Guth & Tuairim, Eanáir/Feabhra 1984

EAGARALT 2 CLOICH CHEANN FHAOLA Politician bashing has become very popular in recent year s . Whether it's bad weather or just plain bad l uck , blame the politicians. We seem to have little interest in the many T.D.'s a nd Ministers who work hard, They deserve the money they get . There are many more who don't work hard. But they receive the same salaries. In some instances t hey also own or are directors of private businesses which are very lucrative indeed. Some are not even full-time TD's. But, are all of us not to blame for this situation? After all, who put them where they are today? Do we not also have the power to change them? In theory, yes. But at election time all High Wims H igh winds, which at times reached hurricane force, created havoc in the area. Many houses lost slates and tiles and some were also structurally damaged. Meanwhile, an Irish army air corps hilicop'Jer brought vital supplies of food and gas to the people of Oilean Thoraf. N fonn muid comhghairdeachas le Conall ODomhnaill as Baile Chonaill a fuair an chead duais agus £150 i gcom6rtas amhrana:lochta fa Phat 0 1 Donnell a reachtaileadh i nGaoth Dobhair ar na mallaibh. Seo rfobh Conall focla galanta ar le sean fhonn. our misgivings seem to disappear under a wave of confident smiles and promises - an airport for Knock, 1 i.mitless employment opportunities for 11 our youth" and virtual autobahns for Donegal. The votes come r olling in, many of the~ n0 doubt for favours received . We pay our politicians for the privilage of getting drains cleared, filling pot holes and providing free services for those who don't really deserve them. Why not let our County Councillors take care of these things at local level and pay i:: ~ Local band Triax have added a keyboard player to their ';;j line-up. He is Thomas O'Sullivan, a photographer from 8 Carn, Donegal who also doubles up on vocals. P:: The senior citizens held their Christmas dinner and m dance in McFadden's Hotel, Gort a 1 Choirce. About 100 ] !~~~~dc~~~z~~~e~e~dp~~~e~!to t~:n:;i~i~~fa~~~ngs by ~ giving out sweets and other goodies. ~ ~h!c;~~~;;m!:~~Pte~sn~=~~~t!yw~:~ni~e~t~PF~~~~;:r~:~~: them a salary from the large amounts going to those i.n the Dail. This would allow the T.D.'s to get on with wh11t they should be doing - working out policies which would be beneficial to the country and bringing our hws and administration up to date. ~ On Wednesday the cubs meet and on Thursday it's the scouts' turn to get together, Basic scout training is now in progress for the first investiture. The Th11t 1 s all very well. But who wants to change things. N 0 te the recent budget. Who could forget it? More tn.x on essential items; the income tax system remaining m11ch the same as it was; a small increase in social welfare, but in July mind you~ Contrast that with t!'Je massive increase of nineteen per cent granted several mon~hs ago to all ministers and T.D.'s. That w11s long before any budget. And then our Tanaiste and the leader of the 11 \!orking class socialist" party (in emotional tones of hurt) condemns all who were so arrogant as to criticise that rise. His Coalition colleagues 3nd the oprosition nodded gravely in agreement. The political point-scoring was temporarily suspenderl while they dealt with an iss11e of such nntional importnnce, There's unity for you! I.et the people tighten their belts while we slacken ours. Politiciami scratch their heads, in wonderment at the meaning of such words as "mortgages", "unemployment" and "hunger.'' At the em! of the day they can put thPir feet un and count their cash in comfortable, expensive ho~es while others provide generous pensions anrl state c3rs. Where has the i<lea of real service to your countr.r gone to? Is this the system we really want? As we sairl, politiciRn bashing is popular these days. Hopefully, these comnents will not be seen as such. We would really love to have some good things to say Rbout them. Perhaps you can see a