HomeSpeakers
THE GREENORE TEAM WINNERS OF COOLEY LEAGUE 1949
Standing: John Murphy (Trainer), Leo Boyel. James Maguire, Hugh O'Rourke, Brendan Rafferty, Eric Hynes, Teddy Berrills, James McKevitt, Sean Waldron. Front: Rory Kennedy, Jim Kearney, Patsy McGrane, P. Brady, Eamonn Boyle, Domnic Carron, Fred Adamson. On Ground: Pat McCormack, Padraig Kennedy.
28 December 2006
Dear Sir/Madam
When I was young in the 1950’s people who dwelt in the countryside felt deprived because we did not have the same amenities as those who lived in the town. However with rural electrification, group water schemes, septic tanks and underground sewerage the gap had been effectively closed by the early 1970’s. Nowadays many people residing in the countryside are neither farmers nor artisans and even our gardens feature lawns and shrubs where in the 1950’s they grew potatoes, cabbage, carrots, scallions and lettuce. With the convenience of the motor car the town and the shops are as easily within our reach today as they are for suburbanites.
However there is a subliminal feeling abroad that there may be another even more cataclysmic change coming. Maybe some of the school-children of the 1950’s may yet live long enough to be forced into high-rise buildings within the tightly described boundaries of the proposed new bipolar city of Newry/Dundalk?
Anyway these and similar questions will be discussed at the seventh annual winter workshop organised by Cooley Environmental and Health Group which is due to take place on Saturday 27 January 2007 commencing at 2.00 p.m. in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, Co Louth. The theme of the workshop is "Urban Sprawl!"
The purpose of these few lines is to invite anyone interested to come along to the workshop. The venue is pleasant and warm on the southern shore of Carlingford Lough. Even if you are not interested in listening to the experts the view across the Lough from The Strand of the lights coming on in Warrenpoint is a sight to behold. Dinner will be available at 6.00 p.m. on the day at the remarkably low cost of €25 per person. Please contact me (087 9739945) before 20 January if you wish to attend the workshop and stay for the dinner afterwards.
I would like to wish the readers of this website a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Your sincerely
Sean Crudden
TREASURER
Cooley Environmental and Health Group
The Strand Hotel is situated approximately 80m to the right as one approaches the pier whose situation in Omeath is shown towards the bottom of the photograph above.
An earnest, full and energetic workshop took place in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, on Saturday 27 January 2007, beginning at 2.00 p.m. sharp. The theme of the workshop was "Urban Sprawl!" The speakers were, Arthur Morgan TD, Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD, Dr Larry Staudt, Luke Martin, Pat Ferrigan, Dr Dennis Pringle, Eric Hynes, Padraic Oliver, Christina O’Boyle, Eamonn O’Boyle TC. Sean Crudden was the workshop facilitator. Others in attendance were Anne Muldowney and Kevin Hynes. The workshop was followed at 6.00 p.m. by a dinner.
The workshop was the seventh annual winter workshop organised by Cooley Environmental and Health Group. It took place on a day when Prince Charles and Camilla rode an electric train from Philadelphia to New York where the prince was to collect a Global Environmental Citizen Award from the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.
__________________________________________
Urban Sprawl: Urban Change v Urban Conflict
(guide for talk @ CEHG workshop 27/01/07
Definition of Urban Sprawl
Smart Growth
Urban Planning past 50 years
Pedestrian Friendly
Walkabout Communities
Urban Sprawl in Europe
Extent of Urban Sprawl in Cooley Peninsula and hinterlands
Drivers of Urban Sprawl
The Impacts of Urban Sprawl (Social & Environmental)
Responses to Urban Sprawl (to counter sprawl)
Barriers to addressing Urban Sprawl
Policy Coherence & effectiveness
Conclusion: tension arising everywhere between our need for resources & space & capacity of the land to support & absorb this need. Urban development is the main driver.
Globalisation, transport networks, socio-demographic changes, societal aspirations for the urban culture and uncoordinated land planning mechanisms at various levels are the main source on the environmental unsustainable of our cities.
Planners are becoming more aware that we are in a world economic structure & decisions on urban developments cannot be made just at the local level as might have been the norm some 50 years or more past.
Our perceptions of landscapes influence our feelings when conflicts arise over land use. …….How?
