A Different View with Dave O’Connell

Back in the early 1980’s, in Rathmines’ College of Commerce supposedly training to be a journalist, a few of us spent as much time in the nearby snooker hall as we did in shorthand class.

There was a jukebox in the snooker hall, boasting all the big bands and artists of the time – the Police, Squeeze, Madness, the Specials, the Jam, Joe Jackson – but in that mix there was only one record that I used my few bob to play over and over again.

So much so that, when they updated the selection with the next batch of big hits, the people in the snooker hall gave me the copy of the single.

It was a song called Molly, the first single from Johnny Duhan’s eponymously titled debut album. I still have it in my collection.

I was a fan of Johnny Duhan’s music before we ever became friends; that was over 40 years ago. And it’s hard to believe that there will be no more long chats or lunches after his tragic death on Galway Bay.

Not long after I came to work in the Tribune in 1983, the decision was taken to relaunch the city edition as a new paper – the Galway City Tribune – and the editor Mike Glynn was willing to entertain anything that gave it a fresh image or an edge.

I was always going on about Johnny Duhan and his music, so Mike put it up to me: “Go and talk to him for a spread in the paper.”

Mike has forgotten more about music than most of us ever knew in the first place, and he was also intimately familiar with so much of Johnny’s backstory, particularly the story of Granny’s Intentions and their big hit album Honest Injun, for a start.

So he knew it might make for a good piece, albeit left in the hands of a rookie reporter.

Johnny was living in Sandyvale Lawns at the time, and we arranged to meet in the old Rendezvous pub beside Galway Shopping Centre – for the first of what turned out to be hundreds of cups of coffee over the next forty years.

I must have taken up most of his day, but his story was fascinating – the teenage frontman of the first Irish band to score a top ten album in the UK; rubbing shoulders with the stars; the break-up of the band; back to Ireland, living in a flat with Phil Lynott; the record deal that should have catapulted him to solo fame before the rug was pulled from under him.

And that debut solo album that stands the test of time.

There have been almost 1,700 convictions for burglary recorded in Galway over the past four and half years – or almost exactly one every single day of the year over the past four and a half years.

That’s according to Galway West TD Noel Grealish, but he warned that the odds on getting caught would seem to have done little to stop the offenders.

That’s why he has demanded that the next Government must seriously tackle the issue of crime and the justice system in Ireland to prevent serial offenders committing crime after crime with little consequences.

And, he added, it must also take a serious look at the €76m a year bill for free legal aid – much of it being spent on the defence of career criminals – as well as the number of offences committed by people out on bail, and the increasing number of offenders simply ignoring and not paying fines imposed by the courts, he said.

“Since the start of this decade, we have had 1,644 burglary convictions in the courts for crimes committed in the Galway Garda Division.  That’s almost exactly one every single day of the year over the past four and a half years,” he said.

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With International Men’s Day taking place this week, DENISE McNAMARA met with one Galway psychotherapist to discover that more males than ever are seeking help to deal with life’s challenges.

Psychotherapist Mary Lynn spent the earlier part of her practice in sessions with female clients and delivering programmes aimed at menopausal women or those experiencing a midlife crisis.

But more and more men began to reach out, looking for help in dealing with life’s challenges.

After she retrained and became a psychotherapist eight years ago, she worked with the non-profit counselling service Let’s Get Talking.

She had only one male client. Now in her private practice, up to 40% are male, with lengthy waiting lists to attend sessions at her rooms at the Druid Building on Flood Street in the heart of the city.

It is clear there is a big gap in services for males who are feeling increasingly marginalised.

“There is a lot of anxiety and depression and confusion about identity. Many men I see just seem to find it hard to see where they belong, where they fit in at work, at home. It’s something that [President-elect Donald] Trump has tuned into – young white males and men in midlife who feel forgotten about,” she reflects.

“Men’s mental health is clearly a serious societal issue that needs to be addressed. Every three in four suicides are men and suicide issues among young men has risen by 40% since 2010. Following Covid 19, 51% of Irish men said their mental health has been negatively affected by restrictions and lockdown.”

Young men are strongly influenced by their peers and controversial online influencers such as Andrew Tate rather than parents.

Many are more concerned about getting bigger and bulking up than what is going on emotionally, believes Mary. They are dropping out of college and school at a far higher rate than girls.

