Around Ireland: News from the 32 counties

By Patrick Markey

Waterford babies

The Waterford Crystal company is supplying the Millennium Ball to drop over New York City at the strike of midnight.

But the company is also providing a little something nearer to home.

According to the Munster Express, the last baby born before midnight on New Year’s Eve 1999 could become £10,000 richer, compliments of Waterford.

Recognizing the birth as a momentous occasion, the company will present the lucky parents with a £10,000 check toward the baby’s future. In total, £1,999 will go toward clothes, £1,999 toward education, £1,999 for savings, another £1,999 for baby products and £1,999 toward a holiday.

A crystal carousel worth £6,000 will also be presented to the proud parents, while the delivery team will be presented with a range of gifts from the Waterford Crystal Millennium Collection.

Expectant parents can only qualify, however, if they register the birth by calling toll-free 1 (800) 232-434. The line will be open on Dec. 31, 1999 and Jan. 1, 2000.

Kerry crackdown

This year saw a huge boom in the number of cell-phone users. But it is a development that Kerry County Council have meet with less enthusiasm than most.

The Kerryman newspaper reported recently that the council held a debate on the prohibition of mobile phones in the council chambers. But the discussion was interrupted — by three council members excusing themselves to receive calls during the meeting.

Nevertheless, the motion was passed, ending the echo of mobiles ringing through the chamber halls. Council members will now be asked to switch off their cell phones before entering a meeting.

Fine Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan raised the issue, complaining that the recent meetings were disrupted by the constant ringing.

"I suggest we turn them off. It’s unfair on everybody that meetings should be disrupted. It’s a bad indication on how we do our business," Deenihan said.

But others were less concerned with the phones than with Deenihan himself. Fianna Fáil Councilor Brian O’Leary suggested that the existing system should continue.

"We have heard more noise from Jimmy Deenihan than we have from mobile phones," O’Leary said.

A further suggestion that councilors be equipped with vibrating mobile phones met with amused chuckles.

Begging Frankie

Jack Bourke is not a happy man.

The mayor of Limerick, Bourke said he feels one of the city’s own sons should be doing more to help them out — particularly when it comes to movie premiers.

The Limerick Post reports Bourke has urged "Angela’s Ashes" author Frank McCourt to use his influence to have the Irish premier of the film adaptation staged in the city, instead of in Dublin. The world premiere took place in Washington, D.C.

In a letter to the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Bourke expressed disappointment that neither he nor any of his Limerick Council colleagues had received invitations to either of the premieres.

"For the Irish premiere, I want to make a special request that you use your undoubted influence to bring this event to your native city," the mayor wrote, referring to Limerick’s hotels, nearby international airport and other facilities.

Only two other premiers had taken place in the city: Richard Harris’s world premiere of "Bloomfield" and Maureen O’Hara’s "Only the Lonely."

"Frank, please give my request and suggestions serious consideration," he wrote.

"The staging of the film premiere of your world-famous Pulitzer Prize-winning book would be an enormous plus for your native city and would be a source of colossal pride for the people of Limerick and Ireland."