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Traffic Light Plan Gets The Red Light and
Another Literary Festival In Kerry
Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade . . .”
(The Jew of Malta (c.1592)
There were no traffic lights in 1592 but are there enough men of judgment in 2022?
Plans for traffic lights on three bridges that span the
beautiful Blessington Lakes as part of the recently submitted
application for the Blessington Greenway have been strenuously opposed
by local people. Public meetings have left the media in no doubt about
feeling in the area
Wicklow Cllr O’Neill has been a longstanding supporter of
plans for the Greenway for over 20 years, but he is 100% against this
insane plan to place concrete dividers up the centre of the bridges to
allow pedestrians and cyclists to use one side, while the other side
would be reserved for vehicles.
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Such a move would have detrimental effects on the community,
people commuting to work, emergency services, large vehicles like
logging trucks and farm machinery. The very negative impact on the
scenic beauty and the air quality and fuel consumption of queues of
idling vehicles. Lateral-thinking Counsellor O'Neill has suggested
cantilever walkways that would provide safety for greenway users and
walkers. These could also be made attractive and possibly benches to
rest and admire the beautiful scenery from these vantage points.
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According to Tom Waits, “The average person spends two weeks over their lifetime waiting for the traffic light to change.” A very conservative estimate if one were dealing with the proposed plan.
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At the time of writing more than 1000 people have signed a
petition opposing the plan for the bridges at Knockieran, Burgage and
Humphreystown. If you are one of the west Wicklow Diaspora why not
submit your own petition to j.sherry@pleanale.ie before March 04th.
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After a long battle with several illnesses journalist Paddy
Murray was buried on Friday 25th February. I since heard an audio clip
in which he described how, as a cub reporter, in 1974 he interviewed,
and had breakfast with, John Wayne in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin. And how
the Duke told him how he would live to make another film in Ireland.
That set me thinking
The Quiet Man starring John Wayne has remained one
of the most popular films in the world for seventy years. It is based on
a short story by Maurice Walsh who was born in Ballydonoghue, County
Kerry. His native townland has a long literary history.
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Two Hundred years ago, Lisselton Bardic School in the parish of
Ballydonoghue was famed throughout Munster and beyond for Poetry and
Learning. It was the seat of The Court of The Wise, Cúirt na Súagh, led
by Pádraig Liath Ó Conchubhair, hedge schoolmaster, poet, teacher,
writer and native Irish speaker.
On March 22nd to 25th 2018, Lisselton Bardic School was
reborn as Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival, an annual weekend festival to
celebrate this outstanding literary tradition. Another successful
festival in 2019 was followed by a two-year Covid break, but they are
back again with style in March 2022.
Kerry-based writer and UL Lecturer in Literature, Critical
Theory and Creative Writing, Kim Arnold, and renowned poet/playwright
Máire Holmes, Kerry Writer-in-Residence, will deliver workshops at the
2022 Festival, as will Writer, Singer, Actor and Producer Priscilla
Donovan from Tarbert. Máire Holmes will also judge the entries for the
Literary competitions. Joe McGill from Radio Kerry will MC the Launch of
the Festival. Miriam Costello will teach The Brush Dance and Music
masterclasses will be conducted by Kevin O’Neill (Lisselton CCE) and
other professional musicians. There will be music and poetry, culture
and craic.
(Details from; ballydbardfest@gmail.com)
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