Carlow Castle - the example of indolence and incompetence of Carlow Council

In the latest issue of Carlow leading newspaper - The Nationalist - there was an article about the Carlow Castle issue. One of the biggest tourist attractions of the town has been left without proper tourist facilities (car park, easy access to the site), covered with litter and in darkness during the night. I have described Carlow Castle in one of me first posts on my Polish blog 2 years ago. I mentioned the large number of the broken bottles that were covering the yard (or interior of the building). It seems that Carlow Council noticed that 2 years after me. Also, they have noticed that there has not been lights in the Castle during the nights for the last 8 months. Indeed it is very hard to notice that because of the surrounding estates that were built up recently. This is the worst thing that Carlow Council could do to the castle. It is surrounded by a ugly modern estates that almost completely wiped out the castle from the town’s landscape. The castle is almost invisible to the newcomer - somebody who doesn’t know the town. The modern estates are placed too close to the castle that the surrounding around the ancient building are not attractive to the tourists at all. It seems that the Carlow chancellors have forgotten about the simple fact - the monument is not only the castle but its vicinity as well, and now - thanks to the Carlow Council - there is nor historical surrounding nor facilities for tourists around the castle.

I remember, it was only 2 years ago, while I was walking down the Graigcullen town’s park or walking down the Castle Street I could watch the beautiful shape of the castle but not any more. The parts that remained visible don’t help the overall ugly look of that part of Carlow town’s landscape.

Dear chancellors - it is a pity, but it is to late to cry. You did nothing when the land around the castle was sold out to the developers, you didn’t prevent the destroying of the town’s landscape and cutting off the castle from the living organism of the town. In my opinion The Carlow Council’s policy in that part of the town was as much devastating to the castle as the ideas of the mad doctor Middleton (who nearly completely destroyed almost untouched structure). The light won’t help much. The castle will remain abandoned by tourists.

It is obvious that Ireland needs more and more development and it is changing rapidly. I am just afraid that there is not too many people in charge who care about the Irish heritage. I wish you all not to wake up one day when you are not able to get back part of your soul that is being sold these days.

Chernobhaille? High radon radiation

Browsing the latest articles on Ireland on one Onet.eu - news portal dedicated for emigrants in Ireland and UK, I have came up against one interesting note. Ireland has a biggest in Europe natural emission of radon, a radioactive gas. It comes from the uranium or granite deposits located in some places in Ireland, but mostly in Wicklow Mountains and south part of county Kildare. Outside of the houses, gas can not do much harm, since it is quickly diffused by the wind and air, but inside the houses radon is called silent killer. Stay in the rooms with high radon concentration is very dangerous and it can cause lungs’ cancer. According to the Irish building regulations all the houses built after 1998 have to be radon proof in the degree equal radon concentration in the area, however it is hard to check all of the houses.

In fact, the high radon concentration in Leinster, especially around Carlow is proven in the most tragic way. New Oak estate in Carlow (behind the Tesco and Fairgreen Shopping Centre) has been the front page story for local newspaper - The Nationalist, due to the very high rate of cancer among the people who live over there. The latest estimates rose that number up to 35 people who had suffered from cancer throughout last decades.

kick it on kick.ie

Sole Trader

I am getting myself and my business sorted day by day. I got my business certificate and business account. Recently I have set up a new version of my business website. This time I based it on wordpress engine. Wordpress suits me fine and seems to be the best way to have a nice looking easy managing site, even having own webdesign and webdeveloping business. I think it is a good example especially in the discussion on e-business discussion mailing list that I have been signed up. Check it out: www.drakkart.com
Carlow.pl is getting better, and day by day there is more people familiar with it. I am after my first press release, that I sent to all local media. I got an instant answer from KCLR (Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio) and from The Nationalist (newspaper).
Now I am trying to find good examples of contracts for web design and advertising on the websites. Also I am preparing an introducing letter for Carlow Enterprise Board.

Dear readers involved in IT and similar matters - all your suggestions are very welcomed :)