Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod

Santa no show

It reads like something out of a fairytale, but the weekend snow fall will go into the history books as the first time that Santa Claus failed to arrive in Enniscorthy.
How could such a terrible event happen?

Santa Claus was expected to arrive in Market Square to watch the traditional switching on of the Christmas lights, but the center of Enniscorthy was covered in a blanket of snow and a weekend of turmoil and disruption was underway.

While the official function of switching on the Christmas lights did not take place, the lights did come on and against the backdrop of snow, the white Christmas image has come to Enniscorthy a month early.

Life was a struggle in the town as heavy falls of snow covered the streets and footpaths, causing a loss of business and reduced opportunities for customers.

Many shoppers had to resort to traveling on foot as they went in search of the essentials.

All business premises were open on Monday and a number of traders said that business was brisk, for a Monday, although the town was deserted before dusk fell and another night’s frosty air descended.

Vital electricity and telecommunications services were maintained and there were no reports of falls or injuries. Schools were closed.

Public transport, rail and bus services were maintained and provided an important link between Enniscorthy and other towns in the county, and to Dublin and Waterford.
- Enniscorthy Echo

Cowen dodges protest

A crowd of around 80 protestors intent on directing their anger at under fire Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen last Friday evening were left as bitter as the freezing temperatures outside following a last minute decision to replace the Fianna Fail leader with one of his ministers.

Cowen had been expected to take his place as the Longford Chamber of Commerce's keynote speaker, an invitation which attracted a sizeable crowd of protestors to assemble outside the Longford Arms Hotel.

Instead, many were left disappointed as news began to spread that Cowen would not be attending, a development confirmed by the arrival of Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs Pat Carey, via a back door.

"The taoiseach is involved in meetings in Government Buildings," a composed-looking Carey said.

"He wouldn't have been here in time and he apologizes for that so he asked me if I could come down and I am very pleased to be here."

Carey dismissed a suggestion that Cowen had consciously side-stepped the event to avoid awaiting demonstrators outside.

"To be honest with you, we are well used to protests being outside and that's part of democracy. Genuinely, the taoiseach would have wished to have been here but he simply couldn't guarantee that he would have been here on time," he said.

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Nster.com