Changing fortunes of GAA

The Irish Independent Features section takes a look at Playing Gaelic In The USA. Games are organised and played in over 30 cities. However in another article Big trouble in the Big Apple … for the GAA Georgina Brennon reports that problems have arisen.Not only has the changing attitude towards illegal immigrants from Ireland made life more difficult, but the improvements in the Irish economy have drawn people to return to Ireland, leaving many clubs struggling to field teams. “ …

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Fireman Hospitalised

A fireman is in hospital this morning recovering from injuries sustained when his crew was attacked in what may have been a pre-planned ambush by a group of yobs. Unison Breaking News reports Chris Kerry, the local commander – “He said people were using mobile phones to take photographs of last night’s incident, which he described as “recreational violence where people are getting a sick pleasure” from attacking emergency workers.” These sorts of attacks are a disgrace.But it’s all very …

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Government moves to protect H Block.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that H Block is granted listed status. While Jeffrey Donaldson has been critical, Lawrence McKeown has welcomed the move to protect a number of buildings on the maze site while stressing that this is not about turning it into a shrine. Their demolition would now be a criminal act.“A notorious H-Block within the former Maze Prison has been granted listed building protection – with a Government department citing the hunger strikes and murder of LVF leader …

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Witness intimidation on both sides of the Border

Jim Cusack reports in the Sunday Independent on a case that bears such resemblance to the recent Short Strand Murder, including attempts to portray the victim in a negative light, that senior Gardai have labelled it “Robert McCartney Mark II”. Wall of silence in probe into killing of ‘an honest’ man GARDAI investigating the murder of a young man in west Dublin last month are encountering a “wall of silence” because witnesses have been intimidated by the IRA. Nine people …

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Migrant workers ‘lifeblood of Irish economy’

UTV in Republic is migrant top spot briefly covers a story covered in considerably greater depth by the Sunday Times’ story Ireland top target for EU migrants.From the S.T. Stephen O’Brien, Political Correspondent IRELAND is the most popular destination for migrants from the European Union’s 10 new member states, according to new figures. More than 85,000 citizens from accession states joined the workforce during the year since enlargement in May 2004 — six times more per head of population than …

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Great Hunger for the Game

Well done Munster who have beaten the Scarlets 27-16 at Lansdowne Road to win the Celtic Cup. In an interview after the game Ronan O’Gara was saying a few minutes ago that at the moment he has a “great hunger for the game” which bodes well for the Lions tour! Ambrose Uprichard

Sinn Féin and SDLP – the options

Jude Collins has an excellent article in the Daily Ireland which looks at the implications of the effective demise of the UUP. He argues that the strength of the DUP will damage the prospects for nationalist candidates and looks at the options for Sinn Féin and the SDLP.He argues that as the SDLP has now fully embraced the cause of Unification it is worth considering not only electoral pacts but even an SDLP-SF merger. Nationalism is now faced with a …

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Van the Man in a new light.

The Scotsman today carries a review, Van – the Man and the Devil, by Tony Randall of a new book “VAN MORRISON, NO SURRENDER” By JOHNNY ROGAN. The review focuses on the influence of his upbringing in the dour Ulster from which emerged not only one of Northern Ireland’s best known musicians but also the Reverend Ian Paisley and reaches a startling conclusion.”Rogan’s theory is this: The capital of the North has bred touchy, defensive, constantly wary and rather ugly …

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Rita (DUP), Sue (Tony Blair) and Bob ( IRA) Too

The ever excellent Newshound has an interesting article by Professor Paul Bew, Cracking the DUP will not be as easy for Blair, carried in yesterday’s Yorkshire Post in which he seems to say that the hard-line members of the DUP out-manoeuvred both Tony Blair and the IRA – in that while appearing to give ground,they knew that the IRA would never deliver and as such have neutered those in the party who were “soft” on Sinn Féin, being prepared to …

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Tayto Castle not burned to a crisp in fire.

Andrea Clements in the Belfast Telegraph reports on a fire last night in the Tayto factory at Tandragee. It’s not been a good week for Tayto – a food-dye scare led to them having to recall their Fusion Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper crisps from the UK market. Firefighters battle blaze at Tayto factoryTayto employ some 275 people in Tandragee – Happily it is reported that little damage was done to the actual building, although there is no assessment of …

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Family accuse Loyalists of brutal assault.

