FEELING THE PAIN PART TWO

I have written before in my Blog about “Feeling the pain” The last budget was a disgrace in a civilized country like Ireland. The “vulnerable” were hit unashamedly by an uncaring and incompetent Green/Fianna Fail government. The blind, the carers, and the unemployed among other vulnerable people will certainly feel pain. The minimum waged will in future also suffer reductions. more well off have also been hit, but the pain for them will be manageable while some higher income earners will not be hit at all.

And why are the vulnerable being forced to feel pain.? It is because of incompetence of the FiannaFail/Green government, the absolute incompetence of the Financial Regulator, the head of the Central Bank,
the greed and corruption in the Banking sector, the speculators and big developers. Yes, but why are the vulnerable being forced to feel the pain?. It is because they are an easy target and are not really represented at political level.

THE JOYS OF A RETIREE

When I was young I thought that when you retired, for you, life was over. Now that I am retired, I find not only that life is not over but this new phase of my life is exciting and vibrant. I now have more time, but not enough, for doing the things that i enjoy doing.
I have more times for friends and for making new friends. I have time for my hobbies and for taking up new hobbies. I have time for helping out in the community, if my talents were needed, but apparently they are not. Older people become invisible. I found this out when I offered myself for election in the Local elections last year. It has surprised me this year , the amount of people who spoke to me and among themselves about the Naas Summer Project, which I started in 1981, and which collapsed the year after I left public life. One can do a lot in public life for the community as was apparent when I served and I hoping to do it again if elected as I now had much more time, but it was not to be.
I now spend all my time on my hobbies and with friends. I set myself targets and try to achieve personal goals. My latest project is a 1000 mile Camino walk to raise funds for James’s Hospital for Dr Kennedy’s Oncology Fund. I hope to walk for two months in September and October this year and complete the walk in the spring of 2011.

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NAAS CONNECTIONS WITH KILFENORA CEILI BAND

Not many people know this, but there are strong connections between Naas and the Kilfenora Ceili band from Co. Clare. John Lynch and Pat Lynch, members of this band are former teachers of St Patrick’s Community College. There father before them was also a member of the band so that they are carrying on a family tradition. John is the Band Leader and the driving force behind the band which is now in existence for over a Century.

Recently, in recognition of the major impact that the Kilfenora Band has had on Traditional music in Ireland and abroad, and in recognition of the great work of the present leader, John Lynch has been awarded an Honorary Master’s Degree by the Univercity of Limerick. This is a great honour for the band, and for traditionalI Irish Music as well as for John Lynch.
Im sure that their many Naas friends, colleagues and former students would like to join with me in wishing them well for the future.

http://www.kilfenoraceiliband.ie/

ENROLMENT FOR NEW VEC PRIMARY SCHOOL AT PIPERS HILL

Naas Community National School
Pobal Scoil Náisúnta Nás na Ríogh
Pipers Hill, Kilashee, Naas, Co. Kildare
Phone: 045 897358
Fax: 045 879916
e-mail: ncns@kildarevec.ie
Enrolment for New Primary School
& Information Evening
for Parents and Guardians
Monday 22nd March 2010 at 7pm
Naas Community
National School
Pobal Scoil Náisúnta Nás na Ríogh
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee
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County Kildare Vocational Education Committee is
pleased to announce that the Minister for Education
&Science, Mr. Batt O’Keeffe T.D. has authorized the
establishment of a new Community National School
in Naas. This school will open at the Committee’s
Education Campus at Pipers Hill Naas on the 1st
September 2010.
This school is an exciting new development in the
provision of Primary Education in Naas. This school
will compliment existing provision and will offer the
established curriculum as determined by the
Department of Education and Science.
This school will be co-educational, multidenominational
and will be open to students from
the Naas catchment area who have attained the age
of four on or before 1 September 2010. The initial
enrolment will be for students entering Junior Infants
only. Places will be limited and the Board of
Management will determine this policy.
An information evening for parents and guardians
who wish to enrol students for September 2010 will
take place in Pipers Hill College on Monday 22nd
March at 7pm.
We look forward to meeting you at our information
and enrolment evening.
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GOOD BYE CLOSING DOWN MY BLOG

I see no useful purpose for my blog so I am closing it down shortly. Even though I have had over 4000 hits there were very few comments so I have excited very little
real interest.

I see our proud country to be bankrupt, financially, and bankrupt of ideas. There was a lot that I wasn’t happy with in my short blog life but I seem to be alone seeing the few comments that I have received.
Among the things that concerned me over my Blog life were:
What is feeling the Pain?
Dirty Politics
Willie O Dea
Tax Breaks for Speculators
Bryan Dobson’s interview of George Lee
Trollies in Naas General Hospital
Georges’ Quay Kildare Bus Terminal( since moved to Connolly Station) Success!!
Structure on the Protected Bank of Ireland building in Naas.
Bad planning on Main Street Naas
Kildare County Council Junkets
Head shop in Naas
Lack of gritting of Naas Footpaths during the snow
Fair Play for all
December Budget NOT fair to all.
etc, etc, etc.
I have provided information to the readers of my blog in the following areas:
*
o citizens advice bureau ireland
o DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY AFFAIRS
o Donal Corcoran\’s Naas Blog
o Facebook
o http://google.ie/
o http://yahoo.com/
o Information on Management Companies
o KDOC SEE A DOCTOR WHEN YOUR OWN IS NOT ON DUTY
o Kildare FM radio
o LEINSTER LEADER
o Micandidate
o Naas Swine Flu Vacination
o Naas/Clane bus timetable includes Pipers Hill
o PIPER’S HILL COLLEGE
o PIPER”S HILL COLLEGE ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES SPRING 2010
o POLITICAL BLOG
o PRIMAL SNEEZE
o Solar Solutions Are a Class Act for Piper’s Hill College
o WordPress.com
o WordPress.org

