April may 2009 newsfour by News Four

APRIL / MAY 2009

NewsFour Free Community Newspaper serving Sandymount, Irishtown, Ringsend, Docklands, Ballsbridge and Donnybrook Web: www.news4.ie • E-mail: newsfourscs@eircom.net • Local Newsdesk: Phone 6673317

ANN MOVES ON

AH… THOSE LONG, BRIGHT DAYS! Blessington Basin is a beautifully-restored park within a stroll of O’Connell St. Read James O’Doherty’s article on page 7

John Henry Foley sculpted Oliver Goldsmith, right, and the O’Connell monument. Why is he almost forgotten? See page 21

he numerous friends of Ann Ingle will be sorry to hear she is stepping down as Editor of NewsFour after six years. As she explains in her Editorʼs Corner on page two, she will ﬁnd plenty to keep her busy in her ʻretirementʼ! During Annʼs editorship NewsFour has become more colourful, more frequent and more varied in its content. Ann herself has been a pleasure to work with. She can effortlessly juggle her family matters with the business end of running a news-

paper while typing, proofreading and dealing with people. A mark of her versatility in this issue is her fascinating interview with Gerry Adams MP MLA and leader of Sinn Féin, pictured below at Clanna Gael. The ﬁnal words must go to her longtime friend Councillor Dermot Lacey. This is the ﬁnal edition of NewsFour to be edited by my friend and great colleague Ann Ingle. Over the last number of years Ann has brought her integrity, commitment, decency and

Gerry Adams at Clanna Gael. See interview on pages 24 to 25.

great common sense to her role as Manager of Community Services– Sandymount, Irishtown and Ringsend– publisher of NewsFour and sponsor of a wide range of other services in our community. Along with my fellow Board members I want to express our heartfeﬂt ʻthank youʼ to Ann for all her work that has seen our project go from strength to strength. At a time when some FÁS schemes are being questioned, Ann has demonstrated the great value in human and community terms of such initiatives. Since 1985 I have worked with Ann to deliver a relevant community service that has made a real difference to the lives of very many people. In all those years I have known Ann to be deeply committed to an improvement in the quality of life for many hundreds of individuals and through that the betterment of our wider community. While her role as Manager of the Project has now come to an end, I have no doubt that she will be back with us in another capacity very soon. Thanks Ann and enjoy your retirement. Dermot Lacey Chairperson, NewsFour Community Services– Sandymount, Irishtown and Ringsend.

Mahatma Gandhi and a tiger are the spur for a timid chef in Edel Gillick’s engaging short story on pages 36 to 37

Those veteran rockers Status Quo can still pack the Olympia Theatre on a cold Sunday night, as John Cavendish notes on page 39

Joe Taylor who lives in Irishtown was going for his morning walk on the day after St Patrickʼs Day along the drain in Ringsend Park and was horriﬁed to see the vandalism perpetrated on several trees. Jason McDonnell captured this senseless destruction on camera.

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NewsFour Managing Editor Ann Ingle Advertising Manager Grainne McGuinness Staff Audrey Healy John Cavendish Nessa Jennings Stephanie Morris Louise Hanrahan Glenda Cimino John Fitzgerald Paula Young Contributors Shay Connolly James O’Doherty Noel Twamley David Nolan Michael Hilliard Aidan O’Donoghue Edel Gillick Maeve Coll Gemma Bailey Web Designer Andrew Thorn

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

The Editor’s Corner

ello everyone. This is the last time I will be saying hello to you here. My time with NewsFour and Sandymount Community Services is over. Regular readers will remember I prematurely announced this a couple of years ago but this time itʼs a reality. You may not be aware that all the staff of NewsFour are community employment participants and that Sandymount Community Services is responsible for 24 such workers in Ringsend Creche, Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, Clanna Gael and Cambridge Court. It has truly been a privilege to have had this opportunity for the past six years to work with every one of them. Each in their own way has brought some new learning and fulﬁlment for me. I am more than ever convinced of the importance of community employment whereby people are given time to develop, grow and thereby go on to greater things. FÁS grant aid community employment by way of wages and training grants to participants. Long may they continue this good work in these straitened times. Many thanks go to Eugene Carolan who has been constantly by my side in my efforts to progress NewsFour and to Grainne McGuinness for her support. There is always room for improvement and no doubt the new Editor will

bring yet more innovation. I have developed a great rapport with readers and contributors. I always look forward to your stories, letters and poetry, to your emails, to you dropping into the ofﬁce and to the response from our crossword aﬁcionados. I am going to miss you all so much. You are the backbone of the paper and without your input where would we be? Many thanks also to our advertisers, especially those faithfuls who stay with us through thick and thin. We would not be able to publish without your support and I am grateful to each of you for making NewsFour possible. Sandymount Community Services has been on the go for the past 24 years and NewsFour for 23. I am proud to have been a part of the organisation since its inception by Ruarí Quinn in 1985 and to have worked as Supervisor for the Sponsoring Committee, Chaired by Dermot Lacey for the past six years. I will be gone in a few weeks time to write my autobiography, to play with my grandchildren, to explore new opportunities and who knows what else. Best wishes Ann

Photography John Cheevers

Dracula’s Irish and Literary Heritage– a seminar Douglas Appleyard, Dr Albert Power, John Moore will speak and the special guest is Noel Dobbs, great grandson of Bram Stoker Saturday 4th April 9.30 am to 12.30 pm Dublin City Library and Archive, 138 to 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 Admission free. Booking essential on 01 6744873 email: dublinpubliclibraries@dublincity.ie

MARY O’HANLON R.I.P. It was with deep sadness that we heard of Maryʼs death. As one of the original members of the Ringsend Active Retirement she was very involved with all our activities in the C.Y. and attended there several times a week. Mary could always be relied on to help out in organising events. The holidays she arranged are still talked about for the great company and craic which was had by one and all. Surely a dedicated member, sheʼll be sadly missed. May she rest in peace.

Design, Typesetting, Layout Eugene Carolan Community Services, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4. Telephone: (01)6673317 E-mail: newsfourscs@eircom.net Website: www.news4.ie NewsFour Newspaper is part of a FÁS Community Employment Programme. Opinions expressed in News Four do not necessarily represent the views of Community Services.

Railway Union Cricket for School Children Railway Union cricket for schoolboys and schoolgirls starts on Sunday 13th April at the Park Avenue grounds. All are welcome to come along every Sunday between 11am and 1pm. Coaching and games for all the Under 13s, Under 11s and Under 9s and a cup of coffee and the Sunday papers for the parents! There will be new coaches and plenty of games and activities to keep everyone busy during the summer. More details on http://railwayunioncc.com/

YMCA Sandymount Pavilion and Fitness Centre Claremont Road Telephone: 01 607 7102 €5 Pay As You Go Monthly membership €40 (2 passport size photos required) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Pay As You Go classes at 6 pm €6 Tuesday: Khai-bo • Wednesday: Circuits Thursday: Pilates • Other classes available Come and have a look PARK YOUR CAR at the YMCA for €5 ﬂat rate (from 10.00 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday)

Our address: NewsFour, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend Phone: 6673317 • Email: newsfourscs@eircom.net Visit our website at: www.news4.ie

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

G ET

OUT AND ABOUT THIS

By Louise Hanrahan

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woke up last Thursday morning to the joys of Spring. The chirping of the birds in the garden outside my window put a smile on my face. It gave me that real feelgood factor and put me instantaneously into good humour! I wanted to get up and go. The dreary, dull mornings and dark evenings are slowly leaving us. To wake up to a bright, crisp, sunny morning takes the blues away. The smells in the air are fresh and different too. To see all the daffodils blooming is a joy. I found myself at Sandymount Dart station with rucksack and ﬂask of oxtail soup on board, joining a team of walkers. These

weekly walks have been organised courtesy of Ronan OʼDonnell, who is a Senior Ofﬁcer with Dublin County Council. I had the pleasure of meeting Ann Marie Fyffe and Mary McDaid, who I joined on my stroll to the Shelley Banks and they ﬁlled me in on all the information regarding the weekly walks. The company, chat and sunny day made my afternoon very enjoyable and I was delighted I went. The walks are diverse and are held on a weekly basis. They are suited to people of all ages who have an interest in staying healthy without too much stress or overdoing the exercise, and of course meeting new people and learning about our ʻfair cityʼ is a bonus in itself.

S PRING

There is a top team of walk leaders and the walks are extremely successful, thanks to the different ofﬁcials who make great efforts to ensure a variety of places to see and visit each week. These walks last approximately 90 minutes and are led by volunteers from the community. Recently, one of my friends went on one of these walks which involved bird watching. He thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon out and met some lovely people who had similar interests. The other walks that one can do include historical walking tours which last about two hours and are led by acclaimed historian, author, artist and tour guide, Pat Liddy. Pat has been instrumental in promoting Dublinʼs heritage and his-

tory through his involvement with literature, the media and the arts. He is indeed a fountain of knowledge on all things regarding our city. The weekly walks are as follows: * Sunday: Meet at 2pm at the Parkgate Street entrance to the Phoneix Park for a walk in the park or surrounding areas (Museum Luas station is nearby). * Monday: Meet at 11am outside the Halfway House Pub, Ashtown, Navan Road, for walks along the Royal Canal, in the Phoenix Park and many other places. * Tuesday: Meet at 2pm outside the Barge Pub, Charlemont Street for a walk along the canal and Dublin 2/ 4/ 6 areas (Charlemont

Luas station is nearby). * Wednesday: Meet at 2pm outside Raheny Dart Station for a walk to Dollymount Strand, through St. Anneʼs Park or beyond (a particular favourite of mine). * Thursday: Meet at 2pm outside Sandymount DART station for a walk along Sandymount Strand and to neighbouring suburbs. So folks, lots to choose from. Get those walking boots on and get into the swing of Spring. Itʼs a lovely easygoing pastime and will put a spring in your step! If any further details are required, please contact: Ronan OʼDonnell on (01) 2223726 between 9-5pm Or via email at ronan. oʼdonnell@dublincity.ie

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

ST PATRICK – THE MYTH AND THE MAN By John Cavendish

aint Patrickʼs Day, March 17th is celebrated worldwide, by people of many nations, races and cultures. Historians researching our main man state that his name was Maewyn Succat from an Anglo-Roman family born at Banna Venta Berniae, which is believed to be in Wales, in 415 AD. When he was 16 years of age he was captured by an Irish pagan warlord, Niall of the Nine Hostages, and he spent six miserable years in Ireland until he escaped to France. After entering the church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary in the north and west of the island, but little is

known about the places where he worked. Patrickʼs position as a foreigner in Ireland is said not to have been an easy one. His refusal to accept gifts from kings placed him outside the normal ties of kinship, fosterage and affinity. Legally he was without protection, and he says that he was on one occasion beaten, robbed of all he had, and put in chains, perhaps awaiting execution. The available body of evidence does not allow the dates of Patrickʼs life to be fixed with certainty, but it appears that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. By the eighth century he had become our patron saint and legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes.

One suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul. He has left us the Shamrock as a national emblem, thanks to its usage by Christian religious groups as a symbol of the ʻDivine Trinityʼ and pilgrims make their way up Croagh Patrick every year, some barefooted. The reputed burial place of St. Patrick is in Downpatrick. ʻThe Annals of Ulsterʼ place Patrickʼs death in 493, or at least in the early years of that decade. There is a Saint Patrick Visitor Centre in a modern exhibition complex located there with a permanent interpretative centre featuring interactive displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick. It provides the only permanent exhibition centre in the world devoted to Saint Patrick.

‘T HE D UBLIN D OCKLANDS – A N U RBAN V OYAGE ’

urtle Bunbury has produced a coffee table book with great illustrations and fascinating facts about the docklands and surrounding areas. Luke Kelly, Seán OʼCasey, Captain Bligh and Bindon Blood Stoney are just some of the characters to emerge in this intriguing and entertaining historical tour, charting the rise of the Dublin Docklands from murky swamp to its presentday towering skyline. The story begins in the early 18th century when savvy Dublin merchants first enclosed the River Liffey within a series of sturdy stonewalls. Today, the reclaimed land behind these walls comprises the North Wall, East Wall, the South Lotts and a good deal of the parishes of Westland Row and City Quay. Ringsend and the Poolbeg peninsula simultaneously benefitted from these mighty works. The location– on a major river with direct access to

the Irish Sea and the oceans beyond– was of fundamental importance to the development of the Docklands during the wealthy years of Georgian Dublin. Considerable business was carried out along the handsome docks, quays, warehouses and– in time– railway tracks built alongside the walls. By the 20th century, the inner city docklands was home to the largest working class community in Ireland. However, the onset of mechanization inevitably reduced the need for manpower and by the 1950s, large numbers were unemployed and the area went into rapid decline. In the 1980s, the seed of change was planted with the creation of the Custom House Docks Development Authority and the evolution of the International Financial Services Centre. Since 1997, developing and improving this 1,300-acre coastal cityscape has been the remit of the DubDocklands lin Development Authority. Although much is yet to come, the Dublin Dock-

lands is already a blueprint for other cities around the world seeking to convert their rundown inner cities into slick, contemporary and internationally popular city centres. This beautifully produced hardback coffee table book provides an enlightening chronicle of some of the more memorable buildings, people and events associated with the area. Turtle Bunbury is a best-selling author, travel writer and historian. His previous books include ʻThe Irish Pubʼ and ʻVanishing Irelandʼ. He is currently working on ʻVanishing Ireland– Volume 2ʼ, in conjunction with photographer James Fennell. www.turtlebunbury.com ʻThe Dublin Docklands– An Urban Voyageʼ is available at €30 from Books on the Green.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

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Recession Chic

By Maeve Coll

tʼs hard to keep up with the latest fashion trends and at the same time keep an eye on the purse. So with that in mind, have a look at whatʼs on offer by mail order. All these items are available online from www.asos.co.uk. The Trench, top left, at €68.79. The Tulip Skirt, bottom right, will suit all shapes and can be worn as ofﬁce wear by day or paired with a glitzy top for a night out. This skirt comes in a range of colours at €27.80. Skinny ﬂare jeans, left, are great value at €35. Knitwear is perfect for layering during the cold winter months. This cardigan, top right, will add a pop of colour at €23.

CPD exams, Accounting exams, Taxation exams, Leaving & Junior Cert…

Chiropractic is great

stress headaches, concentration issues, anxiety

Dr Gemma Bailey (DC BSc (Hons) Chiro) Dr Danny Scahill (DC BSc (Hons) Chiro) Free Spinal Health Checks Mondays and Tuesdays 12-1pm Evening Health Workshops

19 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2 Phone 01 6618949 info@ﬁtzwilliamhealth.ie www.ﬁtzwilliamhealth.ie

Dublin: One City One Book 2009 One City One Book choice for Dublin in 2009 is ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker. Most people have seen a Dracula ﬁlm but not many have read the book. ‘Dracula’ will be available in all Dublin City Libraries in book form as well as talking book on CD, pre-loaded MP3 player and a children’s abridged version. www.dublincityonebook.ie

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

R AYTOWN

RAY AND CHIPS

By John Fitzgerald

ingsend has long been known colloquially as ʻRaytownʼ reflecting its history as a fishing village. Originally a long narrow peninsula separated from the rest of Dublin by the estuary of the River Dodder, the name Ringsend is believed to come from ʻRinnʼ the Irish word for peninsula and the word ʻendʼ; the end of the peninsula. The commercial fishing in Dublin Bay and its surrounding rich waters was always very good, with the nearby harbour of Howth remaining one of the countryʼs top three landing ports for ray. In 1988 Brander wrote that the Irish sea ray (Family Rajidae) fisheries was one of the longestestablished and most commercially important ray fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic. The UK vessels have been the traditional exploiters, landing between 5,000 and 6,000 tons annually between 1920 and 1940. Following the demise of the UK

fleet, landings dropped proportionally and the Irish whitefish trawlers have become the main prosecutor of the fishery, with rays providing both a regular by-catch and a seasonally directed resource of up to 2,000 tons annually over the two decades ending 1990, proving this non quota ray fishery was of significant importance. Given the susceptibility of elasmobrachs (shark, ray and skate) to

over exploitation, concerns have long been expressed over the sustainability of this resource. This was epitomised by the commercial extinction of the common skate raja batis in 1981, and the localised depletion and decline in the abundance and size distribution of the commercially important thornback ray raja clavate. There are eight species of ray recorded in Irish waters, with only

three of commercial importance, the cukoo ray (raja naevus) and the blond ray (rajaa brachyura) which are the most abundant and the thornback ray (raja clavata). Other Ray species which have been caught include electric ray (torpedo nobiliana), homelyn ray (raja montagui), undulate ray (raja undulata), painted ray (raja microcellata) and sting ray (dasyatis pastinaca). Dublin City dwellers have a huge appetite for ray and chips, served in its many fish and chip shops for generations. Dubliners consume more ray than the rest of the country combined. The once humble ray wing has also made it onto the menus of some of the capitalʼs finest restaurants such as Chapter One where chef Ross Lewis holds a Michelin Star and The Winding Stair on the quays. Deep-fried fish and potato chips have appeared separately on menus for many years, though the potato did not reach Europe until the 17th century. Originally a Sephardic dish, ʻpescado fritoʼ it came first to the Netherlands and then England with the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in the 17th and 18th centuries. The dish became popular in London

and the South East of England in the mid 19th century and the first fish and chip shop recorded was in London in 1860. It was the early part of the 20th century before Dublinʼs first recorded shop was opened by Leo Burdock, a Russian immigrant. The influx of Italians to Dublin after the second world war brought about an explosion in fish and chip shops, such as Borzaʼs, Ferrariʼs, Beshoffʼs and Cafollaʼs, many of which are now in their third generation of ownership, and all of which are familiar with the request for that Dublin favourite a ʻone and oneʼ– in other words ray and chips.

