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Post by tommyhetherington on Feb 28, 2010 16:46:26 GMT
Hi Matt and all, Where to start is hard but here goes,I remember my Dad talking to be in around the time he left the Army and he saying his position had now changed as he was now an over-holder.From here a number of events happened Firstly he checked his position with kildare Co Council as he had his name with them for some time, they had lost his details and he began again all seemed ok for now. A few years later the Dept of Defence contacted all overholders in the Camp and said they would have to vacate all Married Quarters, a protest was lodged to the then Minister for Defence Mr Michael Smith and at the end of a few meetings he said that no widows or widowers would be evicted. From these meetings it was stated that co-op housing would be built some where close to the camp ( Win Win Situation residents get homes Dept vacate homes) Again my Dad checked with the Council on his details" Who " yea lost again. Again another Minister stated that there would be no evictions in the Curragh ( Mr Willie O'Dea) Less than a month ago an Eviction order was sent to a resident in the Curragh who was given 21 days to leave or face a court action. Contact was made by this person with property management and the ministers office and yes indeed this is the case. My dad then made contact and was told that yes everyone would get this eviction order within the next few months. So what happened to the words of two ministers about evictions and co-op housing. Property management stated there was never such a plan for housing and it was not up to them to re-house people. Residents of the camp had been lied to for the last seven years and now have eviction orders coming down the line.
Last year the McCarthy report was published it stated that "ALL" married quarters would be dis-established again thats "ALL"he also wanted rents to be brought in line with outside rates. Property management as stated that there is a 3 year plan to vacate the camp of all married quarters.
So this site of ours and our history is of great value but soon there will be no more people of the Curragh to live like we did(Except for Orchard Park)The History will die and maybe in two generations people may say did civilians live here and where did they live. My Dad and Brother left the Curragh yesterday they did not wait for a letter and moved on all that is left now is to tidy up the old home and hand back the Keys. No Help from the Council they would put my Dad in a hostel that was their solution well I know what I want to say to that and they lost his details on more than 2 occasions.Nearly 45 years in the Camp and it comes to this well done modern Gov. of 2010 you do your citizens proud and am looking forward to your visit at the next election. Our President welcomed the Curragh Community to her house late last year it may be the last time the Curragh Community can vist THE BEGINNING OF THE END
Tommy H
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Post by andybrennan on Feb 28, 2010 19:22:19 GMT
hi Tommy Yes an end of an era indeed. I was just wondering if the people effected could claim refugee status and get a nice hotel with 3 squares a day and the auld laundry done me thinks not. Or would they be allowed to put a caravan on the plains and have a couple of thousand acres as a toilet dump etc again me thinks not. What is to become of the people who were born there i.e Eddie and Marie Cramer. Mrs Coughlin, Dick and Mary ,Me brother your dad the Tracy's and all the names of those I cannot remember at this stage. Perhaps NAMA might donate a few houses??. I thought that this government were committed to dealing with the homeless situation not adding to it. It is not just the evictions but the destruction of a whole tribal way of life no different than the Amazon, a way of life gone and the inhabitants scattered to the four winds. This is really what people in the twilight of their lives need to take their minds off the recession. The whole concept gets up my nose and it is like p...... into the wind. Shame on the powers that be, do they not realize the terror that integrating into a strange town village will bring to these people will bring ah thats my rant shame has been brought on the people of the Curragh by this disgraceful action. The powers that be must have envisaged them living for ever., and never leaving as nature intended Andy
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Post by tommyhetherington on Feb 28, 2010 20:49:01 GMT
Yes Andy Shame, Now I do know that there are people who would knock people like my Dad your Brother etc and there is and dispute about the rights and wrongs of the overholder" I think this word sucks" I cannot or do not wish to speak for others and every ones story is different my Dad and others for example paid full rent and electricity and others offered to pay the Dept. Yes it was and is an untenable position but the way this is been handled is wrong. Property Management told my Brother that if my Father had done the right thing he would not be in this position. The right thing let me explain: 1970's Dad went on a housing list answer to that from then to now (lost your name and details but sure you have a house your ok) Final solution HOSTEL F**k no over my dead body Banks no hope in the 70's and 80's some people had luck others did not. He tried to Lease seven(7) properties from the Dept short term NO was the answer some have been demolished since. He waited like others for co-op housing for 7 years No that was a lie. SO who did the right thing not the Dept anyway they lied to people and left the hanging.Two Ministers also lied I can say this as they did say no widows or widowers would be evicted yet this is or will be the case. Tommy H
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Post by anncu7hane on Feb 28, 2010 21:16:35 GMT
Hi Tommy, Are there still serving soldier's living in the camp,if so will they have to go, it's serious if they are going to bring people to court.
