Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_11_06/GA_0611_E1_026.pdf 

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LETTERS

November 6 2003

Letter writer ignored Belfast walls
Dear Editor, One does not have to be the possessor of a university degree to understand the mindset of Mr Johnston. To argue point by point with his distortions of the truth would be to lend credence to his diatribe and I will not do him that honour. There is one point worth making. In company with many others he raises the matter of the wall or security fence. I do not believe that the distance from Galway to Belfast is too great for Mr Johnston to undertake. He will find there at least 40 such walls or fences dividing Christian communities from each other. The British Prime Minister is arranging for a wall to be erected around his country retreat to protect him from possible suicide attacks. Mr Johnston could do a great service to the Belfast communities and the Prime Minister if he could convince them that there was no danger to them by the scrapping of those security fences. Having succeeded in that task he could then make the longer trip to Israel and I am sure that the Israelis would be so impressed by his success that they would immediately remove their wall. While in Israel he might also visit an Israeli hospital where he would see Arab and Israeli doctors treating Muslim, Christian, and Jewish patients, some of them victims of suicide bombers. Yours, M Ross Apt 15 Loftus Square Rathfarnham Dublin 14

Galway bus service is pot luck
Dear Editor, I am writing to voice my dismay at the continued deterioration of the bus service provided by Bus Eireann within Galway proper. A regular user of the Number 2 bus service between NUI, Galway and Ballymoneen Road in Knocknacarra, I am well used to the fact that the timetable appears to be anything but a guidance to services delivered. Yesterday's unsuccessful 75 minute wait in the pouring rain outside the college grounds however, without any shelter provided really disillusioned beyond words. I arrived at the bus stop at 17.15, hoping to catch the scheduled 17.20 bus from Eyre Square. Between 17.30 and 17.35 no fewer than three number 5 buses heading for Rahoon passed by -- some schedule we're talking about! and it was not until 18.30 that I finally gave up and hailed a taxi car. No sign of the 17.20, the 17.40, the 18.00 nor the 18.10. Now, I fully understand the situation -- the design of roads in Galway clearly is not conducive to operating a bus service and no-one would lament if buses are somewhat late -- but not to provide extra services when it is pouring down and the regular service fails to materialise at least for four consecutive buses is not an acceptable service. Incidentally, I had written to this address about three years ago, pointing out that the majority of bus stops in Galway have neither a timetable nor a map of the bus lines on display. I was told then that Bus Eireann was aiming to amend the situation -- yet nothing has happened. I would like to hear from Bus Eireann on what plans it has to improve the service provided. Clearly if our common goal is to reduce the number of cars on our roads, we have to start by offering a viable alternative. At present, this is not the case, especially where and when it matters most. Yours, Ulf Strohmayer, Professor of Geography, Barna Road, Galway

Hunters worship at the altar of cruelty
Dear Editor, The industry of myth created by defenders of hunting with hounds have cranked out the image the fox is killed in an instant as the lead hound nips the fox at the back of the neck. Those familiar as to how dogs hunt in packs, it appears fox hunters do not fit into this category, are aware that any part of the hunted animal is grabbed as dogs tear into the animal. A fox killed in the open by hounds involves up to 30 hounds coming down on a small animal. Each hound is hellbent on getting a piece of the action. Should any part of the fox remain after this canine bloodshed it would not be unusual for hunt officials to cut off parts of the fox's body. A cruelty relic for those who worship at the altar of cruelty. Tough times lie ahead for Ireland's hunting community. Like coursing and its followers, hunting with hounds is retreating into itself. Hunt meet locations are not being advertised or details of location are kept vague, making finding the hunt meets is impossible, strangers are not welcome at hunt meets, and what a "welcome" awaits those known to be anti-hunt. The public profile of hunting was always minor but there appears to be an increasing trend for hunts to hide their existence. Never forget that while hunters have the franchise to administer abuse to animals they do not own or control the wildlife which they abuse and kill for pleasure. It is becoming harder to access, or even if access is achieved to observe hunting in action with a degree of personal safety. Such a situation speaks volumes about the nature of animal abuse and those who wallow in its excesses. Anti-bloodsports campaigners make no apology for the views they hold. Genuine animal lovers do not have a need to cause fear in an animal to prove their importance in society. Some day Ireland's wildlife will be left in peace and not used as disposable pawns in games for the gutless. That day cannot come quick enough. Yours sincerely. John Tierney Campaigns Director-Association of Hunt Saboteurs PO Box 4734 Dublin 1

