28825
Open
Galway Advertiser 1993/1993_08_12/GA_12081993_E1_008.pdf
C O M M E N T
&
LETTERS
T
his week the most important story to come out of war-torn former Yugoslavia was not concerned with troop movements (or, in the case of the Bosnian Serbs, the lack of them) or increasingly empty diplomatic initiatives, but with a five year old girl named Irma Hadzimuratovic whose tiny, pained face dominated the front pages of most national and international newspapers. It is easy to be cynical about Mr. Major's dramatic intervention to save the life of this single child, whose fate would have been that of many others, young and old, had not the Bosnian surgeon treating her decided to allow BBC and I T N to film his patient, and the Sun newspaper to take photographs. Yet it is often the case that only the kind of dramatic media coverage we have seen this week can focus the world's attention on the human cost of international tragedies like Sarajevo. Think of Somalia. Think back to that documentary on Ethiopia that gave birth to Bob Geldofs Band Aid. We are so made that particular images are necessary to bring home the larger picture. Yet efforts to save one child are clearly no effective response to what is still happening in former Yugloslavia. The Serbs attacking Sarajevo, under the command of General Ratko Mladic, continue to play "call my b l u f f with the West. Whatever one's view on the Gulf Conflict, President Bush certainly knew how to organise and conduct a war strategy, unlike President Clinton, whose confused and even contradictory signals to the beseiged Bos nians have accomplished nothing except to enforce a growing belief that he cannot be relied on. The Winter lies ahead, when the suffering and death we now see will grow greater and more terrible. It is becoming clearer every day that the Bosnian Serbs and the Belgrade leadership under President Milosevic are unlikely to be deterred from their aim of total victory by either diplomatic pressure or the kind of feeble knuckle-rapping the West has engaged in so far. That leaves, as we said last week, two stark options: complete withdrawal of U N forces, who increasingly find themselves in an impossible position, or a determined and unified effort by the West, backed by air strikes and ground support, to force the Serbs - and it is time to dismiss thefictionthat Belgrade and the Bosnian Serbs are not to be identified in their overall aims to stop their aggression. At the moment the Serbs are behaving like the bully in the playground. And, as anyone who's experienced a bully knows, sometimes the only way to stop him is to call his bluff.
GAIWAY'S LOST HERITAGE? A Case To Focus T h e Mind Forthil
One hundred and seventy five years ago this month Robert Hedges Eyre built a fine stone wall surrounding the burial ground at Forthill. On the gateway he put an inscription recording that his purpose in enclos ing the cemetery was "as a mark of his respect and esteem for the inhabitants of the town of Galway". There is an irony of history in the association of a member of the Eyre family with this graveyard because his antecedents in the city had been involved in different ways with the removal and even persecu tion of Augustinian friars from that same area. The Augustinian Friary was founded at Forthil out side the city walls in 1508 under the patronage of Margaret Athy wife of Stephen Lynch. When monasteries were sup pressed the Augustinain property was granted to the corporation and friars moved into houses within the city. Their former monastery became St. Augustine's fort, a miilitary stronghold to dominate the town. Under Cromwell, when the name Eyre first appeared in Galway, the original buildings were demolished but the ground continued to be used for burials. In the eighteenth century Stratford Eyre was noted for his efforts to seek out hiding places for Augusti nian and other priests in Galway. By then the Augustinians were known to be in Back Street, now St. Augustine Street. By 1811 the religious animosities of previous centuries had waned and this explains the gesture of Robert Hedges Eyre to the people of Galway.
Thomas P. O'Neill
Dear E d i t o r , Your recent editorial "Planning Galway's Future" had me almost feel ing that you had changed your attitude to objections to the Mutton Island project. My confidence in you had been lost after your last comments on the issue (Comment 18/2/93). You then sought to dismiss the objectors, saying " w e were too late in objecting" and closed the book on that chapter in the sage, not recognising that but for our then insistence for secon dary treatment of Galway's sewage, we would already have a Screening Plant and Pumping Station at South Park, Claddagh, costing many millions of punts. Which would of course now be out of date and contrary to present EC minimum standards. Thank Goodness you got sense! You now see to ad mit it right that communities shouold attempt to preserve what's left of the city's heritage. However, that fight is not yet over, and judging by your own most recent comments, you are at least prepared to admit some things are worth fighting for. It must be obvious to all who read your paper that there is deep concern over various building developments that have taken place in the city since " I n n e r City Designated A r e a " status was achieved. The most recent being the hideous disaster at Spanish Parade.
in your paper from people who are disgusted at the way we have allowed developers to do what they like, with no care for the past. How have they been able to get away with so much? I have already spoken to some people who have been involved in the public debate your paper has allowed develop over the past few weeks. If others reading this are anxious to contribute, then perhaps they might phone me at 25588 and we might arrange a meeting to discuss options.
