Galway Advertiser 1974/1974_12_19/GA_19121974_E1_008.pdf 

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COMMENT
C H R I S T M A S 1974 It is always dangerous to draw comparisons with the past and to try and say the human situation, locally, nationally or internationally is better or worse than it was at some other stage. Nevertheless Christmas is a time for reflection, a time when we look back on another year and try and see where we are going. Indeed it would seem that the rush of modern life often leads to a situation when Christmas is the only time when we try to reflect realistically and consider the fundamental standards and values of what we all pretend to be a believing Christian community. Christmas is the one time o f the year when we make a weak, and alas all too temporary attempt, to really behave as Christians -- even for only a few days. What therefore is the score this Christmas-time in the Ireland of 1974? We are, as we all know too well, in the midst o f an economic blizzard. This is nothing like the poverty which continuously forces two thirds of mankind to live in sub-human conditions. Nevertheless the pinch is tough enough and we all have to tighten our belts. There have been calls for a Buy Irish campaign, a call for restraint, calls for harder work and more realistic wage claims. Underlying all these fire-brigade appeals is the fact that over the past decade or two we have led ourselves into a situation where all too much of our own destiny is decided by factors outside our control. This in turn leads to a need for real political alternatives to current life styles -- a debate which we hope will emerge in the New Year. In the meantime there is very real hardship and poverty in our midst here in Galway and throughout the land. T h e position is not improving either and while we welcome the eleventh-hour efforts to d o something about this Christmas, we hope the working out of solutions of a more lasting nature will be something to which all will turn in the year ahead. This poverty has nothing in common with the general tightening of belts which we all are now experiencing and which may not, in the long term, be a bad thing at all if it leads to a more realistic way of handling our economic afflars. T h e other grave issue which faces this island this Christmas is the question of peace itself. This is the fifth Christmas of a bitter and bloody conflict which has cast a long and dark shadow over our land. Some will argue that the conflict goes back a lot further and that it is time there was a permanent and radical solution based on justice and on the traditional aspirations of all sections of the Irish people. Such a solution is not beyond the capacity of Irish political leaders if they have the willpower. But there is all too little on the record to indicate that they have. Thus the realistic approach of the Protestant church leaders w h o have taken the Provisional bull by the horns and are in contact with the other para-military groupings as well, gives some hope. Whether there will be any advance before Christmas is not clear yet. W e hope so, though such a development will also have to involve the active participation of the British Government. O u r church leaders have set about achieving a peace that will last long after Christmas is past. In other words a lasting peace which is based on justice. This is something to which we should all direct our attention as well at this very particular time o f year. W e would like to take this opportunity in wishing all our readers and advertisers a Very Happy Christmas and a Successful New Year. Special good wishes go to our readers abroad w h o cannot spend this family occasion at home.
HIRLW1ND
WHIRLWIND

galway

As Christmas approaches and we prepare to enter the Holy Year of 1975 we feel it is appropriate that we too register our satisfaction at the recent Vatican announcement that great figure of popular Irish devotion, Oliver Plunkett, is to be raised to the level of a saint next October. There is every indication that economic troubles and fuel prices notwithstanding, a large number of Irish Catholics intend to try and make it to Rome next year. The news about Blessed Oliver will certainly swell those numbers. This is an event of very great significance -- an experience which has been denied generations of our forefathers for over 700 years. For while there are hundreds and hundreds of traditional Irish saints, including Padraig, Brid and Colmcille, only two, Malachy of Armagh and St. Lorchain O Toole of Dublin, have been granted the honour of canonization in accordance with the rigid ecclesiastical tests which the Vatican applies in these cases. "MAKING IT' WITH GOD There are those who question the whole idea of canonization to-day. Indeed the Catholic position on Heaven is optimistic enough to preach that all people are capable of "making it", with the help of God, and while most Churchmen will never venture a percentage of roughly how many go up or down (if it is "up" and "down" one goes in these things?) the whole point of the Feast of All Saints in November is to emphasise the fact that considerable numbers of ordinary Joe Soaps, people who lead ordinary and unspectacular lives, are now saints in Heaven.

