The Cavan Kayakarun.
The late Michael Jackson has a well know hit,’ You Gotta be startin Somethin.. I’m not sure if it was the inspiration for Gabriel Shalvey and Michael Fitzpatrick when they hatched the idea of having this unique challenge, The Cavan Kayakarun, around the roads and waterways of Maudabawn and Knockbride on August 7th.
On the day of the event I did notice a Michael Jackson look-alike spinning hits at the DJ booth outside the starting area at Gallonray House. So maybe there was some celestial karma with whacko J going on somewhere in the ether.
Or was it that the Cavan GAA team had once again fell short of the getting a sniff at going anywhere in the pursuit of an All Ireland final appearance, that made local people decide to be their very own sporting heroes. Don’t depend on others, get up off the couch. Brothers and sisters are doing it for themselves.
So the event was launched. A 5k run up the Drooka road, across the savagely steep Peppers Bray.( Who’d be mad enough to want to do that?) Quite a few as it turned out. A 1km Kayak on Barnagrove Lake,( the nice bit), and finishing with a 15 km cycle around via Canning town back to Gallonray House.
.People like myself who have been cycling for well on 20 years, were delighted that we could participate in an event on our very own doorstep. We attended meetings and helped as best we could .The weekly Saturday morning Kayak practise was great fun. I and most others had never sat in a kayak before. Now were hooked to a great pastime in a locality where we have so many accessible lakes and rivers.
Despite the recession local bike shops were reporting a sudden upward spike in trade. Questions about the best tyres to use, the correct pressure to pump to, the right gear rations for the rolling cycle route, were being asked by those less familiar with the humble bicycle. Tour De France stages were being closely monitored to see how Cancellera, Contador and Lance Armstrong and Co. can make bicycles go very fast.
Trial runs were enacted, to test the logistics and for some of us participating, to set times to better on the day. Yes we could run up Peppers Bray, and walking was also an option. No problem getting out to the island on Barnagrove and back without capazing. The worst was a wet backside, but for the likes of me who was reared without an arse in my trousers, that wasn’t a problem. The local ‘Hells Angles’ with their motor bikes and Honda 50’s turned up to marshall the course ensuring a safe passage for all competitors. Some of the elite runners could even out run the Honda 50’s.
The day of the event drew closer. Boxes were ticked and plans were fell into place. Entries were filling up, coming from near and far. Things were looking good. Even the weather was promising to behave. God must love endurance events. Of course He does. Didn’t he do that famous one up Calvary with a cross on his back? Was it as steep as Peppers Bray? I doubt it.
And so as advertised on Saturday 7th of August the first ever Cavan Kayak run began shortly after 2.00pm at Gallonray House, Maudabawn. Over 200 competitors of all shapes, sizes, and ability’s stood on the start line and prepared to meet the challenge. Everyone was a winner long before they would cross the finish line. It’s the taking part that counts.
Logistically everything went smoothly. All the transition areas functioned like a well oiled machine, thanks to all of those helped out. Out on the circuit that’s the one thing that really impressed me. The number of people who gave up their time, from farmers and others who may have had better things to do on a Saturday, to help with the event. Shows the great community spirit and good will that the event attracted. You don’t get that sort of thing in every town or parish
I don’t think there was anyone one from the oldest to the youngest who didn’t finish the event or section of. We all made some new sporting friends and acquaintances in the process. There’ll be more events to get stuck into, bike tours, runs, kayak’s and raft races over the next few months.
Will there be another Kayakarun in 2011. I’d safely say that there will. But for now we can just enjoy the buzz and excitement and sense of achievement we all got form being a part of it all.
Brian Reynolds
August 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Celebrity Deaths
Celebrity Deaths.
Since last December and the death of the 24 year old model Katie French, it there has been a succession of celebrity deaths. That is people in the know, from the music, entertainment and literary world that have passed away, unexpectedly and indeed it would appear well before their time, if there is such a thing in this world.
