Secret stories in town
DID you hear about the time Whitney Houston popped into Modern Fashions for a pair of tights? That was one of the fascinating snippets of Dundalk lore with came to light during the first Pop Cultural walking tour of Dundalk.
Supported by An Tain Arts Centre as part of its OFFSITE programme, the tour was the brainchild of Mark Corcoran of Culture Club and Marcel Kruegar of thecorridor.
As numbers were limited to 15, the tour sold out in no time and was a huge success, according to Paul Hayes, director An Tain Arts Centre. ‘We could have sold it six or seven times and will repeat it in the New Year when the weather is warmer.’
Walkers met outside An Tain Arts Centre, and proceeded though the town centre, with stops at The Queens Hotel. the Maid of Eireann, the Post Office, Modern Fashions, the Green Church, and the Adelphi.
Stories from the town’s cultural past were shared at each stop, along with performances by local musicians.
One thing has kept us together even if we still have to stay physically apart, during the pandemic. Cyber technology has been a big means to keep family and friends in touch.
Some however, are at risk of being left out and behind. For instance, the elderly, who know little or nothing about smart phones, laptops and the like, which present all forms of ways of communicating and seeing each other.
This can engender a sense of isolation, but Louth County Council, Louth Community Call Forum, Louth Age Friendly, Healthy Louth and Louth Public Participation Network have joined forces to launch the Super Connectors Campaign to rectify the situation.
It is an initiative to help the elderly and those not familiar with for quite a few a new technological age to learn it and enjoy what most have found a great substitute for actual human contact. Namely they can talk and see those they wish to at the end of a telephone, laptop and tablet.
There is also a likely dual benefit to be gained from the Super Connectors programme. First of all there is the teaching of the elderly and whoever else is lacking in this sphere to use these tools of communication. What likely then will flow from it is that the tutors or mentors who do it and the pupils will form a relationship and possibly friendship that will last.
So facilitating a cross generational coming together with younger people asked to take on with others who wish to with helping neighbours and those in their community to become acquainted with the technology and help them use it..
The idea is that the scheme will operate on a community basis, with local halls and community centres being suggested as learning venues to show people how to use the different devices to connect with people.
The probability is that those that the scheme is reaching out to help might not have a computer, laptop, smart phone or tablet. So the organisers and promoters of the programme are asking those who have devices they no longer need or don’t use to donate them to the scheme
The plan is to get Blackrock and Haggardstown to support the campaign like all other communities in the county.