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News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)
March 30, 2006
Assembly Members Set For Recall
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News About Ireland & The Irish
BB 03/30/06 Assembly Members Set For Recall
SF 03/30/06 Adams Welcomes Announcements On Suicide Prevention
CN 03/30/06 Immigration - What It Means To Be An American
IT 03/31/06 North, South Tourism Website Launched
IT 03/31/06 Selling Off Sellafield
IT 03/31/06 Ó Brádaigh Book Examines SF Split
BB 03/30/06 Irish Author Mcgahern Dies At 71
IT 03/31/06 McAleese Leads Tributes To Courageous Writer
RT 03/30/06 Man Killed In Kilkenny Quarry Accident
RT 03/30/06 Tributes To Sports Star Who Died In Crash
IM 03/30/06 Easter Commemorations 2006
PL 03/30/06 Claddagh Does Justice To Irish Cuisine
*************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/4862524.stm
Assembly Members Set For Recall
The deadline for efforts to restore the Northern Ireland
Assembly has been set for 24 November, political sources
have told the BBC.
The date emerged after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern held talks
with Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party in Dublin.
Assembly members are to be called to Stormont on 15 May for
a six-week period to try to form an executive.
An emergency bill is also expected to be put through
Westminster to change some of the Stormont rules.
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said
the assembly would break for summer before being recalled
in September for 12 weeks until the end of November.
He also said the political parties have been told the
British and Irish governments are considering holding more
talks at a stately home during the summer recess to deal
with outstanding problems.
News of the deadline followed a series of talks between the
Irish premier and some of Northern Ireland's political
parties in Dublin on Thursday.
Political progress
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said some of the ideas being
considered by the government "were not consistent with the
Good Friday Agreement".
"We believe it is incumbent upon both governments not to be
bullied by (the DUP's) Ian Paisley and not to facilitate
Ian Paisley's obstructionism towards the implementation of
the agreement," he said.
"We are more than willing to go into government with Ian
Paisley and his party but we are not going into limbo with
him."
Speaking after meeting with Mr Ahern, SDLP leader Mark
Durkan said his party has some concerns about the two
governments' proposals for restoring devolution.
"We want all the institutions restored with full powers and
the parties put into a live situation, not shadow boxing in
a shadow assembly," he said.
After his party's talks with Mr Ahern, Alliance leader
David Ford said it was important that the two governments
stayed engaged and did not leave it to Northern Ireland's
politicians.
"The key issue is that the two governments build on issues
like a shared future and stop just managing division," he
said.
After the meetings Irish Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern,
said the parties had a clear sense of the strategy which
would be outlined by the British and Irish prime ministers
next week.
"We have made it quite clear as far as we are concerned
that the Good Friday Agreement will be implemented in
full," he said.
"Ultimately we wish the politicians in Northern Ireland to
be the authors of their own destiny."
Economic assistance
Meanwhile, sources have also told the BBC that next week's
package of economic assistance for deprived loyalist areas
should amount to about £30m.
Some sources within unionism have expressed disappointment
at the sum, given the recent cuts in areas such as
education in Belfast.
However, other loyalist sources said they see the
initiative as a challenge and will work with whatever money
is provided for areas such as skills and training, housing
and urban regeneration.
Devolved government at Stormont was suspended in October
2002 following allegations of a republican spy ring at the
Northern Ireland Office.
However, doubt was cast on that after a senior Sinn Fein
official acquitted of involvement said he had been a
British agent for 20 years and that there was no spy ring.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
internet sites
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/03/30 19:01:13 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/13702
Adams Welcomes Announcements On Suicide Prevention And
Mental Health Provision
Published: 30 March, 2006
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP has described today's
announcement by the Health Minister Shaun Woodward on
suicide prevention and mental health as 'a useful first
step which will require careful monitoring to ensure that
it delivers and meets the needs of those at risk'. Mr.
Adams said: "Delivery is now the key to progress."
Mr. Adams spoke to the Minister this morning and was
briefed on the proposals. The West Belfast MP sought and
was given an assurance that the money being allocated was
ring-fenced for this purpose.
"The West Belfast MP welcomed Mr. Woodward's commitment to
fully fund the recommendations emerging from the special
taskforce he established last year on suicide, including
the appointment of a Director of Mental Health Services;
increasing all-island co-operation on suicide prevention;
and maintaining the Task Force for one year to ensure its
recommendations are introduced in full.
Mr. Adams said:
'The Suicide Task Force was established by the Health
Minister Shaun Woodward last year following intense
lobbying by bereaved families, community activists and Sinn
Féin.
"The statistics around suicide in the north, and on this
island, make appalling and frightening reading. And west
and north Belfast have suffered disproportionately. For
example; there were 9.8 suicides per 100,000 persons per
year from 1999 to 2003. But in West and North Belfast this
rose to 18.1 and 17.9 respectively, almost twice the
north's average. It is the largest killer of males from non
disease related causes, and 79% of all suicides are male.
Figures on self-harm are also alarming.
"Consequently, it is crucial that all the recommendations
of the task force are fully implemented, particularly in
respect of west and north Belfast. I also welcome his
decision to improve on the all-Ireland approach and to
increase co-operation between the two Health departments.
This makes sense.
"Sinn Féin will continue to work closely with the bereaved
families and the community groups active on this issue and
we will monitor closely the outworking of today's
announcements." ENDS
*************************
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/nation/14225753.htm&cid=0
Immigration Debate Is Latest Fight Over What It Means To Be
An American
By Ron Hutcheson
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Both sides in the emotional debate over
immigration agree on at least one thing: This is a fight
over what it means to be an American.
The passions that are being unleashed in street protests,
on talk radio and in Congress are as old as the American
dream. We may be a nation of immigrants, but we sometimes
recoil from foreigners with different languages, religions,
cultures and complexions.
Even Benjamin Franklin, one of the most open-minded
founding fathers, objected to foreign newcomers - in his
case, from Germany.
"Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a
Colony of Aliens who will shortly be so numerous as to
Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them," he asked in a
1751 essay.
More than 170 years later, President Calvin Coolidge put it
more succinctly: "America must be kept American."
Yet even ardent advocates of tighter immigration controls
acknowledge the contributions that immigrants have made,
and continue to make, to the most diverse society on Earth.
Polls show deeply conflicting views about immigration.
Americans are just as likely to think that immigrants
strengthen the country as they are to consider them a
burden.
"People are seeing immigration as a negative. That's a
shame, because if it's done right, it's a positive," said
Ron Woodard, the director of NC Listen, a North Carolina
group that favors tougher immigration policies. "Americans
believe in reasonable legal immigration, but they have
major heartburn with people breaking the law."
Although the current debate over immigration is in many
ways a replay of past battles, there are some new twists.
The terrorist attacks in 2001 have heightened concerns
about border security. Globalization and the loss of
manufacturing jobs have increased economic anxieties.
Multiculturalism and the emphasis on tolerance for
alternative lifestyles have helped fuel doubts about the
durability of what are considered traditional American
values.
If all that weren't enough, political polarization, TV's
talk-show culture and the fractious Internet blogosphere
have made a hot-button issue even more combustible.
"The middle ground gets lost. Anybody who talks about a
sensible middle ground gets devoured by the extremes on
both sides," said Edward O'Donnell, a professor at Holy
Cross College in Worcester, Mass., who specializes in
Irish-American history. "It's either immigration is a
plague, or wide-open, unhindered immigration and wide-scale
amnesty is the answer."
Americans who are tolerant of mass immigration express
confidence that the nation's economy and culture can absorb
the newcomers.
"I see immigrants as people who are coming to the United
States to cast their lot with Americans," said Alan Kraut,
a professor at American University in Washington and the
author of three books on immigration. "What we hear from
some quarters is that these immigrants are somehow
different, the notion that they will not assimilate. I
think that expresses far too little faith in the power of
American culture."
To be sure, America has dealt successfully with large-scale
immigration before. The nation's doors were wide open to
many immigrants during the 1800s. By the turn of the
century, roughly 15 percent of the nation's residents were
foreign-born. Today, the 33 million foreign-born residents
account for about 11 percent of the population.
