and'' real cousins'' in Inchageelagh. As
a child, I was intrigued by the sight of the gold in a tributary
of the river Lee that flowed through Inchageelagh. My cousins
still own a pub there. When Kathleen, Margaret and Ann were
younger, they would take care of me. Margaret would take me to
bring in the cows and help me to avoid the ‘cowpats’.
As I stood on the bridge then, I remarked how wealthy my cousins
were, having seen all that gold in the river. Of course it was
many years later that I realised that the gold was indeed
''bottle caps''. Grandfather Galvin was born outside
Inchageelagh, back in the mountains near the main road to Macroom.
When he was younger, he built with his bare hands, a grotto
dedicated to' “Our Lady''. This grotto still stands today.
During the time of the “Moving Statues”, Mam, Dad and I
visited another grotto outside Inchageelagh on the Dunmanway road.
Till the day I die, I swear it happened. but no statue moved for
me. As we knelt before the statue of the Blessed Virgin, the
metal that ran through my rosary beads, changed its colour from
silver to gold. I didn’t need to go anywhere, because I
believe anyway.
Grandmother Galvin came from Leap in West Cork. I spent many a
happy childhood day and weekend in Kilnamartyra with my cousins
through marriage. Uncle Jim, whom I adored, came from there.
Every Saturday morning he'd go home and my days were literally
spent with Robert, John Philomena, Eddie, Donal and Willie
playing my favourite ‘Cowboys and Indians’ on and
around ''Burkes Rock’’, which was a hilly outcrop
overlooking Ballyvourney, Mons and Macroom with Mullaghanish in
the distance, a beautiful sight. Lunch or dinner as it was known
then, was made by Agnes whom I also adored, a lovely lady from
Kealkil who was married to Mick, Jim’s brother. As we tired
of our cowboy game, we concentrated on Robert's excellent
collection of lead Toy Soldiers, Cowboys and Indians. We built
our fort on sand and the Indians in those days ''threw'' huge
rocks. I believe several wars were won by the Indian section. As
I tired of this, I concentrated on reading Roberts comics such as
'' The Victor” and the much favoured 64 pager ''The
Commando''. Kilnamartyra Hall, now a garage was a haven for kids,
but beyond the stage was ''the pit''. I was scared to go there.
As Jim and I prepared to go home, my heart would be torn by
wanting ''to stay on'' with my cousins. Today sadly, Agnes, Mick,
Jim and Sheila have all passed to their eternal reward. R.I.P.
More next week
NOTICE BOARD
Church of Ireland
Saturday June 15 2002 THE DIOCESAN SYNOD 2002 will be held in the
Rochestown Park Hotel. Bishop Paul Colton, President of the
Synod, will take the chair at 11 am and, following initial
formalities, will give his Presidential Address. (National as
well as local matters are usually covered here) The Diocesan
Synod is the Diocesan AGM when reports are presented and,
hopefully, lively and productive debates follow each of these.
"Rekindling the wonder - for a
new lease of life"
Due to the very popular feedback from the recent "Rekindling
the wonder ""workshop a further workshop has had to be
arranged in St.Dominic's Retreat Centre, Ennismore, Montenotte.
If you are feeling stressed out or fear you have lost your
creative spark then this workshop is specially for you -"you
will be helped to access your creative energies in a way that
brings health to body and soul" , says facilitator Martina
Lehane.
Gentle relaxation exercises, guided visualisation, creative dance
and movement will be used at this workshop which takes place on
Wednesday 3rd July 2002 from 10.30a.m. - 5.00p.m., at a special
subsidised cost of only 10.00 Euro. Booking is essential. Contact:
Mary Corcoran (021) 4502520.
CHASE to mark World No Incineration
Day
With 'Picnic on the Prom' at Cobh on Sun, 16 June 2002
The First Global No Incineration Day is planned for 17 June 2002,
where organizations and citizens around the world will use the
event to highlight the efforts being made to close down cancer-causing
incinerators and highlight the environmentally-safer alternatives
now readily available.
