It’s all our fault, as usual

Sometimes, you can see it coming. You know it’s going to happen, not if, but when. This week, bang on cue, “it happened”.

The good people of Drogheda and Meath are the victims, but if the correspondents in the newspapers and telly are to be believed, the rest of us are to blame. Irish Water (the gift that keeps on giving – I’ve waited ages to use that line), has come up trumps once again, but it’s our fault, as usual.

Now, straight from the outset, I have an admission to make. I didn’t pay my Irish Water bills. I broke the law, ignored the final reminders and ignored the threats to send my details to a debt collection agency. Actually, how they got their hands on those details is a mystery, as I never registered with them in the first place. I didn’t claim any water bill grants or bribes (that’s what it was lads, accept it). I had nothing to do with them in any shape or form. I have a very good reason for this.

This is the 21^st century.  Ireland, like any country in the developed world needs a world class water system. The system that we have in place is antiquated, worn out and needs substantial remedial works carried out. This costs money, a lot of money and it has to be paid for.

Watching the nightly news bulletins and the sight of water tankers, boil only notices and businesses closing down is frankly ridiculous and in my opinion, totally unnecessary.

Why then, did the powers that be invest billions in creating another quango called Irish Water? (Anybody reading this overseas please note that Ireland is burdened with quangos, Google the term).

Irish Water executives got their fat salaries, their generous expenses and their perks, but not one pipe was fixed. Lots of money was spent on a billing system to charge us for our water, but not one pipe was fixed. We read the stories of bonuses being paid, gym membership, taxi bills, company cars, PR companies, Consultants, but not one pipe was fixed. We got those useless water meters connected to our homes, but not one pipe was fixed. People stood up to this nonsense and their reward for their courage was a seat in the back of a paddy wagon, but not one pipe was fixed. The biggest crime of all, in my opinion, was the decimation and destruction of trust, generated and built up over generations between communities and Gardaí. That’s the biggest crime of all. Still, not one pipe was fixed.

Under no circumstances, was I paying for this monstrosity being foisted upon Irish people and their communities. I refused to recognise or accept it and I still do.

People living out in the countryside have always paid for their water and they never let us forget it.  Sorry lads, you chose to live in the country, tough, it goes with the territory. Some of my friends have the most beautiful homes imaginable, in the countryside, fair play to them. However, it comes with a price. My home is in the town, it does the same job, but it’s not quite as swanky. I’m connected to the water system and sewerage system. I don’t have to bother with wells or septic tanks, I don’t have to bother with taxis to get home at night, and we walk to school so we don’t need to pay for public transport. That’s my choice lads, so if you choose to live in the country, with the extra costs and inconveniences involved good for you, it’s not my problem. As I always say, it’s your decision, where you live, now, get over it.

As I said before, I failed economics at school. It was way too complicated for me and I just couldn’t comprehend it. However, I have a fair grasp of how money works, how investment works, how infrastructure needs to be financed and our yearly balance of payments, which helps contribute to that infrastructure.

We pay our taxes, VAT, VRT (apparently that’s illegal, but the powers that be conveniently forget that), USC (what exactly is it for?), PRSI, Motor Tax, LPT. I better stop, I’m running out of alphabet letters.

On 02 September 2016, I sent an email to all our local TD’s, asking them a very simple question. The economists, those that didn’t fail economics, decided that the decision that 13 billion owed by a multinational company was wrong and we don’t want or need it. All I asked was why this was the case and could they explain the rationale behind it to me, as I don’t understand economics.

My replies? Nothing, not one solitary word. Not a word of explanation from any of them. I’m still surprised; I mean they must have gotten the email.

I wonder how many pipes and leaks that money would fix in our water infrastructure?

No, it’s much easier for the opinion piece writers to sit in their leafy offices and blame the rest of us. The usual suspects will appear on Primetime, blaming us. In the meantime, the people in Drogheda and Meath will continue to pay the ultimate price.

And it’s all our fault, as usual.

Trial by media

We lost our dad a few months ago, 4 months ago actually, to the day. He had a huge impact in our lives and as young children; played a massive part in shaping us, in preparation for the future. He managed this, in spite of working very long hours as a lorry driver. One thing he always said was this: “Respect yourself and your good name. You might have a hole in the arse of your trousers, but if your name is good, you can walk any street, enter any room, with your head held high”. To this day, it’s an ethos I carry with me and I know my siblings do too. We try to pass it on to our own children and we hope and pray, they will carry it through their lives. Another thing dad always said was, to do your best; you will make mistakes, learn from them, get up and try again.

