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TISPOL To Co-ordinate Drink and Drug Driving Operation

Police Officers from all countries across Europe, including Ireland, are to begin a week-long campaign on Monday next, December 8th 2014 to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk and drug driving. The campaign is co-ordinated by TISPOL (the European Traffic Police Network), and involves officers conducting alcohol and drug checks at any time of the day and night.

TISPOL President Garda Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid says: “Driving after consuming any alcohol is dangerous. Driving while over the drink drive limit is against the law. Drivers will experience slower reactions, poor judgement of speed, reduced co-ordination and concentration with much lower levels of alcohol in their system. “That’s why our message this year is simple: your ability to drive safely is impaired by even a small amount of alcohol. So if you have had a drink, do not drive. If you need to drive, then do not drink.”

Drivers can expect highly visible and widespread enforcement of alcohol and drug laws during the operation, at any location and at any time of day or night.

Chief Superintendent Reid says it’s also important to be aware of the continuing effects of alcohol the day after an evening of drinking. “Your body takes time to remove alcohol from your system. If it is still present in your body, then it will be identified during a breath test. That’s why a night’s sleep is no guarantee that you’re safe and legal to drive the next morning,” he warned.

“If you have used recreational drugs, then do not drive. If you are taking medicine, whether prescribed or purchased over the counter, then read the notes of advice that go with it. If these tell you not to drive after taking the medicine, then do not drive. The advice is there for a reason, to keep you and others safe.”

“If you are in any doubt about medicines and driving, then our advice is to consult a healthcare professional before you get behind the wheel.”

During a similar week-long operation in December 2013, 1.1 million drivers were checked in 31 European countries. Officers reported 15,305 alcohol offences and 2,133 drug offences, as well as more than 2,500 other crimes.

The results of this co-ordinated operation are expected to be made available by mid January 2015, don’t be part of their statistics.

Sainsbury’s Xmas Ad – Four Degrees Of Separation From Tipperary

This year’s Christmas video advert from Sainsbury’s, the third largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, titled “Christmas is for sharing” was made in partnership with The Royal British Legion. It commemorates the extraordinary events of Christmas Day, 1914, when artillery guns fell silent and two armies met in no-man’s land, to share gifts and play football together.

Many people may not be aware that the director of this fine video advert, Mr Ringan Ledwidge, is just ‘four degrees of separation’ from our county of Tipperary. Ringan Ledwidge admits he was intimidated by the sensitivity of this his video subject; indeed his own great-uncle and Slane, Co Meath born Irish war poet, Lance Corporal Francis Ledwidge, died at the Battle of Passchendaele in July 1917, aged just 29, and his paternal grandfather had fought in both world wars.

Lance Corporal Francis Ledwidge was dismayed by the news of the Easter 1916 Rising, and was court-martialled and demoted for overstaying his home leave and also for being drunk in uniform. However on his return to the front, he received back his Lance Corporal’s stripe in January 1917; when he was posted to the Western Front, joining the 29th Division, 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

On July 31st 1917, a number of soldiers, including Ledwidge, were involved in road-laying in preparation for an upcoming assault during the Third Battle of Ypres, close the village of Boezinge, northwest of Ypres. While Ledwidge was drinking tea in a mud crater with his comrades, a shell exploded, killing the poet and five others. Rev. Francis Charles Devas, (S.J., D.S.O. 1917; O.B.E. 1919) latter a chaplain who knew him, recorded “Ledwidge killed, blown to bits.”

Francis Ledwidge – His Tipperary Connection

It was Francis Ledwidge, latter also a friend of W.B. Yeats, who wrote the ” Lament for Thomas MacDonagh.” Thomas MacDonagh, as we are aware, was born here in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary and educated at Rockwell College near Cashel. MacDonagh had grown up in a household filled with music, poetry and learning and was instilled by both his parents, (both teachers), with his love for both English and Irish culture from a young age and became a signatory of the Irish Proclamation.