“When it comes to men in their mid-forties, I’m finding that a lot of them are leaving jobs they may have had for years. Whatever motivated them when they were younger is no longer motivating them.

“Meanwhile many women are gearing up their careers as their kids get older. If men are used to being the breadwinner, that throws up all sorts of issues and struggles.

“Most women are better at socialising, speaking to each other, carving out time for a coffee, a walk. But men are just not as good at doing that. And if they’re working from home they may feel very cut off from other people.

“The number one cause of anxiety and depression is loneliness.”

Therapy – once regarded as an American phenomenon – is proving to be one effective avenue for help. It offers a non-judgemental safe space where they can examine their past, present and future.

“It’s not just about looking at your childhood stuff, but this is important to work out if we’re following the same patterns. It’s a place they can question and reason and work through decisions. Choice is wonderful but it also brings anxiety. This is the one life we have, and it can be hard to get to the right decision.”

The native of Ballina, Co Mayo, knows all about making tough decisions.

Pictured: Psychotherapist Mary Lynn

THE country’s largest farming organisation has this week launched an appeal for ‘young blood’ to get involved in decision making processes impacting on agriculture over the coming years and decades.

IFA’s ‘Ready to Lead 2025’ national programme is due to run over six days, starting from early next year, with younger members of the association asked to get involved.

The diverse programme will include such areas as leadership, communications, policy, IFA’s involvement with the likes of Bord Bia, ICBF and Ornua; politics and lobbying, as well as a two-day look at the importance of the EU to Irish farming.

Galway-Mayo IFA Regional Executive, Roy O’Brien, told the Farming Tribune that like every organisation, the IFA needed young people to get involved, who over the coming years, would be the new leaders and policy drivers within the association.

“This training progamme has now been expanded to six days with selection based on an interview process. We would encourage any younger member of the IFA, if they are interested, to apply online, for possible inclusion in this national programme,” said Roy O’Brien.

IFA President Francie Gorman said that the enduring strength of any organisation depended on its ability to introduce new blood into the decision-making process.

“Speaking from experience, I can say it is very rewarding to get involved outside the farmgate. The ethos of IFA for the last seven decades has been farmers representing their fellow farmers.

“We are hoping that this initiative will entice new farmers to take on leadership roles. I want to acknowledge the support of FBD Trust and IFA Farm Business Skillnet in making this happen,” said Francis Gorman.

He added that this programme would be for young farmers with an interest in agri policy who would give a commitment to serving on one of the National Committees of IFA for at least a two-year period.

Chair of FBD Trust Michael Berkery said that the importance of an independent, strong and effective national organisation for farmers was vital in addressing the challenges facing the next generation of farm families.

“This programme is targeted at dynamic and progressive potential leaders and is an investment in both their future and future of the farming sector,” he said.

IFA Deputy President, Alice Doyle, who is Chair of the IFA Farm Business Skillnet Committee, said the six-day programme through 2025 would be ‘a wonderful opportunity for young people to shape future policy’.

“IFA is built on communities around the country coming together to form a unified and democratic voice for farmers. We are looking forward to bringing forward enthusiastic candidates who have a passion for farming,” she said.

Pictured: Galway-Mayo IFA Regional Executive, Roy O’Brien

DNG Martin O’Connor Estate Agents are delighted to offer for sale by Private Treaty a delightful three bedroom residence with large garage located in the heart of Rosscahill village.

Constructed in the mid 1980’s the accommodation consists of an entrance hall, living room, kitchen dining room, utility room, large sunroom, three double bedrooms and a family bathroom together with a spacious attic.

The property extending to c. 0.88 acres is a splendid site enjoying a lovely south west aspect with a large lawn area to the front surrounded by mature shrubbery and enclosed by limestone walls. The patio area extends across the rear of the house while a pergola walk way leads to a large orchard.

The property captures excellent sunlight and has huge potential to be transformed into a fabulous starter family home or downsizing property.

Within a short walk of the national school with street lighting footpath, which provides an excellent route to the local woods which is an excellent amenity. Killannin GAA fields, the local church and the community centre are all within a mile of the property.

Located midway between Oughterard and Moycullen the property provides easy access to the city.

To arrange a viewing of this fine property please contact the sole selling agents DNG Martin O’Connor on 091 866708.

Price €375,000