CHASE - Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment - have chosen to
join the global events with a 'PICNIC on the PROM' event to take
place on Cobh's famous promenade. This will take place on Sunday,
16th June, (also Father's Day) and families are invited to bring
their picnics and partake in this event. Entertainment will be
provided by Cobh Confraternity Band and families can partake in
an escorted historical walking tour of Cobh which will be led by
Mick Martin, who is renowned for an in-depth knowledge of Cobh's
heritage.
The event will highlight the dangers posed to the Cork population
by the proposed Hazardous Waste Incinerator, for which Indaver
Irl. Ltd. have an application for planning permission lodged
before Cork County Council. For further information contact: Ann
Kirwan Tel: 437 8151 / Audrey Hogan, 087 6347827
DOUGLAS ISSUES
Now that the dust has settled
after the General Election there is plenty to keep us busy at a
local level. Not least of these is the ongoing traffic hold ups.
The sum of 300,000 punts were set aside in the Estimates (last
November) for the implementation of some recommendations of the
Douglas Traffic Plan but the delay in getting the work started is
a sad reflection on the operational system of the Council. I know
that staff resources are limited but I believe that in a largely
populated area like Douglas, any work that will alleviate the
congestion should be fast tracked. I will be pressing for the
work to be done (Traffic lights at Daily’s; Traffic Lights
at Rochestown Road; Pedestrian Crossing at Parkgate) before the
School Term in September.
Broadale Estate will be going before the Areas Roads committee
next week for recommendation for Taking in Charge; it will then
go to Full Council for ratification. Council has also installed
some public lights in Maryborough Estate and also a light across
from Douglas Community Park at my request. The lights in Delfern
Grove Lisadell and Kevington Close, Grange Heights both require
ducting which increases the cost and therefore will take a little
more time but should be completed before the winter. Council also
trimmed overhanging trees in Alden, which was cause of some
concern.
I intend to ask the Council to examine the feasibility of
widening the road to facilitate parking on road opposite the
Ulster Bank. I notice that on weekends especially cars are parked
on either side of road and the two-way flow at East Village is
held up unnecessarily.
The Boy's Brigade 1st Cork Company recently held their Annual
Inspection, Display, Promotions and Awards Ceremony in St Lukes
School to which I was very kindly invited. What a night it was,
an excellent display of marching, games and a sketch. There was
much enthusiasm and the young members and young adult members did
themselves their leaders and families proud.
I cannot give enough praise and recognition to the voluntary work
and time spent each week by the leaders such as Captain Paul
Smyth, Michelle de Foubert, and Lieut. Andrew Whittaker and their
colleagues. Week in and week out they endeavour to instil in
their members (some very young) a spirit of teamwork, discipline,
leadership and fun. I hope that they continue to grow their
membership and would encourage young people in the area to
consider joining such activities in the future. More next week....Deirdre
Phone 0872837780 or 021 4363318
GARDENING INJURIES
Dr. Nichola Dunne BSc. (Chiropractic);
D.C. (Member of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland).
After a hard day at work, many of us find that the ideal way to
let off steam is by getting some fresh air in the garden. However
occasional we tend to our gardens, we must still make sure we are
well prepared for this kind of exertion. Below is a summary of
the risks involved, and some chiropractic tips on minimising the
dangers.
Garden work is a common cause of backache, because this
apparently restful activity uses actions, which are otherwise
rarely performed. Stooping and bending places strain on the
spine, which can give rise to a dull ache over the following few
days. It is important to do a simple warm-up such as walking
followed by muscle stretching exercises. Your chiropractor can
recommend stretches designed to improve muscle stamina.
Chiropractors see hundreds of patients whose injuries have been
brought on by hobbies such as gardening. People who lead a
sedentary lifestyle, and who suddenly exert themselves with
weekend gardening, often find that the unaccustomed actions bring
about pain and injury apparently disproportionate with the level
of activity. The prolonged stretching and heavy lifting involved
in gardening, for example, can lead to pinched nerves in the
lower back.
Chiropractic tips for gardeners:
Do not bend when you can kneel.
Kneel on one leg rather than bending from the hips. Avoid sudden
pulling movements for example when removing tree roots dig and
cut them out properly rather than pulling at them.
Lift with your knees keeping your back straight.
Do not overreach, but work as close to the job as comfortably
possible.
Keep your back hollow while digging. Use your legs rather than
your back.