It would appear to me that celebrities are just queuing up to die.
Katie French was a young woman who had come to recent prominence in the world of modeling. She was rarely out of the newspapers, nor away from the TV screens. I must confess that the first time I really heard of her, was when it was announced that she had collapsed at a party and was in a coma in hospital.Unfortunetly for her, she had been overindulging in the consumption of cocaine, and this particular evening was a bridge too far from her.
She died a week later in hospital, in early December 2007, failing to come out of the coma. A wasted life and a sad occasion. Parents had lost a daughter, her sister a sibling, friends a friend.
Of coarse this death hit the headlines and the media milked it for all it was worth as they always do in these cases. Ordinary people die every day, and the most they can aspire to be a line or two in the death notices in the papers, and a mention on the local radio. But when you’re in the public eye, then as in life, in the immediate aftermath of your death, you are still very much a part of the media circus.
Katie French was, young, ambitious and media savvy. She’s set her sights on becoming successful and famous and in death received became more newsworthy than she probably ever would have in life. Being a model though, doesn’t have the same after-death spin offs than singers or musicians, who can still profit from their back catalogue of recorded material. It’s often said that Elvis Presley made the best ever career move by dieing. Assination didn’t do John Lennon any harm in this regard either.
Hardly had the had the last shovel of earth settled on Katie French’s grave when we heard the news of the of the passing of the Kerry singer/songwriter, Christy Hennessey. Christy died from an illness which stemmed from his work on building sites in England in the 60’s. Overexposure to asbestos caused the singers illness and death in early December 2007. Christy had found show business success relatively late in life, arriving on the scene, in the early 90’s. He had written some catchy and memorable songs. His first album release was a hit and from there on his music career progressed. Receiving radio play, he soon built up a healthy fan base. Other singers recorded his songs, and his live shows were well attended. At 62 he still had much to give and to do, but that wasn’t to be .When the reaper comes calling, one has to drop all and follow where he will lead.
Christmas time is marketed as a time of unbridled joy and happiness, and we’d prefer not to hear of tragedies and deaths. The grim reaper doesn’t recognize this or indeed play by these rules. I’m beginning to think that one should for a period of time over the days surrounding the Christmas period to avoid all contact with the news media. I made the mistake of turning on the car radio on St Stephan’s day, and all the news bulletins had to offer was tales of stabbings and deaths as a result of such aggressive and violent actions early on the morning of December 26th.
A later bulletin which I also happened to hear on the car radio was that of the sudden and unexpected death of the legendry Irish singer, Joe Dolan. He had been in poor health of late and recently had to abort a live show 4 songs in, due to exhaustion. He took a brain hemorrhage on Christmas Day, and passed away on December 26th. He was 68. Now there is no one in Ireland, bar maybe the foreign workforce who hasn’t heard of Joe Dolan. He had been prominent in Irish Music circles since the early 60’s as a showband leader and up to the present day as a solo artist. He was a damn good singer, and had even enjoyed chart success in the Uk in the early 70’s. He appeared on Top of the Pops; with a song Make me an Island, which went high in the charts there. He was adored by women all over the country, young and old and indeed by many men. His passing was greeted with shock and sadness and his passing was the lead item on the RTE main news bulletins on December 26th.
Into 2008 and life and death goes on. I heard on the radio on Saturday morning the 6th September that the writer and philosopher John O Donohue had passed away while on a holiday in France. I’ve been reading his books for many years now, Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes are two that I read on a regular basis. I was sad and surprised to hear of his untimely passing, as he was a young man in his mid 50’s. Seems like as if it was heart failure that caused his premature demise, as it was reported that he died peacefully in his sleep
I’d certainly recommend that everyone should possess something of his writings, poetry and philosophy based material. In the fast moving, ever increasing materialist world we live in, O Donohue’s work is a shining light of calm, reassurance and peace into our daily lives. I read a section from his books every morning after I get up. Anyhow his number came up on January 5th and his wisdom will be no more. Of course the wealth of his written material will live on for long and many a day.
