Claregalway/Lackagh U-13 Boys Community Games Success
On Saturday 30th June, we played Athenry in the quarter finals of the county community games. The team had five of last year’s All-Ireland winners: Ronan Badger, Michael Brennan, Paul Fox, Stephen Nally and Donie Burke, who is this year’s captain. The remainder of the panel of twenty players are Mathew Keating, Ian Martyn, Justin Brennan, Kieran Hennessy, Dathai Burke, Jason Byrne, Paul Cullinane, Kevin Hussey, Martin Talbot, Keith Doyle, Darren Fahy, Barry McDonagh, Sean Collins and Diarmuid Gavin. The background management were the same as last year – John Carr, Tony Badger, John Fox. Pat Burke, Gerry Fox, Gerry Burke, Joe Hussey and coach Paul Kilgannon. The mascot was again Enda Carr. The team beat Athenry 4-7 to 1-4.
The county semi-finals were held on 5th July in Ballinadereen, where we played Ballinadereen and beat them 15-7 to no score. Loughrea beat Woodford in the other semi-final to meet us in the final which was played later in the evening. We beat them 9-7 to 0-4. The Connaught final was held in Carrick-on-Shannon on 19th July where we played ADC from Roscommon, to qualify for the finals in Mosney.
On 22nd August, we travelled to Mosney with the rest of the 19 competitors from Galway. The All-Ireland semi finals were held the next morning. We played Castle Warren from Kilkenny and beat them by 2-7 to 1-3. Ronan Badger scored 2-4 in the match. The final was against Kinsale from Cork, who had a bye in the semi-finals as Ulster had not fielded a team. An exciting and tough match ensued. We were delighted to emerge winners at 3-5 to 2-6. We are the first Galway team to put two all-Ireland titles back to back in U 13 hurling in the history of the community games. Thanks are due to many people – the entire panel, who put in such hard work in training, the excellent coaching by Paul Kilgannon and the management team. Many thanks also to our main sponsors Brennan Brothers painting contractors and Danny Grealish contracting. Thanks also to the hard working Claregalway/Lackagh community games committee, Jeff Diskin, Ray Dooley and especially the wonderful Pauline Harrington.
John Carr
Using Essential Oils for Massage
Massage is the most common way of using essential oils, and it is the way they are used therapeudically in Aromatherapy. Since it combines the two senses of touch and smell it has instant physical and mental benefits. The warm skin-on-skin friction from massage causes essential oils to be absorbed quicker and makes them more aromatic. And the same friction increases blood circulation, stimulates, relaxes muscles, lowers blood pressure and a feeling of well being.
For further information, please contact Evelyn Kitt 087 6783733.
Cold Sores
Cold sores are a recurrent infection around the lips and mouth caused by the Herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1). They are very common, about 80 % of the population are carriers, 20-25% of these suffer, on average two outbreaks a year. Once contracted the virus is never eliminated from the body. Following attacks, it regresses lying dormant until one of several trigger factors or lowered immunity allows it to break out again. Cold and the sun are the two most common trigger factors.
Up to 24 hours before any visible signs appear a tingling burning or itching sensation is felt. This is followed by the formation of painful fluid-filled blisters, which break down, to form weeping ulcers. These then dry and form crusts, which are shed; the area heals within about 7 days. Total length of attack is between 10 to 20 days.
Aciclovir 5% cream ( Zovirax or Soothelip) is the anti-viral treatment of choice. It works best at the tingling stage but can reduce the length of an attack by up to 33% if started later. It is usually applied five times a day for 5 days. Other preparations treat the symptoms, i.e. the pain and discomfort. Blistex cream, Cymex cream and Lypsl cold sore gel are popular. Lypsyl has a local anaesthetic, which is useful for painful cold sores. For suffers whose attacks are triggered by sunlight, a UV- blocking lip salve is an effective prophylactic.
