Around Ireland Jello not so mellow

By Patrick Markey

Doubts about local water quality are usually sparked by off-shades of color, lead in the supply or even problems in the reservoir. But residents in Mallow, Cork, seem to have more solid evidence that their water supply is not what it should be, reports the Corkman newspaper.

Local council members were alarmed to hear reports that the water near Mallow turns to jelly if left over night. Said councilor Gerard Healy: Don’t tell me that that’s good water, it’s safe water, but the taste of it — if someone called you wouldn’t want to give them a cup of tea."

Complained another councilor who brought in a sample of the liquid in a bottle: "If you left that water over night half of it would be turned to jelly. We have to find out what is going wrong."

Management officials have assured the council that the water is safe and that the problem originates from the River Clyda. Investigations are currently under way to search out the source of the problem

Mowlam slumber

Jimmy O’Donovan probably didn’t know what hit him.

But at least the 16-year-old Cork secondary student will never forget the day he met secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Dr. Mo Mowlam, reports the Belfast Telegraph.

O’Donovan got a rude awakening when he fell asleep as the Northern Ireland secretary was addressing a National Youth Conference on Reconciliation at the Granary Theatre.

As important as the guest was, O’Donovan was unfortunate enough to be sitting within arm’s reach of Mowlam when he slipped into a slumber. She spotted him, turned around, tugged his sleeve and asked him straight out: "Are you bored?" The audience erupted in laughter as did young Jimmy.

Mowlam was on an Irish tour and gave a speech at the theater followed by a question and answer session. Hands shot up all over. But the first question she took was from O’Donovan.

"OK, Jimmy, it has to be you," she said with a flourish to the young student, and added: "I’m sorry I abused you."

Beanie mania

In the run up to Christmas, a transAtlantic scramble has sparked for the seasonal favorite, Beanie Babies, reports the Derry Journal.

As stocks of the cuddly toy dwindle in the United States, shops in Ireland are finding customers buying the £5.99 babies and selling them over the Atlantic for up to $1,000. The toys which are based on nationalities — Britannia, Erin, Liberty and Maple — and are now hard to get in the US. One Derry shop owner said that the demand for the Britannia toy, which is made only in the UK, is so high that shoppers can only snap one of those models up if they spend £100 for the other range of babies.

One businessman reported that nine out of 10 babies bought in Derry is destined for United States,

"It is usually only people who have been to America and seen the demand who come looking for them. From reports I have heard they are guaranteed a huge profit," the businessman said.

Flushed away

Letterkenny officials had hoped it would be a shining example, a symbol of downtown modernity. But it seems, the town’s new, high-powered public toilets are not so flush with success.

When the town installed the plush toilets, local officials thought the facilities would attract visitors from miles around, according to the Milford Tirconnail Tribune. Apparently not.

Revenue from the mechanized, perfumed, automatic toilet is very small, according to local councilors Tadg Culbert, Jimmy Harte and Sean Maloney. People are just not using this place and nobody knows why. The town engineer said the facilities were sign posted. Three signs have been erected to direct subscribers to the site but seem to be having little effect.