Congratulations Ann
Congratulations to Ann Ingle on being awarded her honours degree from Trinity College. Ann set out on the road to further study six years ago in Ringsend Tech where she studied for her Leaving Cert. She achieved this at her first attempt. Then it was on to a Pre-University Course for the second year. After that she was accepted by Trinity College as a mature student and spent the last four years pursuing her degree in English and History.

Ann, as we all know, has participated in many community ventures over the years. We in News Four are particularly delighted for her as Ann is the founding Chairperson of Sandymount Community Services.

Congratulations Ruairí
Congratulations to our local T.D. Ruairí Quinn on his recent election as leader of the Labour Party. He has represented our area for the past twenty years, being first elected in 1977.

Ruairí has described the late Seán Kennedy of Ringsend as his political godfather. They were both founding members of the Ringsend Branch of the Party. In those days Seán was a stalwart supporter of many community initiatives and taught Ruairí the ropes of local politics. And of course, Ruairí has not looked back since!

It is fitting that Ruairí was instrumental in getting the social housing initiative beside St. Brendan's Cottages dedicated to the memory of the late Seán.

Special Thanks Quinnsworth Sandymount
Special Thanks must go to Ken Reilly manager of Quinnsworth and his helpful staff for their support of Lakelands Convent, the local Conference of St. Vincent de Paul and Sanymount Boys F.C. All have benefitted from the generosity of Quinnsworth. Lakelands Convent have received a cheque for £245.88 under the plastic bags returned scheme. This operates by giving 1p per bag which is brought back to the store and re used by the customer. While the St. Vincent de Paul have received shopping vouchers to the value of £1000. The Sandymount Boys benefitted to the tune of over £600 by giving of their time to packing groceries for one evening. The loose change from the customers made up this very welcome fundraising for the lads. Ken looks forward to continuing Quinnsworths involvement in community causes.

Harry Mapother RIP
The recent death of Sandymount shopkeeper, Harry Mapother, was a sad loss to our community. It would be fair to say that he was an institution in our Village. Long before community development became buzz words, his shop was a social service for local news and happenings.

On a practical level, Harry served his time on the Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association in its founding years. His shop served as an administrative and public relations headquarters for it's work. His generous sponsorship in supporting many community ventures was always appreciated by hard pressed fundraisers.

It is a pity that Harry did not survive long enough to enjoy his well deserved retirement with his wife Lilly, who ran the shop with him over the last 45 years. To Lilly we offer our sincerest condolences on behalf of all our community. May he rest in peace.


News Four Animal Warmth all Year
Irish people read on average nearly one newspaper per day per head of population. What an immoral waste it is to burn all these papers or to send them to the tiphead! Is there any use we can put them to?

A number of people have come up with suggestions. Shredded newsprint can be recycled to make more paper, to make papier maché for children's crafts or you can roll up the old newspapers into knots to put under the hearth.

But Minister of State for the Environment, Dan Wallace T.D. and Louis O'Neill, Chairperson of National Newspapers of Ireland, have found a fascinating use for this shredded newsprint - to use as bedding for farm animals. Animals prefer sawdust, hay or straw as an option but, unlike these, shredded newsprint can be available all year round.

Happy 90th Birthday George
George Redmond celebrates his 90th birthday with a surprise party organised in his honour by the Bath Avenue and District Residents Association in the Mount Herbert Hotel (l-r) Marie Gavigan, Peggy Kearns, George himself, his son John and Ann Keating. A great night was had by all with Maureen Siggins, Eileen Canning, Ann Russel and Kitty Crowe adding to the celebrations . George as we all know has been a stalwart member with BADRA over many years. He was Chairman for nine years and still holds the Vice Chair.

Ringsend Drugs Update
There is no sign of a permanent home for a drugs support unit in Ringsend. Difficulties have arisen when potential premises have come on stream. The project moves on with the appointment of a co-ordinator before Christmas. There are plans to have another public meeting early in the New Year to inform local residents of what options are left now that premises have become a major difficulty.
If you or any member of your family are experiencing difficulties with drugs contact the Outreach Support Group which meets in Ringsend Community Centre on Friday evenings.


