Galway Advertiser 1993/1993_11_25/GA_25111993_E1_020.pdf 

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COMMENT

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LETTERS

Galway's Sewage Treatment Plant The EarTs Sons O D
n Monday night Galway City Councillors voted by a substantial majority to proceed with the controversial Mutton Island sewage treat ment plant with all possible haste. At a meeting frequently marked by strong language and a degree of acrimony and bitterness rarely witnessed in the City Council Chambers, directed specifically against Cllr. Tom Cox, who has been spearheading the campaign against the siting of the plant on Mutton Island as head of the "Save Galway Bay Group", the frustration of many in attendance over the long and costly delays finally boiled over. It was Cllr. Micheal O hUiginn who demonstrated a refreshing measure of common sense on what he saw as the main issue at stake. The public, he said, "were worrying about location and forgetting the reason why we need this treatment plant so urgently", that is, the ever-accumulating un treated sewage that has continued to pollute the Bay while the lengthy debate on the proposed site has gone ahead. Acknowledging that there was no such thing as a perfect site for the treatment plant, Mr O hUiginn expressed his fear that if this dispute is allowed to continue any further, possibly even go ing into the courts, the danger was that Galway might never get the required money from the EC. The consequences for Galway's future image as a seaside resort were far more serious than the objections that have preoccupied peo ple since the plant was first mooted. Cllr. O hUiggin's sensible observations should be taken seriously by all those interested in this dispute. There have been two comprehensive Enivironmental Impact Studies, as well as an independent Government Study, and all of them concluded favourably so far as the site and the particular treatment plant is concerned. The fact that others concerned with the environ ment have taken exception to the conclusions of these studies has been noted by those in favour of the Mutton Island site. But environmentalism is not an exact science, and it is our Councillors who must, in the end, take the decision. That they have now done so is not to denigrate the concerns of those who remain doubtful. Indeed Cllr. O hUiginn paid tribute to their work. But we can be confident that their decision has not been taken lightly, but as the result of careful thought and consideration. That's how democracy works. It is clear that the character of Mutton Island will not be the same once the plant is built, and this is to be regretted. But there is always loss as well as gain in any major construction initiative like this. What is unquestionable is that Galway badly needs this treatment plant to ensure the future quality of the Bay. And that, at the end of the day, is really the most important issue at stake. The Councillors who voted to proceed with the plant are to be con gratulated for cutting through this tangled knot and taking a decision that is in the best interests of us all.

Teilifis n a Gaeilge

T

he announcement on Tuesday by Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D. Higgins T.D. that Teilifis na Gaeilge will start broadcasting for three hours a day from January 1995 is to be warmly welcomed. It is also gratifying that the Minister has decided to locate the station in the Connemara Gaeltacht, where there is already an abundance of talent ready to spring into action when the matter of home-produced Irish language programmes is considered in the future. The new station, which Minister Higgins stressed would have quality pro gramming as its keynote, is a vote of confidence in the future of the Irish language, especially gratifying in the centenary year of the Conradh na Gaeilge. The decision to locate it in Connemara is also a vote of confidence in the region, where up to 250 new jobs will eventually be created. Of course initially the station will be heavily subsidized by the Government, but there is every reason to be hopeful that it will eventually become self-supporting. Perhaps the best comment was that of Mr. Liam Mac Mathuna, President of Comhdhail Naisiunta na Gaeilge, who said that the new station will have a major impact not only in terms of employment but also in acting as a catalyst in releasing a new creative energy among Irish speakers.

