Apparently, RTE radio carried a feature on Miltown Malbay this morning. It is ... wait for it ... to become an e Town. Full broadband connectivity, special deals for those who wish to set up e commerce businesses etc.
I quote "At Miltown Malbay it will consist of a 240,000 sq. ft. development of a 2.2 acre site. Twelve residential homes along with individual workspace units are being constructed on the site. House areas will range in size from 1,291 sq. ft. to 1,484 sq. ft. with a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses. Each house is being fitted to the highest specification. Purchasers of the residential units have the option to either incorporate the workspace unit within their home, or acquire a work space unit detached from their private residence" Four million Euro going into the project.
Now, I don't know about you .. but when I think about Miltown it seems about as far from being an e town in Ireland as it gets! A fairly sleepy, mildly 'rundown' in a nice sort of way place that gets overrun once a year by loads of folks tapping their feet. You see old fellas wandering in on ancient Massey Ferguson and Ford tractors. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for it, a slice of real Irish life where people have time to stop and chat. But the yobos that run this country and blag on about the Celtic Tiger and its wonderful benefits now want the tigers claws to extend down into Miltown. You see, yous are all having too good a time of it down there, lazing about .. playing a few tunes. Get off yer bums and generate some dosh for the greater glory of the Gross National Product ... that seems to be the angle. Whadyou think?
Yep, you have to live there all year looong - lucky 'b......', but shouldn't yous be suffering a bit for it, eh!!!
Development is all very well, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!! Sometimes its hard to undo these things.
Come on! Let's form an orderly queue there now.. women & children first (better keepers of tradition)
Only joking of course .. who would live in west Clare in winter on those grey, windswept, rainlashed days that pass for weeks!
In fairness, I don't think that having broadband will change a trad music week too much. MM isn't so remote that they don't have "d'telly" and such other crazy modern forms of technology. Like everywhere else with phone lines, dial-up internet can be achieved... to me it's just going to mean that they're going to get faster connection speeds on something they already have.
I can't understand why broadband coverage in the free state is still so terrible. It's really unfair for everyone who wants to avail of broadband internet, but can't get it, as someone, somewhere has made a massive balls up of sorting out 100% coverage. We even supposedly have 100% coverage up in "d'black nort'!".
As I say, I can't see it having much negative effects on the WC music week, but will allow the locals to finally avail of broadband internet all year round, which they are entitled to, and a good kick up the arse should be given to whoever's incharge of sorting out 100% in the rest of the free state, so we can have a full 100% broadband coverage in all of Ireland, not just up here in the north... it's only fair.
Yes let's let's stick with the old place, acoustics like a dungeon, toilets not cleaned since the very first Willie week, dampness dripping off the walls, freezing cold in winter (but're never there then are you?). Why would you want a concertstage with rooms where people playing can wait and tune their instruments, have decent facilities for recording, theatre productions out of season etc it's so nice and exotic as it is now. For the one week each year. I mean it's a community centre: a year round facility, not a place where tourists can slum it for one week and get a bit of the mouldy smell of ye olde ireland for fecksake.
Your're quite right Kilfarboy, of course. But the times .. they are a changing all the time. As long as the changes and 'developments' are community driven, I'm sure its for the best.
It's just that I always get a bit uneasy when large sums of cash are involved in improving things that weren't really broken in the first place, if you know what I mean.
What sort of housing estates are being built in Miltown - if they're for people to live in and work locally - I'm sure that's par for the course. Hopefully not Holiday House parks - too many of these in rural coastal Ireland - blight of all blights. And before someone says they'll provide extra rooms in Willie week, what's wrong with good 'ol camping - much less impact on the environment.
Well, holiday homes as well as the stuff developers do: 40 to 80 identical houses dumped in a field. If you know Inagh or Kilmaley you know the deal. The triangle between the Ennis and Mullagh Roads will be filled up soon enough but there a 40 or 50 houses have gone up on the Ballard road, near the cemetary as well.
In itself another reason to improve the local infrastructure although overall I agree it's a shame. Progress I suppsoe.
Let´s not forget that an increase in population means more prosperity for local shopkeepers, bar owners and a whole range of service providers.........including photographers, Peter !
