Dear Madam Editor,
Do any of your readers remember a man called Ward, I believe his father’s name was Paddy. In 1947 Ward was in the Palestine Police stationed in Ajani Police Station in Jaffa. One day he and another went for a swim in Peta Tikva and while there were kidnapped by a Jewish terrorist gang. At that time three Jewish men had been tried and found guilty of murder and were due to be executed. Ward and his comrade were told if the sentence was carried out, they would be hanged also. While prisoners, they were well treated with food and drink but told their days were numbered. Fortunately they escaped and the Jews captured three soldiers in their place. When the three murderers met their fate, the three soldiers were found dead, hanging in an orange grove with their bodies booby-trapped.

I don’t know if he is still alive but certainly he was very lucky to survive Palestine. As you can see hostage-taking as in Iraq is nothing new.
Sincerely,
Martin Moore, Sandymount

P.S I served in Ajani Police Station with the man in question– a long time ago.

Dear Madam Editor,
I would like to congratulate you for producing a terrific newspaper as the NewsFour. I just love reading them as they bring back so many memories of my days in Sandymount 50 years ago.

I have been away now nearly 49 years and I still love the place. I would like to thank Trish Nagle (Murtagh) of Tallaght for sending copies of same. I would like to wish all your readers a Happy Christmas and New Year, especially Nagle and Robbins families of Tallaght, Keogh family of Raheny and all at Paul O’Reillys.
All the best and thank you once again.
Dick Pollard, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Dear Madam Editor
We would like through your newspaper to thank the Connolly family of Irishtown.

Until two years ago, we ran successful bars and restaurants in Mallorca, called ‘Bentleys’ and ‘Rosie McIvors’. Our clientele was around 80% Irish and most of our customers became good friends, coming back to see us year after year, sometimes twice a year. Sadly, due to ill health we had to give up and return to England after nearly 12 years.

We had never been to Ireland before but recently put that right by flying into Dublin and meeting up with Joe and Fran Connolly of Irishtown and their lovely family, daughters Sally, Fran and Sheila and their families, most of whom we had met during our time in Mallorca.

On the doors of our Bars was the legend ‘Cead Mille Falte’ and no more was that in evidence as when we finally met up with them all in Dublin. A hundred thousand welcomes could never have been more appropriate!! And we say to you Joe and Fran, and your beautiful family a hundred thousand thanks.

The whole family made us so very welcome and made our stay one of the great memories we will keep in our minds, that, and the genuine warmth of the Irish people.

God Bless you Joe and Fran and once again thank you. Knowing these people must be a little like winning first prize in the lottery of life.
Ivor and Rosemary Dugdale-Jenkins, United Kingdom

(Above: Rosemary with Joe and Fran)

Kay Rollo wishes to send Christmas Greetings to George Rollo and family and Billy Rollo and family. She will be thinking of you all at Christmas.