Issue No. 141 APRIL 1989 I Price 40p \) 4'11 I n I ,'!::;J : '-"l..") IN THIS ISSUE Letters to the Editor Political Party Notes Sports News Street Talking Points of View Gardening Tips Video Reviews History of Maynooth Series Having a Party? Hire all your requirements from us (DelphiCutlery/Glass/Table Linen/Tables and Chairs etc.) OR GIVE YOURSELF A TREA T I AND LET US LOOK AFTER ALL YOUR CA TERING - Peoop O'Bpi6R ~II Gat6Pinf1 GO. bl;(). "WOODVILLE", PAGESTOWN, MAYNOOTH. PHONE: 286566 .F MA YNOOTH NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL published by LOCAL CHARGES introduction of the travellers' nalting MAYNOOTH COMMUNITY site as one instance. Here, the County COUNCIL The local charges issue appears to Council's work is made immeasurably have taken a sinister direction in recent easierthrough the co-operation of local Editorial Board weeks as some Maynooth residents residents who serve on the Travellers' Kay McKeogh have found to their disbelief. The Settlement Committee. There are Peter Denman County Council has taken a hard line in many other examples of co-operation Ann McStravick relation to cutting off those who are which could be cited. Certainly, if the Suzanne Redmond withholding payment of water and ref­ Counci I allows its officials to get too big Elizahp.th Ui Bhriain use charges in protest against the for their jackboots, and to abuse the Mary Simon imposition of what they regard as trust which has developed over the Carol-Ann 'Reaper double taxation. years, it may prove difficult to secure A number of residents have decided to such co-operation in the future. The opinions and statements ex­ end their protest, and to pay up their FOR WHOM THE pressed in the articles are those of the arrears. One would think that the ROAD TOLLS? contributors and not necessarily those County Council would be satisfied with of the Editorial. this action. However, in a number of Motorists will have noticed the pace of All matters to be included in the next cases, the reac,tion towards these improvement in the road system in Edition of the Newsletter should be residents has been nothing short of recent months. Already journey times addressed to:- vindictive. to Dublin have reduced by ten to twenty In at least one case known to the minutes as a result of the Lucan by­ The Editor, Newsletter, water was cut off, even pass. However, whispers have reached Maynooth Newsletter, though the resident had paid up ar­ us about the possibility of toll charges Town Centre Mall, Maynooth, rears. When a senior County Council on the Leixlip to Kilcock by-pass, a Tel: (01) 285922 official was contacted, the resident was proposal which would be a cause for threatened with court injunctions. A concern. Why should motorists have Maximum number of words 500 per visit to the County Council offices in to pay for this long overdue improve­ article. Naas by the resident turned into an ment? The issue of double taxation interrogation session. The resident occurs again here - we pay road tax, Copydate: was informed that the water supply tax on petrol, VAT on cars , and in any Monday 17th April 5.00 p.m. would not be reconnected unless the case, most of the money will come names of those who were carrying out from the EC. As one resident' com­ EDITORIAL STATEMENT reconnections were given! It was,only mented, we're being charged extra for The Maynooth Newsletter is published through the concerted efforts of two travelling to work! If the charges on the asa service to the people and organi­ local politicians that the County Coun­ East Link toll bridge are anything to go sations of the neighbourhood. It isan cil was prepared to even discuss re- by, the additional cost of travelling to "open access" publication and will , connection, and then at an extortion­ work could be 4.50 pounds perweek or generally carry any material submitted ate price. 216 pounds per year. What is more o it, subject to the law of the land arid This type of behaviour by public offi­ likely to happen of course is that local o editorial judgement. The judgement cials, whose salaries are paid for motorists will continue to use the old is exercised by the Editorial Commit­ through our taxes is inexcusable. The road network, to avoid toll charges, ee in order to preserve the independ- County Council relies on the co-opera­ thereby bringing very little advantage ence and balance of the Newsletter. tion of residents in carrying out its work to traffic congested towns such as The Committee reserves the right to - we would point out the successful Maynooth and Leixlip. alter, abridge or omit material which in m , its opinion might rend the Newsletter Community Affairs he promoter or mouth-piece of sec­ It was brought to our attention that a lot ional