Yet previous waves of immigration led to nativist movements
and crackdowns. Irish Roman Catholics faced scorn and abuse
in the mid-19th century, and Congress prohibited
immigration from China in 1882. The surge at the turn of
the 20th century, and fears about radicals and anarchists,
led to the first broad clampdown on immigration.
"Just like in the early 1900s, people are realizing today
that things have gotten out of hand," said Woodard of NC
Listen. "We need to bring it back in balance."
More and more Americans are feeling the impact of
immigration, even in communities that traditionally had few
foreign-born residents.
In 1990, fewer than 4 percent of people in Charlotte, N.C.,
came from other countries. Now, 11 percent are foreign-
born. The population shift coincided with the decline of
North Carolina's textile and furniture industries.
"It's bad enough that your job went to Mexico. Now you've
got illegal Mexicans coming into the state, and you have to
compete with them. It's a double whammy," Woodard said.
"People are saying, `Enough is enough.'"
The influx of Hispanic foreigners - more than half of
foreign-born residents are from Latin America - is
contributing to another demographic shift. Minorities, both
citizens and noncitizens, are now the majority in Miami,
Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco. New York and
Washington will join the list soon.
Most advocates of tighter immigration controls say their
concerns don't have anything to do with race or ethnicity.
They say they worry about the nation's ability to absorb
the latest wave of foreigners.
"It's not 1910 anymore. We have an economy that doesn't
offer the same kind of upward mobility for people with low
education," said Mark Krikorian, the executive director of
the Center for Immigration Studies. "We've changed, not the
immigrants."
Krikorian, whose grandparents came from Armenia, said he
also worried that cultural changes had made it harder for
immigrants to absorb American values. He pointed to
demonstrators waving Mexican flags at recent pro-
immigration rallies as evidence of the decreased emphasis
on assimilation.
"My Mom had to memorize the Gettysburg Address. What are
the kids in the Unified Los Angeles School District
learning? They sure as heck aren't being Americanized," he
said. "Is the nation going to continue in its current form
or not? It's all a question of who we are."
Krikorian, Woodard and other advocates of tighter
immigration controls avoid talk of race or ethnicity, and
shun those who view the issue in those terms. Still,
there's an ugly side to the debate.
Vernon Robinson, a Republican congressional candidate in
North Carolina and a former city council member in Winston-
Salem, is running a blatantly anti-immigrant campaign.
One of his radio ads uses the theme of the old "Twilight
Zone" television show to play off fears of an "alien"
invasion.
"The aliens are here, but they didn't come in a spaceship.
They came across our unguarded Mexican border by the
millions - illegally," the ad says. "They filled our
criminal courtrooms and invaded our schools. They sponge
off the American taxpayer by clogging our welfare lines and
our hospital emergency rooms."
But many Americans see a little of themselves in the latest
wave of immigrants.
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., cited his Italian roots during
Senate debate this week on immigration legislation. His
Italian-born mother was classified as an illegal alien and
briefly arrested during World War II because of confusion
over her citizenship.
"More are named Martinez than Domenici today - and Salazar
and Chavez. And many of their first names are not like
mine, which was Pietro, but they are Enrique and Carlos,"
he told his colleagues.
O'Donnell, the immigration historian, sees the current
debate as the latest chapter in the American story.
"It is probably our greatest national legacy, accepting the
huddled masses, but it doesn't come without risks and
challenges and problems," he said. "It's the price that you
pay for being a diverse society. We're never going to stop
debating immigration."
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0331/2147316899HM12TOURISMWEBSITE.html
North, South Tourism Website Launched
Martin Wall
31/03/2006
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue has
said the use of the placename "Londonderry" on a new €2.6
million cross-Border tourism website was "something that we
have to live with".
Mr O'Donoghue and Northern Minister for Trade and
Enterprise Angela Smith yesterday launched the
www.discoverireland.com website, which will promote the
island of Ireland as a holiday destination in 27 markets
worldwide and 14 languages.
The website features information on over 30,000 tourism
products including accommodation, festivals, attractions
and events.
It contains links to information on each of the 32 counties
on the island of Ireland.
The Northern Ireland section includes a link to information
on "Londonderry".
In an interview with RTÉ yesterday, Mr O'Donoghue said
that, while he had his own views on the issue, "it would
not serve anybody's purpose to engage in a political
debate".
He said the tourism bodies North and South were trying to
ensure the sector attracted more than eight million
visitors this year.
Mr O'Donoghue said Northern Ireland Tourism, Fáilte Ireland
and Tourism Ireland had responsibility for designing the
website and that the British government had contributed to
the €2.6 million project.
Speaking at the launch of the website in Belfast, the
Minister said an ever-growing number of holidaymakers were
using the internet to plan and book holidays. He said 70
per cent of the target audience in the US market used the
internet for tourism and travel bookings.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2006/0331/219067365OPLEASELLAFIELD.html
Selling Off Sellafield
31/03/2006
A year never goes by without new grounds for concern over
the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing complex. As Britain's
largest nuclear site, it represents, the Government has
rightly said, the greatest environmental threat facing this
State. Yesterday, that threat grew even larger with the
announcement by the British government that it will be sold
to the private sector.
If the decision to privatise Sellafield had been taken in
order that concerns about its safety would gain a higher
priority then the move could be welcomed cautiously.
However, BNFL, the State company which owns Sellafield was
anxious to stress that the change of ownership offers "a
fantastic opportunity to deliver significant value for the
customer". The introduction of strong competition in the
industry "can only be good news for the UK taxpayer". Very
little was said about safety.
The British prime minister, Tony Blair, is determined to
build additional nuclear power stations despite the
problems of cost and waste and the threat of terrorism.
Speaking this week, he stated that nuclear power must play
its part in energy provision. Energy, according to the
Confederation of British Industry, is now the issue of
greatest concern to British business. It is not just that
it has doubled in price in the last two years but also,
with North Sea oil volumes in decline and coal mining
almost over, there is less of it about. In addition, over
the next decade many of Britain's coal-fired power stations
and most of the nuclear-powered are scheduled to close.
The British government had hoped to privatise BNFL but that
plan was dropped when it transpired that staff had
falsified safety records. Also, the cost of decommissioning
disused power stations, insofar as it can be calculated, is
enormous and a huge deterrent to investors. The plan now is
to selloff the nuclear clean-up business, of which
Sellafield is a major part, so that BNFL can concentrate on
constructing a new generation of power stations.
The clean-up business is big business. Sellafield's Thorp
plant which reprocesses spent nuclear fuel has customers as
far afield as Japan and revenue runs to some €2 billion a
year. Each year it continues in operation increases the
nuclear hazards. Sellafield is the world's junkyard for
nuclear waste but nevertheless there will be no shortage of
would-be buyers.
The cost of cleaning up Sellafield alone is now estimated
to be in excess of €50 billion. This is far higher than
previous estimates because the plant has more radioactive
sludge in underground tanks than was originally thought. If
the clean-up started tomorrow, it would be 150 years before
the threat was finally eliminated. That the operation of
Thorp and the clean-up of Sellafield was entrusted to a
State-owned body, albeit one with a dodgy record, offered a
small measure of comfort. For it to be handed over to
profit-maximising private interests will add to the unease.
The Government must put every pressure it can on the UK
authorities to shut down Thorp and get the waste removed.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0331/2288989452HM12OBRADAIGH.html
Ó Brádaigh Book Examines SF Split
Deaglán de Bréadún
31/03/2006
A new biography of the president of Republican Sinn Féin
throws fresh light on the circumstances in which the
Provisional IRA abandoned its policy of abstentionism from
Leinster House.
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh: The Life and Politics of an Irish
Revolutionary by US academic Prof Robert W White is to be
published next month by Indiana University Press.
Written with the co-operation of its subject, the new book
denies the accepted belief that an Irish-language
conference in Co Meath in September 1986 was used as
"cover" for the IRA convention which dropped the
abstentionist policy whereby militant republican TDs
traditionally refused to take their Dáil seats.