At times, I sit down and think back at my mistakes. I actually cringe at some of them and I wonder, sometimes out loud, “did I actually f*cking do that”. I wonder how many people reading this have a skeleton in the closet. Have they a part of their life that causes them embarrassment, regret or deep sorrow. If we were to be honest, I’ll bet most of us have.

It’s called fallibility. It’s that right, that duty, that guarantee, that you will make a mistake. You’ve let your guard down, you didn’t stop for a moment and think, you forgot, you let the moment cloud your judgement.

I have a huge interest in media, writing in particular. I’m involved in a project at the moment where I hope, over the next year or so, that I can apply this interest to other avenues of media, such as web authoring, design and if I’m really lucky, maybe etch out a meagre living. It’s a long way off yet, but as Blackadder would say, “I have a cunning plan”.

It’s an interest that I always had, but never really sat down to expand upon it. Luckily, at a late stage in my life, I got the opportunity to finally get around to it and build upon it.  I’ve been very lucky, through social media, Facebook and WordPress in particular, to find an avenue, to express myself, create debate, offer opinion or raise awareness. Recently, I’ve been given the opportunity and the thrill, to take this interest on to the airwaves, doing discussion on local radio. It is a privilege and an honour to get the chance to engage in media like that.

Every morning, I read through the papers online, as I wait for the caffeine to kick start my system. Sometimes, I feel more and more aggrieved, angry, embarrassed and downright insulted at the stuff produced.

The standards of Irish journalism were always high in my opinion. We left the “gutter press” as we labelled it, to the imported “rags” as we called them. I must admit that there were certain rags that I wouldn’t leave into the house. In actual fact I wouldn’t put them under the dog, as I would respect her too much.

Yesterday morning, as usual, as the very strong morning Kenco ran through my system, I read through a typical Irish newspaper. It’s a newspaper I would hold in very high regard and the paper that I would begin my day with. Some of my favourite sportspeople write for it and despite what people may think, I believe that they try, to be impartial, balanced and well produced.

Yesterday, however, all that changed. Out of respect, I’m not going to reproduce what was written here, but a quick synopsis is as follows.

A young man suffers the horror of addiction. He commits a crime, gets caught, the law takes its course, he has his day in court, admits his guilt and faces the consequences.

You would think that would be the end of it, but no, not in Ireland. Not in the 24/7 scrum for daily sales, shock, click bait, advertising and an insatiable appetite for “news”. No, the “news”paper decided that it should be necessary to publish the young man’s face, name him, shame him, destroy him and destroy his family.  My question is why?

One of the down sides to social media is the “name and shame” culture that has developed. What does it achieve? Does it make us feel any better? Does it solve the problem?

Stubbs Gazette, Tax Defaulters, Court reporting, Social Welfare Fraud, Petty crime or honest mistakes. Be careful, once the law is finished with you, your sentence is only beginning. I was involved in a debate recently and everybody was unanimous, that naming and shaming is wrong and solves nothing. It doesn’t happen too often, that everybody agrees like that.

Have you children? Who cares. Have you parents? Who cares. Have you extended family? Who cares. Have you friends? You’re about to find out, very quickly.

Addiction is an illness, proven so,  by people much more clever and educated than me. It’s so easy to sit down in the cold light of day and pass judgement. I wonder how many children walk in to their parents or career guidance teacher, with the following plans for the future:

I want to wake up frozen cold, soaked in my own vomit and urine. I want to feel the agony, as my bones ache for a narcotic fix. I want the pain of hepatitis and HIV. I want my head to feel like it will explode for the want of cheap alcohol. I want to be despised by society. I want my parents to cry at night, as they feel like failures and as they feel my pain. I don’t ever wish to feel the luxury of a roof over my head, the warmth of a nice fire, the pleasure of a warm coffee. I’d rather be sitting on my cardboard box in a doorway near the methadone clinic, hopefully the wind won’t be as cold at night and hopefully the late night revellers will leave me be. I’d rather steal money than work, alienating me from the few friends that I have. I want to destroy the love my family and friends always provided me with.

