DIARMUID GAVIN WELCOMED IN CARNDONAGH

Diarmuid Gavin talking in Carndonagh

Diarmuid Gavin with the playground committee in Carndonagh

The stage in the Áras, Carndonagh Community School last Wednesday was lush and brimming with the best plants the season had to offer. The plants and shrubs were supplied by Carndonagh garden centre and set the scene for one of the most innovative garden designers in the world of horticulture, Diarmuid Gavin.

Fresh from his success at last weekend’s Irish Film and Television awards where he won the IFTA for ‘Best Factual Entertainment Show,’ Diarmuid arrived in Carndonagh this week to begin a series of consultations with local schools and community groups. These sessions will form the design concepts for the Barrack Hill town park taking into consideration the thoughts of over 130 participants from the area.

The celebrity gardener and landscape architect was asked to take on the challenge of satisfying a whole community by the playground committee in the town. Together they have teamed up with the Public Art Office and the Community and Enterprise Section of Donegal County Council to design and create what will be one of Ireland’s most imaginative and ambitious community spaces and play parks.

Denis McGonagle on behalf of the Council welcomed Diarmuid and commented that the park was a long time coming. “It’s amazing to have someone of Diarmuid’s calibre involved in the park, which will be a flagship for Inishowen. Everyone will get the chance to contribute on the project and it is important to remember that this park, when completed will belong to and be maintained by the community”

Aideen Doherty from Donegal County Council was extremely positive about the open evening. “The talk gives everyone a chance to see who Diarmuid is and where his influences come from,” she said.

Besides hearing from people at the open meeting, Diarmuid will be consulting with groups of children and teenagers from schools as well as older members of the community. Dermott is used to dealing with exacting clients but not 130 at one time. “This is the most clients Diarmuid has ever had to deal with!” Aideen exclaimed, “But if anyone can get the community to agree on the finished project, it’s Diarmuid”.

His contributions to the Chelsea flower show have given him the reputation of being innovative and a little controversial especially with his “Colourful Suburban Eden” also known as the bubble gum garden, where he placed hundreds of brightly coloured plastic balls on sticks around a foliage backdrop. “Some of his ideas can be a bit frightening,” said Mary Reilly from the Inishowen Organic Network “but I love his work. It gets your mind going and his ideas are never boring or conventional,” she stressed.

A relaxed and casually dressed Diarmuid addressed the attentive crowd. “ This is by far the most people I have ever consulted with on a project,” said Diarmuid. “Satisfying a whole community is top priority and listening to everyone’s needs will be the key to the success of the project,” he continued “There are three main issues for this project – budget - practicality and safety. Some of the school children have come up with fantastic ideas and it is a question of taking these on board and making them a reality. There are a few issues on ideas such as the iPod docking station and the possibility of making the park look like the set on I’m a Celebrity- Get Me Out of Here, which relies heavily on rope bridges and tropical trees, but I am sure we will come to a suitable compromise!”

It is apparent that Diarmuid will no doubt get a few tongues wagging with his ideas but this is something that excites him in his development as a designer. “When I left the Botanic gardens in Dublin, I came across a book called “Paradise Transformed, the Private Garden” by Guy Cooper and Gordon Taylor. The radical imagery of their designs really had a big influence on me and I knew that that I was better suited to garden design than any other aspect of gardening,” he said enthusiastically.

“The completed Barrack Hill Park will have to feel real and be rooted in the soul. It cannot be imposed on the town.” He emphasised.

Diarmuid will be returning to Carndonagh in April and will have a rough draft of the plans to run past everyone who is involved in this fantastic project which will help to lift the profile of not only Carndonagh but the whole of the peninsula.

NOELINE HAYLETT NEEDS LIFE-JACKETS AND A BOAT FOR GHANA

Life-Jackets and a boat urgently needed in Ghana

Have you an old Life-Jacket that you no longer use?

Life Jackets and a boat with an outboard motor are urgently needed.

