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Conference tallis::celt

Title:Celt Notefile
Moderator:TALLIS::DARCY
Created:Wed Feb 19 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1632
Total number of notes:20523

1106.0. "Office of Public Works (Ireland)" by MACNAS::TJOYCE () Wed Jul 22 1992 13:42

    
    Can anyone comment on the activities of the Office of Public
    Works? BAsically they are attracting a lot of attention with
    some of the "Interpretative Centres" being constructed,
    for example, at Luggala in the heart of the Wicklow area,
    and at Mullagh More in the heart of the Burren.
    
    I have seen good things from the OPW - for example the centre
    and restaurant at Coole Park near Gort. There is a good slide
    show and the cafe is comfortable and blends into the old stables.
    However, I have heard two criticisms:
    
    - At Letterfrack, the centre for the Connemara National Park,
      the facilities are discouraging people from using the village,
      therefore taking money away from the locals into the pockets
      of the OPW.
    
    - At Glendalough, there is a regular traffic jam because the
      approach roads cannot cope with the cars trying to reach
      the interpretative centre. Imagine the same happening to the
      Burren!
    
    The debate seems to be between the environmentalists who want
    the i. centres kept on the fringe of the areas, fearing that
    access made easy for too many will ultimately spoil the area
    for everyone. The OPW argue the opposite that people should
    be brought into the area to appreciate it. Most locals in
    these areas like the OPW ideas because they see more jobs
    and money for them. The OPW itself (like in Letterfrack)
    seems (to me) to be set on making money for itself. Usually
    the prospect of EC investment is held out to bring people
    around .....
    
    Out natural and cultural heritage is probably the most valuable
    thing we have, and something we hold in trust for the world,
    and for future generations. I'm sure noters have encountered
    OPW centres - what is the feeling. Is the OPW doing the
    "right thing"?
    
    Toby
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1106.1Modification ...MACNAS::TJOYCEWed Jul 22 1992 13:446
    I must comment that Mullagh More is "on hold" but Luggala looks like
    it is going ahead.
    
    That's at the moment ....
    
    Toby
1106.2TALLIS::DARCYWed Jul 22 1992 15:536
    It's a valid problem concerning the interpretive centers -
    creating better public access yet respecting environmental
    concerns.  The Burren is a prime example where many unique
    species exist.
    
    /G 
1106.325 to 4 in favourSIOG::CASSERLYEireannach is ea meThu Jul 23 1992 05:335
    I believe the Councillers have approved the site recomended by the OPW
    by 25 votes to 4 last night. Locals are rumoured to be fundraising to
    bring the matter to the courts.
    
    Tom
1106.4I. Centre may not get EC money ....MACNAS::TJOYCEThu Jul 23 1992 08:4424
    
    I am shocked at the margin in favour of the i. centre.
    
    It reminds me a few years ago Sligo CC voted to place
    a caravan park within the bounds of the Carrowkeel Neolithic
    site. You may not have heard of it, but it is roughly
    contemporaneous with the Boyne Valley sites (Newgrange etc),
    larger but less spectacular.
    
    Only for some locals fought the case to the Supreme Court out
    of their own pockets, a priceless piece of heritage could
    have been destroyed. I do not think local councils should have
    the ultimate say - they are after all only holding something in
    trust for us all. 
    
    From what I heard last week, the Burren centre may have difficulty
    getting money from the EC because it does not meet certain
    environmental guidelines. 
    
    It is a terrible indictment if we have to depend on the EC, not
    only to protect women's rights, but to protect out own heritage
    from ourselves.
    
    Toby
1106.5It shouldn't go ahead.MACNAS::JDOOLEYDo not take anything for grantedThu Jul 23 1992 13:2014
    A knowledgeable acquaintence of mine has informed me that normal
    sewerage arrangements will not apply at the Mullaghmore site.
    Instead of the  septic tank arrangement normally built in rural
    Ireland, they plan to store the waste in sealed tanks and transport
    it away by road. It seems the site is high enough to pollute water
    sources in the area if a standard septic tank was used.
    
