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"A Rattling Good Epic"

Local writer Brendan Graham has followed the success of his first novel, 'The Whitest Flower' with the just published follow-up. 'The Element of Fire, a compelling and multi-layered story of lives and loves dislocated, which takes up the story where his previous novel closed.

Widowed by Ireland's Great Famine, Ellen Rua O'Malley flees her native land for Boston. With her two surviving children and an abandoned 'silent girl' on whom Ellen has taken pity. Ellen longs for the stability the New World offers- but in shaking off the Old World, and embracing her new-found freedoms, she risks losing everything.

Highly topical, and researched with great love and dedication, The Element of Fire poignantly traces the life of a family that could have been yours.

The unorthodox manner in which Graham came to be published is now legendary. With no experience of publishing, he made an appointment with the MD of HarperCollins, and came in to tell him the story of The Whitest Flower. The MD was so impressed, that he agreed to publish the book there and then. The Whitest Flower was published in 1998 to international acclaim, as well as being required reading on the "Women's Studies' syllabus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and becoming a No.2 Best-seller in Ireland.

Brendan Graham, born in Co. Tipperary in 1945, and by this early twenties had been a basketball international, student priest and a pig-boner in London, by night playing bass with the resident band at Elephant and Castle's, Shamrock Club. After a stint in a Knightsbridge shoe salon, he lived in Australia for five years before returning to Ireland.

The composer of two winning Eurovision Song Contest songs for Ireland 'Rock 'n' Roll Kids' (1994) and 'The Voice' (1996) his songs have been recorded by a wide spectrum of artists.

Recently he has commenced writing in Irish and, he has given readings with traditional group Dervish. Graham was chairman of IMRO, for a nine-year period to 1997, during which time IMRO broke away from the parent UK Performing Right Society (PRS).

In 1998, at his presentation of the inaugural IMRO Lifetime Achievement Award, Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, cited Graham's 'outstanding contribution to the music industry.' Currently he is working on his third novel for HarperCollins.

Excellence Through People Award For Blackrock Company

The Minister for Labour Affairs presented 12 organisations with the FAS Excellence Through People training standard at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. These awards adjudicated through FAS aim to reward employers who develop staff potential through training and development.

The smallest organisation to receives the award on this occasion had five people and the largest had 320 employees.

Minister Kitt said, 'Excellence through people provides recognition of quality training and human resource development and businesses without a well motivated and skilled workforce will find it increasingly difficult to compete in the future.' Indeed many organisations use the ETP logo in recruitment advertisements to demonstrate their commitment to training.

Kilbogget Park Starved Of Resources

Councillor Eoin Costello (FG) has stated that Kilbogget remains starved of resources and is a source of embarrassment in a county which can justifiably proud of its excellent parks. The considerable works being done on other parks in the county has highlighted the poor condition of Kilbogget. Councillor Costello is demanding that Kilbogget be brought up to the same standard as parks in the north of the County such as Marley and Blackrock.

Kilbogget serves a densely populated residential area made up of several schools, churches and two shopping centers within a short distance. It is also home to a number of sports clubs including rugby, GAA and soccer. Kilbogget Park was used as a landfill in the 1970’s. A minimal amount of topsoil capping of the landfill together with subsequent subsidence has made it particularly difficult for the Council to construct the sports facilities envisaged in a plan for the park adopted by the Council in 1996.

A council report in November 1999 stated that the development of the park has been severely hampered by lack of finance. The works completed to date have been mainly funded from outside sources. The main work being carried out in the park at the moment is the development of two football pitches in the central area of the park by the Council’s Parks Department, in conjunction with Cabinteely Boys football club. This work was made possible through an allocation of money from the National Lottery, which is being matched by the council.

According to Councillor Costello it is essential that the County Manager provide the financial resources to the Parks staff so they can start addressing the serious problems facing the park. Councillor Costello lists these problems as;

• Galvanized steel railings, which surround the park, are ineffective and unsightly. In many places these railing have been kicked through particularly at the southern end near Ballybrack football club’s ground.
• Numerous informal entrances to the park allow motorbikes to use the athletics track for racing.
• Wilderness beside proposed football pitches: much of the central area of the park needs complete landscaping.
• Parking facilities inadequate (spaces for approximately 20 cars) and, due to the restricted entrance, are dangerous.
• Laneway along the back wall of Cabinteely school: at the western side of the park a laneway runs along the wall at the back of Cabinteely School which is enclosed by trees. Drinking parties take place here frequently.
• Power cables and large pylons run across the center of the park
• Campfires being lit in the vicinity of the former Athletics Club changing rooms by groups drinking there during daylight.
• No tennis courts: In the plan for the park tennis courts were envisaged but have not been developed.

Councillor Costello stated that many of the non-infrastructure related problems are due to the fact that there is no permanent Council staff presence in the Park. In answer to a question from Councillor Costello the council stated that the Parks Department are in favour of assigning full staff resources to the park however owing to constraints on the use of these resources in other areas is has not been possible to make such an assignment.

