Photo: Julia Zimmerman from DG Design tackles the probing questions from the audience in Carndonagh
“Thank you for your patience.” A soft voice came over the tannoy system in the hall of Carndonagh Community College.
I am happy to wait as Diarmuid Gavin is due to entertain the 100 or so people that have turned up tonight to see the plans for the new Barrack Hill Park project. I picked my seat carefully tonight as I want to get a good view, so it’s four rows up from the front for me. Not too close though, just in case Diarmuid picks on a member of the audience. I am wary of this from when I was a young lad at a Christmas pantomime starring Mike and Bernie Winters. If you can’t remember who they are, think of Morecambe and Wise without the humour. I was singled out in front of the vast audience and asked to go on stage to have cotton wool snowballs filled with boiled sweets thrown at me. Bernie Winters gleefully said to the laughing crowd “Oooh, she’s so excited isn’t she!” Why the floor didn’t swallow me up I’ll never know, but that was the price us boys paid in the 70’s if we wore our hair long.
There was a tap, tap on the microphone from the stage at the Áras, then the soft voice continued. “Apologies for the late start. We will be with you in a minute when the technical problem is sorted”
I remember the first time I was here to see Diarmuid. I was taking a few photos and Aideen Doherty, (the Community and Enterprise Development Officer) came up to me and said, “Hi Ian, I am sure you would like to interview Diarmuid. He has a minute before he goes on…. Diarmuid meet Ian, he is here to interview you”. I didn’t have the time or courage to say that I wasn’t there for an interview so after shaking Diarmuid’s hand I proceeded to come out with the biggest load of rubbish that you have ever heard. “Where are you staying? How long have you been interested in gardening? And the rest, until thankfully he could escape onto the stage and I could slink away kicking myself for not being prepared. For that reason I am keeping a low profile tonight.
“Hi and welcome, I am Julia Zimmerman from Diarmuid Gavin Design, I will be talking to you tonight about the exciting new development that we have put together for Carndonagh”. She begins “ I am afraid that Diarmuid cannot be with us tonight as he is ill, so I will go through the plans”
What……Diarmuid can’t be with us, he didn’t turn up the last time either…..No. I had even phoned up the caretaker of the school this afternoon to make sure he was going to be here.
There is a deep sigh from the audience and I am getting the feeling that most of us are disappointed by his absence. I feel let down and although it shouldn’t make a difference I feel that Diarmuid is the face of the project and he and he alone is the one that should sell the idea to us. I know it shouldn’t make any difference who does the presentation, after all Diarmuid won’t be on hand to do the maintenance after it’s finished. I want to be entertained and although Julia is a professional landscape architect and knows the site plan off by heart, she isn’t a famous person off the telly. I can’t listen anymore as she points to a dark photocopy of the site to show us where the cycle track, maze and ball areas are located.
“Is everyone happy?” Julia is asking. It’s the end of the presentation and I haven’t heard a word of what is being said, I am a celebrity casualty, who has missed his idol. Julia is scanning the room with a look of anticipation. There is a silence, which is lasting an eternity. It doesn’t look like anyone is happy.
“Why are the water features not included?” Someone is breaking the silence with a question. “It’s the maintenance costs mainly.” Says Julia.
“When will it be ready?” Asks someone else “How will we stop drinkers?” “Where’s the labyrinth?” The crowd are greedy for answers and it looks like Julia is doing her best to placate them.
“Who’s looking after the maintenance?” A voice is asking on the back row. Julia has stopped in her tracks. “I’ll pass you over to Aideen,” she says. “She will be able to answer that question.” The microphone is quickly passed over, with obvious relief.
“It’s the Council’s responsibility overall but residents will play a big part, especially over in the allotment area.” Aideen is well prepared but I am still not listening. I am amazed at the power a TV celebrity has on me. I am questioning why I am interested in the Barrack Hill project. Without the celebrity endorsement it is feeling like just any another design by a Landscape Design company. Let’s hope it is more than that.
I am questioning whether I should hang around or make a discreet exit (I should have sat at the back). Councillor Bernard McGuinness makes it easy for me.
