NEW GRANTS

New Grants Available to Help Insulate Local Homes

INISHOWEN'S Green Party candidate, Sheenagh McMahon welcomed the announcement made earlier this month by the Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan that €100 million in new grants are available to make homes more energy efficient. This eco-friendly scheme will not only help local economies, through creating jobs but will also make homes warmer, more comfortable and cheaper to heat.

Sheenagh urges local homeowners to take up the new grants that are going to be split evenly between public and private householders and will target homes built before 2006. National Insulation Programme

"The new national insulation programme has the potential to create hundreds of lasting, local jobs. Householders who take advantage of the scheme can expect to reduce their heating bills by up to €700 per year," said Ms McMahon. "The scheme will open to the public in March, and I urge homeowners particularly those with older homes and big energy bills to register their interest now with Sustainable Energy Ireland. Householders should also think about arranging a Building Energy Rating Assessment, which will highlight the type of work that will bring about the best cost and energy savings," she continued adding that the measures make "total sense" in the current economic climate.

"The refurbishment of our local authority housing will also tackle the scourge of fuel poverty, particularly during cold weather. Heating will not be wasted going out the roof or up the chimney. Reducing energy use and CO2 emissions will also help us meet our climate change targets. This is a programme that benefits our economy, the environment and the householder at the same time," added the Buncrana-based candidate.

The national insulation programme, administered through Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) hope to benefit 50,000 homes throughout the country.

The money is being split in half with €50 million a piece for private and council housing. Under the home energy scheme, targeted at private middle-income homes, householders will get grant aid of between €500 and about €5,000 for improvements carried out on the insulation of their homes. The lowest grant available is €250 for improved attic insulation, which will provide 30% of the cost for a typical suburban house for the work. The largest single grant is a €4,000 contribution to work on external wall insulation. This will contribute an estimated 21% for the €19,000 cost for a typical home. Householders are entitled to avail of all the grants that are applicable to their own situation. Between €500 - €700 will be available for heating control upgrades and €200 will be paid towards the building energy rating assessment.

Estimates provided by the Department say that most of the investments can be fully recouped within six years, save for wall insulation, which will take between seven and 20 years, depending on the house.
The Green Party Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan has already spoken to four of the main banks to persuade them to lend to homeowners getting involved in the programme and has received positive feedback.
“There is a lot of support. They see that it makes sense. It’s an attractive prospect. Banks have a real opportunity and role here to make up the amount. This is the best lending that you can do,” he said.

Professor Wilson from Sustainable Energy Ireland said that they would begin a registration programme immediately for contractors with the required competence to carry out such works.
The other €50 million will expand the existing Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) for low income households and a scheme aimed at social housing. WHS is currently being locally administered by Action Inishowen. Upgrades available include the provision of lagging jackets, attic insulation, cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing.

INISHOWEN MEN'S HELPLINE

Don’t Suffer Alone
Inishowen Men’s Helpline
Free and Confidential Service
Offering support, understanding and information
Available Monday-Friday 9am-10pm
Tel 074 9329300


Inishowen Men’s Helpline celebrates its second birthday
“Big boys don’t cry!” “Take your oil!” “Get on with it!” These stereotypes still exist all over Ireland.

“Real men” don’t whine about their physical, mental or emotional problems. They work it out, suck it up and walk it off. As children, boys play a lot of physical games and traditionally didn’t talk about their thoughts and emotions, so they never got much practice in using words to describe their feelings. This inability to name emotions means that men often dismiss problems and hide depression and loneliness through overwork, drinking, anger or withdrawal. Sometimes men don’t even realise they are depressed.

Two years ago a group of local men, some with their own history of mental health problems who had had positive experiences of seeking help, decided to do set up the Inishowen Men’s Helpline. They saw the success of the Inishowen Women’s Outreach Project and felt there was a need for the men of Inishowen to also have support and guidance on personal matters. A spokesman from the helpline explains.