Present report European Environment Agency infers local policy cannot be made in isolation of wider European policy of which we are all a subject of whether we like it or not! (P 45.)
Munich is a leader in compact cities! Most other European cities are discontinuous as only 33.33% is of this character and 66.66% are densely built. Is Carlingford densely built? Tab p, 46
Comprehensive Planning the way forward. Munich perspective was adopted in 1998.
Key Objectives as follows:
Integrated city development plan.
Regional co-operation.
Stakeholders’ involvement in city planning (asset based theory here eh?)
Emphasis on reuse of vacant brown fields.
Continuously improving public transport with as few new roads as possible.
Compact-urban-green ---- keep the city compact and urban areas green.
Guarantee the necessary resources for implementing the strategies of all relevant policy areas (transport, housing etc) for both “business as usual” situations and through major renovation projects.
EC Cohesion Policy offers an effective framework to articulate better coordination of land use policies and Structural and Cohesion funds investments between urban areas, rural areas, and the regions that can effectively manage urban sprawl.
From Suburban to Super Rural (tab overview)
Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD
Secretary CEHG
___________________________________________________
A good resource:
Smart Growth? Our built and Natural Environments “A Technical Review of Interactions between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality”. By EPA in USA.
___________________________________________________
After working away from home for a few years I came back to my home in Greenore in 1949 and played in the Cooley League with the "Greenore O’Tooles" team. I remember we had nice yellow jerseys and we won the league that year by two points.
There were quite a few teams in Cooley with a team in every townland. There were teams in Carlingford, the "Hopes" from Grange, the "Willville Stars," the "Garroweirs" from Rathcor, the "Valley Rangers" from Glenmore and the "Pats" from Lordship, which was the first year for the "Pats."
When we won the league we were presented with a set of medals at a dance in the Assembly Rooms in Greenore which was the local Dance Hall at that time. It is situated over Brian Larkin’s shop known as the "Co-Op" in the village.
After the presentation the M.C. the late Joe Finnegan from Carlingford (later to go to the U.S.A.) announced that there would be thrills and spills at a challenge match in Grange Football Field the following Sunday for a set of medals, between Greenore and the Garroweirs who were runners up in the league.
I would like to point out that at that time there was a great interest in the football in the absence of TV, computers, etc., which we have today. There were no other distractions. When a townland’s team played a match the pride of the area was at stake with practically the whole population who were mobile attended.
Everyone walked or cycled as there were no cars like today. Greenore were somewhat fortunate because the late James McKevitt had an old flat-bedded lorry and would take anyone who ventured aboard.
I remember the petrol tank was a can sitting on the seat beside the driver with a tube going into the engine with the person in the passenger seat keeping his hand on it to keep it steady for the roads were somewhat bumpy. The driver had to look out the window of the driver’s door to see where he was going as the windscreen was both cracked and discoloured. Such was the transport of the day.
The day of the challenge match was a fine day and the field was lined with spectators in anticipation of a keen game. They were not disappointed.
Now a man called "Tit" McArdle was brought in specially to referee the game. He was an inter-county referree from Dundalk.
The late Jack Marks from Ballagan usually refereed the league games as he was the only one who could keep control and was respected by all. Maybe because he was 6’4" tall and was head and shoulders over the rest helped.
Now the Garrowiers were a strong, no-nonsense team while Greenore were light and fast on the ball. The long kick and high catch was the style of the day.
Some 20 minutes into the first half Greenore were 2 points ahead but things were getting out of hand. I was playing left full back. Our centre full back was the late James McKevitt, who got a wallop between the eyes and was lying in a dazed condition on his back behind the goals. The left half back, the late Joe Elmore, was sent off for a dispute with the referee. Our right full back, Tom Wall, walked off as he said it was too dangerous, as did one of our midfield players, Pat Brady. This left our defence with a goalkeeper, one full back, two half backs and one midfielder. Things were not much better the other end. As both teams got down the opposite end of the field to me, the referee blew the long whistle and melted into the crowd. When everyone realised what had happened both crowd and players took off after the ref. However, he was a fast runner and got away. He was never seen in Cooley again.
Player accommodation at the matches was somewhat different from today. We togged out behind the hedge or ditch and you were careful to wrap your shirt, etc., in your coat in case it rained.