    One can only guess when money shortages will force the local authority 
    to allow the sewerage to be dumped indiscriminately in the locality 
    to the detriment of the local environment.
    
    I don't trust the government to maintain the meticulous standards that
    siting a human development in this type of area calls for.
    
1106.6"Bums on seats"?MACNAS::TJOYCEFri Jul 24 1992 06:2828
    
    A professor at Trinity has done a study at the other controversial
    cenrtre, at Luggala in Wicklow, and has pointed out that there
    is probably not enough water locally to supply the maximum needs
    of the centre. Also, the accesss roads will have to be widened
    to allow visitors to reach the centre, with accompanying damage
    to the environment.
    
    This has also brought to light that the OPW is not subject to the
    planning laws i.e. the checks and balances that a private developer 
    would have to undergo are not applied in these cases. The laws in 
    questions were passed in more innocent days.
    
    My own feeling in cases like these is:
    
    "IF IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT!"
    
    What may be destroyed is just too precious. 
    
    I suspect that behind the scenes are ambitious civil servants
    in the OPW who have been told to make a profit, and are trying 
    to aggressively market Ireland's heritage for gain. That's fine up 
    to a point, our heritage can be a great tourist attraction but 
    that doesn't mean that we should demean ourselves by indulging 
    in a coarse exercise of "putting bums on seats" as if it was a 
    circus attraction.
    
    Toby
1106.7George, he's in Dublin :-)SIOG::FARRELLFri Jul 24 1992 14:359
    Re .2
    
    George,
    
    You're right about the unique species in the Burren but he is actually
    in Dublin at the moment. We're off to the pub right now.
    
    - Joe
    
1106.8Magnets attract each otherDBOSW2::BRENNAN_MI drink - To make other people interestingMon Jul 27 1992 07:257
No they are in the Burren now (both Farrell and Burns). Also staggering around
somewhere in the vicinity is Mr O'Sullivan

The office here has become lovely and peaceful for now.

MBr
1106.9There's no hiding, MBrSIOG::FARRELLMon Jul 27 1992 15:5910
    Got you, MBr, hiding in this note. I dont go to Ballyvaughan till next
    week. So, what have you to say for yourself today.
    
    Having retired at half time on Friday night and leaving meself and
    keVin to roam Dublin, I thought you would be awake today.
    
    The Kilkenny Kat has been Kaught Knapping.
    
    - Joe
    
1106.10Mr Farrells memory is slippingDBOSW2::BRENNAN_MI drink - To make other people interestingTue Jul 28 1992 05:587
Good Got! that fellow Farrell cannot get the dates for his Holliers correct.

next thing he will be insisting he knows something about football. Not that you
can call football a sport.

MBr
1106.11Need B&B addressEOGHAN::KEYESThu Jul 30 1992 10:118
    
    Any one know off hand any B&B's on Achill island....
    
    Some place thats tolerant.....
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
1106.12Hey Mary !!!!!!!!!!!!!ACTGSF::BURNSAn Cl�rFri Aug 07 1992 15:5410
    The weekend in Achill was great, it's just a shame that I was not even
    allowed to finish my last pint with Mick and Liam ....   :-)
    
    
    
    
    keVin
    
    
    
1106.13"wheres the door"MACNAS::MKEYESEmfg Technology Group DTN 822-4304Mon Aug 10 1992 12:1214
    
    
    > "finish my last pint................"
    
    Let it go on the record that the man left a FULL pint behind
    him..."I've had enough" was all we heard as he went for the door.
    
    Kev...Herself in Lonergans is looking for her $3000......
    
    Good session,,very good session..
    
    slainte,
    
    Mick
1106.14"Legless" is just a relative term .. :-)HILL16::BURNSAn Cl�rMon Aug 10 1992 12:1915
    
    I only thing I remember about that night was that when I went to bed
    the clock indicated that it was 185 o'clock .............
    
