Archives
Below are our archives for February 2012. If you are looking for a different month, please use the date search box feature below. To browse please choose from last month, next month or try the News, Sport or Opinion archives for this month.
Energy from waste is for the longer term
Dear Sir, - Investment in fracking will provide gas and jobs in the process. However this subterranean gas is a fixed store and will inevitably exhaust, followed quickly by the jobs, finalising with the scrap metal workers.
Dear Sir, - Let us learn from Mayo where a disastrous situation developed over the Corrib Gas field. We seem to be going down the same road. Recent statements by several politicians see our shale gas helping solve Ireland's financial problems, North and South. This will lead them to do deals behind closed doors and ignore local needs.
'Scandal' of costs of consultants' fees
In this time of austerity and rising unemployment, when every penny in the public coffers appears to be checked and cross-checked and Ministers talk about saving a significant percentage of their budgets, the spending of £187,000 on consultants and architects for two Enniskillen schools that are yet to be built beggars belief.
Junior Cup still the Mecca for local players
Winning the Irish Junior Cup is still the Mecca for all junior clubs in the province and well over 200 teams started out last September in their quest to lift the coveted trophy.
Even the word fear immediately conjures up all the things we do fear, its like when we talk about nits or lice - we immediately start to itch… haven't you just started to scratch?
If our health is our wealth, how rich are we?
Good morning, doctor, says the man on entering his GP surgery.
Feeling spooked while visiting the infamous Cooneen ghost house
I have always been intrigued by the story behind the Cooneen ghost house near Brookeborough. It's a place I had never visited, until last Saturday that is. Yes on Saturday I decided that I had researched enough about the Cooneen ghost and now it was time for me to go out there and have a look for myself. I am going to be completely honest when I say this, but I was a little apprehensive about going, so I decided to take my cousin with me for moral support.
Dear Sir, - I am writing in response to your editorial on February 2, 2012 where you state that much of the fear of fracking "has been based on the film 'Gaslands'".
Open letter to Arlene Foster - Minister responsible for Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Microchipping dogs is a good idea
Dear Sir, - I read in the paper about microchipping dogs which I think is a good idea, if it means that people will not take a dog and then throw it out to fend for itself, which is happening much too often.
Rural children should have same opportunities as Enniskillen pupils
Dear Sir, - I've never before put pen to paper on any subject but I felt obliged to do so after seeing councillor Bernice Swift trying to jump on the bandwagon regarding the proposed closure to St. Aidan's school in Derrylin. This is clearly a very emotional issue within our community but for Bernice to try and hi-jack this and use it as a tool for her to try and bash Sinn Fein beggars belief!
Dear Sir - St Aidan's High School in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh is a successful, community, rural school.
Will latest education report be translated into action?
When the ground breaking report from the Northern Ireland Council for Catholic Education on the post-primary review was published this week, there must have been anxious moments for Boards of Governors, principals, teaching staff, pupils, parents and above all, communities fighting to save their own educational institutions.
Loyalty to one's club, county, country is very much in the news these days.
When you have a pain, you alone know where you feel it and you alone can describe it to the doctor should you decide to go there. Pain is a warning that something is amiss, be that a little something or a major something.
Academic selection at 11 means nothing
For parents and children in P6 and P7 these are worrying times. The controversy surrounding the dreaded eleven plus is still going on, with no real end in sight. I have to say that I am no fan of the eleven plus, I was delighted when it was abolished in 2008. My only wish was that it didn't happen sooner, like in the mid nineties, when I had to sit it.
Change in education: an opportunity or a threat
On Sunday afternoon, talk in our house turned to school exams. My 14-year-old daughter is heading into Year 11 (fourth year to you and me) and is considering her selection of GCSE subjects.
Dear Sir - The recent article in the Impartial about the lack of street lights in Ashbourne Manor, Enniskillen reminds me of the fairly large villlage of Wickham Bishops, Essex, whose inhabitants made a conscious decision, 40 or more years ago, to do without street lights. Obviously, this was successful and, as far as I know, the crime rate is very low, and the villagers are happy to walk around with a torch.