Amazing how we’ve had this succession of well known people passing on. It’s almost as if it’s become the thing to do, almost trendy to die. Of course few would wish to die, allowing for those with mental health problems and who resort to suicide.
But that’s the way it is; when your time is up. Sometimes St Peter is sent to give you a warning, and so often God does it himself. No warning, just a friendly tap on the shoulder and off you go.
The soul merely departs the body, goes back to where it came from. It waits around for the approiate moment when it will once again, by choice choose to inhabit and earthly body.
Since last December and the death of the 24 year old model Katie French, it there has been a succession of celebrity deaths. That is people in the know, from the music, entertainment and literary world that have passed away, unexpectedly and indeed it would appear well before their time, if there is such a thing in this world.
It would appear to me that celebrities are just queuing up to die.
Katie French was a young woman who had come to recent prominence in the world of modeling. She was rarely out of the newspapers, nor away from the TV screens. I must confess that the first time I really heard of her, was when it was announced that she had collapsed at a party and was in a coma in hospital.Unfortunetly for her, she had been overindulging in the consumption of cocaine, and this particular evening was a bridge too far from her.
She died a week later in hospital, in early December 2007, failing to come out of the coma. A wasted life and a sad occasion. Parents had lost a daughter, her sister a sibling, friends a friend.
Of coarse this death hit the headlines and the media milked it for all it was worth as they always do in these cases. Ordinary people die every day, and the most they can aspire to be a line or two in the death notices in the papers, and a mention on the local radio. But when you’re in the public eye, then as in life, in the immediate aftermath of your death, you are still very much a part of the media circus.
Katie French was, young, ambitious and media savvy. She’s set her sights on becoming successful and famous and in death received became more newsworthy than she probably ever would have in life. Being a model though, doesn’t have the same after-death spin offs than singers or musicians, who can still profit from their back catalogue of recorded material. It’s often said that Elvis Presley made the best ever career move by dieing. Assination didn’t do John Lennon any harm in this regard either.
Hardly had the had the last shovel of earth settled on Katie French’s grave when we heard the news of the of the passing of the Kerry singer/songwriter, Christy Hennessey. Christy died from an illness which stemmed from his work on building sites in England in the 60’s. Overexposure to asbestos caused the singers illness and death in early December 2007. Christy had found show business success relatively late in life, arriving on the scene, in the early 90’s. He had written some catchy and memorable songs. His first album release was a hit and from there on his music career progressed. Receiving radio play, he soon built up a healthy fan base. Other singers recorded his songs, and his live shows were well attended. At 62 he still had much to give and to do, but that wasn’t to be .When the reaper comes calling, one has to drop all and follow where he will lead.
Christmas time is marketed as a time of unbridled joy and happiness, and we’d prefer not to hear of tragedies and deaths. The grim reaper doesn’t recognize this or indeed play by these rules. I’m beginning to think that one should for a period of time over the days surrounding the Christmas period to avoid all contact with the news media. I made the mistake of turning on the car radio on St Stephan’s day, and all the news bulletins had to offer was tales of stabbings and deaths as a result of such aggressive and violent actions early on the morning of December 26th.
A later bulletin which I also happened to hear on the car radio was that of the sudden and unexpected death of the legendry Irish singer, Joe Dolan. He had been in poor health of late and recently had to abort a live show 4 songs in, due to exhaustion. He took a brain hemorrhage on Christmas Day, and passed away on December 26th. He was 68. Now there is no one in Ireland, bar maybe the foreign workforce who hasn’t heard of Joe Dolan. He had been prominent in Irish Music circles since the early 60’s as a showband leader and up to the present day as a solo artist. He was a damn good singer, and had even enjoyed chart success in the Uk in the early 70’s. He appeared on Top of the Pops; with a song Make me an Island, which went high in the charts there. He was adored by women all over the country, young and old and indeed by many men. His passing was greeted with shock and sadness and his passing was the lead item on the RTE main news bulletins on December 26th.