interests. of refuse was thrown over the wall at Any contributor seeking further guide­ the Halting Site. lines in this matter is invited to contact he committee. All representatives on the Council have been requested to listthe environmental NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS improvements needed in their area for We request all our contributors to make submission to Kildare County Council. sure their material is legible. If pos­ MAYNOOTH COMMUNITY sible, material should be typed, but as COUNCIL NOTES It was decided to buy two horses forthe not everyone has access to typewrit­ Race Night organised by the Boys Na­ ers, the best way to present.material is The last meeting of the Community tional School. o use either neat legible writing or Council took place on Monday 13th lock letters, on one side of the paper. March at 8 p.m. The,St. Patrick's Day Parade will be as last year. Afull report next month. 3 Elections The date of the next election was dis­ cussed. It was decided to hold it in Letters ...Letters. February 1990 with the new council to take effect from March 1990. Town Commission Status It was decided to write to the Minister for the Environment looking for Town Greenfield,~ that 'Keyboard Skills' will be invalu­ Commission Status. A population of 1,500 is necessary and the signatures ' Maynooth able, the same can relate to boys or of 21 householders. Agreement must ' 13/3/89 girls. then be reached regarding the bounda­ For the more mature student you can ries. Dear Editor, update your skills or learn from scratch The advantages are as follows : as I have done. If you wish to enrole for this very worth­ 1. The County Manager must aHend I am a housewife currently enjoying the while course for Autumn '89, get along Town Commission meeting and deal "Secretarial Course' in the Post Pri­ with the problems ir)volved. ' mary School, Maynooth. to the Post Primary school at once and make your intentions known. 2. A part-time Town Clerk will be paid There are no fees charged forth is very I guarantee you will enjoy yourself and for by Kildare County Council. useful and extensive course. It covers it allows young students an extra year 3. There may be finance forthcoming Computer Skills, Word Processing, to consider their futures. for the rental or purchase of office Shorthand, Typing, English, Book­ Thank you for taking the time to read space. Keeping and Telephone Technique. this leHer. 4. Greater publicity and media cover­ I strongly recommend this course to age by local newspapers. any person young or like myself "old". Yours sincerely 5. It is a recognised local authority. The young people will find that no maHer what career they wish to pursue Anne McGarry Peter Connell was thanked for his Dear Sir/Madam was applied to each letter in either production of a handbill on the Com­ Dublin, London or Edinburgh. The munity Council which will be delivered ' Next month the third Maynooth deSign of these special hand stamps to each house in the town. Spring Fairwill feature a free Valuation changed over the years. Service for postage stamps, stamp There was widespread abuse of Mr. Tom Ashe has completed the collections andold stamped letters and the free-posting privilege because handbill on the Swimming Pool which postcards. some members of the Aristocracy, will also be delivered by Community Enclosed is a copy of a letter Court OffiCials and Post Office officials Councillors. dated 16th January, 1832, wriHenfrom made certain that letters belonging to Carton House by the Duke of Leinster their friends travelled free. The ordi­ The unrepresented areas have not to London. Free postage was a 'perk' nary postage system which charged replied to our request asking for a enjoyed by members of the House of by distance had to pay the bill. Post­ councillor for their area. Lords and the House of Commons, age was expensive. A letter from Ministers of State and Court Officials Donegal to Dublin cost one shilling We received a letter from Mr. F. Leavy from 1652. MembersofourOireachtas while a leHer from Donegal to Kerry regarding the Harbour Field and the to-day still enjoy this privilege. cost two shillings. The charge was travellers. There were a number of condi­ doubled if there was an enclosure in tions to qualify for free postage. The the envelope. There was widespread A complaint was received about bark­ main ones were that the writer's resi­ agitation in the 1830's for an uniform ing dogs disturbing the Carton Court dence was not more than twenty miles penny post and finally on the 10th of residents. We request that dog own­ , from the posting area; the name of the January, 1840, the free posting privi­ ers control the behaviour of their pets sender complete with the date arid lege was abolished.