The convention was the first to be held by the IRA for 16
years. White describes how it was "organised and dominated
by the young Northerners" who shared the view held by Gerry
Adams and Martin McGuinness that it was time to end the
Leinster House boycott.
"The abstentionists argued that the IRA ultimately would
suffer if Sinn Féin became a constitutional party. The
young Northerners countered that there was no IRA campaign
in the South to be compromised and pledged to take the IRA
campaign to an even higher level."
To prevent a split, the traditionalists were assured that
the IRA "was in the process of receiving significant arms
shipments that would allow them to take the campaign to
another level".
According to Prof White, delegates at the convention voted
75 per cent to 25 per cent in favour of allowing Sinn Féin
candidates to take their seats if elected. "But the
opposition delegates believed that the vote was
gerrymandered by the creation of new IRA organisational
structures for the convention."
Mr Ó Brádaigh and his supporters later set up their own
organisation.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/4862030.stm
Irish Author Mcgahern Dies At 71
Irish author John McGahern has died in hospital in Dublin
at the age of 71.
His much celebrated work included the Booker-shortlisted
Amongst Women, one of his six novels which focused on often
repressed life in rural Ireland.
McGahern first came to prominence in 1965 with his second
novel, The Dark, which was banned in the Irish Republic.
After the publication of the book, he was sacked from his
job as a teacher. Last year, he published Memoir, an
account of his youth in County Leitrim.
McGahern's other works include That They May Face the
Rising Sun, The Barracks and The Leavetaking, as well as a
number of short story collections.
----
MCGAHERN'S WRITING CAREER
The Barracks, 1963
The Dark, 1965
The Leavetaking, 1974
The Pornographer, 1979
Amongst Women, 1990
That They May Face the Rising Sun, 2002
Memoir, 2005
----
Amongst Women was filmed as a four-part television series
by the BBC in 1998.
He lived with his second wife, Madeline Green, in County
Leitrim for the past three decades.
Irish President Mary McAleese said the writer had "made an
enormous contribution to our self-understanding as a
people".
"His work often pitched him into a place of some
discomfort, not only for himself but for the reader also,"
she said.
"His was a challenging voice yet not without compassion, a
voice that spoke of his great and honest love for his
country and its people."
Irish prime minster Bertie Ahern said McGahern had
"faithfully lived out his vocation as a writer".
"The early sacrifice he paid for his work strengthened his
resolve. His talent, however, was not tied to any passing
celebrity," he said.
"Through decades he slowly, meticulously and beautifully
crafted some of the finest passages of literature ever
written on this island."
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/03/30 16:01:50 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/0330/breaking71.htm
McAleese Leads Tributes To Courageous Writer
The President and the Taoiseach have led tributes to writer
John McGahern, who died suddenly today.
President McAleese said: "With the passing of John
McGahern, Ireland has lost an outstanding literary talent.
"John made an enormous contribution to our self-
understanding as a people. His work often pitched him into
a place of some discomfort, not only for himself but for
the reader also.
"His was a challenging voice yet not without compassion, a
voice that spoke of his great and honest love for his
country and its people," she said.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had learned with deep regret
of the death of John McGahern.
Mr Ahern said: "John was one of Ireland's finest writers
ever. His beautiful use of language in telling and
retelling the stories of his time and place, are the
enduring testimony of his life and his talent."
He said: "John McGahern faithfully lived out his vocation
as a writer. The early sacrifice he paid for his work
strengthened his resolve. His talent however, was not tied
to any passing celebrity. Through decades he slowly,
meticulously and beautifully, crafted some of the finest
passages of literature ever written on this island.
"Today, I want to extend my deep sympathy to his wife
Madeline, the McGahern family and to his wide circle of
friends," he said.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, said: "John's death is a
great loss not just to literature but to Irish life
generally."
Mr Rabbitte said: "His exceptional skill as a writer of
both fiction and non fiction brought an entire new
generation of readers to the world of literature. John
McGahern was a man of exceptional courage and a fearless
opponent of the hypocrisy and cant of which he, himself,
was a victim in the 1960s.
"Such an experience might have embittered a lesser man than
John, but instead he devoted his talents to becoming one of
the finest novelists this country has ever produced."
The Arts Council also expressed its deep sadness at the
death of the author who had been a member of the Council
since 2003.
Chair of the Arts Council Olive Braiden said: "This
exceptional man, who crafted such extraordinary passages of
prose has left us.
"John was without question, one of Ireland's most gifted
and outstanding storytellers. His brilliant, touching and
often witty prose never failed to move readers.
"He was wise and kind, ever sensitive to the needs of
artists and dogged in his determination at the council
table to improve the situation for artists in the country.
We are devastated. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his wife
Madeline and sisters at this time," she said.
Tánaiste Mary Harney said she wanted to pay tribute to the
enormous contribution that the author of works such as That
They May Face the Rising Sun and Amongst Women had made to
modern Irish literature.
She said: "He leaves behind a body of work that has already
ensured his place in the proud literary history of our
State. He will be sadly missed."
© The Irish Times/ireland.com
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0330/kilkenny.html
Man Killed In Kilkenny Quarry Accident
30 March 2006 22:37
A man was killed and 16 others injured in an accident at a
limestone quarry in Bennetsbridge, five miles outside
Kilkenny city this afternoon.
The man who died was in his 50s and was an employee of
Bennetsbridge Limestone Quarries.
He fell into a lime silo and frantic efforts to save his
life failed.
Nine firemen who went to the scene and seven quarry
employees were injured.
They were admitted to St Luke's General Hospital in
Kilkenny.
A spokeswoman tonight said they have gone through the
decontamination process and have been discharged.
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0330/rta.html?rss
Tributes To Sports Star Who Died In Crash
30 March 2006 22:03
Tributes have been paid to an 18-year-old international
basketball and GAA star who was killed in a road traffic
accident in Co Westmeath this morning.
Darren Price, from Petitswood near Mullingar, died after
his car collided with a lorry on the Dublin to Galway Road
near Tyrellspass.
The engineering student represented Ireland in
international basketball.
He lined out with the Westmeath minor football team last
weekend in the Leinster championship.
Victims named
An 83-year-old woman died yesterday when the car she was
driving struck a pole.
The incident occurred on the Upper Churchtown Road in
Dublin shortly after 1.20pm.
She was Elizabeth Stokes of Ramleh Park, Milltown, Dublin.
The 23-year-old man killed when his motorcycle was in
collision with a car at O'Higgins Road, The Curragh, Co
Kildare on 28 March was Rory O' Donnell of Pearse Terrace,
The Curragh, Co Kildare.
And the woman who died following a collision at Cullenagh,
Ennistymon, Co Clare on 27 March was Winifred O' Gorman, 80
years old, from Willbrook, Corofin, Co Clare.
*************************
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75176
Easter Commemorations 2006
National History And Heritage Event Notice Thursday
March 30, 2006 21:18 by RSF - Republican Sinn Fein saoirse@iol.ie
223 Parnel Street, Dublin Teil: 8729757
Remember Easter Week 1916
Nation-Wide List of Easter Commemorations
ANTRIM
Belfast, Easter Sunday, Republican Plot, Milltown Cemetery,
12 noon.
----
ARMAGH
Easter Sunday, commemoration, St Michael’s, Killeen after
11.30 Mass.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at Camloch, Edentubber, Jonsboro,
Dromintee, Mullaghabawn, Cullyhanna, and Cloughogue. Armagh
city, Easter Sunday, Sandyhill Cemetery, 3pm.
Lurgan, Easter Saturday, commemoration at Republican Plot,
St Colman’s Cemetery, 4pm.
----
CLARE
Easter Sunday commemoration, see April SAOIRSE.
----
CORK
Assemble at Wilton Roundabout, 2pm Easter Sunday. Parade to
Republican Plot, St Finbarr’s Cemetery.