In the Volta region of Ghana, Lake Volta (8,800km2) is the biggest man made lake in the world. It was created by the construction of the Akosombo Dam, a hydro-electric power project.

ECM Ho in Ghana, (who have been supported for the last twelve years by Mayo-resident Noeline Haylett) has an outreach project on Dwarf Island, which is one of the many islands in the lake. Dominic Akyereke, their outreach worker who lives on the island has requested urgently, as many life jackets be sent over as possible.

Because the lake is man made and was created by flooding surrounding areas there are many dead trees under the water. The ferry boats, which are often heavily loaded sometimes hit submerged tree stumps.

Just before Christmas, the boat that Dominic was on tipped over (a regular occurrence) and 75 people were drowned. Dominic was saved as he was wearing a life jacket that had been previously sent over.

Noeline Haylett, has been supporting the work of the mission in Ghana (ECM), during which time she has sent over 4 ambulances, a tractor, a plough and transport boxes, a bus and a quad as well as building schools, clinics, a hospital and a bore hole. Her next container is going over in June and she hopes to send as many life jackets as possible and hopefully a boat with an outboard motor.

If you can help in anyway, please contact Noeline on 098 41484

5 MINUTES WITH - DEIRDRE BRADLEY

Deirdre Bradley is the new Exhibition manager for North West Exhibitions Ltd based in Buncrana. Until recently you would have seen her in the tourist office in the town where she worked for the Chamber of Commerce. Deirdre worked there for four years and absolutely loved the position, especially the contact with local business people and community groups in the area. Whilst working for the Chamber of Commerce Deirdre set up gala dinners, fashion shows, award ceremonies and trade shows. This gave her the confidence to accept her new role as exhibition manager and to enjoy the challenges that the new position brings. In the two weeks since joining the company, Deirdre has been busy organising the Ideal Homes Exhibition that will be taking place in Coshquin on the Derry /Donegal border at the end of May. There will be 116 stands in the 27,000 square foot building, for showcasing products and services supplied by businesses all over Ireland.


What sort of music do you listen to?
I like all styles. It isn’t very often that I buy any music though; I usually listen to local radio stations. Either the ICR or Highland. You get music and also the local chat too.

What would you never throw away?
I can’t throw away greetings cards! I keep all of them, get well, good luck, and birthdays. I put them all into a big box. I even have the baby cards for when my four children were born!

How do you relax?
I like nothing more than a glass (or bottle!) of red wine to share with good company – friends and family.

What book are you reading?
I don’t have much time for sitting and reading books. I am looking through an awful lot of interior and homes magazines though. I am picking out names and company contacts for the run up to the big show this year.

What page of the newspaper do you turn to first?
It seems a bit strange now that I have my new job, but it is the employment section. It’s just a habit I suppose! I also have a habit of reading the paper from the back to the front.

What is your idea of a good night out?
An evening out with friends is perfect. Organising the evening can sometimes prove to be difficult though as we are all so busy. We were out in the new Sunrise restaurant in Buncrana on Saturday. This has been the first week we have all been free since November of last year!

Have you a favourite television programme?
I always watch Desperate Housewives. I think it is good fantasy fun and so detached from any lifestyle we are accustomed to.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I always wanted to become a mummy! It seems strange to think about it now, but whenever the travelling community came into Carndonagh I would wish that they would leave a baby at the bottom of my road so I could take it home and look after it. I suppose it was always inevitable that I would have children, and I have four. Later on though in my adult life I wanted to get into event management, so I am now in my dream job.

Where would you like to go on your holidays?
With the weather as it is at the moment I would like to go anywhere hot and sunny, preferably an island

What is your idea of heaven?
Waking up every day, happy in your own skin. To wake up excited and be doing something that is a pleasure

What is your idea of hell?
To be materialistic and just do things for money. To put up with a well paid job at the expense of your happiness and a feeling that you have to keep up with the Jones’s.

