Carlow News

Only 11 out of 7000 foreigners have been enrolled on Garda trainings in the last 3 years. The first tests selected about 200 people, however, the following ones decreased the number to 11. After the end-of-academic-year ceremony in Garda College (Templemore, Co. Tipperary), superiors informed about adverse results of such a situation and declared actions aiming at increasing the number of foreigners as Garda officers. They also emphasized the importance of adjusting the choice of new Gardai to the changing cultural structure of the society.

"Irish Examiner" reports that Ireland’s working weeks are the longest while there are fewest national holidays, according to a report from European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Paid 20-day leave is also one of the shortest in Europe.

According to Onet.pl, the project concerning the opening of the Polish borders to Eastern immigrants is developing and it will probably be enforced next year. “There will be a system set up which will give points for knowledge of the Polish language and Poland’s history as well as ethnic relations with the new homeland. Young people are preferred i.e. those who can have children in Poland in the near future. Professional skills will be another but less important factor,” according to Dziennik. The idea of giving points and determining “who will be a better Pole” seems to be ill-advised. Sadly, it is easier to welcome other Eastern-Europeans for whom Poland is as attractive as Ireland for Poles than improve the conditions and attract the Polish emigrants back who have left the country.

1216 Poles are currently living in Carlow, according to The Nationalist. We are the second largest national minority after a combined group of the English and Welsh. It seems, however, that the number of Poles presented by the local weekly newspaper is a bit understated.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the English title of the latest Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling about not-so-young-anymore wizard. The premiere took place last Saturday (21st July, 2007) a minute after midnight. The worldwide interest could also be noticed in Carlow where the first queues appeared at 10 p.m.

According to The Nationalist, JJ Kavanagh & Sons is planning to open special Waterford-Dublin Airport connections for the summertime. Thus, people, majority of whom are emigrants, won’t have to wait all night at the airport for their flights. Although the new connections are still not mentioned on the JJ Kavanagh & Sons website, the times of the buses going from Carlow to the airport and back are already known. The buses will be leaving from Deane’s Shop in Barrack Street at 2.30 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. The buses from the airport to Waterford (via Carlow) will be leaving at 0.30 a.m.

According to Gazeta.pl, over 1389 people living and working in Britain and Ireland intend to stay abroad permanently or for at least 5 – 10 years. Amongst those who wish to return to their home country, some constantly put off their return. Low wages in Poland are the main reason why people choose to stay abroad for longer or permanently. The entire article can be found here: Gazeta.pl:
http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/
Wiadomosci/1,80273,4286742.html

The sign of the Polish pub was hanging next to Nancy Whiskey’s pub for a few days already. Its official opening however was planned for Friday, 29th June. On that day, a few hours before the ceremony, the room, which so far was part of Nancy Whiskey’s, started to change itself into the Polish pub. Polish elements decorated the interior (amongst others were posters, a picture of Daniel Olbrychski as Kmicic) as well as Polish flags inside and by the entrance. Although the staff was well prepared for a large number of customers, the reality surpassed their expectations. The pub was bursting at the seams inside and in the smoking area outside. Some people had to stay outside, near the pub’s entrance. At 8 p.m. the venue was still fairly empty; the hot party only started at 9 p.m. Customers were served with Polish tap beer, cold snacks while Polish DJ Arab was heating up the atmosphere. The Polish staff, Iza, Dorota and Bartek, had a very difficult task as they were kept busy until the very end.
The pictures of the opening are available on Carlow.pl at:http://www.carlow.pl/image/tid/42

Gangs of juveniles terrorize residents in the Croppy Grave area. According to The Nationalist, the situation in Graiguencullen is getting out of control. Noise, screams, loud music, drinking and possibly drug dealing are becoming a routine for the residents around the insurgents’ grave from 1798. Some houses have already been broken into, one burglary was arranged by two girls. The residents demand more street lamps and a gate preventing any unfamiliar cars from entering the housing estate.

Next Friday (22nd June), the first Polish pub called ‘Kmicic’ will be opened as part of Nancy Whiskeys in the Haymarket. The regular and popular Polish nights organised in Nancy Whiskeys for the last two months have led to setting up the Polish pub. The owner says there will be Polish beer, TV, music and Polish parties (karaoke, concerts and discos). The Polish nights will continue to take place on Tuesdays as well as Fridays.