“Thank you,” he says. “That’s it, it’s all over. ” I am not hesitating. I’m away……
Let’s hope Diarmuid makes a full recovery and is with us next time……….
I am happy to wait as Diarmuid Gavin is due to entertain the 100 or so people that have turned up tonight to see the plans for the new Barrack Hill Park project. I picked my seat carefully tonight as I want to get a good view, so it’s four rows up from the front for me. Not too close though, just in case Diarmuid picks on a member of the audience. I am wary of this from when I was a young lad at a Christmas pantomime starring Mike and Bernie Winters. If you can’t remember who they are, think of Morecambe and Wise without the humour. I was singled out in front of the vast audience and asked to go on stage to have cotton wool snowballs filled with boiled sweets thrown at me. Bernie Winters gleefully said to the laughing crowd “Oooh, she’s so excited isn’t she!” Why the floor didn’t swallow me up I’ll never know, but that was the price us boys paid in the 70’s if we wore our hair long.
There was a tap, tap on the microphone from the stage at the Áras, then the soft voice continued. “Apologies for the late start. We will be with you in a minute when the technical problem is sorted”
I remember the first time I was here to see Diarmuid. I was taking a few photos and Aideen Doherty, (the Community and Enterprise Development Officer) came up to me and said, “Hi Ian, I am sure you would like to interview Diarmuid. He has a minute before he goes on…. Diarmuid meet Ian, he is here to interview you”. I didn’t have the time or courage to say that I wasn’t there for an interview so after shaking Diarmuid’s hand I proceeded to come out with the biggest load of rubbish that you have ever heard. “Where are you staying? How long have you been interested in gardening? And the rest, until thankfully he could escape onto the stage and I could slink away kicking myself for not being prepared. For that reason I am keeping a low profile tonight.
“Hi and welcome, I am Julia Zimmerman from Diarmuid Gavin Design, I will be talking to you tonight about the exciting new development that we have put together for Carndonagh”. She begins “ I am afraid that Diarmuid cannot be with us tonight as he is ill, so I will go through the plans”
What……Diarmuid can’t be with us, he didn’t turn up the last time either…..No. I had even phoned up the caretaker of the school this afternoon to make sure he was going to be here.
There is a deep sigh from the audience and I am getting the feeling that most of us are disappointed by his absence. I feel let down and although it shouldn’t make a difference I feel that Diarmuid is the face of the project and he and he alone is the one that should sell the idea to us. I know it shouldn’t make any difference who does the presentation, after all Diarmuid won’t be on hand to do the maintenance after it’s finished. I want to be entertained and although Julia is a professional landscape architect and knows the site plan off by heart, she isn’t a famous person off the telly. I can’t listen anymore as she points to a dark photocopy of the site to show us where the cycle track, maze and ball areas are located.
“Is everyone happy?” Julia is asking. It’s the end of the presentation and I haven’t heard a word of what is being said, I am a celebrity casualty, who has missed his idol. Julia is scanning the room with a look of anticipation. There is a silence, which is lasting an eternity. It doesn’t look like anyone is happy.
“Why are the water features not included?” Someone is breaking the silence with a question. “It’s the maintenance costs mainly.” Says Julia.
“When will it be ready?” Asks someone else “How will we stop drinkers?” “Where’s the labyrinth?” The crowd are greedy for answers and it looks like Julia is doing her best to placate them.
“Who’s looking after the maintenance?” A voice is asking on the back row. Julia has stopped in her tracks. “I’ll pass you over to Aideen,” she says. “She will be able to answer that question.” The microphone is quickly passed over, with obvious relief.
“It’s the Council’s responsibility overall but residents will play a big part, especially over in the allotment area.” Aideen is well prepared but I am still not listening. I am amazed at the power a TV celebrity has on me. I am questioning why I am interested in the Barrack Hill project. Without the celebrity endorsement it is feeling like just any another design by a Landscape Design company. Let’s hope it is more than that.
I am questioning whether I should hang around or make a discreet exit (I should have sat at the back). Councillor Bernard McGuinness makes it easy for me.
“Thank you,” he says. “That’s it, it’s all over. ” I am not hesitating. I’m away……
Let’s hope Diarmuid makes a full recovery and is with us next time……….