Vary tasks throughout the day rather than slogging away at one
thing. Select three jobs that require different physical
activity, for example mowing, weeding and digging. Allot 20
minutes in every hour to each task
Choose tools which minimise bending or reaching, such as forks,
rakes, pruning shears and long handled hoes.
Take manageable loads on a wheel barrow rather than one large one
that risks low back strain.
When you have finished gardening avoid slouching in front of the
television on a soft couch. Ensure that your lumbar spine
receives necessary support when you relax. Many problems are
compounded by overstretching warm and tired ligaments in a
slouched position after a day’s work.
If you experience pain after gardening, consult your chiropractor
immediately.
How can chiropractic help?
Chiropractors lead the way in an approach to healthcare that
focuses on helping each individual obtain optimum well being.
Chiropractors believe that good health depends upon having your
spine and nervous system working at their best. Chiropractors
ensure that your nervous system, which is like a “communication
superhighway” is able to relay information back and forth
between your body and brain. By correcting spinal misalignments
of the spinal bones by a series of adjustments, chiropractors can
ensure that the spine and nervous system are functioning properly.
The most common conditions which chiropractors treat are low back
pain, headaches, neck pain, and arm and leg pain. For enquiries/appointments
phone Dr. Nichola Dunne BSc; D.C. at the Douglas Village
Chiropractic Clinic 021- 4361559.
MOTORING - FIESTY NEW FIESTA
by George Thompson
With the introduction of the Focus
to replace the Escort and the re-shaping of the Mondeo, I guess
it was inevitable that the engineers at Ford were to give the
trusty Fiesta a new look and this they did. While the All New
Fiesta won’t be available to buy until probably August, C.A.B.
At Monahan Road have a demo model which Douglas Weekly got hold
of last week.
The Ford Fiesta, since its original launch way back when, has
been a popular leader in the small car market and with this major
re vamp in style, performance and safety the ‘little’
Ford should maintain its popularity.
It is fair to say that the New Fiesta is more than a little like
the Focus in shape but I feel that the Fiesta has a lot more
character than its big brother. Launched in Malaga, Spain last
March, the new Fiesta will be officially launched on the |Irish
market at Ford week in Crosshaven in July.
The new Fiesta’s wheel base is 41mm longer than before and
is higher and wider than the current model giving overall more
space within the cabin. The interior is a breath of fresh air,
plenty of storage spaces, dash readouts come in a mix of the
usual dials and more up to date LED readouts. The drivers
position is very comfortable with adjustable steering wheel and
all controls close at hand. The new higher mounted gear shift
allows for a smoother gear change, further enhancing the comfort
of driving this car. A larger glass area means more visibility
and the added third window on each side gives rear seat
passengers more light. The model I drove had the 1.4 engine which
I found very responsive and complimented by power steering made
the Fiesta a fun and practical car to drive. With the now 14 inch
wheels pushed further to the corners of the Fiesta, the handling
and suspension was magnificent magnificent. Boot space is on a
par with the current mode, but a huge plus is that the spare
wheel is now located in the boot and not as it used to be, in its
own cradle under the car.
The New Fiesta comes in a variety of colours and standard
features include driver/ passenger airbags, CD Player, Side
Impact Protection Beams and immobiliser. Engine sizes vary from 1.3,
1.4 and 1.6 while a 1.4 diesel model will also be coming on line.
Prices start at 14,895 euro for the 1.3 Finesse 5Dr. to 18,295
euro for the 1.6 Ghia. As with all other new Ford models, the
Fiesta comes with a Two Year Warranty.
All in all, thumbs up for this ‘smiling’ car.......go
see for yourself.
Ratings....Fiesta 1.4 LX
Styling (Interior) *****
(Exterior) ****
Performance ****
Ride & Handling ****
Accommodation *****
Costs ****
Overall Rating ****
Standard Features Include.
> P.A.S.
> Driver & Pass. Air Bags
> CD Hi FI System
> Engine Immobiliser.
> Side Impact Beams.