In Ireland things generally get ruined by locals, not outsiders. Locals bought the land in Doolin and built the holiday ghettos, and made a super-star out of a local cave. It's the Clare council that put up the mega-center at the cliffs, not the germans or the Yanks. Just cause it's local don't mean it's good. Plenty of of local yoiks are in it for the quick buck and to hell with the culchah.
Things change. Maybe Miltown is seeing the last of The Good Old Days... but they're happening somewhere else as we speak, in a place we probably don't know about.
Anyways, MM musicians are a generally pretty smug bunch altogether.
natch, you're right, kilfarboy, but.......i loved the wood paneling and the yellow-and-blue paint and the lacqured wooden counter at the coffee bar window where the healys would be bustling about with the kettles and the china tea mugs and how after the show was over the little sliding door to the coffee bar window would be shut with all the empty tea mugs sitting forlornly on the counter......and how you could take your tea mug into the hall and tap your foot on the woden gym floor to whoever was playing on stage beneath the "west clare boxing champions of 1983" banner that crowned the proscenium.....
Gosh Edel,
I certainly meant no offence to Miltown or it’s inhabitants, I’m quite fond of the town as it is. I was commenting slightly tongue in cheek above. The wind up is well established here.
I’m also fond of my local village in a corner of Co.Wexford – a village that is being sacrificed on the altar of this new greed for property that is rampant in Ireland. Housing schemes, where there were once fine meadows, not for the needs of local people by and large but to satisfy the ‘buy to rent’ crowd that are everywhere now.
Not a great future in prospect and not a great future I suggest for trad. music in this country. All the best,
Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Apparently, RTE radio carried a feature on Miltown Malbay this morning. It is ... wait for it ... to become an e Town. Full broadband connectivity, special deals for those who wish to set up e commerce businesses etc.
I quote "At Miltown Malbay it will consist of a 240,000 sq. ft. development of a 2.2 acre site. Twelve residential homes along with individual workspace units are being constructed on the site. House areas will range in size from 1,291 sq. ft. to 1,484 sq. ft. with a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses. Each house is being fitted to the highest specification. Purchasers of the residential units have the option to either incorporate the workspace unit within their home, or acquire a work space unit detached from their private residence" Four million Euro going into the project.
Now, I don't know about you .. but when I think about Miltown it seems about as far from being an e town in Ireland as it gets! A fairly sleepy, mildly 'rundown' in a nice sort of way place that gets overrun once a year by loads of folks tapping their feet. You see old fellas wandering in on ancient Massey Ferguson and Ford tractors. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for it, a slice of real Irish life where people have time to stop and chat. But the yobos that run this country and blag on about the Celtic Tiger and its wonderful benefits now want the tigers claws to extend down into Miltown. You see, yous are all having too good a time of it down there, lazing about .. playing a few tunes. Get off yer bums and generate some dosh for the greater glory of the Gross National Product ... that seems to be the angle. Whadyou think?
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Wait until you see the new community centre
By the way, most of you arrive here for the one week, we're here all year and the e-town is a local initiative.
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Yep, you have to live there all year looong - lucky 'b......', but shouldn't yous be suffering a bit for it, eh!!!
Development is all very well, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater!! Sometimes its hard to undo these things.
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Well, it's nothing to me, although broadband would be nice, but it is a local initiative, not something from outside. Just t omake that clear.
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
I just heard a radio advert for it!! http://www.etowns.ie
So all you folks across the water, can 'up sticks' and move to Miltown for a song!
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Come on! Let's form an orderly queue there now.. women & children first (better keepers of tradition)
Only joking of course .. who would live in west Clare in winter on those grey, windswept, rainlashed days that pass for weeks!
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Good God,
this place is definitely very dead these days!! I'm off now myself - last one, turn out the lights, will ya.
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
In fairness, I don't think that having broadband will change a trad music week too much. MM isn't so remote that they don't have "d'telly" and such other crazy modern forms of technology. Like everywhere else with phone lines, dial-up internet can be achieved... to me it's just going to mean that they're going to get faster connection speeds on something they already have.
I can't understand why broadband coverage in the free state is still so terrible. It's really unfair for everyone who wants to avail of broadband internet, but can't get it, as someone, somewhere has made a massive balls up of sorting out 100% coverage. We even supposedly have 100% coverage up in "d'black nort'!".
