THE CELTIC CONNECTION « NOVEMBER 1996
Page 7
Dublins's Lord Mayor Sings Praises of his City
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVR -- Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the Lord Mayor of an ancient and exciting city which can trace it's history back over 1,000 years?
Recently, early one Vancouver morning, which was the end of a busy working day in Dublin, Ireland, I asked that question, along with several others, to the newly elected Right Honorable Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Brendan Lynch.
Good evening Mayor Lynch. Since you have just recently been elected to Dublin's office, a city which has produced many writers and artists and continues to be a thriving and historical place for culture, can you tell me what it is actually like to be Lord Mayor?
It's great! It's a great honour to be the Lord Mayor of Dublin, particularly since Dublin is a medieval city steeped in culture and great architecture and a host city to the tremendous amount of tourists daily. As a result, the Lord Mayor of Dublin works an average of 12 to 13 hours daily.
I believe that previous to this office, you worked extensively throughout the media industry, serving your apprenticeship with The Irish Press. Has this background been helpful in your new position?
The sad thing about The Irish Press is that it is a paper of the past. Of course it's helped me because first of all, I know many of the journalists and a have a good relationship with all the papers because I've worked for all of the newspapers in Dublin. I've worked for The Irish Press, The Irish Times, The Independent, then The Evening Mail, which was a great old Dublin paper and died in 1960.
What positions did you hold at these newspapers ?
I was known as a compositor. I worked under the hot metal system and set the headings by hand, then I saw the introduction of the Ludlow and finally the introduction of the new technology. I was also "father of the chapel" (shop steward), for The Irish Print Union for The Irish Press for 26 years. I am also active in my own community as a Director for a Credit Union.
j have had the pleasure of visiting Dublin City on several occasions and when I think of Dublin, what comes to mind is the hospitality, music, food, shopping, and historical buildings. I also enjoy the Gaelic football and hurling games, the Guinness and "Ceol agus crate."
I don't know when you were last here, but Dublin has become very trendy. For instance, in and around O'Connell and Fleet Streets, it's all "Ceol agus craic." Where other cities are quiet on Sundays, Dublin is a hive of activity.
Now, as a result of the cheap flights from England and Scotland, stag parties are booked here in Dublin and each weekend the city is packed with tourists. Tourist figures are well above average this year.
Could you tell me a little about your role with the visitors?
Well, at the Mansion House, every day busloads of tourists pass by. The drivers will blow their horns and I'll wave out to the visitors. There are also tourists who like to have their picture taken with me wearing my chain of office. Often, they will have video recorders.
There are also the tourists who have been out all night on big
Dublin is a living city, unlike many other cities which die in the downtown area after the workday. People
live in the downtown core here, which makes Dublin a very fast city.
binges and they ask to be driven around by the Mansion House at 3 AM. The American tourists are particularly early, usually arriving at 7:30 AM. I don't blame them of course, they're paying out big money and want to see as much of this beautiful city as they can.
It seems that many of the Irish emigrants and descendants are returning tc Ireland for a better quality of life for their families. In Northern Ireland, there is LEDU to help them relocate and start a business, is there a similar agency in Dublin?
There is a small business agency called IBEC which is available to give business advice. There are also tax incentives for qualifying businesses.
Dublin is a living city, unlike many other cities which die in the downtown area after the workday. People live in the downtown core here, which makes Dublin a very fast city.
Property is very expensive, so families relocating here would usually relocate on the outskirts
of the city for a quieter pace of life.
As Lord Mayor of Dublin, what would your typical day be like?
As Lord Mayor, I make it my business to be out and about the city. For instance, one Saturday night, I arrived back in Dublin at half ten from Berlin, where I had attended a conference. My first function on the Sunday morning was at half seven, so I was up at 6:45 AM to meet a group of Bus Eireann drivers who were going to Bosnia as volunteers for the Irish Red Cross.
At 10:30 AM, I attended a mass for the beatification of Edmond Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers. At 12 Noon, I attended mass in my own parish... I'm getting real holy now aren't I?!
At 2 PM, I went on a historical walk-about in the pouring rain in my own constituency. Finally, at 8 PM, I attended the annual Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann concert, a farewell concert before this group of traditional musicians and dancers departed on their North American Tour.
The Mansion House, where I live as Lord Mayor of Dublin, is a very open house. I live upstairs in the Mansion House and the Mayor's office is downstairs. Do you know the history of the Mansion House?
The Mansion House was built in 1710, by a man called Joshua Dawson, who discovered that the house was built with only two entrances. He wasn't happy with that and wanted four entrances because of the highwaymen around at the time... We still have highwaymen around today, but they're wearing different suits now!
In 1715, Dawson sold the house to the Dublin Corporation for £3,500 with the stipulation that he was also to receive two pounds a year and six pounds of refined sugar, which was a status symbol at that time. So, Dublin had a Mansion House before London had.
On a different note, I have some advice for our visiting tourists. There is no doubt that Dublin is a most attractive city but visitors must be prudent in how they spend their money. Dublin Tourism has a beautiful office and can give good advice on guest houses. Tourists are advised to be careful carrying cameras over
COUNCILLOR BRENDAN LYNCH
The Right Honorable Lord Mayor of Dublin
their shoulders and women should be careful with shoulder bags by carrying them underneath their coats. Also, tourists are cautioned against leaving cars parked with suitcases and shopping plainly visible. This is an open invitation for a break-in, not only in Dublin but in all parts of the world today.
I pass on these tips, because we want our tourists to enjoy their stay with us.
In March, every year many Irish Lord Mayors visit various North American cities to help celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick's Day. Where will you be for March 17?
I'll be right here in Dublin. We have a big parade and it's a very exciting time here. We have tourists from all over the world then. 1 love this city.
San Jose, California, is a twinned city with Dublin and I have been invited there to attend St. Patrick related functions, just after St. Patrick's Day.
EDMUND RICE BEATIFIED IN ROME
DUBLIN — Some 5,000 people travelled from Ireland to Rome for the beatification of Brother Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers.
Among those in the congregation at Saint Peter's were 23 members of the Irish Catholic hierarchy and an all-party delegation, including Minister for Education Niamh Breathnach.
The entire ceremony was televised live by RTE. Brother Rice's life was written about at length during this time and RTE screened a one-hour documentary on the man who probably had the greatest influence on education in Ireland.
— The Irish Emigrant
for the tint time iw a bloftaphlt dlrHonary doevmentint the Hth end varied totitribvtlons women have made te the ihaph§ of Irish history mid tvltvrt.
Irish Books and Media, Inc.
is ptovd to announce its publication of
Women of Ireland A Biographic Dictionary
'by Kit ond Cyril 6 Uirfn
The piesslng need lor a refeience bookto cancel what historian Ma'garet Ward called 'the collective amnesia0 regarding the roles and achievements of women In Irish historiography Is clear. This comprehensive biographical dictionary, spanning earliest times up to the present, hut excluding any living subject, Is an excellent reference workfoi general readers and students, particularly those Interested In history and women's studies.
a wealth ef Information * attosslblo stylo * attrartivo solotllon of Illustrations Appendices Include classification according to occupations and interests or concerns, plus a glossary with nates and abbreviations. Paper, select bibliography, Index, 248 pp„ $19.95 plus $3.50 S/H for 1 book ond $.50 each additional. To ordei, or to waive (otahgs of the best of Irish books in oil subject areas, coll ot write:
Irish Books and Medifl, Inc. 1433 East Franklin Ave., Minneapolis WN 55404 2135, (800),229-3505, fcx{612),871-3358,t moil IRISKB00K@ool.com