2nd August, 2001
On the news tonight RTE showed Charlie McCreevey
flashing a CD Rom for all to see; and in the background there was
a Christmas tree covered with lights!! Is it the festive season
already? How time flies, yesterday it was only July and now the
season of goodwill is upon us already. Some people would say
everyday is Christmas when you're a politician, a big raise in
salary just before three months holidays, what more can I say
except, ‘Ho, Ho, Ho!!!!’
Liam Lawlor is going back for a weeks stay in the Joy. He must
sign in on the 8th of August and if things go well he'll be out
on the 15th, the eve of Elvis Presley's anniversary. 'Is your
heart filled with pain when you go back again, tell me Liam, are
you lonesome tonight?' Can anybody tell me whether Liam can visit
the U.S.A. now that he has a prison record, or does that only
apply to certain types?
How serious are our Courts about speeding? A little piece on a
Sunday newspaper told us that a motorist was caught doing 149
miles an hour. That's not a misprint, 149 miles an hour. He was
driving so fast the squad car couldn't catch him. They had to
radio ahead to another squad car to organize a roadblock. What
happened to the speedster? Banned from driving for a couple of
years and fined £800. Picture the damage a car doing 149 miles
an hour could do. And what does the system do, collects £800 in
revenue gives the culprit a slap on the wrist, and that's it!!
I think we'd all agree that Douglas has been transformed over the
past couple of months, flowers everywhere, hanging baskets adorn
most businesses, although there are still a few lacking in their
efforts to improve their area. I spoke with Douglas Tidy Town’s
chairman, Sean O' Riordan today and complimented him, and every
body else, who has put so much effort into this transformation
However, Douglas West on Sunday was pretty grotty with litter,
chip wrapping, papers etc, we're 90% there with the clean up, but
Saturday night in Douglas is very busy and we see the effects of
it on Sunday morning. It's not a huge area that needs to be
cleaned on Sunday morning and it wouldn't cost a lot, but if it
was cleaned on Sunday morning and it would be the icing on the
cake!!!!
Congratulations to Jon Cronin and Derry O’Regan on the
opening of the superb Hotel, Bar & Restaurant in the East
Village. I called down on Saturday night and the place was
buzzing. The restaurant was full, the bar was filled with people
who were really having a good time. I met Niall O'Sullivan who
was full of praise for the choice of music playing in the
background, Van Morrision, Bob Dylan. The staff are a credit to
the business and of course Bar manager Aidan Dalton is known to
everybody in Douglas and beyond. I know that big things are
planned for the future in this new and exciting business in
Douglas, what more can I say except watch this space. I almost
forgot, well done to Sean & Derry for employing a lot of
local contractors and suppliers in their business venture.
Cars still continue to speed down Donnybrook hill, not realising
that there is a very busy shop, industrial & commercial
centre surrounding the area. Equally so, when drivers come down
the Grange intersection please make allowances for children, the
elderly trying to cross and motorists trying to exit from the
commercial centre and Breen’s. 'Caution' is the operative
word. Drive slowly.
Earlier in the article I mentioned the 16th of August, the 24th
anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. We have a lot of fine pubs
and lounges in the Douglas area, why not have an Elvis night?
Many years ago in a different life I ran a chip shop. One year on
Elvis's anniversary I bought t-shirts with Elvis’s head on
the front, black wigs, American flags and played Elvis music all
day. The staff loved it, and the customer loved it even more. It
was some thing different on the day. So publicans, 'It's now or
never.'
Another long weekend on the way, if you're going away, drive
carefully, belt up, if you're having a few jars, walk or take a
taxi. If you go for a swim, don't go alone. Don't take your eyes
off your children if they're in the water. Have a good weekend.
Well done to Marian Collins, her friends and all the gang in St.
Columba's hall (the heart and soul of Douglas) who helped raise
so much money for the priest from India. I must say, the choir in
St. Agustine's church was fantastic. Well done to all, that's
what life is all about, helping each other.
Bye for now,
Michael O’Hanlon.
