Guth & Tuairim, Meán Fómhair 1982

Tuairim Q..Qrnhair1e na ?ar6ist;l;l . .a.nd .~.ma.tJ&.r..a. I agree with the sentiments expressed by "Green Belly" in his/her letter in last month's edition of 11 Guth Tuairi;n 11 • :terhaps I could add more views on the issue in this article. ::: was told that Com.lw.irle na Par6iste vowed eternal and fraternal co-operation at the inaugural meeting of the Tourist & Trader's Co~~ittee. To issue a public condemnation on Radio na Gaeltachta is, in my books, more of a stab in the back than friendly help. We also heard the Comhairle 1 s hypocritical defence of Irish. For years we have tolerated the scolairf Gaeilge -the thousands who have ·invaded our right to a night's sleep and daytime decorum by their hooliganistic antics - through the mediwn of the Bearla of course. We dared not object because HC were depriving the Bean tf of her income (Hore hypocracy of course - "We would deprive the Bean t[ of crumbs and the teachers and a~~inistrators of easy c~~e). If the Gaeilge was the great cultural and pat– riotic a~s et that the Com.lw.irle maintains it is, then slli~er beds would be full every night. If even half of those hungry hooligans returned '.Jith their pay packets in later years to nurture the fluency in Gaelic that the Colaistf began, then there woul::l be no need for a Tourist Corm.;ittee. The area would be flocked at vTeekends by Gaeilgeoirf coming to relax in their holiday homes. The mna ti would have a booming trade in &~, catering for the passing travellers 1~ho were her care as students. 8 I notice that the Com.'w.irle are also hissing out that jealous serpentine sentiment - "attack the Golden Hile¥ This favourite joke of big mouths has misled ordinary decent Gaoth Dobhair people since the public meeting over ten years ago \.Jhen it \.Jas declared that there would be no sewer in Gaoth Dobhair unless it started in Torr and blasted into the sea from the top of Cnoc ?ola. Result of course was that the authorities had a good excuse to do nothing - the people disagreed - and nothing was done. Seventy eight hauses were being providtd to help the less well-off and the young couples. A phoney protest was msunt:.ed and so the homeless were left in caravans, r:1obile homes ond chnlets. The need for a football field at Ard S.coil Mhuire left us with a Community School with nu football field or ~Jm, a three year delay in the development of that school and a long walk to school for the families of some of the objectors. But the Golden Mile jealousy is having a more sinister and long-term effect on the uea.~er sections of our people. ~iithout a central developed area many poorer families will find that a car ls essential for e~arydny living. Normal development of all areas ensured that essential services were a ll within walking destance. This b'~nefited people on the outskirts as well as those \Jho lived in the centre. In Du.ngloe you can get off the bus and easily walk to the doctor, the chemist, the dentist, the hospital ••••• Tn ::'raoth Dobhair from thG doctor to the d·;nt ist is a fe11 miles. If you don• t get what you want in the Cope in Dungloe you uaLlr acros'' the strest untl.'ot -~an drop intu the butcher's, electrician, chemist, bank, restaurant. The con:Z'ccticner, neusac:;ent, hotel, car rnrk and public convenience a~ at the bottom of the street. 'In :Jaoth Cobht?.ir you 11ould sr:end the daj- walking to hv.lf o:::' these services. If the husband can vTalk to the factor-y the children r.mst 'mlk t~ro miles to secondary school. If yot: live near a doctor, you are two miles frorr. a nurse. L ven the small shops are van.:.shing and supermarket shopp! ng will not be down the road. The foot– ball pitches are so far 8\-Tay that fe>r will to them. Enterta:!.nrnent centres are not adjacent. Not alone must most families need a car, but no proper bus serYice can be developed in the area eventually. Such a service could co-crcEnote the trc.velling