The trainer’s job was to have a sponge, a bottle of water, a bottle of Dettol and a bottle of Sloan’s Liniment.
I remember in one game getting my shoulder injured. Our trainer the late John Murphy gave it a good rub of Sloan’s Liniment which was the cure for all at that time. That night I could not sleep with the pain. On looking at my shoulder the next day it was all red and blistered. I showed it to John, who thought it strange. He went into the house and brought out the rub he used. It was Sloan’s Liniment all right, but on the bottom of the bottle it said "for veterinary use only." I was not a horse; he took the wrong bottle.
Another day a player on the Garroweirs Team got a tooth knocked out. Their trainer made up a mouth wash there and then with some water and Dettol in it to rinse out his mouth. In the excitement he swallowed it. He lived.
I only played that year and remember playing in Grange a year later at a carnival with a game of football followed by a dance in a marquee. I came for the dance. Greenore were playing that evening and were a man short, so I said I would help out. I had no boots so they got me a pair of size 8, although I took size 10. I did not dance much that night.
The Cooley League was disbanded a couple of years later. It was causing dissention between the players with the local team rivalry. However, they were memorable days and produced some good players.
John Maguire of Willille, the best kicker of a ball I have every seen, later got a run with Louth.
On the Greenore team the late Hughie O’Rourke later played for Louth although he was from Carlingford. Maybe because he was doing a line with a Greenore girl and her two brothers who played for Greenore made him play for Greenore.
The late Teddy Berrills our centre-half also played for Louth and the late James McKevitt our full-back and captain played for both Louth and Leinster in his young days. He was now in his 40’s.
Our goalkeeper the late Mickey Carron had been the Leinster Colleges goalkeeper.
There were many later Co. Louth players on the other teams, but 58 years on I cannot place them without research.
However, you could never forget the set of medals match.
____________________________________________________
What follows is an essay (hand-written on the backs of two brown envelopes) which Anne Muldowney brought to the workshop. Anne is chairperson of IMPERO.
Urban sprawl has happened. In that way it is history. We can look at it in a historical way or we can criticize it.
Looking back the reason for what we now call "urban sprawl" seems to have been economy.
Planners in an endeavor to provide housing at a reasonable cost choose the outward direction over the upward direction.
Due to the lack of suitable land in inner urban areas the price of land for building reached exorbitant heights.
Since there is not sufficient good quality housing in Ireland to meet the demand - house prices rose to all time highs.
It seems that people had to opt for outward movement to be able to get any sort of decent accommodation.
The result is what we know as "urban sprawl."
What are the options? Are they any better living in the town centre surrounded by concrete jungle and high rise building? The option has been chosen by many other countries and seems to work quite well e.g. Holland.
Due to urban sprawl many people are living miles away from their place of employment causing them to use private transport - thus adding to pollution due to extra emissions of Carbon Dioxide.
This in itself is a contradiction of the ideal to live in a cleaner less polluted environment.
To facilitate urban sprawl dwellers there should be a good infrastructure - public transport, schools, shops, spiritual and cultural centres, medical centres. There needs to be new community spirit to compensate for loss of access to facilities in town centres, helping people to live in harmony with nature and enjoy the changing of seasons once again.
Maybe in the future with changing patterns of employment people may not have to travel long distances making their task easier and allowing them to live closer to nature and enjoy its many aspects?
Many great artists have fully occupied their minds trying to capture the magic nature in all its forms. Is "urban sprawl" art with a capital A?
____________________________________________________
The following is the text produced by Pat Ferrigan. It summarizes his contribution to the workshop.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Pat Ferrigan and I have been employed by Bus Eireann for the last 35 years, 27 as an inspector.
I am from across the mountain in Mountpleasant and was delighted when Sean asked me to speak today, especially as when I started work with CIE as a bus conductor I was assigned to the Cooley area to relieve Sean O’Reilly from Carlingford.
When I knew I was going to say a few words on transport today, I went in search of a little background. Firstly I consulted my trusty home computer, then my trusty former workmates who were employed by GNR, CIE and Bus Eireann, at different stages of their working lives. What I found out I thought was very interesting.
The passing of the Dundalk and Greenore Railway Act in 1863 allowed for the construction of the port and railway in Greenore. In 1867 the port was built opening up a sea route to Heysham, Fleetwood and, later, Holyhead.