“Society has changed a lot over the past thirty years and men don’t have the same support structures in place that past generations have had. At one time men would meet up in their houses for an evening of chat. These social evenings (a ceilidh) provided a bit of company and an opportunity to meet others and have a bit of craic, but it was also a place where men could talk problems through. There was also far less competitiveness in every day life. If work on the farm became stressful, then the community would get together and help out. It is different now. Television has led to people staying at home and people are busier and more self-sufficient. This leads to greater isolation.”

Isolation is a big problem for many men particularly in rural areas, but there are lots of other difficulties that local men have where they could use a listening ear. Financial difficulties are a major problem for a lot of people at the moment, drinking too much can cause a lot of harm in many areas of your life and often men are worried about health and sexuality issues. Sometimes men, not realising they have a problem, avoid them until they become so big they seem insurmountable.

Inishowen Men’s Helpline (Tel 074 9329300) offers a totally private and confidential listening ear service. With funding from the HSE and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltact Affairs, the Helpline has trained up ten volunteers (including two women as not all the callers feel comfortable talking to another man), for their listening ear service. There is also a trained professional counsellor available. The Helpline also has connections with a network of support services and agencies and if a caller needs specific help, they can refer them on to the best service to meet their specific needs. A spokesman says,

“ Often just putting problems into words can reduce their impact on your life…problems can be put into perspective and resolved.”

The service was officially opened two years ago this month by Daniel O’Donnell and has grown significantly in this time. When they started the phone line was only available on a Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, now the volunteers can offer their impartial and sympathetic support Monday to Friday from 9am to 10pm. Volunteers are always needed to provide the best service available to callers and full training is provided.. So if you are interested in volunteering or you need a sympathetic listening ear, you can call the confidential Helpline on 074 9329300.

5 MINUTES WITH - MAGRETH MCGILL

Magreth McGill was born in New South Wales, Australia, and married a Derry man who has ties to St Johnson. He convinced Magreth to make the move to Inishowen and she has never looked back. Since arriving in Donegal, Magreth has been busy, setting up her ionised water business venture -Microwater Ltd with her partners Sharon McGilloway and Robbie Henry. Their bottled water, inishOH! can be found around local shops and they also provide a water cooler service to local businesses. Magreth is a great believer in sustainability and not only believes in supplying locally and employing locally but the company also supports local charities with five cent from every bottle going to health and children’s charities. The company are re-building their premises at MicroWater in Burt after a serious fire. Margreth would like to thank all of the people of Burt, who have been extremely supportive and Margreth is very proud to be a part of their community. They hope that MicroWater will be up and running in the very near future.

Magreth had two children. Her 26-year-old son Michael, who she loves dearly, is, in her words “in Australia doing what all young men do” Magreth hopes he will come over for a visit soon and fall in love with Ireland as she has done. Her daughter Helene, was tragically killed in a car accident in 2001. She was 21 years old. As Magreth says “ It isn’t easy to come to terms with, and is still hard even now. I think about her every day, but I have good memories and I try to focus on them.”


What music are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to the radio a lot and enjoy a very varied list of music from Beethoven, The Beatles, Bee Gees, Pink Floyd (especially Dark Side of the Moon) and Santana. I also enjoy Motown and the likes of Diana Ross,

What book are you reading?
The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer. It’s a biography about the Australian Media Magnate Kerry Packer.

What was your favourite childhood game?
Monopoly. I was good at the buying and selling and collecting rent, even though the friend I played with liked to cheat

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
Not recently, but the last film I saw was really good, but I can’t remember the name of it!

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
It’s usually the front page of the local paper to see what is going on in the area.

What would you never throw away?
My record collection and photos.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
When I met Prime Minister John Howard shortly after he came to power, I said something to him that made everyone including me blush. He had already tried for two previous elections to become Prime Minister and when on the third attempt he was successful, I wanted to let him know that I had been in his corner for a long time….. My words came out “Congratulations John, I’ve been rooting for you for years!”