As I am reach the age of three score and ten I maintain my inner youth and continue to feel concern about how bad the country has been treated by those in Authority, the Politicians, the Church, and the Banks. Our children will be affected by the mismanagement of our economy during the Celtic Tiger years.
But I am realistic enough to know that writing a Blog will not have the slightest effect on corrupt and in competent politicians, or the covering up of Child Abuse by members of the Hiararchy, or inaction by health authorities in the face of neglect and incompetence.
The ordinary person is treated with contempt and is expected to pick up the tabs to pay for the mismanagement of our country by the Government. In my Blog I attempted to take on these issues but lost. I now leave it to other people but with little confidence.
To those who have read my Blog I hope that you have found something of interest and to those who commented, I say Thank You. I hope that some of you have got information from my Blog that you have found of value.

I now will return to privately to doing the things that I enjoy doing, walking,travelling,Silver Smithing, gardening,reading, going to the theatre, attending international Rugby matches, listening to music, and spending time with my family and friends.

Having read the last paragraph, it seems that I am being very selfish and not having any inclination to put anything back in to Naas, my adopted town. But then can anyone deny that I have tried because I have, and been rejected.

WALKING THE CAMINO

Trailer Preview – The Camino Documentary (LQ) from The Camino Documentary on Vimeo.

I have run 10 Marathons, one of them in under 3 hours. I have jumped out of a plane for charity. Because my convictions and wanting to give something back, I have stood for election and failed.
I have survived Cancer and watched a loved one die of Cancer.
I admire all the wonderful people who care for people with cancer and who work to find a cure for this disease that touches most families.
Walking the Camino would be a way for me to raise money for Cancer Research.
Its in my mind to do it when I reach 70 which is this year.

HEADSHOPS AND PRIME TIME

Watched the Prime Time programme about Head Shops and the sale of legal untested drugs. We have such a shop in Naas selling these legal drugs. The political system seems impotent in dealing with the dangers posed by these shops. We need the public to be aware of the dangers of these new untested drugs.Local politicians,school managements and local media have their part to play to make the general public aware of the dangers.
So far there have been no deaths Naas arising from the drugs bought in Head Shops. Are we to wait for this eventuality to galvanise the authorities into action?

WE WILL ROCK YOU

This aging rocker went to the O2 to see the Musical “WE WILL ROCK YOU”
Cast includes ex Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy, Jonathan Wilkes, X factor finalist Brenda Edwards, actress Georgina Hagen, most recently seen in ITV’s Britannia High, and I’d Do Anything reality show contestant Ashley Russell but performers Kevin Kennedy, Michael Falzon and Sarah French-Ellis stole the show, in particular Sarah who played Scaramouche (Scary Bush) who had some very funny one liners and delivered them with perfect timing. Michael who played Galileo sang the Freddy Mercury songs without trying to emulate Freddys flamboyant style while Sarahs perfectly pitched voice was a delight. Kevin Kennedy played Pop a Librarian.
Queen music included Radio Gaga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody to Love, Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions and, of course, We Will Rock You!
The story is set way into the future where music is outlawed and everyone has to conform.
This show is all about legend,” says Ben Elton who wrote and direced this Musical. “We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the mighty corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music. They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?”
The Sets and costumes were magnificent , the Audio Visual effects stunning the choreography exciting and the lighting illuminating the stage and sometimes the audience was breath taking.

GOODBYE 2009 HELLO 2010

2009 HOW IT WAS FOR ME

• THE REALIZATION THAT WE WERE BADLY LET DOWN BY THE POLITICIONS
• THE REALIZATION OF HOW UNFAIR OUR GOVERNMENT IS TO THE VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY
• HOW NAAS HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AS A BLOW IN (I AM HERE 45 YEARS)
• WANTING TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO NAAS 1 OFFERED MYSELF FOR ELECTION TO NAAS TOWN COUNCIL AND WAS REJECTED.
• MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS IN 2009, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS A WIDOWER
• REALIZED THAT I HAVE A FEW VERY SINCERE LONG TERM FRIENDS
• FAMILY, AS EVER. HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE
• ENJOYED TRAVELLING IN 2009. FAVOURITE PLACES I VISITED WERE KINSALE IN CORK, MONACO FOR THE START OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE, SIGTUNA AND SANDHAM IN STOCKHOLM, NICE, VILLE FRANCE SUR MER, AND AVIGNON IN FRANCE, CINQUE TERRE, VERNAZZA AND PORTO VENERE LIGURIA IN ITALY.

HOPES FOR 2010

• IMPROVEMENT IN IRISH ECONOMY
• MORE EMPLOYMENT
• LESS OR NO CORRUPTION IN IRISH POLITICS AND BUSINESS
• ON A PERSONAL LEVEL THAT I WILL REMAIN AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE
• THAT I WILL FIND A WAY TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO NAAS
• THAT I CAN RAISE FUNDS FOR CANCER RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY FOR ST.JAMES HOSPITAL IN DUBLIN. ONE WAY OF DOING THIS IS BY WALKING THE CAMINO IN FRANCE AND SPAIN AND 2010 WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT YEAR TO DO IT AS I REACH SEVENTY YEARS YOUNG.
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