Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year - 2013 - to all

Race to the Bottom

When the basis of human survival are being attacked surely we have reached the bottom.
Water, Food, Shelter and Fuel are now under increasing attacks and yet these are not luxury items.
These are the basics.
Significant taxation on these necessities is driving the economy of Europe to the wall

1916 Solo Run

While the majority of Irish people at the time were more interested in where their next meal was coming from or how they were going to stay warm, a band of intellectuals caused havoc in Dublin city centre.

This week of 'rebellion' only managed to destroy most of Dublin city centre, lead to the introduction of martial law in the city and resulted many innocent dead citizens.

Con Houlihan, a portrait

Portrait of renowned Kerryman Con Houlihan to be unveiled tomorrow in Castleisland library. This portrait is the work of  Kerryman Mike O'Donnell who is the Court Sketcher at the Irish Criminal Courts www.courtsketcher.com Mike has also produced significant portraits of other historical figures such as Roger Casement which is on display in Casement Station, Tralee.

Ireland's Newest Blood Sport!

In Ireland today we are on the verge of officially sanctioning the latest blood sport. For the past few years this sport has been tried and tested to ensure that it meets all the requirement to gain full sanction. The media and the politicians were the first to recognise that this sport could be very fruitful for their respective agendas.

As I write it seems that the games are on and the final for the first round of the games will be in early December 2012. The referees and umpires have been chosen and the fields of play have been readied.

Referees and umpires : Government Ministers
Fields of play : Media outlets (print and broadcast)

The Game:  Who can create the best and most efficient battle ground for the
Public v's Private Sectors

The main sponsor: The Budget

WARNING: This game will last for 3 months and will make distressing reading/viewing. It is recommended that this Game is not suitable for children under 4 or pensioners.

NOTE: Podcasts and Archive material will be available throughout. See press for details.

Tralee Town Park - Hands OFF!

We are merely custodians of Tralee Town Park which has served as an oasis of calm and tranquility for Tralee people for decades. We have no right to change it's current status as gifted to the town in the early 1900's.
I ask for a special vote of the towns people in regard to any proposed changes that may now be proposed.
The decision to change any part of the Town Park should not solely be in the hands of councillors or town managers.
I would also like to know when the plan for the proposed roadway was first investigated. In the current economic climate it is very noticeable that traffic volumes have decreased significantly. Why then is it necessary to propose this alteration and serious invasion of Tralee Town Park

Kerry Walks and Cycles

Kerry County Council need to designate roads where walkers and cyclists have priority over motor vehicles. Mark these roads and reduce the speed limit to 30 kph in order to encourage more walkers and cyclists to take these routes. Typically these are regional or third class roads in the most scenic parts of the county.

Tralee Wetlands lacks basic 21st Century facilities!

Tralee Wetlands

If you intend to visit this facility just remember to bring CASH! No credit card or debit card facility nor is there access to WIFI. In 2012 what modern facility does not afford customers these basic facilities.

Irish History - Fianna Fail

from De Valera (Economic War - 1930s) to Bertie Ahern (Economic Meltdown 2000s)

St. Bertie needs St. Judes

In desperate situations who do you turn to? 
Choose one of the following:

A.

B.

C.

D.

B.

Bertie Bowl

Mahon Report

As if we didn't know!

This dog knew all about it and so did his pals.

Liberty Hall - Dublin

Surely there are a sufficient number of vacant and suitable office blocks / building in Dublin city, within a stones throw, that can accommodate the requirements of the current residents of Liberty Hall without the necessity of building something new.


An example being:

 

Irish Civil Service Office Furniture Auction

Almost new office furniture auction  - ex-Irish Civil Service.
Thousands of items - rarely used - as good as new.


Apply: Enda Kenny, FG-LAB & Associates
Date: Viewing from 1st March 2012
Location: Dublin and countrywide.
Catalogue: Available with PPS No. only [Foreign bidders welcome especially from China]
Reserve: (Lot)3 billion euro

Wheelbarrow Recliners!

A friend sent me this amazing photo. 
I can only think of all those years using the wheelbarrow for the wrong reasons!

How comfortable is that after a long days work on the roads or in the garden. How many of you thought of this - The Wheelbarrow Recliner

Ireland and (in) China

Enda Kenny (red tie) in appropriate attire for China.

