Galway Advertiser 1993/1993_01_28/GA_28011993_E1_010.pdf 

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C O M M E N T

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L E T T E R S

GIVE UDARAS THE GREEN LIGHT
The appointment of Michael D. Higgins as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has been welcomed by everyone, and he has already moved wiftly and, we might add, with characteristic directness to deal with issues such as the dispute over the proposed Interpretative Centre at Mullaghmore. But in the rush to welcome Mr. Higgins as the State's first Arts Minister, we must not forget the other aspects of the important portfolio he now holds, and particularly the Gaeltacht. It was entirely appropriate to link Art, Culture and Heritage with the Gaeltacht, because at the base of what we call culture in Ireland lies the Irish language and the enormously rich heritage that belongs to the country's first language. Michael D. has shown throughout his career, both in and out of politics, an awareness - and a realistic awareness - of the significance of the Gaeltacht. One of the most important dimensions of the Gaeltacht is Udaras na Gaeltachta, the regional development agency whose task it is to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the several Gaeltachts along the West Coast of Ireland. As Ruan O Brie, Chief Executive of Udaras has stated, "We interpret our brief as helping to build and strengthen Gaeltacht communities, to stimulate business development, to encourage training and learning, and to enhance the environment and raise the quality of life". Udaras na Gaeltachta has not always had an easy passage in the past, but in recent years, under Mr. O Brie stewardship, it has performed very im pressively, especially under the difficult economic conditions that have af fected, and are still effecting, Ireland today. Despite job loses last year, Udaras managed to create 55 extra jobs in 1992, compared with 10 the previous year. Total employment in Gaeltacht manufacturing industry amounted to 5,650 at the end of 1992. And as Mr. O Brie points out, the full-time jobs turn-out is only one measure, albeit an important one, of the organisations contribution to the reinvigoration of the Gaeltacht. "Many of the Gaeltacht community", he argues, "depend on a number of sources of income for their livelihood tourism, Irish summer colleges, fishing, part-time fanning, or shellfish cultivation being among principal sources of incomes for many people." Despite its achievements, there has been a tendency to keep Udaras wrap ped in cotton wool for the almost two decades of its existence. And for a number of years it has not only had to compete with the I.D. A., but has been treated like some poor relation, and with the notable exception when Maire Geoghegan Quinn held the portfolio, the Ministry itself has been treated with almost cavalier disdain. There is now an opportunity to change all that with Michael D. Higgins in charge. Bobby Molloy said at the time Udaras was established that its powers and responsibilities would eventually have to be increased. It is time that Udaras was given the status of a SFADCO for the Gaeltacht, and given a real agenda, backed with the full weight of the Government, to pursue a wide-ranging programme for development. Udaras has consistently delivered on the jobs front. Minister Higgins now has the authority to issue an Ministerial Order giving Udaras the autonomy it needs to make the Gaeltachts around the country a renewed burst of life and energy. Michael D. - it's up to you to give them the green light!

Bicmconi Cars
T THIS TIME in 1868 Charles Bianconi was retiring from business. Since he established his first car service on the road between Clonmel and Cahir in 1815 his name and his cars had spread over the roads of Ireland. With great vision the young Italian immigrant had built up a remarkable venture.
It was a long way from his mative village of Trigolo in the Lake Como district of the north of Italy to Lough Corrib in the west of Ireland but his cars were to make him better known in Galway than in Como. The Bianconi transport system which covered the south and west of Ireland was based on good management. Its originator was a dedicated and careful man who kept a close eye on the costs of his operations. The ration of oats for his horses was closely supervised. No groom's wife was allowed to keep hens lest they perchance be fattened at the expense of the horses. The drivers won a name for themselves for punctuality and skill. The cars were kept meticulously painted and well appointed and fares were kept to a minimum. Hotels like Kelly's in Roundstone boasted of being stopping places for the "Bians" as his cars were called. Of course a good service depended also on reliable local offices. In Galway the Bianconi office was in Eyre Square and it was managed from about 1845 by Mrs. Carrigan. Over the years she was at the centre of the Bianconi service in the west dealing with the cars coming and going through Oughterard into Connemara, through Oranmore to catch the canal boat at Ballinasloe, and south to Ennis and north to Sligo. She saw the changes when, in 1851, the railway came to Galway, and took advantage of them. In this week in 1868 she, like Bianconi, retired and after twenty three years of service Thomas M. Persse, George Robinson. Joseph Semple and many others marked the occasion by a public testimonial to her work. Thomas P. O'Neill

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Dear Editor, The nomination of Michael D Higgins as Minister for Arts, Culturte, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was greeted with a euphoria equal to that of Mr. Bill Clinton's election. For the first time since Garret Fitgerald's outstanding ability was the criterion, not a single voice demurred, in a show of unanimous approval. But almost immediately Michael D. Higgins betrayed in T.V. and radio interviews that he was beginning to be "con taminated" by the dreaded Fianna Fail "equivoca tion". For Michaei D. had never before been either equivocal or lacking in courage. Yet, surprisingly, he waffled on about Section 31. And for such a cham pion of Human Rights and the environment, he now sits with a Taoisearh who