Into 2008 and life and death goes on. I heard on the radio on Saturday morning the 6th September that the writer and philosopher John O Donohue had passed away while on a holiday in France. I’ve been reading his books for many years now, Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes are two that I read on a regular basis. I was sad and surprised to hear of his untimely passing, as he was a young man in his mid 50’s. Seems like as if it was heart failure that caused his premature demise, as it was reported that he died peacefully in his sleep
I’d certainly recommend that everyone should possess something of his writings, poetry and philosophy based material. In the fast moving, ever increasing materialist world we live in, O Donohue’s work is a shining light of calm, reassurance and peace into our daily lives. I read a section from his books every morning after I get up. Anyhow his number came up on January 5th and his wisdom will be no more. Of course the wealth of his written material will live on for long and many a day.
Amazing how we’ve had this succession of well known people passing on. It’s almost as if it’s become the thing to do, almost trendy to die. Of course few would wish to die, allowing for those with mental health problems and who resort to suicide.
But that’s the way it is; when your time is up. Sometimes St Peter is sent to give you a warning, and so often God does it himself. No warning, just a friendly tap on the shoulder and off you go.
The soul merely departs the body, goes back to where it came from. It waits around for the approiate moment when it will once again, by choice choose to inhabit and earthly body.
Monday, December 3, 2007
How Di I Know It'as Christmas.Meditation No 2
Meditation no 2. How I know its Christmas. Everyone who is anyone, those who think they are someone, right down to lowest Z list celebrity is flogging something. Books, DVD’s from would be writers, comedians, movie stars, TV presenters, mystics, fortune tellers. They are all in on the act and keen to rifle our thin lined pockets. Once again the stressed out, last minuet shopper will buy anything, that can be wrapped up, disguised as a present and which will sit comfortably under Christmas tree.
Companies want to sell us things we don’t need. A new mobile phone, which will make your will, and cook your dinner. Buy a new wall size flat screened TV. To enhance your viewing over the festive season. Buy a laptop; upgrade your computer, more power, bigger hard drive, more capacity, bigger, better, save money.
All in the good cause of giving us the experience of the happiest Christmas ever. Buy, buy, buy, and fill your house with junk, swell our bank balances.
Of course all thoughts and mention of global warming, ozone depletion and climate change are placed on the backburner, as the shops overload with all manner of product manufactured from paper and oil. Books, paper, DVD’s toys, you name, and there’s oil in there somewhere, that ever growing scarce commodity, and set to soar in price. The way things are going we might not be celebrating many more Christmases as we know them, if we continue on this destructive trend. So enjoy this Christmas and as many more as we can hope for. Trawl the shops and stores for that perfect present that you always wanted to give or to receive. Get it now while stocks last.!!
Companies want to sell us things we don’t need. A new mobile phone, which will make your will, and cook your dinner. Buy a new wall size flat screened TV. To enhance your viewing over the festive season. Buy a laptop; upgrade your computer, more power, bigger hard drive, more capacity, bigger, better, save money.
All in the good cause of giving us the experience of the happiest Christmas ever. Buy, buy, buy, and fill your house with junk, swell our bank balances.
Of course all thoughts and mention of global warming, ozone depletion and climate change are placed on the backburner, as the shops overload with all manner of product manufactured from paper and oil. Books, paper, DVD’s toys, you name, and there’s oil in there somewhere, that ever growing scarce commodity, and set to soar in price. The way things are going we might not be celebrating many more Christmases as we know them, if we continue on this destructive trend. So enjoy this Christmas and as many more as we can hope for. Trawl the shops and stores for that perfect present that you always wanted to give or to receive. Get it now while stocks last.!!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
And so this is!!!!11
Christmas. Yes it's almost upon us again. It only seems like it was last weekend when we rang in the new year. The winter gave way to a pleasent spring, which in turn succuumbed to a wet dissapointing summer, which exited the stage to allow a pleasent autumn to bestow its grace upon us.
