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)

October 21, 2006

Sinn Fein Members Denied Visas to US

News About Ireland & The Irish

NH 10/21/06 Sinn Féin Members Denied Visas To US
IT 10/21/06 St Andrews Agreement To Come Under Closer Scrutiny
BB 10/21/06 Dual Elections 'Will Not Happen'
IN 10/21/06 Paisley Warns SF That His Party Still Has A Veto
IN 10/21/06 Paisley’s Warning To SF On Policing
IN 10/21/06 Parents Of UDA Coma Victim Air Their Anger
IN 10/21/06 Ahern: Root Out Sectarianism
UT 10/21/06 PDs: 'We Must Welcome Unionists'
DT 10/21/06 'Bring Derry's Protestants In From The Cold'
IN 10/21/06 Opin: Political Double Act Creates Begrudgery Record
IN 10/21/06 Fraud Probe Priest Missing
RT 10/21/06 Mary Robinson Honoured In Spanish Awards
IT 10/21/06 An Daingean Votes For Bilingual Name
IT 10/21/06 Public To Get View Of Rarely Seen Dublin Buildings
IT 10/21/06 Hidden Dublin
IT 10/21/06 RTÉs Jimmy Magee Gets Award To Mark 50 Yrs In Broadcasting
IT 10/21/06 Questions Raised About Value Of Refloating Dolphins
KN 10/21/06 Irish Visitors Right At Home

*************************

http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2006/oct20_SF_members_denied_visas.php

Sinn Féin Members Denied Visas To US

(Catherine Morrison, Irish News)

Two high-profile Sinn Féin representatives have been
denied entry to the US, amid mounting speculation that
the ban on party members fundraising in the country could
be lifted next month.

Conor Murphy MP and assembly member Barry McElduff had
been due to travel to Boston earlier this week for a
series of meetings and to take part in a number of events
including a 1981 Hunger Strike commemoration.

However they were forced to cancel the trip after their
visas were refused.

Mr Murphy, who is also assembly member for Newry and
South Armagh, said he had been told the applications were
declined because they were unable to be processed in
time.

"I accept this explanation and I do not believe that
anything political lies behind this decision," he said.

"While I am disappointed not be able to fulfil this
commitment, the events will go ahead as planned and a
number of other Sinn Féin representatives, including
assembly member Davy Hyland, have travelled to Boston to
take part in the planned programme."

A US spokesman said: "Due to privacy laws the consulate
does not comment on individual visa applications."

It is understood Mr Murphy and Mr McElduff had planned to
attend a photography exhibition on the 1981 Hunger Strike
and events surrounding the Ulster championship hurling
final between Antrim and New York.

Meanwhile, it has been suggested that the US
administration is being pressed to lift the fundraising
ban on Sinn Féin before a gala dinner next month in New
York due to the positive assessment of the IRA in the
most recent report by the Independent Monitoring
Commission (IMC).

It is understood party leader Gerry Adams has applied for
a visa to travel to the US for the event on November 9.

The ban permits entry to the country for Sinn Féin
politicians but refuses them the right to fundraise.

The annual Friends of Sinn Féin (FOSF) dinner at the
Sheraton Hotel is one of the most important dates in the
Irish American calendar.

Tables at the event can cost up to $5,000 each.

In March FOSF had to refund more than $100,000 to
supporters who attended a St Patrick's Day breakfast with
the Sinn Féin leader.

However, Mr Adams is not believed to have received a
response to his request yet.

The ban was imposed on Sinn Féin members last year in an
apparent bid to pressure the party into joining the
Policing Board after the murder of Robert McCartney and
the Northern Bank robbery.

However, with the IMC's glowing assessment of the IRA as
an organisation "now firmly set on a political strategy,
eschewing terrorism and other forms of crime", sources
believe the ban will be lifted.

October 21, 2006
________________

This article appeared first in the October 20, 2006
edition of the Irish News.

