Ambrose Uprichard

Goodbye Ireland, Hello Southern England.

Ambrose Uprichard on November 18, 2004, 4:32 pm

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The Irish Independent has a deeply disturbing article on studies by scientists, using satellite pictures, at the European Environment agency. As well as detailing the destruction of environment and warning of problems to come, there is also evidence of widespread misuse of forestry grants resulting in extensive damage to bogland. Urban sprawl is ‘devastating’ rural landscapesFor those not registered, URBAN sprawl has devastated Ireland’s former rural landscape, according to the first aerial survey of Europe’s changing landscape. The sprawl – …

It’s about time

Ambrose Uprichard on November 17, 2004, 10:21 pm

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Belfast Telegraph reports that a house built without planning permission in a green belt has been destroyed. Home razed as legal case won by planners It has taken 5 years to achieve resolution. It is also disturbing that the planners had to justify the removal of this illegal building in order to have it removed. It’s illegality alone should have necessitated the removal. The article reports that the DoE is under increasing pressure to step up it’s enforcement activity, which …

Poetry and the Irish Language

Ambrose Uprichard on November 17, 2004, 6:41 am

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Fortnight Magazine , September 2004, carries an interesting Interview with one of Ireland’s great writers. Liam Carson talks to Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill Ambrose Uprichard

Pushing Their Luck ?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 16, 2004, 10:56 pm

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McCartney calls for full Citizenship Rights for ex-prisoners Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle and former political prisoner Raymond McCartney is today attending a conference involving former Republican and Loyalist prisoners, and without a trace of embarrassment …

What would O’Casey have made of Riverdance ?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 16, 2004, 5:18 pm

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Neil Donnelly gives a mixed review to Christopher Murray’s biography of that giant of Irish Theatre, Sean O’Casey.”Sean O’Casey’s life was extraordinary and his creative achievements are immense. Christopher Murray’s approach is chronological rather than analytical and though this has its merits, it makes for a less than exciting read. Nevertheless, he has assembled a very comprehensive biography which paints an affectionate portrait of a truly great and heroic figure in world theatre.” The article makes one interesting point: ” …

Coincidence ?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 16, 2004, 4:17 pm

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UTV carries the story O’Donnell to step down from deputy mayor post Mr O’Donnell has cited personal reasons, denying it has anything to do with controversy and censure over his land deal. However, one has to wonder – did he jump or was he pushed ? HQ are very mindful these days of their image with the protestant community , and are bound to have been pleased with the story carried by Belfast Telegraph last night. Protestants perceive ‘more moderate’ …

Hoggard, Hard to Beat.

Ambrose Uprichard on November 16, 2004, 6:06 am

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Simon Hoggard on this week’s foolishness. Murphy’s law – bore Ulster into peace Ambrose Uprichard

Is Racism Contagious ?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 16, 2004, 12:08 am

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The Irish News reports another racist attack from within the nationalist community. After an attack in Belfast (Violet Street) and Lurgan (Lord Lurgan Park) a gang of men, reportedly armed, broke into a house in Ballyoran Park area of Portadown occupied by a number of Polish people. One Polish man was taken to hospital with facial injuries. Polish man hit in face by racists A Polish man has been treated in hospital for a facial injury following a racist attack …

Eid Mubarak!

Ambrose Uprichard on November 15, 2004, 4:07 am

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`Eid Al-Fitr: A Day of Moral Victory `Eid means recurring happiness or festivity. There are two such `Eids in Islam. The first is called `Eid Al-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking Fast).It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Muslim year, following the month of Ramadan, which is the month of fasting in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed. The second is called `Eid Al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice). It falls on the tenth day of …

Can they be serious?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 14, 2004, 5:28 pm

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The Sunday Telegraph carries a story by Alan Murray and Melissa Kite,IRA can keep guns under British deal, claim Unionists , in which it is claimed proposals were put to the UDA and UPRG during discussions with NIO officials last month.Quote The IRA will be allowed to keep 15 per cent of its weapons for “self-defence” under secret plans to tempt republicans back into a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, Unionists said yesterday. The deal was revealed to them by …

