Galway Advertiser 1984/1984_05_31/GA_31051984_E1_022.pdf 

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To the Honourable Editor of the Illustrious Galway Advertiser.
Sir, T h e eclosed 'effusion' -- for I can think of n o other n a m e to p u t u p o n it -- was attached to a large rock h u r l e d , most unceremoniously, t h r o u g h my sitting r o o m w i n d o w this m o r n i n g at about 6 o'clock. By t h e t i m e I h a d r u s h e d from my bed to an upstairs window facing t h e street, t h e scoundrel w h o had perpetrated t h e wicked deed had vanished, leaving, as t h e immortal b a r d p u t s it, " n o t a rack b e h i n d " . After examining the very considerable damage caused by the awful missile, a n d eflecting soberly u p o n the result h a d I been seated in my favourite chair, curiosity overcame repulsion a n d I b e n t d o w n to examine t h e object responsible for this destruction and disturbance. T h e r e is n o neces sity to speak of t h e rock itself. You have, I would venture to say, observed many of these objects in t h e course of a busy life, unless, that is, your experience of t h e world has been very m u c h more limited t h a n I should have thought possible, knowing you to be a man of very excellent parts. As for t h e communication w r a p p e d a r o u n d the rock, and held on with a bit of twine, you are now t h e possessor of this. W h e t h e r it is intended for publication or merely for private perusal it is not for me to say. I would only draw your notice to the signature a p p e n d e d to the lamentable perform ance. According to my recollections, it was widely circulated some years ago that M r . M o r g a n O d o h e r t y h a d d e p a r t e d this world for what in charity w e m u s t hope was a better one. W h a t , t h e n , is to be m a d e of this signature ? H a s t h e final t r u m p e t sounded ? Are t h e Ages n o w complete ? D o t h e dead at last rise u p from their various beds of corruption ? O n e can only pause, " i n wild s u r m i s e " . H a v i n g n o w discharged m y public d u t y , I shall bring this epistle to a close. T h e Glazier awaits m e in my sitting room, a n d t h e Physician w h o is attending me warns against prolonged efforts of any kind. I remain, Sir, Y o u r most O b e d i e n t , M o s t H u m b l e Servant, O l i n t h u s Petre, D . D .

Courage to Stand Up for Democracy
LETTER BOX
D e a r Sir, I used to believe that Ronald Reagan was a war m o n g e r and that socialism was t h e answer to t h e world's ills. T h a t was w h e n I first worked in the U n i t e d States in 1973. N o w , having eleven years more experience, travelling and education u n d e r my belt I have c h a n g e d my thinking. W h e n you take off all the shrouds, it's not El Salvador, Nicaragua or Reagan that's the real issue. W h a t it really boils d o w n to is democracy versus communism. F r e e d o m versus bondage.