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Post by anncu7hane on Feb 28, 2010 21:20:09 GMT
Sorry Tommy forgot to sighn my name Ann Delahunt Culhane
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Post by andybrennan on Feb 28, 2010 22:10:22 GMT
It Appears Tommy that politicians and politics major in truth bending, If the i are not dotted fullstops in the correct place etc then they justify what they are saying as the truth and not what you have heard.
It is not unlike the spin put on celibacy that little argument was got around by claiming that the person was and is celibate as long as they did not partake of va gin al s ex.
The peace talks Northern Ireland as well as other countries the same if you do not read the small print then it means something else
the same can apply to assurance and insurance, mortgagee etc.
there are a lot of glib speakers with the knack of twisting was it Berti who coined the phrase smokescreens and mirrors
a pity there is no captain Boycott around to boycott
A no win situation
Andy
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Post by tommyhetherington on Feb 28, 2010 22:43:32 GMT
Hi Ann, From what Property management said there is a three year plan to remove all married quarters from the camp this would include serving soldiers. Not three years to remove overholders as they will all have eviction orders within the next few months with 21 days to vacate and yes they are going the route of the courts which could suggest they are right.
Tommy H
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Post by tommyhetherington on Feb 28, 2010 22:53:51 GMT
Hi all, Can I just point out that anything that I have said so far is what was told to my Father and another person by property management and confirmed to one person by the Ministers office (Defence) that property managements words were correct. I am aware of my position that I am a serving member of the Defence Forces and am giving a personal view as to why I think what is happening is wrong. My family home is gone my father is a member of the Curragh Community for nearly 45 years and while the Dept may be correct they sure have done this as if we were in a different time in History and not modern Ireland. Tommy H
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Post by anncu7hane on Feb 28, 2010 23:12:11 GMT
that's terrible Tommy There's so many houses near the Camp it's a pity the council wouldent buy some, i'm sure the people wouldent mind renting them. What a wast of money over the last number of year's they could have built house's for the people in the Camp Ann Culhane
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Post by kellquinn on Feb 28, 2010 23:49:39 GMT
Hi all. I heard that rumour some weeks ago and thought it to be, just rumour, however it seems now that it is more a certainty. What a shame my main question is where are they going to house any person unfortunate enough to be in this dilemma? I am sure the Courts will look favourably on any person in the situation, as the time span is too short to make such change. And without digression. Believe this or Not! I read in the paper the other day that this government is spending €60 thousand Euro, Yes! €60 thousand just to have all the snails in Ireland counted, I kid you not! and what’s more the contract has been awarded to an English Company, now where are their priorities?. And what were the snails doing up to now, only getting on fine without all this sort of, I was going to say sh….. Malarkey instead. This country/Government is gone stark raving bonkers, and do you know! The killing thing is that we elected them in. I always say vote with your feet, and I think that a protest would not go astray in some shape or form. Regards to all JKelly
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Post by kellquinn on Feb 28, 2010 23:54:29 GMT
Hi all Off to count a few sheep now wonder would the Government give me a few bob for doing this? So night night it's Counting time JKelly
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Post by mary carroll on Mar 1, 2010 0:19:14 GMT
Hi JKelly, I've just been reading these posts and shocked to hear about people being evicted from their homes, homes that they've probably lived in most of their lives and where they have brought their children up in, are there plans in place to re-house these residents? What is the Dept of Defence saying? "you've served your time in the army given us your best years now off you go", its disgraceful, these people have lived in their homes many years like Tommy's dad 45 years don't they realise a lot of these people will find it very hard to adjust to a different enviornment, and do they care? I think not! Shame on them all! And whats to become of the Curragh? I'm thankful for my memories at least thats something nobody can take from us.