BIG BROTHER - Third Time Unlucky?
by Aoife Barry
It’s hard to believe that
this year sees the third series of Big Brother, the reality TV
show where the contestants battle it out for £70,000 while their
every move is filmed and they have to survive weekly evictions at
the hands of the unforgiving public. I would be lying if I said I
wasn’t a regular watcher of the last two series, even if it
was only the last few weeks of the show that I was glued to the
screen every night for. At first, I found the whole thing
fascinating – just why would anyone want to live in a house,
with complete strangers, while their every move was filmed? Never
mind the inevitable scenario once they were out of the house,
when they would be instantly recognizable and have to put up with
constant tabloid kiss-and-tells by their ex-flames. If you take
part in Big Brother, it became apparent after the first series
was over and miniature builder Craig was proclaimed the winner,
your life will never be the same again.
The secret behind the success of Big Brother is not very complex
– it lies in our innate human inquisitiveness, our
insatiable need to know everything about people. Watching 10 (or
12, as is the case this year), hapless people live their life out
before our very eyes makes us feel very content, allowing us to
judge their every move, secure in the knowledge that we would
never have to go through such a thing ourselves. Human beings are
essentially voyeuristic in nature, and Big Brother expertly preys
on this voyeuristic streak. In essence, one could say that
everybody wins – the contestants achieve the fame they so
desperately crave, and the viewers can nose away to their hearts’
content, even being able to vote out contestants that they do not
particularly like.
But while in the past two years the contestants have been for the
most part quite likeable (even ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman had
his moments), it seems as though this year the Big Brother
producers may have struck it third time unlucky. So far, one of
the contestants, Sunita Sharma, has left the show and proclaimed
it a “pantomime”, there have been numerous bouts of in-fighting
regarding some of the housemates’ ‘toilet habits’,
and one of the housemates, Jade, has been branded a ‘pig’
by more than one TV host for her unfortunate resemblance to a
certain pink farmyard animal. In fact, far from the last two
series when the contestants were actually nice people, even given
their various quirks and foibles, in this third series, it is
hard to find a likable person out of any of the housemates. They
all seem too guarded (Adele), too broody (Spencer), too boring (P.J,
Sandy, Lee, Lynne), too fake (Kate, Jonny), too loud (Alison,
Jade), or too…piggy (guess who?)! Now that they’ve
gotten rid of Alison, (who in fairness did have her many good
points once she kept her gob shut) and Lynne – the only one
how told Jade she’s be nicer if she shut up – there’s
less housemates to annoy me, which can only be a good thing. Hey,
whaddya mean I’m hard to please?!
In truth, I think they should have finished the series after the
adorable Brian won the show last year. There was no chance that
they would ever be able to repeat the farcical relationship
between Helen and Paul, the sheer kookiness of Brian’s camp
antics, or the whole ‘flirty Mel’ saga from the
previous series. You can’t come close to duplicating those
two series, so why try? By now the public knows more about Big
Brother and the Big Brother game than they did at the start, so
there is no sense of anticipation or surprise, no matter how many
tricks the game’s producers have up their sleeves –
even the poor house/rich house scenario that was introduced at
the weekend. They are going to have to come up with something
totally different next year if they want to have a successful Big
Brother 4 – a different formula perhaps? How about, no dizzy
blondes, no good-looking men with goatees, no ex-strippers, no
fledgling love affairs between people who already have partners…On
second thought, it probably wouldn’t be the Big Brother we
all know and love if it didn’t have these elements, it would
just be like real life. And it’s no fun watching normal
people live their lives, now is it?
DOUGLAS WEEKLY SURVEY
Three years ago the Douglas Weekly
asked Dúcas about Dundannion Castle. “Where is it?”
They asked. “In Blackrock, Cork “ we replied. “ We
never heard of it “ they told us. “How come you have a
preservation order on it?” We asked. “ Oh” they
said, “ we’ll look it up and ring you back”. Now
three years late we ‘re still waiting for that call.
Two years ago we asked the Central Statistics Office “ How
many dog licences are there in Ireland? “We don’t know,
you’ll have to ask the Gardai ” they told us. We
discovered that the Gardai (understandably) only kept records of
their own areas.
We ran into a similar vague response when we inquired about The
Irish Medicines Board. No one could tell us the occupations of
the board members or their connections, if any, to the
Pharmaceutical Company’s.
