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, 2nd 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 Cรกirde.
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
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ReplyDeletePeople should know in case of emergency like car breaking on a remote land is very hard and dangerous. So they need to look for mechanic shop to repair. Last week I also went with cousin downtown and my car broke down but we managed to take it to the Mechanic Dublin an got it repaired.
ReplyDelete