(The Nationalist, 15 June 2001)
It’s great to have some good news for a change. When the daily headlines in the paper, plus the evening TV news, seem to be a chronicle of one item of bad news after another, it’s a welcome change to have positive and encouraging things to report, however small they might seem against the background of larger problems.
First, the excellent response from the public to the appeal for cooperation during the foot and mouth outbreak. It was very good. Those disinfectant mats appeared everywhere almost overnight. People cancelled sports activities, journeys to and from Britain and Northern Ireland, and meetings and gatherings of all kinds. They co-operated with the checks at the border. It was in the national interest and they put that first. Great.
There was a down side to it. The foot and mouth problem south of the border, at least, seems to have resulted from smuggling. Then, after the crisis had passed, some farmers in the Cooley Peninsula lodged fraudulent claims for compensation for the culling of non-existent sheep. That was a poor and petty way of saying thanks to the public, which in some cases, especially in the tourist industry, had suffered redundancies and substantial loss of earnings.
Second, when I was travelling by train recently, four young lads were smoking in what was a no smoking carriage. I don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke and it bothers me when smokers light up in a no smoking area. I thought about it for a while, asking myself what was the best thing to do. If I raised the matter with them how would they react? – perhaps tell me to eff off, or give me a black eye, or worse. I decided to go ahead anyway. I pointed out to them that they were smoking in a no smoking carriage, and asked them not to do it. Then I waited for the reaction. Two said sorry and put out their cigarettes; the other two left the carriage and continued smoking in the passageway between carriages. I was happy enough with that. At the end of the journey I thanked them and they seemed not to be put out. Thanks again, lads.
Third, when I visited an old people’s home recently, I asked the residents one by one if they had anyone from among their relatives and friends to visit them. All said yes. That was a pleasant surprise.
Fourth, Bishop Brendan Comiskey’s appearance recently on The Late, Late Show, being interviewed about the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. He was straightforward, open and relaxed. In a few minutes of candour he blew away a lot of cobwebs. Three cheers.