On 01 May 1873 the first train ran from Dundalk to Greenore. Three years later the line was extended to Newry. On 01 January 1952 due to decrease in passenger numbers the railway line closed leaving the area serviced only by the buses operated by the GNR.
Speaking to people who worked these services, the buses were generally full, the service ran late at night and at weekends to cater for those socialising in Dundalk. It ran on Sunday mornings to accommodate Mass-goers. It ran early weekday mornings for those needing transport to work. There were of course specials on summer Sundays and bank holidays (mystery tours).
Around this time for many public transport was the only means of travel.
Surely but slowly this trend changed. We went from having crowded buses to having a sharp decline in required services. The reason is clear. The motor car.
I am not anti-car. I drive, my wife drives, my daughters drive.
I believe that our world cannot sustain indefinitely the amount of unnecessary car journeys. From my point of view this crisis has to be overcome.
As a car user I believe it is necessary for us all to help reduce the emissions which are causing and will cause such problems as global warming and pollution in the atmosphere. We all know what the problems are - we hear about them every day. I am no expert but I know what I hear and read is not good.
Traffic congestion is also becoming a problem; we’ve all been caught in traffic jams and know how annoying they can be.
As an employee of a transport company it is our responsibility to ensure that we provide a service which will enable people to leave their cars at home. Some work has already taken place in this regard.
Recently we introduced a revised timetable from
· Dundalk to Dublin
· Dublin to Letterkenny
· Dublin to Derry
· Dublin to Belfast
We have more than doubled the amount of services in the last 5 years. The buses are not full but I believe the message is getting through e.g. airport, golf (discuss).
· Price
· Frequency
· Reliability
All routes will have to be constantly monitored and updated including in this area. But we can only provide a service. It is up to the public to use it and tell us when we get it right and tell us when we get it wrong.
In 1863 most people did not have a choice in how they travelled. I believe in 2007 we are coming very close to not having a choice again - for very different reasons.
Thanks very much
God bless and safe home.
____________________________________________________
Standing: John Murphy (Trainer), Leo Boyel. James Maguire, Hugh O'Rourke, Brendan Rafferty, Eric Hynes, Teddy Berrills, James McKevitt, Sean Waldron. Front: Rory Kennedy, Jim Kearney, Patsy McGrane, P. Brady, Eamonn Boyle, Domnic Carron, Fred Adamson. On Ground: Pat McCormack, Padraig Kennedy.
28 December 2006
Dear Sir/Madam
When I was young in the 1950’s people who dwelt in the countryside felt deprived because we did not have the same amenities as those who lived in the town. However with rural electrification, group water schemes, septic tanks and underground sewerage the gap had been effectively closed by the early 1970’s. Nowadays many people residing in the countryside are neither farmers nor artisans and even our gardens feature lawns and shrubs where in the 1950’s they grew potatoes, cabbage, carrots, scallions and lettuce. With the convenience of the motor car the town and the shops are as easily within our reach today as they are for suburbanites.
However there is a subliminal feeling abroad that there may be another even more cataclysmic change coming. Maybe some of the school-children of the 1950’s may yet live long enough to be forced into high-rise buildings within the tightly described boundaries of the proposed new bipolar city of Newry/Dundalk?
Anyway these and similar questions will be discussed at the seventh annual winter workshop organised by Cooley Environmental and Health Group which is due to take place on Saturday 27 January 2007 commencing at 2.00 p.m. in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, Co Louth. The theme of the workshop is "Urban Sprawl!"
The purpose of these few lines is to invite anyone interested to come along to the workshop. The venue is pleasant and warm on the southern shore of Carlingford Lough. Even if you are not interested in listening to the experts the view across the Lough from The Strand of the lights coming on in Warrenpoint is a sight to behold. Dinner will be available at 6.00 p.m. on the day at the remarkably low cost of €25 per person. Please contact me (087 9739945) before 20 January if you wish to attend the workshop and stay for the dinner afterwards.
I would like to wish the readers of this website a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Your sincerely
Sean Crudden
TREASURER
Cooley Environmental and Health Group
The Strand Hotel is situated approximately 80m to the right as one approaches the pier whose situation in Omeath is shown towards the bottom of the photograph above.
