Headford News and Community Spotlight-Computer Guy

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - Headford Hero-Computer Guy 

If you’re reading this, you probably have a computer, and if you have a computer, you’ve probably had computer problems at some point in your life. Computers are no longer a necessary evil, but more like a trusted family friend, or friends, since most families have more than one. But when your computer stops working like it should, it can leave you feeling totally helpless.

So what do you do when one of those heart-stopping moments happens and your computer seems dead, or at least comatose? Like when you turn it on and all you get is that blue or black screen with a bunch of writing that means nothing to you? Or that moment when you’re rushing to open a very important document, but it just WON’T open? Or maybe your computer now takes a half hour to do what it once did in five minutes?

If you’re like a lot of people, you panic, or maybe call a friend for advice, or take the computer to Curry’s or some other place where you will be charged a frightening amount of money.

There is another option. In the Headford area, Andy Dittrich (aka Computer Guy) is a bit of a super hero. Not only is he a wiz at computer maintenance and repair, he also has a ‘No fix, No fee’ policy. If he can’t fix the problem, you don’t pay.

Ever since he was a kid, Andy loved to take things apart just so he could figure out how they worked, and then put them back together again.

‘I got a new record player for Christmas when I was 12,’ he says, ‘I took it apart and nearly gave my parents a heart attack.’

Luckily, he was able to put it back together again and it worked fine. Now, he does something similar for a living.

Back in 1982, Andy moved to Dublin from Austria to study English for one year. But he never left. While in Dublin, he lived with his Irish cousins and worked at Wigoder’s, where he learned English from the Dublin lads he worked with. Then, one evening, he was invited to an event at an exclusive golf club where an older gentleman asked him how he liked Ireland. Andy responded in the English he’d learned from his Dublin co-workers, ‘Oh, it’s really f—king great!’ Shortly after that, his cousin helped him expand his vocabulary.

Andy worked as a retail manager at Wigoder’s for twenty-three years before the Celtic Tiger croaked. After that, he got a job with Cartridge World and learned about computers and computer repairs. ‘I learned a lot just by watching,’ he says. After a while, he took courses in computers and computer maintenance and repair, but he says he’s learned the most from experience.

‘A neighbour asked for my help with his computer, and it just sort of mushroomed from there,’ Andy says.

He offers a wide range of services, including diagnostics, virus removal, improving computer speed, taking info off the hard drive and putting it on another computer or usb, replacing laptop screens and/or keyboards, upgrading memory, and lots more. He makes house calls or you can come to him.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a computer super hero, Andy just might be your man.

Andy Dittrich can be reached at 087 2148372 or andydittrich1811@gmail.com
 

Headford News and Community Spotlight

Thursday, 5th March 2015 from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm Galway County Council will be holding a public consultation drop-in session at the Headford Library. This consult is regarding the Headford draft local area plan 2015-2021.

Also on Thursday, 5th March, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, The Hub in Headford is hosting a meeting to explain what The Hub is all about. Do you have a business idea? Do you want to hear about other people's ideas? Come to the Parish Hall Thursday evening and learn what you can gain by being part of The Hub. For more info ring: 093.36414 or email info@ourhub.ie.

On Monday, 2^nd March 2015 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Suicide or Survive, in partnership with Solas Family Resource Centre, is hosting a free Wellness Workshop in Cloughanover Community Centre.  Understanding and Taking Charge Of Your Mental Health is a workshop that can benefit anyone who is interested in looking after their mental health and wellness.  The workshop is informal and relaxed and will look at topics such as relaxation, mindfulness, stress management, our thinking process and how to develop a wellness plan. Places are limited, so ring to book your place: 1890577577.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - Need a Lift? 

Suppose you have a gaggle of relatives coming to town for a party, a wedding, a baptism? What if your car breaks down out in the country and you’re desperate to get somewhere? Ever been waiting at the bus stop in lashing rain and thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way?’

If you’ve got too many people to shuttle yourself, or you just want a hand with the driving duties, there are two excellent chauffeur/bus services in Headford.

Padraic Walsh was working in construction, driving lorries, when the Celtic Tiger wheezed its dying breath in 2009. He had to find something else to do and, since he already knew he was good at driving, he started driving buses part time. Eventually, he bought his own multi-passenger vehicles, and now he has a fleet of three buses, a Rolls Royce, and a Mercedes. The latter two are generally used for weddings.

Today, Padraic’s business is successful, with his wife Mary helping with the books and coordinating.

‘We offer really good service, and that’s important,’ Padraic says. ‘Cheap isn’t everything. Sometimes the cheapest thing could be the most dear in the long run.’

On any given day, you might find Padraic shuttling people to and from the Day Care Centre in Headford, to hen or stag parties in the evening, to an airport, or on tours around the area.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Lena Donnellan and her fleet of four buses will be picking kids up from school, taking them swimming in Tuam or Galway, or running almost anywhere to a secondary school match. ‘If something happens at school, I always know it,’ Lena says.

Lena’s husband runs the rural shuttle pick-up on Fridays, driving folks in to Sean Cáirde.

Both Padraic and Lena say they love being their own boss, but the kind of driving they do isn’t without its challenges. Bus driving is yet another strictly regulated sector.

‘The law limits how many hours you can drive,’ Lena says.

She uses a digital tachograph card that registers how many hours she’s driving, and the bus can’t be started without that card.

‘It registers if you go over the speed limit. If there are any infringements, you can be pulled over and left there to call another bus for your passengers,’ she says.

In fact, in 2008, that tachograph came to Lena’s rescue when a lorry driver tailgated her bus (filled with school kids). The lorry overtook her before cutting directly in front of her bus, forcing her onto the hard shoulder. When this matter ended up in court, the doomed lorry driver pleaded that Lena was travelling at only about 35 kph. When the tachograph reading was produced, it proved she’d been driving 80 kph.

Both Padraic and Lena say they’ll drive just about anybody just about anywhere.

‘I love driving!’ Lena says. Which is a good thing, since she does quite a lot of it!

So, if you’re looking for a lift, keep these two numbers handy:

Padraic Walsh - 087 834 3735

Lena Donnellan - 087.2873542