SOUR G R A P E S IN W A K E O F PRAISE?
snubbed Salmon Rushdie and whose policy to bulldoze ahead with the in terpretative centre in Clare (Michael D.'s own county), and whose previous en vironment Minis^r, Padraic Flynn butchered thousands of roadside trees so that peo ple could not sue the State L-r storm injuries damage. Indeed, is Michael D. a Clareman at all? On the Gay Byrne Show he said he was "a Limerick man like Des O ' M a l l e y " , while in Galway he is a Galwayman. Or is Galway now only a place of convenience, after giving him his job and education? But most disturbing sure ly for a State Minister is his admission on the Gay Byrne Show that he doesn't confess allegiance to Catholicism, and not even to Christiani ty. He admits of a belief in a "great Spirit". Also disturbing is his "bitter word" in his poem read on air about his father's final poverty and suffering. He seemed to imply, like Dr. Noel Browne's bitterness on T.B., that this was the State's fault. Remember that Lenin started his Com munist/Socialist campaign of terrorism because of his bitterness over his brother's shooting by the Czar's soldiers. Com munism/Socialism is now thankfully obsolete. But Michael D., a clever man, is still a socialist. How come? Perhaps I am mistaken in these observa tions. If so, sorry! Yours, Pat Daly Coachman Apts, Dominick St., Galway. Note: This letter has been edited.

CYRENE HOUSE SAY THANKS

"NEW AGE" CHRISTIANITY TOO VAGUE
from a Christianity that doesn't "lapse into Fun damentalism, denominationalism, or futile disputes over theology". What does one suppose will happen when Naughton's "new philosophy of Christianity" is unveiled? Well, if history is any indication, it will suc cumb to a series of futile disputes over theology, as by all accounts, it will be a "new Fundamentalism". A cursory leafing through Church history will confirm this point. Perhaps most troubling of all, Mr. Naughton never defines his "new philosophy", nor does he describe what his "Chris tianity" would look like. Why not? If one reads carefully the New Testament account, one does see "a spiritual revolution...of the hearts and m i n d s " , like that evocatively promised in the letter. But it is not the achievement of adherents of a "new philosophy". No, instead it is the experience of the followers of Jesus, as they put their faith in the risen Christ, Messiah, and Living God. Yours sincerely, K. Shawn O'Connell 12, St. John's Terrace, Galway.

MR. B L O O M PROTESTS
"Mr. Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liver slices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencod's roes. Most of all he liked grilled kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine." But not if Mr. Bloom was living today. Or not if the E.C. gets its way. For new E.C. food regulations outlaw the sale of a pork chop with a kidney attached. Red Meat Directive 91/497 (the busy beavers who put together these directives just love numbering them) decrees that butchers have to remove kidneys for health inspection. On Monday Earl Howe, junior Minister for Agriculture in Mr. Major's Government, said that diseased pig's kidneys could show signs of nephritis, tumours, cysts or chronic abscesses that could threaten human health. All fine words that Mr. Bloom probably had never heard of, though his chronicler, Mr. Joyce, would no doubt have loved to incorporate them somewhere in the Rabalasian sprawl of "Ulysses". Lord Hailsham, with a fine disdain of Red Meat Directive 91/497, charg ed the unfortunate Earl Howe to give a single instance of any damage to humans as a result of eating a pork chop with a kidney attached. Earl Howe was stopped dead in his tracks. And this week Mr. George Herterich, Galway's pork butcher supreme, vowed to carry the defence of the kidney all the way to Brussels, arguing that hygeine standards at Galway abbatoir were second to none. The Galway Advertiser is proud to lend it support to Mr. Herterich's noble campaign, and we assure him that he has the support of kidney fanciers, living, dead and fictional behind him!

Dear Editor, This is a response to the interesting letter titled "Spiritual Crossroads" from the issue of January 14th. In that letter Bernard Naughton wrote, "We live in an age of...spiritual crisis" and that "the only hope for this confused and Dear Editor, On behalf of the staff and suffering world is a new boys at Cyrene House, I philosophy and ideology". wish to thank most sincere I would like to challenge ly all the readers of the Mr. Naughton on the Advertiser who contributed assumption that "the only so generously to Cyrene cure" for our spiritual crisis House in the period leading lies in another " n e w up to Christmas. Christmas philosophy". In the first place, is a time of great distress for the boys we cater for. They Naughton wants to replace are apart from their families "traditional Christianity" at a time when the need to with his "new philosophy and ideology". Philosophy feel wanted is most acute. The people of Galway and Christianity do not ad have always supported us dress the same concerns. It down through the years and is mistaken to think that I want to assure them that philosophy can take the their donations will be put to place of religion in human very good use. Their society. This was attempted generosity will enable us to behind the Iron Curtain and give the disadvantaged failed spectacularly. To add to the confusion, young people we cater for a better chance in life than Naughton would like to they would otherwise have. place his philosophy on a Many thanks and may all "Christian ethical basis". your readers have a happy This is after "traditional Christianity" has already and peaceful New Year. been rejected. From where Yours sincerely, else would one get a ' 'Chris Pearl O'Kennedy tian ethical basis" from? Cyrene House. Naughton goes on to state 12 Greenview Heights, his "new philosophy and Newcastle, Galway. ideology" will come only

N O C E N T R E AT
Dear Editor, I believe that two smaller centres would do more to help the economy of the Bun-en than a single, enor mous centre that would on

M U L L A G H M O R E

ly employ a limited number Burren to visit the site and of people and which would, see for themselves. in any case, only be open Yours sincerely, during a part of the year. Oliver Scanlan I would invite all those 8 Glenburren Park, who are concerned about Galway. what is happening in the