Councillor Costello stated that so many parts of the county have recently benefited from positive improvements in their surroundings. He believes that it is now time for the council to turn its attention to the south of the county and is requesting that significant budget be allocated to the improvements to Kilbogget Park in this year’s estimates. A failure to include a significant allocation to the park will force him to consider whether it is appropriate for him to support the estimates or not.

As well as the council estimates Councillor Costello says there are other sources of money available. Huge amounts of development have taken place across the road from Kilbogget which has generated substantial planning levies/contributions for the Council. Some of these funds should be used for Kilbogget. He stated that he would be totally against any development of the linear park in Druids Glen until Kilbogget Park is fully completed.

He concluded ,'Over the past couple of years millions of pounds have been spent on projects in the north of the county (the theatre, Longford Gardens, Dun Laoghaire and Dundrum renewal projects). It is now time to invest in the south of the county starting with Kilbogget Park which is in desperate need of resources.'

Law On Transient Sites Must be Reviewed

Olivia Mitchell TD, Fine Gael Frontbench Spokesperson on Local Government and Housing said the recent influx of travelling traders into South Dublin highlighted yet again the flaws in recent legislation which requires local authorities to provide transient sites for travellers as well as permanent accommodation.

‘The 120 caravans which wrought havoc in Firhouse and then in Rathfarnham can be moved on under existing legislation as they are camped within a mile of an existing halting site.’

‘However the next location may not be protected by the one mile exclusion zone and Councils are open to court challenges because they have not provided transient sites.’

‘Dublin Local Authorities have taken the view that their primary obligation is to accommodate local travellers who ‘are in need of housing and cannot afford to accommodate themselves.’

The annual summer travellers do not fall into this category. They have left existing accommodation to carry on business activities and it is very difficult to justify the provision of accommodation in a second location. Neither has the tax payer any obligation to provide any group with business premises free of rent and rates, not to mention carrying the cost of the major clean up which has been necessary in previous years.’

Olivia Mitchell concluded, ‘I pointed out at the time the legislation went through the Dail that it was neither practical nor reasonable to ask local authorities to provide for large numbers of caravans who can arrive unannounced at any time.’

‘This has now been borne out by experience in many Councils and if accommodation is ever to be provided for travellers who are in genuine need then the legislation should be revisited.’

Government To Blame For Dublin Gridlock

'Car travel in Dublin is now so stressful and miserable that it is a disincentive in itself, and not a choice which anyone would make if there were any alternatives.' said Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael Front Bench spokesperson for travel.

Cheap frequent interconnecting buses are still the only short term traffic solution. Yet this year not a single additional bus will be added to the Dublin Bus fleet. ' said Ms Mitchell, 'Private bus operators are refused licences for the most spurious of reasons and when licences are granted they are prohibited from taking passengers where they want to go.

If the Government was serious about reducing congestion it would immediately:

• Provide massive 'park and ride' sites outside the M50 served by a frequent bus service into and around the city.
• Introduce cheap daily bus tickets to encourage and facilitate multi bus journeys
• Increase the carrying capacity of bus lanes by permitting multi occupancy cars to use them.

She concluded, 'It is a bit rich to offer commuters who are now at their wits end, fanciful economic theory and lectures on driving as anti social behaviour when the Government has failed abjectly to provide alternatives.'

£609m For Social Housing Is Not Enough

Fine Gael spokeswoman on local government and housing Olivia Mitchell TD, slammed the Government's latest attempts to deal with the housing crisis.'

It is typical of this Government's mismanagement of taxpayers' money to assume that existing structures can cope with the quantum leap in housing construction demand.'

'Local Authorities failed totally last year to spend their allocations and their combined output of houses only reached 2,300. Nothing has changed since then. It is completely unrealistic to presume that they will somehow magically be able this year to produce 6,000 houses. The core issue is delivery of houses, not of money.'

'Councils are simply not geared to building on this scale and Minister Dempsey has done nothing to ensure they are resourced with the project management skills and teams required. The range of housing scheme options now available is so vast and arcane that Housing Departments in Local Authorities could be employed full time simply explaining these options to housing applicants.'

'It is estimated that the number of planners is only half those required. The planning process is as slow and tortuous as ever. The Planning and Development Bill provided for 'Strategic Development Zones' which would fast track vital infrastructure yet the Government has not yet designated even one of the dozens of site proposals it has received.'

'Unless there is a whole new approach to the resourcing of focused project management for local authorities the estimated 70,000 families on waiting lists will remain for a very long time,' said Deputy Mitchell.

Long Serving Oxfam Volunteers Honoured

The Oxfam shop in Dun Laoghaire recently presented some of it longest serving volunteers with special awards citing their long years of unpaid service.

Brian Scott from Oxfam's head office spoke at the ceremony in The Royal Marine Hotel. He said 'I'm amazed at the wonderful work you have done. I'm always delighted at groups of people like yourselves who are raising money and keeping the shops going and making such a tangible contribution to alleviating poverty overseas. It makes such a profound difference. '

Also attending the ceremony were Gabriella de Costa, the Dun Laoghaire Shop manager and Helen Hempenstall, Oxfam's district manager for the area. The Dun Laoghaire Oxfam shop has been open for twenty five years, and some of those who received awards had worked there for well over twenty years. Oxfam was set up in Oxford after the last war, to raise funds to help with the huge refugee crisis in Europe. In the last fifty years, its work has spread out into third world countries, and it is for this work that it is chiefly known.