27 January 2007
An earnest, full and energetic workshop took place in The Strand Hotel, Omeath, on Saturday 27 January 2007, beginning at 2.00 p.m. sharp. The theme of the workshop was "Urban Sprawl!" The speakers were, Arthur Morgan TD, Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD, Dr Larry Staudt, Luke Martin, Pat Ferrigan, Dr Dennis Pringle, Eric Hynes, Padraic Oliver, Christina O’Boyle, Eamonn O’Boyle TC. Sean Crudden was the workshop facilitator. Others in attendance were Anne Muldowney and Kevin Hynes. The workshop was followed at 6.00 p.m. by a dinner.
The workshop was the seventh annual winter workshop organised by Cooley Environmental and Health Group. It took place on a day when Prince Charles and Camilla rode an electric train from Philadelphia to New York where the prince was to collect a Global Environmental Citizen Award from the Center for Health and Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.
__________________________________________
Urban Sprawl: Urban Change v Urban Conflict
(guide for talk @ CEHG workshop 27/01/07
Definition of Urban Sprawl
Smart Growth
Urban Planning past 50 years
Pedestrian Friendly
Walkabout Communities
Urban Sprawl in Europe
Extent of Urban Sprawl in Cooley Peninsula and hinterlands
Drivers of Urban Sprawl
The Impacts of Urban Sprawl (Social & Environmental)
Responses to Urban Sprawl (to counter sprawl)
Barriers to addressing Urban Sprawl
Policy Coherence & effectiveness
Conclusion: tension arising everywhere between our need for resources & space & capacity of the land to support & absorb this need. Urban development is the main driver.
Globalisation, transport networks, socio-demographic changes, societal aspirations for the urban culture and uncoordinated land planning mechanisms at various levels are the main source on the environmental unsustainable of our cities.
Planners are becoming more aware that we are in a world economic structure & decisions on urban developments cannot be made just at the local level as might have been the norm some 50 years or more past.
Our perceptions of landscapes influence our feelings when conflicts arise over land use. …….How?
Present report European Environment Agency infers local policy cannot be made in isolation of wider European policy of which we are all a subject of whether we like it or not! (P 45.)
Munich is a leader in compact cities! Most other European cities are discontinuous as only 33.33% is of this character and 66.66% are densely built. Is Carlingford densely built? Tab p, 46
Comprehensive Planning the way forward. Munich perspective was adopted in 1998.
Key Objectives as follows:
Integrated city development plan.
Regional co-operation.
Stakeholders’ involvement in city planning (asset based theory here eh?)
Emphasis on reuse of vacant brown fields.
Continuously improving public transport with as few new roads as possible.
Compact-urban-green ---- keep the city compact and urban areas green.
Guarantee the necessary resources for implementing the strategies of all relevant policy areas (transport, housing etc) for both “business as usual” situations and through major renovation projects.
EC Cohesion Policy offers an effective framework to articulate better coordination of land use policies and Structural and Cohesion funds investments between urban areas, rural areas, and the regions that can effectively manage urban sprawl.
From Suburban to Super Rural (tab overview)
Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD
Secretary CEHG
___________________________________________________
A good resource:
Smart Growth? Our built and Natural Environments “A Technical Review of Interactions between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality”. By EPA in USA.
___________________________________________________
What follows is the text of part of Eric Hynes' talk at the workshop
Eric Hynes
Memories of the Cooley Gaelic Football League
After working away from home for a few years I came back to my home in Greenore in 1949 and played in the Cooley League with the "Greenore O’Tooles" team. I remember we had nice yellow jerseys and we won the league that year by two points.
There were quite a few teams in Cooley with a team in every townland. There were teams in Carlingford, the "Hopes" from Grange, the "Willville Stars," the "Garroweirs" from Rathcor, the "Valley Rangers" from Glenmore and the "Pats" from Lordship, which was the first year for the "Pats."
When we won the league we were presented with a set of medals at a dance in the Assembly Rooms in Greenore which was the local Dance Hall at that time. It is situated over Brian Larkin’s shop known as the "Co-Op" in the village.
After the presentation the M.C. the late Joe Finnegan from Carlingford (later to go to the U.S.A.) announced that there would be thrills and spills at a challenge match in Grange Football Field the following Sunday for a set of medals, between Greenore and the Garroweirs who were runners up in the league.