CLLR. SARAH RYAN DUBLIN SOUTH EAST

Introducing your new Councillor CLINIC TIMES Sarah Ryan is available to her constituents at: Ringsend Community Centre Saturdays 10.30 to 12.00 St Andrew’s Resource Centre – Pearse St. Tuesdays 7pm to 8pm

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE If I can help in any way, you can contact me at: Members Room, City Hall, Dublin 2 Tel: 087 637 4285 Email: cllr_sarah.ryan@dublincity.ie

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

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B LESSINGTON B ASIN ’ S REBIRTH

By James OʼDoherty

t was a lovely late Autumn day. The miracle that is the splendour of falling autumn leaves, crimson and gold was evident, the autumn pageant was approaching its best as I walked towards the Northside of this lovely old town of the Hurdles. My destination– Dublinʼs most secret garden– the Basin at Blessington Street, located in the heart of Dublinʼs North inner city. As I walked up OʼConnell Street, I was very conscious of the role the Gardiner family played in the development of this North City area. I was aware also of how this great city was loved by men such as Pearse, Tone, Grattan and Swift, to name but a few. I was privileged to be walking the same streets as men like these and that day as I walked past the Spire I remembered that in 1872 the ﬁrst tramline went from Nelsonʼs pillar to Rathmines. But back to Blessington Street and Dublinʼs secret garden. As it is within minutes of OʼConnell Street, I was soon entering the side gate to this lovely park. It is small, measuring 0.75 hectares, yet it has a long and varied his-

tory. Nearby, the bells of St Josephʼs church, which opened in 1880 and is now under the care of the Discalced Carmelites, called out the Angelus through the evening air and the sound echoed around the park as I savoured this small but beautiful space. This is a beautiful park– local and calm in spite of its proximity to the city centre. The basin itself is 125 metres long and 58 metres wide with an average depth of 3 metres. It has the capacity for about 5 millon gallons of water. Construction work began in 1803 when the builders of Royal Canal proposed to the thenCorporation that the new Canal could provide a water supply to parts of the city. Scottish engineer John Rennie was asked to evaluate the proposal and for his help he received the freedom of the city in October 1803. Four years later, work began. It was completed in 1810. A small cabin in cottage style was erected inside the beautiful gate entrance for the keeper of the Basin at a cost of £63 and until recently a member of the park staff lived there. The Basin remained a reservoir for the North City until approximately 1868 when the corpora-

tion established a new source from the Vartry reservoir system in Roundwood. That continues to be the main water supply for the city to this day. The Basin continued to supply water on a specially-constructed pipeline to Jamesonʼs Distillery in Bow Lane until 1970 and to John Powerʼs in Johnʼs Lane until 1976 and indeed water still ﬂows there through the pipe to cisterns in Bow Street. These famous brands are now distilled in Cork. From the early 1970s, the Basin became a public park under Dublin Corporation and after many years it gradually deteriorated, the embankment subsiding, the perimeter railing leaning over, seats broken and no available funds to repair it. However, to commemorate Dublinʼs Year as European City of Culture, the Goethe Institute was sponsoring a German urban specialist, Dieter Magnus to draw up a new design for the Basin and several months later the display model appeared at Dublinʼs Ilac Centre Library. It was then that the trouble began. The basin concept was to open up the Basin to more people and make it a tourist attraction. It became clear after several public

meetings that serious conflict existed between the local residents and Mr Magnus and on 21 June 1991 at a meeting with local representatives, the Goethe Institute and Dublin Corporation the plan was withdrawn. Eventually working together, the community and the Parks Department came up with an agreed plan. In January 1992, a detailed fully-costed plan to repair and upgrade the Basin at a cost of £215,000 was reached. The park was closed to the public on April 14th 1993 and work commenced. At the age of 183 years, the Basin was drained of approximately 5 million gallons of water and 6,000 tons of debris and sludge carted off. Only then was the full extent of the damage realised. The fish, including 1,700 rudd, were rehoused in the Royal Canal by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the wildlife flew away and work continued. New waterside railings, reconstruction of the reservoir wall, redevelopment of the footpaths, repair of cast iron pipe work and chambers and lots more improvements took place. There was also comprehensive planting of trees and shrubs and the installation of

a five-foot fountain to help aerate the water. Overall responsibility for the Basin lay with Dublin Corporation Parks Department and the FÁS Community Youth Training Project made a big contribution to the work. Both teams worked together and all concerned focussed on completing the project successfully and ensuring the work was of the highest standard. The job completed, the Basin filled, new fish at home, wildlife returning, plants and shrubs planted– the Basin reopened on November 4th 1994. It was officially opened by President Mary Robinson and Lord Mayor of Dublin John Gormley and everybody agreed that the unique character of the Basin had been retained. Indeed, the tranquillity and charm of this special place is still there for all visitors to see. So on that lovely Autumn day with the church bells calling us to prayer I left the Basin through an old entrance and as an added bonus I entered Broadstone Park, a linear park that is really a filled-in section of the Canal. Broadstone Park beckons from the Basin– two jewels in the cityʼs crown.

HAPPY EASTER! HAPPY DAYS! WWW.RINGSENDBARBERS.COM

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

JUNIORS RESTAURANT – A HAVEN OF GOOD TASTES By Stephanie Morris

he economic downturn has not affected Juniorʼs Restaurant situated at the top of Bath Avenue. Itʼs buzzing! Juniorʼs is right next door to Slatteryʼs and it has been open about a year. I could not believe my eyes when I actually saw diners sitting outside at the tables to eat. Dining al fresco in Dublin in March! Juniors provide nice red blankets, great quality and very warm. Their heaters are remarkable and work well under the canopy. Juniors essentially has managed to double its size by virtue of winter/ spring patio dining. It appears that punters are requesting to eat outside, when inside is not even full. Hats off to any new venture doing well in this climate, in more ways than one! It takes imagination to attract a bustling crowd. Juniorsʼ layout, prices, quality of their food and friendly serv-

ice has it all. As I am moving to the USA, I thought it a great opportunity to bring my good friend Nudger out for dinner. I rang to make a reservation and I was told they do not take bookings, but to turn up. I already knew from my passing observations that this could take a while. So we had a drink in Rumms and then over we went. We were seated in the cor-

ner and I chose the looking out seat. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual. The food is almost prepared in front of you and the counter and kitchen are well run. Good organisation is a must in small places and Juniors is very organised. The menu is simple, clear-cut with a continental flair. Starters are all under €10. Mains are about €20 and delicious desserts are €6. I personally

like small menus. This will be my last small menu experience before I get to the USA. Menus there come in books! Not for the indecisive librian! The wine list includes five whites, five reds and a rosé. I had mussels in white wine, parsley and garlic. They were superb. A great, generous portion. Nudger had the chicken liver paté, also very tasty. There is also a seared beef and parmesan starter, another of my favourites, but I was having the rib-eye for my main course so I didnʼt go for that. For his main course Nudger had the slow roasted suckling pig, with spiced white cabbage. I had the aged rib eye on mustard mash, with green beans and garlic. My steak was tender and cooked to perfection. I am a rare woman. I do not like medium steak with a hint of pink. I like my steak virtually raw. My friend Nudger was really enjoying his suckling pig. His expression told me so. Not a word was spoken for several minutes, which is always a good sign. Since it was only early evening when we dined, Jun-

iors was slowly filling up as we made our way on to desserts. I had the NY baked cheesecake in a berry compote with a nice coffee to wash down the cheesecake, it was a Junior heaven moment! The New York cheesecake was beautifully made and the texture was excellent. It came garnished with fresh berries. Nudger had the Vanilla cremé brulee and seemed as satisfied as I, with his coffee chaser. All in all, we had a beautiful meal at Juniors. The service is excellent, friendly and cheerful. Diners outside seemed very happy munching through their food, in the fresh air, sipping a hearty glass of red, wrapped in their blankets. The atmosphere is intimate which makes people feel secure. It is local and easy to get to. The food is great, the prices are reasonable and there is a great team of experienced waiters and a bit of craic. Sure, with a few glasses of vino, the cool fresh air and beautiful food served up, what more do you want of a Wednesday evening! Juniors may be Junior by name, but thatʼs all thatʼs Junior about it.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

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2009:

YEAR OF SCOUT LAW AND PROMISE By John Fitzgerald

s Baden Powell said “The Scout Law is the foundation on which the whole of scout training rests.” Throughout the Scouting world young people and adults make a commitment to live by a simple code of principles. The making of this promise introduces them to the worldwide brotherhood of Scouting, which united by these common values, is proving its worth in its second century by engaging with all of the major challenges young people face. Recognising this, Scouting Irelandʼs National Youth Programme Team has declared 2009 as the Scouting Ireland Year of the Promise and Law, in an effort to recognise the centrality of committing to a common set of beliefs. Over the coming months a number of initiatives will be

LIFFEY FERRY SERVICES RESUME

he river ferry services to the O2 in Dublin Docklands resumed on 5th March. The service operated before Christmas successfully before being suspended to allow for an annual maintenance programme to be carried out. Liffey River Cruises operate a ferry service from Custom House Quay down to the O2 and back again with three sailings departing at 6:25pm, 7:00pm and 7:35pm from the boarding point across the road from Juryʼs Inn Hotel at the Sean OʼCasey pedestrian bridge.

After the show, two sailings will depart from the O2 at 11:00pm and at 11:30pm to bring music fans back up the river again. For those travelling from Custom House Quay, parking is available in the Juryʼs Inn/ IFSC Car Park. Spaces can be reserved in advance by those availing of the river taxi service on the Liffey River Cruises web site. In addition to the Liffey River Cruises service between Custom House Quay and the O2, the existing cross-river ferry service, the Liffey Ferry (pictured above)

will run until midnight on selected nights to facilitate concert-goers. This popular service has been in operation in Docklands between Sir John Rogersonʼs Quay and Spencer Dock since October 2007. Advance booking is strongly recommended– this can be done online on www.liffeyrivercruises. com or on www.liffeyferry.com or by phone on 01 4734082. The ferry services are initiatives of the Dockland Authorityís River Regeneration Strategy, which aims to bring back life to the River Liffey.

launched to provide the challenge of understanding the role of the Scout Promise and Law in the lives of scouts individually and in their Venture Scout Group. THE SCOUT PROMISE On my honour I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law. THE SCOUT LAW 1. A Scoutʼs honour is to be trusted. 2. A Scout is loyal 3. A Scoutʼs duty is to be useful to help others. 4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout. 5. A Scout is courteous. 6. A Scout is a friend to animals. 7. A Scout obeys orders of his parents, patrol leader or Scoutmaster without question. 8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all difﬁculties. 9. A Scout is thrifty. 10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed. Left: ʻA Scout smiles and whistles under all difﬁcultiesʼ. From ʻThe Scouting Trailʼ (1964).

In 1907 Major General Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell took twenty boys on camp to Brownsea Island, near Poole Harbour, Dorset. He was trying out an idea that had grown in his mind over many years. At Brownsea Island he saw that his idea of Scouting worked and in 1908 he published ʻScouting for Boysʼ in fortnightly parts. At once, all over England, boys took up the idea and formed their own Patrols. Then they asked grown-ups to give a hand, so the Scout Association was founded in 1908. Because Royal Charter protected this Association, no other Scout group could be started in Ireland until independence was granted. Though a few individual Catholic Scout groups existed earlier, it was not until 1927 that the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (Later changed to Scouting Ireland (CSI)) was founded by Father Tom Farrell. Scouting Ireland is the National Association for Ireland and a member of the World Organisation of The Scout Movement. Scouting Ireland was founded on 1st January 2004 from the two original Scout associations in Ireland, Scouting Ireland SAI and Scouting Ireland CSI. It has over 40,000 members, on all parts of the island.

PAGE 10

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

‘T RINITY

AND ITS

N EIGHBOURS ’

S UICIDE By Glenda Cimino

performance of ʻLife Forceʼ to a full house in the Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre on Thorncastle Street on March 5th explored the causes and possible prevention of suicide in a dramatic presentation of true cases researched by young people in their own communities and acted out by them. Working in ways that build expressiveness and conﬁdence, Crooked House facilitators pro-

By John Cavendish

t. Andrews Resource Centre has joined in a literary collaboration with the History Department of Trinity College, where Mary Muldowney has recorded some twenty four interviews with local people who live and work within the vicinity of the College. Her book ʻTrinity and its Neighboursʼ was launched in St. Andrews Resource Centre by Betty Ashe of the centre, John Hegarty, the Provost of the College and Senator David Norris, who gave an entertaining speech about his student days at the University. David Norris said “It is wonderful to be at this centre on an occasion that involved the launch of a book that studied the ʻpeople resourceʼ that reﬂects the honest nature of the locals.” He also raised in his address the issue of sectarian prejudices

said to exist in Trinity. “Remember Archbishop Croke, from around the 1790s, who gave his name to the park, was a Trinity graduate,” he said. He added that if the British had not tried to ram the Reformation down our throats that we would probably be the most Protestant people in Europe because weʼre so rebellious. Mary Muldowney had the help of Betty Ashe in sourcing people to interview for the book and also a DVD that makes an interesting accompiament. There is another volume to come out in April and more planned down the line. Dr Muldowney thanked everyone who had participated before signing copies of the book for well wishers. Currently ʻTrinity and its Neighboursʼ is available from the History Department in the Arts Building in Trinity College for €12.95. It will also be available in the Trinity book shop in due course.

PREVENTION THROUGH DRAMA

vide a safe space for participants to explore ways of expressing their concerns, needs and suggestions in relation to suicide prevention strategies for their communities. The performance was followed by a discussion with the audience facilitated by Peter Hussey, Artistic Director of Crooked House Theatre. Crooked House uses drama techniques to explore issues of well-being and suicide prevention. The project is supported through the Dormant Accounts Fund. Life Force is a project co-ordi-

PLUMBER Reliable, Qualified, Experienced Derek White, 21 Howard Street, Ringsend Tel: 087 228 7981

nated by Blue Drum, working in partnership with Crooked House Theatre and community groups in Swords/ Baldoyle, Tallaght and Ringsend. All of the participating groups identiﬁed suicide and its prevention as an important issue for their communities. In parallel with the creative drama work, the group is developing suitable suicide prevention protocols, which can be adapted for each community. The short scenes and monologues were performed by young people from Swords/ Baldoyle and Tallaght as well as members and staff from Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre. An initial aim of the project was to build conﬁdence in performing, expressing real-life issues dramat-

ically, bonding each group, and exploring techniques and skills for devising drama pieces. It was clear that this had been achieved, as heartbreaking true stories of youthful suicides were sensitively presented. Afterwards Peter Hussey asked, at what point could the outcome have possibly been changed? Who in the situation could have behaved differently, or intervened in a positive way? One of the young actors gave an especially moving statement that she did not have to do research to learn about suicide in her community; both her sister and later her brother had committed suicide, sadly leaving their children, her nephews and nieces, without their parent. There are a number of support

services for people suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm, as well as support for people bereaved by suicide. The Samaritans provide 24 hours a day conﬁdential support on their helpline, 1850 609 090 for people feeling distress or despair. Teen Line Ireland is 1800 833 634, while Childline is 1 800 666 666. Pieta House has a centre for the Prevention of Self Harm or Suicide. Their phone is 01 601 1000. They offer a free-of-charge treatment programme for people in need of this service. The National Suicide Bereavement Network offers details of support groups and information for those bereaved by suicide at their website, www.nsbsn.org.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 11

RINGSEND & IRISHTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE

By Lorraine Barry Ringsend Development Forum. Established 1st July 2008 As part of the ongoing development and promotion of joint community initiatives in the Ringsend and Irishtown area RICC invites ALL GROUPS in the Community to a meeting on the third Tuesday of every month in the Centre at 7.30pm. The purpose of this meeting is to identify ways in which the Community Centre could facilitate, foster and promote Community Activities and help groups in the area to achieve their full potential. ALL welcome– we look forward to seeing you there. May Day Parade– Ringsend Together

RICC is organising a May Day Parade on Bank Holiday Monday on 4th May 2009. We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and highlight the fantastic facilities and opportunities available to everyone in the Community. We have had fantastic feedback to date from people and groups from the Community wanting to join in the fun. The parade will commence and conclude at the Centre with BBQ, Demonstrations and Live Music and Craic. So come on everybody lets Celebrate in good old Raytown Style For further information please contact Lorraine/Barbara at 6604789 Life Force Drama Staff and members from the Ringsend and Irishtown Com-

munity Centre were involved in a production which explored the issues of mental health and suicide prevention. RICC hosted the play on the 5th Feb and 5th March 09. It was a huge success and very well attended. The play encourages members of the audience to participate at the end of each scene and give their opinions as to what they could have done to prevent the scenes enacted. Our audience were very interactive and we had a powerful response to these sad but very realistic situations. It created awareness about taboo issues and aimed to disregard any stigma attached and allowed people to talk openly and freely about these prevalent issues. The play is coming into its third phase and we will be hosting it again later this year. We would recommend it to everyone. To see these brave young people share their experience with you is a very real and enjoyable experience. Directed by Peter Hussey and Keith Burke of Crooked House Theatre, Life Force is a project of Blue Drum. Ringsend Rock School Ringsend Rock School has now commenced at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre. We have had such a great response already.

C OUCHSURFING By Glenda Cimino What is Couchsurfing? The idea is simple– you join this organisation in which you offer, and/ or receive, free accommodation for a few nights with people in other parts of the world. Although very much based on trust and respect, the site is safe, with the ability as a member only to view othersʼ detailed profiles before you choose whether to host or ask to stay, find out a little about people before you commit, and of course say no if youʼd prefer. If you canʼt offer a couch (ie, any kind of a place to sleep) you can offer to meet visitors for a coffee or beer, give them advice on what to see or where to stay or take them to your favourite place. And then you surf someone elseʼs couch. It is a simple way to travel, get the flavour of local life and insider knowledge, make friends sometimes, meet people you might otherwise never meet, and save money. While most couchsurfers are young, it is open to all ages. The average age

of members, who post their proﬁles online for prospective hosts to see, is 27. The United States has the largest number of members, followed by Germany and France. Couchsurﬁng is not a ʻrightʼ– you have to persuade your potential host that you are a good and safe person to take in for a night or two. Also, sometimes arrangements do fall through, so you may have to be prepared to look for an emergency couch or a hostel. But mostly, it works exceedingly well. If someone applies to you for a couch, for safety, you always go through the website, not responding to a random email. You read comments other surfers or hosts have made about them, and what they have said about others. You see what their interests are. And then, on a sound basis, you make your decision to offer accommodation or a cup of tea and a chat, or not. There is no obligation to host anyone or meet any quota of guests. No money changes hands or should change hands. Although some couchsurfers bring their hosts a small gift, or offer to take them out for a meal or cook them a dinner, or some hosts take

THE

their visitors out with them, this really depends on the individuals involved. It is NOT a dating site. You may host as many or as few people as you like, as often or as seldom as you like, for as many days or nights as you like. If you are a party animal, you will seek out the same. If you like a quiet night in, you look for people who can offer that. Some people want company, others just a place to crash. You the host decide what you want and who you want to host. How does it work? First, go to www.couchsurfing,com and become a member. It is free. Create your profile on line and fill it out as much as possible, including photos. You also can join discussion groups in your areas of interests or attend couchsurfing events in your town. A good surfer does as much as possible to give back to their hosts. This includes doing simple things like, for example, washing the dishes, making dinner or helping out in some way. Iʼve met some amazing people through it, hosting folk of all ages from pretty much all corners of the globe. Although Iʼve only ever been hosted once through it– in San Fran-

All ages from 8 years and up are welcome to come along and learn how to play an instrument. It is in its youthful stages at present but our vision is with progression that we will develop it and have a proper sound studio facility. We are aiming to get this great project up off the ground and make it something spectacular. Music is such a great outlet for everyone and itʼs also a common ground for young people and adults alike. Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre is always working towards new ventures to bring folks together and the music seems to be a universal language. If you are interested in getting involved: call into the centre or phone us on (01) 6604789. If you have any instruments at home that are of no use to you, why not donate them to our Rock School? They would be much appreciated. International Womenʼs Week Cllr. Eimear Costello, Deputy Lord Mayor and Lorraine Barry, Manager of RICC took part in the opening of International Womenʼs

Week, supported by local groups. It ran from Friday 6th March to Sunday 8th March 2009. Coming Up… Childminders Celebration Morning– Wednesday 8th April 11a.m. to 1p.m. In acknowledgement of National Childminders Week, RICC are holding an information morning for Parents, Grandparents and Childminders. The morning will include: Breastfeeding Support, Early Learning Initiative, Value of Play, Arts & Crafts, Face Painting for Children and much, much more!!! Easter Camp RICC is hosting an Easter Camp at the Centre for 6 to 9 year olds. It promises to be great fun with plenty of activities. For further information Contact David at the Centre on 6604789. Top left: The Deputy Lord Mayor making a speech at the opening of Womenʼs International Week-End in RICC. Below: Life Force Facilitator Peter Hussey leading the discussion around Suicide and Prevention.

W ORLD cisco– Iʼve still enjoyed being a host many, many times since I joined, and all of my guests have been ok, and some of them have been exceptional people I am delighted to know and would otherwise never have met.

