Galway Advertiser 1992/1992_08_27/GA_27081992_E1_019.pdf 

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C O M M E N T

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L E T T E R S H A R E C O U R S I N G D E B A T E
the hare? On the subject of Lobsters, Mr. Scully at tributes powers to me which I do no posses. We, of course, live in a democracy and I believe the majority of people in Ireland (no one has contested my figures on this) want to see an end to hare coursing. Hopefully the peo ple of Ireland, by supporting Tony Gregory's Bill, will soon decide to do just that. Finally I would like to thank Mr. Scully and his friends. I think their con tribution to the debate has enlightened us all. Yours faithfully Marion W e b b Chairperson G . S . P . C . A . Dear Editor, With reference to the re cent discussion regarding the issue of hare coursing, I feel that both heritage and lobsters have little to do with the fact that innocent animals are being ripped apart. Despite the fact that hare coursing is a part of our heritage, the fact remains that it is morally wrong to kill, especially for enjoy ment, regardless of the circumstances. I was dismayed to read a letter in the 20/8/92 issue stating that the sole reason for people's anger was the fact that the hare is furry animal. I would be equally angry to see the same type of behaviour being carried out on any animal. Yours Sincerely Valerie Sheeran, T e r r y land, vent, but may I refer to a single telephone call I received recently. T h e caller, who declined to give him name, told me that I had a cheek to comment on Irish culture as I was "obviously English" W r o n g Again! M r . S c u l l y ' s supporter should have checked his facts. Talking of cheek, perhaps the caller might reflect on the fact that the I.S.P.C.A. and others who devote their lives to helping animals, often hear the hare courser's views on animal welfare. I agree that nature can seem cruel and hard Mr. Scully, but why do you want to make it even harder for

FACING EXTINCTION

T

he biggest surprise in the recent spate of industry collapses is the demise of the computer giants. Computer development was the phenomenon of the seventies and eighties. They were dazzling times for the big names of a new culture: Alan Suger of Amstrad, Ken Olsen of DEC, Dr. An Wang and many others who emerged from their garages, garden sheds and small workshops with brilliant innovations which progressed the industry in mighty leaps. Each new invention eclipsed the other. There was Silicone Valley, overnight millionaires some of mem barely out of school, new software shops popped up in every Shopping Centre, computers were pushed into classrooms where one suspected at the expense of some traditional subjects such as art, crafts, home skills and sports. Still no one could ignore computer development/But its evolution has been so fast that now, barely three decades later, the great houses of high technology, the giants of the industry are being left behind. Amstrad's shares are slippping dramatically. Wang laboratories filed for bankruptcy last week even though their Irish subsidary is trading profitably, Apple are pulling out of Cork. We have seen Digital, slim down. They ctesed their Clonmel unit, they are putting their still massive Galway operation into one main plant at Ballybrit. Last July they asked for 100 redundancies. The main cause of this extraordinary turnaround is that computer hardware development reached its zenith in a very short space of time. Its resale value is practically nil and customers were not impressed at the expensive new products. The Personalised Computer can now virtually be bought in Supermarkets. They are admittedly low priced clones from the Far East but they do the job just the same. Coming in the wake of a poor tourist season (although it did pick up dramatically in August) and a disappointing Summer retail trade to see the computer giants stumble could send alarm bells ringing. It would be a pity if Galway got too discouraged at this point. We are a resilient community and we have inherited from the multi-nationals a system of management training which suits the hard working ethos of the community. In recent years some absolute crackers of indigineous industries have emerged which have ISO 9000 quality awards. , Regarding Digital there is every reason to believe further drastic cuts are less likely here because action has already been taken. Furthermore Digital in Galway are involved with research and development that gives them the edge over a purely manufacturing plant. Even though Apple Corp. are pulling out of Cork they need cheap Far East labour to stay on top. In Chicago this Summer Apple showed its latest toy. A hand held note pad containing a world of software that includes the capability to be operated with a pen and to read the handwriting of its owner. It can also operate a fax and it will retail for less than $1,000. Clearly the message is: develop and survive; stagnate and become extinct.

S T O R M IN A R O Y A L T E A C U P
ow that the Duchess of York has achieved Page Three status, and rumours of more "explicit" photographs of this foolish and unfortunate woman and her balding Texan " c o m p a n i o n " are heralded, it may occur to the ordinary Irish person how lucky we are we don't have any " R o y a l s " of our own. Even Conor Cruise O'Brien, foremost among the revisionist historians, might be prepared to concede at this point that the Easter Rebellion was justified on these grounds alone as a "good thing". The poor Queen is said to be "dismayed" by the whole affair. And well might she be, especially as this latest scandal (or storm in a Royal teacup) comes hot on the heels of Andrew Morton's book on the Princess of Wales. Prince Philip, known for blunt speaking, has not yet publicly expressed his " d i s m a y " , but we may be sure that his views on the antics of the younger Royals would be unprin table in a family newspaper. As for the beatific Queen Mother, she sails serenely on, swathed in pink chiffon, dispensing sweets to her fans who assemble daily outside Clarence House. " T h e End of the Monarchy?" cry the legion of tabloids. But hold on a bit. Those with even a smattering of history will recall that it was Queen Victoria who created the modern image of the monarchy as a worthy, slightly dull institution And despite the hiccup during the "Edward and Mrs. Simpson" business, it has maintained this decent respectability ever since. But before Victoria you had George IV who, when he was Prince Regent, conducted a host of public affairs, while his loutish brothers had innumerable mistresses and fathered any number of suspect " R o y a l i n g s " . The cartoons of the time, depicting an obese Prince Regent with his various doxies, overflowing chamber pot in the corner and last night's halfempty glasses of claret scattered round a sleazy room, outdid anything the Mirror or the Sun can come up with. While we may chuckle over the whole silly business, it is hard to imagine a nation of people who collectively still go weak at the knees during Royal " w a l k a b o u t s " and Christmas broadcasts by the Queen ever turning their greatest tourist attraction out into the cold. And let's not forget - i t s Summer and jour nalists at this season are often stuck for copy. And it is, after all. a terrific story!