remind the author of this let "concerned parent" that Dear Editor, "transgression", Your letters page of the ter that that is precisely what any past three weeks has, pro the law is there for (inade however minor, is a 'iolampted by the letter "How Is quate through it is, which tion of a person's right to A Man To Court A the Lavinia Kerwick case so control their own body and Woman?" of 4.11.93, been revealed). Furthermore, what happens to it. Further host to a medley of opinions women are not as wont to more, the fact that "those on the issue of male-female "...run to the protection of girls" (and presumably relationships. I would like to the law" as this person women) were courageous to take this opportunity to res would have us think. The "complain" at all in the face pond to some of the sen Rape Crisis Centre, in their of prevailing social attitudes timents expressed by your letter of 11.11.93, inform us such as those held by this that 85% of the women who person and the inadequacy readers. The writer of "How Is A contacted them last year did of the legal system is hard URING THE YEAR 1 5 7 2 Man To Court A Woman?" not make a report to the ly indicative of immaturity. SIR EDWARD FYTON, P R E S I D E N T OF C O N was "troubled by... the Gardai. And as we know, NACHT, WAS ENGAGED IN charges made at the drop of not every woman who has STRONG EFFORTS TO SUBDUE T H E Surely women who speak a hat of sexual harassment been subjected to sexual SONS OF LORD CLANRICARDE. by women every time a man violence goes to The Rape out about their experiences T H E Y WERE IN REBELLION AND so much as cracks a slightly Crisis Centre (This is to say should be supported to the FYTON APPROACHED GALWAY BY rique joke in their nothing of the coundess greatest possible extent. ABBEY-KNOCKMOY FROM T H E presence." Risque jokes, if women suffering domestic When they are faced with TERRITORY OF T H E O ' K E L L Y sexist in nature, and other violence and sexual harass derision and the suggestion FAMILY. that they need to "grow The Earl s son Ulick, joined forms of sexual harassment ment on a daily basis). up'', the tramua they are en with galloglasses led by Hugh reflect dangerous beliefs during is only compounded McSwiney, to harrass Fyton's about, and attitudes toward, forces. women. These beliefs and A "Concerned Parent" and women who are suffer Inexorably Fyton's forces attitudes foster a wrote on the 11.11.93 that ing in silence receive the moved towards the city. At one misogynistic contempt for "...if a hand strays during message that they should castle he put to death "the ward women which can manifest a kiss, or a man's healthy stay silent. The content and (or garrison) being 16 men itself in various forms, frm imagination runs away with sentiments expressed in besides women and children." some of the letters of the He went on to report that in derogatory comments to him, it should not be the end sexual and domestic of the world". The same past three weeks reflect the Galway he hanged four "Concerned Parent" feels social injustice and archaic prisoners "for the faults of their violence. septs." At Claregalway the earl's that "...a lot of these girls discrimination still suffered As for women being son burned the village and "...so fragile that they can't who complain over minor by women today. unroofed the castle rather than deal with these things transgressions have some Rachel Stevenson surrender it. By November of Women's Officer, without running to the pro growing up to do". I would that year the Earl was writing to tection of the law". I would like to point out to this U.C.G. Students' Union the Lord Deputy that his sons were "drowned in sesperation," that they feared to show their faces or to ask pardon. Certainly one year later, in this week in 1573 the earl was still trying to arrange a pardon for his sons DEAR EDITOR, who he said were willing to live I don't often write to seems to have been prepared as faithful subjects and make newspapers but after reading when she realised she had no amends for their former the letter you published last place to stay, to throw cau Dear Editor, offences. week titled "Rape No Jok tion entirely to the wind, Galway Rape Crisis Cen At the same time Peter Lynch leaving herself open to the presented to the Privy Council ing Matter", I just had to kind of treatment she unfor tre would like to express its a list of the depredations say what I thought about tunately, but not, I'm afraid gratitude to everyone suffered by the city of Galway what that young woman had I have to say, very surpris associated with the fundraisand its citizens at the hand of to say. ing concert in Vagabonds or both the earl and his offspring. My attention was drawn ingly received?" While I have every sym Monday, 11th October. We In fact the second earl of to this letter by one of my wuld especially like to thank Clanricarde, Richard Bourke, daughters, who asked me to pathy for any woman who is fathered many children. The read it and if I agreed with' treated in such a terrible Conor Montague, Des Free complete Peerage notes that he it. I did so, and found myself way, I have to say that and Cian Campbell foi organising such a huge had a number of concubines agreeing with most of what honesdy, this young woman event, Frances Fox foi with all of whom he may have must bear at least some of gone through a form of she said until I came to the the responsibility for what publicity and everyone at personal experience she marriage. It lists three including happened to her, and what Vagabonds. A big thank you Julian Brown, the wife of a describes. Now, while this must go to all the bands and Galway merchant "whom he man was clearly horrible, I might have happened to her. DJs who made the night had married and put away." All was stopped in my tracks It may sound cruel, but this such a great success. And three were still living in the year when this young woman, young woman's story is 1580. That usually staid and after saying she didn't blame really not a fair case for above all to everyone who lordly work states of the earl's the people who did not come making out how terrible turned up on the night to matrimonial adventures "recall to her assistance as this man men are. It is, on the other give their support. The pro ceeds will be a big help to those of the chicken yard." was verbally abusing her, hand, disturbing evidence the Centre in continuing our His recalcitrant sons who for how foolish some caused so much trouble in the said that "What I do blame women can be. service. is alcohol, and men who are 1570's were Ulick and John. F R O M ALL OF US A G A L W A Y A MOTHER OF T W O Ulick was the earl's eldest son sinister and evil enough to R A P E CRISIS CENTRE. whose mother was a daughter of know that if it's with a T E E N A G E D A U G H T E R S . the first Earl of Thomond, and drunken woman they can get O'Brien. That marriage ended away with it." when Clanricarde complained The reason I was so that she worked witchcraft Dear Editor, coal or fuel voucher in all shocked is, I found myself, against him. He also had an Why is it you never send that time. I recently asked as a mother of two teenage impediment found by an ecclesiastical court and divorced daughters who could a journalist to Hillside? I for more blankets. It's very possibly find themselves in could bring you to people cold these nights. I filled out her. Both John and Ulick received such a situation, wanting to who need help and show you the form only to be told that pardons from the Queen in or ask this young woman, as I at first hand the appalling I would not get any. around 1574 and by the time of would ask my own state of our place which no I would like to see the Nine Years War Ulick by daughters, "Who drank the one seems to care about. Vincent de Paul come here then the third Earl of alcohol? Who allowed Yes, we do get help with and look after us. Clanricarde steadily supported themselves to get into such some things. Our children No one seems to care. the English. His loyalty was a state that they lost all are sometimes taken to YOURS, amply rewarded with grants of sports events. But I have liv CHRISTINA M C D O N A G H land not only in Connacht but memory of what happened to them? Who, according to ed here for fourteen years 9 HILLSIDE, also in England. the way she told the story, and I have never received a GALWAY.

Letters Reflect "Archaic Discrimination''

Whose Responsibility, Thanks Is It? from GRC Centre

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