Dublin has 3,608 registered members, with 17 groups. Worldwide, Couchsurfers recruited its millionth member in March. Maybe, just maybe, this is the way of the future. www.couchsurﬁng.com

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PAGE 12

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

WORD MAGIC: EPONYMS FOR FOOD

By Glenda Cimino

urnames traditionally arose from the type of work people did. The cooper or barrelmaker became Mr. Cooper, the rope maker became Mr. Roper. However, some words– known as eponyms– are

derived from someoneʼs name. Next time you eat a sandwich, give a thought to the man it was named for, John Montagu, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, a man more notorious in his day as a member of the Hellﬁre Club. During the late hours one night in 1762 he was too busy gambling to go to dinner. The legend

Geraldine M. Lynch (formerly of Irishtown Road)

General Legal Practice Telephone: 087 9874577 for appointment Email: glynchburke@eircom.net

goes that he ordered a valet to ʻjust bring me roast beef between two slices of bread!ʼ to keep his fingers from getting greasy while he played cards. Of course, he wasnʼt the first to eat meat between bread. But somehow, his was the name that stuck. How many times have you bitten into a crisp, tart green Granny Smith apple, shown right, without giving a thought to Maria Ann ʻGrannyʼ Smith, the Australian apple breeder who developed the variety from a seedling in 1868? She died two years later, but her apple was one day to become a commercial success, being introduced to the UK in 1935 and to the US in 1972. There are other examples of apples which were named for people who did not originate them. The Bramley is a cooking apple named for Matthew Bramley. But the first tree grew from pips planted by a young girl, Mary Ann Brailsford, in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, around 1809. Many years later a local butcher, Matthew Bramley, bought the cottage and the garden. When a local nurseryman took graftings from the tree and began to sell the fruit, he named it after the new owner. The Blenheim orange apple, superb with cheese, was once known as Kempsterʼs pippin. Kempster discovered it in 1740 growing against the wall of the park of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough. Kempster grew a cutting in his own garden and people stopped their coaches to marvel at the tree with its load of striking orange-red fruit. But alas for his posthumous fame, when the apple came to be sold commercially, Blenheim, the name of the Big House, was thought a classier label. The Cox apple was named after Richard Cox, a wealthy brewer from Bermondsey who in the 1820s retired to the country to pursue his hobby of horticulture. To make his name a household word for apple, he took the Blenheim orange and pollinated it with the Ribston pippin. Leaving apples behind, how about the nacho, that tortilla chip covered in cheese which

is everywhere these days? According to ʻThe Dallas Morning Newsʼ of October 22, 1995, it was named for restaurant cook Ignacio ʻNachoʼ Anaya, who invented the dish in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras in 1943. The semi-soft sweet made from butter and sugar and flavourings, called fudge, also has an interesting origin. The sweet or candy (by the way, the American word ʻcandyʼ derives from the Arabic ʻqandi,ʼ meaning something made with sugarʼ) was first made in New England womenʼs colleges. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests it may be a variant of an older word, ʻfadgeʼ, meaning ʻto fit pieces togetherʼ or to ʻcontrive without the necessary materialsʼ. ʻFudgeʼ had been used to mean a hoax or cheat since about 1833, and by 1850 ʻOh, fudge!ʼ was a fairly innocuous expletive. It has long been speculated that American college women of that day used candymaking as an excuse to stay up late at night, hence candymaking was a bit of a fudge, or a hoax. The word fudge as a candy first showed up in print in 1896, and by 1908 was commonly associated with womenʼs colleges, as in ʻWellesley Fudgeʼ. A Pavlova is a meringue dessert with cream and fruit named after the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. It was a delicacy created to be served during her ballet tours. A Garibaldi is a biscuit with

currants named after the Italian soldier, Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882), while Battenberg cake, pictured left, is probably named after one of the Battenberg family living in England, who gave up their German titles during World War I and changed their name to Mountbatten. Béchamel sauce was named to ﬂatter the maítre dʼHotel to Louis XIV, Louis de Béchamel, Marquis de Nointel (1630– 1703), also a ﬁnancier and ambassador. A recent example of this trend is Cherry Garcia ice cream with bing cherries and chocolate chips, which was makers Ben & Jerryʼs homage to the Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia (1942–1995). For a month following the musicianʼs death in 1995, the ice cream was made with black cherries instead of bings as a show of mourning. Finally, nicotine, the poisonous alkaloid found in tobacco leaves, dates from 1819, from the French for modern Latin Nicotiana, the formal botanical name for the tobacco plant. This plant was named for Jean Nicot (c.1530–1600), then French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds and powdered leaves back to France in 1561.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 13

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM EXAM STRESS?

By Gemma Bailey, Chiropractor

xam stress... Itʼs that time of year again when many children and adults are starting the daunting task of revising for important exams. Unfortunately, this process can bring about high levels of stress which can trigger problems such as headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhoea or constipation and a ﬂare-up of certain conditions such as eczema, asthma and acne. Many students also experience bouts of insomnia, sore eyes and back and joint pain associated with long hours spent revising or cramming. Exam stress can manifest itself in the body in a number of ways. The best advice is to be prepared and recognise the symptoms associated with stress. That way you can treat the problem as soon as it presents and minimise its impact. As a Chiropractor I am seeing more students in my clinic with exam and revision-related complaints, suffering with prolonged bouts of back pain and

tension headaches. If a student is suffering from stress, prolonged pain or discomfort then their overall productivity is reduced and they are more likely to have errors in their work. Increased errors and reduced productivity will only contribute to the studentʼs stress and it can very easily become a vicious cycle. Virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body is controlled and regulated by your nervous system. Dysfunction of spinal joints can cause interference to the delicate nerve tissue and can distort the vital information being transmitted from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain. Distorted nerve communications can be a cause of many other health problems beyond just headaches and back pain. Some symptoms arising from nervous system interference may seem totally unrelated to the spine, for example digestive or respiratory problems, poor concentration and memory, mood swings, and broken sleep patterns. There are many ways to treat musculoskeletal pain associated with stress.

THE YACHT

Thorncastle Street, Ringsend. Phone 6680977

A H APPY E ASTER FROM ALL AT T HE Y ACHT

Chiropractic care provides a non-surgical and drug-free treatment to children and adults. It is a 100% natural approach to health care, as it is based on restoring function to our bodies on a skeletal, muscular and neurological level. As with any health problem, the sooner the symptoms are recognised, diagnosed and treated the better the long-term prognosis. If any of the above relates to you or your child then you should take advantage of our free Spinal Health Checks. These are held at the Fitzwilliam Health Clinic on a weekly basis– please phone 01 6618949 or email info@ﬁtzwilliamhealth.ie for more details. There will also be the opportunity to attend a free presentation on Tuesday 5th May at 6pm and Thursday 7th May at 1pm. Please contact Fitzwilliam Health Clinic for further information.

Handy Hint for Exam Stress Parents and children should discuss forthcoming exams and identify any areas or subjects causing particular concern or worry. Get plenty of sleep. Try to keep your sleep routine as regular as possible Take a break. This is really important. You should give yourself plenty of short breaks as you revise– this keeps you fresher for longer, so you will learn more. Time for yourself. Try to leave enough time in your revision for some fun. You will need to put your books down and do something you enjoy for a while if you want to stay in a good mood. Be realistic. Donʼt try to do too much work each day. If you overdo it you wonʼt take in what you are studying. Eat properly. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruit and veg. Drink juice or water, avoid too much tea or coffee. If consumed in excess it can produce many of the physical symptoms associated with anxiety such as palpitations, headache, insomnia and nausea. Get some exercise. Physical exercise is a fantastic ʻstress busterʼ and can enhance oneʼs feeling of wellbeing. Go running, play a sport, or just take a walk. You will feel more relaxed. If youʼre not sleeping very well exercise can make a real difference. Be positive. Donʼt beat yourself up about things, instead be nice to yourself. Make a quick list of ﬁve things youʼve done that you are proud of. This will put you in a good mood and you will learn more.

Stepping into Spring

By Audrey Healy

s the snow melts from outside my door and the sound of the whistling wind fades away, the sun cautiously steps into view and I welcome it gratefully, eager to seek solace from the darkness of the past year which hasnʼt been a great one for me. This year I vow, will be full of hope and joy and I yearn for it to so, after a time of great stress and ill-health. 2009 sees the Golden Jubilee of my parents who married ﬁfty years ago in 1959 and both are still healthy and happy with a family and grandchildren at home. It also sees, with Godʼs grace the arrival of a new niece or nephew for me in June and that will also bring a new beginning as we step into Spring. Spring is also a time of moving on for me personally as I sadly come to the end of my second stint here with ʻNewsFourʼ. I have always enjoyed my time here and it has been a great training ground for journalism. Ann has always been a kind, personable and ﬂexible boss and has taught me a great deal. I will miss being here particularly doing the book reviews! I will also miss the friends I have made. Best wishes to all of you.

RODNEY DEVITT, D. P

OD. M., M. CH. S. I.,

PODIATRIST / CHIROPODIST Is now in private practice four full days at 62 Tritonville Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4

For consultation, advice and treatment for all foot conditions Telephone 6680485 for an appointment Monday to Thursday inclusive, 8am to 5pm The surgery is at garden level – no stairs Four minute walk from No. 3 bus (Star of the Sea Church) Off-road car parking – free

PAGE 14

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

The Letterbox Dear Ann I just received my copy of NewsFour. I have been staying at my daughter Margaretʼs house for ten days as my home is not too far from the bush ﬁres. Iʼm not in any danger, thank God, but smoke is very bad for my chest. Just ﬁnished reading the paper. I am so sorry I upset Mr P. B. Lyon in spelling of his name. This copy is truly a walk down memory lane looking at all the new shops. I only remember the

old shops like Maloneʼs Corner Shop next door to Ferrariʼs chipper, Kitty Whelanʼs, Annie Payneʼs Pork Shop, Birdʼs black corner shop. Thank you so much for the beautiful memories your paper brings to a few Raytowners who live here in in Melbourne. I pass on the paper to them. I met a Dubliner last week at her 80th birthday. Her name is Hayes and she is from Ringsend. Her name was Maguire and her granny Maguire had

a little shop across from the Regal Picture House where we all brought our sweets and ice cream. We talked for hours. Ann, thank you again for all the beautiful memories, some bring tears after 58 years away– there is no place like Ringsend. Kind regards Jean Lynch (Campbell) Australia PS 25 Australian dollars enclosed for my NewsFour Dear Madam Editor and the Staff at NewsFour I would like to thank NewsFour for putting my picture on the front page of the February edition. You made me famous with all my friends and family. From Amy Louise Smith Thanks for the chocolates Amy, we all loved them. Ed Dear Ann Thank you for an interesting read of the NewsFour. We receive the paper via my husbandʼs sister who lives in Ireland. I am Mary the wife of William Rollo (known as Billy). I am into scrap booking. The photo I enclose (printed above) is of the Star of the Sea 1954 Gaelic Football team who went on to win the ﬁrst Dublin South League under thirteen. Billy Rollo is in the front row, ﬁfth in from the left. I hope it will be of interest to your readers and it would be interesting to see how many boys recognise themselves. If anyone does know the names I would appreciate it if they could send in the names to NewsFour so that I can update my scrapbook. Yours sincerely Mary Rollo Sydney, Australia

The Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society EARLY IN 2007 a steering committee was formed to set up a local historical society and organise an inaugural lecture. The initiative for this stemmed from Liz Turley, senior Librarian of Pembroke Library and Councillor Dermot Lacey. Following two very successful years, the Society continues to go from strength to strength. The current membership is almost 250. THE SPRING PROGRAMME IS AS FOLLOWS: Thursday, 23 April 2009: Mills, Ancient and Modern: Norman Campion May and June 2009: Tours are planned for the summer months of May and June. Membership is open to all with an interest in local history. Most events take place at present in St. Maryʼs National School, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook. Talks are open to the public for a small charge of €3 and free to members. For more information, contact Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society, Pembroke Library, Anglesea Road, Dublin 4. Phone Number: 01- 6689575

Beach Road Tyre Services (Rear Kilroy College)

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 15

PODCASTS – WHAT ARE THEY? K ATE O’B RIEN ’ S S PANISH RETURN

Aidan OʼDonoghue

S technology becomes more and more a part of our everyday lives, so too does the language associated with it. Hence we use the word ʻe-mailʼ for exchanging information with others over the internet, ʻdownloadʼ to take information from the world wide web to our own personal computers, and ʻgoogleʼ as a verb to describe searching for information on whatever topic comes into our heads. The latest of these words to break into everyday language on a grand scale is ʻpodcastʼ. Podcasting involves something very simple, but its name makes it seem complicated to many. It is a combination of two words– ʻipodʼ and ʻbroadcastʼ. A podcast is a broadcast that you can download from the web onto your computer, your ipod or your MP3 player. Although ʻiPodʼ is part of the name, you do not necessarily need one to listen to a podcast. There are three main types of podcasts: shows that are on traditional radio stations that can be downloaded from the radio stationʼs website at any time, such as ʻMorning Irelandʼ or ʻNob Nationʼ, shows made exclusively for the web that are available from media websites, such as guardianunlimitedʼs ʻFootball Weeklyʼ show, and shows that are recorded by ʻamateursʼ on whatever subject might interest them (this is similar in practice to pirate radio, except that it is perfectly legal). Many of us have radio programmes that we listen to on a regular basis. But sometimes we miss out on a broadcast. Once upon a time that meant that we could never hear it, but with podcasting there is every chance that we can. All it takes is a visit to the radio stationʼs website and a simple click on their ʻpodcastsʼ link. This will give a list of programmes and the dates on

which they aired. Each programme listed will often have a ʻdownload the podcastʼ link. When the user clicks on this, the programme will be downloaded to your computerʼs music library– such as iTunes– and is ready to listen to within minutes. If you want to transfer it to your mp3 player and go for a walk you can do that too. But so long as your computer has speakers, you can listen to it right there and then. Podcasts allow you to listen at a time that suits you. If you want to listen to a documentary or play that aired on RTE radio four months ago, chances are the podcast is available on their website. Other media outlets have podcasts too, such as guardianunlimited, the ʻLondon Timesʼ, the ʻNew York Timesʼ and the BBC. If there isnʼt a ʻpodcastʼ link there will be an ʻaudioʼ link, which refers to the same thing. If you would rather find podcasts from non-traditional media outlets, all you have to do is think of any subject and then search for a podcast on it– such as ʻgardening podcastʼ, ʻwedding podcastʼ, ʻdrumʼnʼbassʼ podcast, ʻjazz podcastʼ, ʻpsychology podcastʼ, ʻpets podcastʼ. Then you will find podcasts on whatever interests you. Alternatively, you could search for a ʻpodcast directoryʼ, and you will then be presented with a whole host of podcasts covering a wide range of subjects. Essentially, podcasts are radiotype shows on the internet that can be listened to at whatever time suits you, and for free. You find your podcast, hit the ʻdownloadʼ button, it will open up in your media library, and you press play and listen. If youʼre still not sure about what is involved, simply search ʻWhat is a podcast?ʼ for further information. After that itʼs all plain sailing. Youʼll find yourself presented with a range of listening options like never before.

Spanish ﬁlm production company went to Limerick in March to shoot a documentary about famous local author Kate OʼBrien, right, and her links to Spain. The company, based in Malaga in Spain, visited the city for the 15th anniversary of the weekend held in OʼBrienʼs honour. The crew interviewed a number of the people involved including Irish author John Banville and historian Margaret MacCurtain. Antonio Sierra was the man responsible for organising the naming of the street after Kate OʼBrien in the village of Gotarrendura in the Avila region of Spain last summer. “I have been working on the possibility to pro-

duce a Spanish documentary on Kate OʼBrien as a writer and her connection with Spain. The crew are now to ﬁlm in Limerick and I would hope the documentary would be released at the end of year.” Antonio explained that the doc-

umentary makers are also to travel to England and the towns that Kate OʼBrien visited in Spain, with a particular focus on the Basque Country, where the author lived for ten months in 1922 as a governess for the Arelza family. Antonio Sierra has been appointed as an honorary member of the Kate OʼBrien committee which organises the annual literary weekend in Limerick and hopes that more institutions in Spain will recognise the local author. “I am hoping that Bilbao University will organise some form of homage to Kate– possibly a weekend in her honour– and the public libraries in the south of Spain are to be stocked with her works,” said Antonio.

A CTIVE • E XPERIENCED • H ARDWORKING

PAGE 16

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

Bookworm

PADDY FOR DESIGN STATEMENT COMMITTEE

Reviewed by Audrey Healy

ʻANYTHING FOR LOVEʼ by Sarah Webb Sarah Webbʼs new novel introduces us to single mum Alice Devine, who is struggling to get back on her feet after her return from London, where she broke up with the father of her young son Adam. Never lucky in love, she brings home with her low self-esteem and a lack of direction in her life. Luckily for her, her big sister Grace is on hand to step in and help her back on her feet– quite literally– beginning with exaggerating her CV and helping her get the job of fund raiser at St. Judeʼs Maternity Hospital. This brings Alice and subsequently the reader into contact with a wide range of wild and eccentric characters and offers Alice the ﬁrst chance of romance sheʼs had for a long long time in the form of her boss, the tall, dark and mysterious Jack Wiseheart. Seemingly shy and bashful, Jack takes an instant liking to Al-

ice at her interview and they bond instantly but itʼs not until they embark on a work journey together that sparks begin to ﬂy between them. By that time he has opened up to her about his tragic past and she has told him about her failed relationships. Together they share a kiss… but then work colleague Koo puts a spanner in the works.

Central to the story is the snobby Maud Hamilton OʼConnor, chief fundraiser at the hospital who took an instant dislike to Alice and never wanted her for the position. As soon as Alice is firmly ensconced in St. Judeʼs she realises that her job involves being general dogsbody to this middle-aged, cold lady and she finds herself doing her ironing and picking up her dry cleaning and getting no thanks for it, no matter how hard she tries to warm to her. But soon she learns that Maud has every reason to be sad and lonely and that she herself is a victim of a loveless and sad marriage and has secrets that have contributed to shaping her to be the woman she is today. A novel of love, rows, disappointments and loneliness– if you are up for that you will find it a good read. ʻAnything for Loveʼ by Sarah Webb is published now by Macmillan.

CLLR PADDY MCCARTAN has been nominated to the steering committee of the Sandymount Village Design Statement and he is looking forward to working with the community representing your interests. Pictured above at the Cullenswood complex in Ranelagh are, left to right: Sue Bangham, Cllr Paddy McCartan, Oonagh Ryan, Housing Manager and Peggy Brannigan.

Family Fare

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Monday to Saturday: VISIT THE STORE FOR ALL YOUR NURSERY AND BABY EQUIPMENT From mid April 2009 we will be selling 10am to 6pm Telephone (01) 6600168 • Email familyfare@hotmail.co.uk our products online. Sunday: Visit our web store Located off Irishtown Road, in Dublin 4 behind the library 12pm to 6pm at www.familyfare.ie Unit 2 The Bottleworks, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 17

By Audrey Healy

s soon as you see that little blue line appear on that pregnancy test youʼll want to do all you can to welcome this precious new arrival into your home and a new shop in the Ringsend area has the very best to greet your new bundle of joy with their centrally-located store. Family Fare aims to cater for all your needs. As a parent youʼll be looking for products that are safe, convenient, durable, affordable

as well as being fashionable and youʼll ﬁnd it all here– many of the

products are Irish made, which is always a bonus.