few good points? Why not let us know. /. Is deas an rm! feiceail go bhfuil R'i'E ag craoladh c lar G'leilge fa' n fhi.le Sea'n ,,.o Riordain dha uair sa tseachtain amhB:in. Beidh fo-theidil a n-us~id an dara oiche doibh sin nqch bhfuil m~ran Gaeilge acu. B' fheidir gur s•o polasa( ur. Duirt fear acu fiu amh:l'in gur choir seirbhls teiliflse i.G- Gaeilge a chuir ar fa'il. Seo rud ata i dhith go crua siocar go bhfuil tionchar chomh mar sin aige ar an sos og, mar choras cumarsaide. Is naireach an uimhir claracha Gaeilge ata ar RTE faoi la'thair. An dtiocfai.dh athru ar seo gan mhoill? ~ 0 tl •rl z group is linked with the old scout troop in Gort a 1 Choirce. The local branch of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association helrl a quiz in the Community school in Falcarrach recently. Three teams took part in the auiz; one from Dunfanaghy, one representing Creeslough and a team from F~lcarrach, The quiz-master was Fr. Patrick McShane P.P. The winners were Falcarrach who were represented by Patrick Francis, Elisabeth Francis, Anthony Carr and Michael Gallagher. Tea and sandwiches were served afterwards and the evening was rounded off with a ceil:l. A dance in aid of the Cloughaneely Marching Bands was held in McFadden's Hotel on 30th December. An Amateur Boxing Cl11b has been set up in Falcarragh, The Cloughaneely A.B.C. is at present training in McCarthy's store. 'i'he club is running a boxing tournament in St. Fionan's Hall, Falcarragh on -Fe_b·- 10 -·____,/ MARRIAGES Congratulations to the following happy couples: Rosaleen McEleney, L 0 ch an Iuir agus Eoin Gillespie, Croichshli. Kathleen Sharkey, Calhame agus John McGeady, Bunaleaca. Grainne Devenney, Rann na Feirste agus Edward McGeady, Dun LUiche. Celia O'Donnell agus Hugh Moy, Burtonport. Mary McMonagle, Fintown agus Connie Gillespie, Anagaire, National Council for the Blind of Ireland The Co. Donegal Branch was founded in 1958. There ·are three Social Workers, Miss E. Gallagher in the South West, Mrs M. Stevenson in lnishowen and the Finn Valley and Mrs L. Gallagher in the North West; they are specially trained to qualify them to teach and care for the 266 blind and visually impaired in the county. They give lessons in Braille, moon and craftwork, both in the homes of their clients and at classes held in Ardara and Buncrana; they distribute radios, 168 are in use and are supplied by the Wireless Committee of the N.C.B.I. There are 8 members of the Talking Book Library. Those with deteriorating vision require encouragement to attend clinics and instruction in the use of Low Vision Aids. The Social Workers refer relevant cases to the Rehabilitation Officer. t---- - ----------r-------------_, There are 12 adults in open employment and the employers are most "An t-Eagarthoir". CRUCK'S CARTOONIST considerate and give great encouragement, our sincere thanks to them. There are 7 in the training workshops. -LL~~~~T~ti~E.~- ~Y~""~~~p,~- 't'~~-T~l-l~AiiiT~)1l~~:._~~~~~~h,:::;::::;---j Children with visual impairment are referred to the Special c RLJC t<. A KEE..H R~ Teacher employed by the Department of Education ; ·23 remain under M~RNS (-\ 'DIRD her supervision in local schools, 10 attend special schools in Dublin. The Social Workers deal with pension and allowance problem:; , housing, meals on wheels, Home Help, etc. ; in these cases they have a close liaison with the local Care of the Aged Committees. Agenerous grant is received from the North Western Health Board ; towards salaries and mileage allowances for the Social Workers (in 1982 they travelled over 29,000 miles between them). Fund raising is vital to ensure the continuation of the work of the Branch. The main source of income is the Annual Church ---+--- -----":-'. '"""'---t,~--t------. __ b___ 1 Gate collection, held in February ; the Buncrana Branch raise £2,000 i-f n r he cr ac R__ c1"l~)an or ht _c_r_acU~_:ji)n in 1982, Ba!lyshannon £810; welcome donations were received from many other fund raising functions.