February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Stephen McKinley
RECIPE FOR LONGEVITY
Whenever an Irish senior reaches the grand old age of 100, controversy rages over what has kept her going so long, longer than many of us might hope to live.
Sometimes it is ascribed to a life of clean living, healthy eating, non-smoking, and staying clear of the demon drink. Stand aside for Christina O’Rourke of Lusmagh, Co. Offaly, who at 100 years of age is still dragging away on five cigarettes a day and the occasional nip of whiskey.
Born in 1901, O’Rourke vivdly remembers World War I, the War of Independence and the Civil War, when, she said, she was very much a Michael Collins follower. Today, however, O’Rourke says she admires John Bruton and leans towards Fine Gael.
Thanking God for retaining her mental and physical abilities over the years, she told the Midland Tribune newspaper that she nevertheless wasn’t a particularly religious person, aside from making sure that she made it to Sunday Mass.
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“When my friends dropped by there was often a drink and a pleasant chat,” O’Rourke recalled. “I still take a drop of whiskey, but I find the brandy a bit too heavy. The whiskey agrees with me better.”
When her doctor suggested that she should quit smoking, she told him that that was the last thing she’d quit.
A TASTE OF AFRICA
Evidence of Ireland’s diversity is in full view on Longford’s New Street, where Evelyn Murphy, originally from Nigeria, has opened the country’s first ever African Co-Op shop.
Food native to Africa, clothing, fabric and other household goods are on sale. Where else could one go for white gari, ecusi seeds, ukasi and ogbono seeds?
Longford now has a small but growing African community, and Murphy, who is married to an Irishman, explained that locals are exploring new food combinations since she opened her store doors.
“I am married to an Irish man and we opened a shop in Dublin which was going well,” Murphy told the Longford Leader newspaper. “A friend of mine who visited Longford told me there was no sort of African shop in this area, so we decided to open a store in Longford.
“Lots of Irish and African people come into the shop and it’s great for the Africans to be able to get some of their favorite foods from home. Irish people often ask me for recipes and how they should cook certain foods. They are keen to learn about new foods.”
COWS FOR AFRICA
In Offaly, locals have generously given money and time to B=thar, the international Aid agency that helps provide new and healthy livestock to poor parts of the world.
Sixty-six in-calf dairy heifers were waved off by 200 B=thar supporters. The cows were destined for poor families in Malawi.
DOG DAYS
Fermanagh’s Impartial Reporter newspaper reports angrily that the Brighteyes animal sanctuary outside Ballinamallard is filled to capacity after Christmas, when pets are tolerated for only a few days before being cast out as unwanted, often simply because the recipients did not realize that, as the old saying goes, “a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.”
Last year, the Fermanagh County Council dog pound took in nearly 50 strays and about 275 unwanted pets. For many of them, their fate was sealed and they had to be put down after five days.
“And they say we are a nation of animal lovers!” the writer added, noting that the dog with the beautiful eyes pictured in the newspaper had been abandoned and that no one even knew his name.
SEIGE OF DERRY’S FRIDGES
Derry has an unusual pollution problem, reported the Derry Journal last week: a scrap refrigerator “mountain.”
Dozens of fridges are piling up at recycling points around the city. New European legislation bans the destruction of CFC-containing fridges and freezers, but no facility exists in Northern Ireland to safely dispose of them.
Previously, the newspaper reported, they were either scrapped, crushed or buried — or sometimes repaired and sent to Africa. In Derry alone, more than 30 fridges are collected weekly.
“At the minute, we are storing them at a number of civic amenity sites across the council area,” City Council member Jim McGrath said. “However, as the number increases, we will have to look for an alternative location.”
GOD BOAT MOORS IN CORK
Cork city hosted the MV Logos II, a 4,800-ton ocean-going ship last week. The ship is a floating bookstore — not that they lack for books in Cork — but also a cultural center aimed at providing young people with alternative educational experiences, with an evangelical Christian twist.
Lord Mayor Tom O’Driscoll formally welcomed the ship to the quayside. Cork singer Fiona O’Leary officially launched her Celtic songs of praise CDs, “Kindle My Heart” and “God Above, God Below,” on board the boat.