14th June, 2001
Last week I slipped something incorrect into the
“Seen Read & Heard” article, just to see how many
of you were awake, not too many it seems, but Bob Grebber of
Douglas Court Shopping Centre security staff was. I wrote that
Douglas man Cathal Dunne had represented Ireland in Israel with
our Eurovision entitled “Shalom” which was wrong, the
song Cathal sung was “Happy Man” and Bob was the only
reader to point this out. Not too much passes the eagle eye of
Bob Grebber.
A resident in the Cooney's Lane area of Grange has asked me to
appeal to the parents of children, not to allow them to light a
bonfire on the green area of Hollyville Estate as it is just
recovering from last years bonfire.
On last Thursday night I called down to Douglas G.A.A. Hall to
attend a party in honour of local P.P Father Liam O'Regan who
celebrated 40 years in the priesthood. It was a full house, I
stood back at the bar to watch and listen to the tributes paid to
Fr Liam. Sean O'Riordan of Douglas Tidy towns Committee made a
presentation (and Sean left later that night £20 richer, he bet
me £20 that the No Vote would win in the Friday Count) Even when
they are off duty, accountants make money! Sergeant Tom Ryan
looked at the huge crowd, turned to me and said “Michael
this is what the community is all about” You're right Tom.
The Local Clergy were joined on the night by two old friends of
Douglas now stationed North of the Lee, Fr Vincent Hoddnett and
George O'Mahony. Vincent told me he still gets his Douglas Weekly
delivered to Blackpool every Monday by Mossie. The only
politician I saw there was our own Deirdre Forde, who I heard
singing a duet with Mr Steve Goodman (see photo) at the bar when
the suppers were being served. Afterwards Fr Liam sang a couple
of songs, the church choir followed with some lovely singing, the
dancers took to the floor and everybody had a great night. Well
done to Nan who organised the night and to everybody who made it
such a success.
My friend Ronnie told me that he heard two women discussing how
they would vote in the Nice Treaty Referendum, Ronnie swears its
true. One woman asks the other “How are you going to vote?”
the other woman replied “I'm going to vote yes” “Why?”
asks her friend, “Because Michael Collins voted for it!”
Speaking of the Nice Treaty, I wasn't surprised when junior
government minister Eamon O'Cuiv voted no, after all his Grandad
wasn't too fond of treaties either!
I met local man Leo Foran the other day in the Village Shopping
Centre and he asked me to convey his appreciation to everybody
who came to his assistance when he collapsed in the shopping
centre. A big thanks to Tom Singleton and the staff of Tesco and
Aidan Crowne and all his staff in the shopping centre who came to
Leo's assistance. “Leo, I wouldn't expect anything less from
a real community shopping centre, glad too see you’re back
on your feet and well done to all in the centre.”
There was a very interesting letter in Saturday's Examiner. It
came from a resident in Youghal. It seems the local authorities
had videotaped students having their lunch in a local park, the
reason? to see if they were responsible for creating litter. The
writer ends letter by stating “It seems to me that intrusive
and intimidatory measures are not appropriate in a town like ours.”
Youghal is a lovely town, a Victorian holiday resort which
thankfully has kept a lot of its old charm, but today in this era
of the Celtic Tiger, its fighting a huge battle to attract
visitors to the town. Nowadays everybody is going to “Santa
this” and “Santa that” and Florida, the world is
becoming a village. On this evenings paper I read that last year
121 young people under the age of 18 were caught drinking on the
street, on the spot fines of £25 were imposed. If we are serious
about the litter problem we need to enforce the law, all the
advertising in the world will not solve it, a couple of on the
spot fines and the news will spread like wild fire. It is not
fair on the people who do so much to keep their area clean,
Council workers, residents, groups etc., when a couple of litter
louts can destroy a clean town or village. I agree with Youghal U.D.C
it is the only way, catch them, fine them they won't do it again.
On last Saturday afternoon I called over to Ballinlough for the
opening of the “All That Blooms” flower shop, the owner
Claire Caulfield has opened a lovely shop in the 5-unit complex
next to the Silver Key. Her Father Donie Caulfield is one of
Corks best known singers. Claire's Sister, Marian founder of the
Cork Animal Care Welfare Centre. Micheal Martin T.D performed the
opening and told me both his wife and himself buy all their
flowers from Claire. I also met Roy O'Sullivan at the opening,
Roy owns the bakery next door it's called Ross's. The O'Sullivan’s
make their own bread, Roy gave me a loaf which I brought home, it
was gone in 5 minutes. Do you remember the bread of the 50's the
crusty real bread? Well don't tell anybody (lets keep it our
secret and keep it all to ourselves!) Micheal Martin also told me
that they buy all their bread in Ross’s. Good luck to Claire
in your new business, I hope its a ‘blooming’ success!
Good Luck to Donnybrook girl Jennifer O'Regan who has reached the
finals of the Miss Cork Competition. Jennifer will be
representing O'Flaherty's of Parnell Place (Ronnie tells me it is
the best pub in the City Centre). Of course it is Ronnie, it's
owned by Donnybrook man Bernard McCarthy.
Finally good luck to Cork City's and Keary's Kelvin Flanagan who
is taking the most important steps of his life this week (no he's
not taking a penalty) Kelvin's getting married to Elaine Rose I'm
sure I speak for all our readers when I say, “have a great
day and a long and happy life together. Congratulations.”
Bye for now, Michael O’Hanlon.