And now it's winter, with its, long days of darkness, cold and miserable weather conditions; not unlike summer, but for the length of the days. Wasn't it St Colmbcille who predicated that there would be little differance between the seasons, bar the length of the daylight hours. The first mention of global warming and climate change all those years ago.
But Christmas is one season that is hard to avoid. It's in your face from about mid October onwards. The first thing I noticed was a mass stockpile of buscuit tins in the local supermarket. Jesus who is going to eat all that stuff. And people will. Thats their idea of a good christmas, overloading on buiscuits. And then we wonder why there is a trend now a days towards obesity, bad digestions and in general,medicore health. People will visit their family and friends, and bring a tin of buiscuits. Great when you are stuck and can't think of anything else to buy, or when the creative side of your brain has temporily shut down and taken holiday. Pop in to the local supermarket, and grab a tin of your choice. Theere must be at least 1000 on display and God only knows who may more in the store room.
So thats my first observation of the approaching Christmas season.Over the next 5 weeks or so there will be lots, to see, do, ruminate and ponder upon. I'll be back with more ramblings and observations, so stay tuned to ths page.
And now it's winter, with its, long days of darkness, cold and miserable weather conditions; not unlike summer, but for the length of the days. Wasn't it St Colmbcille who predicated that there would be little differance between the seasons, bar the length of the daylight hours. The first mention of global warming and climate change all those years ago.
But Christmas is one season that is hard to avoid. It's in your face from about mid October onwards. The first thing I noticed was a mass stockpile of buscuit tins in the local supermarket. Jesus who is going to eat all that stuff. And people will. Thats their idea of a good christmas, overloading on buiscuits. And then we wonder why there is a trend now a days towards obesity, bad digestions and in general,medicore health. People will visit their family and friends, and bring a tin of buiscuits. Great when you are stuck and can't think of anything else to buy, or when the creative side of your brain has temporily shut down and taken holiday. Pop in to the local supermarket, and grab a tin of your choice. Theere must be at least 1000 on display and God only knows who may more in the store room.
So thats my first observation of the approaching Christmas season.Over the next 5 weeks or so there will be lots, to see, do, ruminate and ponder upon. I'll be back with more ramblings and observations, so stay tuned to ths page.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Poor Auld Fellas
I found myself at the launch of this new book by journalist and writer Declan Lynch, in Easons of Dawson Street, Dublin on Tuesday night last. How did I come to be there. Connor Sheridan, phoned me on Tuesday afternoon and asked me if I'd like to come along. He had a message from Arthur Matthews, he of the FR Ted creation, inviting him along. Arthur was involved in the book, being responsible for most of the cartoons and illustrations.
You see Connor, myself and Arthur had been in a band togethr in the 1980's, Adored by Millions. Arthur was the drummer, Connor the lead singer and myself playing guitar.Arthur of coarse went on to fame and fortune in the world of comedy writing, with Fr Ted the big one that really took the world by storm/
I hadn't seen him since around 1988, so it was great to meet up again at the book launch on Tuesday night .
Barry Devlin , he of Horslips fame and later creating U2 videos offically launched the book, with Declan Lynch, the author then reading some excerpts from it.
The books takes a comic and satirical look at the old folk, men living in modern Ireland, especially in regard to their choice, or lack of ,TV viewing on RTE our national broadcaster.
Funny it is, as with anything Lynch or Matthews put their attentions to can only be. Afterwards we chatted with Barry Devlin recounting old tales and yarns form the great days of the Horslips gigs around the country. Nice, down to earth guy he is too.
Later we supped Guiness in Keoghs pub, and had a good auld chat with Thomas Walshe, he being the songwriter, vocalist, and main man of the band Pugwash. Ria, Arther's sister was also present. It is she who has been credited in introducing the Punk ,-new-wave music revolution to Ireland in the mid 70's.