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606842398.html

St Andrews Agreement To Come Under Closer Scrutiny

Christine Newman
21/10/2006

Irish and UK politicians will assess and debate the St
Andrews Agreement for the first time when they meet in
Belfast for the first time next week. The politicians
will meet in plenary session of the British-Irish Inter-
Parliamentary Body.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain,
will deliver the keynote address on behalf of the British
government next Monday. He will then participate in a
questions and answers session with members immediately
afterwards.

Before that on Monday, the Inter-Parliamentary Body will
debate several motions, including the motion that the
body welcomes the St Andrews Agreement of October 13th
last and commends the two governments and the political
parties for their efforts to restore the political
institutions and restore devolution for the people of
Northern Ireland.

It will also debate the motion that it welcomes the
position as set out in the agreement that support for
policing and the rule of law should be extended to every
part of the community; and that such support included
endorsing the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
and the criminal justice system, encouraging the
community to co-operate with the police in tackling
crime; and actively supporting all the policing and
criminal justice institutions including the Policing
Board.

It will also debate the motion that the body notes that
the political parties have been asked to consider the
agrement carefully between now and November 10th.

The motion that it reiterates the importance of this
opportunity to establish a devolved power-sharing
government for the benefit of the whole community will
also be debated.

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6072052.stm

Dual Elections 'Will Not Happen'

A referendum on the St Andrews Agreement and an Irish
general election will not be held on the same day, the
Irish foreign minister has said.

Dermot Ahern told the BBC's Inside Politics the idea was
inconceivable.

"If we were having a referendum, it would be
inconceivable that we would have a referendum on the same
day as we have an election," he said.

NI's parties have been given until 10 November to respond
to the proposals made by the governments at St Andrews.

The proposals were published after intensive three-day
talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland.

If all goes to plan, a first and deputy first minister
will be nominated on 24 November and the devolved
institutions will be up and running by 26 March.

Published: 2006/10/21 08:30:27 GMT
© BBC MMVI

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Paisley Warns SF That His Party Still Has A Veto

By Staff Reporter

DUP leader Ian Paisley struck a negative note on the St
Andrews Agreement last night, saying important aspects of
the deal “required more effort”.

Mr Paisley also warned Sinn Fein of his party’s “veto”
over the devolution of policing and justice powers to the
assembly.

“Whilst the proposed St Andrews Agreement contains
considerable advances for unionism, it is far from a done
deal,’’ he said.

“Important aspects... such as the institutions and
structures of devolv-ed government, a financial package
and equality and fairness measures for the unionist
people require more effort.”

Saying Sinn Fein must support policing structures, he
added: “The DUP has secured in law... a veto over the
devolution of policing and justice powers. The proposal
cannot come to the assembly without the approval of the
first minister and can only be passed in the assembly by
a cross-community vote which requires the support of over
50 per cent of unionists. In both circumstances, the DUP
has a veto.”

A historic meeting between Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein
leader Gerry Adams at Stormont on Tuesday was postponed,
just four days after the St Andrews Agreement was
published, because of a dispute about when Martin
McGuiness would take a pledge to support the police.

Yesterday, Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy said his party’s
consultation on the proposed deal would be exhaustive but
not drag on.

“The consultation is not simply about policing as has
been reported,” he said.

“It is to establish whether or not the package agreed by
the two governments last week has the potential to see
the political institutions reformed and the other
outstanding matters resolved.”

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Paisley’s Warning To SF On Policing

By Staff Reporter

DUP leader Ian Paisley told senior Sinn Fein figures last
night to go to the British government seeking more time
if they were having difficulties getting their members to
support the police.

Mr Paisley has made backing for the PSNI the key
condition before his party will go into a power-sharing
administration with republicans.

Sinn Fein has launched a consultation exercise with-

in the party but policing spokesman Gerry Kelly has
warned that the party is not yet at a point where it
could go to a special party conference and recommend
support. But by November 10 the party needs to be in a
position for its nominee as deputy first minister to take
an oath supporting police.