Choking!
God forbid you have to use the following instructions over the Christmas. But please read them carefully as you would never know when they will come in handy. If the person in difficulty is having great difficulty breathing, it is a partial blockage. but if they begin to turn blue, its a deadly situation as no oxygen is going to the brain. The response to this is to stand the person up and put their head below their chest. Before doing so check to see if you can see the blockage. Never poke around blindly in anyones mouth as you can or maybe tighten the blockage, especially with children. After you have the person bent over, give them five to six hard slaps between the shoulder blades, if this fails, use abdominal thrusts. To do this, stand behind the person and put both your arms around them, interlocking your hands at the base of their ribcage, then pull quickly inwards and upwards simultaneously up to five times. This method should never be done on small children. If this fails, do both five slaps and five thrusts. For babies, you should hold them face downwards along your arm and use just slappings. If this fails, turn them over and in the same position, give them abdominal thrusts using only the tips of two fingers, and by no means the same pressures as for an adult.

Compliments of the Seasoning
Research conducted independently in two London hospitals has shown that high blood pressure is greatly reduced where the intake of salt is low. This is a major breakthrough in research into heart disease and strokes. The findings of the research are verified by the fact that the results agree exactly with each other.

So, readers take note: how about a little less of the Christmas seasoning?

A Quest From Heaven
A Tribute to Padraig Martin
by Dr. Victor Fennell in memory of the late Ringsend Chemist Padraig Martin RIP
I asked for two things in life and now I know I asked for nothing. First I asked that life be simple but honest, with the odd variance which added excitement, I intended to expand but God saw differently.
Now I understand.

Life is a chance to find out, to build hopes; I achieved the first two and nearly achieved the third.
Then God stepped in, Why? I do not know but I hope his plans are better than mine. Friends I have been lucky with, enemies I sincerely hope and believe I created none. If I made any, please forgive me. I muddled from time to time. Confidants I have few. Those I have remain deep in my heart and now in their memory. My life was in books and my friends. To those I helped "Good Luck." To those I might have helped "Sorry." To those I missed "See You." To those I loved "I still love You."

My life was short, I am now with God and happy for myself. My life was a quest for knowledge and now I know it all.

Would that all I love were here.
Padraig.

Retirement of Martin Darcy
Best of luck to Martin Darcy from Ringsend who retired from the Irish Glass Bottle Company earlier this month.

Martin, who joined the company almost 49 years ago, began his time in their factory on Ringsend Bridge. He spilt his service between the I.G.B.'s various factories before moving to his last port of call the bottle house on Seán Moore Road.

After almost a half a century of work, Martin can now look forward to sipping pints in The Yacht as a man of leisure.

Best of luck in a relaxing, well earned retirement.

The Royal National Lifeboat of Ireland
R.N.L.I.
The Royal National Lifeboat of Ireland recently staged a film show at Wynnes Hotel, in Dublin to raise awareness of the voluntary work done by it's members. It dealt with the complexities of running their 43 boats from 37 Stations all over Ireland. Last year, there were 697 launchings, and 133 lives saved. They showed a film called "Call Out" and the coxswain of the Dun Laoghaire Life-Boat was there, to answer any questions. The Institute is totally voluntary, and relies on it's 'Flag days' and 'orange boats' situated mainly in Yacht clubs and public houses. Ringsend has a collection point in almost every outlet. Ringsend also has the honour of having one of the first life boats in the British Isles, there was once a life-boat positioned and built down at the Great South Wall in 1886, four years before the R.N.L.I. came into existence. Dermot Desmond is the current Area Organiser, and he is based at their H.Q. at 15 Windsor Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. He is always looking for new members to help out at flag days and other events. Ringsend has had its own collectors for the last fifteen years, namely 'Fisher' Daly and Christie Lawless, plus any amount of help from the locals.