Lament for Thomas MacDonagh – by Francis Ledwidge

“He shall not hear the bittern cry in the wild sky, where he is lain,
Nor voices of the sweeter birds above the wailing of the rain.
Nor shall he know when loud March blows thro’ slanting snows her fanfare shrill,
Blowing to flame the golden cup of many an upset daffodil.
But when the Dark Cow leaves the moor and pastures poor with greedy weeds,
Perhaps he’ll hear her low at morn, lifting her horn in pleasant meads.”

A small section of this Christmas Day, 1914 happening will be recreated during the “Carols By Candlelight,” service in St Mary’s Church, Thurles, on December 14th next at 8.00pm. (But more on that upcoming Thurles Christmas event very soon.)

While our present government currently continues to ignore Co Tipperary’s economy and history, one wonders will the memory of Thomas MacDonagh be included in any proposed future 1916 commemorations, since after all, we do reside outside of Dublin.

Irish Water – Song “Five Feet High & Risin” Updated

I thought I would bring you a touch of pure nostalgia this lovely Sunday morning; a sentimentality glimpse, if you will, of the past, which will typify some period in your life, thus returning you to a place of hopefully happy personal associations, a time before Irish Water flooded your lives, if you’ll pardon the simile.

Having listened, I thought to myself, maybe it’s time to refresh this old ballad and bring it more into line with the more modern yet difficult economic climate of today’s Ireland. Let me know if you like it and if any of you have a verse or two to add, to ‘jig it up a bit,’ if you will, sure send me a comment.

“Five Feet High & Risin.” Lyrics Updated – (or “The F.G. / Labour Coalition’s Lament 2014.”)

How high’s the water, Enda?
He said “Two feet high and risin.”
How high’s the water, Joan?
She said, “Two feet high and risin.”

We won’t make it next election when the people vote.
Pee Hogan’s rigid policies just didn’t float.
Our reign is over, watch ‘Independents’ gloat.
Two feet high and risin.

How high’s the water, Enda?
He said “Two feet high and risin.”
How high’s the water, Joan?
She said, “Two feet high and risin.”

Hey, come look through the window pane
Thurles right2water are protesting again.
Hope they catch pneumonia from the pissin rain,
Three feet high and risin.

How high’s the water, Enda?
He said “Three feet high and risin”
How high’s the water, Joan?
She said, “Three feet high and risin.

Well our jobs are gone, thanks to those protesting b‘s.
We’re stuck in Irish water up past our knees.
Best to grab our pensions and shoot the breeze.
Four feet high and risin.

How high’s the water, Enda?
He said “Four feet high and risin”
How high’s the water, Joan?
She said, “Four feet high and risin.

The R498 is gone, north of our Thurles town.
Vehicles can’t pass till the water goes down.
“Greenway” Kelly’s searchin for higher ground.
Five feet high and risin.

Well, it’s five feet high and risin.

Look at it this way, when you’re sitting on your behind all day, with no job prospects, writing poetry helps you to pass the time.

US President Obama Outlines Illegal Immigrant Reform

In a televised address last night, US President Barack Obama outlined the executive action he plans to take, which will offer work permits to millions of undocumented people, potentially including thousands of Irish people, some natives of Co Tipperary, latter who ‘live in the shadows’ and are currently unable to return to this country for fear of detection by Deportation Enforcement Officials.

Today Mr Obama will sign into law a series of measures that will protect these illegal immigrants from deportation and indeed the video hereunder is well worth viewing in its entirety.

The executive action he outlined in the video shown above falls into three groups: changes to enforcement, a new temporary legal status for illegal immigrants and new visa categories.

Under these new plans, those who are deemed to be in the US illegally for at least five years, who have children who are either US citizens or legal residents and who pass a criminal background check, will be entitled to full protection from deportation. Enforcement officials will only deport those convicted of serious criminal offences and not those previously arrested for minor offences.