Favourite TV programme?
Lost, what can I say; I love the way it shifts from past, present and future. You have to watch carefully not to miss any clues, and remember what has happened to understand where it is going. The concept is interesting and futuristic. The actors are a good mix, and you can't help but love them all.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be a nurse. I always wanted to help people who were not well, for whatever reason. I personally had a childhood illness at age 12, which is maybe what motivated me. I endured 3 months in bed with Hep A and then 2 years of recovery afterwards which was plagued with associated illnesses. When someone is ill they can't help themselves and they don't often have the understanding of what made them sick. I actually did start my nursing career but this was cut short due to things that happened within the hospital that I worked at in Australia, it was a geriatric hospital and some of the nurses were very cruel and hurt the patients, I complained but was told to put up with it. I couldn't agree and was forced to leave. I have always had an interest in the human body and how it works. My father who was a medic during WWII was stationed in Indonesia for five year. As I grew up he was still always interested in health and wellbeing. This must have rubbed off.

Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
The island of Morea in Tahiti. It was glorious. I just rested and enjoyed the time out without the trappings of the shopping trips.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Sharon Osborne – because I think she would be interesting to listen to.

What do you do for a special treat?
Go shopping. I always love buying kitchen things, or hardware and tools for projects. Clothing is only a thing I like to shop for when I have to.

Favourite animal?
My pet Shih Tzu, Miescha.

Biggest thrill?
Rollercoaster at age 16. Never went on another one again…..

Biggest Challenge?
Raising my children.

What was the best present you ever got?
I got a foot spa, which was a thank you from my children for all the running around I did for them.

What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
I bought myself some New Ugg Boots. Anything to keep my feet warm in this cold weather.

Do you feel the inishOH! water is beneficial to your health?
Yes. After 9 years I still drink only alkaline ionised water and my own health is excellent (for a 51 year old woman). In fact I was recently very ill with carbon monoxide poisoning through my gas fire and blocked chimney, probably the reason for surviving was the water! long story....

What charity do you support?
Cancer Research

The world’s most irritating/most useful invention?
Most Useful must be the Internet. Most irritating, the phone

Favourite past-time?
I love reading and try to sit down with a book as often as I can.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
The 1700’s when they knew how to dress well.

What do you have for breakfast?
Something simple like Weetabix or oatmeal porridge.

What was your first paid job?
Packing strawberries in punnets. I did this during school break, for a farmer friend of my fathers - I was paid $1 per hour, which was .50c more per hour than my first real paid job!

Best/worst household chore?
Worst - Cleaning the fireplace…., Best – Cooking and baking. I love experimenting with food. If I get a notion to try a different culture, such as Indian or Italian - I will cook in that style for weeks or months until I can do it without the books, or become an expert. I love to bake cakes and slices.... my present favourite is banana cake and cheesecake.

What is the best/worst piece of advice you have been given?
Best – to believe in myself – Worst – I never listened to the worst advice!

Personal philosophy?
Never burn bridges; you never know when you will need them again.

HOME SECURITY

You will be amazed at the replacement costs of your household goods, that’s why a good contents home insurance policy is a good idea.
Simple measures including alarm systems, better locks and adequate lighting can deter potential thieves.
Alarms systems act as a good deterrent, and can be a psychological obstacle for potential thieves.
If you are on holiday, make sure that someone picks up your post and newspapers and cancel all milk deliveries.
Make your valuables easily identifiable by marking them in some unique way.

Securing Your Home
With the spate of local break-ins around the peninsula, it has made us more aware of how we secure our own homes and property. We are used to feeling safe in this corner of Ireland, and maybe we can be a bit lax about locking doors. It is wise to take security measures and protect your home as burglary can happen at anytime and during any season of the year. Securing your home from intruders can begin with some obvious yet often overlooked security measures. Doors and windows provide immediate access to your property but are not the only ways that your home might be unsafe. Simple measures including alarm systems, better locks and adequate lighting can deter potential thieves.

Windows and doors
Thieves are opportunistic and will be able to identify easily accessible properties. The first thing you should do is check your windows and door locks. If your windows are old, they may not be able to lock properly. You may want to consider investing in new replacement windows that lock securely. It is also a good idea to install windows with catches that prevent people from opening them more than a few inches. With new windows, you will also be able to enjoy the benefits of greater energy efficiency, which can save you a great deal of money.