Development Proposals For Shankill

The Dun Laoghaire Area Committee at it’s meeting in March discussed the possible development of a four acre site at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill. It was agreed to investigate the possibility of a Joint Venture development on this site with the following elements in such a development:

• Park and Ride facilities including 290 car parking spaces and associated traffic calming measures.
• Affordable dwellings
• Two or three local shops
• A cluster of office based in industry and local employment units
• In door sports facilities and possible outdoor all weather playing areas.
• Facilities to house a Naíonra- Irish Language Pre-School and Adult Centre
• Other uses providing local services would be considered.

The site is zoned Part A as Residential and Part F as Open space and recreational amenities, with an objective to provide for car parking in the current development plan.

It is now proposed to advertise for the submission of proposals by interested parties for a Joint Venture Development.

Following more recent discussions, it was proposed by Councillor Denis O’Callaghan that local groups and residents are consulted to obtain their views before any proposed development is advertised.

Road Restoration Programme

Rathdown County Council's Road and foot­path restoration Programme for 2001 is set to benefit parts of Dundrum, Sandyford, Glencullen, Mount Merrion and Stillorgan.

According to local TD and Minister of State, Seamus Brennan, the programme includes the following works:

Road restoration at Boranaraltry Lane, Callary Road, Deerpark Road, Devil's Elbow, Enniskerry Road, Glenalbyn Road, Lower Kilmacud Road, Nutgrove Avenue, St Bridget's Church Road, Sydenham Road and Ticknock Road.

Path restoration will be at Dundrum Road, Enniskerry Road, Glenamuck Cottages, Greygates, Sandyford Road, and The Rise.

'The Roads Programme is made possible by grants of almost £2.4 million from the Minister for the Environment,' said Mr Brennan.

'A further £0.5 million has been set aside for footpath works. There are many other serious re­construction and restora­tion needs in the Council's area and I will be pressing for additional funding in the period ahead.'

Leaving Cert Direct News From RTE

Eight years in primary school, six more in secondary - and it all comes down to this.. This Wednesday more than 60,000 students, most of them only teenagers, sat down to begin the biggest test of their lives - the Leaving Cert. Joining them, turning over that first paper on Wednesday morning, were tens of thousands of Junior Certificate students.

This year, RTE's Radio's 'Five Seven Live' ( broadcast from 5pm-7pm, Radio 1) will again be with them all the way. In another major link-up between RTE and the Exam Desk of The Irish Times, 'Five Seven Live' will be traversing the country over the next two weeks, talking to students, teachers and experts.

RTE presenter, Maura O'Neill will be visiting schools from Waterford to Sligo, from Cork to Birr, from Limerick to Galway, getting the immediate response of students and teachers to each day's papers.

In studio, 'Five Seven Live' presenter Rachel English and Emmet Oliver, the Education Correspondent of The Irish Times, will debate the talking points, and the issues which arise. Coverage has already begun with a 'Five Seven Live' exams special.

There will be last minute advice, a discussion on the marking system and details of where students can hook up with Five Seven Live's nation-wide coverage.

In addition, there will be live web seminars, hosted by The Irish Times web-site, and a special Eircell Text Number - 087 417 27 57 - so that students can text Five Seven Live with their questions and comments. There will also be a special section on the Five Seven Live website, (www.rte.ie) where students can view all the text messages of their peers.

It has been a difficult year, no matter what end of the classroom you occupy. But it's coming to an end now. See it through with Five Seven Live on RTE Radio 1.

£250,000 for St. Joseph's Boys AFC Sallynoggin.

The Minister for Sport, Dr. Jim McDaid, has allocated £250,000 to the development of a clubhouse for St. Joseph's Boys under the Sports Capital Programme 2001. The funding marks the end of a long campaign by the tireless committee of the club. Recently, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council granted planning permission for the construction of a clubhouse.

Welcoming the allocation, Councillor Barry Andrews said, 'Despite being one of 1,450 applications, the Department of Tourism has recognised the vital role played by St. Joseph's Boys in Sallynoggin. It is also a tribute to the professionalism of the committee who recruited the support of people from across the community in their campaign.'

'This is a fantastic opportunity to rejuvenate the community in Sallynoggin which has suffered deprivation and under-funding for some time. It is designated as a Disadvantaged area in the Southside Partnerships Area Action Plan. The news will be warmly welcomed across Dun Laoghaire.'

Samaritans Seek Help

Despite our new found prosperity, Ireland has the second highest youth suicide rate in Europe.The Samaritans offer emotional support to those going through crisis. The Dublin branch urgently needs volunteers and the commitment is just 3 hours per week.

If you are a good listener, non-judgemental & drawn to this work you are invited to an information evening on 8pm tuesday 3 July 2001 at The Gresham Hotel, O' Connell Street Dublin. All are welcome. To reserve a place please telephone Margaret or Dara office 872 7346 / 872 7456

 

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