We are encouraged to believe that most of our relatives and friends "make it" in the end, even if that entails a spell in Purgatory. Hence the emphasis on the need to help the suffering souls in this half-way house. However declaring definitely that somebody has made it, w h i c h is r e a l l y what canonization is all about, is another matter and one which generally we feel people would like the Church to continue. The fact that so few are thus publicly declared to have "made it" should not discourage those of us who hope that all our day to day friends will one day share Heaven. But it is nice to know that officially some people with a human historical record are held to have joined the Almighty in everlasting happiness. DIPLOMACY AND PRESS Some say the Pope made a grave diplomatic mistake by announcing this news at this time. Blessed Oliver was after all bishop of the controversial Armagh See at a time when the people of that area, as to-day, killed each other for the love of God. He was also the victim of British justice and his execution for treason against the governing authorities of the day no less than the failure of those same authorities three hundred years later to admit that the charges against him were a "fix" is all too near some of the stories we still hear from Armagh to be good for ecumenical relations. The real significance of his evelation can be seen in the rather mean single column inch which the news (the first such event in 700 years in Ireland) got in the front page of the "Irish Times", which gave three columns to the rise in the price of butter the same morning. By

contrast the "Irish Press" and the "Irish News" in Belfast made it a lead story. And the fact that the beatification of the Saint was announced in the troubled year of 1920 has not gone unnoticed in the North either. I The "Irish Times" may be right Ito play down this Catholic devotion to a system of "Saint making" which some others, including the Rev. Martin Smith of the Orange Order, in other Christian churches regard as being theologically unsound, in the same way as they tend to play down other superficial annual stories like the Eurovision Song Contest and fashion shows. But the fact remains that this is not a hardy annual and rightly or wrongly is regarded by the Vast majority of the Catholic people of this island as a vindication of their devotion over the years to one who suffered much and ultimately paid the supreme sacrifice for principles and ideals which are still held dear by a very large number on this island. The Pope, it would seem, sees no reason why we should sweep the brutal facts about Blessed Oliver's life under the carpet in the interests of a false ecuminism. Reconsilation is not achieved by blinding ourselves to realities or ignoring the past but rather by learning from it. Those who fail to study the mistakes of history are bound to repeat them. GREAT GREAT SHOW And indeed the Galway "Late Late Show" last Saturday night was not only a first class production but of particular pleasure to Galway viewers. Full of surprises not least of them seeing Joe Curley on the drums! There is an enormous range of talent in our community aptly borne out by the Hollywood guests Ray Milland and Richard Boone, who despite their lavish Irish praise failed to impress. The programme contained the mixed-bag of ingredients that have marked the Late Late as such a successful show for the past eleven years. Even in black and white the designs a'nd creations of Francoise and Michel (currently exhibiting at Kenny's Gallery, Salthill) now living and working in Spiddal were quite delightful and this French couple are to congratulated -- especially as all dyes used are extracted from local flowers and plants.

Paschal Spellman was a hoi And joined by Catheri Downes for their 'Abba Dab Dabba' song showed yet agi how very professional this rea great Galway comedian is. V thought Mrs. Keaveney's SUN and wry humurous words to ( 'Bogs of Mayo' should recorded, and the other lot musical groups 'De Dannai 'Choir of the Tribes' and ( Rabbit Brothers are a sufficie tourist attraction to Galw even without Leisureland ai the Bay itself. The serious part of , evening was further recognitii given to U.C.G. Prof. Patricil Fottrell and his team for th( recent discovery of another ai important diagnostic techniqi in detecting cancer. Its a pity t medical profession still insii on anonymous docto appearing on television -- tl particular surgeon from Merl Park is an outstanding man i his field. Somehow hi importance was lost and .. words fell flat. It is time we too some of the mystery out medicine and broke down th medical/ layman barrier th, confuses and frightens people, Perhaps the onl dissappointment in the evenin was the lack of courage from ouj local politicians to stand up an agree that the present dol system was being abused certain people. Councilli Bridie O'Flaherty has correct! raised the issue but was perhari inhibited by a rather sterl Robert who politically sidq stepped the problem that inevitably be raised again. It was Maurice Semplj talking about Old Galway an his two very successful bokei that brought across the messag that Galway is a communis with a rich and interesting past] In contrast to some of the iten on the show amd many of I things we treasure from ou City's past, Galway today has a much variety and vitality as eve before. There only remains to wisl each and every reader of thi "Advertiser" and this column ii particular a happy and hoi; Christmas. Go raibh solas
S

COURTSHIP

COURTSHIPS

and

marriages ARE SOMETHING which CATCH our ATTENTION always. And
WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN a few RECENT YEARS WE DOUBT any can ANYTHING FROM in if

OTHER MATCH

COUNTRY DURING 1974

(indeed!) the fairy-tale wedding the place. All we wish to do is to of Radio na Gaeltachta Disc say sliocht sleachta ar shliocht Jockey Sean Ban Breatnach to bhur sleachta. May you both be American actress Sarah happy and may Sarah find an Deveraux Wilde which took acceptance amongst the place last week --just 100 hours generous people of the Galway after the couple had met the Gaeltacht to the same degree previous week-end. We will not that its leading teenage heart go into details again. You have throb has given his heart to the been reasing about this wedding attractive lassy from the New of the year in Conamara all over World.