Tall Ships and Carnival in Ringsend for 1998

August 1998 will be an important date. Ninety-or-so "Tall Ships" competing in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race will finish in Dublin on 22nd of that month. Custom House Quay will become a huge street carnival, with fireworks and street theatre to add to the festivities.

Having sailed from Falmouth to Portugal and back to Dublin, this impressive array of sailing ships will dock at the mouth of the Liffey. It will be an honour just to finish, no matter what the placing.
Ringsend will honour the occasion with similar street carnivals and celebrations. The irrepressible Charlie Murphy of Regal House has these plans ready to roll in 1998.

130 Years as a Parish Church
By Michael Thompson
Archbishop of Dublin, Rev. Dr. Walton Empey, concelebrated the Holy Eucharist in St. Bartholomew's Parish Church in Ballsbridge on 8th October this year to mark the 130th Anniversary of the opening of the Church.

The all-male choristers led the worship in the packed church with beautifully sung hymns and anthems.

Archbishop Empey referred to the beautiful paintwork and stained glass and said that, even though the Scriptures say that "God does not dwell in temples made with human hands" but lives in human hearts, it is difficult not to feel a sense of reverence in such a beautiful, awe-inspiring building in which generations had praised God for over a century. "One can feel the sense of reverence that has come after years of worship in this place."

In a gesture of hospitality to those present we were offered a refreshing option of wine or Ballygowan in the former vicarage next door after the worship.

Drink and Drive - Safely!
There are now over 32 Irish companies bottling and selling "spring water," one for every green county in Ireland. Drinking spring water in Irish pubs is no longer unusual - in fact, it is now even more acceptable than drinking alcohol.

So, there's no need to pay exorbitant taxi fares or to run for the "nitelink" bus at 3 am. You can drink and drive - safely this Christmas.

Make Motorists Pay!
Mr. Michael McDonnell, Chief Executive of CIE, has proposed a range of measures designed to keep motorists out of the city. These measures include a punitive licensing fee, a substantial rise in parking rates and reviewing the tax incentives for building multi-storey car parks in the city.

After all, why should motorists have to pay to cross the East-Link and West-Link Bridges, which relieve the city of traffic, while those who foul up the city's streets can do so without penalty?
According to Mr McDonnell, "The most consistent defect in public transport is frequency and certainty about journey times." He maintains that the idea of Quality Bus Corridors could be expanded.

And, he says, why not encourage employers to give their employees Public Transport Vouchers and have these vouchers allowable as expenses against tax?

Wicklow Regata Early 1950s
Back Row (l-r) Mary Harney, Noel Beck, Etta Shea, Aileen Shea, Dina Shea, Tommy Donaldson, Cathline Donaldson, Rose Heaney, Rosie Shea, ?, Betty Purcel, Mrs. Hawkins.

Children in front: Paul Donaldson (small child), Billy Egan and Marie Egan.

St Matthews
They have met for the past twenty years at least once a year to have a chat and give mutual support to one another. The mothers all met when their children started out together in school at St. Matthews.

The recent little celebration certainly showed that old friends are best! To mark the occasion of twenty years together a special presentation was made to Joyce Byrne for all her organisational skills in keeping everyone in contact over the years.

When Depression Hits
The Christmas holiday, so often a time of joy and family celebration, can have another side to it. Many people find that it can be a time of loneliness and sadness.

According to statistics, one third of the population suffer from clinical depression some time in their lives. Warning signs include feelings of anxiety, tiredness not helped by sleep, disturbed sleep patterns, anorexia or bulimia, difficulties in concentration, unwarranted feelings of guilt or dreams of suicide. Everybody experiences some of these feelings at some time, but when they all come at once, it may be a danger sign.

But that is not the end. Many have learned to cope with these feelings through agencies such as Aware. Members of Aware have found that just to express one's emotions in a caring and empathising environment can make such a difference.