I would like to point out that at that time there was a great interest in the football in the absence of TV, computers, etc., which we have today. There were no other distractions. When a townland’s team played a match the pride of the area was at stake with practically the whole population who were mobile attended.
Everyone walked or cycled as there were no cars like today. Greenore were somewhat fortunate because the late James McKevitt had an old flat-bedded lorry and would take anyone who ventured aboard.
I remember the petrol tank was a can sitting on the seat beside the driver with a tube going into the engine with the person in the passenger seat keeping his hand on it to keep it steady for the roads were somewhat bumpy. The driver had to look out the window of the driver’s door to see where he was going as the windscreen was both cracked and discoloured. Such was the transport of the day.
The day of the challenge match was a fine day and the field was lined with spectators in anticipation of a keen game. They were not disappointed.
Now a man called "Tit" McArdle was brought in specially to referee the game. He was an inter-county referree from Dundalk.
The late Jack Marks from Ballagan usually refereed the league games as he was the only one who could keep control and was respected by all. Maybe because he was 6’4" tall and was head and shoulders over the rest helped.
Now the Garrowiers were a strong, no-nonsense team while Greenore were light and fast on the ball. The long kick and high catch was the style of the day.
Some 20 minutes into the first half Greenore were 2 points ahead but things were getting out of hand. I was playing left full back. Our centre full back was the late James McKevitt, who got a wallop between the eyes and was lying in a dazed condition on his back behind the goals. The left half back, the late Joe Elmore, was sent off for a dispute with the referee. Our right full back, Tom Wall, walked off as he said it was too dangerous, as did one of our midfield players, Pat Brady. This left our defence with a goalkeeper, one full back, two half backs and one midfielder. Things were not much better the other end. As both teams got down the opposite end of the field to me, the referee blew the long whistle and melted into the crowd. When everyone realised what had happened both crowd and players took off after the ref. However, he was a fast runner and got away. He was never seen in Cooley again.
Player accommodation at the matches was somewhat different from today. We togged out behind the hedge or ditch and you were careful to wrap your shirt, etc., in your coat in case it rained.
The trainer’s job was to have a sponge, a bottle of water, a bottle of Dettol and a bottle of Sloan’s Liniment.
I remember in one game getting my shoulder injured. Our trainer the late John Murphy gave it a good rub of Sloan’s Liniment which was the cure for all at that time. That night I could not sleep with the pain. On looking at my shoulder the next day it was all red and blistered. I showed it to John, who thought it strange. He went into the house and brought out the rub he used. It was Sloan’s Liniment all right, but on the bottom of the bottle it said "for veterinary use only." I was not a horse; he took the wrong bottle.
Another day a player on the Garroweirs Team got a tooth knocked out. Their trainer made up a mouth wash there and then with some water and Dettol in it to rinse out his mouth. In the excitement he swallowed it. He lived.
I only played that year and remember playing in Grange a year later at a carnival with a game of football followed by a dance in a marquee. I came for the dance. Greenore were playing that evening and were a man short, so I said I would help out. I had no boots so they got me a pair of size 8, although I took size 10. I did not dance much that night.
The Cooley League was disbanded a couple of years later. It was causing dissention between the players with the local team rivalry. However, they were memorable days and produced some good players.
John Maguire of Willille, the best kicker of a ball I have every seen, later got a run with Louth.
On the Greenore team the late Hughie O’Rourke later played for Louth although he was from Carlingford. Maybe because he was doing a line with a Greenore girl and her two brothers who played for Greenore made him play for Greenore.
The late Teddy Berrills our centre-half also played for Louth and the late James McKevitt our full-back and captain played for both Louth and Leinster in his young days. He was now in his 40’s.
Our goalkeeper the late Mickey Carron had been the Leinster Colleges goalkeeper.
There were many later Co. Louth players on the other teams, but 58 years on I cannot place them without research.
However, you could never forget the set of medals match.
____________________________________________________
What follows is an essay (hand-written on the backs of two brown envelopes) which Anne Muldowney brought to the workshop. Anne is chairperson of IMPERO.
Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl has happened. In that way it is history. We can look at it in a historical way or we can criticize it.