----
DERRY
Cúchulainn Memorial, City Cemetery, Derry City, Easter
Sunday, assemble at 12 noon.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at the following on Easter Sunday
morning: The Loup Cemetery, 9am at the grave of Brigadier
Seán Larkin; and the grave of Tommy Toner in Dungiven,
10.15am at the graves of Vols Kealy, O’Carolan and
Kilmartin and hunger striker Kevin Lynch.
----
DONEGAL
Holy Saturday, Doneyloup, Castlefin 7.30pm. Clady Bridge,
11.30am. Drumboe Easter Sunday, assemble Johnson’s Corner
2.30pm.
----
DOWN
Easter Sunday, Newry, 10 am, St Mary’s Cemetery.
----
DUBLIN
Easter Sunday, Wreath-laying ceremony at Glasnevin
Cemetery, Easter Sunday 1pm, commemoration at Deansgrange
Cemetery, 1pm.
Easter Monday, Assemble Garden of Remembrance, 2pm for
march to GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin.
----
FERMANAGH
Easter Sunday, see April SAOIRSE.
----
GALWAY
Assemble at Cathedral for parade to Liam Mellows Memorial,
Eyre Square, Galway city, Easter Sunday, 11am.
Republican Plot, Donaghpatrick, Headford, Easter Sunday,
assemble Queally’s Cross, Cahirlistrane, 3pm.
----
GLASGOW
Easter Sunday commemoration and function. Details from
SAOIRSE sellers.
----
KERRY
Cahersiveen, Easter Sunday, assemble 2.30pm Fair Green and
parade to Killavarogue Cemetery.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at 3rd Kerry Brigade memorial in
Church Street along the route.
Easter Sunday, Republican Plot, Listowel, assemble The
Square, Listowel, 12.30.
Tralee, Easter Sunday, assemble at Denny Street at 2pm
parade to Republican Plot, Rath Cemetery.
Killarney, wreath-laying ceremony at Republican Monument.
----
KILDARE
Easter Sunday, 12 noon, grave of Frank Drivers, Ballymore
Eustace. Wreaths will be laid throughout the county.
----
LAOIS/OFFALY
Easter Monday, Portarlington, wreath-laying ceremony at the
1798 monument in the town square.
Wreath-laying at the grave of Walter Mitchell, Clara
Cemetery, Easter Saturday, at 6pm.
----
LEITRIM
Easter Sunday, Drumshanbo Cemetery, 3pm at graves of
Captain Jim Vaughan and Vol Séamus McGlynn, IRA.
----
LIMERICK
Easter Sunday, assemble Munster Tavern, Mulgrave Street,
2.45pm for parade to Republican Plot, Mount St Lawrence
Cemetery.
----
LONGFORD
Easter Sunday, commemoration at grave of Vol John Mahon,
IRA in Newtownforbes Old Cemetery, parade forms up at 3pm.
Earlier wreath-laying at grave of Vol Alfred McHugh, Irish
Citizen Army in Ardagh Cemetery.
----
LOUTH
Dundalk, Easter Sunday, assemble Adelphi (old cinema now
closed) at 1pm for parade to Republican Plot, St Patrick’s
Cemetery.
----
MAYO
Kilkelly, Easter Monday, 12 noon, assemble at Church gate
and parade to East Mayo Brigade Memorial on main Sligo-
Galway Road.
----
MEATH
12 noon, Easter Monday, wreath-laying ceremony at Tom Allen
Memorial, Longwood.
Wreath-laying ceremonies will also be held at the Séamus
Fox Memorial, Drumree, 1pm and at Ardbracken, Navan,
1.30pm.
Summerhill, 1798 Monument, wreath-laying ceremony.
----
MONAGHAN
Easter Sunday, Commemoration, Urbleshanny Cemetery,
Scotstown, at grave of Vol Seá:mus McElwaine 2pm.
----
NEW YORK
Easter Sunday Commemoration, New York city, see April
SAOIRSE.
----
ROSCOMMON
Ballinlough, Easter Sunday, 12 noon, parade to IRA
Memorial.
Elphin, parade to County Roscommon Memorial after 11.30
Mass.
County Commemoration, Ballaghadereen, 3.30pm, at grave of
Captain William Partridge, Irish Citizen Army.
----
SLIGO
Sligo Town, Easter Sunday, assemble Sligo Cemetery gates
1pm and march to Republican Plot.
----
TYRONE
Easter Saturday, Edendork Cemetery, East Tyrone, 5.30pm at
the graveside of Fian James Mc Caughey.
----
WESTMEATH
Easter Sunday, see April SAOIRSE.
----
WEXFORD
Republican Plot, St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown, Easter
Sunday, assemble at Crescent Quay, Wexford at 3pm.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at the grave of Joe Whitty; and at
the graves of Rafter and McCarthy in Morrinton Cemetery
Related Link: http://www.rsf.ie
*************************
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/tribpm/s_438397.html
Claddagh Does Justice To Irish Cuisine
----
Claddagh Irish Pub
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m. to midnight Sun.
Address: 407 Cinema Drive, South Side
Phone: 412-381-4800
I didn't get to try ...
The Connemara Chicken probably could have gotten an entire
Irish village through the Potato Famine -- 8 ounces of
baked chicken breast stuffed with rashers (bacon) and herb
cream cheese. Bangers and Mashed is the classic sausage-
and-potatoes dish, fit best to precede a long winter's nap.
----
By Michael Machosky
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 30, 2006
There's nothing more American than the faux-Irish pub.
But the range of faux-Irishness is vast. On one end,
there's old-school Irish-American dens of drink like the
South Side's old McCann's (R.I.P.), which came complete
with "colorful" characters unafraid to instigate a rousing
round of cursing the Queen, for old time's sake.
On the other extreme, there's the Bennigan's brigade of
Blarney-bedecked baloney -- mass-marketed conduits for
selling egregious amounts of dark beer and bad food.
Claddagh, at the SouthSide Works, tries to split the
difference. It's a chain that takes great pains to look
authentic -- even devoting rooms to certain Irish pub
styles. There's the dark, oak-paneled Gothic room, the
airy, rustic "cottage"-styled pub, even a room assembled to
look like General Michael Collins' bedroom.
Food-wise, it's not a good idea to get too traditional,
which would mean murky stews, soggy boiled veggies and a
dispiriting array of deep-fried potatoes. Luckily, Claddagh
seems to know where the line is, crafting some interesting
and tasty dishes that take some chances, but don't do
anything crazy enough to scare old Grandma O'Malley into an
early grave.
Fried Brie With Fresh Berry Compote ($7.95) starts with a
wheel of deep-fried Brie. It's creamy and oozy, perfect for
spreading on the dense homemade soda bread. The compote is
heavy on raspberries and served on the side in a cup. A
nice salad of dark greens completes the dish. But what's
delicious for two people can be debilitating for one, so
make sure you split it.
Other appetizers get a little silly, like the Pots O' Gold
($7.95) -- scooped potatoes loaded with bacon and cheese --
and the Shamrock Wings ($8.95), with "spicy shamrock
sauce."
One thing that shouldn't work, but did, is the Chinese-
Irish fusion appetizer Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls
($7.95). Open-ended wonton wrappers are filled with corned
beef, shredded cabbage, diced potato and Monterey Jack
cheese, with Thousand Island dressing for dipping. They
balance a firm, crispy exteriorwith a soft, hearty
interior, and even heat up pretty well the next day.
There's nothing subtle about the Stuffed Pork Chops
($18.95), filled with a balsamic bread stuffing. This Loch
Ness-sized dish is served with a vegetable of the day,
which in this case was broccoli and canned-tasting baby
carrots. The garlic mashed potatoes are delicious, covered
with a very sweet balsamic brown sugar butter sauce.
For dessert, the Bread Pudding ($5.95) has accents of apple
and golden raisins, but the Irish whiskey cream sauce
dominates the dish. It's sweet and cinammon-y, but you can
definitely taste the alcohol.
