2012 — a spaced-out odyssey?

Thu, Dec 29, 2011

There is no doubt that 2012 will be hard pressed to be half as interesting as 2011, but taking a look into my crystal ball, I can see some fascinating developemnts in the months ahead.

The Christmas of the empty chairs...

Thu, Dec 22, 2011

We had a young man working here with us for a while this year who had his Christmas dinner back in October. He went home to his family one weekend to discover that they had decked out the kitchen in festive fare, donned the silly hats, bought the crackers and crackling away in the oven was a turkey the size of an eagle.

Everything up for grabs as eras overlap

Thu, Dec 15, 2011

Sure it’s no wonder we are the way we are these days. The Chinese have a saying ‘may you live in interesting times,” but they never thought there’d be times that would be just too bloody interesting. Not a day goes by without something intertesting happening — the likes of which would only ever happen in a blue moon.

Don’t let Christmas get you down

Thu, Dec 08, 2011

When I sit and think about why Christmas is so special to me, and remember Christmasses past, it strikes me that what made them so special was not the bag of loot that habitually came the way from red-coated strangers climbing down chimneys, but that strangely unique feeling that families were together for a period of time. It is that sense of togetherness that kindles the fire of memories, not the material goods that we stuffed ourselves with, that stay in the mind.

Let’s back the Mayor’s initiative and get Galway moving.

Thu, Dec 01, 2011

More and more Galway is being associated with traffic gridlock — and it is a monicker with which we would not like to be stuck. Even a recent edition of The Apprentice saw the contestants come a cropper when they were delayed due to the infamous Galway traffic, and, increasingly so, traffic woes are becoming commonplace for the people who use this city.

Kiteflying is not doing anyone any favours

Thu, Nov 24, 2011

While the age old concept of kiteflying may be perceived as being a politically astute way of dampening down expectations of doom and gloom, the velocity at which information is leaving the Cabinet table has seen these leaks become spurts, all aimed at the fragile psyche of the Irish public. And to be honest, this is not acceptable behaviour by our political masters, no matter how new they might be to the business of power.

Time for us to save ourselves now

Thu, Nov 17, 2011

Over the past few days, there has been a jauntiness in the step of the people of Ireland. Perhaps it has to do with the weather. In the past few years, by this time, half the county was under water or under ice and the harsh winters of 2009 and 2010 were well under way.

Let Sabina redefine the role of First Lady

Thu, Nov 10, 2011

In 1966, young actress Sabina Coyne from Mayo was one of the cast of Insurrection, RTE’s TV series dramatising the events of 1916 and marking the 50th aniversary of the rising. At that time, she took her part among the cast, not knowing, but I suppose, not ruling out either, that 50 years on, she would be on the podium in O’Connell St to mark what will be a much more spectacular commemoration, in April 2016. All of that was two years before she met her life partner Michael D, before the beginning of their eventful journey that has brought them full circle, into the centre circle with the spotlights on full blast.

Much has been made in recent weeks about the many attributes that Michael D will bring to the role of President, but so far not a lot has been written about an aspect of his presidency that could yet turn out to be the most eventful. Sabina abounds wioth energy, always on the lookout for a project to fill that sort of innate busy-ness that is inherent in most Mayo people. It will not be possible, nor would it be right to place constraints on a woman who can potentially become the most impacting First Lady we have ever had.

The Galway ethos deserves its place at the top table

Thu, Nov 03, 2011

For a county and city which has provided leaders in many spheres throughout its long and varied history, it is surprising that it is only next week that a Galway person will take his/her place in one of the key political roles in the country.

The last thing Ireland Inc needs is a besmirched presidency

Thu, Oct 27, 2011

Allegations of attempted murder, family rows, child abuse, age of consent, dodgy dealing with envelopes, confrontations with sons of murdered gardai, internal party bickering, quango queens, televised meltdowns, sibling savagery, bloody hands, political assassinations — it has been one hell of a presidential election campaign which comes to an end this evening when the last votes are cast and the doors on the polling station close at 10pm. Every element of the campaign so far would not be out of place on The Jerry Springer Show. Shows such as Springer’s specialise in gathering people bound by some connection in one place and then watching them disintegrate in front of a televised audience. It is the principle behind Big Brother, The Apprentice, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Enter The Dragon — presidential election boost could fasttrack Fianna Fail's time in the wilderness

Thu, Oct 20, 2011

Just a few weeks ago, a national newspaper predicted that Fianna Fail would not be in government again until at least 2025. It was felt that the start of its rehabilitation would commence in the local elections in 2014, spawning a whole new set of faces in the cumainn across the country and that the party would regrow in the 2015/16 General Election, getting bigger in opposition.

Mental wellbeing is linked to our environment

Thu, Oct 13, 2011

A cloud enveloped our nation at the weekend with Ireland's exit from the rugby World Cup. In New Zealand the nation continues to hold its breath. Medical professionals are already predicting a national depression if the All Blacks are knocked out of the tournament. According to an associate professor at Wellington's Victoria University, there is evidence to suggest that a loss of someone's favoured team does result in sadness "for at least a day".