Dear Sir - Our community was greatly shocked and indeed annoyed to hear the announcement by Mr. Ronnie Morrison that he through circumstances forced upon him by Downtown Radio has decided to stand down from his position due to him being asked to play music to which he disagrees.
Clinic: why not leave well alone
Dear Sir - I am writing in regard to the imminent closing of the leg and ulcer clinic at the Day Centre, Tempo Road, Enniskillen.
Passion and enthusiasm returns to farming
The agricultural industry might have been looked at with some pessimism a number of years ago as other industries quickly galloped ahead and became more appealing to people to work in. How things have changed.
It was an awfully long time ago when I made my debut for Irvinestown Wanderers back in the mid seventies.
Folks on the Hill must shape our future
When Time magazine gave the magnanimous Person of the Year award to 'The Protester' in 2011 some twitched an eyebrow. No famous face emblazoned the cover, just the scarved profile of an unnamed activist. Because no person was more symbolic of 2011: a year when our brethren in the Arab nations shaped global headlines, realising that they were more powerful than the dictators who had long destroyed their lives.
So as we approach Valentine's Day, I hope you have all bought a gift or two for the one you love. If not don't panic, you have a few more days to get sorted out. I will be honest and admit I forgot last year, I didn't remember a thing about it until that night when Leanne gave me a card. I said "hang on a minute, I'll get yours" I ran into my dad's office and raided the cupboard; all I could find were a few blank Christmas cards. I found one with a nice robin on the front, so I wrote Happy Valentine's Day on the inside and thought to myself this will do nicely. I gave Leanne the card, and upon opening it she said: "Why is there is a robin on the front? This is clearly a Christmas card and you have just written Happy Valentine's Day on the inside, in fact the ink is still wet, you have just written this now haven't you?" So indeed I had to admit I forgot. Leanne was fine about it though, if nothing else she thought the card was cute, she went home and put it on the mantelpiece. Later that evening her sister arrived home with a card from her boyfriend, it was huge and expensive looking, and of course she went and set it beside the card I gave to Leanne. The picture explains it all.
What is it - this crazy little thing called love?
To me love is like the wind, you cannot see it, you cannot touch it, it is impossible to grasp but you certainly can feel it. Like the wind it can be soft and gentle, sometimes warm and comfortable, many a time hot (even in Ireland) and then sometimes it can be so uncomfortable, that is when it blows up a storm and knocks you off your stride. Of course all this depending on what type of love you are talking about.
I've been interested this week in observing the attitudes and behaviour of people towards two prominent churchmen.
St. Mary's Brollagh should remain open
Dear Sir, - Last Thursday I was invited to attend a meeting in St. Mary's High School, Brollagh. I have just moved into the area and so was shocked to hear that the only post primary school in the region was being threatened with closure.
Dear Sir, - May I, through your column, once again say congratulations to the lakeland Players on what must surely be their best show to date.
An economic boost or an environmental disaster?
In these economic times, positive news stories are welcome, especially when they relate to the potential creation of jobs. And so the claims of employment opportunities for Fermanagh and the Border area running into hundreds of jobs as well as energy security for the foreseeable future, would indeed be welcome news.
Tennis stars are supreme athletes
As the Australian Open Tennis final came to a gripping finale, I wondered what a few Premiership managers or indeed any football manager throughout the world would make of the schedule of play for the two finalists.
am not trying to sell you Gillian McKeith's book even though I found it interesting; nor indeed am I trying to compete with Audrey's wonderful recipes in this paper; but as I feed my guests in Ti Suaimhnis I keep it simple. Good wholesome organic food. We all know (and most try to ignore) the fact is that you are what you eat as it affects everything about you, not only your weight.
The Clones Ambush and a turbulent time in history of Fermanagh
Out of all periods in Irish history one that stands out for me is the Anglo Irish Treaty and the implications it would have. Last year I had relatives over from England, they were very interested in Irish history and one thing they found really fascinating was the fact when we crossed the Border, they didn't even notice. In fact we were about four miles into County Cavan before I said anything.