    
    
    
    
    Then I realized I was face-first on the bathroom scale !!!      :-)
    
    
    
    
    keVin
    
1106.15More on the OPW...MACNAS::TJOYCETue Aug 11 1992 09:4826
    
    Another Interpretative Centre battle looms, this time in the Boyne
    Valley. The plan is for a centre at a certain location (Donore is
    the site mooted) with minibuses to shuttle people to and from the
    vairious sites like Knowth and Newgrange.
    
    Again, local environmentalists are up in arms, but were not allowed
    to present to a special meeting of the County Council, which has
    promptly approved the plan.
    
    On the Burren centre, I hear that pressure is being brought to
    bear at the highest level in the European Commission (at Delors
    level!) to release the money needed for the construction there.
    
    It all seems very sinister to me. During the hols I visited the
    Connemara National Park and can only admit that the OPW have
    done a good job there. Soon I hope to visit the new centre
    at the site of the Battle of Aughrim. However in these cases
    (like Coole Park) there was an obvious site for the centre.
    I don't like the sound of the Mullaghmore centre, the Luggala
    one or the new one mooted for the Boyne Valley.
    
    I'd like to get a range of opinion in this .... does anyone
    have a point of view that supports the OPW? 
    
    Toby
1106.16Iasc M�r!TALLIS::DARCYMon Aug 31 1992 15:518
    Re: .14
    
    Thanks for the postcard keVin (a picture of a fisherman reeling
    in a gold guinness - one of those tall, round, heavier fishes -
    what was he using for bait though?)
    
    /Viking
    
1106.17THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY NOW BOYO'S ...ACTGSF::BURNSAn Cl�r 1992 Munster ChampionsMon Aug 31 1992 16:019
    
    
    	Hey Dennis ............. HE'S BACK !!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    
1106.18The (pause) the bait continuesSIOG::FARRELLTue Sep 01 1992 10:0617
    
    If it was Smithwicks, I could have said that MBr was the bait as this
    particular beverage seems to be attracted to him. But it wasnt, so I
    did anyway :-)
    
    George, that Burns lad was a sorry sight here in Dublin. Lying down,
    paws in the air, crying I've had enough, let me go home (he said he
    wanted to check on the "young" lad but you know yourself. I think Paddy
    C. and a few more of you should get keVin in prime condition before he
    comes over next time. 6 pints a night for a month or two should have
    him ready next time.
    
    - Joe
    
    
    
    
1106.19TOPDOC::AHERNDennis the MenaceTue Sep 01 1992 10:166
    RE: .17
    
    	>Hey Dennis ............. HE'S BACK !!!!!!!!!!
    
    Yeh, but he still hasn't figured out who blew his cover.
    
1106.20Have you been smoking Turf again ??ACTGSF::BURNSAn Cl�r 1992 Munster ChampionsTue Sep 01 1992 11:048
    
    
    Joe: I think you have me confused with Shea !!!	:-)
    
    
    
    keVin
    
1106.21That "pint" in Achill is pricelessMACNAS::MKEYESEmfg Technology Group DTN 822-4304Mon Sep 28 1992 12:2219
    See in Liams newsletter to-day they might have discovered what happened
    Kevins famous pint in achill..The one he left ::
    
    
    
    
     " - Gold and titanium have been found on Achill Island, so no doubt 
       we have the making of another ecological argument.  The 
       discovery was made by local people and confirmed by geologists 
       from the Department of Energy.   "
    
     Saw it myself..Kev ran away, left the pint there .. and a lepreachaun 
     jumped up..shook his head and turned it to Gold.....
    
    rgs,
    
    Mick
    
    
1106.22There's Gold in them there hills !!!HILL16::BURNSAn Cl�r 1992 Munster ChampionsMon Sep 28 1992 13:388
    
    
    And the rest, as they say, is "History" 	!!!!
    
    
    
	keVin
    
1106.23Tar maybe ?CTHQ::COADYMon Sep 28 1992 14:266
    
    Now if they found 'solid tar' or the likes I could relate it to
    Guinness, but gold and platinum ...... I doubt its connected to the
    'black-stuff'.