Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_12_21/GA_2112_E1_016.pdf 

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LETTERS

December 21 2006

The new/old Eyre Square is awesome, says NY-based local
Dear Editor, Back in the Big Apple after my halfyearly visit to my beloved CIty of The Tribes I reminisced on the refurbished Eyre Squire, seeing the finished product for the first time. Standing across from the Skeffington Arms I scrutinized the "Lower Level" of the Square and admired the new mantle of grass with appropriate pathways in between and a few scattered trees here and there, which gave a relaxed, serene, and totally comfortable feeling and represents a perfectly warm welcome to visitors on entering the city before facing the hustle and bustle of the business district. As for the "Upper Level" of the Square, it is spectacular in every aspect from the layout of the various structures giving it a regal, elegant, distinctive appearance topped of by the tall uplifting flag display, If I may mention a little levity here before closing. On my visits back my good friends Sean and Jimmy Duggan reminded me that they left a shovel at the bottom of the Square so I could fill in the soil to help bring back the grass. I won't need that shovel now lads, Thanks anyway. (Sean was probably Ireland's greatest Hurling goalkeeper, Hall Of Fame Hurling recipient 2002, Captain of Connaught side that won the Railway Cup for first time in 1947. Jimmy, Sean's brother and my old school pal from the 'Mon' was also a renowned and well known hurler.) Gallimh Abu, Tommy Lydon 32-03 162 Street Flushing NY 11358

Can Santa help my daughter?
Dear Santa, Hello, it's me! I know you haven't heard from me in a long, long time! When I was small, I believed in you. I used to write you a letter every Christmas and put it on the Christmas tree on the day before Christmas. My mam and dad always assured me that you would have what I wanted in your gigantic red sack! And they were always right. You never failed me. I'm big now, Santa, and the mother of a teenage daughter. When she was small, she believed in you, too! I hate to admit, though, that she stopped believing in you at a much earlier age than I did. But in the days when I was small, things were a little easier. We didn't have much, and Christmas was the highlight of every year. We used to get things we never got at any other time, like mandarin oranges, or minerals, or a box of Milk Tray chocolates, or maybe a tin of Afternoon Tea biscuits, or even lovely big red apples. And Christmas Day was so special. I remember the magical feelings my brother and I revelled in when we would wake up and sneak down the stairs on Christmas morning to see if you had been in our house. I remember seeing the empty milk glass and the crumbs of Christmas cake on the plate on the kitchen table. Yes, you had come and gone. I remember the excitement we had opening up our presents, one each, which you had neatly placed beside the tree. I remember the smell of the roasting turkey wafting from the kitchen. I still see the flame that burned around the Christmas pudding after my mam doused it with brandy and set it on fire after the Christmas dinner when the lights were turned down. I remember the laughts we had watching a Marx Brothers film on the telly and then the whole family playing a game of Monopoly beside the fire. I remember feeling sad when Christmas Day was over because I sensed the magical spirit was slowly waning. I never wanted to let go of it. But I knew it would return again next year! You might wonder why I am writing to you today? Am I not too big for this kind of lark? Maybe I am, but I desperately want to believe in you again, Santa. Here's the reason why: My daughter is suffering from an eating disorder. There are many girls (and some boys, too) like her out there today. Maybe you know about them, maybe you even brought presents to them when they were small and still believed in you, and maybe you know the reason why they are so ill? It is very hard for me to understand this illness. My daughter has had it for three years now, and I still can't comprehend how it all happened. Maybe if she had believed in you a little longer things would be better. Maybe if she hadn't watched so many music videos on the telly, she wouldn't have wanted to be thinner. Maybe if she hadn't been around other girls who wanted to look like the wife of an English footballer or an American pop idol, things would not have got so awful. Maybe if she hadn't been bullied in her first few years at secondary school, she would have believed more in herself. Maybe... maybe.... maybe. And right now, maybe she won't be able to sit her Leaving Certificate exam next year because of the grip this illness has on her. But, then, that doesn't seem very important any more. She used to dream of finishing school and going on to study engineering, like some of her cousins have done already. But right now, that is not at all important. I know, Santa. I know. Last year she suffered a breakdown and had to be hospitalized. The consultant on duty just looked at me and said: "We have five or six cases like this every week." A couple of months ago she suffered another breakdown. This time the hospital was reluctant to take her because of the lack of dedicated facilities for adolescents with eating disorders. She didn't seem to be in a "lifethreatening" state. The doctor on duty even suggested I complain to politicians because it wasn't his fault that the hospital might not be able to look after her. Apparently, there are only two places in Ireland that are specialized in inpatient treatment of eating disorders. And these are in Dublin. That's a real tragedy for girls (and boys) like my daughter who live in the west of Ireland. Everyone used to tell me that the best time to treat and heal any kind of eating disorder is at an early stage of the illness. My daughter was diagnosed three years ago and still hasn't got proper treatment. Last year she was put on Prozac tablets and they drove her to depression. Well, Santa, my daughter is now finally scheduled for an assessment appointment at one of these dedicated clinics in Dublin. Maybe you can give her the promise of proper treatment as a Christmas present. Her getting this treatment all depends on what space is available at the clinic concerned. Some people say it doesn't really matter now, since she has been waiting so long. One more month or two won't matter, they claim. But they don't know that every day with this illness is like living in hell. You see, Santa, like with all other sad things and illnesses, those who are not affected don't really understand. My daughter can't write her wish to you herself so I am asking on her behalf. I know it's what she really wants. And maybe you can work on the politicians while you're at it. I am not sure if they all saw that RTE1 Prime Time programme recently highlighting this very issue of the lack of proper dedicated facilities, nation-wide, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Santa, I want to believe in you again. I really do. Yours hopefully, A Galway Mother (address at Santa's office)