Are there any famous people you would invite around for dinner?
I think that I would invite people from community groups instead of any celebrities. People who work for the benefit of the community have great stories to tell.

What are your main strengths?
I like to think that I am good with people and before you ask me what my weakness is, it’s paperwork!

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 6

RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken.
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow, but you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love and live.
Chained by your attitude, you are a slave.
You have forfeited your freedom.
Only if you risk are you free.

Leo Buscaglia

LEG

A young man, 24 years old, had one of his legs amputated at the hip in order to save his life from bone cancer. He was very angry and bitter. It seemed to him that life was terribly unfair that he had to suffer such a loss so early in his life. His grief and rage were so great it took several years of continuous work for healing to occur; healing, not only of his body, but also his broken heart and wounded spirit. He worked hard, using many methods including art therapy. When he first started drawing, he made a crayon sketch of his own body in the form of a vase with a deep black crack running through it. He redrew the crack over and over again, grinding his teeth with rage.

As he slowly healed, he developed a profound compassion for others in similar situations and he began to visit others in the hospital, who had also suffered severe physical losses. Once he met a young singer who was very depressed over the loss of her breasts. She wouldn’t even look up when he came in. He visited her regularly. One day the young man came in and the radio was on. It was a hot day and he was wearing shorts. Desperate to get her attention, he unstrapped his artificial leg and began dancing round on his one leg, snapping his fingers. The girl looked at him in amazement and then burst out laughing and said, “Man, if you can dance, I can sing.”

Several years later, the young man was looking over his early pictures. He picked up the vase, ran his fingers over the crack, picked up a yellow crayon and drew light streaming through the crack into the body of the vase. He turned to his aide and said; “Our hearts can grow strong at the broken places.”

Our sorrows can heal, allowing us to grow into our fullest, most compassionate identity. When we truly come to terms with sorrow, a great unshakeable joy is born in our heart.

VERY WELL!

A young girl in a fishing village became pregnant. Her parents were really angry with her and beat her until she revealed who the father was. “The father is the Zen master who lives in the temple,” she cried. Her parents and all the villagers were completely scandalised and outraged. After the baby was born, they took the baby to the temple and shouted at the master, “This is your baby, you hypocrite, you take care of it!”
“Very well! Very well!” replied the master.

He took the baby in and fed it and cared for it. Of course, after this the master lost his reputation, his disciples left him and no one came to consult him, but he enjoyed the baby’s company, watching it smile and develop. This went on for a year. Eventually the girl riddled with guilt confessed. The father was not the master but a local neighbour boy. When her parents and the village learned of this, they returned to the master, apologised and asked for the baby back. “Very well! Very well!” said the master.

Can we roll with what life throws at us with the same freedom?

5 MINUTES WITH - GARETH AUSTIN

Gareth Austin is well known figure around the peninsula. Three years ago Gareth opened the Courtyard Lifestyle & Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham. This is celebration in itself but to add to this, a jubilant Gareth has just become a father with his wife, Leanne, having given birth to their first child, a beautiful baby girl!

Gareth’s retail business is complemented by an extensive landscaping service and he has jobs as far a field as Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Belfast and of course throughout Donegal, where he works on a variety of projects from small gardens right through to large civil engineering projects.

What is the name of your new addition to the family?
Her name is Connie Louise and she is adorable!

What have you given up for lent?
Bread…Which is hard because I love Batch Loaf from Highland Bakery, nothing nicer than a slice of batch with some butter!

What would you never throw away?
Hard to pick, either my laptop, Mobile or PalmPilot, I do so much work on the go; I could never function without them.

What book are you reading?
Jeremy Clarkson’s “I know you got soul”. I have all his books and I love his look on life and his sense of humour.

Have you been to the cinema recently?
Yes, I went the other week to see “I am Legend”, -very very good. I don’t think I have sat in a quieter cinema since Jurassic Park came out all those years ago.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
Weather, Always get the Farmers Journal and go straight to the weather section.