As I say, I can't see it having much negative effects on the WC music week, but will allow the locals to finally avail of broadband internet all year round, which they are entitled to, and a good kick up the arse should be given to whoever's incharge of sorting out 100% in the rest of the free state, so we can have a full 100% broadband coverage in all of Ireland, not just up here in the north... it's only fair.
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by Murrough
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
I'd be more worried about the new housing estates going up around Miltown.
And what about that new community centre with a purpose built theatre to accomodate Willie week concerts?
Mullagh telephone exchange was enabled for broadband two years ago and the Mullagh area got their broadband a year ago.
But it's friday and I can still make it to Friel's to play with Jackie Daly and Edel Fox. Bye now
# Posted on October 27th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
say it ain't so......i'm not anti-progress, but i loved the old community center with the concerts in the gym....i can't face this.....
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by ceemonster
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Yes let's let's stick with the old place, acoustics like a dungeon, toilets not cleaned since the very first Willie week, dampness dripping off the walls, freezing cold in winter (but're never there then are you?). Why would you want a concertstage with rooms where people playing can wait and tune their instruments, have decent facilities for recording, theatre productions out of season etc it's so nice and exotic as it is now. For the one week each year. I mean it's a community centre: a year round facility, not a place where tourists can slum it for one week and get a bit of the mouldy smell of ye olde ireland for fecksake.
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Your're quite right Kilfarboy, of course. But the times .. they are a changing all the time. As long as the changes and 'developments' are community driven, I'm sure its for the best.
It's just that I always get a bit uneasy when large sums of cash are involved in improving things that weren't really broken in the first place, if you know what I mean.
What sort of housing estates are being built in Miltown - if they're for people to live in and work locally - I'm sure that's par for the course. Hopefully not Holiday House parks - too many of these in rural coastal Ireland - blight of all blights. And before someone says they'll provide extra rooms in Willie week, what's wrong with good 'ol camping - much less impact on the environment.
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Well, holiday homes as well as the stuff developers do: 40 to 80 identical houses dumped in a field. If you know Inagh or Kilmaley you know the deal. The triangle between the Ennis and Mullagh Roads will be filled up soon enough but there a 40 or 50 houses have gone up on the Ballard road, near the cemetary as well.
In itself another reason to improve the local infrastructure although overall I agree it's a shame. Progress I suppsoe.
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Let´s not forget that an increase in population means more prosperity for local shopkeepers, bar owners and a whole range of service providers.........including photographers, Peter !
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by murfbox
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
In Ireland things generally get ruined by locals, not outsiders. Locals bought the land in Doolin and built the holiday ghettos, and made a super-star out of a local cave. It's the Clare council that put up the mega-center at the cliffs, not the germans or the Yanks. Just cause it's local don't mean it's good. Plenty of of local yoiks are in it for the quick buck and to hell with the culchah.
Things change. Maybe Miltown is seeing the last of The Good Old Days... but they're happening somewhere else as we speak, in a place we probably don't know about.
Anyways, MM musicians are a generally pretty smug bunch altogether.
# Posted on October 28th 2006 by David Levine
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
natch, you're right, kilfarboy, but.......i loved the wood paneling and the yellow-and-blue paint and the lacqured wooden counter at the coffee bar window where the healys would be bustling about with the kettles and the china tea mugs and how after the show was over the little sliding door to the coffee bar window would be shut with all the empty tea mugs sitting forlornly on the counter......and how you could take your tea mug into the hall and tap your foot on the woden gym floor to whoever was playing on stage beneath the "west clare boxing champions of 1983" banner that crowned the proscenium.....
# Posted on October 29th 2006 by ceemonster
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
As a Miltown girl, I resent "the wounded hussar's" comments about my lovely home town!
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by edelfox
Re: Miltown gets wired for Willie Week
Gosh Edel,
I certainly meant no offence to Miltown or it’s inhabitants, I’m quite fond of the town as it is. I was commenting slightly tongue in cheek above. The wind up is well established here.
I’m also fond of my local village in a corner of Co.Wexford – a village that is being sacrificed on the altar of this new greed for property that is rampant in Ireland. Housing schemes, where there were once fine meadows, not for the needs of local people by and large but to satisfy the ‘buy to rent’ crowd that are everywhere now.
Not a great future in prospect and not a great future I suggest for trad. music in this country. All the best,
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by the wounded hussar