Mr Paisley said: “If Sinn Fein is having difficulties in
getting their people to support the police then they
should go to the government and ask for more time,
because there is no question of the DUP accepting
anything less than their full support for the rule of
law.”

“The importance of the issue of policing should not be
underestimated. Nothing can be done until there is
delivery on policing.

“Sinn Fein must demonstrate its support for the police
before anything happens.”

Meanwhile, both Sinn Fein and the SDLP have begun their
consultation exercises on the St Andrews Agreement
produced by the British and Irish governments after three
days of intensive multi-party talks last week.

Sinn Fein Newry and Arm-agh MP Conor Murphy said their
consultation would be exhaustive and not drag on.

“The consultation is not simply about policing as has
been reported,” he said.

“It is to establish whether or not the package agreed by
the two governments last week has the potential to see
the political institutions reformed and the other
outstanding matters resolved.”

The SDLP said their consultation would involve an
extended meeting of the party executive tomorrow.

General secretary Gerry Cosgrove said they were opening
up the meeting to include councillors and chairs of
constituency councils across Northern Ireland.

“Going into the St Andrews talks everyone was very
concerned about proposed changes to the Good Friday
Agreement, so they will want to hear leadership reports
on the achievements of our negotiating team in warding
off the more dangerous proposals,” he said.

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Parents Of UDA Coma Victim Air Their Anger

Exclusive
By Bimpe Fatogun

THE parents of a Co Derry man in a coma after being
beaten and left for dead by a “murder gang” have accused
politicians of turning a blind eye to loyalist
paramilitary lawlessness.

Paul McCauley remains in a coma at Altnagelvin hospital,
more than three months after he was attacked with two
others as they cleared up after a barbecue in his
friend’s garden.

In today’s Irish News, his family have given their first
in depth interview about the attack and their anger at
the political process which they believe allowed it to
happen.

Paul McCauley’s skull was crushed in an attack so brutal
doctors told his family had just four days to live
following a two-hour operation on his brain.

Remarkably he managed to confound medical experts and
cling to life – although his future remains uncertain.

His head bears a large dent the size of a foot where he
was stamped on by his assailants.

The three friends were set upon by around eight people
who it is believed lay in wait, biding their time before
carrying out the attack.

His friend’s jaw was smashed so badly it had to be
rebuilt with the aid of three steel plates.

Because of the amount of the blood pouring from Paul’s
ears and mouth, at first his friends thought he had been
stabbed.

“We just don’t know how much of Paul is going to be
left,” his mother Cathy said.

Her husband, Jim McCauley, said the family were surprised
when earlier this month the Independent Monitoring
Commission linked the attack to the UDA.

The family had been aware that police were treating the
attack as sectarian, but they had not been told that the
paramilitary group were directly involved.

The assault on Paul and his friends followed a spate of
sectarian attacks in the city.

The police investigation has concentrated on the
staunchly loyalist Fountain estate.

“They set out to murder him,” Mr McCauley said.

“That’s what you do if you want to murder somebody and
you don’t have a weapon. You go for their head like
that.”

Mr McCauley said it was time politicians in the north
showed leadership and addressed the real and present
danger posed by loyalist paramilitary groups.

“This was a murder gang. This is the brutality that
politicians seem to have turned a blind eye to in the
void that has been maintained in Northern Ireland,” he
said.

“They seem to have ignored more pressing issues like the
violence and the fact that proscribed organisations are
still showing a degree of strength.

“Why has most pressure focus-ed on the IRA and not
focused on the other side? They have dealt in
distractions.

“This has happened partly because [Northern Ireland]
lacks political leadership.”

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Ahern: Root Out Sectarianism

By Suzanne McGonagle

THE cancer of sectarianism should be rooted out of
society, the Republic’s minister for foreign affairs said
yesterday as he visited the Co Antrim town of Ballymena
where Michael McIlveen (15) was murdered.

Dermot Ahern met pupils at St Louis Grammar School where
he spoke about the tragedy of the boy’s death.