When all that is done, I’d really like my name and picture on the papers, so that whatever tiny hopes of redemption, recovery or future I may have is well and truthfully ruined. For good measure, the papers will add it to their social media sites too, just to make sure my life is ruined. Then, the so called, pillars of society will have their say, the trolls will have their say and let’s not forget the keyboard warriors, it wouldn’t be fair to leave them out would it.

I don’t think that many of the children on their summer camps, on holidays or just chilling out today, will see any of the above as the next step in their lives. However, one mistake, one ill-judged moment, can lead to catastrophe. Redemption, is at the whim of a newspaper editor.

In the meantime, we will line up outside our newsagents, waiting like vultures, to see “who made the papers”. It’s disgusting, immoral, unnecessary and most certainly un-Irish. Irish people always stood up for their family, their neighbour or their friend.

As I said at the outset, my dad drilled respect into us. Respect for ourselves, respect for our family, our friends and our neighbours. He would also be the first to offer help, when we made our mistakes (and we made plenty of them, actually still doing it).

We live in different times now and it’s not all good. Now, you make a mistake, you get up and try to shake yourself down, but it’s harder. People who make mistakes, quickly find out who their friends are. Family will always stand by them, no matter what, that’s what parents in particular do.

Another thing my dad said was “There, but for the grace of god, go I”. Let’s not be so quick to rush to judgement.

Please like us, because we don’t really like ourselves.

Recently, I was taking part in a local radio programme. The effects of Multinational companies on small Irish communities was the topic of discussion. I threw in my tuppence worth, that overall I support them; we need them, but not at any cost. I make no secret of my preference to support Irish companies first and foremost. Even when I shop in a multinational supermarket, I always insist on buying Irish. It’s not meant to be patriotic; it’s a duty in my opinion.

Lots has been written over the last few weeks of our new Taoiseach (our new Prime Minister, to anybody reading this overseas). He has arrived on the scene with great gusto; he has his weekly video thingy where he tells us mere mortals of the goings on in the corridors of power. He has visited Westminster, he welcomed the Canadian PM here, on a state visit. Rumours are rife that Pres. Trump will be visiting at some stage, so people will have their own opinions on that one I’m sure. The Taoiseach has been featured on the front cover of Time magazine too, which is no mean feat. I have to admit, he seems like a fairly nice person, although I have never met him.

You know, I’ve just read back through those two paragraphs and if I was the reader, I’d be asking the question, “Where is he going with this?”

Let me explain so. In the affore mentioned radio programme, I spoke of my annoyance at some of the fawning, genuflecting and bending over backwards that we do, when big corporations send their representatives to visit or when a VIP / celebrity comes to visit.

It’s this “please like us” attitude, where we come across as a small little puppy, trying to be all cute and cuddly, wanting to be picked up, given a little tickle, a rub and a treat, in the caveat of a few jobs or some FDI ( Foreign Direct Investment –  the abbreviation is economist lingo), that really rubs me up the wrong way.

In return, like an even cuter little puppy, we’ll offer loads of little licks, we’ll put on our little adorable face, we’ll lie over, beg, sit up and we’ll be cuter than ever. We’ll be cute in the form of low corporation tax and we’ll move mountains to facilitate your every whim. You want it, you get it.

We will put a hurley in your hand (MS Word prompts a spell check here, it’s never heard of “hurley”, like most people on the planet) and do a photo shoot. We’ll put the photo on the front page of the newspapers tomorrow in a cringing display of our love and affection. If you’re really famous or well acquainted, we’ll give you a pint of a rather famous beer and publish another photograph, with a little bit more cringe added. We hope you don’t mind, that’s the way we do things.

You see, as nations go, we’re pretty much the new kids on the block. We’re new to this stuff and whether it’s down to the years of colonial rule or whatever they call it, we still have a massive inferiority complex. We want to be loved,

Overall though, life’s good, right? I mean, the sun has come to visit Ireland this summer and we love it. The beaches are packed, children are outside, and we’re laughing at all the suckers that paid a fortune to go to the Costa Del Crime. Those small businesses that I’m always on about are having a good upturn in fortunes, so life’s good, right? I genuinely hope they are and once again, I would urge people to support your local small business.