Get connected
Alarms systems act as a good deterrent, and can be a psychological obstacle for potential thieves. It's a good idea to have an alarm that is actually connected to a security response unit so that the security firm or guards will respond to the signal and check that your property is secure.

Cancel the milk
There are other more obvious ways to make sure that your home is secure. Opportunistic thieves are always on the look out for properties that appear to be vacant. Your home should look occupied at all times even if it is not. If you are on holiday, make sure that someone picks up your post and newspapers and cancel all milk deliveries. These are obvious signs that the house is empty and an open invitation to thieves. You should also get a friend or neighbour to turn lights on and off while your away or alternatively install a lighting timer. It is also a good idea to leave a car in the driveway at all times.

In the garden
It’s not just the house that needs protecting. The garden is also a place for theives. Garden tools and features are expensive so they need securing. Try not to leave equipment out in the garden when you are not there to keep an eye on it. A badly maintained garden could also be an idicator of an empty house.

Here are some suggestions on ways to make your more secure:
Get a professional to install a burglar alarm.
Outdoor lighting with sensors can act as a good deterrent in that the light switches on when someone approaches your home. You should also have an outside light at the front and back door that enables you to identify callers in the dark.
Leave lights on in interior rooms. It is not enough to simply leave the landing lighting on as thieves will spot this. You can install a timer to switch lights on and off at specified time intervals to make it appear that there are people in the property. It’s also a good idea to leave the radio on.
Keep a car in the driveway when you are on holidays.
It is a good idea to fix a door chain to your front door.
Install strong locks on windows and doors. Multiple locking mechanisms are also a good idea from a security perspective. You may need to get some advice here in terms of breaches of fire regulations. While you want to keep intruders out, you still need to be able to get out of the building in the case of a fire.
Double glazing. Laminated glass is better than toughened because it stays in place when it’s smashed. The safest double glazing has bolts that shoot in to the frame for extra security.
Secure your patio doors. Patio doors are common point of access for intruders so make sure these are secure. .
Use of gravel on your driveway or pathways to your property can act as a deterrent to burglars. Always keep hedges and shrubbery well clipped as they can act as a hiding place.
Dogs act as a great deterrent. While security is not a good enough reason to get a dog, if you actually like dogs it is always an option.
Don’t leave any valuables such as cash or jewellery lying around or hidden in obvious places. Make sure they are securely stored
When you buy new appliances such as a flat screen TV, dispose of the packaging carefully. Don’t leave the box outside your house.
You should also give a spare key to a trusted neighbour rather than “hiding” it under the doormat or a potted plant in the garden. Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door - burglars know all the hiding places
Protecting your belongingsIf you were unfortunate enough to have had your property burgled in the past, you will be aware of the difficulties in identifying what has been stolen and then proving this. There are a few key ways to protect your belongings.
Make your valuables easily identifiable by marking them in some unique way.
Take photographs and make a record of all valuables and their corresponding unique markings. These should then be secured away with a friend or family member in a different property as you don't want the burglars stealing your records too. This is particularly important for valuables such as jewellery or collectables such as art pieces.

House Insurance
Don’t forget having your home insured does mean that if you are robbed then at least you will not be out of pocket. For peace of mind, make sure your insurance is up to date or if you don’t have insurance it is a good time to look into opening a policy. It’s amazing when you look around the house, just how expensive it would be to replace everything if it suddenly went missing…...

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 43

Gandhi’s shoe

Mohandas [Mahatma] Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), the great Indian statesman and spiritual leader is noted for his unusual humanity and selflessness, which this story epitomises. One time, during his travels throughout India, Gandhi was waiting at a train station with a number of his companions and followers. When the train arrived, Gandhi moved forward to board, and as he raised his foot to get on, his shoe slipped from his foot and disappeared in the gap between the train and platform. He looked down and realised he would be unable to retrieve it, so he took off his other shoe and threw it down by the first. His companions were very puzzled.
“What are you doing Mahatma?” they asked. “Well, if a poor person finds a single shoe than they are no better off” Gandhi explained. “What's really helpful is if they find a pair.”