M ICHAEL D ONNELLY , What do you think about the new Pembroke/Rathmines electoral area? I have found it extremely interesting working in the new enlarged local government area in Pembroke/ Rathmines. While I have been on the Council for many years in the Rathmines end of the new area, I have also been very involved in matters of importance in the Sandymount, Ballsbridge and Donnybrook area. With regard to the constituency change, I think it was quite deplorable to divide Sandymount in two. However, I think there is a solution available to us in the new Council by properly using the Area Committee which will deal with all issues in Sandymount. I hope that all Councillors elected next June will work together to represent Sandymount in a uniﬁed way. What are your views on the Juryʼs hotel site? I was particularly pleased to work with the 14 residents associations at the time of the proposed Ballsbridge area plan and very much shared their concern in connection with the Juryʼs hotel site and of course the proposed tower. All of this now is at an end because of the recent decision by Board Pleanála. Have you any views on the Sandymount Village Design project? I think it is a good idea. I know there was a great deal of debate and concerns as to how this might work out. I think the last meeting in Lakelands was very positive. I strongly feel that representation on the steering committee should represent both sides of the new and imposed divide in Sandymount. Has the dual mandate made any difference to the Council? In terms of co-operation be-

tween councillors, I believe one of the benefits of the abolition of the dual mandate has been that councillors are working very well together without the intrusion of Leinster House politics. I have great regard for all public representatives in Leinster House but there was a tendency for strict party divisions to be introduced into City Council debates. Michael Donnelly is a Chartered Accountant and Chairman of the Finance Committee and he is particularly concerned that we get value for money every day of the year. “In the way we discharge our responsibility to all citizens and by managing our money to the best effect, we also make it possible to expand our services to all communities. I am very happy to say that in drawing up the budget for the current year we have managed to preserve all services without any cutbacks.” Donnelly says that a good example of value for money has been the successful reorganisation of the bin collections. This has resulted in a saving of €11 million without any interference with the service. Another major success has been the continuation of the Bulk Household Collection. This will continue on a ʻfree of chargeʼ basis and with a three year cycle. Despite all the pressures in dealing with economic and financial difficulties, Donnelly thinks it is of the utmost importance that the City Council foster the participation and enjoyment of the cultural and artistic life of the city. “Dublin has such a rich history in theatre, literature, music and in the arts generally. Dublin has achieved three Nobel Prizes for literature, W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Sam Beckett, and consider that the list does not include Joyce, OʼCasey, Wilde. Some city! Let us be proud.”

Situated in the busy centre of Ringsend village behind the library, Family Fare is bright, warm and spacious and displays an impressive and eye-catching array of colourful childcare products, ranging from baby booties, clothes and activity mats, right up to cots, baby walkers and mobiles. “We also sell toys, baby monitors and car seats for children from birth right up to age eleven years,” says proprietor Lucy McCormack, who runs the store with her husband Patrick. “We also

have prams, pushchairs, strollers, which can all be adjusted to suit the childʼs age as well as mattresses, curtains, and accessories for the babyʼs nursery.” Lucy says that in the current economic climate all items have to be competitively priced. She is looking forward to welcoming customers old and new and is happy to advise them on whatʼs best for them and their new baby. Opening hours in Family Fare are from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and from 12pm to 6pm on Sundays. Tel: 6600168.

PROUD OF HIS CITY

Councillor Michael Donnelly Contact details: Phone: 4970935 Email: mdonnelly@bfcd.ie

PAGE 18

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

Film Scene By Michael Hilliard

‘Watchmen’ ʻWatchmenʼ is set in an alternate 1985 America, where costumed heroes have existed since World War II, and the ʻDoomsday Clockʼ, which charts the likelihood of nuclear fallout between the USA and

the Soviet Union, is set at ﬁve minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit past and present masked heroes. As he reconnects with his former group of retired heroes, he

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uncovers a conspiracy with links to their shared past, and catastrophic consequences for the future. For those obsessed with the critically-acclaimed graphic novel (which would be almost anyone who has read it), or for audiences looking for a stylish action film, ʻWatchmanʼ is worth–well–watching… For those obsessed with the critically acclaimed graphic novel (placed in Time magazineʼs top 100 novels of all time), or for audiences looking for a stylish action film, ʻWatchmenʼ is well worth the ticket price. Those who felt ʻThe Dark Knightʼ was almost too dark, will be in for a shock with Watchmen. As far as superhero movies go, this graphic adaptation of the comic book series from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons makes Christopher Nolanʼs Batman films look tame in comparison. ʻWatchmenʼ opens with the assassination of Edward Blake, aka The Comedian, a former member of the Watchmen group. Rorschach, one of the only masked vigilantes still working, learns of his acquaintanceʼs death and spreads the word to the other former members, who may also be in danger. The film takes its time delving into the background of the Watchmen and their ideals. Without question, the heart of the movie lies with The Comedian. Jeffrey Dean Morgan creates a vivid character who adapts with the increasingly graphic world. As a supposed hero, he unflinchingly shoots down a pregnant woman in Vietnam, and attempts to rape a crime-fighting partner. No matter how morally devoid he gets, this character and his representation of society, give the rest of the Watchmen a reason to fight for a better world. Director Zack Snyder, was undoubtedly set a gargantuan task in adapting ʻWatchmenʼ from its source material. The material is so dense, with sub-plots, backstories and even a comic book-within-thecomic-book to contend with, that itʼs no surprise that ʻWatchmenʼ, not unlike ʻThe Lord of the Ringsʼ trilogy, was often thought unfilmable. Snyder has done an amazing job, but there is still a sense that the ʻWatchmenʼ story should have been done as a TV mini-series, or a trilogy of movies, in order to do justice

to the scope and scale of the original. It feels almost like Snyder got half-way into shooting the movie at the perfect pace, and then suddenly realised he had to cram the rest of the story in, with only an hour to play with. The climactic ﬁnal revelation is rushed. The build-up is badly fumbled by the time constraints, and itʼs a crying shame. The work that has gone into the movie up until this point; the incredible opening sequence, the ﬂashbacks to the thirties

and forties with the original watchmen, the Mars sequence, and the inspired soundtrack, almost feel like part of a different movie– one where the ending will have been given the care and attention of the previous two-thirds, but no, it hasnʼt. The ideal way to enjoy the ʻWatchmenʼ story, is to pick up a copy of the novel. Read it ﬁrst, and then view the movie as a companion piece. Itʼs a lot more fulﬁlling. Rating: 4 out of 5

Night at the dogs with Cllr. Paddy McCartan Local Elections Fundraiser in Shelbourne Park on Wednesday 22nd April. Admission €100 Includes four-course meal, wine and race card Tickets from: Marie Hickey: 01 6609202 Deirdre Healy: 087 9933347/ 01 2694100

Ringsend and District Credit Union Ltd. 5 Irishtown Rd., Dublin 4.

Phone: 6686676 • Fax: 6686288

AT RINGSEND CREDIT UNION WE NOW OFFER Free Loan Protection Insurance Foreign Currencies • Travel Insurance House Insurance • Interest Rebate on Loans All Business Transacted During Opening Hours OPENING HOURS Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm • 2.00pm-4.30pm Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm • 2.00pm-4.30pm Friday 9.30am-12.15pm • 2.00pm-7.00pm

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 19

L IZ E ARLE – THE QUEEN OF SKINCARE By Stephanie Morris

t was 1995 when the range of beauty products, Liz Earle, was born. Co-founders Liz Earle and Kim Buckland extended their long friendship into a business partnership. They had previously been connected in their early career stages within the beauty industry and branched off in their own directions. Liz became a specialist in the research of botanical ingredients, natural health and well being. Kim specialised in the management of the manufacturing, packaging, retailing and marketing of cosmetics. Kim and Liz combined their experience and developed a product range that really worked, was pampering yet affordable, simple to use and for everyone– no matter what their age or skin type. They have a wonderful website as well as a very informative news-

letter. You can purchase everything on line. After many years of trial and error with skin care, both expensive and mid-range prices, I believe Liz Earle to be one of the best ranges I have used. They say at forty, you get the face you deserve. I was that late 30-something and the sheer fear of getting the face ʻI deservedʼ was causing me distress. The signs were there: the baggy eyes, the pufﬁness

and general dull complexion. The ﬁrst tell-tale signs of an ʻover-indulgentʼ lifestyle show on the face especially for women. Hence, as I approached the big 40, my overall appearance was lacking in lustre. I discovered Liz Earle as I browsed through the lovely shop Wilde & Green on the Milltown Road. Liz Earle proudly takes up the entire section as you walk in on the left hand side. Thankfully, I am never one to miss a ʻnewʼ product.

I was testing all the testers with a sense of childlike urgency. The moment I applied the creams to my skin, aromas of eucalyptus were evident. I noticed the widespread use of organic aloe vera, cucumber, natural vitamin E and cocoa butter blended with the subtle scents of botanical essentials oils. They have the full range both for men and women. Earleʼs products for quality, the price and size are astounding. The no-risk takers can purchase everything in ʻtry me sample rangesʼ ﬁrst, which come in a little beauty bag, great for travelling. The ʻCleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanserʼ, €14 for 150ml, has proved to be the best I have used. It has started to win many awards and comes highly recommended. The muslin cloths are €2 and work well for daily exfoliating. ʻInstant Boost Skin Tonicʼ smells almost like a soft talc. It revitalises and refreshes the skin at €15 for 200ml. It also comes in as a ʻSpritzerʼ and is great for your fridge. A little spray anytime of the day can bring me alive within seconds. I also treated myself to a bottle of Liz Earle ʻSuperskin Concen-

trateʼ, which is a soothing blend of pure plant oils to help repair, nourish and calm the skin. This is a super-intense aromatic blend of 100% pure plant oils. It costs €40 and is worth every penny. The ʻSkin Repair Moisturiserʼ is a good, no nonsense, functional moisturiser, rich in borage, avocado, echinacea and antioxidant natural source of Vitamin E and costs €19. There are similar products for men in brown packaging. Check out www.lizearle.com. They have a wonderfully informative website or the full range is in Wilde & Green. You will not be disappointed. Main picture: Liz Earle and below some of her skincare cosmetics.

PAGE 20

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

SPORTSCO REDEVELOPMENT LAUNCH AND 30TH ANNIVERSARY

PORTSCO recently celebrated its 30th year as a Sports and Leisure complex. In recent years the Irish leisure industry has become increasingly competitive and offering state of the art facilities at competitive prices. In order to address this trend, SPORTSCO took the decision in 2006 to redevelop the facilities at Ringsend in order to retain its position as one of the top ﬁve leisure centres in the country. Membership is more attractive than ever, with substantial discounts available to members in various facilities, including the Golf Lounge and Day Spa. The development at SPORTSCO was completed on schedule in January 2009. New facilities include; * New reception and entrance lobby * Gym doubled in size to 6,200 sq. ft including over 70 pieces of state of the art equipment, separate cardiovascular area, weights area, spinning studio and new aerobic studio.

* Refurbished swimming pool/ pool plant/ sports hall/ leisure suite/ squash courts * State of the art Changing Village incorporating adult only, family change, group change and soccer changing facilities, all with under-

floor heating and vanity areas. * CHP and energy management systems. * Four new competition standard all-weather tennis courts. * Café/ juice bar on ground floor. * Day spa including five therapy

rooms, hamman bath, manicure/ pedicure rooms and tranquility area. * Golf centre incorporating ﬁve golf simulators and golf lounge. * Daycare centre with outdoor play area. Despite the building work, SPORTSCO has remained fully operational and succeeded in maintaining the White Flag and the Q-Mark Awards for 2008. These achievements are due to the high level of customer service offered by all staff and management alike. SPORTSCO is now one of the leading leisure facilities in the country, offering state of the art facilities at competitive prices. For membership information, call in to Sportsco at South Lotts Road, Ringsend , Dublin 4 or contact the website on www.sportsco. ie or phone Lorna Brady 6687022 ext: 203/204. Pictured are, from left: Padraig McManus, Chief Executive ESB, Lorna Brady of Sportsco and Frank OʼConnor, Chairman of Sportsco.

Catherine Woods Psychic/Spiritual Healer and Friends

Psychic Fair Alternative Therapy Day in aid of the Animal Foundation Sunday 26 April 2009 (1 to 5 pm)

Tarot Angel readings Spiritual healing Head massage Foot massage Hand massage (any two therapies for €50) Jury’s Hotel, North Wall, Dublin 1 (3 minutes from O’Connell Bridge)

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 21

J OHN H ENRY F OLEY

S CULPTOR

OF THE

he Irish sculptor John Henry Foley, below, was considered the supreme master of nineteenth century Victorian sculpture. Sé Merry Doyle recently directed a documentary on this much-maligned sculptor which was shown on TG4 in November. To this day no other sculptor has so much work on display in Ireland but many of Foleyʼs works have disappeared. After Ireland gained its independence Republicans began to attack and destroy many of Foleyʼs more contentious imperialist works. Foleyʼs equestrian statute of Viscount Gough, which stood in the Phoenix Park for seventy years was, after repeated attacks by the IRA, smuggled out of Ireland at the behest of the Irish government. The battle-scarred statute now resides exiled on the grounds of Chillingham Castle in Northumberland. This is but one of Foleyʼs works featured in the ﬁlm that became the subject of almost tragic comedy proportions. Although considered a great artist, Foley has never been honoured in his native country. His association with the Empire has caused his legacy to be airbrushed out of Irish history. On his deathbed, Foley bequeathed all of his original casts and studio pieces remaining in his London studio to his native Ireland. The authorities in Dublin declined and it was not until the work was foisted upon them by the Royal Academy, London that the original casts arrived in Ireland. They were housed in the Royal Dublin Society, formerly Leinster House and Foleyʼs ﬁrst school. Art Historian Paula Murphy and Professor John Turpin reveal how many of the works donated to the RDS have controversially disappeared. Recognising the genius of the man, Queen Victoria insisted that Foley be given a state funeral. His grave is in the Artistsʼ Corner at St. Paulʼs Cathedral, where he is buried alongside

E MPIRE

luminaries such as Sir Christopher Wren. How John Henry Foley rose from a small artisan quarter in the centre of Dublin to become the most famous sculptor of public monuments and a personal friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is curious in the extreme. Many of Foleyʼs Irish commissions have become national treasures. Oliver Goldsmith, Daniel OʼConnell and Father Mathew in Cork are proudly featured on tourist brochures and postcards, while others like Viscount Gough, Lord Dunkellin in Galway and Prince Albert in Dáil Eireann became unwanted reminders of Irelandʼs colonial past and were therefore hidden from view or destroyed. That the Empire would fracture and its monuments become destroyed or displaced was unforeseen. Nowhere was this more evident than in Ireland and India, countries where the management of imperial monuments is a contentious issue to this day. In Dublin, the IRA blew up Foleyʼs statues of Lord Carlisle and Viscount Gough. The latter suffered the worst attacks. Widely regarded as one of the ﬁnest equestrian statues in the world, it was cast from 15 tonnes of gunmetal captured by Gough in India. The ill-fated Viscount sat peacefully on his horse in the Phoenix Park until Christmas Eve 1944, when he was decapitated. The head was found several months later in the river Liffey at Islandbridge and after much ado, was restored. In the 1950s the monument was daubed with paint, and attempts were made by the IRA to blow it up. The ﬁrst attempt clipped the rear hocks from the horse, while the second attempt, using sophisticated plastic explosives, succeeded in blowing the Viscount off his mount. The State, out of exasperation, sold the remains of Gough in a private contract to Robert Guinness, with the stipulation that it be removed from Ireland immediately. Foleyʼs portrait of his friend Prince Albert after independence stood at the rear entrance to Dáil Eireann. After repeated threats by Republicans, it was moved to a quiet spot to the side behind some specially-grown hedges so as to obscure the view. Foleyʼs Albert is now the last imperial statute standing in the centre of Dublin. The fate of Indiaʼs imperial monuments mirrored that of Irelandʼs. However, Indian nationalists did not have the same penchant for bombing as the Irish did. They decided to round up the unwanted reminders of

their colonization and place them into sculptural graveyards. In 1950 Foleyʼs equestrian statute of Lord Outram was given a reprieve by the Indian Government who recognized its great artistry and re-sited the statute in a prime position on the grounds of the Victorian Memorial Hall in Calcutta. The Albert Memorial in London was undoubtedly Foleyʼs most prestigious work in Britain. It was originally conceived following the un-

timely death of the Prince Consort in 1861 and Queen Victoria insisted that the commission be given to Albertʼs favorite sculptor. While the Albert Memorial was one of Foleyʼs most illustrious commissions, it was also the cause of his demise. Foley, enslaved by his perfectionism, made the unwise decision by positioning himself for days at a time astride the wet clay of ʻAsiaʼ, the sculpture at the base of the memorial, and contracted pleurisy.

Despite his illness, Foley continued working, leaving us with the ﬁnal irony that, at the time of his death, the two main projects in his studio were the Prince Albert and Daniel OʼConnell sculptures (the latter shown with Patrickʼs Day spectators) side by side, both waiting to take their respective places in history. If only history knew where to place the man who sculpted them. Look out for the documentary which will be shown again shortly on TG4.

Sandymount Credit Union Limited 13 Bath Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4. Tel: 668 5079 / 073 Fax: 6681807 email: info@sandymountcu.ie Website: www.sandymountcu.ie

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PAGE 22

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

A T RIUMPH

OF ENGINEERING

By Noel Twamley

n the Sunday Times of 5th February 2009 Jay Leno, the American TV star and motor enthusiast, wrote that to own a Triumph TR3 is far better than gilts and shares. I concur. In the mid 1950s I was employed by Standard Triumph in Percy Place. Our CEO Matt McQuaid called for me. Matt was a brother of Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid. Matt asked would I be interested in building our ﬁrst TR3 in our main plant in Cashel Road, Crumlin. All the units had just come in from Coventry. I had read many articles in Autocar and Motor Sport about this lovely sports car. The following Monday I was seconded up

to Crumlin to this huge plant. I organised men to unpack all the parts for me and to hang all the components to the chassis. I built this car in under a week. All body panels were clamped on and spot welded. I then pushed the car over to the paint

P ET By Louise Hanrahan

nyone of us who have ever owned a pet, whether it be a cat, dog, rabbit or hamster knows the amazing love and therapeutic beneﬁts we can receive from them. It is a wonderful thing to be an animal lover. It shows us how we are as humans. Pets bring out our sentimental, emotional, inner selves and we can feel the warmth, love and safety when they are there. Animal Communication is telepathic communication between us and our pets. The satisfaction that we can get from our animals is overwhelming and the bond between both owner and pet is a true blessing. The communication has many applications and beneﬁts. By talking to our pet we can almost know what they want or need, and they will understand the same of us. Having a pet for a long period of time can be the most wonderful

shop for final finish. The next job was to fit all the chrome parts, seats, windscreen, door panels, carpets, etc. I filled her up with fuel, water, oil and hit the starter. Vroom, vroom, what a sound echoing around the building. I soon had an audience of some

200 men all clapping and cheering as I made my exit to do a 40-50 mile shake-down run. On returning, I checked for leaks, retightened all components and everything was OK. Next morning Matt McQuaid came up from Percy Place to see the TR3. He introduced me to Dennis, a senior tester from Coventry. Dennis and I went out on a ﬁnal test. The noise in the cockpit was incredible. The rumble of tyres, the howl of the engine and the gale-force wind in our ears– we had to shout to be heard. Minutes later Dennis shouted to me “Noel, weʼre doing 100 mph.” I leaned over to look at the speedo– no seat belts then. Older readers will remember that the average car then was hard pushed to do 60 mph. The Triumph TR3 was a great success. Most were exported to the USA to help pay Britainʼs massive war debt. The few that

came here were quickly snapped up. In hindsight, we were very foolish to do 100mph on the bad roads in an almost prototype sports car. Please never do what we did so long ago. Always adhere to speed limits, wear seat belts, never drink and drive (they are a deadly combination). Check all your lights and donʼt forget your tyres. Remember, at any given speed you only have a few square inches of rubber between you and terra ﬁrma. I sometimes think of the old motor maxim ʻWhatʼs the most important nut in all cars? The nut behind the steering wheel.ʼ This applies now more than ever. Jay Leno was right– the Triumph TR3 was indeed a beauty. I often look at the many photos I have of this car in my motor archives. Finally, dear readers, may I wish one and all many thousand miles of safe and happy motoring.

