Nenagh today

Dormant Accounts Benefit Tipperary

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:27:00 +0000

An investment of over €90,000 in schools across Tipperary has been welcomed by Deputy Michael Lowry.

The funding is coming from the Dormant Accounts Fund and will be shared among schools participating in the Department of Education’s School Support Programme.

In all 21 Tipperary schools will benefit, among them Thurles Vocational School, Gaile National School near Holycross, Comeragh College in Carrick on Suir and Clonmel Vocational School.

According to Michael Lowry the money will go towards the purchase of a wide variety of I.T equipment such as digital cameras, laptops and educational software.

Bus Route to Portroe??

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:24:00 +0000

Bus Route to Portroe??
A major site in the heart of Portroe village has been placed on the market again. According to the report the site has full planning permission for a 22 bedroom hotel, over 80 houses, a creche, pub and a number of commercial units.
While development in Portroe, which will bring employment and money into the area, is welcomed, it is obvious that with the influx of visitors, traffic chaos in the small village is on the cards. Are we to see a repeat of the Ballina/Killaloe fiasco where traffic problems bring the town to it's knees on a daily basis. If all the projected development becomes a reality will Portroe become another Irish Village choked by the car.
With both the rise in tourism and the rise in people working in Portroe from local area's would regular buses from the bigger towns make a difference. Who know's.
Let us all hope that the rise in population will not bring a rise in disillusionment for the people of Portroe.
The destruction of a beautiful village would be a crime!

Then again as George Santayana once said "Wisdom comes by disillusionment".
Lets hope we don't have to find out.

Nenagh Triathlon Club

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:21:00 +0000

As I read through the local paper I came across this article, which has renewed my faith in the people of Nenagh.
http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/sport/other-sports/triathlon-club-launched-in-nenagh-1166163.html

As you can see from the article a small number of guy's who have a similar interest, in what would be considered in Ireland as a minority sport, have banded together formed what I hope will become an active and vibrant club in our midst. This is the type of community spirit that has been lacking in Nenagh for a number of years, and which makes people who participate in these so called minority sports travel to the bigger towns and cities in search of these much needed clubs. These guy's all have commitments of their own and presumably have dedicated their own time and resources to establishing this club.
They are giving up there time and energy to developing this sport in Nenagh and should be commended for all their efforts. Let's hope that those interested in taking part in Triathlon's make use of the facilities provided.

Let's hope that we all see similar efforts by all clubs in the town and enhance the renowned sporting image of the town.

Best of luck NenaghTriathlon.
Nenagh Triathlon Club

RTE seeking licence fee increase.

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:40:00 +0000

I know that this is not technically a local issue but it does impact on all our lives. RTE once again have sought a licence fee increase. I find this a ridiculious request on their behalf.
Lately it seems that RTE have become a Profit chasing enterprise rather than the national broadcaster for Ireland who's sole job is to provide entertainment and current affairs to the nation.
The standard of Programming has seriously declined in recent years, as more repeats, American television shows and so called reality programming have become the staple diet for TV fans in Ireland. Shows such as the "Carry on" series which have been shown in recent months and also the James Bond series which was played to death, have long since outlived their shelf lives and hold no sway on all but the most diehard fans. Shows such as Tubridy Tonight have tried unsuccessfully to follow the American Chat show Formula, and have in actual fact become a cheap knock off's. While RTE still are the market leader in current affairs and fact based programmes such as "Prime Time" and "Questions and Answers" for example, this Licence Fee increase is just a cinical ploy to increase profits while the programming calibre decreases steadily year by year.

Is it time that we took a stand and asked for a more stimulating line up for the coming Winter season. Is it time that we put more educational programming to the forefront rather that the mindless dribble that seems to be becoming more mainstream every month. Or is it time that we just resigned ourselves to the stark realisation that we are mindless idiots who will watch whatever is placed on the screen in front of us, regardless of the quality.

ESB served with strike notice at MoneyPoint

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:24:00 +0000

The ESB have been served with strike notice.
Pickets could possibly be in place as early as this week and blackouts are also a possibility.

The row broke out when a German sub-contracting company (Lentjes) working for the ESB, contracted out the work to a Polish company (ZRE). The German company anulled the contract which has left the Polish worker in the position where they have not been paid in 6 weeks.

The Polish workers voted unanimously to take strike action.

The Kenyon Comedy Club

noreply@blogger.com (john) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:57:00 +0000

Last thursday night, we had the pleasure of seeing David O'Doherty live in the Kenyon in Nenagh. Having been to a comedy night with Jason Byrne as the headline act a couple of weeks before I was gearing myself up to laugh till my cheeks hurt and as it turned out I did.

David O'Doherty is a breath of fresh air on the comedy scene and is well worth the price of admission. I strongly recommend going along to see him if you ever get the chance as he is what i would describe as a thinking mans comic.
DOD is obviously a very intelligent guy with an outlook on life which can only be described as unique. Not everything went DOD's way as the turnout for the event was abmisal. For a town, that has such a rich history in the Arts we as "Nenites" should be ashamed of ourselves. Every year the Spleodair festival is marketed heavily and yet gig's like this barely deserve our attention.
Does the prospect of 2 hours of sheer entertainment not appeal to us anymore? Have we become so businesslike and straight laced as a nation that we can no longer laugh at ourselves? Has the economic boom in recent years killed the Irish humour?Have we become so reliant on the flat screen TV in the corner, that we would prefer to watch Paramount Comedy than support an Irish Comic live.?

Sad.