An Horation Ode Upon President Reagan's Memorable Expedition to Ireland.
While others d r o p about h i m like the leaves T h a t vainly cling to b r a n c h e s , tempest-tossed, H e r o i c Ronald fronts t h e gusty breeze, N o r does he p a u s e t o t h i n k u p o n t h e cost -- Restless Reagan could not cease I n t h e inglorious arts of peace, But t h r o u g h adventitious war U r g e d ahead his active star. His enemies d i s p u t e about his w o r t h A n d press u p o n h i m ignoble c o m p r o m i s e ; But War-like Reagan, h a p p y in his b i r t h , Looks H e a v e n w a r d , to pierce t h e circling skies; A n d , like t h e three-forked lightening, first Breaking t h e clouds where it was n u r s e d , Strikes E a r t h w a r d now his fiery wrath, Destroying all within its p a t h . ' T i s madness to resist or blame T h e force of angry Reagan's flame. O m a r k what scarce four years have w r o u g h t As he grows stiffer with c o m m a n d ! H o w many wars would we have fought D i d not t h e Congress stay his h a n d ? A n d now t h e I r i s h entertain T h i s Caesar from across t h e main, Ballyporeen's War-like Son A pious pilgrimage has done. F r o m D u b l i n thence to Galway's shore, T h e mustered crowds can shout n o more. O Reagan, Heaven's favourite ! T o n o n e Like thee before have H o n o u r s high been s h o w n ! W i t h i n that Ancient Q u a d of U C G T h e Royal Actor B o r n fetched his D e g r e e ; H e nothing c o m m o n did or m e a n U p o n that M e m o r a b l e scene, But with his flashing W i t H e m a d e t h e m laugh a bit. T h e G u a r d i a n ' s of L e a r n i n g ' s Seat M a d e u p a q u e u e this god t o greet; T h e y can affirm his praises best, A n d have, t h o u g h overcome, confessed H o w good he is, how just, A n d fit for highest trust. Peace n o shelter now shall find, W i t h i n his Party-coloured m i n d , A n d while he visits other places, His thoughts are fixed o n N A T O bases. T h e H a w k u p o n t h e s p a r r o w lights, N o t to kill, b u t t o seize its fights; She n o more for a nest m u s t search But on this nice G r e e n b o u g h can p e r c h . T h e Irish simply m u s t make r o o m W h e n greater Spirits to t h e m come. So m u c h we see can o n e m a n d o T h a t can b o t h Act a n d T h r e a t e n too.
(With sincere apologies to the spirit of Andrew Marvell)

L e t ' s not b e naive, the c o m m u n i s t s would blow America off t h e m a p a n d establish world " S o c i a l i s m " t o m o r r o w , if they t h o u g h t they would get " I f we d o not learn from away with it. G r o u p s such history, we are doomed to as t h e W o r k e r s Party, the repeat it". L a b o u r Left, U . S . I . , etc., Sincerely, are openly declared Patrick C. H e r o n , socialists a n d they are Newcastle Park, leading t h e attack o n Galway. d e m o c r a c y , 'ISING E l their courage and d e t e r m i n a t i o n in s t a n d ing by a p r o m i s e given. If t h e s e halts a r e n o t provided, where are r o a d s i d e families going t o live? S i t e s a r o u n d t o w n a r e being blocked off with large stones t o p r e v e n t caravans parking and families a r e being a s k e d to move. Move to where? W e a r e forced t o live without facilities, washing, toilets e t c . yet w e h e a r t h e r e is t o o m u c h b e i n g d o n e for the Travellers. It is a n e a s y s t a t e m e n t t o m a k e if w e keep our eyes closed and refuse t o s e e t h e reality around us. It is e a s y t o p r o t e s t of t h e i n j u s t i c e o f El Salvador but sometimes it i s h a r d e r to be c o n f r o n t e d with s o m e thing t h a t lies b e n e a t h o u r feet a n d is far e a s i e r to s w e e p under the carpet. Look at our o w n city a n d s e e is e v e r y p e r s o n getting a n e q u a l chance? W e should not allow t h e c o u n c i l t o continually shelve problems, hoping p e r h a p s t h e y will collect d u s t a n d miraculously d i s a p p e a r . Problems don't disappear they h a v e t o b e faced up to and acted upon. S o before w e get t o o c a r r i e d a w a y with o u r p r o t e s t s , b y all m e a n s make peaceful o n e s , b u t a b o v e all, let u s t a k e a g o o d look at w h a t is h a p p e n i n g a r o u n d u s in o u r o w n city a n d get t o g e t h e r a s o n e sympathetic community to see how the problem can be solved for "Galway's Third World". Strange how we can see w h a t is h a p p e n i n g far away and w e d o not see what is h a p p e n i n g o n o u r doorstep. Thank you, A few Galway Travellers

Salvador and the violation of h u m a n rights as their fodder. F e w people s e e m to realise t h a t t h e C u b a n s backed by the U . S . S . R are actively using Nicaragua as their base for spreading t e r r o r i s m and communism through out the rest of S o u t h America. President Reagan has had the courage to stand u p for democracy a n d freedom and to fight communism in South America. For this he has my support. Should t h e free world sit idly by and watch Russia stockpile Nuclear Warheads all along Eastern Europe? It seems to me that Europe and the world sat and watched Hitler build u p his war machine and did nothing about it not many years hence. A n d what was the result ?

