YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ATHLETIC TO BE A LOCAL HERO

Dear Sir,

In my letter to you entitled ‘hurling stars of Fermoy, which was published in The Avondhu on June 8th, 2006, there was a conspicuous, glaring omission of a star of one of the satellites of Fermoy.

Actually, I didn’t even mention his club, never mind a hurler from that club. The club: Ballyhooly GAA. There are good men and women in Ballyhooly too! The very presence of that star on the Ballyhooly junior hurling team was effective c. 1970s.

John Hartnett, who is now in America, was that local hurling star. He is a former European record holder for the mile. I believe that his name should be added to the original list of ‘some of the past and present hurling stars of Fermoy and the satellites’.

In my letter (letters page, The Avondhu, 8-6-06), I said: ‘To the up to date new generation, I want to say: Keep hurling in a healthy state in the district of Fermoy. To the less talented tryers, I’d say: You don’t have to be athletic at all to be a local hero”.

Yours sincerely,
Tom McAuliffe, One Cool Cat, 13 Cluain Dara, Fermoy

TIME TO HAVE A CLOSE LOOK AT OUR ‘NANNY’ STATE

Dear Editor,

Care homes, convalescent homes, lunatic asylums and different categories of prisons are all institutions that provide accommodation and attention for their inmates or ‘guests’. In most of them it is provided at the tax payers expense.

When councils and other sectors of local government run short of funds and cut backs are needed, care homes for the aged and infirm are targeted and men and women, toil worn and grey who have served their community and country well are expected to sell their assets and pay for their keep or be thrown on the street.

Surely there should be a choice on whom the axe falls when it comes to lightening the burden on the taxpayer. Why should convicted criminals be they political or otherwise enjoy their confinement in ultra posh prison cells, top class catering and men conjugal visits from their patrons and our “do good brigade” keeping a watchful eye that their top class treatment does not wane.

People are committed to prison when they are convicted of criminal activity some of which there is no necessity for, so whilst I agree that prisoners should be treated properly I cannot see why they should not be made to pay for it. Their assets should be frozen at the cost of their stay deducted on completion of their obliged confinement.

You might ask what if he had no assets, a court under lien could be put on further earnings etc. It is time we had a close look at our nanny state. It is time that we weaned off some unnecessary dependents who could afford to pay their dues and get our house in order before the Mahon Tribunal commences supplying some more illustrious guests.

Thank you,
Richard Prendergast, Mondaniel, Rathcormac

MITCHELSTOWN RESIGNS ITSELF

'My dear people',

Let us resign ourselves to the likelihood of having to live with the heavy articulated traffic thundering through the town centre until the Fermoy-Mitchelstown bypass is completed – possibly at the end of 2009.

It would be naive to think that Cork County Council have any intention of doing anything about the current situation.

W.J. Murphy, Upper Cork Street, Mitchelstown