I T IS CHRISTMAS D A Y I N THE WORKHOUSE, A N D THE COLD-BARE WALLS ARE BRIGHT W I T H GARLANDS OF GREEN A N D HOLLY, A N D THE PLACE IS A PLEASANT SIGHT: FOR WITH CLEAN-WASHED HANDS A N D FACES I N A LONG AND HUNGRY LINE T H E PAUPERS SIT AT THE TABLES FOR THIS IS THE HOUR THEY DINE. A N D THE GUARDIANS AND THEIR LADIES, ALTHOUGH THE W I N D IS EAST, H A V E COME IN THEIR FURS AND WRAPPERS, T O WATCH THEIR CHARGES FEAST: T O SMILE A N D B E CONDESCENDING, P U T PUDDING ON PAUPER PLATES, T O B E HOSTS AT THE WORKHOUSE BANQUET THEY'VE P A I D FOR, WITH THE RATES. O H , THE PAUPERS ARE MEEK A N D LOWLY WITH THEIR 'THANK'EE KINDLY, M U M ' S ' S O LONG AS THEYFILLTHEIR STOMACHS W H A T MATTER IT WHENCE IT COMES? B U T ONE OF THE OLD M E N MUTTERS A N D PUSHES HIS PLATE ASIDE: 'GREAT G O D ! ' HE CRIES; 'BUT IT CHOKES MET FOR THIS IS THE DAY the DIED . . .

T SLUNK TO THE FILTHY ALLEY ' T W A S A COLD, RAW CHRISTMAS E V E A N D THE BAKERS' SHOPS WERE OPEN, T E M P T I N G A M A N TO THIEVE; B U T I CLENCHED M Y FISTS TOGETHER, HOLDING M Y HEAD AWAY.

' I RUSHED FROM THE ROOM LIKE A M A D M A N A N D FLEW TO THE WORKHOUSE GATE, CRYING " F O O D FOR A DYING W O M A N ! " A N D THE ANSWER C A M E , " T O O LATE." T H E Y DROVE M E AWAY WITH CURSES; T H E N I FOUGHT WITH A DOG I N THE STREET,