So, about my genuflecting and little puppy comparisons. Am I being unduly harsh? Am I being unfair? Why am I always negative? Can I not just leave things be and accept it? I mean I can’t change the world?

The answer to all the above is NO. You see, that’s another Irish trait. Just shut up, be a good boy, say nothing and be quiet.

As a keen bike rider, I have taken full advantage of the beautiful weather we’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks / months. I’ve amassed almost 4000km on the road since May and climbed the equivalent of Everest 4 times. Not bad for a 50+ year old, with zero sporting pedigree or natural ability. I’ve seen it all over a few weeks, both as a driver with 34 years’ experience and as a bike rider and I regret to say, it’s getting worse. “What’s getting worse?”, you ask. Attitudes, manners, respect, courtesy, need I go on?

I’ve received a few “punishment passes”, where a driver deliberately passes close, despite there being ample room. I’ve had the obscenities screamed at me to “get the f*ck off the road you Lycra clad b*stard” (That was from a young lad of about 6 or 7 years of age yesterday near Dungarvan. Hanging out the back window of their 152 D 4WD, as daddy laughed in the driver’s seat. I’d say he has a good future, wouldn’t you)

Irish roads are possibly among the most lethal in Europe. Actually, I’m wrong there, the roads are perfect. We have a motorway system that ranks among the finest anywhere in the world. Modern vehicles are among the best ever built, a pure marvel of engineering, science and ingenuity. Yet, the statistics are damning. A quick look at the Garda Traffic Corps website makes for grim reading. The site hasn’t been updated since April (I wonder why), but here’s the reality:

	January	February	March	April
Killed	15	11	20	8
Drink Driving	616	671	712	No records
Dangerous Driving	242	241	296	No records
Mobile Phone Usage	1,904	2,180	2,673	No records
Speeding	13,159	11,168	13,407	No records

 

Since the records stopped, a further 9 people were killed in May, 14 people were killed in June, we’re at 5 so far in July.

Please note, the records don’t make any reference to the amount of people seriously injured or maimed for life. A sobering reality then (absolutely no pun intended).

In the meantime, individuals, that should know a lot better, think it’s okay to drive after a few drinks. They would even sit on an airplane, if the pilot was after drinking. Lunacy, but they stand in front of TV cameras and try to justify their misguided opinions. You honestly couldn’t make that stuff up.

It would be impossible not to have noticed the illegal dumping in Ireland, over the last while. Some of our most scenic woodlands and mountains have now been desecrated by old tyres, bed mattresses and old televisions. The regular sight of black bin bags of used nappies is now becoming the norm. (As a case in point: Do people not realise you can take most of these items to recycling centres like the facility in Cashel and dispose of them for free, that’s right FREE)

Yesterday, I biked from home to Clonea Beach, just outside Dungarvan. As the sun beamed down, I picked up a gentle breeze from the prevailing trade winds on my back, it was an absolute pleasure. (My little 6 or 7 year old friend aside).  Dungarvan is one of my favourite towns and I seldom need an excuse to visit. The added bonus of the wonderful Waterford Greenway, just makes it a must call on everybody’s summer itinerary.  A coffee at the Gold Coast Resort followed and then my gang phoned that they had arrived at Clonea Beach, in the car, about 5 minutes away. I went over to meet them along the little myriad of cycle paths and ultimately on to the fabulous cycle path that leads right to the beach. Talk about doing it right, this isn’t just right, it’s perfect. Note to County Councils and planners, head down; take a look at how it should be done. It’s probably not over fashionable to praise planners and elected officials, but credit where it’s due. This job is magnificent, proved by the amount of people, especially children using it.

My joy was short-lived though. As I arrived at the car and began to put my bike up onto the roof rack, the pungent stink of a used nappy stirred my nostrils. Right beside me, it lay, directly where people were walking from the beach. This, despite there being a bin 20 or 30 yards away. The beach was similar, with the usual array of items (some too disgusting to mention) thrown on the beautiful sands, for somebody else to pick up or for Mother Nature to clean, when the tide came in. I’m sure the creatures in the ocean were very thankful to us human beings last night.

As Irish people, we love to be loved. We love to be perceived as the good guys, the land of the thousand welcomes and all that ould guff. Personally, I can’t stand it and it makes me cringe.