CARNDONAGH LIVESTOCK MART - 50 YEARS

On Monday the 2nd of February 2009 the Carndonagh Livestock Mart celebrated their 50th Anniversary. The late P. J. McCarroll, (Jim to those who knew him,) was the local vet who came up with the idea to set up the Mart in 1958. The basis for the mart was that it would be based on co-operative ideals, run by farmers, for farmers, with everyone owning a share of the business. Seven men were elected on to the committee at the initial meeting in Canny’s Hotel on the 15th of July 1958. These They were P.J McCarroll, Chairman, Carndonagh, George Doherty, N.T., Culdaff, Stephen Butler Jr, Carndonagh, James McLaughlin, Muff, Charles Scott, Tulnaree, Michael Deery, Malin, Angus Mills, Culdaff and P.J. O’Doherty, Secretary, Carndonagh.

THE COW PARK
In order to raise the funds for a building the committee decided to sell shares valued at £2 each to local farmers and businessmen. The contract for the erection of the Mart went to the McLaughlin Brothers (The Masons) from Carndonagh, and cost £3,370. Construction was underway in late summer 1958 on the site off of the Main Street in an area known as “The Cow Park”. The new building had room for 250 head of cattle with room for expansion.

OFFICIAL OPENING
The official opening of the Mart took place on the 29th of January 1959 and was performed by Mrs A. Mills from Culdaff, who was the president of the Inishowen Agricultural Society at the time. The Rev. H.A. Weedon, the Rector in Carndonagh spoke at the event, saying, “Let us all, regardless of class or creed, take an interest in it (the Mart). Do not let us say, I am not a farmer and it does not interest me. It does, because farming is vital to this country. It is one of its vital industries.”

The Reverend Weedon also acknowledged the initiative and spirit of the enterprise, in a world where it was fashionable to leave such matters to the state. He praise the committee for taking matters into their own hands and setting up the Mart, commending the local community, saying that Donegal was the “vanguard of progress.”

THE FIRST SALE
The first sale of cattle was held at the Mart on February 2nd 1959 and attracted a lot of interest. Buyers flocked from Derry, Tyrone, Donegal and Sligo. The cattle entries reached a capacity of 216 and included good Aberdeen Agnus crosses, crossbreds, quality springers and finished cattle. Jim McCarroll Sr’s big worry was that no one would turn up for the day with their cattle. But he needn’t have worried as it was a case of “If you build it they will come.”

THE LATEST SALE
The sale on Monday last (February 2nd), began under Campbell Rankin, Muff’s auctioneer, who sold the very first cow at the mart, fifty years ago to the day. Also in attendance were Pat Temple, (who bought the first animal) and Gerard McMonagle, Mart manager for over thirty years. Jim Carroll Jr. (P.J.’s son) opened the day’s celebration speaking of his father’s original dream. Robert Creary, a former mart worker also spoke of how the farmer’s reacted to this new modern method of showing and selling animals.

Comparisons between the first Livestock sale and the 50th sale

2nd of February 1959

Number of animals sold on the day = 216

Cows

The first Cow of Sale sold for £21 and 6 shillings, weighing in at 9.5 cwt. The buyer was Pat Temple.

The top price for a springing cow was £76 sold by Charlie Scott.

Bullocks
Four prime bullocks were sold for prices ranging from £7 and 1 shilling to £7 and 5shillings per cwt and sold by John McColgan, from Corvish, Carndonagh.

Heifer
Robert McEldowney form Glack, Culdaff was a well-known breeder and sold 5 Heifers for the impressive price of £48 and 10 shillings each.


2nd February 2009

Number of animals sold on the day = 263
One difference to note first is that the weights have changed from cwt and pounds to kg and euro…

Cows
The top price paid for a cow and calf was €1710 sold by Martin Doherty to Patrick Houghton.

The top price paid for a fat cow weighing 928kg was sold for €1490 by Irwin McCandless to William Scott.