Michael Machosky can be reached at mmachosky@tribweb.com or
(412) 320-7901
----
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News About Ireland & The Irish
BB 03/30/06 Assembly Members Set For Recall
SF 03/30/06 Adams Welcomes Announcements On Suicide Prevention
CN 03/30/06 Immigration - What It Means To Be An American
IT 03/31/06 North, South Tourism Website Launched
IT 03/31/06 Selling Off Sellafield
IT 03/31/06 Ó Brádaigh Book Examines SF Split
BB 03/30/06 Irish Author Mcgahern Dies At 71
IT 03/31/06 McAleese Leads Tributes To Courageous Writer
RT 03/30/06 Man Killed In Kilkenny Quarry Accident
RT 03/30/06 Tributes To Sports Star Who Died In Crash
IM 03/30/06 Easter Commemorations 2006
PL 03/30/06 Claddagh Does Justice To Irish Cuisine
*************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/4862524.stm
Assembly Members Set For Recall
The deadline for efforts to restore the Northern Ireland
Assembly has been set for 24 November, political sources
have told the BBC.
The date emerged after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern held talks
with Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party in Dublin.
Assembly members are to be called to Stormont on 15 May for
a six-week period to try to form an executive.
An emergency bill is also expected to be put through
Westminster to change some of the Stormont rules.
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said
the assembly would break for summer before being recalled
in September for 12 weeks until the end of November.
He also said the political parties have been told the
British and Irish governments are considering holding more
talks at a stately home during the summer recess to deal
with outstanding problems.
News of the deadline followed a series of talks between the
Irish premier and some of Northern Ireland's political
parties in Dublin on Thursday.
Political progress
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said some of the ideas being
considered by the government "were not consistent with the
Good Friday Agreement".
"We believe it is incumbent upon both governments not to be
bullied by (the DUP's) Ian Paisley and not to facilitate
Ian Paisley's obstructionism towards the implementation of
the agreement," he said.
"We are more than willing to go into government with Ian
Paisley and his party but we are not going into limbo with
him."
Speaking after meeting with Mr Ahern, SDLP leader Mark
Durkan said his party has some concerns about the two
governments' proposals for restoring devolution.
"We want all the institutions restored with full powers and
the parties put into a live situation, not shadow boxing in
a shadow assembly," he said.
After his party's talks with Mr Ahern, Alliance leader
David Ford said it was important that the two governments
stayed engaged and did not leave it to Northern Ireland's
politicians.
"The key issue is that the two governments build on issues
like a shared future and stop just managing division," he
said.
After the meetings Irish Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern,
said the parties had a clear sense of the strategy which
would be outlined by the British and Irish prime ministers
next week.
"We have made it quite clear as far as we are concerned
that the Good Friday Agreement will be implemented in
full," he said.
"Ultimately we wish the politicians in Northern Ireland to
be the authors of their own destiny."
Economic assistance
Meanwhile, sources have also told the BBC that next week's
package of economic assistance for deprived loyalist areas
should amount to about £30m.
Some sources within unionism have expressed disappointment
at the sum, given the recent cuts in areas such as
education in Belfast.
However, other loyalist sources said they see the
initiative as a challenge and will work with whatever money
is provided for areas such as skills and training, housing
and urban regeneration.
Devolved government at Stormont was suspended in October
2002 following allegations of a republican spy ring at the
Northern Ireland Office.
However, doubt was cast on that after a senior Sinn Fein
official acquitted of involvement said he had been a
British agent for 20 years and that there was no spy ring.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
internet sites
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/03/30 19:01:13 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/13702
Adams Welcomes Announcements On Suicide Prevention And
Mental Health Provision
Published: 30 March, 2006
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP has described today's
announcement by the Health Minister Shaun Woodward on
suicide prevention and mental health as 'a useful first
step which will require careful monitoring to ensure that
it delivers and meets the needs of those at risk'. Mr.
Adams said: "Delivery is now the key to progress."
Mr. Adams spoke to the Minister this morning and was
briefed on the proposals. The West Belfast MP sought and
was given an assurance that the money being allocated was
ring-fenced for this purpose.
"The West Belfast MP welcomed Mr. Woodward's commitment to
fully fund the recommendations emerging from the special
taskforce he established last year on suicide, including
the appointment of a Director of Mental Health Services;
increasing all-island co-operation on suicide prevention;
and maintaining the Task Force for one year to ensure its
recommendations are introduced in full.
Mr. Adams said:
'The Suicide Task Force was established by the Health
Minister Shaun Woodward last year following intense
lobbying by bereaved families, community activists and Sinn
Féin.
"The statistics around suicide in the north, and on this
island, make appalling and frightening reading. And west
and north Belfast have suffered disproportionately. For
example; there were 9.8 suicides per 100,000 persons per
year from 1999 to 2003. But in West and North Belfast this
rose to 18.1 and 17.9 respectively, almost twice the
north's average. It is the largest killer of males from non
disease related causes, and 79% of all suicides are male.
Figures on self-harm are also alarming.
"Consequently, it is crucial that all the recommendations
of the task force are fully implemented, particularly in
respect of west and north Belfast. I also welcome his
decision to improve on the all-Ireland approach and to
increase co-operation between the two Health departments.
This makes sense.
"Sinn Féin will continue to work closely with the bereaved
families and the community groups active on this issue and
we will monitor closely the outworking of today's
announcements." ENDS
*************************
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/nation/14225753.htm&cid=0
Immigration Debate Is Latest Fight Over What It Means To Be
An American
By Ron Hutcheson
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Both sides in the emotional debate over
immigration agree on at least one thing: This is a fight
over what it means to be an American.
The passions that are being unleashed in street protests,
on talk radio and in Congress are as old as the American
dream. We may be a nation of immigrants, but we sometimes
recoil from foreigners with different languages, religions,
cultures and complexions.
Even Benjamin Franklin, one of the most open-minded
founding fathers, objected to foreign newcomers - in his
case, from Germany.
"Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a
Colony of Aliens who will shortly be so numerous as to
Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them," he asked in a
1751 essay.
More than 170 years later, President Calvin Coolidge put it
more succinctly: "America must be kept American."
Yet even ardent advocates of tighter immigration controls
acknowledge the contributions that immigrants have made,
and continue to make, to the most diverse society on Earth.
Polls show deeply conflicting views about immigration.
Americans are just as likely to think that immigrants
strengthen the country as they are to consider them a
burden.
"People are seeing immigration as a negative. That's a
shame, because if it's done right, it's a positive," said
Ron Woodard, the director of NC Listen, a North Carolina
group that favors tougher immigration policies. "Americans
believe in reasonable legal immigration, but they have
major heartburn with people breaking the law."
Although the current debate over immigration is in many
ways a replay of past battles, there are some new twists.
The terrorist attacks in 2001 have heightened concerns
about border security. Globalization and the loss of
manufacturing jobs have increased economic anxieties.
Multiculturalism and the emphasis on tolerance for
alternative lifestyles have helped fuel doubts about the
durability of what are considered traditional American
values.
If all that weren't enough, political polarization, TV's
talk-show culture and the fractious Internet blogosphere
have made a hot-button issue even more combustible.
"The middle ground gets lost. Anybody who talks about a
sensible middle ground gets devoured by the extremes on
both sides," said Edward O'Donnell, a professor at Holy
Cross College in Worcester, Mass., who specializes in
Irish-American history. "It's either immigration is a
plague, or wide-open, unhindered immigration and wide-scale
amnesty is the answer."
Americans who are tolerant of mass immigration express
confidence that the nation's economy and culture can absorb
the newcomers.
"I see immigrants as people who are coming to the United
States to cast their lot with Americans," said Alan Kraut,
a professor at American University in Washington and the
author of three books on immigration. "What we hear from
some quarters is that these immigrants are somehow
different, the notion that they will not assimilate. I
think that expresses far too little faith in the power of
American culture."
To be sure, America has dealt successfully with large-scale
immigration before. The nation's doors were wide open to
many immigrants during the 1800s. By the turn of the
century, roughly 15 percent of the nation's residents were
foreign-born. Today, the 33 million foreign-born residents
account for about 11 percent of the population.