Dear Editor, Reading Mr. Scully's let ter (20th Aug.). It would seem that he feels hare cour sing should continue because: 1. hare coursing is an ancient tradition. 2 . 1 am not Irish. 3. Nature is cruel anyway. 4. I do not care to abolish lobster boiling on my own. Firstly I must repeat that hare coursing in the form we know it today was introduc T h e story of the ed arond 180 years ago (the Augustinians in Galway strangers came and taught us goes back to the early their ways Michael sixteenth century when O'Domhnaill). I realise this the order opened a house does not suit Mr. Scully's outside the walls in 1508. argument but it is a fact. The church and monastery M r . S c u l l y ' s second were on a high position which, with the development point is T feel, totally irreleof artillery, became an important strategic point. It dominated the city on one side and the entrance to Galway from the sea on the other. After the time of the Spanish Armada and the Dear Sir/Madam, Battle of Kinsale Lord I feel compelled to reply Mountjoy decided to make to not one, but three of last the place into a fort and the week's letters in the 'Adver Augustinians w e r e tiser' on the subject of hare dispossed. Because of the coursing. fortification the place was Both the letter from the named Forthill and the prolific Mr. John Scully and church and other buildings the letter from his newly ac inside were t u r n e d to quired protege Michael military uses. O'Domhnaill, smack of the F r o m that time and same degree of narrowthrough the later penal era minded nationalism which is the Augustinians resided all too prevalent in the world within the city walls and today. Nationalism, when carried on their mission in out of control leads to varying degrees of secrecy racism and hatred, and we and openess according to the need look no further than the necessities of the times. As states of Yugoslavia to the Penal Laws fell into witness its consequences. abeyance or were ultimately Obviously the two men in replaced the Augustinians question disagree strongly were able to embark on with Marion Webb's stance building a fitting new church on hare coursing. Time in the city centre where they locked into some ,trange had laboured since their Celtic land of macho hunting expulsion from Forthill. The pursuits, they drag up the guiding spirits in raising tired old argument 'heritage' funds were Fathers Page and in the defence of a pointless Killeen and assistance came and sick bloodsport. not only from within Galway But by adopting the ar but from as far away as rogant posture of 'we won't America. have non-nationals tell us T h e architect of the what to do in our own coun building was named Moran try', even they must surely and came from Dublin while realise that they leave most of the work was done themselves wide open to ac by Galway craftsmen. The cusations of blatant racism. holy water font, for example, I'm not English, but I would was designed and carved in hope that these two men black marble by a Galway would have the good grace artist named Clare. Galway to remember the thousands and Carrara marble mingled of Irish who are guests in the in the altar design. land of 'na Sassanach*. The writer of the third let In this week in 1859 the fine .iew church was consecrated. It ter on hare coursing saw fit was a great liturgical occasion to withould their name and .it which Dr. MacEvilly. Bishop address, and I can well of Galway presided. Two other understand w h y . Such bishops were present together childish rantings would with many other priests from the surely prove to be a source Dominican and Franciscan houses and from the diocesan of embarassment to its clergy. The laity included many author. represcntauves of the old Tribes Why is it that people who of the city as well as other well love animals and are con known Galway families. It was cerned about their welfare an ecclesiastical occasion com are categorised as sentimen parable to that of the consecra tal cranks, and worse still, tion of the cathedral over one as being incapable of show hundred years later. ing the same degree of com Thomas P. O'Neill passion to humans?

AUGUSTiNIAN CHURCH

HARE COURSING-A M C O AH HUNTING PURSUIT?
It will probably blow the miniscule mind of the writer concerned to learn that many of us who support animal welfare organisations are equally involved and give generously to organisa tions serving human welfare. The writer of the letter gives thanks that Ireland has not yet become a society that thinks more of its animals than of its people. I have yet to encounter the society that does. What Ireland has become is a society where aremed robbery, murder, rape and child abuse is now an everyday occurence. Is that something to brag about? I would strongly suggest that all three letter writers re-examine their religion, if not their morals. Why do they think God put animals on this earth to - to be abus ed by humans? Hopefully He will be able to enlighten them one day. Yours, A. Herbert Ballybrit, Galway.

A GREAT NATION?
Dear Editor, In response to the current hare coursing debate. I can only quote the humble opi nion of the great Mahatma Gandhi who said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Yours Sincerely Ciara O'Flynn Irish Council against Bloods ports, Galway II Emerson Ave. Salthill

MORE LETTERS NEXT PAGE

Dear Editor, I can't believe the ig norant prejudice in last weeks letters by Mr. Scully and Mr. O'Domhnaill. The suggestion that all opposi tion to coursing is from foreigners (the evil Sassanach) is total rubbish. It is the Irish people who have consistently rejected coursing in polls. So, Mr. Scully and Mr. O'Domhnaill stop trying to fudge the issue with your ugly bigotry. I wonder if there is any defender of coursing who can actually stick to the point, and not drag in na tionalism, the Irish language, foxes, abortion, gay rights and lobsters. Or do they divert attention from the real issue because there is no defence for wanton cruelty and greed, because lets be honest, coursing has nothing to do with sport and everything to do with money (with a bit of blood thrown in for excitement) We must ensure that democracy and compassion triumph over the narrowminded prejudice and cruel ty of a minority. Mise k Meas Fiona Moor.