Looking back the reason for what we now call "urban sprawl" seems to have been economy.
Planners in an endeavor to provide housing at a reasonable cost choose the outward direction over the upward direction.
Due to the lack of suitable land in inner urban areas the price of land for building reached exorbitant heights.
Since there is not sufficient good quality housing in Ireland to meet the demand - house prices rose to all time highs.
It seems that people had to opt for outward movement to be able to get any sort of decent accommodation.
The result is what we know as "urban sprawl."
What are the options? Are they any better living in the town centre surrounded by concrete jungle and high rise building? The option has been chosen by many other countries and seems to work quite well e.g. Holland.
Due to urban sprawl many people are living miles away from their place of employment causing them to use private transport - thus adding to pollution due to extra emissions of Carbon Dioxide.
This in itself is a contradiction of the ideal to live in a cleaner less polluted environment.
To facilitate urban sprawl dwellers there should be a good infrastructure - public transport, schools, shops, spiritual and cultural centres, medical centres. There needs to be new community spirit to compensate for loss of access to facilities in town centres, helping people to live in harmony with nature and enjoy the changing of seasons once again.
Maybe in the future with changing patterns of employment people may not have to travel long distances making their task easier and allowing them to live closer to nature and enjoy its many aspects?
Many great artists have fully occupied their minds trying to capture the magic nature in all its forms. Is "urban sprawl" art with a capital A?
____________________________________________________
The following is the text produced by Pat Ferrigan. It summarizes his contribution to the workshop.
Transport
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Pat Ferrigan and I have been employed by Bus Eireann for the last 35 years, 27 as an inspector.
I am from across the mountain in Mountpleasant and was delighted when Sean asked me to speak today, especially as when I started work with CIE as a bus conductor I was assigned to the Cooley area to relieve Sean O’Reilly from Carlingford.
When I knew I was going to say a few words on transport today, I went in search of a little background. Firstly I consulted my trusty home computer, then my trusty former workmates who were employed by GNR, CIE and Bus Eireann, at different stages of their working lives. What I found out I thought was very interesting.
The passing of the Dundalk and Greenore Railway Act in 1863 allowed for the construction of the port and railway in Greenore. In 1867 the port was built opening up a sea route to Heysham, Fleetwood and, later, Holyhead.
On 01 May 1873 the first train ran from Dundalk to Greenore. Three years later the line was extended to Newry. On 01 January 1952 due to decrease in passenger numbers the railway line closed leaving the area serviced only by the buses operated by the GNR.
Speaking to people who worked these services, the buses were generally full, the service ran late at night and at weekends to cater for those socialising in Dundalk. It ran on Sunday mornings to accommodate Mass-goers. It ran early weekday mornings for those needing transport to work. There were of course specials on summer Sundays and bank holidays (mystery tours).
Around this time for many public transport was the only means of travel.
Surely but slowly this trend changed. We went from having crowded buses to having a sharp decline in required services. The reason is clear. The motor car.
I am not anti-car. I drive, my wife drives, my daughters drive.
I believe that our world cannot sustain indefinitely the amount of unnecessary car journeys. From my point of view this crisis has to be overcome.
As a car user I believe it is necessary for us all to help reduce the emissions which are causing and will cause such problems as global warming and pollution in the atmosphere. We all know what the problems are - we hear about them every day. I am no expert but I know what I hear and read is not good.
Traffic congestion is also becoming a problem; we’ve all been caught in traffic jams and know how annoying they can be.
As an employee of a transport company it is our responsibility to ensure that we provide a service which will enable people to leave their cars at home. Some work has already taken place in this regard.
Recently we introduced a revised timetable from
· Dundalk to Dublin
· Dublin to Letterkenny
· Dublin to Derry
· Dublin to Belfast
We have more than doubled the amount of services in the last 5 years. The buses are not full but I believe the message is getting through e.g. airport, golf (discuss).
· Price
· Frequency
· Reliability
All routes will have to be constantly monitored and updated including in this area. But we can only provide a service. It is up to the public to use it and tell us when we get it right and tell us when we get it wrong.
In 1863 most people did not have a choice in how they travelled. I believe in 2007 we are coming very close to not having a choice again - for very different reasons.
Thanks very much
God bless and safe home.
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