Bullocks
A prime bullock weighing 706 kg was sold by Seamus Breslin to Thomas Wachope for €1240.

Heifer
The first heifer was sold to Jim McLaughlin for €1330 by Michael McGonagle.



OLD AND NEW
The Mart brought real benefits to farmers and the town of Carndonagh from its very first days of trading. The old system of trading cattle revolved around dealers calling to a farm, or haggling over the price of an animal on Fair Day. Farmers were not aware of the true value of their animals, as they were selling in an isolated and fragmented market. Some traditional dealers were initially very opposed to the idea of a Mart and thought it was destined to fail. The dealers were still offering tempting prices to the farmers as they walked their animals to the Mart, but farmers declined and decided to take their chances in the ring.

The big plus of the auction market system was that cattle were weighed for the first time and the price paid was according to their weight and quality of the animal. Farmers were also able to compare each other’s animals to assess their quality. The Mart day is still held on a Monday, as it was back in 1959 and still acts as a social occasion, but not quite in the way that it did in the early days.

Initially when the mart began it was the norm to have a farm worker who spent the day in the auction. His wife would often accompany him. Here they would meet friends, chat and hear local gossip, and usually end up in one of the local pubs. Nowadays the pace of life is faster and because a lot of farmers have no staff, they tend to go to the market, sell or buy, and go back to their farms quickly. The buzz of excitement is still there on the day of sale though even if it isn’t quite as long as it was.


MILESTONES IN THE CO-OP
Due to the level of demand and a growing population, the Carndonagh Livestock Mart has expanded over the years. Additional pens were added in 1967 (at a cost of £5,575). By this time the Mart was also selling sheep. In 1968 the Inishowen Farmers Co-Op and the Clonleigh Co-Op established a feed mill in a joint venture. Share prices rose to £5 each and a piggery unit was opened in 1972. In 1974 a special meeting was held to amalgamate the three local Co-Op’s; the Mart, Stores and Piggery. In 1975 these three Co-Op’s were put under the management of Donal Noone with the title of The Inishowen Co-operative Society Ltd. The agricultural co-operatives established in both Moville and Buncrana in 1919 were amalgamated with the Inishowen Co-Op in Carndonagh, retaining stores on both towns, where they are still flourishing and offering a unique service to the local agricultural industry.

Many memorable sales have taken place over the year. One that stands out was in 1961 when a record 360 cattle were sold well into the night. Several sales lasted until 5 am the following morning, including one in November 1983 when 1200 cattle were auctioned. In the early years the workers would head into Canny’s Hotel for dinner at two or three in the morning and were met as though it was the middle of the day.

CHANGING NEEDS
The Mart has been catering for the needs of farmers around Inishowen through a lot of changes in the industry, not to mention an attempted raid on the takings in the 1960’s. Neil Faulkner and Benny Doherty saved the day when they were attacked by two raiders on their way to lodge the takings. They heroically fought the raiders off, saving the loss of thousands of pounds.

The Mart has moved with the times and the present day cattle auction system is a lot faster and more efficient than it was. The system in place at the moment frees farmers up so they don’t even have to go to the Mart to sell their cattle, as they can be sold directly to abattoirs from the Co-op. The industry is also far more heavily regulated by the Department of Agriculture who’s job it is to ensure Ireland's high status in relation to animal health and welfare. This is of critical importance given the economic and social importance of agriculture to the country. Health and safety for farming practices has been greatly improved, as has the prevention of diseases. All cattle are now totally traceable back to the farmer, which ensures the trust of customers who buy the meat in Ireland and Europe.


PROUD
From small beginnings back in 1959, to a turnover of millions, the Carndonagh Co-operative founder members would surely be proud of its success over the years and the current committee and staff are looking forward to many more years of successful trading and being the backbone of a whole community that is feeding the nation. Last weeks turn out at the Mart tells us that it is as popular and vital as ever to the community.

5 MINUTES WITH - CLARE BARR

Clare Barr from Buncrana is an enthusiastic Pilates Instructor. Fourteen years ago, Clare did a Health and Fitness course in Dublin and began to teach aerobics. Seven years later, she discovered Pilates, and found it a brilliant and beneficial exercise.

