Commins on Wednesday



Connaught Telegraph 9 October 1996


Ann Crowley to contest election for Green Party in Mayo

The Green Party will have their first ever General Election candidate in Mayo in the forthcoming election. Ann Crowley, who is coordinator of the NOW Project in Castlebar and who is also a presenter with Community Radio Castlebar, has been nominated by the Green Party for the new Mayo constituency.

Ann resides in Westport and will be hoping to achieve a substantial vote for the party. Westport based Richard Douthwaite amazed many by polling around 4,000 in Co. Mayo when he stood for the Green party in the European Election in 1994.

Jim Mitchell not afraid to take a stand

It good to see that some of the politicians in the main parties are willing to take a stand now and again on some issues. Recently, we had the case of John Bruton writing to Michael Ring to say that Ring's statement on the deflector TV system was "badly timed and ill temperate". This reply became public knowledge within days as Ring went public again and quite rightly pointed out to the Taoiseach that he was fully entitled to represent his constituents and would not be tied by any Party Whip or anybody else when he felt the needs of his constituents were being trampled on. Wasn't it Ring's by-election victory that secured John Bruton's position to a large extent?

Anyway, I must salute Jim Mitchell this week for his brave stand in accusing all political parties of "sleepwalking all the way to Frankfurt" by failing to hold a national debate on the proposed single European currency. While some people may remember Jim for his "foggy boggy mountain-top" reference to Knock Airport over a decade ago, the same Jim had the good manners to apologise later and accept that he had been completely wrong on the Knock Airport issue.

Jim Mitchell, not for the first time, has spoken the language of the common person. He's a great bit of stuff and he is absolutely right when he accuses his own Government of becoming a "prisoner" of the monetary union timetable. He has called for a referendum before the Irish pound (punt) is abandoned for the Euro. Michael Smurfit also expressed similar concern in recent weeks. And, of course, there are any amount of people across the Irish Sea in the U.K. who are very much opposed to the single European currency.

If nothing else, Jim Mitchell has broken the cosy club arrangement by the main parties and brought this very relevant issue into the public domain. For that, he deserves our thanks.

What a beautiful day!

I see where the Ladies GAA Board were complaining last week that no Government Ministers had indicated their intentions to attend the All-Ireland Ladies Finals prior to Sunday's games (Laois v Monaghan and Clare v Longford) at Croke Park. Weren't they lucky! At least on this occasion, some ordinary folk got to sit in the Ard Comhairle. The Board should give thanks for small mercies.

The Boys from the Co Mayo

In last week's column, I alluded to some of the background of "The Boys from the County Mayo" and printed some verses of the song. I had a call from Owen Regan in Claremorris to say he remembers a version he used to hear when a child in Cuiltybo and that he only heard once in recent years and that on some show on MWR.

I understand the version he is referring to is the one performed by Eddie Flatley from Knock and recorded on one of what I call the "Joe Byrne" tapes". Yes, Eddie has a version consisting of many verses which goes way back and I know they are sold out at Knock Folk Museum at the moment but Marise Sloyan at the Museum tells me they are in the process of getting some extra copies. I will take up this matter again at a later stage.

Owen also agrees wholeheartedly with me in relation to "The Boys from the County Mayo" being adopted as the official anthem of Mayo. It is also the song that should be played in Croke Park when the Mayo team are in action at headquarters.

The same piece also prompted an interesting call from George Lally in Castlebar. George says he was delighted to read the piece about the song and to see the verses in print. He says they are very close to the verses on a record his family got over fifty years ago. The singer was John McGettigan from Donegal and the record comprised of The Boys from the County Mayo and The Star of Donegal. It was, of course, an old gramophone record and it was bought as a very special gift one Christmas.

"Your article brought back lovely memories of that record and I can still hear it as clearly now as I could when we got it. It left a great impression on us all", said George.

The spice of life

For the amusement of loyal readers, I bring you a selection of old and new "howlers" which I hope will find favour with you. It's a bit of a change from the usual column but variety, as they say, is the spice of life. Some are borrowed, some are changed, and some are fresh!

A Castlerea man was up in Court on a very serious charge and was not represented by counsel. "You know this is a most serious case," said the judge, "are you sure you have no counsel?"

Said the Castlerea man: "I'm sure, your honour. I have no counsel but you'll be glad to hear I have some very good friends on the jury."


There was a man from Leitrim in court for stealing a hay fork and he was told that the prosecution could produce two witnesses who saw him do it.

He replied: "Well, I can find a dozen who didn't."


Mayo journalist, Christy Loftus, speaking to a group of Mayo County Councillors: "Now, gentlemen, ye all know what a bromide is."

Councillor interrupting ...."Most of us do, Christy, but perhaps you'd better explain for the benefits of those who were never up in one."


It's a woman's world sure enough. When a man is born, people ask: "How is the mother?" When he marries, they say: "What a lovely bride." When he dies, they wonder: "How much did he leave her?"

Bohola resident: "Did ye hear that Micksie Clarke wants to make history by becoming the first Mayo man on the moon?"

Kiltimagh native: "That wouldn't be history at all, lad, sure Kieran Heneghan has been in "space" for years and it hasn't knocked a stir out of him!" (Kiltimagh joke only!).


Not much hope!

A Mayo TD writing a letter of condolence to the widow of a late colleague said: "I cannot tell, Mary, how sorry I was to hear that your husband has gone to heaven. We were great friends and it is sad to think that we will never meet again."

On your marks!

A gentleman named Robert Lynd once said: To see a policeman running is, I think, next to hearing a declaration of war, the most exciting experience of which a human being is capable.

Good advice

Highly motivated candidate at Mayo Fianna Fail rally in Castlebar: "We're going to devour the opposition. We're going to ate them! Tell me, dear friends and loyal party members, what do we need to carry this constituency with the biggest majority in the history of Fianna Fail?"
Heckler: "Michael Ring!"

Tying the knot

A Westport couple, whose married bliss was known to have braved a few squalls, received a homely lecture from their spiritual advisor regarding some of their disgraceful quarrels. "Why, the dog and cat you have at home agree better that ye do".

"They might, Father, but if your reverence will tie them together, ye'll soon change ye're mind."