Yet previous waves of immigration led to nativist movements
and crackdowns. Irish Roman Catholics faced scorn and abuse
in the mid-19th century, and Congress prohibited
immigration from China in 1882. The surge at the turn of
the 20th century, and fears about radicals and anarchists,
led to the first broad clampdown on immigration.
"Just like in the early 1900s, people are realizing today
that things have gotten out of hand," said Woodard of NC
Listen. "We need to bring it back in balance."
More and more Americans are feeling the impact of
immigration, even in communities that traditionally had few
foreign-born residents.
In 1990, fewer than 4 percent of people in Charlotte, N.C.,
came from other countries. Now, 11 percent are foreign-
born. The population shift coincided with the decline of
North Carolina's textile and furniture industries.
"It's bad enough that your job went to Mexico. Now you've
got illegal Mexicans coming into the state, and you have to
compete with them. It's a double whammy," Woodard said.
"People are saying, `Enough is enough.'"
The influx of Hispanic foreigners - more than half of
foreign-born residents are from Latin America - is
contributing to another demographic shift. Minorities, both
citizens and noncitizens, are now the majority in Miami,
Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco. New York and
Washington will join the list soon.
Most advocates of tighter immigration controls say their
concerns don't have anything to do with race or ethnicity.
They say they worry about the nation's ability to absorb
the latest wave of foreigners.
"It's not 1910 anymore. We have an economy that doesn't
offer the same kind of upward mobility for people with low
education," said Mark Krikorian, the executive director of
the Center for Immigration Studies. "We've changed, not the
immigrants."
Krikorian, whose grandparents came from Armenia, said he
also worried that cultural changes had made it harder for
immigrants to absorb American values. He pointed to
demonstrators waving Mexican flags at recent pro-
immigration rallies as evidence of the decreased emphasis
on assimilation.
"My Mom had to memorize the Gettysburg Address. What are
the kids in the Unified Los Angeles School District
learning? They sure as heck aren't being Americanized," he
said. "Is the nation going to continue in its current form
or not? It's all a question of who we are."
Krikorian, Woodard and other advocates of tighter
immigration controls avoid talk of race or ethnicity, and
shun those who view the issue in those terms. Still,
there's an ugly side to the debate.
Vernon Robinson, a Republican congressional candidate in
North Carolina and a former city council member in Winston-
Salem, is running a blatantly anti-immigrant campaign.
One of his radio ads uses the theme of the old "Twilight
Zone" television show to play off fears of an "alien"
invasion.
"The aliens are here, but they didn't come in a spaceship.
They came across our unguarded Mexican border by the
millions - illegally," the ad says. "They filled our
criminal courtrooms and invaded our schools. They sponge
off the American taxpayer by clogging our welfare lines and
our hospital emergency rooms."
But many Americans see a little of themselves in the latest
wave of immigrants.
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., cited his Italian roots during
Senate debate this week on immigration legislation. His
Italian-born mother was classified as an illegal alien and
briefly arrested during World War II because of confusion
over her citizenship.
"More are named Martinez than Domenici today - and Salazar
and Chavez. And many of their first names are not like
mine, which was Pietro, but they are Enrique and Carlos,"
he told his colleagues.
O'Donnell, the immigration historian, sees the current
debate as the latest chapter in the American story.
"It is probably our greatest national legacy, accepting the
huddled masses, but it doesn't come without risks and
challenges and problems," he said. "It's the price that you
pay for being a diverse society. We're never going to stop
debating immigration."
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0331/2147316899HM12TOURISMWEBSITE.html
North, South Tourism Website Launched
Martin Wall
31/03/2006
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue has
said the use of the placename "Londonderry" on a new €2.6
million cross-Border tourism website was "something that we
have to live with".
Mr O'Donoghue and Northern Minister for Trade and
Enterprise Angela Smith yesterday launched the
www.discoverireland.com website, which will promote the
island of Ireland as a holiday destination in 27 markets
worldwide and 14 languages.
The website features information on over 30,000 tourism
products including accommodation, festivals, attractions
and events.
It contains links to information on each of the 32 counties
on the island of Ireland.
The Northern Ireland section includes a link to information
on "Londonderry".
In an interview with RTÉ yesterday, Mr O'Donoghue said
that, while he had his own views on the issue, "it would
not serve anybody's purpose to engage in a political
debate".
He said the tourism bodies North and South were trying to
ensure the sector attracted more than eight million
visitors this year.
Mr O'Donoghue said Northern Ireland Tourism, Fáilte Ireland
and Tourism Ireland had responsibility for designing the
website and that the British government had contributed to
the €2.6 million project.
Speaking at the launch of the website in Belfast, the
Minister said an ever-growing number of holidaymakers were
using the internet to plan and book holidays. He said 70
per cent of the target audience in the US market used the
internet for tourism and travel bookings.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2006/0331/219067365OPLEASELLAFIELD.html
Selling Off Sellafield
31/03/2006
A year never goes by without new grounds for concern over
the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing complex. As Britain's
largest nuclear site, it represents, the Government has
rightly said, the greatest environmental threat facing this
State. Yesterday, that threat grew even larger with the
announcement by the British government that it will be sold
to the private sector.
If the decision to privatise Sellafield had been taken in
order that concerns about its safety would gain a higher
priority then the move could be welcomed cautiously.
However, BNFL, the State company which owns Sellafield was
anxious to stress that the change of ownership offers "a
fantastic opportunity to deliver significant value for the
customer". The introduction of strong competition in the
industry "can only be good news for the UK taxpayer". Very
little was said about safety.
The British prime minister, Tony Blair, is determined to
build additional nuclear power stations despite the
problems of cost and waste and the threat of terrorism.
Speaking this week, he stated that nuclear power must play
its part in energy provision. Energy, according to the
Confederation of British Industry, is now the issue of
greatest concern to British business. It is not just that
it has doubled in price in the last two years but also,
with North Sea oil volumes in decline and coal mining
almost over, there is less of it about. In addition, over
the next decade many of Britain's coal-fired power stations
and most of the nuclear-powered are scheduled to close.
The British government had hoped to privatise BNFL but that
plan was dropped when it transpired that staff had
falsified safety records. Also, the cost of decommissioning
disused power stations, insofar as it can be calculated, is
enormous and a huge deterrent to investors. The plan now is
to selloff the nuclear clean-up business, of which
Sellafield is a major part, so that BNFL can concentrate on
constructing a new generation of power stations.
The clean-up business is big business. Sellafield's Thorp
plant which reprocesses spent nuclear fuel has customers as
far afield as Japan and revenue runs to some €2 billion a
year. Each year it continues in operation increases the
nuclear hazards. Sellafield is the world's junkyard for
nuclear waste but nevertheless there will be no shortage of
would-be buyers.
The cost of cleaning up Sellafield alone is now estimated
to be in excess of €50 billion. This is far higher than
previous estimates because the plant has more radioactive
sludge in underground tanks than was originally thought. If
the clean-up started tomorrow, it would be 150 years before
the threat was finally eliminated. That the operation of
Thorp and the clean-up of Sellafield was entrusted to a
State-owned body, albeit one with a dodgy record, offered a
small measure of comfort. For it to be handed over to
profit-maximising private interests will add to the unease.
The Government must put every pressure it can on the UK
authorities to shut down Thorp and get the waste removed.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0331/2288989452HM12OBRADAIGH.html
Ó Brádaigh Book Examines SF Split
Deaglán de Bréadún
31/03/2006
A new biography of the president of Republican Sinn Féin
throws fresh light on the circumstances in which the
Provisional IRA abandoned its policy of abstentionism from
Leinster House.
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh: The Life and Politics of an Irish
Revolutionary by US academic Prof Robert W White is to be
published next month by Indiana University Press.
Written with the co-operation of its subject, the new book
denies the accepted belief that an Irish-language
conference in Co Meath in September 1986 was used as
"cover" for the IRA convention which dropped the
abstentionist policy whereby militant republican TDs
traditionally refused to take their Dáil seats.