John Duffy MPSI. Claregalway Pharmacy
Special News
Wedding bells were in the air throughout August and right into September.
Congratulations to all of the following couples, may you enjoy health and happiness together for many years to come.
Nora Francis of Waterdale and Paul Gill, a native of the Aran Islands, were married on 9th August.
Siobhan Spellman and Patrick Higgins, Carnmore tied the knot on 16th August.
Sheila Gleeson of Carnmore married Adrian O’Neill on the 30th August.
Grainne Kavanagh from Cregboy married John Deely on 13th September.
Bon Voyage to Fidelma Roche, Rooaunmore and Averyl Farrell, Cregboy who are making their way to Australia, where they will spend the next year nursing and travelling. Enjoy it all girls!
Best wishes to Annette Hession (Hughes Supermarket) who is undergoing back surgery. Hope all goes well and look forward to seeing you back behind the counter again, as cheerful as ever!
Welcome to Susan and Alan Hynes to their new house in Churchview. Wishing you many years of happiness in Claregalway.
Congratulations to Martina (Hughes Supermarket) and John Flaherty on the recent birth of their baby boy James.
Congrats also to Anne Daly (Hughes Supermarket) and Pascal on the birth of their baby girl Megan – a brother for Alan and Ian – she will be well minded with two big brothers!!
Gardener’s World
with Paraic Horkan
Autumn & Winter Colour to Plant Now
September is the ideal month to start planting some autumn & winter colour – winter flowering pansies are one of the very best for long-lasting reliable colour. Winter pansies will actually flower from September to early may rewarding you with a bright splash of colour throughout the season.
Winter pansies are excellent for tubs & containers, flower borders and baskets and are wonderful on graves for winter cheer.
Remember between your winter pansies plant spring flowering dwarf tulips for added colour – Tulips are so easy to grow – simply plant and forget them.
Special Gardening Night in Castlebar 15th October 2003
Don’t miss this special night of gardening with Horkans
15th October in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar
I am delighted to announce a very special night of gardening in Castlebar with Irelands favourite and most knowledgeable gardener Mr Charlie Wilkins. Charlie is an old friend of Horkans and is currently the Gardening Correspondent with the Western People and the National Examiner.
Charlie brings fun to gardening and for this presentation Charlie is going to show a wonderful selection of garden plants for Autumn, winter and spring interest he will also feature some of the very best winter and spring bulbs to plant in your garden.
So remember the date October 15th in the Royal theatre Castlebar tickets are €10 euro with proceeds going to the Alzeimers association in Mayo.
A gardening night not to be missed.
Garden Wild Bird Feeding
Feeding and attracting wild birds into gardens has proven to be extremely rewarding for many people. Not only are we helping to conserve our wildlife, but we are also experiencing the joys of nature close at hand. People are aware of the hardship modern farming methods, urbanisation and pollution have placed on our wildlife. Indeed, vast areas of their natural habitat have been destroyed, thus depleting much of their natural food sources. The severe decline in our common bird population is a constant reminder of this.
We can, however, make a real difference by providing alternative wildlife friendly habitats; moving wildlife from their increasingly hostile environment to an urban haven – the garden.
The link range of Natural wild bird feeds are the ideal way to attract and nurture many of our beautiful song and garden birds.
Wild bird feeds help to provide song birds with essential proteins and fats which in turn provides a rich source of energy for our garden friends throughout the season.
Should We Feed in the Summer?
Traditionally we all tend to consider feeding the birds in times of harsh weather. However, extensive studies have since revealed that due to dwindling natural food sources, birds find it every bit as difficult to survive during their vital breeding season (March through to September) as they do in the cold winter period. We strongly recommend that a supply of good quality bird food is available all year round, particularly during the breeding and moulting periods and the harsh winter climate.
In their natural cycle, all species have critical times of year when their particular food supplies can become scarce. By providing supplementary foods all year round, it is possible to offer a vital lifeline. Some of the best include…
- Links Wild Bird Food – wonderful for a wide variety of song birds.
