Letters To The Editor
Saving money
Editor,
In a time of national emergency perhaps our county councillors would consider forgoing their expenses/running costs in 2011, producing a saving of €941,941. Our town councillors could also consider the same course of action and a saving of €76,658. That's what you could call public service.
Yours,
Jimmy Fox,
Fox's Shoes,
76 Main Street,
Cavan.
Army reunion
Editor,
A meeting of all ex-members of the above takes place in The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, County Mayo on Saturday, March 12 at 9pm in relation to the grand reunion of the unit, both FCA and PDF in The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport on Sunday, April 24 (Easter Sunday).
As this unit is now defunct, due to ongoing re-organising and with many ex-members scattered far and wide it is imperative that there is a good turn out. Further details from 087 695 3102 or 098 26363.
Yours,
John Durcan
Ex CQMS 18th Inf. Batt.
Westport, County Mayo.
Coach services
Editor,
At a time when us ordinary citizens are incessantly being affected by cuts it is heartening that Bus Éireann are increasing the frequency of their Cavan to Monaghan coach service to every two hours in each direction from next Monday, 14 March. Route 175, which currently has a mere one journey each way from Monaghan to Cavan via Cootehill, will now operate four times each way.
There will also be two journeys each way on both Saturdays and Sundays. Furthermore Route 162, which currently runs between Monaghan and Clones, will now extend to Cavan via Cloverhill with two journeys in each direction.
The provision of these quality coach services at a clock face frequency between the two county towns, serving the key intermediate centres of Cootehill and Clones, is a sound decision which will allow a wide variety of journey needs, including travel to/from work to be met by public transport. It is incredible that at present a day trip from Cavan to Cootehill, let alone Belfast, is impossible.
The new timetables will see this situation consigned to history. One will be able to be in the centre of Belfast for business or leisure shortly after noon and one has a choice of five services each way between Cootehill and Cavan.
In recent years the service on many bus routes that radiate from Cavan has improved significantly and the benefits of these new services do not apply narrowly to bus users but to local businesses and tourism too. In this regard perhaps there would be merit in the chambers of commerce in conjunction with Bus Éireann looking at a promotional scheme which could perhaps give certain discounts to users of the service.
In conclusion, it is clear that Dublin will remain the most popular destination from Cavan and an express service that utilises the M3 is sorely needed. Such a service could stop along the road as far as Whitegate Cross (Cavan/Meath border) and then run non-stop to the city. At present not a single Route 109 journey from Cavan crosses the River Liffey yet, whether for work, college, shopping or appointments lots of passengers wish to travel to places on the southside such as St Stephen's Green and UCD.
Many take a trip to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre now and again but by coach this involves being dropped off at a slip-road, which has no footpath to the centre and is isolated at quiet times of the day. At minimum a few Cavan coaches should serve the centre itself. Any new timetable should retain a few direct services to Navan, a popular destination for many passengers from County Cavan but also has regular connections to Drogheda and Trim.
Yours,
Bernard H. Allan,
By email.
Trócaire
Editor,
Over almost four decades people from Cavan have transformed the lives of thousands of the world's poorest people by contributing through the Trócaire box. Your county has joined people from across Ireland in donating some €250m through the Trócaire box since the Lenten campaign began. Through recession and bad times, Cavan has stood by people in the developing world and you are still doing so today.
There's been a real sense of despondency and low morale in Ireland since the collapse of the banks and the EU/IMF bailout. Ireland's reputation has suffered across the world. In contrast, Trócaire's work is something for which we rightly have a good reputation and the Lenten campaign is an example of that.
It turns despair into hope all over the world and it's something of which everyone in Cavan can be proud. Every penny, shilling, pound and euro you have put into our box over the last 38 years has travelled the world giving the poor a voice and a new lease on life.
Because of people from Cavan, farmers' crops are flourishing in tiny, forgotten communities, parents now earn a dignified living, the potential of women is being unlocked and children have a bright future to enjoy. You've given people freedom from hunger, from want, from injustice, and you've given them hope.
Everyone who takes a Trócaire box into their home this Lent is helping to change things for the better and we thank you for it.
Yours,
Justin Kilcullen,
Director of Trócaire.
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