So it wa s great to reconnect, with old friends and aquiantances, and to rub shoulders with the great and the good. We parted comapny, promising that it won't be a s long again until we meet. Oh, and, go and buy that book, Poor Auld Fellas.
Go and buy that book Poor Auld Fellas
You see Connor, myself and Arthur had been in a band togethr in the 1980's, Adored by Millions. Arthur was the drummer, Connor the lead singer and myself playing guitar.Arthur of coarse went on to fame and fortune in the world of comedy writing, with Fr Ted the big one that really took the world by storm/
I hadn't seen him since around 1988, so it was great to meet up again at the book launch on Tuesday night .
Barry Devlin , he of Horslips fame and later creating U2 videos offically launched the book, with Declan Lynch, the author then reading some excerpts from it.
The books takes a comic and satirical look at the old folk, men living in modern Ireland, especially in regard to their choice, or lack of ,TV viewing on RTE our national broadcaster.
Funny it is, as with anything Lynch or Matthews put their attentions to can only be. Afterwards we chatted with Barry Devlin recounting old tales and yarns form the great days of the Horslips gigs around the country. Nice, down to earth guy he is too.
Later we supped Guiness in Keoghs pub, and had a good auld chat with Thomas Walshe, he being the songwriter, vocalist, and main man of the band Pugwash. Ria, Arther's sister was also present. It is she who has been credited in introducing the Punk ,-new-wave music revolution to Ireland in the mid 70's.
So it wa s great to reconnect, with old friends and aquiantances, and to rub shoulders with the great and the good. We parted comapny, promising that it won't be a s long again until we meet. Oh, and, go and buy that book, Poor Auld Fellas.
Go and buy that book Poor Auld Fellas
Sarah's Christening
On Sunday last October 14th we christened Sarah in Maudabawn chapel, the same church where the other two, Emily in September 2005,an d Lisa in June 2003. The same church where w e were married in July 2000, and where I made my first confession in, was it 1967?
Fr Kevin Cooney officiated at the baptism, as he did for the other two . Weather was, plaesent , warm, calm, and sunny, making it all the more enjoyable.
So Sarah is now a fully fledged christian, and that's the way she will remain until she has the reason to decide otherwise when she reaches maturity.
You don't hear much about orignal sin these days; that's the one you are automatically born with, and it's only with the waters of baptism that's erased. You can believe it if you like and a lot do. Dosen't seem fair that a totally innocent baby should be burdened with this big sin, before they can even utter their first gutteral sound. Anyway., thats christianity for you.
Back to last Sunday. She has 4 god parentss all our children have, Rosie's brother Gerd, sister Valtroed, Helan Markey and Thomas Wershmoller. Tomas couldn't make the trip from Germany, but the others did along with Roswitha's mother and father, who have been present at the other christenings.
Afterwards we retired to our house in Drumbinnis.Rosemary Connelly, like on the previous occosions provided the excellent food. Sundays meal was up to it's usual high standard and was savoured by all. Later in the evening, Squire and I played a few songs to round off the occosion, and what was a most day.
That will be our last christening, definetly, definetly.
Fr Kevin Cooney officiated at the baptism, as he did for the other two . Weather was, plaesent , warm, calm, and sunny, making it all the more enjoyable.
So Sarah is now a fully fledged christian, and that's the way she will remain until she has the reason to decide otherwise when she reaches maturity.
You don't hear much about orignal sin these days; that's the one you are automatically born with, and it's only with the waters of baptism that's erased. You can believe it if you like and a lot do. Dosen't seem fair that a totally innocent baby should be burdened with this big sin, before they can even utter their first gutteral sound. Anyway., thats christianity for you.
Back to last Sunday. She has 4 god parentss all our children have, Rosie's brother Gerd, sister Valtroed, Helan Markey and Thomas Wershmoller. Tomas couldn't make the trip from Germany, but the others did along with Roswitha's mother and father, who have been present at the other christenings.