Belfast Telegraph’s Mary Fitzgerald has an article, Brother ‘beaten and left for dead’, in which the family of Stephen Nelson, who died in March, 6 months after a severe beating at a nightclub, have accused loyalists of the brutal murder.Stephen Nelson (55), died in hospital in March, six months after he was attacked by a gang of men who forced their way into the foyer of the Chimney Corner Hotel nightclub near Glengormley. It is believed individuals linked to the …

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Sinn Féin TD suspended from Dáil

UTV reports that Caoimhín O Caoláin has been suspended from the Dáil “after refusing to give Bertie Ahern proper speaking time.” The Cavan-Monaghan TD accused the Taoiseach of giving more priority to the concerns of those in the horse-racing and greyhound industry, than to those in the disability sector. He was ordered out of the chamber after refusing to give Bertie Ahern proper speaking time. More detail in report from Breaking News: SF TD suspended from Dáil for interrupting Taoiseach …

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Ahern: ‘disappeared’ are not forgotten

It looks like Dermot Ahern was a busy boy yesterday. As well as the speech blogged by Pete, the Newsletter reports Irish Appeal To Ira Over ‘disappeared’.”Speaking after an hour-long meeting with a 15-member Wave delegation in Dundalk yesterday, Mr Ahern said: “I acknowledge the pain and suffering these families have endured since their loved ones were taken from them. “I can assure them that I, the Justice Minister and the Government as a whole will do everything we can …

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Allegations of voting malpractice…

Spring has sprung and the first cuckoo has been heard. The Newsletter carries a report that Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly MLA has alleged that Sinn Féin were guilty of electoral malpractice, a charge that is lent some credence by comments reported from the electoral office and denied by a SF spokesman in Upper Bann. Illegal Vote Tricks Used By SF Says MLA Kelly Upper Bann SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly claims that, during voting on Thursday, Sinn Fein was illegally …

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Shameful

The Irish Independent has a story, Under-16 soccer team stoned by loyalist mob, which makes me wonder what we do with these people? The Carnlough team, attacked by a group of 30 Loyalists at Ballykeel in Ballymoney who thought them Catholics, are withdrawing from their league. Where do we go from here ? Ambrose Uprichard

Congratulations PSNI?

UTV announces a major drugs seizure in Lisburn after an arrest in Ballymurphy involving Cannabis with Street value of £5,000. Three held after drugs seizure. Will Sinn Féin and local residents be supporting or condemning the police presence and activity in this area, or was this a provocation ? Ambrose Uprichard

Poverty Gap Increasing in the Republic

Breaking News reports that “The gap between the rich and the poor in Irish society is continuing to increase, according to the Conference of Religious in Ireland.” More than 900,000 people are currently living in poverty.Poverty gap increasing, says CORI The Cori Website has a link to the text (pdf file) of a paper presented in Belfast by Brigid Reynolds of the CORI Justice Commission in April, ” Mind the Gap between Rich and Poor“. Ambrose Uprichard

Confused of the Six Counties

Professor John Murphy has a look at the electoral behaviour of our politicians in the Sunday Independent, Keep the lunacy out, and concludes “It would be lunacy to consider incorporating the bitterly polarised and hatred-riven society we saw yesterday into our body politic.” Elsewhere in the same paper, Rash of gangland hits set to make it bloodiest year yet, Jim Cusack points out that “Seven gangland hits, the latest in broad daylight on Thursday, have taken place since March”, all …

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Meanwhile….

Backbenchers may come and backbenchers may go but Lord Laird keeps on truckin’! He’s intending to ask awkward questions about Phil Flynn and the Bank of Scotland billions. Julia Kollewe, Banking Correspondent, reports in the Independent : Peer calls for inquiry into Bank of Scotland’s £8bn Ulster loan book.It’s a sign of the times that he’s happy to call for “a joint investigation by the UK and Irish authorities into the £8bn Belfast loan book of Bank of Scotland between …

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Timing

TCM Breaking News carries a report,Gardaí probe possible IRA link Cork robbery bid, that two men arrested in connection with a hostage-taking and attempted extortion in Cork, involving a hand gun and a stun gun, had connections to provisional IRA. The attempt at extortion involved holding a pregnant woman at gunpoint. Hat-tip to ATWThree men were arrested, two reportedly with addresses in Dundalk and one from Belfast. Gardaí were said to be investigating if the operation was carried out on …

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