An item in Johnny O’Connor’s long-running Munster Express column caught my eye about the quirky habits of several American Presidents…
It’s no easy task to come up with fresh content for a column every week, as I can recall from the 12 years I filed one for The Munster but Johnny, to his credit, has kept coming up with light-hearted pieces for his ‘Tales of the Tellurians’ slot which he has filed week after week for more years than he’d probably care to remember!
And this week’s lead item is no exception when it comes to the chief inhabitants of 16o0 Pennsylvania Avenue. He mentions that during Ronald Reagan’s two terms in the White House, “most run-of-the-mill decisions were taken only after Nancy Regan (the First Lady, had) consulted her astrologer”.
Believe or not, writes Johnny, “the dates for all press conferences and major debates were chosen by the First Lady in consultation with the stars and her personal astrologer. Where possible, Nancy also dictated the take-off dates and times for Air Force One,” the President’s formidable aircraft which we saw in Dublin Airport just a few short weeks ago for Joe Biden’s visit.
Among the more curious First Family quirks were attributed to President Herbert Hoover (pictured) and his wife, Lou Henry, who “had a really big thing about not having other people in the room if they could at all help it.
There wasn’t much they could do about visiting dignitaries but White House staff were instructed to jump into a wardrobe or large case if either the President or his wife entered a room they were in. Apparently, every room was furnished with a suitable ‘hidey-hole’ to accommodate staff until the First Couple walked out the door.”
However, Johnny’s favourite White House habit was hallmarked by President Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd man to hold the office between 1889 and 1893 and who resided at the White House when electricity was installed in 1891.
Johnny comments: “Both (Harrison) and his wife were absolutely terrified of electricity and after electric lights were installed, neither he nor his wife would touch any of the switches. If a light had to be turned on or off, a member of the household staff was summoned to do the job.” A mildly shocking habit, all in all…!
From the White House to both Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London as reported in this week’s Waterford News & Star, where a Tramore native has received official recognition for her years of voluntary and charitable works in London…
This is the welcome news reported by Caroline Spencer this week that Tramore’s Suzanne Cheasty-Higgins has been recognised for her years of charitable work in her adopted home city of London.
Last November at the Tower of London, Suzanne, originally from Rosebank Terrace in Tramore, was presented with a medal for “voluntary and charitable services to homeless people in the London Borough of Camden”. This was in recognition for her running a soup kitchen in Kentish Town in North West London over the past 10 years.
During the winter, Suzanne – who has lived in London for over 30 years where she works in the Civil Service – organises volunteers and provides mattresses for homeless service users.
But the formal recognition of Suzanne’s charitable endeavours wasn’t limited to this medal award. Far from it!
In May of last year, Suzanne, who is the daughter of the late Tom and Kathleen Cheasty, was joined by her sister Paula at a special party in Buckingham Palace to honour MBE recipients – Kathleeen was named on the honours list back in 2020 - but the formal awarding celebration was delayed due to the pandemic.
The party was attended by Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales as well as the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie. Paula described Suzanne as “an amazing person and so full of fun, she’s the cheeky one of the family!”
Suzanne is currently at home in Waterford, enjoying time with her family and friends, all of whom are justifiably proud as punch of both her and her accomplishments so hearty congratulations to Suzanne!
This week’s Dungarvan Leader features the story of a remarkable 28 peak challenge which gets underway next week…
Another inspirational story well worth reading about has been penned by Jo Bell for this week’s Leader and it’s all about Abbeyside resident and Tallow native Ian O’Brien, who next week will begin a fundraising adventure which shall see him attemopt to summit the highest peaks in each of the European Union’s 27 Member States, as well as Ben Nevis in Scotland, the UK’s highest mountain.
At the age of 38, Ian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and he is part of the 10 per cent of all people diagnosed with the condition under the age of 60. Ian told Jo that the diagnosis was, and I quote, “a bit of a shock, but then I realised I wasn’t the only person. I (learned of) people who were diagnosed in their late teens (and) early 20s. It’s not uncommon but it’s not well known. When I tell someone I have Parkinson’s, their first reply is: ‘You couldn’t have. You’re too young.' So it’s just to change that perception.’”
Incredibly, Ian – who is 43 years old - has already raised almost €30,000 for Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Ireland (https://eopd.ie/) having already climbed each of our four province’s highest peaks inside 48 hours but the challenge doesn’t officially get underway until Monday next, June 5th.
In terms of training, Ian told Jo: “I’m feeling fit enough, my headspace is there, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m just going through the plan and final details. I’ve relaxed a bit on the training…and I’m just looking forward to getting started now.”
To support Ian’s challenge or to find out more about this herculean effort, please visit https://eurupian.com/
And returning to a nautical theme, another ship with a Waterford connection – the last sailing cargo ship to trade through Liverpool Port - will, in the next few months, sadly cease to be…
Christy Parker has all the details on Page 3 of this week’s Dungarvan Observer regarding the ‘De Wadden’, the last merchant schooner to trade on both the Irish Sea and River Blackwater, which is to be removed from dry dock in Liverpool and dismantled.
The vessel, writes Christy, “is synonymous with early to mid-20th Century maritime trade across Ireland’s south east, from where many crew members were sourced. It is particularly associated with Youghal and Dungarvan and other, smaller ports in between.”
She was built in 1917 for the Netherlands Steamship Company and following World War I was bought by Richard Hall, an Arklow-based merchant, in whose fleet she remained until 1961.
The ship has been in dry dock since 1987, following its acquisition by the Merseyside Maritime Museum three years previously for a reported £20,000. She last sailed commercially in the 1960s and hadn’t been put to see since a collision in 1978, according to the Avondhu newspaper.
The ‘De Wadden’ “was a regular feature on the Blackwater and Bride, berthing at Youghal,
Dungarvan, Killahalla, Cappoquin and at Dromana Estate Quay. Its sail and motor combination enabled it to enter small harbours, while Dromana also possessed rare, labour-saving machinery for loading and unloading vessels”.
Her last voyage from both Ireland and West Waterford “was from Killahalla Quay, opposite Dromana House in May 1958, with the construction of the (then) ‘new’ Youghal Bridge and ultimately its low height, making it impossible for tall masts to travel upriver.”
Having served as a tourism/education attraction in the early 1990s, she had been “effectively idle amidst periodic maintenance work” in the interim. “A feasibility study by the
Merseyside Maritime Museum has now decided, in the absence of alternatives, to deconstruct the boat later this year.”
According to Hannah Cunliffe, the Director of National Historic Ships UK, National
Museums Liverpool (NML) aims to disassemble the ‘De Wadden’ “in such a way that significant parts can be kept or re-homed” while parts not intended for future use will be recycled.
Anyone with personal memories of the ‘De Wadden’ who wishes to contribute to documenting its history has been invited to email maritime@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.
Might Waterford City & County Council see fit to honour the vessel’s link with the county? In this instance, it’s not too late for City Hall to do the right thing - or at least attempt to.
I review Waterford's local newspapers every Wednesday morning on WLRfm's 'Big Breakfast Blaa with Ollie & Dymphna: https://www.wlrfm.com/shows/the-big-breakfast-blaa
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