THERAPY AND ITS BENEFITS

thing. Both owner and pet have utter respect for each other. When we are not ourselves emotionally and physically, our pets will pick up on our moods. I had Benjy, my Jack Russell for 12 years. Every time I came in the door from work he would hare out to the hall and greet me with hyper barking and excitement. If I had a long, hard day at the ofﬁce, to come home and be met with this hysteria was just superb. He cheered me up immediately, and when he eventually calmed down, and sat on my lap, to look into his little brown eyes was just heart warming. I felt absolutely loved with no conditions whatsoever. Our pets are not demanding. It is our responsibility to mind them as they are dependent on us to care for them and nurture them. If one is living alone and the family have grown up and moved on, to have a pet is wonderful company. It doesnʼt mean we are bonkers if we sit and chat to them. They un-

derstand what we are saying. They are more intelligent than we know. Recently, a friend of mine was in a Residential Rehabilitation Programme for 4 months. On the premises and in the back garden was ʻMollyʼ. She was a two year old black Labrador. She was extremely placid and every week one of the residents in Rehab was assigned as a duty to bring her for leisurely strolls each day, and make sure her bowls were topped up with plenty of food and water. She was the most placid dog. Everyone who came in to therapy with inner demons and addictions warmed to

her. She got the most amazing attention and especially love. The clients in return were distracted and focused on a lovely dog that gave them a chance to recover from their addictions and bring them out of themselves if suffering from depression or anxiety. When it came the time for Benjy to leave this world, both my mum and I were devastated. I knew I had to bring him to the vet and leave fate in his capable hands. To bring Benjy to the clinic, and return with an empty lead in my hand left us distraught for a long time. In

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the end, we knew he couldnʼt suffer any longer and it was the only choice left for us to make. A lot of us have been through this scenario. Itʼs not an easy one. Just only a few weeks ago, my friend was minding ʻSnoopyʼ a gorgeous little sausage dachshund for her mum as she was away on holidays. He is a really shy, furtive dog and when my friend left him with me he was extremely wary of me and snifﬁng and dirty looks continued for a while. Eventually, he came around and within a few hours was snuggled up on my lap staring at me lovingly with droopy ears. Animals are wonderful creatures sent from God. I will always respect and love the afﬁnity we have for each other. Letʼs always keep it like this! The Animal Foundation provides a safe haven for abused and neglected animals. Website: www. animalfoundation.ie (see also ad on page 20 where they are fundraising).

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

P OETS

PAGE 23

IN PROFILE

M ARY G UCKIAN

By Glenda Cimino Mary Guckian grew up on a farm in Leitrim, but has been enjoying life in Ringsend for a number of years. Q. How and when did you first develop an interest in poetry? I grew up on a small farm in Co Leitrim. It was the 1940s, a bleak time. We had no books in the house but once a week we received two papers, the ʻLeitrim Observerʼ and the ʻSunday Pressʼ. I used to read them cover to cover. I was always looking for something to read. I had no access to libraries. I do remember that the ʻLeitrim Observerʼ used to publish a poet, Liam Sceallain, who wrote about nature, trees, and politics. As a girl, I cut out all of his works and pasted them into my old scrapbook. I still have them. It wasnʼt until I was 17 and got a job in Sligo County Council that a librarian friend of mine there began to recommend books for me to read. I remember reading Canon Sheehan, Kickhamʼs ʻKnocknagowʼ, and Werfelʼs ʻThe Song of Bernadetteʼ. I was always writing myself then, mostly diaries. Apart from schoolbooks, I wasnʼt reading much poetry yet, though I would have been given Yeatsʼs poetry. I remember John McGahernʼs ʻThe Barracksʼ, which I could identify with a lot. Q. Do you remember the first poem you had published? Yes, I had moved to Oxford and got a job temping for a Greek lecturer in Christchurch College. (Temps there were on a par with the gardeners and the maids who did the beds.) I wrote a poem, ʻFrosty Morningʼ, which was published in a collection called ʻTears on the Fenceʼ. Q. Who, if anyone, has influenced your work? When I moved back to Ireland, I had also been to Australia. I got involved with the Rathmines Writers

Group. I think my first contact was meeting Eithne Kavanagh at a reading in the Peppercanister Church. The late Warren OʼConnell was in that group. He died last May, at 84. He was a lovely man and his father taught in Ringsend Institute. I liked to read women poets, but at that time, it was hard to find a book of poetry by women poets. It was before Salmon Publishing and Beaver Row Press began publishing women writers, but I did find and read Eavan Bolandʼs poetry. Also, I met the poet Mary OʼDonnell. Another writer who was very helpful to me was Rosemary Rowley. Her parents were from Leitrim, and she was so passionate, articulate, and full of poetry, she has inspired me and been a true friend. I read poetry all the time. I read everybody. I particularly like women poets, such as Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, and at home, Anne Hartigan, Mary OʼDonnell, Eileen Casey and Mary Melvin Geoghegan, from Longford. Q. What is your work about, generally speaking? Many of my poems are about nature and my relationship with it and the world. I also love photography as an art form and love to put together my poems and photographs. I like graffiti, and I once wrote a poem in praise of it. Graffiti artists are a kind of outsider art. Q. Could you tell us something about your awards and publications? In 2003, I won the ʻLeitrim Guardianʼ Literary Award for poems published in this annual journal. I also received an award from Scottish Open International Poetry Competition for a long poem. I have published two books of poetry, ʻPerfume of the Soilʼ, 1999 and ʻThe Road to Gowelʼ, 2000, which was inspired by our weekly walk to Mass. My poems have been included in English and Irish anthologies,

as well as Australia, India, Canada, and the USA. Rosemary Rowley helped set up the Swan Press, which published my ﬁrst book, and this was bought by lots of libraries and got ﬁve or six reviews, including a review in ʻPoetry Irelandʼ. For a poet who did not go through the usual channels, this was a lot of reviews. My poem ʻWalking on Snowʼ was published in Michael Flanaganʼs broadsheet, ʻRiposteʼ, and was voted the ʻmost popular poem of 2008ʼ in a readersʼ poll. I also have a short story in the newly-published anthology from the Rathmines Writers Group, ʻEncountersʼ, which is in bookshops now. Q. Do you read your work in public? I have read my work at various

venues over the past few years. In December 2001, I was one part of an exchange with a group called Optimal Avenues, and read at seven venues in and around Boston. Q. What would your style of work be like– do you write every day, or just when you feel inspired, for instance? I am not a bit disciplined. I am always making notes for poems. I start loads of poems, but the problem is giving myself time to work on them. I am a terrible free spirit. Just 18 months ago I retired after 21 years in the Institute of Public Administration. It is fantastic not to be rushing out in the morning. I thought I would write loads, but there has been a lot to do, and I am still adjusting to the changes. But I do have enough po-

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ems together for my next collection, ʻWalking on Snowʼ. Q. Do you have any advice for poets starting out? Yes– read and read and read, get a real feel for language. If you are isolated, it is good to join a group, ﬁnd people you can talk to about your work and get feedback. Get to know fellow poets and soulmates. Go to readings- Poetry Ireland is great for organising them throughout the year. Get over rejection slips, and never lose heart. I would also like to add that I really enjoy living here in Ringsend, and ﬁnd it a place that also inspires my poetry. Two of Maryʼs poems can be found on the poetry page in this issue.

PAGE 24

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

I NTERVIEW WITH M R G ERRY A DAMS MP MLA S INN F ÉIN LEADER BY ANN INGLE What is your earliest memory, Gerry? I have a vague memory of a tenement house and being with my mother and someone knocking loudly at the front door and then my immediate memory after that is my first day at school and being slapped. When my mother and father were first married they got two rooms in a tenenment place in Greencastle just outside Belfast and I went to a school called Star of the Sea and then we moved back with my Granny in Ballymurphy. You left school after completing the GCE and became a barman. Was there any question you might go to college or was it just assumed youʼd go to work? I actually disappointed my parents very much. At the time, they brought in the 1947 education act which is actually credited with educating everyone from John Hume to Seamus Heaney to Bernadette McAliskey to Eamon McCann, all of those people who came on to form leadership of some kind of another in different spheres in the north. I failed my 11-plus at the first attempt, got it the second attempt and went to St Maryʼs Grammar School. It was quite a big sacrifice, there were ten survivors in my family, three of my little brothers died at birth, my father was a builderʼs labourer and my mother was a mill worker so it was a big sacrifice for them to put me through school. Their notion was that I would stay at that. I spent a lot of time with my Granny Adams. But the civil rights thing started, 1964 was the Divis Street riots, the school I went to was along that route, I was 16 and I had become caught up in what was happening. Was it inevitable that you got caught up in it, given the political connections of your parents and your grandparents or were you just influenced by what was going on around you? Well itʼs hard to know to be honest, itʼs hard to know. Before 1964 there wasnʼt a lot happening politically. The IRA border campaign had not long ended, it hadnʼt really impacted in Belfast. I was too young to remember anything about it. Republicans were reorganising, this might be arrogant but my general notion was that most peopleʼs heads were down, there was a lot of poverty about, unemployment, it was about survival. It was almost a new generation like I said, the Bernadettes were coming up, the other

people to a lesser degree like myself who maybe had a higher expectation. So maybe it was inevitable, but certainly I have to say I was still learning about my own republican family history up to a few years ago so arguably what was happening around me is what compelled me to become politically active as opposed to my family history. Did your brothers and sisters get involved in politics too? All the male members of my family were interned along with uncles and cousins and my two oldest sisters are very politically active and not in Sinn Fein for that matter. So I suppose in a way we were a family who were politically very aware. Did you see the film ʻHungerʼ about Bobby Sands? I do intend to watch it but I consciously have not done so thus far because of the experience of some of my friends who are also former political prisoners, including one former hunger striker. He was watching a DVD of the film but he turned it off when his son came in. Another, not a former prisoner sat down one Friday night with a few beers and couldnʼt finish either the film or the beers. Thatʼs the story everyone tells me about ʻHungerʼ. So by all accounts I want to be in the right mood with a bit of space to myself before I watch it. What is your reaction to the recent events in the North They will not bring down the peace process. They will and have brought enormous grief to bereaved families and made many people afraid when they thought fear of violent death was a thing of the past. Sinn Féin have sent a very robust and clear message to the perpetrators, most notably from

Martin McGuinness, that they have no support from republicans. There is no space for anyone to engage in violent actions. Those days are over and as Peter Robinson and I said in the Northern Assembly there is no turning back. The maze prison has been in the news recently. What do you think should happen to it? The agreement of the all-party group who looked at it was that the site be developed, itʼs quite a large site, and that some of the prison buildings be retained. There was an agreement that a multi-purpose sports stadium might be built there, the DUP minister has scuppered that, some elements of unionism probably realise that the retention of the prison building the interest will be in the hunger strikers. We have no intention of it ever becoming a shrine, the fact is that the site should be developed. It could become the engine for construction jobs. Arguably, given the success of the peace process, you could have a conﬂict resolution or a centre of that kind on that site. Because internationally people are coming to the north to learn about what went on, from all over the world, we would have a very clear focus on the need to develop it but not in a partisan way. Are you a spiritual person? I try to be. I do go to Mass I suppose for a number of reasons. I am not worried about anyone who doesnʼt. I have a very busy lifestyle. I like the notion of for an hour just taking that wee bit of time out, you can be on your own even though you are in a community, you are in a wee bubble. Often, there is as much a sense of spiritual oneness if you can get out in the country or walk and get a wee bit of focus on things other than the immediate material things. Do you read much? I used to describe myself as a binge reader. I collect books, I pick them up almost like a pick-pocket and I would binge read. For the past year Iʼve been very good. Iʼve been reading constantly every night, sometimes just for ten minutes before I go to sleep. Iʼve read all the

contemporary stuff, Joe OʼConnor, big fan of Niall Williams, just ﬁnished John Boyneʼs ʻBoy in the Striped Pajamasʼ. Stuggs Turkle died a couple of months ago and Iʼve started reading his books. I also like reading broadly political stuff as opposed to polemic. Recently, I had a stream of reading. I read Hilary Clintonʼs book and she mentioned Harriet Tubman, a woman who escaped from slavery and ran what they called the railroad so I then went and dug out her book and then I went and got Uncle Tomʼs Cabin which I hadnʼt read since I was a child and then I got Barack Obamaʼs ʻDreams of My Fatherʼ, so a stream of stuff. When are you happiest? I am a good early morning person. I am quite grumpy at ten oʼclock at night, some would say I am grumpy a lot of the time. We have two granddaughters, they are absoloutely terriﬁc. I tend not to talk about my family at all at all so I suppose I am happiest when I am with them. Teresa is 9 and Luisne was 4 yesterday. I love walking, I write a wee bit so I have plenty to do. I sometimes go on a high if I get a really good walk on my own on a beach or coming off a hill. I have two dogs with me as I am coming back, I end up singing. What makes you sad? I suppose when I am feeling sorry for myself. (laughs). When I see

things happening to other people I tend to get a bit angry and for what itʼs worth I think itʼs good to cultivate a sense of outrage without being self-righteous. There are a lot of things happening which shouldnʼt be. What characteristics do you dislike in other people? I donʼt really know. One of the things I used to get an ironic resentment at was when you are somewhere on your own business and a person comes up and says “just the man I wanted to see.” When they havenʼt taken the bother to phone the ofﬁce or go through the right channels, they just come up to you on your day out. I think people are great you know, we all have so many eccentricities and just to chronicle it all, itʼs quite amusing. I suppose what I dislike is what probably informs or underpins my politics. Without being too political I listened to the Taoiseach making a very ﬁne speech recently about people having to drop their living standards by 10 or 12 per cent and I said to myself now thatʼs O.K. except if you are a PAYE worker or a single parent or if you are on the dole. You can certainly afford it if you are the head of the ESB. So things like that I would resent but itʼs more politically rather than they would be about people. What about your own charac-

GERRY ADAMS AT A GLANCE THE OLDEST of ten children, Gerry Adams was born on October 6, 1948 in the working class area of West Belfast, where he continues to reside with his wife and son. Upon ﬁnishing school in the 1960ʼs, he worked as a bartender while becoming increasingly involved in the civil rights movement. Gerry was interned in 1972 again held without trial from 1973 to 1977. He was elected as President of Sinn Féin, also elected as a Member of Parliament from West Belfast in 1983. In September 1993, Gerry Adams along with John Hume, leader of the Socialist Democratic Labour Party, played a pivotal role in reviving the Irish Peace Initiative. This cooperative enterprise lead to major political developments in the peace process including the Downing Street Declaration and the Joint Framework Document, both of which were in direct response to the Irish Peace Initiative. A member of PEN, the international guild of writers, Gerry Adams has published several books. Gerry Adams is also a ﬂuent speaker of Irish and continues to support cultural growth and appreciation in Ireland. He blogs at www.leargas.blogspot.com

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009 teristics that you donʼt like? What do I dislike about myself? I suppose because I am so nice. (laughs). Thatʼs a very hard question to answer. Let me put it like this. What would you change about yourself? I would like if I could carve out a bit more space for myself. Also, Iʼve no doubt that if I get something in my head, itʼs very hard to shift me from it. But I am a sort of an a-la-carte Catholic Buddhist Druid. Somewhere in there I am trying to come to terms with life and what it means and how I can change myself to be a better person in the middle of it all. What is your greatest strength? I donʼt know, these are all cliches but I ﬁrmly believe in positive thinking I donʼt have any time for negative energy, I think itʼs really a waste. I think whatever energy you have you should use it in a positive way. I also believe that people have to be imbued by a sense of being able to make a difference in their own lives in their communityʼs life and how society is shaped. The older I get and the more I continue with political activism the more I am reinforced in that belief and if thatʼs a strength, that would be mine. Whatʼs your greatest regret? If you didnʼt have regrets you couldnʼt continue to be politically active especially in the business we are in. We are trying to bring about the maximum amount of change possible. In the course of doing that you have to remotivate yourself fairly often and review where you are and so I would have regrets that I didnʼt do the right things at different times or the right things soon enough. But generally speaking in terms of being positive about life and the future I tend to mark these down and try not to do these things again. I donʼt sit up all night worrying about it. I donʼt become despondent about these things. When you say “the right things at the right times” what do you mean? I wrote a book and in the course of doing the research for it I discovered that, for example, I got out of prison around 1977 and started a process of opening up dialogue to see if conﬂict could be brought to an end or some alternative means

PAGE 25 could be found to achieve republican objectives. And in the course of doing the research I discovered that some of that took fifteen years, it took that long to get to the meeting with John Hume which wasnʼt John Humeʼs fault. I used to say to myself when we got initiatives going which have now been quite groundbreaking in terms of the shape of things on the island why couldnʼt it have happened in 1972 or 1976– then you have to be philosophical that there are convergences of personalities and events and there are tides in the affairs of men that come together at the right time and you always have to judge events in their own time. Do you take a drink, Gerry? I do but I stopped after Christmas and I am not going to drink until Easter. I just decided. How friendly are you with Ian Paisley? I donʼt see him that often, he is now retired as a leader and isnʼt around the assembly. When I do see him he is very friendly, very honourable and respectful and very good humoured and basically what you saw on ʻThe Late Late Showʼ is what you get. I think he did the right thing and did it with some grace and I think it was important that he was the First Minister for the year, that he went to the Boyne site, that he went to see the Taoiseach, that he did do the stuff with Martin McGuinness in such a good-humoured way. I thought that was good for us as a people. Now he didnʼt do all the other stuff which he should have done in terms of moving the process on and implementing the various commitments he made, but I would forgive him that because it needed him to do the deal, arguably nobody else within unionism could have done the deal. What do you think of the governmentʼs approach to the recession? I think itʼs quite disgraceful now. I donʼt want to personalise it around Brian Cowen, he is doing his best in the job that heʼs in, but when the Celtic Tiger was booming people like me were arguing that the wealth should have been put into universal health care, into schools, into social housing, but there was no possibility of sharing the wealth in that way. We were dismissed as political and economic illiterates. Then the Celtic Tiger dies and immediately the wealth gets handed over to the bankers without any conditions. It really is shameful. There is no requirement that the banks provide credit for small and medium businesses, there is no requirement that they ease things for mortgage holders. Itʼs like that golden circle for fat cats is still there. I was listening to Brian Cowen, and thinking the head of the ESB has a salary of over half a million euro, he can take the hit. The government ministers, and I find this quite despicable, they have three or four in some cases five civil

servants doing constituency work for them. So if you phone up about a drain or about getting a house for your child or whatever, the civil servant paid for by you will then go and phone up the various agencies and thatʼs quite disgraceful. The government appears to be blaming workers and particularly public sector workers saying the problem is they have too high a wage. What they should be doing is number one to try and retain whatever jobs there are, then to regenerate other jobs and then cut public money going into private hospitals and schools and there are a whole range of other private enterprises that get public money– itʼs a scam. If you were doing it and you were caught– if you did what Seán Fitzpatrick of Anglo Irish Bank did– you would be in jail, or if you went down into Moore Street and stole something you would be in jail, so itʼs a disgrace. As you might know our big local issue, the burning one, is the incinerator, have you any views on waste management? We are very against that incinerator, itʼs not good for locals here but neither is it good for the rest of Dublin. It depends how resoloute local people are. There is a big issue of how you deal with waste but we think government policy including the Greens is short sighted, to build it out here in Poolbeg is ridiculous and we are very much opposed to it. Now a really big question. Do you think there will ever be a United Ireland? Yes. I donʼt think it will happen because itʼs the right thing or because itʼs inevitable but I do think there is now a very peaceful and democratic way of bringing about a united Ireland. I remember Charlie Haughey going up to address some meeting or other in the Europa hotel in Belfast and there being outrage. Unionists in their thousands crammed the streets and protested his presence. Now itʼs taken as a complete given that the Taoiseach other ministers or the President will visit. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was up recently, the President is there regularly, everybody understands that the island is best as a single island economy. Everybody understands you are better having a uniform joined-up approach on health, on energy on infrastructure. Name any issue of concern to citizens or to the future of the island, on such a small land mass, with such a small population. What you are reduced to is the politics of two different political allegiances, the notional view that most Irish people have of a broad, depending on how conscious you are, loyalty to Ireland or to the sense of the island or the people who live here and then others who want to maintain the union with Britain. As we continue to build on all the cross-border ele-

ments then we can have a national conversation of what kind of Ireland we want. Iʼve been arguing this fairly strenously. Not just in the letter columns of ʻThe Irish Timesʼ although thatʼs good, or in the TV studios but to actually bring it out to people and it isnʼt just unionists although they are crucial to this. But what are the core values that we want to underpin society here? Bring it out to the schools, to the sporting organisations, to the community sector, just an unprecedented debate about how we want to live over the next twenty or thirty years. Out of that clearly we will be able to shape an island society which is basically united, I am quite confident of that. Where do you see SF going as a political party during that time? We have a big challenge here in the South. Most of our electoral support is in the ten northerly counties. Then there are huge tracts of support in Dublin and Kerry. We have to build organisation and that is what we are about. For the last three years, as weʼve been able to take our eye off the northern issue, we have been trying to build and develop an organisation which is fit for purpose and trying, I suppose, to interpret republicanism in a way that is relevent to their daily lives. Whether itʼs on the economic issue or whether itʼs on other matters which are pressing down upon people, itʼs a matter of being relevent. I think the main strength of republicanism is that itʼs about rights, itʼs about a rights-based society, itʼs about citizens, itʼs about being stubborn. Itʼs the 90th anniversary of the first Dáil– the government nearly forgot about it– we have still got a sense of volunteerism and public service at community level and I think the voluntary and community sector are actually the cement which holds a lot of communities together. An awful lot of the people would fall through the cracks if there werenʼt those people out there doing all that brilliant work. In terms of the political dispen-

sation there is no visibility, there is no echo of those great principles of republicanism which are about citizens being entitled as of birthright to a decent life. Itʼs not there. Would you like to be president of Ireland? No, it comes up now and again but I have no ambition that way whatsoever. Will you ever take up your seat as an MP? We engage in this strategy of active abstentionsim where you donʼt take your seat but you use whatever there is to try to politically improve the situation for constituents. There was an age-old British law which allowed you to avail of the facilities even if you didnʼt take your seat and this was to facilitate these old English republicans and other people who didnʼt sign the oath. Then when we got in they changed the law so we had to ﬁght them on it. If you can imagine the Shinners are in the left tower of the entrance to St Jamesʼs Gate in Westminister and occasionally when I am there I go out on the roof just to frighten the security people. We do get facilities for a researcher and we get mail. You have to take the oath to the Queen to get the salary. Anyway, we have a rule within the party whatever salary we draw down, all of us only take the average industrial wage and the rest of the money goes into the party. So the guy who drives me around has the same salary as me, Martin McGuinness has the same salary as his driver and that allows the party to employ other people so we are very egalitarian that way. Thank you, Mr Adams. Thank you, Madam Editor. Clockwise from top left: Gerry Adams with Daithí Doolan and Ann Ingle in the ʻNewsFourʼ ofﬁce; with Mary Lou McDonald at a meeting; a book of short stories written by Gerry Adams; getting into the sporting spirit at Clanna Gael Fontenoy. Photographs courtesy of J.P. Anderson.