Michael, a pupil at St Patrick’s College in the town,
died after being attacked in May.

His death led to widespread shock and cross-community
condemnation in the town and across Northern Ireland.

Six Ballymena teenagers, including a 15-year-old, are
charged with Michael’s murder – which the High Court has
been told was motivated by sectarianism.

As pupils from schools across the town converged at St
Louis Grammar in DUP leader Ian Paisley’s North Antrim
constituency, Mr Ahern said he hoped people would put
sectarianism behind them if “any good” was to come from
Michael’s death.

“I think I speak for most people across this island that
these young people are looking for leadership on all
sides of the equation to come together and sort this one
out finally,” he said.

“Unfortunately we’ve seen to a certain extent the rise of
sectarianism and as we saw here in this community the
tragedy and murder of Michael McIlveen.

“I would very much welcome the fact that these young
people are leading the way and showing their elders that
we should all come together and put all these issues
behind us if we are to

learn anything and any good is to come out of the tragedy
of Michael McIlveen.”

Mr Ahern said he hoped young people could “root out the
cancer of sectarianism” present in some areas of society.

“I think its a very message to the political, community
and Church leaders in this society that they should get
on with their business and put aside some very difficult
issues and differences and get on with the business of
leading,” he said.

During his one-day visit Mr Ahern also met residents’
groups – but he did not meet Mr Paisley.

*************************

http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=77446&pt=n

PDs: 'We Must Welcome Unionists'

The Irish Republic should celebrate its links with
Britain in a bid to reach out more to unionists, a former
Dublin junior government minister has argued.

By:Press Association

The Progressive Democrats deputy leader Liz O`Donnell
told the Network Ireland Annual Conference in Galway the
Irish Republic should ensure it was a warm place for
people from a unionist background.

As Stormont politicians continued to deliberate over the
St Andrews Agreement, Ms O`Donnell, a former junior
foreign minister, said an exciting prospect was opening
up for the Republic and Northern Ireland to develop a
truly dynamic all-island economy with real cross-border
co-operation.

The Dublin South TD also argued: "Now that the vexed
quarrel over Northern Ireland with our nearest neighbour
is settled perhaps we can begin to celebrate aspects of
our Britishness which for too long was suppressed because
of nationalistic myths?

"Unionists are a majority in Northern Ireland but a
minority on the island.

"The Republic, already more diverse with immigrants,
should be a warm place for those with British allegiance.

"Britain and Ireland can at last normalise what was
abnormal for neighbouring countries.

"We can begin to explore with excitement and without
baggage the entwined lives of Britain and Ireland our
common language, literature, pre-independence history,
culture and war dead."

Northern Ireland`s politicians have until November 10 to
tell Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern if they are prepared to
sign up to the deal outlined by the two Prime Ministers
last week after three days of talks in St Andrews,
Scotland.

Democratic Unionist leader, the Rev Ian Paisley has
warned Sinn Fein if his party decides to follow the
agreement, he expects republicans to deliver on the
issues of support for the police in Northern Ireland and
the rule of law.

Sinn Fein has embarked on an internal consultation on the
proposals but is also facing demands from the British and
Irish Governments and other Stormont parties to change
its policy on policing and pledge support to the Police
Service of Northern Ireland.


If Northern Ireland`s politicians back the St Andrews
deal, they will set in train a series of choreographed
moves which could see Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein`s Martin
McGuinness become shadow Northern Ireland First and
Deputy First Ministers next month.

Full devolution will return next March if a power sharing
executive of DUP, Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionist and
nationalist SDLP ministers is established.

The deal will also be put to the electorate either
through a fresh Assembly election in Northern Ireland or
a referendum, possibly on both sides of the border.

If the parties, however, refuse to sign up to the deal or
default on it, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has
warned the Assembly will be wound down and the British
and Irish Governments will implement their Plan B.

Ms O`Donnell said the economic dividend of peace had yet
to be realised on the island of Ireland.

