3rd May, 2001
On Monday evening at about five o’clock I
attempted to drive from Donnybrook into Douglas West, but the
traffic was moving at a snails pace. When I eventually got to the
top of the hill and passed the traffic lights I could see what
the traffic hold-up was. There were two men after digging a hole
in the footpath, next to the pedestrian crossing at the entrance
to the GAA club. A large red truck with a “Caher Gas”
sticker on it was parked on the road at the crossing, which meant
that only one lane of traffic could get through. A third man was
on traffic duty, directing traffic to turn right at Daily’s
corner. I had to drive to Turners Cross so I was forced to drive
over to the Fingerpost roundabout and then try to get through
another bottleneck at the roundabout in Douglas East. Eventually
I made it out to Turners Cross. On the way back it was a
different matter. The traffic was backed up all along the South
Douglas Road, and it was hardly moving.
I rang the Douglas Weekly office and asked Ronnie to ring the
Garda station and ask them did they know that the South Douglas
Road was backed up to Turners Cross with traffic. The replay was
that the Gardai knew nothing about the traffic chaos, but they
would send a squad car over to check it out. When I finally
reached the Credit Union, the red truck was after being moved and
two Gardai were on traffic duty. Surely, if work has to be done
on gas mains, or whatever, the council and the Gardai should be
notified beforehand. One of the busiest arteries in Cork should
not be brought to a standstill on the whim of a contractor.
I mentioned the above episode to a reader. He told me that there
was a Garda check-point on the Carrigaline road about the same
time as this chaos was taking place in Douglas. To go back to the
start of the piece I have written, when I was stopped in traffic
at the lights on top of the hill, a squad car passed me driving
up the hill in the direction of Donnybrook. Surely they saw the
huge traffic build up that was taking place. I assume they drove
from the Garda station under the Bow-wow bridge, passed Daily’s.
Did they seethe large red lorry causing the traffic chaos? When
they stopped and looked right before turning up the hill and
passing us as we sat and wondered, is this why people go and live
on a mountain?
On Thursday night I called down to St. Columba’s Hall for
the launch of Billy O’Callaghan’s book, “Tales of
Old Douglas”. The ‘Hall was packed to capacity. Glowing
tributes were paid to Billy by everybody who spoke about the book.
Minister for Health and Children, Micheal Martin, TD., spoke of
his affection for Douglas, and that man’s ability to speak
on any subject, without a script, is awesome. When the speakers
had finished Micheal mingled with Billy’s family and
friends, and had a few words for everybody in the ‘Hall. In
my estimation, he’s the perfect, ultimate politician, and
no, I’m not a member of the Fianna Fail, or any other, party.
I admire his professionalism and I hope he’s the next leader
of his party.
Speaking of Fianna Fail, I called over to Douglas Court Shopping
Centre on Saturday evening to meet Derek Rusk, the centre manager.
We were about to pick a winner for the Benners Hotel weekend
competition. There were hundreds of entries, but we had to make
sure the draw was done properly. Information receptionist Marion
pointed out somebody who was passing with her shopping trolley.
Local Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Forde. Deirdre put her hand
into the entry box, mixed them around, and picked out Jack Lynch!!!
This Jack Lynch is from Ardfallen, Douglas. When he called to
collect his prize he told us that he would be celebrating his
birthday this week, so Happy Birthday Jack, enjoy Dingle,
compliments of Douglas Court Shopping Centre, Benners Hotel,
Dingle, and the Douglas Weekly. PS. say hello to fungi!
The most distressing piece of news last week was the destruction
of the memorial garden to the victims of the Omagh bombing. What
type of people would commit should an act of desecration? For
once, words fail me. I won’t call them sick people, just
evil.
And then there’s the opposite of evil. There’s good. We
got a lovely letter from Robert Cronin’s grandmother. A few
years ago Robert worked for me when I had a chip-shop. But he
always spoke of his dream, which was to join the army. Then one
day, he got the call, and his chip shop days were over. His proud
grandmother sent us a photo of Robert which was taken in the
Middle East, where Robert was on peace-keeping duty in the
Lebanon with the U.N. She also sent us a paragraph from one of
Robert’s letters, which he had sent home to Douglas. He
wrote, “There are some beautiful buildings here. The people
are picking themselves up after the war, it’s good to see
that I’m working for people who helped them to get peace. It
makes me proud, and I hold my head up high”, Robert.
Robert, it makes us all proud of what you, and the rest of the
Irish army, have done in your peace keeping role. Welcome home,
drop into the ‘Weekly office and say hello. I want to shake
your hand, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.
I called down to St. Columba’s Primary School on Monday for
the presentation of Pioneer Total Abstinence Certificates to the
boys and girls of both schools. Micheal Martin was back in
Douglas to present the Certs., and to pay tribute to Commandant
John Slye, who has been involved in the above organisation in
Douglas for the past 15 years. Many glowing tributes were paid to
John and I’m sure everybody will pay tribute to him for the
many years of dedication he has given to the young people of
Douglas. John has now decided to retire from the association, but
I’m sure he’ll be involved in something new in the near
future ... it’s the army training, a soldier never stops.
Well done John.
Finally, enjoy the long weekend (not another one!!). Don’t
drive too fast, belt up, and remember, if you brake suddenly at
40 mph, it takes the car 118 feet before it stops, so keep well
back from the car in front of you.
Bye for now,
Michael O’Hanlon