Pilates works on many levels, improving breathing and posture, strengthening core muscles and keeping the body balanced. When you are born the body is straight and aligned but as the years go by the body’s posture changes because of injuries and general use. Pilates is a simple way of exercising and you don’t realise that you are getting so many benefits from the classes. Clare feels very lucky that Buncrana has two leisure centres and a health centre with a wide selection of classes available. She also feels with all the wonderful walks and beautiful hills to climb all over Inishowen, as well as the other facilities available, we have no excuse for not getting out there and doing some form of exercise. Clare is running courses in both Buncrana and Carndonagh regularly and if you want to find out more you can call her on 074 9362723



What music are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to anything from Abba to ZZ Top. As long as it’s good….

What book are you reading?
I devour books and make great use of the local library in Buncrana. I read between 4 and 5 books a month. I have just finished ‘The Brass Verdict’ by Michael Connelly and have stared ‘The Bodies Left Behind’ by Jeffery Deaver.

What was your favourite childhood game?
My childhood memories were of us always being outside playing form morning until night. The weather was never an issue. I enjoyed it all but the best had to be when we went to the beach in the summer catching shrimps at the springboard on the shorefront and building sandcastles in the Ladies Bay.

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
Going to the cinema is a favourite midweek treat for me. The last film I saw was Australia. I thought it was fantastic. It’s a very uplifting film with Nicole Kidman as strong as ever.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I always read the front page first – start at the beginning, as they say.

What would you never throw away?
Photographs of my family.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
I had never tried Karaoke before, but one evening while on holiday in Tenerife (after a little Dutch courage) I started singing a Tina Turner song, helped by my 8 year old daughter. It was a disaster and the more we sang, the worse we got…

Favourite TV programme?
I am a huge fan of Inspector Morse, 24, A Touch of Frost and most thrillers. I love listening to the music channels whilst doing the housework.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
A ballet dancer for a while and then a member of Pans People (the dancers on Top of the Pops)!

Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
Our family holiday in Disney World, a few years ago now. Seeing the expressions on the faces of my children, Sean, Michael and Kate, when they encountered the world of getting their picture taken with Mickey and Minnie mouse. Or was it driving through California in a big white Cadillac?

What do you do for a special treat?
Get dressed up (love that) go to the Beach House on the pier in Buncrana or The Tavern for a meal and finish the night in the Drift Inn listening to the Mystery Shoppers or enjoying (listening to) the Karaoke… I definitely won’t be singing….

Favourite animal?
We have always had dogs in our family since I was a child. I love them. I think it’s healthy for children to get used to dogs – caring for them and feeding them.

Biggest thrill?
It has to be the birth of my children. Sean, Michael and Kate. My grandchildren Brionan, James and wee baby Belle. Also having my wonderful husband Brian and my lovely daughter-in-law Hilary. As you get older you realise how important your family is.

Biggest Challenge?
About 5 years ago I had severe arthritis in my hip and I needed a replacement operation. My hip had originally been dislocated when I was born. At the time I thought I would never be able to exercise again – never mind teach. I really thought I would have to change career again and give up something that I loved. But the operation was a complete success and less than five months after the operation I was teaching again.

What was the best present you ever got?
On the morning of my 50th birthday I was whisked off to Nice for a surprise holiday. It was kept secret right until the last minute.

What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
A dress for €15 euro in the sale in Jay Bee’s of Carndonagh – I love a bargain!

What charities do you support?
The St Vincent de Paul and Concern.

Favourite past-time?
Exercising, walking, reading and dancing.

What do you have for breakfast?
Fresh fruit, tea and brown bread with marmalade.

What was your first paid job?
Working for my father in the Plaza Ballroom in Buncrana. My sisters and I always had to work from an early age and it didn’t do us any harm at all even though we might not have liked it much at the time.

Best/worst household chore?
The best would be cooking and the worst would be cleaning windows.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Live each day to the full.

Personal philosophy?
Treat others as you would like to be treated.