Around Ireland Ancient giant found in bog

By Stephen McKinley

A giant was uncovered from marshy ground at Sleaty, Derrymoyle on the Carlow/Laois border — a giant deer, that is, according to the Carlow Nationalist. The huge antlers and skull come to light as Sean Kearns was digging out a duck pond. The Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin owns the land.

Back from the dead

Two sisters who thought their brother Patrick had died 50 years previously found out that he was in fact still alive. Patrick Joseph Bird, formerly of North Road, Drogheda, but now living in Australia, immigrated in 1949, first to England, and then to Australia, where he finally settled. Recently, he wrote to the Drogheda Independent newspaper, appealing for any information on surviving relatives. Needless to say, Patrick is excitedly planning his first trip home to see his two remaining sisters, Kitty Shaw and Rose McGovern.

Rail good news

The Limerick-Ballybrophy line will be upgraded in 2003, after a fruitful meeting been the Nenagh district council and Minister for Public Enterprise Mary O’Rourke. The minister said that the overall project will eventually provide efficient commuting between Limerick and Dublin via Ballybrophy, according to the Nenagh Guardian.

Westmeath story?

The Westmeath Examiner reports that Belvedere House and Gardens may be used for a period movie about the Earl of Rochfort’s imprisonment of his wife, Mary, and his jealousy of his brother, which led to the construction of the folly affectionately known as the "Jealous Wall" in the 18th century. Dublin studio Doghouse Productions is said to be interested.

Immigrant surge

More than 336,000 immigrants will pile into Ireland in the next six years, according to a government report highlighted by several national papers. The immigrants are expected to be a mix of returning Irish people from the U.S. and elsewhere, or highly skilled workers attracted by Ireland’s tech boom, and the infamous, still-roaming Celtic Tiger.

Critical but stable

A Milltown, Co. Cork, girl is critical but stable after a bizarre bus accident as she traveled home from school with friends. Bernadette Nelson and three friends fell out the back window of the bus. The three others weren’t seriously injured, but Bernadette was transferred to Dublin for further treatment, according to the Southern Star. Local TD Ulick Burke called for all schoolbuses to be examined for safety features. He also suggested that groups of 20 or more school children ought to be supervised by more than just one busy bus driver.

Tuam Gardai celebrate

It was champagne all round for 12 Tuam police officers, who shared a £1 million lottery win (about $1.2 million) last week, according to the Tuam Herald. The 12 traveled to collect the winnings in Dublin – individual checks for £87,000.

"Last week when we got the news first that we had won, we all celebrated with glasses of orange juice because we were back on duty the next morning," said Garda Mick Melvin who is treasurer of the syndicate.

Death of a sportsman

All Ireland mourned last week after the tragic deaths of racing car driver Bertie Fisher and his son and daughter in a helicopter crash in County Fermanagh. Fisher, who had been piloting the craft, was unconscious for three days after the crash, but his son and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. His wife and another son are both still critically ill in hospital. Fisher was an extremely popular sportsman who won the Circuit of Ireland rally three times, and employed over 150 people in his Fermanagh engineering works.