All Michael D has to do is keep his eye on the ball

Thu, Oct 06, 2011

Like an elf picking his way across a dangerous river, all he has to do is look out for the small smooth stepping stones, ignoring the tempting delights of the seemingly innocuous rocks which carry within them potential slips that could see him splash into the water. And before each leap, he must take a look left and then right. And if he can do that, then the gates of the Phoenix Park will beckon before him, the lush grass inviting him inside, rewarding him for a lifetime of service. Yes, that is just how close Galway is to having its first ever Uachtarain na hEireann. For a county that has provided leaders in almost every other sphere apart from Taoiseach and President, it is now very likely that Michael D will go into the last few weeks of the election campaign with the prize being his to lose. Althought there is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, the manner in which the presidential debate has descended into verbal street-fighting has done a lot of the work for the Labour candidate.

Race for the Aras begins next week

Thu, Sep 22, 2011

With only five weeks until voting, and less than a week before nominations close, the Irish Presidential election is beginning to ignite. Many twists and turns have already occurred, but is this merry-go-round of hopefuls doing justice to the position that our President should hold?

Race for the Aras begins next week

Thu, Sep 22, 2011

With only five weeks until voting, and less than a week before nominations close, the Irish Presidential election is beginning to ignite. Many twists and turns have already occurred, but is this merry-go-round of hopefuls doing justice to the position that our President should hold?

Buy Mayo and buy often

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

The leaves are changing colour. But we are so busy rushing here and there it’s easy to miss how nature moves on. Even from our office here on Market Square we have a little slice of autumn outside our window. It is nice to be based in the heart of a town and not be excluded from the changing of the seasons.

The world in union takes centre stage

Thu, Sep 15, 2011

Turning away from Galway’s on-going traffic chaos to the world of sport, rugby union has taken centre stage this week with the World Cup kicking off in New Zealand - 20 nations, having prepared for four years, will compete over six weeks to claim the highest prize in the sport.

Remembering Ann Marie who never came home

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

About 18 years ago when I was working in The Tuam Herald, word came to us that there had been an attempt to bomb the World Trade Centre. The plan involved parking a truck below the North Tower, near one of its corner crutches. The intention was to bring down one tower, possibly into the other, and kill thousands of people. The plan did not work, but unfortunately seven people were killed and thousands received varying degrees of injuries. The reason there was a Tuam connection is because there was a local woman who was working on one of the towers. Ann Marie McHugh came from a well-known local family — her parents Padraig and Margaret ran the Town Hall Tavern in the heart of the town — so news of her terror on that occasion was a story of considerable local interest. On the phone from New York (because there was no email or internet in those days), she told me how, as an asthmatic, she was terrified as she had to descend 80 flights of stairs to make it out from the smoke-filled building. It took her hours to make her way down the darkened stairwell and she spoke of her relief reaching the ground and seeing the light through the smoke.

A prayer for the Ironmen...

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

O come ye Ironmen and Ironwomen, let your sinewy legs find cushions on the hard concrete of our town, may your sturdy shoulders feel the welcome of the waves in our water as they drift you towards the shore, may our roads eat up the rotations of your cycles as your thighs pound at the pedals and propel you faster and faster, the western wind in your faces arcing around to gently push you towards your finishing line. May the pounding of your heart as it pumps the pistons of your body act like a gentle staccato soundtrack in the movie of your feat. May the isotonic blood flow through your veins pushing your skin as your body stretches into its fullness and makes you feel invincible. May the thoughts of failure appear as if bubbles, popping and dissipating in your line of vision, as you drive yourself on. May the hard disk drives of your mind become sponges to absorb all that is around you. May you hear every word of encouragement as being for yourself alone, may every barking dog be a mentor, ruff-ruffing out a message of goodwill. May every cat on a wall appear like a cheetah daring you to go faster, faster. May every face in the crowd be bearing a smile and a wink and a glad-eye. May every shallow puddle on the road be a cooling oasis to splash your ankles, may your hamstrings become lithe like an accordion in the hands of Sharon Shannon. May the sweat dripping off your brow be a sort of mead from the Gods to power you on. May you fill your lungs with all that is Galwayness and let that soak through your being. May the aches and pains of each day’s competition be worn by you like a medal, a souvenir of your effort, an appreciation to the being that allows you to partake in this endurance event...may you take a short moment to be thankful that you can and share a small thought for those who would love to but cannot for reasons of fitness, infirmity, ability and age. May your time among us be one of wonderment and satisfaction...may every piece of morsel that passes your lips detonate your taste buds and may every soothing drink spread its coolness throughout you. May you enjoy Galway and all that it offers you and your fellow competitors. May your families and supporters take great enjoyment and pride from your achievement and when it is all over and when the warm shower is washing away the sweat and effort of the day’s endurance, may you be happy and may you plan to come back again and do it all again next year. Welcome to Galway, Ironmen and Ironwomen. Enjoy yourselves.

Points for pints — they can’t take away our right to drive drunk

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Thank God the Government has taken away the fear of the ban of the drink driving. Imagine what the country would be like if Paddy wasn’t allowed to drive home with a few pints on him, run the gauntlet of the local garda in the Fiesta squad car, making it in the door of his isolated cottage just in time for Oireachtas Report, his nightly joust with the law successful again. So he will be thrilled with the new “Just Above” category of drink drivers who have learned this week that they will not face a ban but some penalty points instead, and sure with insurance costs going through the roof anyway, what harm are the penalty points, but a badge of honour to show the lads down the pub. Remember, it is but a short year ago that this country was driven while drunk by our former leader.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.