NEWS
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 6 March, 2015
13
• As part of an occasional series reflecting on 16 years reporting on Lismore Town Council, Christy Parker recalls the attempted ’hijack’ of the opening of Lismore playground.
Swings and roundabouts Lismore playground’s political spat AT their November 2000 meeting, Lismore Town Commissioners unanimously supported Cmmsr. Peter Ahearne’s call for a town playground. The commissioner had raised the issue several times in preceding years, as council-run playgrounds became an emerging trend. Present by invitation at that meeting were county councillors James Tobin (FF), Ollie Wilkinson (FF), Nora Flynn (FG) and Willie McDonnell (FG), whom it was hoped would boost progress at a higher level. It was deemed unfeasible that the new Millennium Park being constructed on land leased by the Castle could harbour a playground but Cllr. Flynn (perceptively as it transpired) suggested a site adjacent to the rear of the park. County Secretary Peter Carey said the county council would consider match funding if a fundraising group was established. ELECTION PROMISE Thereafter nothing transpired. The matter lay dormant until the meeting of July 2004, when newly elected Fine Gael Town Councillor Orla Russell set about honouring an election promise to help establish a playground. The late Town Clerk Eric Flynn reiterated Mr. Carey’s advice. This time it was acted upon. A playground committee was formed and set about fundraising, with a flourish. The committee’s Hallowe’en parade fundraiser became one of the first such Halloween events in Ireland. Through many events, the committee raised €20,000, as Waterford County Council acquired further space from the Castle for the playground and a 50-space car park.The
€120,000 cost was reached with co-funding from the county council and the National Lottery and the playground was built. As an endorsement of local democracy the project was superb. INVITE AND INSULT Then pomposity and self-interest intervened. Bertie Ahern was in Waterford city on October 9th, 2006. With an election looming in 2007, the opportunity for political self-promotion was irresistible, not that Bertie Ahern was particularly renowned for his powers of resistance at any time He was ‘invited’ to open the playground officially.The invitation was not issued by the playground committee and it left its members raging and in some instances, reportedly in tears. Local dignitaries and media would be present. In a tactic more reminiscent of a North Korean dictator, children would be released from school for the occasion but, reflecting a new low in cynicism, would not be allowed into the playground as it had yet to be passed fit by health and safety officials! This was a photo opportunity for FF and the Supreme Ribbon Cutter. The children’s would be there to admire and adorn, not enjoy. Come the day, the ‘guests’ assembled at the playground to await the Great Handshaker.Yet, even as they stood and mingled, word was reaching the Taoiseach’s entourage that the entire playground committee was boycotting the event and that anger was rampant over blatant, parish pump level manipulation of the situation. Who was to say even that raw eggs, at least figuratively speaking, might not have fallen into the hands of the disillusioned? The official cere-
mony was abandoned and as he sped towards Lismore, the Taoiseach was relegated to ‘playground inspector.’ In the immediate aftermath of the shambles, two contrasting quotes epitomised the incoherency of the effort. “Despite heroic efforts, unfortunately the facility wasn’t ready in time”, said local FF councillor, Kevin Wilkinson. Displaying a greater realism, Co. Waterford Director of Services for Community and Enterprise, Brian White conceded that “the Taoiseach was aware of the feelings of some people and was very respectful of that.” LASTING CONTROVERSY The ramifications ran for weeks. The playground committee reiterated that they wanted a school child to open the playground once it was passed fit in November. They would have welcomed the Taoiseach to participate also had they been approached and had it been ready. Mr. White reminded that it was in the county council’s mandate to oversee the opening ceremony. At the November 2006 Town Council meeting playground committee member Cllr. John Campion said he had personally heard Lismore’s FF Mayor Helen O’Sullivan informally suggest to Town Clerk Eric Flynn at an SPC meeting that the Taoiseach perform the opening. She denied it. So did Mr. Flynn. Cllr. Campion called the mayor a liar and refused to withdraw the remark. Suspicions circled that FF TD, Ollie Wilkinson had instigated the entire ceremony initiative, with a letter from Mr. White to Cllr. Russell surfacing in which he referred to Deputy Wilkinson’s approach to An Taoiseach. Its full significance would remain
unknown because Deputy Wilkinson, when contacted at his Dáil office, declined much comment on the issue, alleged the inquiry was “only to stir up trouble” and hung up. Cllr. Ahearne tabled a meeting at December’s meeting calling for the allegation to be withdrawn. Cllr. Campion agreed to apologise “for the unruly behaviour” but “would not “withdraw anything” and frankly would “swear on the Bible, take a lie detector, undergo hypnosis and even take a truth serum if it existed!” Cllr. Jimmy O’Gorman (FF) requested an adjournment, supported from his party colleagues Cllrs. O’Sullivan, Leddy and Ahearne. Cllrs. Campion and Russell voted against and Cllrs. Whelan (FG) and Rotte (Lab) abstained. The meeting was adjourned. Everyone went home and the Christmas seemingly spirit kicked in. Come January, the matter was never mentioned and was never referenced in the chamber again. HAPPY ENDING Meanwhile, on Saturday April 7th, 2007, Sarah Crowley reached the pinnacle of every four year-old’s dream. Her excitement growing throughout the preceding week, she had been up since 6 am that morning, her mum reported. Now, sporting a new haircut, a pink dress and the widest smile in Lismore, Sarah would officially open Lismore playground. She cut the ribbon. Grown-ups, wisely, stood back as a stampede of young bodies thrilled across the gleaming soft surface. Amidst bright colours, sunshine and music, the laughter, the shrieks, the sharing and the sheer joy of youthfulness were palpable. A child opening a playground – a proper first preference.
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