What is your idea of a good night out?
Getting home, seeing my wife and family, and then falling asleep in front of the fire!
.
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Walking across a car park to meet a gaggle of architects and engineers on a site, not expecting to slip and fall on some black ice in front of everyone!

What is your idea of a great meal?
Some very good home-made pasta with a light mushroom sauce, or with a seafood mix.

Have you a favourite TV programme?
Sopranos has got to be the greatest TV show made of all time, I also enjoy Law & Order and Lost.

How do you relax?
I try to look after my own garden and then I enjoy walking my dogs.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I always wanted to be a gardener, from a very young age. I have two uncles who are involved in specialist plant propagation and I used to spend so much time around them, watching what they were doing. They were great characters, who told the funniest of stories whilst they worked.

What is your ideal car?
I have always had a thing for a nice Estate car, either an Audi or BMW estate, but I’m not a great car fan. As long as they go I’m happy.

Where do you like to go for your holidays?
It has to be America. I love Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersery.

Your idea of heaven?
Mmmm…Spending time with my wife and daughter is wonderful, but I also love talking about life with older people, listening to their stories about a way of life people of my generation could never fully understand. I can listen to their stories for hours and hours.

Your idea of hell?
Having to travel great distances to work every morning, I feel for those people who have to sit on the M50 for 3 hours to get home from work in the evening, pure hell. When we are landscaping up in Belfast and the big cities we always close the site at 4pm so we can get out before the traffic builds up.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Oh…I’ve actually had this chat with Leanne, my wife, before. 1. Jeremy Clarkson – such a funny man, with a unique view on life, 2. Adolf Hitler – would be interesting to engage a man who had such an effect on history and the world, 3. Bill Clinton – read his book and a man who had such stories to tell. Can I have more?

Favourite animal?
Dogs, such great companions, they ask for so very little back in return for the love they show. It makes me really mad when I hear about people mistreating animals, starving them, beating them and the like. One of the few things I cannot watch on television is animals suffering.

Biggest fear?
I don’t really have a ‘biggest fear’, I believe that anything can be tackled and overcome, why be afraid of something? – Fear doesn’t do anybody any good.

Biggest thrill?
Seeing my Daughter born, nothing can describe that feeling.

The world’s most irritating invention?
Mobile phones, I have two, they go all the time, couldn’t function without them, but God they get annoying when they ring all the time, so much so I have mine on vibrate only!

What is your idea of a good night in?
Having a few visitors round, some food and plenty of stories and chat.


Biggest disappointment?
Never being able to go to the World Cup to watch Scotland.


Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
The American depression, I have always been fascinated with the Hoover Dam, and how it was constructed during such a miserable time in American history.


World’s most useful invention?
The internal combustion engine. Where would we be without it?

Personal philosophy?
Ask questions of everyone, other people will always know more than me.

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 4

STIRRING HEART

Once long ago an Indian warrior found an eagle’s egg on a mountaintop, and he put it next to the eggs that a hen was hatching. When the time came the little eagle hatched alongside the chicks and he grew alongside the hatchlings. After some time it learned to cackle like a chicken, to scratch the ground and look for worms, and it limited itself to going only into the lower branches of the bushes like all the other chickens. It behaved like a chicken and thought it was a chicken. One day when it was old, the eagle looked up to the sky and saw something that stirred his heart. Up there in the bright blue sky, was a magnificent, majestic bird flying in the open sky, with seeming effortlessness. The old eagle was awe struck. It turned to the nearest chicken and said what kind of bird is that? The chicken looked up and answered, “Oh, that’s the golden eagle, the queen of the skies. But don’t pay any attention to it. You and I are down here below. The eagle never again looked up and it died thinking it was a chicken.

If you argue for your limitations, they are yours. Dare to own your greatness!

CLIVE WASSON

Clive Wasson with his helium filled balloon used for aerial photography