- Links Natural peanuts – loved by blue tits, yellow tits and finches.
- Links Thistle – Attract the wonderful gold finches into you garden with wild thistle seed – high in protein and essential for high energy levels.
- Black Sunflower Seed – Loved by all garden birds and very high in protein – sunflower seed is ideal for all garden and songbirds. It is a wonderful way to attract a huge selection of different birds into your garden.
Many wild birds will become totally dependent on your food supply at certain times of the year. It is therefore important to ensure that once you start feeding, you maintain a constant supply all year round. The autumn, when most fruits, seed and berries ripen, is usually the quietest time for supplementary feeding, with late winter and the breeding season being the busiest and most important times.
August & September are the months to start feeding your garden song birds – I recommend Links Peanut & Links wild bird mix as the ideal wild bird food.
Gardening Jobs for September
- Deadhead roses and apply ‘Roseclear’ and rose fertiliser to keep colour to late winter. Try some rose cuttings now.
- Crop vegetables regularly, do not allow them to get too large and run to seed.
- Continue to sow quick maturing carrots, scallion, radish and winter onions.
- Plant Alpine and Rockery Plants, which will establish well before the winter months.
- A good month to plant new hedges, shrubs and climbers and the roots will continue to grow until late winter
- Early September is ideal for sowing new lawns. Ask for the Green Velvet lawn seed for easy maintenance.
- Erect that greenhouse you have always promised yourself. Ideal for over wintering Fuschias, Geraniums and tender patio plants. Brochures available from all Horkans Garden Centres.
Japanese onion sets
September is the ideal time to plant Japanese onion sets. They produce large mild flavoured onions from may onwards – the green leaves can be cropped earlier for scallions.
Japanese onions are hardy and easy to grow – plant them into soil where you are currently digging out potatoes or root crops.
Great Autumn & Winter colour
This time of year is a great time to spruce up those shrub beds and indeed why not cut down on the amount of grass you have to cut, by creating some new shrub beds in your garden?
Stags horn Sumach – super autumn colour
A plant which really took my eye today as its looking extremely well is the Stags horn sumach, this upright shrub with its stags-like arching branching looks like a prehistoric fern or a plant which is out of place from a jungle floor. The super fern like foliage really is a change from the flat dull leaves you see round the garden, with an added bonus that they turn the most magnificent reds and oranges during the autumn – a plant well worthy of a spot in your shrub bed. After a few years large upside down pine cones stand to attention on each branch providing some real winter interest and mystique. An amazing plant.
Viburnum ‘Eve Price’ is one of those few grow-anywhere plants which all gardens must have. This variety of Viburnum is unquestionably hardy and is well suited for harsh climates or windswept gardens like we experience in the north west. Eve Price is a particurly good evergreen variety to grow due to its bright sweetly scented white flowers, which smother the plant each spring. The buds of these flowers are actually produced the previous September on the plant and the colour pink tinged buds decorate the plant right through the winter, so you could say that it provides 9 months of flower colour! If planted in a line at 2ft spaces Eve Price will actually make a super informal hedge in any garden. Very highly recommended.
Remember our special gardening night with Charlie Wilkins on October 15th in the TF ROYAL THEATRE tickets now available on 094 31435 / 36
Horkans Lifestyle & Garden Centre
Castlebar Galway Sligo
Open 7 Days
Phone: (091) 739957/58/59 Fax: (091) 739956
email: [email protected]
Claregalway Agricultural Show
The 13th Anniversary of Claregalway Agricultural show finally arrived. Everything was organised down to the smallest detail, the forecast looked promising and indeed we were not disappointed, the day dawned in glorious sunshine. The show presents a great forum for local people and not so local to display their culinary skills, arts and crafts.
The indoor and outdoor exhibits were of the usual high standards. Numerous shows and competitions took place throughout the day, including best dressed lady and glamorous granny.