S O I CAME TO HER E M P T Y - H A N D E D , A N D TORE FROM THE MONGREL'S CLUTCHES, A N D MOURNFULLY TOLD HER WHY. A CRUST HE WAS TRYING TO EAT. ' T H E N I TOLD HER THE " H O U S E " WAS O P E N ; S H E HAD HEARD OF THE WAYS OF THAT, FOR HER BLOODLESS CHEEKS WENT CRIMSON, A N D U P IN HER RAGS SHE SAT, W R A P P E D IN AN AWFUL HUSH. CRYING, " B I D E THE CHRISTMAS HERE, J O H N , M Y HEART SANK DOWN AT THE THRESHOLD, W E ' V E NEVER HAD ONE APART; A N D I P A U S E D WITH A S U D D E N THRILL, I THINK I CAN BEAR THE HUNGER FOR THERE IN THE AILV'RY MOONLIGHT T H E OTHER WOULD BREAK M Y HEART." M Y N A N C E LAY, COLD A N D STILL. 'ALL THROUGH THAT EVE I WATCHED HER, HOLDING HER HAND IN M I N E , PRAYING THE LORD A N D WEEPING TILL M Y LIPS WERE SALT AS BRINE. I ASKED HER ONCE IF SHE HUNGERED, A N D AS SHE ANSWERED " N O " , O H G O D ! H A D I BUT KNOWN! T H E MOON SHONE IN AT THE WINDOW H A D CALLED IN VAIN, A N D IN ANGUISH S E T IN A WREATH OF SNOW. H A D DIED IN THAT D E N - ALONE. ' T H E N THE ROOM WAS BATHED IN GLORY, A N D I SAW IN M Y DARLING'S EYES, L A Y A LOVING W O M A N DEAD, T H E FAR-AWAY LOOK OF WONDER CRUELLY STARVED A N D MURDERED THAT COMES WHEN THE SPIRIT FLIES; FOR A LOAF OF THE PARISH BREAD. A N D HER LIPS WERE PARCHED A N D PARTED, A T YONDER GATE, LAST CHRISTMAS, A N D HER REASON CAME A N D WENT, FOR SHE RAVED OF OUR H O M E IN D E V O N , WHERE OUR HAPPIEST YEARS WERE SPENT. ' A N D THE ACCENTS LONG FORGOTTEN, 'THERE, GET YE GONE TO YOUR DINNERS: C A M E BACK TO THE TONGUE ONCE MORE, D O N ' T M I N D M E IN THE LEAST; FOR SHE TALK'D LIKE THE COUNTRY LASSIE T H I N K OF THE H A P P Y PAUPERS I WOO'D B Y THE D E V O N SHORE. EATING YOUR CHRISTMAS FEAST; T H E N SHE ROSE TO HER FEET A N D TREMBLED, A N D WHEN YOU RECOUNT YOUR BLESSINGS A N D FELL ON THE RAGS A N D M O A N E D , I N YOUR S M U G PAROCHIAL WAY, A N D , " G I V E M E A CRUST - I ' M FAMISHED S A Y WHAT YOU DID FOR M E , TOO, FOR THE LOVE OF G O D I " SHE GROANED. ONLY LAST CHRISTMAS D A Y . ' I CRAVED FOR A H U M A N LIFE, Y O U , WHO WOULD FEAST OUR PAUPERS, W H A T OF M Y MURDERED WIFE? . . . ' U P TO THE BLACKENED CEILING T H E SUNKEN EYES WERE CAST I KNEW ON THOSE LIPS ALL BLOODLESS M Y N A M E H A D B E E N THE LAST; S H E ' D CALLED FOR HER ABSENT H U S B A N D ' B A C K , THROUGH THE FILTHY BY-LANES! B A C K THROUGH THE TRAMPLED SLUSH! U P TO THE CRAZY GARRET,

'LAST WINTER M Y WIFE LAY DYING, STARVED IN A FILTHY D E N ; I ' D NEVER BEEN TO THE PARISH I CAME TO THE PARISH THEN. WRITTEN I N 1 9 0 1 , THE FIRST LINE OF THIS P O E M M U S T B E O N E OF THE BEST-KNOWN AND MOST-PARODIED IN THE E N G L I S H LANGUAGE. T H E AUTHOR WAS GEORGE R . S I M S ( 1 8 4 7 - 1 9 2 2 ) , A JOURNALIST A N D PLAYWRIGHT WHO I N H I S OWN DAY E N J O Y E D W I D E REPUTE, DEVOT ING M U C H OF H I S T I M E TO ATTACKS ON POVERTY. T H E P O E M WAS PART OF A C A M P A I G N TO STOP DESTITUTE PEOPLE B E I N G LABELLED ' P A U P E R S ' A N D REFUSED RELIEF UNLSS THEY ENTERED THE WORKHOUSE: ANAL VICTORY C A M E AS LATE A S 1 9 4 8 . WILL TODAY'S C A M P A I G N S AGAINST WORLD HUNGER PRODUCE A WORK SO POPULAR A N D SO V I V I D ? T H E P O E M IS TAKEN FROM A RECENTLY P U B L I S H E D BOOK "PARLOUR P O E T R Y " SELECTED BY MICHAEL R . T U R N E R A N D P U B L I S H E D BY P A N BOOKS L T D . I SWALLOWED M Y PRIDE IN COMING, FOR, ERE THE RUIN CAME, I HELD U P M Y HEAD AS A TRADER, A N D I BORE A SPOTLESS N A M E . T CAME TO THE PARISH, CRAVING BREAD FOR M Y STARVING WIFE, BREAD FOR, THE WOMAN WHO'D LOVED M E THROUGH FIFTY YEARS OF LIFE; A N D WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY TOLD M E , MOCKING M Y AWFUL GRIEF? THAT "THE H O U S E " WAS OPEN TO U S , B U T THEY WOULDN'T GIVE "OUT RELIEF".

' Y E S , THERE, IN A LAND OF PLENTY,