Enda Kenny has, it has been revealed, negotiated in this past weekend a small space in China for the Irish population. With only 4.5 million (approx.) population and approx. 70,000 km squared Ireland will easily fit into China (and we won't be noticed in some corner). China's population of 1.4 billion (approx.) and an area of 9.6 million km squared (approx.) will cope with it's Western cousins without even knowing that we are there. 

We might even manage to sell this island to the Germans, to pay off the loans, and they can use it as a holiday and recreation destination. Really they can do as they wish with it.

Chinese language(s) classes are to be taken by all school going children in Ireland immediately in preparation for the big move in 2016. Adult classes will commence after the move.

Some graves of a select number (6) of Irish patriots will be exhumed and the remains will be brought with us to our new land. Years: 1014 to 1922 only.

Strict baggage restrictions will be in place for those on the move as Ryanair will be providing the air transport. The hold of each aircraft will be crammed with agricultural tools only. Those who wish to travel overland will get a six month head start.

All communications with the Western world will cease in the second quarter of 2015. Internet access and all telecommunications will be slowed and eventually halted except for those with a dial up connection. Mobile phone masts will be taken down and melted into useful agricultural tools.

More on this later........

All that remains to finalise the move is to choose a place where we, the Irish, can be accommodated in China

There will be more on this story later as of now negotiations are at a tender and early stage and really we are not supposed to know about it!

Irish Embassy and the Vatican

We can't afford one! Get over it.
There are probably a few other embassies that we can't afford either.

Irish-Vatican Embassy building in Rome.

With the huge disconnect that exists among Irish people and the Roman Catholic Church today, why do we need an embassy there (in Rome) anyway? 

[I could think of one reason which might be worthwhile - negotiate the return of funding which the Irish people have been giving to the Vatican for centuries!]

Broadband Ireland - SLOW, SLOWER and SLOWEST!

Who was the not so ‘smart’ genius who proposed the sale of one of Ireland’s most important infrastructural assets – broadband and internet system? Now that we are so in need of this infrastructure to push forward economic growth  and a smart economy- what are we left with – a third rate infrastructure which is incapable of providing us with a satisfactory service.

Figures and statistics show us that Ireland’s broadband speeds are wholly inadequate, and download speeds compared with our EU competitor countries have actually fallen sharply.

Towards the end of 2011 Ireland was 72nd in the world for upload speeds and 24th out of 27 in the EU. Ireland is 45th in the world for download speeds and 23rd out of the 27 in the EU.

The country is 34th in the world for broadband quality and 18 out of 25 in the EU, while the country is 52nd in the world for delivery on ‘promised’ speeds and 23rd out of the EU-27.

The fastest speeds in Ireland are in Dungarvan, County Waterford where the local cable ISP, Casey Cablevision, now deliver average speeds of 24.3Mbps,” Wallace said.

In second place nationally is Swords, Co. Dublin on 16.35Mbps and Athlone dropped to third on 14.58Mbps.

To add insult to injury across Ireland it is very noticeable that the East is doing far better for Download speeds that elsewhere. Just look at the table below and see where the likes of Tralee and Killarney are on the list.

Sources: siliconrepublic.com and netindex.com

Government of Ireland - Lead by Example!

How much money would be saved by cutting all allowances paid to politicians, at all levels, by 50%?

Politicians must lead by example and prove just how serious they are about cutting the deficit. 

Furthermore, those serving on State Bodies / State Boards should not be paid (other than legitimate, vouched expenses incurred) for the privilege of serving on these State Bodies / Boards.

The argument that you won't get quality people to serve on these State Bodies / Boards if they are not paid is rubbished by the facts and the evidence that for the past 15 years many of those who did serve on State Bodies / Boards did a lot to land us in the economic mire that we are in today. 

Derrytresk violence - GAA too lenient

The GAA has once again failed to convince me that they are serious about stemming violence on and off the pitch. The fine imposed on Derrytresk is too lenient, the Club should have been fined €1000 per player involved in the violent behaviour. Such a fine should also be imposed on the Dromid Club where any of its player were involved. Not only should the Derrytresk Club be banned from participating / representing its county / province for the next 5 years, it should have been thrown out of the competition this year.

It is high time the GAA got serious and make it known that such violent activities will be punished severely and immediately.

While I am on this subject, GAA referees are not being afforded the respect and dignity that their counterparts get on the rugby field. Should the GAA not awaken from its slumber, in these matters soon, it may well find that it may not have a decent referee panel (s) to choose from for the big occasions or any occasion.