The convention was the first to be held by the IRA for 16
years. White describes how it was "organised and dominated
by the young Northerners" who shared the view held by Gerry
Adams and Martin McGuinness that it was time to end the
Leinster House boycott.
"The abstentionists argued that the IRA ultimately would
suffer if Sinn Féin became a constitutional party. The
young Northerners countered that there was no IRA campaign
in the South to be compromised and pledged to take the IRA
campaign to an even higher level."
To prevent a split, the traditionalists were assured that
the IRA "was in the process of receiving significant arms
shipments that would allow them to take the campaign to
another level".
According to Prof White, delegates at the convention voted
75 per cent to 25 per cent in favour of allowing Sinn Féin
candidates to take their seats if elected. "But the
opposition delegates believed that the vote was
gerrymandered by the creation of new IRA organisational
structures for the convention."
Mr Ó Brádaigh and his supporters later set up their own
organisation.
© The Irish Times
*************************
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/4862030.stm
Irish Author Mcgahern Dies At 71
Irish author John McGahern has died in hospital in Dublin
at the age of 71.
His much celebrated work included the Booker-shortlisted
Amongst Women, one of his six novels which focused on often
repressed life in rural Ireland.
McGahern first came to prominence in 1965 with his second
novel, The Dark, which was banned in the Irish Republic.
After the publication of the book, he was sacked from his
job as a teacher. Last year, he published Memoir, an
account of his youth in County Leitrim.
McGahern's other works include That They May Face the
Rising Sun, The Barracks and The Leavetaking, as well as a
number of short story collections.
----
MCGAHERN'S WRITING CAREER
The Barracks, 1963
The Dark, 1965
The Leavetaking, 1974
The Pornographer, 1979
Amongst Women, 1990
That They May Face the Rising Sun, 2002
Memoir, 2005
----
Amongst Women was filmed as a four-part television series
by the BBC in 1998.
He lived with his second wife, Madeline Green, in County
Leitrim for the past three decades.
Irish President Mary McAleese said the writer had "made an
enormous contribution to our self-understanding as a
people".
"His work often pitched him into a place of some
discomfort, not only for himself but for the reader also,"
she said.
"His was a challenging voice yet not without compassion, a
voice that spoke of his great and honest love for his
country and its people."
Irish prime minster Bertie Ahern said McGahern had
"faithfully lived out his vocation as a writer".
"The early sacrifice he paid for his work strengthened his
resolve. His talent, however, was not tied to any passing
celebrity," he said.
"Through decades he slowly, meticulously and beautifully
crafted some of the finest passages of literature ever
written on this island."
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2006/03/30 16:01:50 GMT
© BBC MMVI
*************************
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/0330/breaking71.htm
McAleese Leads Tributes To Courageous Writer
The President and the Taoiseach have led tributes to writer
John McGahern, who died suddenly today.
President McAleese said: "With the passing of John
McGahern, Ireland has lost an outstanding literary talent.
"John made an enormous contribution to our self-
understanding as a people. His work often pitched him into
a place of some discomfort, not only for himself but for
the reader also.
"His was a challenging voice yet not without compassion, a
voice that spoke of his great and honest love for his
country and its people," she said.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had learned with deep regret
of the death of John McGahern.
Mr Ahern said: "John was one of Ireland's finest writers
ever. His beautiful use of language in telling and
retelling the stories of his time and place, are the
enduring testimony of his life and his talent."
He said: "John McGahern faithfully lived out his vocation
as a writer. The early sacrifice he paid for his work
strengthened his resolve. His talent however, was not tied
to any passing celebrity. Through decades he slowly,
meticulously and beautifully, crafted some of the finest
passages of literature ever written on this island.
"Today, I want to extend my deep sympathy to his wife
Madeline, the McGahern family and to his wide circle of
friends," he said.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, said: "John's death is a
great loss not just to literature but to Irish life
generally."
Mr Rabbitte said: "His exceptional skill as a writer of
both fiction and non fiction brought an entire new
generation of readers to the world of literature. John
McGahern was a man of exceptional courage and a fearless
opponent of the hypocrisy and cant of which he, himself,
was a victim in the 1960s.
"Such an experience might have embittered a lesser man than
John, but instead he devoted his talents to becoming one of
the finest novelists this country has ever produced."
The Arts Council also expressed its deep sadness at the
death of the author who had been a member of the Council
since 2003.
Chair of the Arts Council Olive Braiden said: "This
exceptional man, who crafted such extraordinary passages of
prose has left us.
"John was without question, one of Ireland's most gifted
and outstanding storytellers. His brilliant, touching and
often witty prose never failed to move readers.
"He was wise and kind, ever sensitive to the needs of
artists and dogged in his determination at the council
table to improve the situation for artists in the country.
We are devastated. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his wife
Madeline and sisters at this time," she said.
Tánaiste Mary Harney said she wanted to pay tribute to the
enormous contribution that the author of works such as That
They May Face the Rising Sun and Amongst Women had made to
modern Irish literature.
She said: "He leaves behind a body of work that has already
ensured his place in the proud literary history of our
State. He will be sadly missed."
© The Irish Times/ireland.com
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0330/kilkenny.html
Man Killed In Kilkenny Quarry Accident
30 March 2006 22:37
A man was killed and 16 others injured in an accident at a
limestone quarry in Bennetsbridge, five miles outside
Kilkenny city this afternoon.
The man who died was in his 50s and was an employee of
Bennetsbridge Limestone Quarries.
He fell into a lime silo and frantic efforts to save his
life failed.
Nine firemen who went to the scene and seven quarry
employees were injured.
They were admitted to St Luke's General Hospital in
Kilkenny.
A spokeswoman tonight said they have gone through the
decontamination process and have been discharged.
*************************
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0330/rta.html?rss
Tributes To Sports Star Who Died In Crash
30 March 2006 22:03
Tributes have been paid to an 18-year-old international
basketball and GAA star who was killed in a road traffic
accident in Co Westmeath this morning.
Darren Price, from Petitswood near Mullingar, died after
his car collided with a lorry on the Dublin to Galway Road
near Tyrellspass.
The engineering student represented Ireland in
international basketball.
He lined out with the Westmeath minor football team last
weekend in the Leinster championship.
Victims named
An 83-year-old woman died yesterday when the car she was
driving struck a pole.
The incident occurred on the Upper Churchtown Road in
Dublin shortly after 1.20pm.
She was Elizabeth Stokes of Ramleh Park, Milltown, Dublin.
The 23-year-old man killed when his motorcycle was in
collision with a car at O'Higgins Road, The Curragh, Co
Kildare on 28 March was Rory O' Donnell of Pearse Terrace,
The Curragh, Co Kildare.
And the woman who died following a collision at Cullenagh,
Ennistymon, Co Clare on 27 March was Winifred O' Gorman, 80
years old, from Willbrook, Corofin, Co Clare.
*************************
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75176
Easter Commemorations 2006
National History And Heritage Event Notice Thursday
March 30, 2006 21:18 by RSF - Republican Sinn Fein saoirse@iol.ie
223 Parnel Street, Dublin Teil: 8729757
Remember Easter Week 1916
Nation-Wide List of Easter Commemorations
ANTRIM
Belfast, Easter Sunday, Republican Plot, Milltown Cemetery,
12 noon.
----
ARMAGH
Easter Sunday, commemoration, St Michael’s, Killeen after
11.30 Mass.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at Camloch, Edentubber, Jonsboro,
Dromintee, Mullaghabawn, Cullyhanna, and Cloughogue. Armagh
city, Easter Sunday, Sandyhill Cemetery, 3pm.
Lurgan, Easter Saturday, commemoration at Republican Plot,
St Colman’s Cemetery, 4pm.
----
CLARE
Easter Sunday commemoration, see April SAOIRSE.
----
CORK
Assemble at Wilton Roundabout, 2pm Easter Sunday. Parade to
Republican Plot, St Finbarr’s Cemetery.
