Ambrose Uprichard This article in today’s Sunday Herald looks at the unified Germany. A section of the Berlin wall has been rebuilt to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Wall in 1989. However it seems instead to be stressing that the divisions remain. Should this serve as a warning for Ireland if and when ? Fifteen years on, the wall returns to haunt Berlin ‘Rebuilt’ partition captures German mood of cultural resentment and economic woe, finds Alan Crawford at …
In the Guardian (where else ? ) Simon Waldman reviews “We the Media: Grassroots Journalism By the People For the People” by Dan Gillmor, a book about blogging that was written using the internet to interact with visitors to his blog site.Quote: Throughout this book, he argues that the growth of internet and related technologies is changing the balance of power between journalists and their readers; you can succeed in the coming decades only by acknowledging that shift in power …
Sinn Féin representative Michael Agnew is reported as condemning pro-IRA graffiti in Ballymena. Would that all our politicians were as sensible. Ambrose Uprichard
Irish News today – front page has a picture of a badly injured child. Another fireworks victim. Surely it’s time to completely ban these explosives ? The present licensing system doesn’t work. Every year there are children maimed. They are abused by anti-social elements and disturbing for many people and pets. Several contributors are associated with political parties. I would ask them to raise this issue at their party meetings. Ambrose Uprichard
The Belfast Telegraph reports that after a split in DUP ranks Ballymena Council have agreed to accept legal advice and give a £400 grant to Clooney Gaels GAA club. Could mention of the possibility of councillors facing a Surcharge have been a factor ? Ambrose Uprichard
Ancient harp fine-tuned for Lisburn concert For once a nice story from Lisburn. Ambrose Uprichard
The Sunday Business Post carries a report that the GAA could be forced under European law to open up Croke Park to Soccer and Rugby.Although the paper writes A spokesman for the GAA said it would be “incredible” if any organisation challenged how it “manages its affairs and its properties”. this could offer a convenient solution to a politically difficult dilemma faced by the GAA. Ambrose Uprichard
Nuzhound carries another impressive article by Suzanne Breen in the Village magazine. Anthony McIntyre interviews Hugh Orde. Ambrose Uprichard
Rebel Westminster MP George Galloway has raised the issue of Irish Neutrality in respect of the War in Iraq and called on Irish people to take to the streets and voice their concerns.He said: “It is nonsense that Mr Ahern keeps prattling on about Irish neutrality. How can he possibly say that when it is a staging post for 1,000 soldiers a day?” Honest and disturbing – The Glasgow Kelvin MP acknowledged that his protests would not influence Mr Blair …
Mixed blessings in Today’s Irish News which in Sports section reports that Next Years GAA Congress might debate rule 42. Less welcome is that the Irish News carries a report, page 10, on controversy over the new GAA club in Twinbrook, which may be in breach of GAA rule eight which insists that the GAA must be non-sectarian and non-party political. Cumann na Fuiseoige has placed specifically republican symbols on it’s club badge which results in the article headline New …
David Vance, with his customary generosity of spirit, over at A Tangled Web has blogged a compliment given to Slugger O’Toole in a lengthy article on blogging in Tuesdays’ Irish Independent.If David hadn’t pointed it out, one of his many fans would doubtless have stressed that it would have been terribly inappropriate for A.T.W. to have been singled out for the praise it deserves alongside of Slugger as David and Andrew run a very British Blog. I’m sure if A.T.W. …
Newton Emerson recently ran a caption competition, result here, that could and has been accused of bordering on poor taste. In the Belfast Telegraph he defends his freedom to express himself outwith a self-imposed quota system where every satirical piece targetting ‘Green’ is ‘balanced’ by accompaniment of an equivalent attack on ‘Orange’. Ambrose Uprichard
The Belfast Telegraph carries the story that the 350th Anniversary of The Society of Friends in Ireland, First Meeting in Lurgan in 1654, is to be commemorated by the issue of a stamp. A lovely gesture that puts the Royal Mail to shame. Ambrose Uprichard
DUP man’s link with terror alleged Henry McDonald Sunday October 24, 2004 The Observer “A Democratic Unionist Party member is to be accused in the House of Commons of supplying confidential information to terrorists about the loyalist-turned-journalist Davy Adams. “ Ambrose Uprichard
If we set aside the party political considerations ( please) a story in today’s Belfast Telegraph shows the conflict between the desire to memorialise via a Heritage trail and the wish for local employment in a living industry to continue. Not unlike the collectors who drove species to extinction so that their stuffed remains could be “saved” for posterity.The “Kingdom of Mourne” in Ireland’s youngest mountains has had a long history of Granite mining. A small place, known because of …
I would like to extend sympathy to Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann on the latest tragedy to hit his family. A report in the Irish News carries the story that his Brother has committed suicide. A niece committed suicide some years ago. This, according to SF, is the third suspected suicide in West Belfast in the past week. Fra McCann was part of a deputation that discussed the issue of Suicide in N and W Belfast with the NIO health …
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem. “Ramadan Mubarak !” means have a blessed and happy Ramadan and I would like to extend greetings to any Muslim visitors to Slugger. Ramadan is an important part of the Muslim faith, celebrating the month when God sent down the Qur’an to mankind. Ambrose Uprichard
Doubly Blessed ! The Irish Independent has a review by Hugh McFadden of a greatly improved “Collected Works” of Patrick Kavanagh. And on BBC2 NI at 6:10 PM this Sunday a chance to see Seamus Heaney (1978 model) talk about the great man and his life in County Monaghan.Apparently the 1964 Kavanagh Collection, edited by John Montague, was limited in it’s scope because he didn’t have access to a number of important poems , including “Lough Derg”. A long-standing Court …
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald makes some excellent points when she addresses the issue of Ireland’s Increased wealth. What good does it do unless it is enjoyed across the board ? Has Ireland’s increased wealth been used properly in funding social issues, health and education ? This is in response to a series of articles in the Economist, which have been picked up by various newspapers. Ambrose Uprichard
It is reported in the Irish News that as part of the drive to increase Garda numbers by 2,000, the requirement for Irish may be dropped in order to allow more diversity.“The age limit of 26 for recruits will be reviewed, as well as the Irish language requirement for immigrants who wish to join the force. Mr McDowell said he wanted a “special accommodation” to facilitate Irish residents from different backgrounds.” Initial reaction from Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has been …
