A pizza delivery man was recovering in hospital today after being shot in Galway.

The 21-year-old was hit in the hand when a man wearing a balaclava fired into his van in the Whitestrand Road area last night.

Two other males in the vehicle at the time were uninjured in the attack.

A 42-year-old man who was later arrested in connection with the incident remained in Garda custody today.

The injured man was taken to the city’s University Hospital for treatment.

I hope he gets well soon but I’d love what brand of pizza he was delivering.

A friend needed a passport renewal form and called into Drogheda Garda Station for one.  She couldn’t get one because the Superintendent (or Sergeant) had the key to the stationary room and wouldn’t be back until Monday.

Onto Dundalk Garda Station for the form. She spent an age queueing behind a Northern Ireland women who also wanted an (Irish) passport renewal form.  The Garda was convinced that she couldn’t get one because she wasn’t ‘Irish’ and she’d need a visa anyway.  The Newry woman made a convincing argument about the ‘Free State’ and the Constitution.  After consulting with a colleague, he gave the Newry woman her application form without a hint of embarrassment.

For those who are non-religious/non-Catholics, it meant that he’d been shagging anything that moved and had fathered several children by several different women in a very short timespan.

Sometimes I’m ashamed to be Irish. Well, actually, sometimes I’m ashamed of the Irish…

Aughrim in Co Wicklow won the 2007 Tidy Towns competition. Apparently, one of the local councillors said that ‘pride’ had now been restored to the town after the 1691 Battle of Aughrim.

Only problem is…the Battle of Aughrim took place in Co Galway on the opposite side of Ireland. Still, I guess it’s easy to get confused over something that happened over 300 years ago…

As I mentioned in my last entry, I came down here to Dungarvan last Friday to collect a painting I’d bought recently. I travelled here on my own as I only intended to stay a day or two. But, a week later, I’m still here and, oddly enough, I’m having the time of my life.

Previously, Dungarvan would have failed my ‘Wet Wednesday in November’ test. By that, I mean I would have despaired at the unavailability of the newspapers before 9am, or the lack of cultural activities, and the shortage of good food (The Tannery being a notable exception). The local ‘O’Briens Sandwich Bar’ doesn’t open until ‘shortly’ after the official 10am opening. The urban-dweller in me couldn’t understand how the locals managed without their morning take-out coffee!

But this time it’s different. It’s still the same town, with the same expensive prices and shoddy customer service (Lady Belle excepted), but there’s an energy about the place that’s infectious. The local shops are getting touched up in anticipation of the tourist season. The €10 ‘meat and two veg’ restaurants are abuzz with activity as their new furniture is delivered. Even one of the local bookshops is shut temporarily as, I dunno. they dust their shelves? As far as I know, school is still ongoing. But there can’t be too long to go to summer holidays and the teenagers are itching to be set free. They’re itching to get going in other ways as well. The local public parks are virtual no-go area’s in the early evenings as the teenagers have a roll around ‘in the hay’ before their school buses take them home to their (presumably) unsuspecting parents.

Spring is definitely in the air and I’ve a spring in my step as the long weekend approaches. Think I’ll grab another pint.

Anyway, this is ‘Dev’ making his pitch around the time the treaty was negotiated. Goto my flickr site site to see some more photos of the other participants.

Street Pageant: “Michael Collins”. Nine days after the visit of De Valera to Dungarvan, Michael Collins “The Big Fellow” came to Town on the 26th March 1922 looking for support for the Treaty amid a volatile atmosphere in the Country at the height of the Civil War. Violent scenes culminating in a gunfight precipitating a hasty retreat. His speech was heckled throughout, leading to ugly and violent scenes in a deeply divided town ending in an affray. A feeling of foreboding and anxiety swept through the gathered throngs. This historic day is being re-enacted in full Military Costume together with the sound of Gunfire once again being re echoed around Grattan Square Later that year on August 22nd Michael Collins made his fateful visit to Béal na mBláth. Grant assisted by Waterford County Council’s Arts Grants Scheme 2007 (Le cabhair ó Scéim Deontais Ealaíon Chomhairle Chontae Phort Láirge 2007).

The actors didn’t use real bullets but the blanks (?) were really, really loud. It was a brilliant performance and I applaude all the actors involved.

Here’s the official 2007 programme. I hope to post some photo’s from the

Traditional Open Air Concert “Cúl Cheoil agus Cáirde” le Ceol, Rinnce agus Amhránaíocht

and

Shinty Hurling – Waterford v Fort William (Scottish Club Champions). See history in the making as Waterford Senior Hurling team take on the Shinty champions of Scotland “Fort William” in an exhibition match at Fraher Field kindly sponsored by “Saltan Properties”.

Feile na Deise

Voyager by Linda Brunker.