Galway Advertiser 2008/GA_2008_07_03/GA_0307_E1_016.pdf 

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BE A GALWAY VOICE

Argument for leaving dogs on beaches is crap, says parent
Dear Editor, I am writing in reply to Emer Hennelly's letter regarding the dog ban on Galway beaches. I love dogs,. I own a dog and I think there is no finer sight then seeing our four-legged friends enjoying a swim on a hot day. However, I am also a parent and know from personal experience how distressing it is to have a small child fall handsfirst into a pile of dog mess whilst playing on the beach. Unfortunately it is the attitude of Miss Hennelly and many others like her that has probably been the cause of this ban. Yes, there is only one dog litter bin and disposal bag machine. How many would she like? She tells us unashamedly that "If you are at the other end of the prom, well, you probably would not bother to go find it"! The alternative being... she would would just leave it on the beach or pavement for someone to step in. She goes on to whinge about how awful it is for the council to "leave us to clean up after our dogs". Unbelieveable. It is not the job of the council or the tax payer to facilitate the removal of dog mess. I never leave home without a supply of plastic bags, poop scoops or nappy bags. It takes a few seconds to pick up droppings. The bags can be tied and carried to the nearest bin. If there is no bin within the vicinity then, yes, you might have to take the bag home with you. This might sound unpleasant but it is a lot less unplesant then the task of trying to get the mess off shoes or worse still from underneath a distressed child's fingernails. In conclusion, it is very sad that doggies can no longer frolic in the waves but to be honest Ms Hennelly, your crap attitude really takes the dog biscuit. Yours, Tina Glynn, Oranhill, Oranmore.

Cyclists are endangering walkers and babies on the Prom
Dear Editor, Like many Galwegians, I use the Prom on a regular basis and in the past year or so, there seem to be more and more cyclists whizzing up and down on the path, as though it were the road. Why don't the council put a cycling lane all along the Prom like they have in South Park? It is so dangerous when one is walking along listening to music or just admiring the scene, when a bike that you cannot hear passes right beside you, going hell for leather. I'm not one of those people who walk in a straight line. I tend to veer to the right or left, if for example, I see something interesting out in the bay. It doesn't occur to me to look behind to see if there is anything coming before I make my move! It's a footpath for goodness sake. I freely admit that if I were cycling, I'd favour the Prom instead of the road (nice and smooth with no cars). But now you have the situation of cyclists instead of motorists being a danger to pedestrians. It has got ridiculous of late and there is going to be a nasty accident. Lots of elderly people and parents with babies in prams walk the prom and one just cannot anticipate what another will do. Anyway, why should walkers have to watch out when walking on the pavement? The Prom is one of Galway's best assets and we should all be able to enjoy it without risking being mown down. I'm beginning to think that it is in fact permitted. If it is not, then the law should be enforced. Otherwise put in a proper cycling lane. Yours Roisin Steed, Menlo Village, Galway.

No recession for buggie abandoners
Dear Editor, I wish to write to you regarding an amazing incident I saw the other day in Eyre Square. As I was waiting for a taxi, there were two ladies ahead of me with children and buggies. When it came to their turn to get into the taxis, they could not get the buggies into the boot of the taxi as they were big expensive buggies. To my amazement, in frustration, they decided to leave the buggies behind at the rank. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with the buggies as they were in fairly good condition. The incident caused much amazement at the rank among the rest of the queue, who were speculating as to why the buggies were left behind. When the recession hits, such actions will be few and far between, I think. Yours M Corcoran, Knocknacarra,

Who you In times of fuel price gonna call -- hikes, buses should ghostrun to events seekers?
Dear Editor, I am currently researching a book on folklore, ghosts and paranormal happenings in Ireland. I would love to hear from readers with reports of ghosts, hauntings, poltergeists, UFOs, sooklights, witchcraft and any other strange or unexplained phenomena. I am particularly interested in haunted sites. Absolute confidentiality will be maintained and respected, if requested. All correspondence will be acknowledged, if so wished. Write to me in confidence or email me at carraigkerry@hotmail.co m. Yours, Sean O Gualainn, 6 Bruach na Gaile, Maigh Mheain, Co Ciarrai Dear Editor, Hopefully some of the bus operaters in ths county of Galway will read this. Last Sunday I wanted to go to the Irish Derby in the Curragh. To travel there other than going by car I would have had to be on the train for Dublin at 8.25 in the morning and returned sometime around nine o'clock in the evening. Frankly it would be too long of a day for me. So hopefully next year year there will be a bus for the Derby. In view of the price surges in fuel surely there is a need for this kind of transport to these areas of interest. Soon now we will have the National Ploughing Championships, held in Kilkenny this year surely a bus there would take so many cars off the road. Some years ago there was a bus going to to the

Erratic Knocknacarra bus service made us miss hospital appointment
Dear Editor, Living in Knocnnacarra is good. We have the beach and Barna Woods for walks and fun and when we get a sunny day. it's like we have it all. But the one thing about Knocknacarra to cloud our spirits is the bus service. For peope who don't have a car and depend on the bus, it can be a nightmare. We see the timetable for the service, but the times are never the same when the buses arrive. Especially for the Cappagh Road. My wife and I had an appointment for 2pm in UHG. We arrived at the bus stop on the Cappagh at 1.15pm. We waited until 2.30 pm without any sign of a bus. We were lucky it was one of those sunny days. The appointment was cancelled and I had to make a new one. I was in pain and could not find anywhere to sit down to relieve the pain in my back and legs. I rang the company and only got an answering machine to complain to. We can't afford a taxi or cab whenever we need to go anywhere. We told our friends and neighbours about our experience and they agreed we were all let down by the poor bus service we receive. Yours, Angry Cappagh Road resident (Name and address with editor)

Overcharging comment about migrant taxidrivers not meant to offend
Dear Editor, The management of Local Taxis wishes to make a change to the paragraph in the article about it in the Advertiser dated May 22. We want to use the opportunity to apologise to those affected by the sentence "We are aware that some migrant drivers have caused problems with overcharging and we want to change that." I am aware that some migrant drivers have been upset by this line and I wish to reiterate that we now accept that this is not the case. It is unfortunate that some taxidrivers have been victimised by these comments and I apologise to them for any upset caused. Yours, Chris Okeke, Roscam, Galway

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Galway Advertiser
41-42 Eyre Square, Galway. Tel: 091 - 530900 Fax: (General) 091 567079 Fax: (Advertising) 091 - 567150 Fax: (Newsdesk) 091 - 565627 Internet Address: http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie Printed by: The Irish Times, Liffey House, Tara St, Dublin 2.

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letters@galwayadvertiser.ie
The Galway Advertiser wishes to advise that it is not responsible for the content which appears in the letters pages and accepts no liability arising from publication of material on these pages. The Galway Advertiser, 41-42 Eyre Square, Galway. Tel: 091 - 530900. Fax (General) 091 567079 Fax: (Advertising) 091 - 567150 Fax: (Newsdesk) 091 - 565627 Internet Address: http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie / news@galwayadvertiser.ie

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HAVE YOUR SAY

16 L E T T E R S

July 3 2008

Novena in Knock. Although I am well aware of the financial cost of the bus, if the tickets were pre-booked and paid for in advance it would ease these fears. I hope the county councillors will look at the situation, especially as when the college students are in college, it's travel chaos on Fridays. Yours, Sean O'Connall Woodquay