Is there anything to look forward to?

Tuesday, 04 January 2011 12:40

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A new year, a new moon tonight and most definitely we need something positive to look forward to in 2011 - other than a general election.
The past 12 months have left historical and financial scars on Ireland's reputation thanks to a corrupt banking system and a bungling and diddering government under the watch of Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Internationally, we can hang our heads in shame as we toppled from having one of the best economies in the world to a virtually bankrupt nation.

And those responsible for our financial downfall have gone scott free while Joe Public is left to pick up the tab while at the same time having to endure the most savage budget last month since the foundation of the State and the ramifications of the four-year recovery plan.
Cowen and company tried to convince us we did not need an EU bailout. He denied there was a financial crisis like Scrooge denied Christmas.
The clowning about has come to an end. Now, in order to restore some semblance of credibility in Ireland Inc., the pending general election will help.

Confidence has to be restored to convince international markets we can overcome the calamity visited on us by unscrupulous bankers and an irresponsible government that failed to see the early signs of the financial meltdown.
In October another tragedy unfolded as we learned of the drowning of Donal McEllin and Ger Feeney in a boating accident in Inishbofin harbour.
Their untimely deaths shocked the county and the attendance at their funerals mirrored the grief that had engulfed the entire community.

Earlier in the year, Castlebar developer and hotelier Tony McHugh passed away after a short illness and his funeral, too, saw thousands of mourners queue for hours to sympathise with his family.

There was also a huge turnout for the funeral of Liam Coady and we also recorded the passing of Mary B. Jennings and of one of the great Castlebar characters, Johnny Morgan.

Leaving the doom and gloom behind, we can look forward to our national holiday on March 17, which this year falls on a Thursday.
Lent begins eight days earlier (March 9) with Easter Sunday falling on April 24.
Easter Sunday typically falls on a different date each year. Easter is always the first Sunday after or on the first full moon, after the spring (vernal) equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere.
The date is determined by a combination of events centred around the lunar cycle, the solar cycle, the division of each year into 365 days and a 1,700 year old Church ruling.

In reality things can now only get better for this country. We are on the bottom rung of the ladder and hopefully with the prospect of a new government we can start to build a better country.