The Show Queen Caroline Fahy from Lakeview, Claregalway, looked radiant and presided over the presentation of prizes throughout the day.
Among the attendence at Sundays show were Canon Noel Mullin P.P., Deputy Noel Grealish, MEP Rosemary Scallion and her son Robert and Councillor Jim Cuddy.
Duffy’s Claregalway Equestrian centre once again proved an excellent venue for the show with ample parking in nearby Peter Tonery’s field.
Chairman Val Noone would like to thank the shows many sponsors without whose support there would not be a show. Thanks also to everybody wo assisted in any way with the organisation and running of the show, to the exhibitors and those who turned up on Saturday and Monday to help out. The committee was pleased with the overall turnout.
Editorial
“Emails should never replace the knock on the door “- that statement has not left my mind since I heard it last week at an awards ceremony. We are all gone so materialistic- big houses, 03 cars, high social life, spend spend spend and at the end of it all who knows their next door neighbour? These are the days of fancier houses but broken homes – no communication. These are the days of quick trips, disposable nappies, throwaway morality, one-night stands, over-weight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. We are all in a rush for what? Watching the documentary on September 11th during the week put a lot of things into perspective for me – life is short, make of it what you can – you are master of your own destiny.
In the aftermath of 9/11 the Americans have become more aware of life and communicating with each other which is not a bad thing at all.
This month, we have introduced a “Gripe Corner” Please please use it to express your “gripes” – we all have them, anything from A to Z. My particular gripe at the moment is a lack of bus services in Claregalway. I believe Oranmore have a service every half hour and here we are in Claregalway waiting for a bus to arrive every few hours. I for one would gladly abandon my car and take a bus if we had a proper transport system. I am appealing to our local councillor Jim Cuddy to take action. Who needs to be stuck in a traffic jam every evening at the now famous Claregalway junction? We have been likened to Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath who have been long noted for traffic congestion. Why not put a Garda in place at peak times to help the situation? I don’t think it would cost too much. Forwards we are going, not backwards!!!!! Of course if we had a proper transport system, none of these gripes would be taking place!! Please gripe back.
Until next time, Josette.
Snakes, Death and Public Speaking
Recent research into people’s most basic fears has yielded the following results. The number three fear among adults is snakes. The number two dread is death. And the thing most people are most frightened of is speaking in public.
If this is you and you want to do something about it, there is a simple, inexpensive solution -Toastmasters. And it is fun. Toastmasters is an organisation that offers members the opportunity to overcome their fear of public speaking in a supportive and friendly environment.
Toastmasters clubs offer a social setting in which all members develop and polish their speaking skills together. It is an enjoyable, interesting and friendly club atmosphere, rather than a formal course. Most clubs have about 30 members who meet every fortnight. Founded in 1924, Toastmasters now have over 8 000 clubs all over the world.
The newest branch of Toastmasters is starting near you soon. The Corrib Toastmasters will be holding their first meeting at 8.30 pm on Tuesday 23 September 2003 in The Oranmore Lodge Hotel. All are welcome. Come along and see for yourself what its like. You have nothing to lose but the butterflies in your stomach and the dry mouth when you have to speak in public.
If you can not make it on September 23 there will be another meeting on the 7 October or contact Ger (091) 794 716; Sean (091) 771 770
or Seamus (091) 799 005.
News from your Local T.D. Noel Grealish
Charitable Donations
While my colleague Jim Cuddy has only taken up his position on the County Council he has already begun to make an impact in the electoral area in his own right for which he is to be commended. I have no doubt but that he’ll be a wonderful representative for the Parish and the electoral area over the coming years
New Investment
I’m delighted to be able to confirm that an additional €1.4 million has been added to the promised €3.2 million for a new regional sewerage scheme following my meetings with Environment Minister Martin Cullen and I am progressing the scheme in conjunction with the County Council officials involved at present so as to ensure an early start to the work planned.
