Editors letter

Hello and Welcome
to the July/August issue of EM.

At the recent launch of the Know Your Neighbour Weekend in the Mansion House, I was reminded again how worthwhile it is to make the effort and get to know the people living near you and experience the rewards that come from being part of a vibrant community.

Having moved my home twice in recent years I am keenly aware of how varied communities can be, even within the same county, and what a difference it can make when there is a genuine community spirit where each of us lives.

Although I lived on the outskirts of a small, very pretty village, the location had nothing going for it in the way of neighbourliness, so I decided to move to a lovely rural area in the hills. But I had to move again because, although the locals were extremely friendly, the district was too remote for people to meet easily.

I now live in Glendalough and the community there, and in its sister village Laragh, is unbelievable. Despite the huge influx of tourists daily, the community has managed to develop a wonderful heart to the twin villages, where the local Brockagh Community Centre hosts all kinds of events and courses for every age. The cross-community support from the local churches, businesses, community groups and clubs is amazing. And you are known on a first name basis when you go to the shop, post office, pub or hotel, which is lovely to experience as a newcomer.

The community still retains that wonderful 'Irish welcome' that many of us thought was long gone. Within a week of moving, we were told where to go for the best butcher, vegetables and bread, what day the refuse would be collected and where to go for long walks. People call to the door and introduce themselves and offer all kinds of advice but still allow you your privacy. Such a wonderful thing to enjoy when we all thought it was long gone. We feel privileged to be part of this community.

Letters to the Editor

I am the Building Services Manager for CMPL down on the Spencer Dock Project.

As you know, customers are very quick to criticise when they feel they have not received a good service but slow to offer appreciation when they have received good service.

With this in mind, I would like to offer my sincere thanks on behalf of CMPL to the contribution that ESB Networks have made to the first Phase of Spencer Dock. That is the completion of Block C1-C3 where 1750 PWC staff moved into the building after Easter and in the case of C4-C5, Fortis Bank are due to move into in three weeks. In the case of the 640 STUV apartment scheme, we are handing over the first 188 apartments in early July.

ESB personnel who we have dealt with very closely. They are Aidan Finegan on the design side, Gerry McDermott / Ray Eustice on the Installation side and Jack Stacey / Tommy Traynor on the metering side. All these gentlemen have made a significant contribution to the success thus far of this project.

We have other Blocks to build, not to mention the flagship National Conference Centre which is in progress at the moment. We know that by having worked closely with the said people to date, that any problems that present themselves can and will be worked out in the same spirit of communication and co-operation that has prevailed to date.

Padraic O'Connor,
Building Services Manager