Former undocumented persons will also be allowed to apply for a work permit if they register for taxes and social security.

There will be new visas for students who complete science and technology degrees and for entrepreneurs who have sufficient capital funding and are in a position to create employment.

These new changes are expected to come into force from early next year.

Coonan Death Threat – Ireland Faces “An ISIS Situation”

Tipperary Fine Gael TD Mr Noel Coonan fears that Ireland faces “an ISIS situation” if the more extreme elements of the Water Charge Protests are not “nipped in the bud.” Mr Coonan also claims that protesters in Dublin are “like parasites” and said, quote, “they live off country people as they have never acknowledged the role of country people.”

Gardaí are now understood to be investigating claims that a death threat was made to Mr Noel Coonan following these comment by him in the Dáil yesterday. This leaves currently two leading Tipperary politicians, currently living in fear for their lives and as such must surely influence Fine Gael leaders into the calling of a General Election.

Aside from this most regrettable threat, but in relation to the provision of clean drinking water one must ask the question; is this the same TD who, when in opposition and Fine Gael’s Spokesperson on CAP Reform and who in January 2011, called on the then Minister for Agriculture to lift restrictions that prevented farmers from spreading slurry during the rainy season, which eventually would end up in our clean water sources? “Farmers are ruled by ridiculous calendar deadlines imposed by this out-of-touch Government. Minister Brendan Smith TD must ease restrictions on slurry spreading and allow the farming community to be dictated by current weather conditions which are perfect for spreading. Would it make a huge difference if the Government permitted farmers to spread two weeks ahead of schedule?” asked the Tipperary North/South Offaly Deputy.

Is this the same TD who in 2012 welcomed colleague Minister Phil Hogan’s decision to announce extensions to the periods for the application of certain fertilisers?
Note: I tell you this purely for the further education of all Mr Coonan’s believed urban ‘ISIS Protesters’ currently residing in Dublin; apart from the normal nitrates and pesticides applied to crop-land, if not spread responsibly on farmland, underground water can easily become contaminated by microbes or germs from the spreading of slurry and from waste-water treatment systems. Slurry contains cow urine and cow faeces; latter which includes chemicals and medicines e.g. de-wormers and anti-biotics, together with chemicals used to clean cowshed floors.

Do you, the people of Tipperary, believe that Mr Noel Coonan is capable of answering or even defending truthfully the specific defined accusations put by his assumed ‘ISIS Lieutenant’ Ms Clare Daly in Dáil Éireann two days ago, (Video Shown above) or indeed was Mr Coonan even present, sitting in the Dáil Chamber, when she made her heart felt speech on behalf of those earning less than €10,000 per year? Is it fair that a person earning €10,000 per year should pay this government the equivalent of one weeks wages for water, when Mr Coonan is asked to pay exactly the same sum taken from a salary which is at least some nine to thirteen time greater, when his annual share of some €7,000,000 in politicians expenses is divided up, latter contributed by Irish taxpayers?

Does this the same Fine Gael TD truly believe that the over 1,000 water protesters, organised by the Thurles Right to Water group, many his supporters, that took to the streets of Thurles on November 8th last, were really ISIS Members?

Is this the same Fine Gael TD who despite many years in Dáil Éireann (2007) together with his Labour colleagues and others; all reigning during continuous local factory closures, failed consistently to attract even one job opportunity to the Thurles area, but weekly, continuously ‘WELCOMES’ the achievements and general funding opportunities put in place by his senior Government Ministers, as if these announcements were some way influenced by his intervention?

Surely, never has a Coalition Government, of which Mr Coonan is a member, so earned Irish peoples total distrust so quickly, so absolutely and so inherently as this present Fine Gael and Labour grouping.

Thank God, Mr Coonan has only spoken in 22 committee discussions and Dáil debates in the last year — well below the average among serving TDs.