----
DERRY
Cúchulainn Memorial, City Cemetery, Derry City, Easter
Sunday, assemble at 12 noon.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at the following on Easter Sunday
morning: The Loup Cemetery, 9am at the grave of Brigadier
Seán Larkin; and the grave of Tommy Toner in Dungiven,
10.15am at the graves of Vols Kealy, O’Carolan and
Kilmartin and hunger striker Kevin Lynch.
----
DONEGAL
Holy Saturday, Doneyloup, Castlefin 7.30pm. Clady Bridge,
11.30am. Drumboe Easter Sunday, assemble Johnson’s Corner
2.30pm.
----
DOWN
Easter Sunday, Newry, 10 am, St Mary’s Cemetery.
----
DUBLIN
Easter Sunday, Wreath-laying ceremony at Glasnevin
Cemetery, Easter Sunday 1pm, commemoration at Deansgrange
Cemetery, 1pm.
Easter Monday, Assemble Garden of Remembrance, 2pm for
march to GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin.
----
FERMANAGH
Easter Sunday, see April SAOIRSE.
----
GALWAY
Assemble at Cathedral for parade to Liam Mellows Memorial,
Eyre Square, Galway city, Easter Sunday, 11am.
Republican Plot, Donaghpatrick, Headford, Easter Sunday,
assemble Queally’s Cross, Cahirlistrane, 3pm.
----
GLASGOW
Easter Sunday commemoration and function. Details from
SAOIRSE sellers.
----
KERRY
Cahersiveen, Easter Sunday, assemble 2.30pm Fair Green and
parade to Killavarogue Cemetery.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at 3rd Kerry Brigade memorial in
Church Street along the route.
Easter Sunday, Republican Plot, Listowel, assemble The
Square, Listowel, 12.30.
Tralee, Easter Sunday, assemble at Denny Street at 2pm
parade to Republican Plot, Rath Cemetery.
Killarney, wreath-laying ceremony at Republican Monument.
----
KILDARE
Easter Sunday, 12 noon, grave of Frank Drivers, Ballymore
Eustace. Wreaths will be laid throughout the county.
----
LAOIS/OFFALY
Easter Monday, Portarlington, wreath-laying ceremony at the
1798 monument in the town square.
Wreath-laying at the grave of Walter Mitchell, Clara
Cemetery, Easter Saturday, at 6pm.
----
LEITRIM
Easter Sunday, Drumshanbo Cemetery, 3pm at graves of
Captain Jim Vaughan and Vol Séamus McGlynn, IRA.
----
LIMERICK
Easter Sunday, assemble Munster Tavern, Mulgrave Street,
2.45pm for parade to Republican Plot, Mount St Lawrence
Cemetery.
----
LONGFORD
Easter Sunday, commemoration at grave of Vol John Mahon,
IRA in Newtownforbes Old Cemetery, parade forms up at 3pm.
Earlier wreath-laying at grave of Vol Alfred McHugh, Irish
Citizen Army in Ardagh Cemetery.
----
LOUTH
Dundalk, Easter Sunday, assemble Adelphi (old cinema now
closed) at 1pm for parade to Republican Plot, St Patrick’s
Cemetery.
----
MAYO
Kilkelly, Easter Monday, 12 noon, assemble at Church gate
and parade to East Mayo Brigade Memorial on main Sligo-
Galway Road.
----
MEATH
12 noon, Easter Monday, wreath-laying ceremony at Tom Allen
Memorial, Longwood.
Wreath-laying ceremonies will also be held at the Séamus
Fox Memorial, Drumree, 1pm and at Ardbracken, Navan,
1.30pm.
Summerhill, 1798 Monument, wreath-laying ceremony.
----
MONAGHAN
Easter Sunday, Commemoration, Urbleshanny Cemetery,
Scotstown, at grave of Vol Seá:mus McElwaine 2pm.
----
NEW YORK
Easter Sunday Commemoration, New York city, see April
SAOIRSE.
----
ROSCOMMON
Ballinlough, Easter Sunday, 12 noon, parade to IRA
Memorial.
Elphin, parade to County Roscommon Memorial after 11.30
Mass.
County Commemoration, Ballaghadereen, 3.30pm, at grave of
Captain William Partridge, Irish Citizen Army.
----
SLIGO
Sligo Town, Easter Sunday, assemble Sligo Cemetery gates
1pm and march to Republican Plot.
----
TYRONE
Easter Saturday, Edendork Cemetery, East Tyrone, 5.30pm at
the graveside of Fian James Mc Caughey.
----
WESTMEATH
Easter Sunday, see April SAOIRSE.
----
WEXFORD
Republican Plot, St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown, Easter
Sunday, assemble at Crescent Quay, Wexford at 3pm.
Wreath-laying ceremonies at the grave of Joe Whitty; and at
the graves of Rafter and McCarthy in Morrinton Cemetery
Related Link: http://www.rsf.ie
*************************
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/tribpm/s_438397.html
Claddagh Does Justice To Irish Cuisine
----
Claddagh Irish Pub
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m. to midnight Sun.
Address: 407 Cinema Drive, South Side
Phone: 412-381-4800
I didn't get to try ...
The Connemara Chicken probably could have gotten an entire
Irish village through the Potato Famine -- 8 ounces of
baked chicken breast stuffed with rashers (bacon) and herb
cream cheese. Bangers and Mashed is the classic sausage-
and-potatoes dish, fit best to precede a long winter's nap.
----
By Michael Machosky
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 30, 2006
There's nothing more American than the faux-Irish pub.
But the range of faux-Irishness is vast. On one end,
there's old-school Irish-American dens of drink like the
South Side's old McCann's (R.I.P.), which came complete
with "colorful" characters unafraid to instigate a rousing
round of cursing the Queen, for old time's sake.
On the other extreme, there's the Bennigan's brigade of
Blarney-bedecked baloney -- mass-marketed conduits for
selling egregious amounts of dark beer and bad food.
Claddagh, at the SouthSide Works, tries to split the
difference. It's a chain that takes great pains to look
authentic -- even devoting rooms to certain Irish pub
styles. There's the dark, oak-paneled Gothic room, the
airy, rustic "cottage"-styled pub, even a room assembled to
look like General Michael Collins' bedroom.
Food-wise, it's not a good idea to get too traditional,
which would mean murky stews, soggy boiled veggies and a
dispiriting array of deep-fried potatoes. Luckily, Claddagh
seems to know where the line is, crafting some interesting
and tasty dishes that take some chances, but don't do
anything crazy enough to scare old Grandma O'Malley into an
early grave.
Fried Brie With Fresh Berry Compote ($7.95) starts with a
wheel of deep-fried Brie. It's creamy and oozy, perfect for
spreading on the dense homemade soda bread. The compote is
heavy on raspberries and served on the side in a cup. A
nice salad of dark greens completes the dish. But what's
delicious for two people can be debilitating for one, so
make sure you split it.
Other appetizers get a little silly, like the Pots O' Gold
($7.95) -- scooped potatoes loaded with bacon and cheese --
and the Shamrock Wings ($8.95), with "spicy shamrock
sauce."
One thing that shouldn't work, but did, is the Chinese-
Irish fusion appetizer Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls
($7.95). Open-ended wonton wrappers are filled with corned
beef, shredded cabbage, diced potato and Monterey Jack
cheese, with Thousand Island dressing for dipping. They
balance a firm, crispy exteriorwith a soft, hearty
interior, and even heat up pretty well the next day.
There's nothing subtle about the Stuffed Pork Chops
($18.95), filled with a balsamic bread stuffing. This Loch
Ness-sized dish is served with a vegetable of the day,
which in this case was broccoli and canned-tasting baby
carrots. The garlic mashed potatoes are delicious, covered
with a very sweet balsamic brown sugar butter sauce.
For dessert, the Bread Pudding ($5.95) has accents of apple
and golden raisins, but the Irish whiskey cream sauce
dominates the dish. It's sweet and cinammon-y, but you can
definitely taste the alcohol.
Michael Machosky can be reached at mmachosky@tribweb.com or
(412) 320-7901
----
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