Afterwards we retired to our house in Drumbinnis.Rosemary Connelly, like on the previous occosions provided the excellent food. Sundays meal was up to it's usual high standard and was savoured by all. Later in the evening, Squire and I played a few songs to round off the occosion, and what was a most day.
That will be our last christening, definetly, definetly.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Newspaper Deluge
There are now 5 weekly newspaers circulating in Co Cavan, as I write, the date being October 8th 2007. Up until about 9 months ago it was the age old Anglo Celt that provided us the people of this noble county with our diet of weekly local news. The good old Celt has been around for longer than I care to remember. It was established some time towards the latter half of the 18th centuary. So at this satge it would be fair to say that it has gained a fair foothold on the local media scene.
Many would day that there isn't an awful lot in it. Take away the local news, court case reports, GAA and the adds and what would remain. Not a lot. It's abit like the Monthy Python, Life of Brian, scenario, of what did the Romans ever do for us?
Stiil you feel that if you didn't get the Celt one might miss something. The Celt in my yonger days came out on Fridays. That then changed to Thursdays,.In more recent times it came to hit the shelves by Wednesday evenings.
Then late last year the Cavan Echo appeared. This was a free paper and and a new competitor to the established Celt.To combat this the Celt issued a a similar free paper, The Cavan Life. So almost overnight we had 3 weekleys to choose from.
The Echo was ok. Has a couple of decent features, like a history page. They run a weekly latest story, take the camera out to local pubs and venues and publish out and about photos. The Celt also followed suit and began to do something similar. The Echo must be feeling very flattered.
Then in September of this year The Cavan Post hit the streets. Its part of a national media chain which has publications in most counties, including our nextdoor neighbours, Monaghan.
The Post Looks impressive, bulky, with many different features, locals news, court cases, out and about photos, fashion and as far as I can see it, like to publish photos of crashed cars.
The Post keeps it's articles short and to the point. It seems to be aimed at those to dont like wordy or detailed articles. You'll find the same court cases and local news as in the Celt, and indeed most of the other news as in the Celt. The Post comes out on a Tuesday, so they have some stories before the Celt and vica versa.
The Post does have a couples of good journalist, with flair, wit, oodles of satire and an obvious love of the English language. Something which I like in a writer and in a newspaper. I'm more into reading a well written piece over and above what it's about.
Paul O Dowd is the sports editior. Being a former goalkeeper for the Cavan County GAA team, he's gone from standing between the post to writing for the Post.GAA and sport is where he excels, but he could ,given the scope and space ,write about any subject under the sun and make it interesting. Perhaps he's using the Post as a springboard to something bigger on the national scene.
So there we were in September with 4 papers to choose from. Just when I felt it was safe to walk into a newsagents again and not be confronted with another new title, lo and behold there's another new one begging for my attention. Two weeks after the Post launched, The Cavan Voice popped its head above the parrapet. More photos from out and about, local news, courtcases, crashed cars. A more wordy paper then the Post, it seems to be aiming more at the serious reader, what ever type of beast he or she may be I'm not too sure. It's also giving away a free CD for the 1st 10 weeks. Irish Voices. Daniel O Donell was the first one inflicted on the reader.
I put it on one Sunday at lunchtime and my wife curtly ordered me to stop it as she didn't want to her eating experience spoiled and ruined. I complied with her request and put on Ry Cooder's Chavez Ravine album instead. I must say it sounds superior to DoD.
Dodgy CDs' aside, I like the Voice. It could be a good competitior to the Anglo Celt, but that will remain to be seen.
It's shame in a way that all these new titles have come all at once. The competition to the Anglo Celt could illiminate itself. It will be interesting from a readers viewpoint to see how long they last or which ones will prosper.
I remarked to someone that we won't need firelighters from now on during the winter when lighting the solid fuel stove, or indeed one will never be stranded in the house with no toliet paper.