Take care MaryC
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Post by maryfarrell6 on Mar 1, 2010 0:25:02 GMT
Hi Tommy, Have just finished reading your post and the emotions are running rife first shock and an overwhelming sadness I've a lump in my throat the size of an orange and the tears are spilling over to say I'm stunned is an understatement can they really do that and get away with it? They've already pulled the heart and soul out of the camp by demolishing practically all the homes that meant and still does so much to all of us. Its our past our heritage and as you say very soon there will be nothing at all left to show that we ever existed. I wonder is that the idea to completly destroy all evidence that a vibrant unique community lived breathed, played, laughed,danced, comforted each other in their hour of need. A diverse mixture of people from every corner of the land who came to the Curragh settled and raised generation after generation of good Curragh people and bonded as a one family never wanting to leave. The ones of us who did venture abroad to the four corners of the earth left our hearts in the Curragh. What we took with us was priceless we carried in our hearts the memories of a warm safe and happy carefree childhood of loyal friendships and a group of fantastic people the like of which we know we will never have the good fortune or privilege to come across anywhere else in the world no matter how far we roam. Now all of that is to be annihilated by the stroke of a pen without a thought for the people who like Andy said are in their twilight years who sadly do not have very many years left. The over-holders what a horrible name for our people,friends the people who we regard as legends [who we have lost quite a few over the last few months as their age and illness have taken their toll]. All of these older Curragh Residents are worth more than a hundred of the so called powers that be the pen pushers. I am so sorry about your da and brother where are they going to go at such short notice where are any of community going to go? Whats being done to them is inhumane can they really get away with it? Because every single person that they intend to evict has served there country and given their youth,loyalty and their entire lives to the army and the Curragh. Is it to much to ask that they be allowed to spend their last remaining years in their family homes where every single brick holds a memory of their past lives,their loved ones who have gone before them but whose memory is interwoven into every nook and cranny in their houses they shouldn't be expected to leave that behind. Is there anything we can do ? like a petition, protest letters to the powers that be, tv/radio there must be some way we can highlight their plight before its to late. There are over 200 on this forum alone who all come from large families and if we got friends and other ex campers behind us as well do you think it could be stopped? The Emotion has changed since I started this post its now changed to anger I can imagine how you must be feeling Tommy and also its difficult as you're still a serving member of the forces so you have to chose your words carefully. My heart goes out to your da its so so wrong will remember him and the others in my prayers they'll need lots of support to come to terms with this travesty. Bye for Now MaryF
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Post by mary carroll on Mar 1, 2010 0:46:48 GMT
Hi JKelly, Forgot to say in my previous post, that whilst reading your post I nearly fell off my seat laughing when you said the government was paying 60 thousand euros to count snails, I thought you were joking, I'm sorry but thats just unbelievable, and when they count these snails what will they do with this very important information? They should be putting the money to more important things and looking after the people who have given their lives and served this country, but what do they get but a slap in the face. As MaryF said in her post is there anything we can do?
MaryC
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Post by annemcnamara on Mar 1, 2010 1:11:00 GMT
Well said 2 Mary's we are a force to be reckoned with we are a group of 200+ so surely if we can get behind those people involved and let them know they are not alone and believe me they must feel very scared and isolated,surely we and others can be a voice for them?
Anne.
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