PAGE 26

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

T HE REVELATIONS OF C HARLES D ARWIN

By Nessa Jennings ʻOn The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Lifeʼ (Published 1859).

his was the book, 502 pages long, bound in green cloth and rather expensive at 14 shillings, which would change the world. “My work is now nearly ﬁnished,” wrote Darwin, “but as it will take me many more years to complete it, and as my health is far from strong, I have been urged to publish this extract.” Another natural scientist named Alfred Russell Wallace had independently arrived at virtually the same theory of evolution by natural selection that Darwin believed to be his own. Darwin had not been hasty in

drawing his conclusions, and was, as he said “forced” to publish after decades of close observation, classification and study. His discovery began with his appointment at twenty two, though wholly untrained, as naturalist on the voyage of the ʻBeagleʼ from 1831 to 1836. He began collecting specimens and making notes in Cape Verde. In Brazil, he gathered beetles and flowers, shot lizards and saw his first monkey. And it was in the Galapagosʼs 61 islands, with their own miniclimate, (home to 607 species of plants, 29 species of land birds, 19 species of seabirds, and 484 species of fish), where he collected finches, mockingbirds and turtles, arriving home with an immense booty, the treasure chest of a naturalist. It was the visit to these islands which persuaded him to study nature and abandon what would have been a secure career in those easy

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pastures of the Anglican Church preserved for men of Darwinʼs class. With the patience and resourcefulness of a true scholar, he set about the task of clarifying the precise taxonomy of these species. Finding his study incomplete, and his memory of the trip to the Galapagos cloudy, he set about consulting experts, and also writing letters to members of the crew concerning which islands had yielded which species of animal, and thence how should they be classiﬁed. He found them hard to classify, that species were not ʻﬁxedʼ as previously believed, and that birds, for example, with different characteristics, letʼs say, a sharper beak and red feathers, when they became isolated on a separate island, displaying, maybe, more passive behaviour, became a new species of the bird altogether. A subspecies with slight differences had assumed an entirely new type. Then the ʻtransmutationʼ of one species into another was possible. His study of fossils in South America compounded this initial discovery, by allowing him to compare living creatures with those which were now extinct. The species were changing over time.

From his study at Down House, a few miles to the south-east of London, his home where he settled and virtually became a recluse, he wrote some fourteen thousand letters in his researches. He studied the infant grimaces and smiles of his own children, comparing them to monkeys, and examined minutely all the plant and animal life in his garden and grounds, complete with its Thinking Path for walking and reflecting. The book, when it arrived, shook the millions of Christians who believed literally in the Old Testament account in Genesis of the Creation. This was the greatest challenge to Christian monopoly, and that certainty, and it came from a book of striking clarity and easy access, which deals almost exclusively with the genealogy of several plants and animals. Darwinʼs theory removed God as the central force of life. It was the beginning of the end of the long-held conviction that the human species was special, supreme and chosen. The core of it is the theory of natural selection. This, briefly, is based on three observations: First, that organisms produce far more offspring than could possibly survive. The second observation is that all organisms vary. Third, these variations are inherited. The conclusion was that only the fittest survive, those with individual differences better adapted to the environment. “...there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence. It follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, will have a better chance of surviving and thus be naturally selected.” This earth-shattering theory was

approached with great scientific caution by Darwin, who was first a naturalist, then a theorist. Many churchmen forced their congregations to choose– Christ or Darwin; was man created by God or is he just a baboon? The scientific evidence was more provable than Godʼs law, and nothing could stop the spread of the book. Social Darwinists jumped at the theory to justify their racial or class doctrines: one race is superior to another, or a rich man is ʻfitterʼ than a poor man. Darwin repudiated these interpretations at the time, saying “The theory of evolution is not a contest which leads to a super-species or race; rather it emphasizes the common beginnings of all life and represents a celebration of the eventual diversity.” And yet, even at the beginning of the twenty-first century, there is still religious opposition to the

teaching of Darwinʼs theory in some American schools. Creationists have put forward the theory of ʻintelligent designʼ, a term which I understand as, we were perfect and complete in the first place. In most schools, however, Creation is being taught alongside evolution. Darwin, the former clergyman put it eloquently in his final firm words of ʻThe Origin of Speciesʼ: “There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers; having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one… from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” The above is summarized from Melvyn Braggʼs ʻTwelve Books that Changed the Worldʼ. From top: The ʻBeagleʼ painted during Darwinʼs voyage at Tierra del Fuego by Conrad Martens. Darwin portrait about 1859. A blue footed booby on the Galapagos Islands.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 27

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

THE POWER OF VISION BOARDS By Nessa Jennings

he purpose of a vision board is to activate the law of attraction to begin to pull things from your external environment that will enable you to realize your dream. Vision boards have been used by people in one form or another for years. Recently, it is John Assarafʼs story of manifesting his giant mansion by using them (in ʻThe Secretʼ) that has popularised the concept. So here we go– back to school. Everyone take out your copybooks and draw a picture! The ﬁrst pictures children draw are of a house, a sun, friends, family car, a birthday cake, pets– a vision board is not much different. You will need: A poster board A large assortment of magazines Glue, Pritt stick or sticky tape Scissors Marker pens

THE NEWSFOUR

CROSSWORD COMPILED BY ANN INGLE

These are the basics. What you want to do is to create a visual collage of what you want. Step 1: Compile your pictures, by going through the magazines and tearing out the ones you like; the ones which most represent what you would like to manifest in your life. Selecting the images adds clarity to your desires. Make sure that each cut-out to go on your board resonates with your desires and makes you excited at the mere look of it. Or you can take the time to draw out what you want. Step 2: Sort and cut. Begin by laying your favourites on the board. Crop the images using the scissors. Pictures to be included might be, for example: a beautiful home which you aspire to; fruits and vegetables to be more healthy; a campervan to travel in; a candle representing a peaceful and grateful mind. Step 3: Arrange your pictures on the board to your satisfaction, then glue them in place. It is optional to leave a space in the centre for

a photo of yourself looking your most happy and healthy. You can also leave a space at the bottom of the board that reads: Date created: (todayʼs date), and Date manifested (blank). This lets you know, every time you look at your vision board, how long your vision has been gestating since its creation, and also gives you more of a sense of urgency to see your dream manifested to completion. You can also add writing to your board around the pictures. For instance, you might assign a theme to each corner of the board: health, job, spirituality, relationships, etc. Step 4: Strategic positioning.

Place your vision board where you will see it most often, so it can inspire you throughout the day. The purpose of the vision board is to release the energy needed to make those leaps and changes that you need in order to create your life the way you want it. But if you are sensitive to what others might say about your vision board, then keep it in a safe place where you can look at it regularly without inviting negative criticism and thereby avoid having to justify it to family and friends. Step 5: Update your vision board regularly. Itʼs a dynamic piece of working art which needs to change as your goals and vision change.

So, if some of the images become stale for you, or less appealing, replace them with fresh ones. Positive intention and a quiet place are important for focussing you while creating your board. You might already know what you want and just need to find the pictures to match your dreams. Donʼt forget to include images which are congruent with your goals, such as where you would live, what you would wear, where you would travel to… any changes in your life which would result from achieving your goal should be included. Or, your dream might emerge more clearly in the creation of the board. It has worked that way for many people. Leave yourself open, and allow the images to influence you and stir emotion while flicking through the magazines and compiling the pictures. You might find that you have little epiphanies from making a vision board. Visualisation is extremely powerful. Choose only images which are the most positively emotionally charged for you. And good luck on your path of realisation. May all your dreams come true!

Name:……………………………

The winner of the €25 Eason Gift Voucher for the February crossword is Claire Casey of East Wall. Entries for the April crossword to be received by 11 May 2009.

Address:………………………… Telephone:…………………

ACROSS 1 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 18 21 24 26 30 31 32 33 34 35

Houses with single storeys (9) Front part of the neck below the chin (6) Showed off (8) Abbreviation of a popular soap (6) Town in Greece famous for its oracle (6) Heavy metal (4) Long for (5 Field of grass (6) What the editor will be saying shortly (7) Lovely with mash (7) What happens at Cheltenham (6) There is a layer of this around earth (5) Directs towards a target (4) A book lover (6) Venomous snakes (6) A local one will be held on 5 June this year (8) Latin American dances (6) The man on page 24 is one of these (9)

DOWN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 13 17 19 20 22 23 25 27 28 29

More unattractive (6) One of the Seven Dwarfs (6) Eastern European country, Riga is its capital (6) Nuptial Ceremony (7) Seat of a monarch (6) Breakfast food (8) Or else (9) Punctuation mark (5) Used for ﬂavouring soups, etc. (4) To rouse to exasperation or anger (9) Person having residence in a property (8) Practitioners of various forms of spiritual practice (5) Three of these will get you the British emergency service (4) Samuel Johnsonís biographer (7) Not wide (6) The countries of Asia or a London football team(6) Hope you all have a happy one (60 A soft felt hat (6)

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 29

JIM O’CALLAGHAN:

“GREEDY DEVELOPERS AND RECKLESS BANKERS” CAUSED DOWNTURN

By John Fitzgerald

f there is a silver lining in the cloud of the economic downturn in Dublin 4, it could well be that, at long last, we will realise that the relentless pursuit of proﬁt doesnʼt work and isnʼt economically sustainable. Thatʼs the view of Jim OʼCallaghan, right, a Fianna Fáil local election candidate in the Pembroke Rathmines Ward. “Dublin 4 has been exposed to a lot of physical change over the past 5 years,” he notes. “A lot of development took place and was proposed because of the potential ﬁnancial return rather than what was best for the area. That has now come to a shuddering halt. The lesson we must learn is that, in future, development must only be permitted if it protects or advances the best interests of our communities– whether it be through the protection of green spaces and the village character of areas such as Sandymount and Donnybrook, or the building of

worthwhile public housing. That is more important than looking after the interests of developers.” Given the changed economic circumstances, OʼCallaghan believes that the voters in Dublin 4 will want the new City Council to ensure that their money is spent in a more costeffective manner. “Local Elections

are mainly about local issues, people are concerned about the quality of the service they get from Dublin City Council,” he explains. “This year the Council has a budget of over €900million. People want to see that money spent carefully and appropriately on providing local services.”

100 HOURS OF ASTRONOMY CORNERSTONE PROJECT By Glenda Cimino

he 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project is a worldwide event consisting of a wide range of public outreach activities, live science centre, research observatory webcasts and astronomy events. One of the key goals of 100 Hours of Astronomy is to have as many people as possible look through a telescope as Galileo did for the first time 400 years ago. 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place from 2-5 April when the Moon goes from first quarter to gibbous. Friday 3rd April 2009: From 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm, at the Martello Tower Car Park (south side), Strand Rd, Sandymount, Dublin 4. Sky watchers of the Irish Astronomical Society invite you to join them. A number of quality telescopes will be available for viewing the wonders of the heavens (provided that the skies are reasonably clear). With the Moon at first quarter, the Craters of the Moon will still be well on view. By later in the evening (when it gets dark), the planet Saturn will be star of the show. Its rings are now a straight line as the planet is presented nearly

edge-on! Dublin City Council Libraries will have their educational e learning bus along, which will be a treat for children. Saturday 4th April: Stargazing in Wicklow Mountains National Park with the Irish Astronomical Society 8 pm to 10 pm Upper Lake Car Park ( Glendalough). Weather dependant. PLEASE PHONE THE INFORMATION OFFICE TO CHECK THAT IT WILL TAKE PLACE. Tel: 0404 45425 (Weekends only). For more information, please phone the Education Centre Tel: 0404 45656 (weekdays) or Deirdre Kelleghan, President Irish Astronomical Society 0872893828.

Astronomy Ireland Public Lectures in April and May On 20th April, the lecture will be “From the Moon to Matroshka” by Professor Denis OʼSullivan, School of Cosmic Physics, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies. Professor OʼSullivan is currently involved in Matroshka– an experi-

ment concerning human absorption of radiation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Since 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the Lunar Landing he will start with a description of Irelandʼs ﬁrst space experiments carried out during the Apollo 11,16 and 17 missions by a group at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS). Following this, several DIAS space experiments investigating cosmic radiation, energetic solar particles, particles in the Martian Atmosphere as well as studies of the effects of space radiation on human organs and bacteria will be discussed. in a Japanese mission next year. On 11th May, there is a public lecture, ʻRecycling Life on the Edgeʼ by NASA Scientist Anthony Heijenga. His work includes the implementation of eight ﬂight studies on satellite, space shuttle, Russian and US space station platforms. His present work is directed towards applying space-derived technologies on Earth. Both talks are in the Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2 near the Westland Row or Lincoln Place entrances. Admission is €7 (€5 members and concessions). Advance Booking is on the www.astronomy.ie website.

OʼCallaghan, who practises as a Senior Counsel, has a long association with Dublin 4. Educated in Gonzaga College in nearby Ranelagh, big Jim played rugby for University College Dublin, Wanderers and Leinster. Married to Julie Liston, he is 41 years of age and lives in the area with their son, Luke. One of the biggest issues at the doorsteps of Dublin 4 is the proposed and halted development of the Jurys Hotel site in Ballsbridge. “Itʼs an initiative that I opposed,” he states. “I have to emphasise that I am not against high-rise development per se but the idea of it being allowed in an established residential area is ludicrous. I opposed it because it was excessively large for the area in question. It is a residential area and is not suited to that sort of development. I welcome the decision of An Bord Pleanála and I hope that no similar application is made for that site in the future.” Even though the elections in June will be local in ﬂavour, OʼCallaghan says that it is inevitable that the national issues will spill over on to the campaign agenda. “I think itʼs impossible that they wonʼt play a part,” he says. “In fact, they should play a part. The country is going through a very turbulent time and this is affecting everyone, particularly since

the option of emigrating to secure employment is not available.” A potent mix of greed and commercial recklessness are the primary culprits for the perilous state of the national ﬁnances, he believes. “In Ireland, the downturn was caused by a dangerous combination of greedy developers and reckless bankers. The government also made mistakes by letting the economy become too dependent upon the property sector. When properties in Dublin 4 were being sold for more than properties in Manhattan, it should have been apparent that we were in the midst of a property bubble.” Itʼs not a good time for a Fianna Fáil candidate to be looking for votes. While Jim accepts that his party did not handle things as well as it should have done, he believes he can deliver results for voters in Dublin 4 if elected to the City Council. “Well, I live in the electoral area so I therefore know the issues affecting people in the area. Having run in the last General Election and having got 3,200 votes. I am committed to politics and am not in it for the short term. I think I can provide effective representation to the people of this area if I get elected to Dublin City Council.”

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PAGE 30

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

D INNER

SERVING THE NEEDY OF By Louise Hanrahan

RINGSEND DOCKYARD

HOUSES

nyone who has been through the experience of being homeless in the greater Dublin area will know that along with the trauma of trying to ﬁnd a roof over your head, there is another problem, a very simple one– food. Trying to obtain a simple, nourishing meal is no longer a distressing experience thanks to the dinner houses which are located all over the city. Cross Care is a social care agency afﬁliated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. The Food Centres offer sit-down breakfasts and lunches on a daily basis for those in need. The centres provide hot meals which are both satisfying and in some cases completely free. The list is endless. The organisations which provide this service include the Simon Community who are superb in their ʻSoup Runʼ venture. They head

off at night time to the homeless who have not had a morsel touch their lips all day long due to their addiction to drink and drugs. To see the car pull up with volunteers with rucksacks full to the brim with soup ﬂasks, plastic cups, sandwiches, crisps and chocolate bars for a simple treat is just heaven on earth to any poor unfortunate in this crisis. The other groups include: ALONE, Focus Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association, Womenʼs Refuge, The Salvation Army, Alzheimer Day Centres, Little Sisters of the Poor, ʻPenny Dinnersʼ in Cumberland Street, Mendicity Institution Trust in Island Street, and I am glad to say the Capuchin Day Centre– ʻBrother Lukeʼsʼ. Gerry and Fran are stalwarts on door duty at Brother Lukeʼs from early in the morning until close of catering at 3pm every day except Sunday. Everyone ﬁlters in on a regular basis and receives a ticket.

Donal McCann brought us in this picture of employees of the Ringsend Dockyard taken circa 1954/ 55. We know there are Purdys, Kiernans, Rennicks and Hannigans there but who are the little girls and what was the cup for? Please readers let us know.