Traffic Congestion
Both Cllr. Jim Cuddy and I have been involved in various discussions regarding the growing problems of traffic congestion in the village of Claregalway and with a meeting between the various interested parties including the NRA scheduled for September 9th we are optimistic that consideration can be given to a smaller scale by-pass of the village so as to relieve some of the difficulties currently encountered by motorists and residents alike. Indeed, congratulations are due the council officials who have been to the forefront in bringing this very contentious issue onto the roads agenda, a development that bodes well for the future.
Cllr. Jim Cuddy and I will be calling a public meeting on this contentious issue while we will be asking the officials of the national Roads Authority (NRA) to attend.
Public Lighting
With the installation of new public lighting at Gortacleva, Ballintemple and Waterdale and the ensuing improvement in safety for the local users is most welcome while I am delighted to see that Cllr. Cuddy is continuing with the strategy of using the annual notice of motion monies to the continuing improvement of public lighting in various areas throughout the electoral area. Councillor Cuddy, who is already establishing himself as an energetic and very willing representative for the area, will visit these areas on hearing from communities and individuals and get all of the necessary information together so as to press ahead with new public lighting proposals. Councillor Cuddy can be contacted at 087 636 0242
Bonfires
Cllr. Cuddy was delighted to see the speedy reaction and work of the County Council workers in getting to grips with the recent, potentially very serious situation at Lisarulla following a local bonfire.
While the village or parish bonfire was traditionally a way of showing the great pride and esteem of local heroes, nowadays, with the introduction of strict guidelines and new laws on lighting bonfires – they are now illegal under the terms of the Protection of the Environment legislation – and are subject to conditions as to permits from the authorities.
Transport
Cllr. Cuddy has recently called on Bus Eireann to provide a new Bus service serving the Carnmore, Cregmore, Lackagh, Turloughmore, and Claregalway areas to cater for the early morning working community as well as a mid-morning service capable of serving the more elderly population and return trips each afternoon. Cllr. Cuddy and deputy Grealish have sought a meeting with Bus Eireann for the near future with a realistic expectation of a favourable result and the added benefits of less traffic congestion in the mornings and afternoons.
Information from:
Deputy Noel Grealish 09 1 764 807 or 086 8509 466
Cllr. Jim Cuddy. 087 636 0242
Interior Design- Hints & Tips
Cushions and Beanbags
Cushions can add comfort, colour, style, elegance, or a sense of relaxation to a room. They can be used in many different ways e.g. colours can be matched or contrasted, shapes can be irregular or formal, styles can be floppy or firm etc. You could use plain or patterned fabric and designs that are simple or elaborate. Cushions can be scattered singly or grouped in a rainbow of colours. They can be used to create whatever effect you want.
Cushions and Colour
Cushions add more than comfort to a room. They are great for bringing a room together by combining colours and patterns used elsewhere in the room. For coordinated look, use the same fabric as the curtains or get the same effect by matching them to the wallpaper or upholstery. Cushions, which precisely match the dominant or secondary colour in the décor, are a way of pulling together a room, which has a mixture of colours and patterns.
You could go for the opposite effect, if your room is plain-coloured e.g. used vibrant shades or red, electric blue or acid green for a splash of colour in the décor. For dramatic effect bring together cushions in different shades of the same colour. Or instead you could have contrasting effect e.g. yellows and golds in a blue room or a mixture of both blues and yellows. In a room where the walls and furniture have strong deep colours, use cushions in contrasting paler colours, this will add an area of brightness and lighten the overall effect.