times of people as regular Nass - hours enable a good bus service on Sundays. In::;tead \·18 \·till have a multi1:licity of coaches, mini-btmes and taxis, on specific services and too often idle. The place is full of buses but selc.om going your wa:y. i3u.t our rt:eudo-der~ocratic, decentralised, Gaelach, theocrc.tic Comho.irle na f·ar6iste are more interested in airing personcl grievances than tc.kir.g an overall look at the social development of our pr:rish. I assume that tLe 25C:O they collected at the Church gates will be spent on writing all letters in Irish, travelling in cars with a nar:e in ::rish on it 1 s body, refusing to speak in English to the high powered moguls that they meet, issue tre:Lr fUblicity scripts in Irish only, etc, etc. If they are so concerned about Irish they could try e. practical experiment. The official circulu.tion of "Guth 7 Tuai%-im" is known. If the proprietor agrees to write it all in :ri~h Hill the Comho.5.rle no. }ar6iste agree to p~bsidise him if there should be any loss of sales? Fir.1!1lly, people wbo live in stone houses should not thro\1 glass. It is reasonable to assume that people from the Gaelts.cht who condemn the use of EngliRh, should themselves be able to use Irish. The shameful abuse of Irish in thei.r money collecting poster should. make them hide in shame. ~d~(.C.ar.U~~Ue.'lUO.Ii.lll~ .• Q..Q.."1.1i..!Ji.fi.e. Ten ....eeb work ~:as recently completed on the school (Collll.~unity Centre) and the a!:lount o.::' ...,ork done is a credit. :o all ,.,ho were involved. .IUC·hough still far from coCJpleted, it:. has taken on a ver:r respectable shape bot.h :ins' de c.nd cuts lde. As s ::..ated .L"l the last neHsletter ;nost of' the money ob– tained was for labour costs, so a lot more money will be needed to com,.. l ete the project. \-iithin the next couple of month's it is hnped to have the centre nearer comp– letion and any fin1l.!lcial hel;:' ·would be greatly apprec– iated. To reall:' appreci.ate the •.Jork done so far, it w '.!ld be best if the connunity could sec the centre for thea:3elve::;, so o:nybody 1-1ho wishes to look around are wf:lcome to call an ;r.JJ.iz.ht th.El. . Qe_nt,~e- ..i,.:}..~. :::t is hoyed to have the place in o~;eration for ~he /iinter '-lonths cat<:rin;; for the local c omnu.."lity and activities \.Till. incl ,lde whist drives, sports, mee tings, bingo, etc. }eople are asked to P''.t forward any idea 1 s they m~cy: have to assist in the developr.1ent of the Comr:unity Centre, and an:;·body who wishes to join the Development Cor:1nittee are we lcor.1e to come to any of the meetings ;1here there should be no probler.1 in having ther.1 eo-opted. The Youth .:>ocial Co::u.1ittee formed last year has recently disbanded and thrown in their lot with the Developr.1ent C o:;li~i ttee to assist in the development of the Com·.:unity Centre. ~henever the centre is completed it is hoped to concentrate on the development of the running track at Braade which is a badly needed amenity in the area. Yanke·~ 's are an expens i. ve luxury - so reckons a certain yellow capri owner. Was he driving American style ?. Getting ~!arried? For wedding bouquets contact N.D. at lJ4. Good selection at decent prices. '..'hat were :·:argaret, Br[d, Ann :~, Noreen sucking. V 0 ' "A hurler on the fence". An tAthair b Dochartaigh, thar cheann Club Foroige an Eareail ag tabhairt bronntanas do 1 n .b.thair 0 Colm ata i ndie.idh an phar6iste a fhagail. Who were the ~ Burtonport girls who made a hasty exit from the Highlands one Satu~1ay night. Does Ann Ne G. take flovrers to work. What Fortnoo boy sits at the Barrack Brae in Dungloe. Clue: P.\l. Is Bill H. getting married to a girl from the Port? Whose bag does J.3. like carrting in Glenties on Saturday nights. Hichael B. vas spotted building a wall in Annagry at 4 a.m. to keep out the Palestinians • In Dublin's fair city uhere the girls are so pretty Doalty the Baker fell for Holly Nalone •..••••.•