All are welcomed by the sunny smiles of the staff who dish up soup, hot dinner, dessert, and piping mugs of tea. A lot of

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mixed races also join the queue. Itʼs a place for everyone to meet up with no illegal substances on board, and to get together in a safe and secure environment. Regularly, you can also get a take-away of packages of fruit, biscuits and even if you miss dinner hour, the staff can rustle

up a hot dinner to take away on your travels. I often met my friend Denis who in his early 80s toddling down from Cork Street, to meet his pals for a bit of banter and to quell the loneliness he feels living on his own. The company alone and his hot bacon and cabbage make his day. Everything is always civilised, and if there is any trouble it wonʼt be tolerated. The guilty parties will be dealt with. Food Poverty in Ireland was highlighted as one of major concern. To lose these services would be devastating for the underprivileged among us. In January, President McAleese attended the annual dinner organised by the Lions Club held in the Irish Life Centre, Abbey Street and along with a full band there was a great night had by all. She made a wonderful speech and talked to the homeless individually. Of course, the trolleys of Guinness brought out at the end of the night went down a treat. On leaving, you could collect a goody bag, just simple toiletries that would mean the world to anyone living on the cold streets. Long may the dinner houses remain. There is no need for anyone to go hungry. They prove that there is help for the poor in Ireland, and there is action for social justice.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 31

THE POETRY PLACE

Leave me alone

Southwesterly

I switched on the light

The South westerly blowing, over Ireland today Plays with the sand on Galway Bay Excites the waves; rocks the boats; Whistle through trees Calypso notes

(A poem about an overpowering nurse) Donʼt brush my hair Donʼt pat my head, Donʼt tuck me in tonight in bed. Donʼt ask if I want a sweet, Donʼt ﬁx my favourite thing to eat. Donʼt give me lots of good advice, ʻCos most of it just wonʼt be nice. And when I wallow well in sorrow, Be nice to me again tomorrow.

“Iʼm an old, old wind,” she says “Iʼve carried your warm gulf stream He and I are a Perfect Team Iʼm here to stay

By Joseph Sherlock

ʻGarnish Islandʼ we swaddle In a humid embrace Opening the ﬂowers Greening up the place Iʼm here to stay Iʼm not sharp like a knife But balmy and soft I bring a light breeze from the sunny south Iʼm here to stay.”

Connected by beauty Dearest One, You passed my bedroom window In the ﬂight of a winter bird, The lightest whisper Across my immediate landscape, Your shape described By an elegant, speckled-brown movement.

A face in the crowd I walk the busy crazy streets Where you sat so forlorn Places where we used to meet A lost lonely ﬁgure alone By Carmel McCarthy

Sunshine Warm sunshine invades the darkness of the day, Threatens to alleviate my pain, Tries to see past the surge of tears, To make me smile again. It glints deviously through the car window, I feel it on my skin, It pushes, rushes, persists, Begs to be let in.

Snowﬂakes fall Making fresh music with the air Forming a delicate dance, Some ushered by the wind To a skaterʼs glide, Others parachuting In a patterned freedom.

The colours in my rainbow The sweetness in my life The hero in my dreams You take away the trouble and the strife

You walked forth without a backward glance, We never said goodbye; And in my shattered heart I wonder If you question how or why?

You are the victory over battles You have fought and won the war You are the one you brought me here I could not have come this far You are the one who raised me On a pedestal so high You are the one who made me go on Saved me from saying goodbye

My journey is a short one, but a signiﬁcant step for me, the day we ﬁnally come face to face, the nearest I can be.

You were my ﬁrst and last The one who keeps me standing tall The one who breaks down barriers You make me unafraid to fall

I wear no mask, no facade, Thereʼs no show behind the smile; Just a broken pitiful inconsolable friend Who visits for a while.

You are the one who keeps me safe Cocooned in a heart so warm I know I can rest easy Safe and free from harm

It pains me to see your name, Inscribed in cold hard stone, I weep when I see your body, When I think of you, alone. I gently place red roses on your grave, Bright and fresh and new, And ponder for a moment In memory of you.

By Mary Guckian

By Audrey Healy

The colours in my rainbow

Broken hearts stroll round me aimlessly, Oblivious to my tears it seems, Each succumbing to their misery, Mourning lost hopes and dreams.

On a bright June evening birds sing in Joy Street, mix sweet sounds with noisy clampers as men from two vans place yellow shovels on the front wheels of cars without parking tickets on display. The air is clean after a heavy downpour. I rush to make Eurospar before closing time, meet young mothers pushing prams with babies after a short walk around the park at South Dock Street. It is the space where birds hide, build nests, lay eggs, have young chicks and today ﬁll Joy Street with Bird song.

Todayʼs streets are empty Coffee shops are bare But still I search for you Believe Iʼll ﬁnd you there

So much to say and talk about But donʼt know where to start How about this crazy situation And the beating of my heart.

I see your smiling eyes As I did the day you walked away, I hear you as I did back then When you left me on that day.

Birdsong in Joy Street

Donʼt know if it was real Was it really you Or just a younger one Could life be that cruel

Still I struggle on and I ﬁght the urge To cast my ﬁngers over the phone ʻCos your silence tells me all it must I think you want to be alone

But your face comes determinedly into view, Thundering through the cloud, Your smile so warm, infectious, Your voice so clear and loud.

By Ali Fisher

A face in the crowd But you didnʼt cast me a glance I called your name aloud And I lost my chance

Head bowed as though in prayer Hands clasped around hot drink An hour to yourself To ponder and to think

I stubbornly attempt to ignore it, To wallow in my grief; To live and feel and breathe the hurt, To contest my fading belief.

Nature is offering Her magical surprises, Partnering my awareness In a palette of love. Connected by Beauty I take your hand For this heavenly, morning waltz.

I switched on the light In the darkened room of my existence. Powerful, life-enhancing words tumbled forth, Cascading like a refreshing, mountainside waterfall, Cleansing my emotional wasteland. Negativity dissolved like a soluble substance On the tongue of my speaking, Translating into a new language For the expression Of the progression Of my awareness. By Ali Fisher

By Audrey Healy

Springtime By Audrey Healy

As always, we welcome contributions to The Poetry Place, which can be sent to the ʻNewsFourʼ ofﬁces at 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4.

Again, it is spring in the garden outside my ﬂat; ﬂowers forcing their colours above ground, remind me that in nature, there still remains a world of mystery despite marvellous inventions space travel and new technology.

By Mary Guickian

PAGE 32

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

The Fontenoy Files By Shay Connolly

Easter Camps ready to rock as Hurlers remain Senior

i Folks. Well weʼre still here, still keeping the show on the road, still fundraising to keep our ship aﬂoat and still banishing the countryʼs woes into the sea and beyond. For no matter what happens folks we will still be putting on green, yellow and blue jerseys for all the youngsters of our area each week, 52 weeks a year. And what better way to get away from all the talk of recession blues than to sign up for our two-week Easter Camp. Programme Activities: * Gaelic football/ Hurling/ Camogie Skill development * Skill tests and challenges * Mini Game Leagues * Speed development * Speed Ladders * Speed Hurdles * Agility Poles * Flexibility * Space Hoppers * Ball Catcher * Swing Ball * Parachutes * Star Player visits * Guest coaches * Prize giving and lots more… What to bring: * Suitable Playing gear and wet gear for inclement weather * Hurley and a Helmet clearly marked with your name (If you donʼt have one, one will be provided for you) * Packed Lunch (Healthy Pack please!!) * A smile!! Coaches All of our camps are staffed by

qualiﬁed coaches, ensuring that the highest instruction and supervision is guaranteed. Credit Crunch Saver!!! We at Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA are aware of the current climate and the value for money. This year we have decided that as well as running two Easter camps (No other GAA Club in Dublin is running two!!) we have decided to keep the same price as last year and the good news is if you attend our second camp you get it for half price! Thatʼs not all… each player who attends will receive a souvenir Free TShirt or baseball cap with club logo plus others goodies! Wow… now thatʼs what I call a ʻCredit Crunch Saver!ʼ Gaelic Football April 6th to 9th 10.00am to 2.30pm Clanna Gael Fontenoy € 40 Ages 7-12 Hurling/ Camogie April 14th to 17th

10.00am to 2.30pm Clanna Gael Fontenoy € 40 7-12 * Application forms available from the Clubhouse or local schools * Closing date for receipt of applications is Saturday April 4th * Please return all application forms to Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club For further details contact Declan Power, Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Games Development Ofﬁcer Tel: 086-2705873 email: declan.power@games.gaa.ie On the Adult Hurling front anybody who reads this article and even those that donʼt would know that the club returned to Senior Status last year after a gap of 23 years. With a very young squad the task ahead to retain it would indeed be a stringent test. Despite some great wins away

to Thomas Davis and St Patʼs Palmerstown and a home win against Erinʼs Isle the lads still found themselves in a relegation play-off at the end of the year. St Oliver Plunketts/ Eoghain Ruadh provided the opposition and the game eventually took place in January. It was the week when the snow visited us but it took a break on the Wednesday night and allowed us to play the game. Clans, starting as underdogs played out a fiercely-contested first half and trailed by two at the interval. The second half performance will go down as one of the best displays ever seen in a Fontenoy jersey. Ten minutes into the second half and trailing by three we had our centre back sent off for two yellow cards and the task ahead looked ominous. But this signalled the rallying call from the Ringsend Boys Digging deep into their reserve, the lads harried, hassled and chased everything that moved. The sheer hunger on display was a joy to behold and Plunketts simply could not live with us. Guys put their bodies in where no lions or elephants would dare to tread and hurley sticks bounced off them like lollipop sticks. Brave and courageous catching and blocking were all part of one mighty display that saw us come back from three points down to win the game by a point to retain our Senior Status and send the mighty Plunketts down to Intermediate ranks. I am tempted to name some individuals but that would be unfair to this glorious team effort. Everyone to a man, and I mean everyone, played their part. The sound of the final whistle was the sweetest sound that many have heard in a long, long day at the Club and a fantastic party

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ensued. The joy that exuded throughout the Club that night would have brought the Celtic Tiger back but it was the Fontenoy Tiger, with honest and unselfish endeavour that brought our joy that night. Take a bow lads for you did us oh so proud! Last Saturday saw the first round of the 2009 Senior League when Commercials were the opposition. We started where we left off in January and finished the game 13 points ahead. Keep it going boys and always remember that night in January when we all, at last, stood up and were counted. Staying with hurling, the Club was proud to host the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals and Ryan Cup finals in Sean Moore Park. This prestigious competition for third level institutions is one of the main attractions of the GAA calendar. The amount of Inter County stars on display made up for two supremely excellent hurling games with eventual winners UCC coming back from the dead in the second semi-final. The President of the GAA Nicky Brennan was domiciled in the Club for the two days and paid many tributes to the Clubʼs facilities. On Saturday it was great to see our own Gary Prior from Ulster Bank present the Ryan Cup to winners Mary Immaculate from Limerick, coached by Eamonn Cregan. On the Juvenile front itʼs all systems go as the Saturday Academy continues to grow. Catering from ages 4 to 8 this fun and recreational session is proving to be a great success with the parents all joining in on its delivery. Girlʼs football for Under 8s and U10s started some weeks back and there are now up to 50 girls

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

partaking each Saturday morning. For any information on the above please contact our Games Development Officer, Declan Power at 086-2705873. Staying with the Games Development Officer, Declan is settling into his new position well by getting to know all mentors and school teachers. Declan will have a number of events taking place throughout the year at the Club and all will be informed in due course. This Friday sees a joint venture between the Club and Northern Thrust, a venture that will see boys and girls from City Quay School taking part in a blitz at the Clubhouse. Staying with Blitzes, the U10 boysʼ football mentors ran a very successful one last Saturday. The Clans boys recorded wins over Kilmacud Crokes and St Patʼs Palmerstown before going down by a solitary point to Lucan Sarsfields. The Under 9s– (Born 2000)– have had a good start to the season with some excellent all round performances. A home win against Cuala in football set things in motion and although that was followed by defeat away to Ballyboden, the squad is sure they will turn that result around when the Boden come down to Ringsend. The last league game ended with a very strong Naomh Olafs winning well. Last Saturday the 9s played Northside giants, Naomh Mearnog, in a friendly and in a closely-fought set of

PAGE 33 games were the victors by a narrow margin. Unfortunately, the ﬁrst league hurling game resulted in a defeat against, guess who, Ballyboden. Their new all-weather playing surface didnʼt suit us too well! However, some hard hurling sessions in the training paddock have borne dividends and the last game of hurling saw the teams beat Cuala by the narrowest of margins. So far this season the squad has improved with every game and with the players all putting in so much effort the results will get better and better. All the players have been playing really well and battling through every game. Some of the star performers so far in football have been Evan Caulﬁeld, Donal Byrne, Ethan Brennan, Niamh Shaw, Cian McGettigan, Claire Byrne, Bharat Anil, Darragh Byrne, Jack McDonnell, Rohan van den Akker, Calum McCabe and Riain McDonald. Our star hurlers have been Cian OʼRegan, Colm OʼKeeffe, Conor Power, Dean Gleeson, Ella Walsh, Hannah Lohan, John Nugent, Conor Thompson, Kevin McGrath, Niamh Talbot and Orla Walsh. The Under 9s are always on the look out for new players so if you were born in 2000 you are very welcome to join us. Training is on Thursday evenings from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm. All welcome. U14 girls are doing some serious training since Christmas as the league season approaches next weekend. They already had an outing two weeks ago in preparation and ran out handsome winners against Cuala. They train each Thursday evening at 7.00 p.m. and all are welcome. The Adult Lady footballers are doing likewise in their preparation and had a very credible draw against Senior side Cabinteely recently. They have a serious year ahead of them and many be-

lieve that this is the year that they can make the big breakthrough to Senior ranks. Go for it Girls! And so too are the under 14 Camogie girls and training sessions are each Tuesday night at 6.00 while U12 girls football is at 4.30 on Friday evenings. I watched the U16 footballers two weeks ago against Round Towers. Seriously talented group this bunch. The match ended in a draw when we threw away a three-point lead with 5 minutes to go. Highlight of the game was a superbly taken goal that rattled the net by Robert ʻBobʼ Lacey. But if the lads had to be any way cute and held their discipline they would have won this match comfortably. ʻThe one who ignores the provocation is a stronger one than the one who reacts to it.ʼ (Clanna Gael Fontenoy Constitution, April 1892, Chapter 3, Verse 11,) So a little more savvy lads and less of the brawn. The partnership between Trinity College and the Club sees the Trinity Students give grinds to the above team every Tuesday evening in preparation for their Junior Certiﬁcates. Staying with education, hard luck to Marian College in the Senior Colleges Final, regrettably losing out by a goal, having been level for most of the game. Best of luck to the Junior team who also contest the Dublin ﬁnal shortly. Now that the Celtic Poodle is upon us, a host of fundraising activities are pencilled in throughout the year. First up are the Camogie Girls (fair play to you girls) who launch the 2009 Fundraising Campaign with their annual 500-metre Duck Race from the Dodder in Ballsbridge. This race has taken on Cheltenham status in the last couple of years, with side betting and all types of shenanigans taking place. Shouts of rigging certain Ducks by decreasing the air in their tummies have been waged against the organizers but no matter what– the Champion

Duck Hurdle continues to attract thousands to the banks of the Dodder each year. This yearʼs event ﬂoats off on the 28th March at 2.00 pm. Trafﬁc restraints will be placed all around Ballsbridge for the day. The Camogie girlsʼ second fundraiser, a Table Quiz takes place in the Clubhouse on Friday 3rd April at 8.00 pm. Tables cost €40 and the advice is come early. The quiz will be followed by music and craic with resident D.J. Clanny Font performing. The Juvenile section is holding its main fundraiser in June. This will be a Race Night extraordinaire with many celebreties from the racing world expected to attend the Clubhouse for this Aintree-like session. Adult hurlers and Adult footballers are organising a night at the Dogs in the summer to offset their annual expenses and are at present as busy as frogs putting it in place. I apologise to some of the teams I did not refer to in this edition. So there you have it folks. There is plenty for everyone

in Clanna Gael Fontenoy. All shapes and sizes, all classes, colour and creed in one big family atmosphere. It is stuff like this that can get us all through this recession and come out smiling at the end of it. Welcome on board to anyone who may wish to join us! Happy Springtime! Page 32: Gary Prior, Ulster Bank presents the trophy to captain Shane OʼNeill from Mary Immaculate College Limerick. Top left: Riain McDonald clears his lines! Top right: Dead Eye Donal Byrne slots another point! Below left: As evening falls the Adult Camogie team reﬂect after a hard training session.

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

ST PATRICK’S CYFC By David Nolan

ʻS

queeky bum timeʼ seems to be the buzz phrase going around football circles at the moment and for St Patrickʼs CYFC it probably sums up the current period just perfectly. Yes, we are at that stage of the season when winners and losers will be separated by determination, character, bad decisions, good decisions and as always in sport a bit of luck. In the last edition all three senior CY sides were top of their respective league tables. Since then things have changed slightly– our 1st team now sit in second position, three points behind rivals Postal United, who have the luxury of having also played a game less. With nine games left, if you are a realist and know the quality they possess itʼs hard to see them dropping six points in the run-in while CY would have to embark on the mother of all winning runs. But as a club from the very start promotion to the next tier in intermediate

football senior 1A was always the main goal and that can be achieved if we can keep the teams below us at armʼs length. Right now we have a similar lead over them as Postal do over us. Now to the action. The first team have been in great form of late, having lost just the once to the aforementioned Postal Utd in what was a thrilling game out in a blizzard-ridden Tallaght on March 7th last. CY led twice but eventually succumbed to their old foes 3-2, with the home side getting a last-gasp injury time winner. It was a good performance but luck wasnʼt with us on that horrible Sunday morning. Before that, the lads had won four games on the bounce mostly away from home and on top of that recently booked a place in the Gilligan cup final by beating that team again Postal Utd 5-0 in Ringsend on March 21st. A magnificent display all round and the 1st teamʼs third major cup final since 2005. I will keep you posted on the date and venue when all is in place. Our 2nd team are still top of the

C OLLIDE

pile in Saturday major 1C but with their two closest challengers having played a few games less itʼs likely that they will have to eventually settle for 3rd spot. With the consolation of a semi-final date in their gallant defence of the Joe Tynan cup, they still have plenty to play for and will be hoping to add a second cup final date to the CY end of season calendar. It wonʼt be easy as itʼs away to last yearʼs final opponents Ballyfermot Utd who will have a point to prove. League four has been good of late but dropping points earlier in the season looks likely to

CLEANS UP AT

be costly. Finally, our 3rd team who sit in 2nd spot in Division two Sunday have also gone unbeaten of late. However, having drawn games and with other teams playing catch-up 2nd spot is likely to be the best they can hope for. There is also a cup quarter ﬁnal on the horizon to look forward to. Lastly, for this monthʼs update I have another three players who have been stalwarts for CY over the years. Anthony Owens (above centre): 2nd team manager for the past 4 seasons, Anto has won two league titles and the Tynan cup on top of

a Pollikoff winners medal as assistant to Derek Bowden with our 1st team in 2005. Anto also plays for our 3rd team winning a league medal last season, this is his 6th season with CY and he has played a huge part in our recent successes. Thomas Dunne (above left): The pacey winger has enjoyed four good seasons having joined the CY from Markievicz Celtic, winning the double with the 1st team in 2007, scoring a scorcher in the Pollikoff ﬁnal of that year. Thomas has had his best season yet so far notching 15 goals to date, phenomenal scoring from out wide. Leo Ridgeway (above right): After a brief spell away from the club Leo is back with a bang. A Polikoff winner also in 2005 he added the Lanigan cup to his medal haul whilst playing for Ringsend Rovers. A quick left winger with an eye for goal, Leo has always been a CY man at heart and will hope to add another cup medal in the Gilligan cup ﬁnal in the coming weeks.

D ANCE C HAMPIONSHIPS

ollide Dance Academy took part in the Annual All Ireland IDTA Dance Championships in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on Sunday 1st March 2009. Collide has gone from strength to strength in the past year. Last year they entered 20 pupils, this year they entered 140 from Ringsend, Sheriff Street and surrounding areas. The results were phenomenal. First up was the Star category. Collide had success, being awarded the Leonard plaque for outstanding achievement in Freestyle. Next was the junior category where Collide gained 1st and 3rd place in the Theatre Craft Section, 1st and 3rd place in Hip-Hop, 3rd in Ballet and 1st in Freestyle. In the Intermediate Section Collide was awarded 1st in Theatre Craft, 1st in Hip-Hop, 2nd in Lyrical Freestyle, 2nd in Ballet, 3rd in Musicial Theatre and 2nd in Freestyle and in the Senior Category 1st in Ballet and 2nd in Theatre Craft.