All this motivated us to employ the services of a professional
survey company and carry out our own surveys and collect our own
information. Naturally enough The Douglas Weekly is only
interested in matters that concern our readers, so we started
with shopping. Our surveyors covered a random selection of
households in the Western side of Douglas from Donnybrook to
Turners Cross. We must emphasise the survey only covers part of
the entire Douglas area, but the results are food for thought
Question 1 Are you responsible for the main grocery in this
household ?
Yes 64% No 36%
Question 2 In what supermarket do you do your shopping ?
Tesco 34% Dunnes 16% Breens 2% Supervalue Carrigaline 2%
Tesco & Dunnes equally 4% Don’t Know 42 %
Question 3 What is the main reason for shopping in this
supermarket ?
Convenience 42 % Value for money 16% Force of habit 8%
Don’t Knows 32%
Next week we ask about the pub trade. If you have any subjects
you would like to have included in our survey, please write to us
at St. Patrick’s Mills.
Chaos for Douglas traffic as rain pours down
by Maurice Fitzgerald.
THE extent to which Douglas remains a bottleneck for traffic is further exasperated by rainfall, bringing Douglas to a standstill. Traffic congestion in Douglas doubles when bad weather arrives, clogging roads and making it impossible for any normal flow of traffic. This is not just confined to peak times, but for most of the time when the heavens open up. Drivers going to work need to get up earlier to allow for the chaos that awaits them in Douglas and in the city. The pressure involved for parents taking young children to school can he enormous and unbearable at times. Notwithstanding the traffic moving through Cork city, Douglas can develop long periods of gridlock, with a tailback stretching all the way into the city. Car-sharing or bus services must be considered as real alternatives to tackle what's becoming a losing battle for the people living and working in Douglas. Businesses operating in Douglas are put under added pressure when waiting for deliveries to arrive, because of the critical infrastructure crisis that now faces Douglas. The danger involved for children going to school is obvious enough when one considers the close proximity of schools to major roads. It must be pointed out that stopping distances are reduced significantly in the rain, for drivers who have to act quickly in the case of emergency. School children are very much at risk from the overload of traffic coming into Douglas, where the odds of a serious accident are increased exponentially when traffic volumes swell. Even with the best drivers in the world, small children can be unpredictable and oblivious to the danger that awaits them on the road. Roundabouts seem to be our arch nemesis at times: the reason for this can be seen when one looks at the number of roads serviced by a single roundabout, and why all roundabouts should have no more than a small number of exits. Drivers may need to look at the routes they take travelling to work each day, and assess whether these routes are the correct routes for their journey; there may be some cost effective alternative routes for those who take the time to figure out a different route. The knock-on effects for long periods of time spent in traffic; are increased travel costs going to and from a destination, reduced worker performance because of stress, and earlier rising times for everybody. The future for Douglas does seem to be bleak, with no short term plan in place to relieve traffic gridlock for the thousands- yes, thousands of cars that enter Douglas everyday. Once upon a time, people in Douglas and beyond used to marvel at the finger post in Douglas as a pivotal point in its cultural identity, those days have been overshadowed somewhat by the suburban city that is now called- Douglas.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Question I believe that you can
now claim income tax relief on maternity care expenses. Can you
please give the details?
Answer You can claim tax relief for certain medical expenses
incurred by you whether for yourself your spouse and certain
relatives and dependants. You cannot claim for any expenditure
that will be reimbursed by, for example, VHI. The relief is given
at your highest tax rate subject to a minimum threshold, which
you must pay.
The Finance Act 2001 provided for income tax relief on "routine
maternity care". Prior to 6 April 2001, routine maternity
treatment covering the first 14 days of treatment in a hospital
and all treatment and care not provided by the hospital was not
allowable.
It was the practice of the Revenue Commissioners to treat
expenditure incurred on a caesarean section operation as outside
the scope of the relief for years prior to 2001. Following a
review of the position, income tax relief will be granted for
expenditure incurred in relation to caesarean section operations
carried out prior to 6 April 2001.
The normal time limits for repayment claims will apply to any
claim made for years of assessment prior to 2001.
Further information is available from your local tax office and
from the Citizens Information Centre below.
This column has been compiled by Cobh Citizens Information
Centre, which provides a free and confidential service to the
public. Tel: 021 4814422 Address: Parish Centre, Roches Row, Cobh