Torture by Proxy

Ambrose Uprichard on November 14, 2004, 5:21 pm

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The Sunday Times Carries a story by Stephen Grey, US ‘torture flights’ stopped at Shannon which, if confirmed, will surely increase pressure on the Irish Government to address the problem of continued US military use of Shannon airport.”CONFIDENTIAL logbooks from an executive jet used by American intelligence agencies to fly terrorist suspects to countries that routinely use torture reveal Shannon airport as one of the plane’s most regular stopping points. The Gulfstream 5 jet, which is leased by Defence Department …

Hopeful Sign

Ambrose Uprichard on November 14, 2004, 5:06 pm

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The Sunday Times carries a story by Liam Clarke, IRA link to Belfast bullets cache that the 10,000 rounds of ammunition discovered in Twinbrook, claimed to be linked to PIRA, were manufactured after 1999 and that the DUP have been aware of this. I would read this a hopeful sign that, contrary to claims, the DUP are genuine in wanting progress to an inclusive assembly. Otherwise they would have used this intelligence, showing a massive importation of munitions after the …

Insight

Ambrose Uprichard on November 14, 2004, 7:06 am

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Henry McDonald looks forward to this week’s UTV Insight program. ‘Garda knew of IRA mole in force’ Now fresh evidence has emerged over how the IRA mole in the Garda was an open secret among police officers well before the Breen and Buchanan murders. One of their colleagues has come forward to reveal that RUC and Garda officers were well aware of an IRA agent operating inside the latter police force in North Louth for several years. Ambrose Uprichard

Taxing issues for Irish Morality

Ambrose Uprichard on November 12, 2004, 7:31 am

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Pat Brosnan has written an interesting article in the Irish Examiner today in which he looks at the financial implications of recognizing Gay Marriages .“IT’S remarkable that when there’s a threat that the State might have to spend money on something other than a minister’s extravagance – like somebody’s rights – there are colossal implications for the exchequer.” Of course these colossal ‘implications’ (estimate circa € 2 Billion ) are taken far more seriously than the far larger ‘implications’ of …

Worth a Listen

Ambrose Uprichard on November 12, 2004, 4:35 am

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AFTERNOON READING The below is about 16 minutes long. Wednesday 10 November The Prize by Colin Bateman, read by Adrian Dunbar From the blank walls of a prison cell to the blank walls of an art gallery – a Northern Irish ex-con goes on a journey of artistic self discovery. Producer Heather Brennon. Ambrose Uprichard

Twilight of the Celts

Ambrose Uprichard on November 11, 2004, 12:25 am

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The Belfast Telegraph has a thought provoking article by Marcus Tanner, author of Ireland’s Holy Wars, on linguistic changes in Europe. “Throughout Europe, the centuries-old Celtic languages are dying out, buried beneath a linguistic form of globalisation. Marcus Tanner reports on a cultural tragedy” Ambrose Uprichard

How Canada sees NI

Ambrose Uprichard on November 10, 2004, 6:16 pm

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Northern Ireland Protestant and Roman Catholic gangs attack immigrants Depressing. Ambrose Uprichard

“Green” light for the DUP ?

Ambrose Uprichard on November 9, 2004, 3:02 am

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Bertie Ahern is reported as saying in a speech this evening at Trinity College that the Irish and British governments are prepared to make changes to the operation of the 1998 Peace Agreement in order to restore the Northern Assembly at Stormont. Ahern would change agreement to restore assembly Ambrose Uprichard

Calvinism

Ambrose Uprichard on November 8, 2004, 10:38 pm

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For fun, although some of this does remind me of perceived traits within both communities, most obviously within the Free P’s Zen and the art of head-buttingA celebration of Scottish gloom THE clash of civilisations said to be tearing the modern world apart is usually thought of as dividing East from West or Christianity from Islam. But a new interpretation suggests that the real divide is between California and north-east Scotland. Disgusted by the detritus of “Little Books”—of Calm, Happiness, …

Mary Kenny

Ambrose Uprichard on November 8, 2004, 4:16 pm

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Mary Kenny explains her attitude to wearing a poppy in an article in today’s Times that may be more upsetting for Nationalists than Unionists.As an Irishwoman, I am not at all hostile, either, to the poppy-wearing Ulster Unionists. Indeed, if asked to name the most decent politician in all Ireland, I would probably cite David Trimble, whom I like, and who I truly believe is honest. Objectively and logically, I also like and admire the legacy of the British Empire. …