She told the conference: "The best is yet to come in
terms of Ireland`s success."

*************************

http://www.derrytoday.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3421&ArticleID=1835776

'Bring Derry's Protestants In From The Cold'

NATIONALISTS IN Derry should be doing more to ensure
their Protestant neighbours do not feel alienated,
according to East Derry MP Gregory Campbell.

Speaking at the opening of the Community Convention at
the Guildhall on Tuesday, the DUP MLA painted a picture
of an imaginary city called 'Brit-Irish' where
nationalists were in the minority, were forced to flee
the cityside and found themselves in a place which
promoted its British connection at every opportunity.

"If this sounds like a nightmare to nationalists, then
they haven't been listening. If they begin today, I hope
it's not too late," he said.

Mr Campbell said the current political climate presented
an opportunity to examine the feelings of unionists
living in Derry. He spoke of the rapid reduction of the
Protestant population on the west bank and urged
nationalists not to ignore the marginalisation of
unionists and the "erosion of their identity."

The conference was also attended by Deputy Mayor, Drew
Thompson; Irish Street Community Centre representative,
Michelle Hayden; Sinn Fein Councillor, Maeve McLaughlin;
and Lee Reynolds, Director of Community Conventions.

Mr Campbell said it wasn't too late for nationalists to
open their eyes to the alienation of Protestants.

"Let us say there is a predominantly Unionist city of
about 100,000 people, but about one quarter of its
population is nationalist. Its name, for want of a better
word is 'Brit-Irish, where the following occurred: over a
period of 30-odd years, a campaign of genocide was waged
against this nationalist minority by a paramilitary
organisation that lived among the unionists, to the
extent that thousands of the nationalist minority fled
from the main part of the city.

"Investment started to come into 'Brit-Irish' but about
85% of it went to unionist areas. The nationalists were
unhappy about this but their representatives still
supported the inward investment drive in the interests of
the greater good.

"The position of the nationalists continued to worsen;
many started to shop and work in areas where nationalists
were more numerous because they felt safer there. When
they did venture into 'Brit-Irish' to socialise some of
them were made to feel unwelcome and some were attacked
purely on sectarian grounds."

The MP went on to highlight how Protestants in Derry felt
their British connections were being eroded and their
culture ignored.

"'Brit-Irish' was seen by the nationalists to be almost
totally British," he said. "The vast majority of the
businesses were owned and staffed by unionists and some
of the street names in the city centre had signs which
told people they were in the British United Kingdom and
they had better get used to it.

"Schools and churches which nationalists attended closed
down and relocated to (areas) where nationalists were
more numerous. The souvenirs and memorabilia on sale in
'Brit-Irish' shops were items that promoted the British
connections. Everywhere the nationalists looked when they
did go to the city they saw Union Jacks on sale in the
local market, British logos, Royal Family and Rangers
souvenirs.

"They looked for items with which they could identify but
there weren't any."

Mr. Campbell also warned about the consequences should
nationalists seek to change the city's name to 'Derry.'

"In Brit-Irish, the nationalists became very dejected and
disillusioned," he said. "Their leaders demanded that
their community be brought in from the margins as a form
of peace began to take hold.

"There were the beginnings of an improvement in community
relationships in later years but then the unionist-
controlled Council decided that not just the Council name
but the name of the 'Brit-Irish' city itself should also
become British.

"Despite many calls for them to think again, they stood
ready to go to the High Court to finally close the door
on their neighbours," he said. "If this sounds like a
nightmare to nationalists, then they haven't been
listening. If they begin today, I hope it's not too
late."

21 October 2006

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Opin: Political Double Act Creates Begrudgery Record

By Brian Feeney

Is this a record for begrudgery?

Every political party in the north and in Britain
welcomed the prospect of the political deal likely to
emerge from the talks at St Andrews. Naturally, so did
Fianna Fail and the PDs, since they were instrumental in
the outcome.

Odd men out were the current double act in the Republic’s
politics, Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte.