Academic Protest
D e a r Sir, W e , t h e undersigned m e m b e r s of the acedemic staff of University College, Galway, deplore t h e decision by the Senate of t h e National Univer sity of Ireland to award an h o n o r a r y d e g r e e of D o c t o r o f L a w s to P r e s i d e n t Reagan. W e are of the opinion that an honorary degree should, as a general principle, be awarded to those individuals who have m a d e a significant c o n t r i b u t i o n towards the world of learning or the arts. Clearly, President Reagan does not merit such an award and so, by making the award, the N . U . I , is devaluing the s t a t u s of h o n o r a r y degrees. Indeed, the rec e n t statement by Presid e n t Reagan that the Unit ed States will not be b o u n d b y the decisions of t h e International Court of Justice concerning C e n t r a l America emphas ises t h e perversity of the N.U.I. Senate in awarding h i m a degree of D o c t o r of Laws. W e wish it to be known that we took no part in the decision of the N . U . I , to make this award to P r e s i d e n t Reagan even t h o u g h w e all hold a p p o i n t m e n t s as exam i n e r s , or assistant examiners, of the N . U . I . T h e bestowing of this honorary degree upon P r e s i d e n t Reagan thus calls into question both t h e process and criteria used to select candidates for this award.
Dr. B. Arkins. Dr. T. E. Bourke. T. A. Boylan. Prof. A. Brock. Dr. C. Brown. Dr. J. Browne. Dr. M. Burns. Dr. P. F. Casey. Prof. T. J. Casey. J. Conroy. Prof. M. Cuddy. Dr. D . Cunningham. Dr. C. Curtin. A. Daly. G. Denvir. O. D i Fidio. J. Donlon. Dr. M. Fitzgerald. Prof. T. Fitzgerald. Dr. T. P. Foley. L. Ford. Dr. R. Gault. Dr. N. W. A. Geraghty. Dr. I. E. Gibsen. Dr. J. Gosling. Prof. D. Harris. Dr. G. Hutton. Dr. D . Johnson. Dr. M. Kane. Prof. T. Kilroy. Prof. B. Leonard. Prof. C. Luigheid. Dr. N . Mac Congail. M. Mac Craith. J. Mahon. P. F. Monaghan. R. Ni Neill. M. O Briain. D. O Caoinin. Prof. P. O Carra. P. G. O hEalai. Dr. ] . P. O'Gorman. M. N . O'Neill. M. A. G. O Tuathaig. Prof. M. Robinson. Dr. J. M. Ruano. A. Savage. Dr. R. Scaife. Dr. P. F. Sheeran. Dr. A. Slattery. P. Swanson. Dr. J. Waddell. Prof. J. J. Ward. K. Warnock. Dr. M. Williams.

Galway's Third World!
D e a r Editor, O v e r t h e p a s t few weeks we have been faced with numerous objections t o President R e a g a n ' s visit. M a n y a r e concerned about the exploitation a n d injustices in C e n t r a l A m e r i c a , a n d A m e r i c a n foreign policy. M o s t of u s a r e a w a r e of this injustice, b u t h a v e b e c o m e blind t o the injustices a r o u n d u s . In this Quincentennial Year, when we are spending money on v a r i o u s activities a r o u n d t h e city, c o u l d w e n o t also do something about the 'Halts' promised to us. They were recom m e n d e d in "1963 Review For I t i n e r a n t s " , reviewed again in 1 9 8 0 and recommended as a duty for all local a u t h o r i t i e s . For years we have b e e n o b j e c t s of injustice and have had to endure t h e plight of living in inhumane and degrading conditions and people s a y w e a r e dirty! It s e e m s w e m a y b e forced t o fight for o u r rights. T h e City C o u n c i l l o r s act a s if it w e r e a privilege t h e y a r e giving u s . Is it a privilege t o a s k for a d e c e n t place t o live in a n d t o b e t r e a t e d with t h e r e s p e c t a n d dignity afforded t o e v e r y h u m a n being? If t h e last C o u n c i l Meeting is t o b e a n y indication of w h a t is t o c o m e , t h e n w e will h a v e a long wait a h e a d . T h e councillors s e e m t o b e incapable of m a k i n g a n y decision that might c o m p r o m i s e their elect oral position a n d e v e r y credit is d u e t o Mr. K e a r n s a n d t h e minority w h o s t o o d by him, for