Christmas Art in Dublin
By Michael Thompson
Works of art are becoming more and more acceptable as Christmas presents. Artists' work can be seen in a greater number of locations around Dublin.

The railings of some of Dublin City's squares have become massive art galleries, appealing to both visitors and residents of Dublin. Besides this, a number of family-run smaller galleries have sprung up in recent years.

So appealing are works of art that Brown Thomas in Grafton Street has pioneered the first "Art Supermarket" in this state. They have selected 50 skilled artists to display their talents on the top storey of their store.

The idea of an Art Supermarket has already been introduced across the water in Great Britain with some success. Each artist has on display one framed specimen with another 40 or so of their paintings mounted, ready for sale, stacked beneath it.

However, not all artists or purchasers are pleased with the idea, saying that paintings stacked in such a way cannot be adequetely appreciate., So it looks as though the magnificent displays that have graced the railings of Merrion Square and St. Stephen's Green over recent years are set to stay.

So, some people aren't dreaming of a white Christmas as they brave the winter weather seated beside their works of art displayed on the railings. Why not try them this Christmas.

New Years Resolution tips from A.A.
By Larry Pullen
Maybe, for the umpteenth time, your New years resolution will be to stop drinking. Youv'e tried probably many a time, and all to no avail.

Here are a few pointers taken from the Main Book of A.A. If you adhere to these, it can probably work this time. The first, is to eat more, as much as you can, you will feel less like drinking when you have a full stomach. Alcohol destroys your supply of Vitamin B. Take plenty of Vitamin Tablets, especially Vit B compounds. They are not habit forming, and you don't need a prescription to get them.

If you do get a craving for drink, which is usually due to the body's demand for liquid, a craving that is pretty strong, drink plenty, not alcohol of course, but fruit juices, tea, coffee, these should take care of your body's demand for liquid.

A feeling of depression can be the result of being physically out of sorts, so keep your system regular.

Never sit gazing into space with your mind a complete blank. Do something , anything positive.

(a) Go for a walk.
(b) Take a bath.
(c) Have a shave.
(d) Do a bit of gardening.
(e) Clean your shoes.
(f) Make some phonecalls, any of these will get you out of your moody period. The people whom you call may just be in the same rut as yourself, and so you are helping them also.

Have a plan for the day, don't just muddle through. You may not be able to carry it all out, but do your best.

Easy does it. Alcoholics tend to try to do everything too much, too quickly.

First things first. Get your priorities sorted out, remembering that sobriety takes precedence over everything else.

Losing your temper is a luxury you can't afford. Remember it's even possible the other person could be right, so be tolerant and avoid emotional disturbances.

There is no problem which a drink will not make bigger, so keep yours down to to their true size by staying sober.

In times of difficulty when you can't get help, the Serenity Prayer said to your GOD as you understand Him will bring you sufficient confidence to cope. He is always available. So this time ,God willing, you can maybe beat it. Happy New Year.

Christmas Holly
In some Scandinavian languages, the name for "Holly" is translated "Christ thorn." But the religious significance of the Holly goes back long before the coming of Jesus Christ.

It is a shrub which stays green and bears its fruit even in the coldness of winter. It has therefore come to symbolise immortality, defying hardship and the threat of death.

In the eyes of those who were more vulnerable, the sharp prickles were said to repel witches and demons which may have been seeking a refuge from the mid-winter cold. Holly was hung in a wreath on the door or over the entrance to the home to ward off evil spirits.

But, when the Christian influence of the last two millennia came to be accepted by the Western world, the significance of the Holly changed. The prickles of the Holly leaf are said to represent the crown of thorns that Christ wore on the cross, and the berries to be a picture of the blood He shed.

And, in partnership with its evergreen friend, the Ivy, it has also come to symbolise the love of man and wife, a lifetime courtship that defies the emotional coldness of winter and replaces it with the rich, green tenderness like that of Holly and Ivy.