Winning Theatre Craft Team: Shannon Weafer (1st Solo Under 10), Shannon Spain (Bronze), Katie Chesher (Silver), Millie Hawkins (Bronze), Chelsea McGuinness, Chloe Brien (Bronze), Ciara Bowden (Gold), Kelly Gannon (Gold), Rebecca Fagan, Sophie Betson (Gold), Shauna Montgomery, Lauren Cummings (Bronze), Carly Weafer (Bronze), Rebecca OʼConnor, Jodie Young (Silver), Chloe Bryan (Bronze), Holly Nolan (Bronze). Teachers: Claire Griffin and Ashling Woods Larkin Grease Lightning Winning Team: Kayleigh Glynn (Gold), Lea Bui Thi (Bronze), Shannon Fitzpatrick (Bronze), Lauren Mitchel (Bronze), Helena Lawless (Bronze), Katie Weafer (1st Place), Jade Nulty (2nd Place), Kate Nolan (Silver), Danielle McDermott (Bronze), Danika Hopkins (Bronze), Rebekah Mooney (Gold), Kelly OʼReilly (Bronze), Jessica Donnelly (Silver), Danielle Pepper (Bronze).

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

C ONSIDER

PAGE 35

A CAREER IN CRAFT consultant, museum/ gallery curator, retail buyer, college lecturer, or even a trend forecaster, a career in craft will open many doors for you.” The Crafts Council of Ireland provides ongoing support to students and college graduates through design skills courses, advice, grants and bursary supports. If you think that you might ﬁnd a creative career fulﬁlling then contact the Crafts Council of Ireland for information on the range of options and supports that are available to you. For more inspiration and information visit www.ccoi.ie

re you imaginative, creative and up for a challenge? If the answer is yes, then you could follow in the footsteps of well known Irish craftmakers such as Philip Treacy, world famous milliner or Des Byrne, designer of the Sam Maguire Cup. Craftspeople and designers shape the visual world around us, from your kitchen table to your watch, ipod, clothes and shoes, all are designed or crafted. As the CAO application deadline looms, students should consider the range of options available to them through a career in craft. The craft industry is a signiﬁcant element of the Irish economy. At present, there are over 800 people in Ireland who make their living directly from their

craft, while a further 900 people derive substantial income from it. The Irish crafts Industry is worth €122 million and is a significant industry benefit to local economies. According to Louise Allen, Education & Awareness Manager at the Crafts Council of Ireland: “A career in craft is diverse, challenging and very rewarding. Students who train as a craftsperson learn a wide range of practical skills, which are applicable across a broad range of disciplines. “With creative flair and the practical skills needed, the career opportunities available in the craft industry are extensive. From a self-employed designer in fashion, textiles, ceramics, jewellery or furniture, to working as a design

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What is Spring?

By Glenda Cimino

pring is getting rid of all the rubbish the winter piled up, when it was too cold to go out. It is getting out the rake and shovel. It is the solitary robin suddenly appearing again, cocking his head at your gardening efforts, hoping you will uncover a fat worm for him. Spring is something lighter in the air, a lighter step in your feet, a sudden realisation that summer will come again after all. It is snowdrops and daffodils. It is the seed swap events, it is friends bringing you plants and seeds for your neglected garden. Spring is tiny leaves on the trees, everything waiting to SPRING into bloom! Into new life. Spring is hopeful thoughts.

PAGE 36

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

GANDHI COMES TO O’CONNELL STREET THE SECOND PLACED ENTRY IN OUR SHORT STORY COMPETITION

By Edel Gillick

he small lights on the table flickered in the res taurant so full of people. Saturday night, the busiest night and Varun had just finished cooking for one hundred people, the curries and rice all had been cooked and served, it was the same routine night after night. He mopped his forehead with a dry tea towel. The cloth smelled of washing powder and garlic. Through the other side of the kitchen doors was a parallel world. Customers had no idea as they ate and drank and sent back food that would have fed a large family in India. But that is why he had come here to Ireland, the land of hope and prosperity, to chase the Celtic-Indian tiger. Looking back into the crammed restaurant, the candlelight flickering, the warm glow made him think of home, of Davali, the festival of lights, but he must not think of home now there was the

clearing up to do. Varun had been in Ireland for two years working in the restaurant as a chef, staying behind the scenes, not like the British chefs on the television who acted like gods and got treated accordingly, constantly shouting at their minions. He must not think about shouting. His boss was always shouting. His boss, the restaurant owner, the man who held onto his work permit. The big boss who ordered Varun to call himself ʻJohnʼ as Irish people would never remember his Indian name much less care about it. Itʼs easier for the delivery men, a name they could remember. Slaves like Varun came here not on boats but on low budget airlines. When Varun complained about his working conditions he was told that he was just another ignorant bloody migrant and if he didnʼt like it there were thousands more ignorant migrants like him. Varun had to remember that the boss held the work

permits and by the way it would be a great disappointment to the family back in India if he had to return home. His parents had been so proud that their son was going abroad. They were not really sure where Ireland was but they were educated enough to know it was part of the British Empire. Varun would do his duty, his younger brother was assured of an education. He could not let the family down by returning home in disgrace– his mother would never get over it. Once, as a small boy he remembered his grandmother and his aunts coming to his house and he was told he was going to have a brother or sister. He was sent to his grandfatherʼs house and on returning his mother was lying in bed weak and not responding. There was no mention of a brother or sister. His mother lay down for a long time. If he disappointed his mother she might lay down again and like an elephant in childhood stories refuse to ever rise again. His mother was

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009 not old enough yet for the elephant graveyard. His father was a quiet man who went off at every chance he got to the nearest town to the shop that sold televisions and drank tea and watched Bollywood movies. His father sold fabric in the local market so he insisted that he watched the movies just to see the latest fabric in the costumes. His father would boast that his son would send money to buy him a shop instead of selling in the market. Once, the restaurant had a ﬂood, water gushing everywhere and the boss was behaving like a mad man and reluctantly he told them the restaurant had to be cleared, they could have the hours off but “donʼt expect to get paid, no work, no pay.” Varun jumped on a bus, not knowing where it was going and ended up at the Zoo. There, he spotted the tiger who paced up and down, beautiful but unhappy. Varun went home to his rooms that he shared with the waiters. He must not think of the tiger. Once, he had picked up a free newspaper. He read an article about the Irish emigrants working illegally in America. Varun felt a glimmer of hope and phoned the

PAGE 37 journalist and left his name. The journalist was busy on a story: Three female students had handcuffed themselves to a lamppost outside the GPO. Women going on hunger strike demanding freedom for Tibet. Then an idea came to Varun. What if Gandhi were still alive and he wrote to him personally about his fellow countrymen and how they were being exploited. Would Gandhi come to Ireland? Would he be allowed on the plane or would he be perceived as a terrorist? Would Gandhi be allowed to bring his weaving loom? He liked to spin cloth whilst he was thinking. Would the loom be allowed on the plane or would he have to pay extra baggage? He could see it now, Gandhi walking serenely down OʼConnell Street with masses of restaurant workers. Gandhi would stand in front of the crowds greeting the marchers with “before we contemplate a single move what is in it for the poor man?” Now Varun thought he must be going crazy. On his way to work he saw many down and outs and sometimes he gave them a few cents. In his own country beggars were making atonement

for transgressions in a past life, but these ʻuntouchablesʼ on OʼConnell Street did not believe that. If Mother Teresa was here she would say “the poor are the blessed ones.” When he got to the restaurant Mary was on duty working at the cash desk. Mary wore a white, crisp blouse as part of her uniform. He looked at Mary and he could see her curves through her white blouse. He must not think of curves or Mary. His marriage was arranged. If his mother knew he had thoughts of a woman, divorced and with children, this would just add fuel to his motherʼs funeral pyre. But what did Mary think of him? She had witnessed his humiliation as the boss had screamed in English at him. What must Mary think of this Asian excuse for manhood? He must be careful– the spies were everywhere, other workers writing letters home to India, letters full of scandal. One Tuesday afternoon the restaurant was quiet and Varun was in the kitchen. Mary came in and spoke directly to Varun. “I found a lot of junk mail on the ﬂoor, it must have been posted through the restaurant door this morn-

ing.” Varun looked at her. Why was she telling him this? Varun looked at the pile of mail. It was the usual, someone selling membership to a gym. Maybe she was hinting, she must think him fat, then under all the papers lay a leaﬂet with a notice: ʻRestaurant service workers. Are you being exploited? Are you living in fear? We can help you.

Contact…ʼ “Thank you Mary,” he thought. “Thank you Gandhi.” And the tiger in the zoo was roaring even louder in his head. His hands shaking, he dialled the number and the person at the other end said “can you tell me your name please?” With one big breath, he answered, “My name is Varun and I am an exploited worker.”

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PAGE 38

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

P OOLBEG

PLAN MAY CAUSE ‘ FLOODING ’ AND LOSS OF ‘ NATURAL AMENITY ’

By John Cavendish

he Sandymount and Merrion Residents AsSAMRA, sociation, called a second Emergency General Meeting at 8pm on the evening of 10th March last in The Mount Herbert Hotel. Lorna Kelly spoke and said that the DDDA made ʻthanks to the residents of the surrounding area for their contribution to their schemeʼ and she wished it to be on the record that at no time did SAMRA contribute to the DDDA plan. Guest speaker Joe McCarthy said that work on the building of the Incinerator had already commenced and then outlined how he and some others had been involved in a Special Interest Group for Environment and Sustainability set up by the DDDA to look more closely at environmental matters.

He showed a copy of the Draft Planning Scheme from the DDDA which they only received on the 4th February along with a 1,000 page Environmental Impact Statement that he and Valerie Jennings had tried to analyse. He mentioned how the DDDA had these documents for a year or so and now he has to respond by 9th April when the consultation phase closes and the Environment Minister decides as to whether the plan goes ahead or not. Joe McCarthy showed the audience a large brochure called ʻPoolbeg Awakensʼ, by a Dutch firm called West 8 who had carried out all the preparative design work. The DDDA Draft Plans involved a model analysis of the buildings across from the land owned by Becbay, a consortium with Ben McNamara, Derek Quinlan and the Anglo Irish Bank,

and the strip owned by Liam Carrollʼs Fabrizia development company, with varying densities for each area and a Luas running through Sean Moore Park into Sandymount. He explained how there was in fact only a small amount of ʻbrownfieldʼ land available as most of the DDDA sites were actually ʻgreenfieldʼ land and that the required rules for greenfield had not been adhered to in the proposals, with much less open space and more building density proposed than is regulated for. Joe McCarthy then showed that in fact there was no new open space to be gained and if anything there was a reduction. He said that he had written to Paul Maloney of the DDDA pointing out to him that the SIG consultation process had resulted in obfuscation, denial of the existence of documents, refusal to produce documents,

site models, etc., and could only be described as a waste of time. He showed how the scheme involved raising up the Poolbeg land by up to 10 metres and this would offer the new buildings protection from flooding but was likely to cause flooding in Sandymount worse than the flood of February 2002. Joe McCarthy showed a shadow projection over the existing houses on Sean Moore Road, which illustrated that during winter months the residents there will be in the shade for much of the time. He said that the buildings modelled by the DDDA were based on inaccurate ground levels and that this made all their shadow projections incorrect. Recently Minister John Gormley appointed Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects to the DDDA Board, Ben McNamaraʼs sister Shelly is also

a co-director of Grafton architects. At the end of the meeting residents were given the opportunity to sign a petition as follows: ʻWe, the undersigned, object to the proposed Docklands Section 25 Planning Scheme for the Poolbeg peninsula by reason of the destruction of a priceless natural amenity, the overpowering visual impact on the Sandymount and Merrion areas of Dublin Bay, the required public cost of providing all the infrastructural services, interference with the shorelines, the raising of the Poolbeg ground levels with imported rock and rubble with the probable consequence of flooding Sandymount, the serious direct and indirect impacts on the existing protected wildlife and biodiversity, and probable pollution of sea and beaches from disturbance of the contaminated land.ʼ

The Sandymount Village Design Statement The ﬁrst meeting of the Steering Group for the Dublin City Council sponsored Village Design Statement took place on Monday 23rd February in the Community Centre in Thorncastle Street, Ringsend. The meeting was organised by Peter Morley and from a panel, the following people were selected to take part in the Steering Committee. These are: Michael Byrne, Victualler (traders rep) John MacAlinden Post Ofﬁce (traders rep). Joe McCarthy Lorna Kelly Aine Ni Chaoimh Tony Read Joe McCann Two councillors as well as management from Dublin City Council will also be co-opted to the Steering Group.

A L B U M

Requiem (2005): By Karl Jenkins. A Requiem is a Mass for the souls of the dead. Requiem is scored for mixed choir, string orchestra, soprano solo, boy treble, harp, two horns and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute). With a duration of about fifty-five minutes, there are thirteen movements, five of

which are set to texts called Jisei, or Japanese death poems. Each Jisei is in the form of a haiku (poems usually to do with nature, have a single idea, and consist of seventeen syllables divided 5-7-5 over three lines). These are performed by soprano Nicole Tibbels. This CD sounds amazing, the al-

ternate movements being very soft, followed by hard and rhytmic, back to soft voices, and so on. The choirs are, of course, Welsh. And for choirs with high ambition, the vocal score is available for purchase as sheet music. Check this out if you like beautiful vocal and symphonic music.

R E V I E W

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace (2001), composed by Karl Jenkins (b.1944) This piece was commissioned by The Armouries War Museum ʻboth to look back and reﬂect as we leave behind the most war-torn and destructive century in human history, and to look ahead with hope and commit ourselves to a new and more peaceful millennium.ʼ This CD takes you on a journey

from the start of war (The Armed Man with trudging, marching feet, drums and ﬁfes, and the poignant Call To Prayers, which is simply the unearthly solo voice of a muezzin singing the Islamic call to prayer in Arabic), through to sadness and fear at the start of battle ( Kyrie, Save Me From Bloody Men), heroism and passion ( Sanctus, the extraordinary and stirring Hymn Before Action, words by Rudyard Kipling) and of course, tumbles down into the

real tragedy and pain of war (Angry Flames and Torches) and ends with the bitter sorrow of Agnus Dei and Now The Guns Have Stopped. The ﬁnal, serene and lovely Benedictus (played with sweet and haunting cello) and Better is Peace (medieval, dancy and joyous), is a ﬁtting end. Not for those who are easily depressed, but well worth it for the emotional journey and the beautiful voices.

NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009

PAGE 39

M u s i c 4 … BY JOHN CAVENDISH * NESSA JENNINGS

STATUS QUO LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA

By John Cavendish

he wintry weather of the first week of February was no deterrent to the fans of the veteran English rock and roll band Status Quo from making it to the Olympia on Dame Street for a Sunday night gig that was a must-see event for many who have followed their progress down the years. I first went to see Status Quo in the National Stadium on the South Circular Road some thirty years ago when I should have been studying for my Leaving Certificate. I bought a ʻQuoʼ scarf that night on the way in and later after

the concert I had the luck to meet Rick Parﬁtt and Francis Rossi, the original band members, in the late night restaurant in Juryʼs Coffee Dock, where they did me the honour of autographing the scarf. I had already by then bought some of their records and I still recommend the 1977 Live album recorded in the Apollo in Glasgow, now on CD, for inclusion in any respectable rockerʼs collection. They have quite a musical history starting in 1962 in Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Beckenham, England where Francis Rossi teamed up with a fellow orchestra member, Alan Lancaster. They began their stage career as an act called ʻThe Scorpionsʼ, but

later changed their name to ʻThe Spectresʼ and played their first gig at the Samuel Jones Sports Club in Dulwich, South London. The partnership with Rick Parfitt goes back to 1965 when they met in Butlinʼs in Minehead while playing the summer season where Rick Parfitt was playing with his band ʻThe Highlightsʼ. By 1967 Rick Parfitt quit The Highlights and after trying some other band names they settled on the name ʻStatus Quoʼ. Rick joined the band in time for the November 1967 release of ʻPictures Of Matchstick Menʼ gaining success in both the UK and US Singles Charts. After the breakthrough, the band

management hired Bob Young as a ʻroadieʼ and tour manager. Over the years Young became one of the most important songwriting partners for Status Quo. By 1970 they had developed a rhythmic, blues scale beat and a major breakthrough came when they signed with the well-respected heavy rock and progressive label Vertigo with their ﬁrst album. During this period, and throughout the rest of the 70s, they became one of Europeʼs leading rock bands, gaining a faithful following due to their relentless touring and energetic live gigs. Quoʼs more popular songs from this era include ʻPaper Planeʼ (1972), ʻCarolineʼ (1973), ʻDown Downʼ (1975), ʻRockinʼ All Over The Worldʼ (1977) and ʻWhatever You Wantʼ (1979). ʻDown Downʼ topped the UK singles chart in January 1975, becoming their only British number one single to date. All these hits were played for the supporters at the Olympia gig with some well known favorites such as ʻLittle Ladyʼ shortened to try and get in as many numbers as possible. Status Quo have sold in excess of 118 million records worldwide and have a large repertoire to call on when it comes to concerts. Theyʼve had their splits and changes in line-up down the years, with drummer John Coghlan being replaced by Pete Kircher in 1982 and in 1986 the group went on tour with a new line-up with John ʻRhinoʼ Edwards (bass) and

Jeff Rich (drums). They must be remembered for opening the 1985 Live Aid charity event at the old Wembly stadium organised by Bob Geldof. Theyʼve had their health scare moments too with Rick Parfitt undergoing quadruple by-pass surgery in 1997 but thankfully he was able to make a full recovery and returned with a performance at the Norwich Football Club ground three months later. More recently in 2005, Rossi and Parfitt made cameo appearances in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in a storyline which involved them being sued by the notorious layabout Les Battersby, and performing live at his wedding as compensation. They have a loyal fan base here in Ireland and in the UK where they have enjoyed more hits than any other group in rock and roll history as well as a big following in Scandinavia and mainland Europe, most notably in the Netherlands. where they played last November in the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam as part of the latest tour. Francis Rossi sent NewsFour some words regarding the Dublin session saying, “Gigs in Ireland are always special and the Olympia crowd did not disappoint! We had a blast and look forward to the next time– see you all soon!” Above: Rick Parfitt (left) and Francis Rossi (right) by kind permission of showbiz.ie.

Van Morrison: ‘Astral Weeks’ live at the Hollywood Bowl By Nessa Jennings

ast November, Van Morrison gathered together as many of the original musicians as possible to recreate the enthralling album from 1968, ʻAstral Weeksʼ. ʻLive at the Hollywood Bowlʼ has all the magic in the places where it should be, and breathes new life into these songs. Initially conceived as a song cycle, the original records Van Morrison at 22 years in all his raw talent and desperate desire, rendering what he would later call “the inarticulate speech of the heart.” ʻWe strolled through ﬁelds all

wet with rain and back along the lane again. There in the sunshine in the sweet summertime. The way that young lovers do…ʼ explodes the opening track, destabilising you and shocking you out of your adolescence. No-one in pop music, before or since, has sounded so consumed by what they are singing. There are lifetimes behind the voice, which with its ﬂinty edge paints an unconscious elegy to a Belfast before the troubles. It was a rare and spontaneous album which was out of synch with prevailing moods and tastes, taking 31 years to go gold. This live rendition 40 years on adds a new dimension. The

results are astounding, although the songs are played out of order. The crowdʼs joy is infectious. It is very exciting to hear this again at this time. Itʼs deﬁnitely an album to be passed through generations. Tracklisting on ʻLive at the Hollywood Bowlʼ: Astral Weeks/ I believe Iʼve transcended– Beside You– Slim Slow Slider/ I Start Breaking Down– Sweet Thing– The Way Young Lovers Do– Cyprus Avenue/ You Came Walking Down– Ballerina– Madame George– (the encore contains two added tracks) Listen to the Lion/ The Lion Speaks– Common One. Left: Van at the Bowl.

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NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2009