We’ll drop down onto our knees to Kings, Queens or Corporations bearing gifts. (We’ll probably try to find a bit of Irishness in them too, for an extra bit of embarrassment).

As for our own, we’d happily spit in his or her eye.

 

 

South Tipp Cycling Club to host Polygon Enduro Series, Rd 5

We are very lucky in this area to have an abundance of clubs and groups to keep us busy. From major interest such as the GAA and Soccer, we have a richness of clubs looking after some of the minority sports. As a resident of Cahir, it’s wonderful to see the river Suir in use again through the local rowing club. Good friends of mine are involved with young children through Karate. It’s a sport I fully believe in, teaching self-discipline and self-defence, especially to young children. We have a thriving golfing community out in Cahir Park, which goes from strength to strength. Add in the local horse and pony riding community and it’s safe to say that most, if not all, tastes are catered for. For generations, children in particular, only had one or two choices, when it came to sport. As parents of a young child that has no sporting interest of any sort, it’s brilliant and much appreciated to see that he has a few more options.

One local club in particular, are going from strength to strength though. They are raising the bar when it comes to their sport and show just what is possible through hard work, interest and dedication.

I’m talking about South Tipp Cycling Club. A few weeks ago, I approached the start line for The Grand Fondo, Northern Ireland, in Belfast. About 50 meters or so away, I spotted a few of the lads, representing the area and of course, their club. At the Ring of Kerry, the lads are there. The Rebel Tour, The Kelly Tour of Waterford, The Emergency Services Cycle, in fact you name it, any event, big or small, the lads are there.

A few weeks ago I was out on a training spin and as I headed for the Vee, I heard the chatter and laughter at the school yard in Clogheen. It was national bike week and sure as hell, the lads were running a course for children. They run regular events, taking children out on the road, teaching them the basic but vital skills of road awareness, bike control and safety.

They have a few young lads racing (and getting results) every week, all over the country. If these lads were getting similar results in other sports, they would probably be lauded all over the community, but alas, in minority sports, recognition is hard to come by.

Mountain biking is one of the newest forms of biking to come along in recent years. It’s on the increase here in Ireland and South Tipp Cycling Club are at the forefront in the locality, taking advantage of the wonderful woodland and hills that we have on our doorstep.

A link up with Cahir Media, concise use of social media and a strong sponsorship with Morrisons BMW, the lads have a very strong brand and they are not ashamed to show it. More power to them for it.

So, the future for the club is very bright though and I for one applaud them, for their vision, hard work and ideas.

So, with all this stuff going on, you’d expect the lads to sit back and take it easy, right? I’m afraid not, nothing of the sort in fact. If anything, the lads are even looking for more things to do, more involvement, more work and ultimately, more stuff for the rest of us to enjoy.

This week, the lads have announced a round of the Enduro Series. Taking part in Scaragh Wood, just outside Cahir, on October 8^th, this promises to be a sensational event.

It’s the Polygon Enduro Series Round 5 event, run by local clubs and the aim is to encourage everybody, regardless of age or gender to give it a try. The success of the event is measured, based on the feedback received from those who participate.

Enduro in its most basic definition, is a type of mountain bike racing where the downhills are timed, and the uphills are not. Riders are timed in stages that are primarily downhill, with neutral “transfer” stages in between. The transfer stages usually must be completed within a time-limit, but are not part of the accumulated time. (My huge thanks to Alan Kennedy for this bit)

As a total “noob” in mountain biking, I definitely plan to head out for a look. I must be honest though and say that I’m a total chicken, when it comes to mountain biking. Like any sport though, you get out what you put in and I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

So far a number of clubs have hosted rounds of the series for the first time. The events in Galway MTB and Bree MTB were a huge success. In between, there was a round of the series at the World renowned Ballyhoura, again to huge success. So, there’s no doubt that the South Tipp Cycling Club event will be just as successful.

Talking to one of the lads this morning, he told me that the event had 50% sold out overnight, so I think that says a lot.

I’m a firm believer in supporting local, whether it’s goods and services, or whether it’s in sport. I think we could all do a lot worse than head out to Scaragh Wood on the 8^th October and give the lads a bit of support.

It wouldn’t be possible to organise and run an event of this magnitude, without the huge help and co-operation from Coillte.

Can I take this opportunity to wish the lads all the very best in their endeavours and roll on the event.