Fabric
The choice of fabrics is as wide as the choice of colours and the different textures also play their part. Try to match the fabric to both the décor and your lifestyle. For example flower-print cotton will look well with country-style pine but not as great with antiques. Just as satin cushions are best suited to a more formal sitting room, than a family room, where children play. Luxury fabrics such as velvet, brocade, satin etc. are best used in rooms decorated in a traditional style. Their heavy textures complement dark woods and plush upholstery. Cotton type fabrics are very versatile and suit a wide range of furnishing styles. Patterned cotton cushions go well with pine or teak wood, while cottons with a clear-cut design suit cane and bamboo furniture. Put plain coloured glazed cotton with contemporary sofas and chairs. Cotton cushions can soften the look of some modern leather furniture.
If you are using lightweight fabrics such as lace, silk, organza, voile, etc you will need to line it for more strength. Dressmaker fabrics can be made up into delicate cushions but they might not wear as well or take a trim such as a fringe.
You could use unusual materials such as suede or even leather for your cushions. Fake fur type fabric could give a touch of luxury to a bedroom. Like mixing colours, you can mix textures e.g. combine brocade and satin cushions for a lighter, but still elegant effect. Because cushions don’t use as much fabric as other soft furnishing projects, you could use a more expensive fabric, or make them from remnants or end-cuts of the curtain fabric.
Cushion Types
Cushions can be made in variety of shapes and sizes. The most common one is the square and it is the most practical. It fits into most styles of armchairs and sofas. For effect use different colours and sizes on the same chair or sofa. Square cushions can also be piped e.g. a contrasting colour – red cushion with green piping or patterned fabric piped with a plain colour. For softer feeling, you can use a frill or two. Round cushions usually look best when combined with square ones, rather than on their own. Bolsters need not be confined to the bedroom, they can be used either end of a sofa or chaise longue. They are finished in different ways e.g. a button or tassel or piping around the circumference. Cushions needn’t be made in the traditional shapes; they can be any shape you want e.g. hearts, diamonds, etc.
Adding piping or frills to cushions is one way of decorating them, but there are many other ways. Ribbons and braids make easy decorations for cushion covers or beads or buttons. Fringing can be used to define the shape of the cushion and to co-ordinate a room, or tassels can be stitched to the cushion’s four corners. Applique is another way to add interest to a plain cushion. It is the art of cutting out shapes and sewing them onto another fabric or you could use iron-on appliques. For example, in a child’s room cut out motifs from curtain remnants and use these. It also gives you the opportunity to use those fabric scraps, which are too good to throw away but not big enough to make anything else. A patchwork cushion is also a way of blending together different colours and patterns which are already used in the room. By using scraps of the curtain fabric in the patchwork the cushion will co-ordinate with the room. A cotton patchwork would look well in a country-style room and a satin one would look lovely on a chair in a bedroom.
Embroidery and tapestry cushions have a long tradition and a special beauty and look well in a traditional style room. Also knitted or crochet cushions in a single colour on a tweed-covered sofa catches the eye. You could go for something very different – painted cushions. Use fabric paints, stencils etc to create a range of looks on plain cushions. Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, or silk work best.
Cushions can be used in practically every room as well as in the garden. In the bedroom they can range from bolsters, pillowcases, window seats, to decorative scatter cushions on the bed. Make the seats of wooden chairs more comfortable in the dining room by adding squab cushions to them. Chests, wooden stools, etc. can be used as seats by adding a box cushion. Even the bathroom can have a cushion, which could be placed under the head, when having a bath.
Floor cushions
Cushions can be more than accessories, create casual seating around the home with colourful beanbags. They are especially suitable for children and teenagers’ rooms and they mould to the shape of the sitter. They can be moved from room to room as needed and will add a burst of colour to a dull corner. Use a durable, easy clean fabric; for small children – make them in bright colours, large geometric patterns or animal prints; for older children – use denim, or unusual stripes and checks.
Box floor cushions are attractive and provide extra seating without taking up too much space. They can also double as a footstool or as an emergency bed for an unexpected guest. Novelty cushions are another option, such as a long snake, giant dice, and dominoes, etc. More complicated novelty cushions can be made in the form of animals, cars, boats, huge apples, bananas etc. These will delight both young and old.