As a taxi driver in Galway, I have heard only one good comment in praise of this architectural disaster, whereas hundreds of locals and visitors alike have been extreme in their criticism. Letters have been published
Maybe then we might preserve at least some of Old Galway for our children to enjoy, and through which they might develop a sense of pride in their heritage.
Yours faithfully, Derek Hamblcton "Totsofar" 26 Manor Avenue, Kingston, Galway.
W A S IT A D R E A M ?
Dear Editor, On a recent visit to the Planning Office at City Hall I was delighted to see the imaginative plans for Ireland's fastest growing ci t y . T h e list is very impressive: 1. The opening up of the canal to b o a t i n g , i t ' s originally intended purpose. 2. Trains to run again from Galway to Clidfden. 3. A tram system to operate for the city and suburbs. 4. The Town Hall to become our theatre, and the Courthouse to become our museum and heritage centre. 5. Replacing the statue at Spanish Arch to its original setting. 6. Open spaces to be developed in and around the city. 7. Galway City to be given the best possible sewage treatment plant, with ample room for future ex pansion. Mutton Island to be preserved in its natural condition. Then, the alarm bell went off and I woke with a jolt.
THIS TAIL JUST KEEPS WGIG A GN
Dear Editor,
I write in order to protest at the continued lack of ap preciation for the letters " w a g " in that order. Were it not for this ebullient and extraordinarily versatile triplet of letters, we would be denied the following wondrous sentences: ' 'Seeing Waggleton's waggery in wagering Wagner's wages on Waggy's wagon, Will Wagdon waged war in Wagagi. " ' 'My Wagernesque wager with Wilbert Wagadoo (of the Waganda Wagadoos) waggled awry when Wagadoo waggled from the wagon to Wagadu. " "Wagner's wagon-top wager with Wags Wagglesfort was Wangeresque in its waggledy waggery, and Wagner wearily waggled off with Waggethfort of the Wagenia. " True, they are all about wagons and wagers, but then what else really matters in life? If you've never waggled out of a wagon-top wager, then you've never really lived. Let this be an end to the business.
Yours, Aidan Berry 8, Grangemore, Bishop O'Donnell Rd, Galway.
HERE'S A QUESTION
Dear Editor,
What's the difference between a Traveller and a tourist? Answer: If you're a tourist, the Corporation strews flowers roundabout everywhere in your path. If you're a Traveller, and you live in the Hardstand in Rahoon, they don't even weed the shrubbery outside your wall.
Victorious Galway
T
here's no doubt about it, it's been a great summer for Galway sport smen and women. We've had the spectacular success of Galway Rowing Club who captured, for the first time in the Club's history, the National Elite 8, the premier event in the Irish rowing calender. And last Sunday Galway Senior Hurlers, inspired by Man of the Match Gerry Mclnerney, won a hotly contested semi-final against old rivals, Tipperary, putting the cap on the victory last Friday by the Galway Minor team who demolished the Tipperary Minor team. There'll be many who are already planning for the trip to Dublin on September 5th where fans will be hoping for a double win against Kilkenny. But that's not all. Galway Minor footballers will be roaring into battle against Kerry this Sunday in the semi-final in Croke Park, and the Galway Camogie team, brilliantly managed by the former maestro of Galway Hurlers, Cyril Farrell, will befieldinga very impressive team for their big match on Sunday in Ballinasloe against Wexford. Meanwhile, Galway United, back in the premier division, kick off their season on the same day in the League Cup match, as do Mervue United. It's all been said before, but it's worth saying again. The energy, dedica tion and skills of Irish sportsmen and women is a justifiable cause for pride. And we in Galway are very fortunate in having some of the very best sportspeople in the country. Let's wish them all the very best of luck in the weeks and months ahead.
Yours, etc., Maire White 68, Claremont, Rahoon, Galway.
T E F T O KIRWIN'S L N H AE F AE
Dear Editor,
I would like to support the views of Toby Joyce (29/7/93) regarding the fate of Kirwin's, with particular reference to the threatened medieval town house. I feel that this unique space could be better utilised as, for ex ample, a city museum which could be enjoyed by the peo ple of Galway and tourists alike, highlighting Galway's medieval past. restoic ine above property as a city museum, a com promise ought to be possi ble. The first floor could be converted into a museum and the remainder used for retail and accomodation. Let's not repeart the re cent treatment of Blake's Castle in the last and possibly most interesting part of Galway.
Yours sincerely. Dee & Seamus O hEocha If it is not considered 87 Fr. Griffin Road, financially p o s s i b l e to Galway.
Yours, "A Wag" (At this stage, I don't really mind if you get it or not. It's your life) p.s. The Wagenia (above) are a tribe of fishermen in the Congo who catch fish by lowering large wooden baskets or nets into rivers or large streams.