St. Matthew’s Tree Planting
The Millennium Urban Forest Campaign kicked off again with a new season of tree planting in Sandymount. The Millennium Urban Forest Campaign is a unique environmental project sponsored by Bord Gáis in association with Conservation Volunteers Ireland (CVI).

St. Matthew's National School, Sandymount was identified as the first tree planting site of the new planting season and is one of the four new locations scheduled for planting in coming months. It is hoped that a total of 148 trees will be planted at St. Matthew's.

Between now and the millennium year, 50,000 trees are to be planted throughout areas of Dublin. The project is not just about planting trees in parks and leafy suburban areas but on wastelands, housing extates, in schools, along roadsides or anywhere it is suitable for trees to grow.

Melanie Hamilton of Conservation Volunteers Ireland appealed for local residents to support the Millennium Urban Forest Campaign. More information is available from Paul McSharry of Conservation Volunteers at 01-6614666 Tree Planting at St. Matthew's were (l to r): Ms. Melanie Hamilton, Executive Director, Conservation Volunteers Ireland; Aoife Coll, aged 7, of Sandymount and Aisling Barry, aged 7, of Sandymount.

21 Years of Irish Sudden Infant Death Association
Although the number of Cot Deaths has fallen in recent years, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome still accounts for four in every ten deaths among children.

This year see's the twenty first birthday of ISIDA, Irish Sudden Infant Death Association. To mark the event a memorial has been erected in memory of all children who have died from cot death at Malahide Castle, Co Dublin.

ISIDA's public awarness campaigns advise parents that babies should not sleep face down, they should not be subjected to cigarette smoke and should not be let get too warm.

A very lucky escape at the recent fire of the lorry carrying potentially dangerous hospital waste from the Waste to Energy company on the Grand Canal Basin Quay

Pearse Park
By Larry Pullen
Pearse Square Green has always been known as Pearse Park to the local Community. I say this because on enquiring to Dublin Corporation Parks Department about plans for a new 'Centre-Piece' and amenities for the children to play. To support a request for a memorial to Padraig Pearse I organised a questionnaire to see what the locals wanted. They all seemed to be in favour of the centre-piece being to the memory of 'Padraig Pearse', and one quarter being set aside for a play area for young children.

Dublin Corporation told me they had not even contemplated a centre-piece, and as for a playing area, that could be incorporated later. Padraig Pearse has no statues to his honour in his namesake Street. Tourists who come to Dublin want to see some of our heritage and certainly 1916 was a turning point in Irish history to say the least.

Planning my Future
Brainwave, otherwise known as the Irish Epilepsy Association, announces a Pre-Employment Training Scheme called "Planning my Future," for young adult sufferers, based in Griffith College. The course is specifically tailored to meet the needs of epileptics.

The project will be run over six months. Trainees must be registered with the NRB. The next session starts in January 1998.

Adult Education
Starting in St. Andrew's Resource Centre in the new year are another Personal Development course and a Flower Arranging course. Other courses are continuing, including Creative Writing, Art, Certificate in Psychology, Basic English and Maths and Leaving Cert History. Most of these classes still have places available for those joining the courses in January.

Literacy Classes in St. Andrew's are run on a one-to-one basis and they also run training in Computers.

People who are long-term unemployed or receiving Social Welfare benefit may be entitled to a waiver of the fees, subject to sanction by the Department.

Thanks from Sandymount Variety Group
Sandymount Variety Group want to put on record their appreciation for all the support they received for their recent production in Marian Hall, "The Boy Friend." The generosity from patrons and friends and the locals who attended the show made sure that the venture was a success.

The Group also run a FÁS sponsored Community Employment Project giving locals a chance to re-enter the world of work and further training. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Sandymount Variety Success In jubilant form at the recent performances of The Boyfriend by the Sandymount Variety Group (l-r) Director Stephen Biddulph, Stage Manager Peter O’Donaghue, Props Una McCarthy and Emma Farrell and cast member Lorraine O’Connell

Look Bertie, it will fit you!
Jim McNaughton, Managing Director of Tilestyle Ltd. presents a Clanna Gael Fontenoy tracksuit to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern while Frank White looks on.

