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

Headford News and Community Spotlight-Skype for Seniors

NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE
Solas is offering a new service for senior citizens. If you're over 65 and have relatives living abroad you'd like to talk to, Solas will happily set up a Skype call for you. This way you can talk to your loved ones and see them at the same time, even if they're living as far away as Australia! And this service is absolutely free.

In order to avail of the service ring Solas (093.36446) or stop by and make an appointment.

Nothing like a chat with a loved one to brighten your day!

Headford News and Community Spotlight-Headford Sport

 

'Home for Christmas,' a gala evening of music will be presented on Friday, 19th December at 9:00 pm in Campbell's Tavern, Cloughanover. Proceeds will be generously donated to Solas Family Resource Centre. Admission is €10 and tickets are available at Solas.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT - Playing the Field

So, it turns out that playing the field is a good thing. No, really.


A 2013 survey of 1,200 young athletes showed those who concentrated on a single sport were 70% to 93% more likely to be injured than those who played multiple sports. That makes sport one of the few areas in life where loyalty is actually a bad quality.

And if you ask Tommy Bane of Headford GAA, Tom Walsh of Moyne Villa Soccer, or Frank Hennahan of Corrib RFC, they’ll all confirm that fact.

Tom Walsh

MOYNE VILLA SOCCER

‘Our facilities are second to none,’ Tom Walsh says of Moyne Villa, which includes an indoor gym, outdoor gym, track, and even a bus shelter! And yet, many of the players at Moyne Villa also play down the road at Headford GAA. And vice versa.

The soccer club is comprised of 450 members, but, Tom says, ‘We’re not just a soccer club. We want to include the whole community. Everyone is more than welcome to use the facilities.’

Tom played soccer from the age of 18 to 43, but he started coaching in his 30’s. Now he coaches and organises materials and upkeep for the club. ‘We try to make the training interesting,’ Tom says, ‘and give the players as much game time as possible.’ Toward that end, though there are eleven players in a game, there are eighteen on each team. ‘And we have B teams, so every player gets to play.’

Girls usually play soccer from age 6 to 25-ish. Boys from 5 to 30-ish. As a coach, Tom has his priorities straight. ‘It’s important to learn how to get hit in the head,’ he says, with a smile.

Tommy Bane & Joe O'Donnell

HEADFORD GAA

Down the road, the GAA’s Tommy Bane, has 38 years of experience with the game and is the main organiser and coach for the Headford team. Joe O’Donnell, Chairman, says, ‘I was a cross-country guy.’ So there’s an excellent range of diverse experience in Headford. At the GAA, training is usually two nights a week. Kids start at about 6 years of age and, Tommy says, ‘We put no age limit to when you hang up your boots.’

But sport doesn’t come cheap. According to Joe O’Donnell, the price tag is over €40K to run the GAA club and maintain the ‘terrific’ pitch. There’s a lotto every week that helps pay for pitch maintenance, laundering the jerseys, transport, gear, and multiple insurance policies. 

Frank Henaghan

RUGBY – CORRIB RFC

When it comes to Rugby in Headford, Frank Henaghan is your man. After playing the sport for fourteen years, Frank is now President of the Headford organisation. The Corrib RFC formed in 1981. Its youngest member is 7 years old, the oldest is about 35, and, Frank says, ‘We’re always welcoming new members.’

Because rugby depends on a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move the ball, you’d think playing other sports would definitely come in handy. Frank says most of the Corrib RFC gang do play other sports, but usually GAA because soccer clashes with the rugby season.

‘Rugby is the best team game you can get,’ Frank says, ‘because it really takes a team effort to win.’

No one from Headford is set to play in the 2016 Olympics. Yet. But there’s still time!

Understandably, with all the talent and facilities available, sport is big in Headford. Studies have proven sports help develop physical and motor skills, but also psychosocial development and well-being. Even more importantly, sports can help overcome some conditions.

For instance, according to the National Library of Medicine, ‘the world’s largest medical library,’ being active, working out, and playing sports, help kids with asthma stay fit. In addition, sports can actually help strengthen breathing muscles, thus helping the lungs work better. Padraic Heneghan, an 8-year-old asthma sufferer, has first-hand experience of just how helpful playing rugby can be.

Padraic Henaghan, Headford Rugby Player

Refusing to commit is often considered an objectionable personality trait. But when it comes to sports, playing around, experiencing as many different games as possible, wins you points in multiple categories. And when you think about it, that’s how it should be. Because, while football, soccer and rugby are all team sports, the inner joy one experiences when playing these sports is one hundred percent independent.