24th January, 2002
The last time I went to the movies it was to see
‘Michael Collins’. At the time people told me that one
had to see it on the big screen and I suppose they were right. On
Monday night I returned to the cinema to watch the new Ridley
Scott (The Gladiator) movie, ‘Black Hawk Down’. It’s
set in Somalia about ten years ago. The U.S. marines attempt to
abduct a notorious warlord. He's hidding out in the capital,
Magidishua, they’re told it will only take about fifteen
minutes, but it does not go according to plan. It’s a good
blood and guts was film (and I mean blood and guts in every sense
of the word). some reviewers here in Ireland have called it
jingoistic American gung-ho propaganda. Hey, it’s cool to be
a reviewer who finds fault in every U.S. war film. They usually
love French avant garde movies with sub-titles (that nobody else
goes to see). But do we care? To quote a well known American
actor “The hell we do, pilgrim”.
Speaking of blood and guts the consensus seems to suggest that a
general election is on the cards sometime in May. “Get it
over before Liam Lawlor gets tired of spending a week at the tax
payers pleasure and begins to sing like a blackbird”. Mary
Harney snapped up I.F.A.’s top man, Tom Parlon (Minister of
State at the Department of Agriculture?). Somebody else has the
captain of the Wexford hurling team in their sights (I thought
those days were gone!!) Seemingly not. Did I hear ex Boyzone lead
singer Ronan Keating’s name being banded about? What we need
is a political Louis Walsh to do a programme called T.D. stars,
eventually whittle the number down to six, call in Terry of Carr
Communication (did you see her on Q & A on Monday night? Isn’t
it great what ¤50,000 worth of plastic can do?) (She doesn’t
look a day over 60!!) (What she’s only 35!, sorry Terry it
must have been the studio lights). Next call in a retired T.D. (check
out the senate, that’s their retirement home). He’ll
teach them to speak for an hour without saying anything, this is
an art which takes years to perfect but with perserverence it can
be done. Then to boost the ratings for the show the producer
discovers a potential candidate who has lied (well, not really
lied, has just been economical with the truth.) The endings would
be as follows; the producer walks into the room and says “One
of you has lied, I want that person to stand up and leave”.
They all stand up at the same time and walk out. What an ending!!
It would top the telly ratings.
Speaking of popstars is it true that this new band are to record
the old Mary Black song “As I leave behind Nadine”.
The last time we had local elections in the area (council) I
faxed a list of ten questions to each candidate and almost all of
them replied. This time we’re going to do the same with our
South Central candidates. If there are any questions that you
would like answered, write, e-mail, telephone or call in and we
will put them to the candidates. And we will print the replies. I
have a few questions I would like answered, but I’m keeping
my powder dry! Local issues, national issues, anything that
concerns you will be put to them.
I spoke to Douglas community Garda, Dermot O’Mahony about
the problem of door to door rogue traders. Dermot told me that
they crop up about every four or five months. These con men prey
on the most vulnerable in our society, the elderly. They call and
offer to clean, fix gutters, chutes, etc. for and agreed price.
Then when the job is finished, they tell the house-holder the job
took longer, was more trouble and the bill is tripled. Dermot’s
advice is do not entertain these people, say no and close the
door. If you need repairs or cleaning work done on your house,
get a reputable local trades man or ask somebody you know to
recommend an honest person to carry out work on your home. Dermot’s
parting words were “It’s a scam, get a local, well
recommended tradesman”. Good advice folks, heed it.
To the reader who sent us an e-mail regarding the lack of letters
in the Douglas Weekly, that’s not really our fault. We
publish every letter we get (on condition the sender includes his/her
name, address and telephone number, not necessarily for
publication). But we cannot force people to write letters. On my
rounds I meet so many people who ask me to mention this and that.
Lack of amenities, traffic congestion, and I always ask them to
please write a letter to us.
Finally that time of the year is coming around again. The Douglas
Rose night takes place on Friday, April 5th at the Rochestown
Park Hotel. You all know the rules, over eighteen and under
twenty-five years of age and single. You do not have to live or
work in Douglas but the winner on the night will represent
Douglas in the Cork final in Jurys. Further details from 4896496.
Bye for now,
Michael O'Hanlon.