Tour en Irlande
The decision to hold the opening stages of the Tour de France in our country next year is a great honour.

The Tour starts off on 11th July with a relatively easy cycle around greater Dublin. The second day will comprise of a more difficult route around the Wicklow Mountains, returning to finish in the Phoenix Park. Then, before the cyclists leave Ireland, the third stage brings them from Enniscorthy to Cork.

Hopefully, we will have good weather for the three days, so that the tourist industry will shine in the eyes of our European part

Sweet Memories
Jim Maguire’s shop opposite The Regal in Ringsend is to close down shortly. Again another part of our community is disappearing. The sweet shop which has been in the Maguire family for generations must be one of the oldest shops in Ringsend. It will bring back fond memories of the halcyon days of The Regal Cinema.

Ringsend Rovers
By Larry Pullen
Ringsend Rovers were recently presented with a new strip which was purchased and presented by their sponsors, Fergus and Trish, from the famous “Oarsman“, who have sponsored them for the last five years. Lets hope the new strip inspires them to do better in the league. A few years ago, they were one of the top teams in league and cup, then came a dormant patch for them in recent years. But besides all that, its the future that counts.

Ringsend Rovers Football Club was started in1970 by a committee of just two, William Morrissey and Michael McCabe. It’s aims were to keep the local youth from getting into mischief, as well as getting them into football seriously. They had no ground to call their own and no changing rooms, but despite this, they won the Leinster junior league in 1975/76, and were runners-up in the previous season. They also got as far as the semi’s in the Cruise Cup. The Ringer’s are now playing in the Leinster junior league, Division One.

King of Kennedy Court
Congratulations to Catherine and Dave Robinson with the first child to be born in the new Kennedy Court. Célim was born on 24th September of this year.

Grave Wreckers
By Larry Pullen
Vandalism is everywhere, but vandalising an old graveyard takes the biscuit. I was recently down in St. Matthews Church yard, I saw the depths these 'people' went to. The top cross of a ten foot monument was hacked off, probably by a sledge hammer. The other grave tombs were also smashed to pieces, as were the standing stones, mostly knocked over. There was spray paint everywhere, with the usual slogans, MUFC, I.R.A and so forth. The caretaker, Mr. Patrick St. Leger a very amenable man who has devoted 40 years to the care of St Matthews as well as St Marys in Donnybrook. Mr. St. Leger is deeply saddened by this scadalous behaviour. He has made every effort to make good the damage caused. Regularly scrubbing clean the tombs and grave stones, as well as trying to put back in place smashed stone. But all his work seems to be a waste of valuable time. He told me that he cannot believe the damage the vandals continually do to sacred property.

Residents Win Planning Appeal
The heroic efforts of the residents in the area surrounding Sir John Rogerson's Quay and Pearse Street paid off with the recent refusal of planning permission for the Campshire sites beside the Liffey.

The project would have meant that views of the river would have been obscured with two storey apartments and shops being built on the quayside. The decision had been appealed to An Bórd Pleanála by the Dublin Port and Docks Board but was upheld by the Bórd.

Congratulations must go to the Save Our Quay Walk Committee, Eugene O’Reilly, Josephine O’Reilly, Thomas Young, Bernie Byrne. Kathleen Young, Thomas Nolan, Jemmy Kavanagh, M. Dunne, Katherine Dowling, Mami Barter, Kathleen Woods, Gina Guzman, T.Corrigan and S. Fitzgerald, who have fought tooth and nail over the past seven months to preserve The Campshires. The Committee would like to thank everyone for their support.

Some of the senior infants and first class of Ringsend girls school looking forward to a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. Teacher Miss Brookes assures us that Santa Claus will definitely be arriving to all the well behaved pupils this year.