UK hunt ban great news for Irish hunting
Dear Editor, Yes, in the words of Dick Power in the Advertiser (letters Oct 23), the fact "that foxhunting with hounds, another legacy of the British empire, is being blown away is a cause for rejoicing." That it certainly is. To the best of my knowledge this ban only applies in the UK. The rejoicing will be done this side of the Irish Sea with the large numbers of English, Welsh, and Scottish along with the Americans, French, Dutch, and Germans who will come here to hunt. This bringing a huge boost to the tourism industry at an off-peak time and also for the Irish horse industry. Out thoroughbred horses and trainers have won every steeplechase and classic worth winning from Melbourne to New York. Now it will be the turn of our sport horses, which range from Connemara ponies to Irish draught. With the ban in the UK, three-day eventing and cross country events are going to become very popular. There will be a demand for horses with stamina, of which the Irish limestone horses have plenty. I wonder if they will ship them live. Even though the season has already begun, I would like to wish the North Galway hunt and the Galway Blazers the very best of luck. Tally-ho. Yours, Hunt fan, Ardrahan (Name and address with editor)

Make hospice Criticism report of Israel is public
distorted
Dear Editor Fred Johnston's (letters, Advertiser, Oct 30) unrelenting criticism of Israel is interesting but as usual selective and distorted. Israel did enter a hospital and removed a Hamas terrorist. They put him in an ambulance and brought him to an Israeli hospital so he can stand trial later. The comparing of Israel's defence forces marking an arm with a pen which can be washed off with soap and water (so they could know whether they had questioned the suspect or not), is a lot different from branding people with tattoos and then addressing them as a number instead of a name. This comparison is the example of the anti-Semitism that the likes of Mr Johnston use to smear the Jewish people. On numerous occasions Mr Johnston's champions, the Palestinians, have deliberately used ambulances to transport weapons and bombers to their targets and when Israel confronts them they become the accused. Yours Keith Davies 6 Spring Oak Drive Newtown, PA 18940 Dear Editor, I heard this week that the investigation into the closure of Galway Hospice is to be published this week. I thought it had all been forgotten about, so long has this taken. I hope that when this happens it will be made available to the public wholly so that public faith in what is a great facility will be fully restored. When my husband died of cancer some years ago, they provided me with immense assistance and I will never forget it. Over the years many people have slaved to raise funds for this facility. To see it shut breaks my heart. Hopefully it will not be that way for too long. Yours, Sheila (Full name and address with editor)

Orkneys are British Isles, not part of Ireland
Dear Editor, I refer to Rev Williams' letter which was published in the Galway Advertiser on October 23. I was initially confused as to why Rev Williams sought participation by Galway Advertiser readers in " a study to discover why churchgoing is on the decline throughout the British Isles." As I proceeded to read the letter, I noted that Rev Williams referred to Britain and Ireland and could only conclude that he was referring to Ireland as part of the "British Isles". The term "British Isles" is an anachronistic political designation. It does not even have any real basis in geography. I am unsure as to where this term originated. I suspect it was coined by the British, probably at the time of the Act of Union. In any case, this "union" has long been disbanded and just as in the case of divorce, Ireland has long since dropped this "surname". Whether Rev Williams uses the term innocently or arrogantly is irrelevant. Ireland should not be referred to by any intelligent person as being British. British islands include the Orkneys, Anglesey, Skye, etc, but not Ireland. Ireland is not British, but an independent country. Rev Williams may experience a greater interest in his study if he consigns all traces of past domination to history, where it belongs. Yours, Mary Leahy, Murrough, Renmore

The ten-metre dash for a meter
Dear Editor, Can you tell me what Galway City Council are playing at regarding the Dyke Road? Having chased the meters around the carpark a month ago when some were in use and other not, imagine my shock horror yesterday when I parked there near where a meter used to be. In the rain I went to that location only to find that the meters on the top level have been moved again to the outer reaches of the car park, where they are convenient only to cars on the perimeter. It is as if the council is making the tickets more difficult to purchase so that the clampers can have more fun. Yours, K. O'Toole, Headford, Galway

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
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