So as it stands we have 5 weekly newspapers in County Cavan. People in far flung corners of the globe are slaving away felling swathes of precious rain forests, destabilising already fragile eco systems to provide the raw material to print these papers. The people of Co Cavan have never been as well informed about the goings on in our noble county. But at what cost to the global environment. Only time will tell the tale.
Now where did I leave my Irelands Own
Many would day that there isn't an awful lot in it. Take away the local news, court case reports, GAA and the adds and what would remain. Not a lot. It's abit like the Monthy Python, Life of Brian, scenario, of what did the Romans ever do for us?
Stiil you feel that if you didn't get the Celt one might miss something. The Celt in my yonger days came out on Fridays. That then changed to Thursdays,.In more recent times it came to hit the shelves by Wednesday evenings.
Then late last year the Cavan Echo appeared. This was a free paper and and a new competitor to the established Celt.To combat this the Celt issued a a similar free paper, The Cavan Life. So almost overnight we had 3 weekleys to choose from.
The Echo was ok. Has a couple of decent features, like a history page. They run a weekly latest story, take the camera out to local pubs and venues and publish out and about photos. The Celt also followed suit and began to do something similar. The Echo must be feeling very flattered.
Then in September of this year The Cavan Post hit the streets. Its part of a national media chain which has publications in most counties, including our nextdoor neighbours, Monaghan.
The Post Looks impressive, bulky, with many different features, locals news, court cases, out and about photos, fashion and as far as I can see it, like to publish photos of crashed cars.
The Post keeps it's articles short and to the point. It seems to be aimed at those to dont like wordy or detailed articles. You'll find the same court cases and local news as in the Celt, and indeed most of the other news as in the Celt. The Post comes out on a Tuesday, so they have some stories before the Celt and vica versa.
The Post does have a couples of good journalist, with flair, wit, oodles of satire and an obvious love of the English language. Something which I like in a writer and in a newspaper. I'm more into reading a well written piece over and above what it's about.
Paul O Dowd is the sports editior. Being a former goalkeeper for the Cavan County GAA team, he's gone from standing between the post to writing for the Post.GAA and sport is where he excels, but he could ,given the scope and space ,write about any subject under the sun and make it interesting. Perhaps he's using the Post as a springboard to something bigger on the national scene.
So there we were in September with 4 papers to choose from. Just when I felt it was safe to walk into a newsagents again and not be confronted with another new title, lo and behold there's another new one begging for my attention. Two weeks after the Post launched, The Cavan Voice popped its head above the parrapet. More photos from out and about, local news, courtcases, crashed cars. A more wordy paper then the Post, it seems to be aiming more at the serious reader, what ever type of beast he or she may be I'm not too sure. It's also giving away a free CD for the 1st 10 weeks. Irish Voices. Daniel O Donell was the first one inflicted on the reader.
I put it on one Sunday at lunchtime and my wife curtly ordered me to stop it as she didn't want to her eating experience spoiled and ruined. I complied with her request and put on Ry Cooder's Chavez Ravine album instead. I must say it sounds superior to DoD.
Dodgy CDs' aside, I like the Voice. It could be a good competitior to the Anglo Celt, but that will remain to be seen.
It's shame in a way that all these new titles have come all at once. The competition to the Anglo Celt could illiminate itself. It will be interesting from a readers viewpoint to see how long they last or which ones will prosper.
I remarked to someone that we won't need firelighters from now on during the winter when lighting the solid fuel stove, or indeed one will never be stranded in the house with no toliet paper.
So as it stands we have 5 weekly newspapers in County Cavan. People in far flung corners of the globe are slaving away felling swathes of precious rain forests, destabilising already fragile eco systems to provide the raw material to print these papers. The people of Co Cavan have never been as well informed about the goings on in our noble county. But at what cost to the global environment. Only time will tell the tale.
Now where did I leave my Irelands Own
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