Social media video exposed despicable animal cruelty

I am not a fan of social media, as oftentimes videos emerge that are almost an invasion of people’s privacy. Usually, they feature someone – probably the worse for wear after consuming too much alcohol and unaware that their actions are being filmed –making a complete ass of themselves. No harm in that, until some so-called friend posts it all over the Internet and causes untold embarrassment and shame to the poor idiot.

Thank God there was no social media back in our day or we too would have had plenty of reasons to want a hole to open up and swallow us.

However, sometimes a video can actually have a positive effect. This week a video of appalling cruelty to a donkey, near Edenderry, has led to a Garda operation which saw seven donkeys being seized by the authorities. The video, which showed a white donkey being dragged along behind a car, with a rope tied around its neck, is both horrifying and upsetting. It begs the question how anyone could do such a terrible thing.

And finally…

Thankfully it led to the donkey in question and six others being rescued from whoever inflicted such cruelty on an innocent animal. I can only hope the Gardaí can prosecute the perpetrator and make him or her pay dearly for their despicable act.

It has often been said that people who mind and look after animals, and treat them with kindness, are usually good to humans as well. I wonder what sort of person did that to a helpless donkey?

morning, six days after our arrival at the ED, we have just done the repeat journey and our patient is safely back in Crosswell.

As we reflect on the experience, the overriding feeling is that the staff are being hugely stressed under the pressure of the enormous numbers that are presenting themselves at our emergency departments. There can be no doubt that the health service is almost at breaking point.

However, on the plus side, the doctors and nurses are, as a rule, remarkably resilient. Even though their working conditions are in some instances atrocious, they continue to provide the best possible care to their patients. All they need is the support of the Government and for the necessary resources to be put in place. However, as that has been the case for decades, we won’t hold our breath.

In Creggs, we have just had a rugby weekend that has to rank with any of those we have enjoyed since our club’s foundation way back in the 1970s.

On Saturday night, in front of the biggest crowd I have ever seen at a match in Creggs, our first team finally got the better (after trying for 30 years) of the holders of the Junior Cup, the formidable Connemara All Blacks, our lads winning a rip-roaring quarter-final by 14 points to 12. Then on Sunday, in front of another great crowd, the seconds won their semi-final with a comprehensive win over Our Lady’s Boys Club from Galway. So both teams have something to look forward to. Of course, as we all know, nothing is won until you actually have the cup (although Kilmacud Crokes might yet find that even that can sometimes be wrong).

Anyway, it was an amazing weekend, and the buzz around the village reminded me of old times. What it will be like if we win a cup or two I can only imagine. I’m not keen to mention any individuals, but it was a special day for Luke Meehan, who, having missed the last 16 months through injury, marked his comeback with not one, but two tries. He told me to write that…so if you see him, make sure he gets to read it! You owe me a pint, Luke!