Anti Reagan Propaganda
Dear Sir, I would like t h r o u g h the m e d i u m of your popular columns, to ask the citizens of Galway City to give to the President of the U n i t e d States a warm and courteous welcome w h e n he arrives and in separating the man from t h e dignity of his office, wish Ronald Reagan 'Cead Mile Failte' and a b u n d a n c e of hospitality w h e n visiting Ireland the land of his forefathers. Recently we have been exposed to a great deal of bally-ho concerning the American President's visit and it is quite apparent that various bodies and politicians a r e using this visit to further their o w n political aims and personal ambition. On Saturday, May 12th, t h e Irish Times reported t h a t ' D r . E a m o n Casey will not meet President Reagan w h e n he visits t h e City o n J u n e 2nd. H e will miss t h e Honorary Degree con ferring ceremony at University College, Galway, where D r . Casey is a m e m b e r of the governing board.' A s p o k e s m a n for the bishop's diocesan office said that D r . Casey had a prior commitment to confirm children at the time M r . Reagan will b e visiting the City. H e went on t o say " H e will b e tied u p and he will not be seeing t h e President". Yet o n Monday, May 14th,

the same newspaper reported that " T h e Irish C a m p a i g n against Presi dent Reagan's Foreign Policy welcomed the decision of the Bishop of Galway D r ! E a m o n Casey not to meet M r . Reagan d u r i n g his visit a n d that D r . Casey's example may anger the wealthy and powerful and d r a w sneers from t h e i g n o r a n t " and t h e C a m p a i g n ' s statement went o n to say: " B u t there will be tens of thousands of t h e poor to pray for h i m in Nicaragua this week". N o w as Bishops d o n ' t lie and one assumes neither does their spokes m e n , T h e Irish C a m p a i g n against President Reagan's foreign policy are using t h e i r s t a t e m e n t s as propaganda to enhance their o w n political gains. I would like to ask t h e m to spare a thought also for t h e tens of thousands of Afghans who are at this m o m e n t in time fighting for their very lives in t h e hills of Afghanistan against a tyrannical d i s e a s e t h a t is f a s t spreading t h r o u g h the W e s t e r n world. Recently the Taniste Mr. Dick Spring, expressed the view that we should extend to the President of the U n i t e d States a courteous welcome and given the opportunity he would discuss with the President t h e differences that exist between his own view and that of the President's current foreign policy. This seems quite sensible, while the

A Disgruntled Endpiece: A n d are t h e I r i s h not a s h a m e d T o see themselves with one t r i p t a m e d ? C a n they n o t see h o w t h e y ' r e abused A n d all their h o n o u r basely used ? Alas, not so; they like t h e s o u n d s Of Dollars t u r n i n g into P o u n d s : F o r H o n o u r makes a lean diet, N o one volunteers to try it. T h e T o u r i s t ' s Voice is h e a r d t h r o u g h o u t t h e land A n d that's a music all agree is grand. Morgan Odoherty.

tion are o p e n , useful discussion can take place b u t t o close t h e d o o r o n communication alto gether a n d t o refuse to take part in any dialogue seems senseless. O t h e r less senior m e m b e r s of the Labour Party should follow this example a n d help t o p r o m o t e useful

a n d sensible discussion. Yours sincerely, John Fahy, Ferrymoyle, Barna, Co. Galway.