Prisoners fare better than pensioners
Dear Editor, The cost of keeping one prisoner in Mountjoy for a year is in the region of 90,000+. For this he is entitled to be fed, housed, and given medical attention without incurring any costs on release. Yet pensioners who have been law abiding and tax compliant citizens have to forfeit part of their meagre pension while living and a percentage of the value of their family home after their death if they receive nursing home care. This does seem totally unfair. The older generations have gone through some tough times. They have saved to buy their homes and raised large families often without the benefit of mortgages or bank loans. Now they want the freedom to hand over their family homes to the next generation without the burden of debt. This is their gift to their children. As a result many could become victims of ruthless sons and daughters who will put pressure on them to sign over their property so as to avoid those payments. So what about every Irish citizens right to Public Health Care, does this end when a person is 66? In the past older people were respected and cared for by their families but now with so much pressure from full employment they are being abandoned by society in general. What little they have is being taken away from them, many of them eat less than a small bird yet they are being charged 700 a week for nursing care. If we don't make proper provision for the care of our older citizens with no strings attached we have failed as a society. Yours, Nuala Nolan, 4 Middle Street Galway

Docks development will benefit all
Dear Editor, With reference to letters and articles on the proposed docks development, the impression is being given that the public, and by inference their representatives, have not been informed about or consulted on the proposals. I would like to make it known that five years ago I called a meeting to launch a campaign to provide sea sports facilities in Galway city. I wrote to more than 25 local business men, tourist officials, clubs with a marine interest, and local representatives including the Minister for the Marine, and the Chairwoman of the Corrib Navigation Trust asking for support and some commitment to the project. Only six people turned up! not including the aforementioned from whom there was no follow up or consequent enquiry. However a group was formed and an approach was made to the Galway Harbour Company for the use of its shore at the Harbour Enterprise Park. Since 2002 we have been having regular consultation meetings with the Harbour Company with the result that the proposed new quay includes not just the very necessary berthing facilities for the stream of fuel tankers that unload at the port (sometimes two a day) and all the other commercial ships including cruise ships, but also a state of the art facility for nautical activities which includes storage and training facilities for the Sea Scouts, the Sub Aqua Club, and ourselves the Galway Sea Sports Association for dinghy sailing, windsurfing, and sea kayaking. There will also be a deep water slip, which Galway does not have at present, a hoist to enable disabled access to boats, berths for visiting yachts, a boat yard and chandlers; all this on the East side of the new quay. The quay itself will ensure that there is an area of sheltered water to the east so that the facilities can be used year round in all sea and wind states. Access will be ensured through the Enterprise Park to link up with a future coastal path to Roscam point. The support and encouragement that we have been given by the Harbour Company has been second to none, and if this project is realised Galway will have a facility which will be one of the best in Europe. If the new quay is not built for whatever reasons or arguments all this will be lost to all the people but especially to the youth of Galway including the disabled and disadvantaged. Yours, Nancy Roe Hon Secretary Galway Sea Sports Association

Hunting makes a mockery of the spirit of Christmas
Dear Editor, The public view of fox hunting on St Stephen's Day is one of the huntsman leading the way from the meet with his hounds on display. Horses are groomed to perfection with their coats shining in the morning light. For the mounted field who trot behind in their black jackets this is an opportunity to parade their horses. The hounds themselves are the pride of the hunt as they trot along with their tails up in a tight group between the huntsman and the whipper-in. The overriding image the hunters seek to project is one of order and control. That is until a fox breaks cover. In a few moments the pageant turns to farce as riders and vehicles charge off in pursuit of the hounds and their terrified quarry. There may be more than one fox which can spilt the pack taking horses and car followers in all directions. In fact anything can happen and invariably it does. In a few hours time, the true colours of the hunters will be revealed. If a hunted fox goes to ground the terriermen are brought in to flush or dig out the fox. It is here that acts of sadistic cruelty take place. The hunt staff ensure that the mounted field and foot followers are kept back. The ruthless methods of the terriermen are not considered fit for the eyes of hunt supporters and any strangers who may be present. If the decision is that the fox be killed rather than be bolted from the earth, any openings leading into the earth, except for one, are blocked and a terrier dog is entered. Beneath the ground a vicious canine fight takes place. It can all end here as terriers, bred as out and out fox killers, are used. On the other hand the fox may back into a blind tunnel and trade injuries with the terrier. In these circumstances the terrier men will use spades to dig the fox out and kill it. A trick of the trade used by terriermen sees the fox being put into a bag and its belly crushed to force the animal to urinate. Then the bagged fox is taken into the open and tipped out to run again. Only this time its coat will be streaked with blood and urine and its scent stronger thus making it easier for the hounds to hunt the animal again. The entire chase may last for hours over many miles of rough country. Although fox hounds are fast, they are not bred for speed but for stamina. A fox kill in the open sees the tired fox overhauled by up to 30 hounds and savaged to death. Fox hunting degrades Irish society and stands exposed as offering an apprenticeship in callous butchery for pleasure and criminality. In essence, at this time of the year, live animal hunting makes a mockery of the true meaning of this festive and holy season. Yours John Tierney Campaigns Director-Association of Hunt Saboteurs PO Box 4734, Dublin 1

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