Cushions have been around for centuries and were used for comfort in the early days when the bed was only a slab of marble. By using different colours, fabrics, and styles, cushions can be turned into useful furnishing accessories.
Mary D. Kelly
Decorating Options
(091) 798224
Carnmore Camogie Club
The Camogie season is currently in full swing, and with teams in U10, U12, U13, U14, U16, U18 and junior, the various mentors and teams are busy.
Our U10 and U14 teams fared very well in their respective championships. A very young U10 team had a great run before losing out at the B semi-final stage. The U14’s qualified for the quarter final of the A championship where they went down to a strong Davitt’s team.
The the U14 championship we had Lorraine Crowe, Maria Fox, Jennifer Davoren, Natalie Molloy and Elaine Grealish participating for Galway at U14 tournaments in Cork and Roscommon recently.
The other groups will soon see match action and hopefully give a good account of themselves. For the year to date pride of place goes to our U13’s who captured last year’s 2002 county championship with a thrilling replay win over Ardrahan. This final was cancelled late last year because of poor weather conditions. While conditions were again terrible on the evenings of the draw and replay our girls worked hard and came away with the cup. Despite the weather the team were given a rousing reception on their return home. Full credit to the entire panel of players for sticking with this marathon competition and winning out in the end.
The U13 county winning panel was:
Lorraine Crowe, Maria Fox, Jennifer Davoren, Natalie Molloy, Stephaine M olloy, Elaine Grealish, Adel Grealish, Meabdh Hanley, Andrea Fox, Ciara Joyce, Natasha Tannian, Lisa Kirwin, Grainne McHugh, Sarah Fox, Sarah Devaney, Kate O’Keeffe, Louise Duggan, Niamh Fox, Yvonne Coen, Ailbhe Manning, Shauna Thornton, Michelle Murphy, Roisin Fox and Ciara Conneely.
Team Manager: Pat Fox.
Sponsorship of Club
The club are indebted to Liam Glynn of Centra in Carnmore for generous sponsorship of 2 sets of jersies. Liam made the presentation at a recent club function in honour of our U13 county success. When the club was initially formed back in 1998 Liam also provided the sponsorship. Well done to Liam for his support and wishing him continued success in the future.
Gripe Corner
I wonder how many residents, living on the Galway side of our lovely village, feel as I do, when I endure the daily hardship of walking to the shop/church without the comfort and safety of a footpath. The population of Claregalway has grown to such an extent, that there are literally hundreds of homes within walking distance of the village. Surely it is not too much to ask of our local representatives, to provide us with the basic amenity of a footpath.
Claregalway is approached on three sides, and the Tuam side is lucky enough to have the footpath running right as far as the bridge at the castle. Not so the other two approach roads. With the further development of Church View next to Sli na Bhradan, on the Carnmore Road, the number of people walking to the shops, has the potential to undergo a further massive increase. However, without the safety and comfort of a footpath, the new residents are likely to forego the pleasure of fresh air and exercise and opt for the motorcar.
As for my own side of village, the number of people who would gladly avail of the basic pedestrian facility, are constantly on the increase. So many children who are living within walking distance of the school are transported by car, it is an outright shame. Yet it is only the most determined and single-minded mother who will push her buggy and walk her children down to school.
Then we have the older residents, my self included, who make their daily trip to the Church and the Shops and time is running out for these people. There comes a stage when an older person simply has to stay at home because walking on the hard-shoulder of a dangerous road, with no decent surface underfoot, ceases to be an option. This, I think is the saddest of all.
So, please, pay attention those of you out there, who are in a position to change this situation. Think of the health and safety of the young and the old. This is Ireland in the 21st Century. We are not living in an underdeveloped country or in the dark ages. I urge every person who shares my views to approach Jim Cuddy, our local councillor, and any other individual they consider may be influential. We want footpaths and we want them now.
Mary Casserly