Rabbitte said the result was “somewhat disappointing”
given the expectations raised by both governments in
advance, thereby demonstrating once again his unrivalled
ability to misread northern politics.

In fact neither government had raised anybody’s
expectations. On the contrary, they had been threatening
the parties here with confiscating all their toys if they
didn’t play properly.

Not to be outdone the Tweedledum of the act, Enda Kenny,
threw in his tuppenceworth.

At a Fine Gael dinner on Saturday night he said he would
oppose any attempt by the government to hold a referendum
on the St Andrews agreement. Could that perhaps be
because Bertie Ahern had indicated a few hours earlier
that he would prefer a referendum next March?

Just pure bad grace. Sour grapes from the pair of them.

Admittedly they had suffered a body blow the day before
when an opinion poll showed that after three weeks’
battering away at Bertie in the Dail, on TV and radio and
in the press, about his mysterious cash gifts and
eccentric house-buying practices, he had emerged six per
cent up and they were both down.

The really terrible news was that despite, or perhaps
because of traipsing the country joined at the hip, even
doing a double act at each others’ party conferences,
Fianna Fail and the PDs would still come in ahead of the
combined Fine Gael/Labour total in an election.

Despite the hopeless performance of Mary Harney at health
and open disagreements between Michael McDowell and
Fianna Fail ministers about taxation, the poll confirmed
that voters wouldn’t trust Kenny and Rabbitte with
managing the economy.

No wonder our two chums were reeling. Six months of joint
campaigning and all they have to show for it is a heap of
ashes in front of them. Their personal attacks on the
leadership of both coalition partners had rebounded on
them.

Then, horror or horrors, out comes Bertie to stand beside
Tony Blair and announce another triumph against all the
odds, for – make no mistake – until lunchtime on Friday,
no-one was betting on a deal at St Andrews.

That’s why Rabbitte’s shamelessly cynical comments smack
of desperation. He went on to compound his mistake by
adding: “It is essential that whatever form of ‘electoral
endorsement’ is now sought should not lead to further
strengthening of the political extremes at the expense of
the more moderate parties who have done so much to bring
about an end to violence to bring Northern Ireland to the
position where it is today.”

Could one of those ‘more moderate parties’ he was
referring to perhaps be Reg Empey’s UUP which has done
precisely nothing to bring about an end to violence?

Just what sort of political interference is he advocating
to shore up parties like the UUP? Maybe avoiding an
election? There’s a real democrat for you.

Yet his partner in begrudgery, Enda Kenny, doesn’t want a
referendum. Does that mean he does want an election here?

We know why Kenny doesn’t want a referendum. He’s scared
stiff it will enhance Bertie’s reputation and act as a
springboard for Fianna Fail in the Republic’s general
election in June.

In a referendum both Kenny and Rabbitte would have to
support the government’s position.

Let’s face it, who is going to vote agin the St Andrews
Agreement apart from Bob McCartney and the Real IRA?

The truth is that both Kenny and Rabbitte were shocked by
the success at St Andrews because it put the tin lid on
an awful couple of days for them. It drove their
prospects of winning the next election out of sight.

However, what their reaction confirmed once again is that
while the Republic’s voters may not trust them with the
economy, they would be an absolute disaster if they ever
got their hands on the north’s political process.

*************************

http://www.irishnews.com/

Fraud Probe Priest Missing

By Claire Simpson

One of two Irish priests accused of embezzling millions
of dollars from a church in Florida has still not
returned to the US, more than three weeks after his co-
accused was arrested.

Fr Francis Guinan (63) from Eglish in Co Offaly is
thought to be staying in a hotel in Australia.

He is accused of stealing US$8.6 million from St Vincent
Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida, along
with his co-accused Monsignor John Skehan (79) from
Johnstown in Co Kilkenny.

Both men have been suspended and Fr Guinan’s name has
been removed from the parish website.

A Florida newspaper, The Palm Beach Post, reported he is
due to turn himself in to the authorities on October 27.

However, a spokeswoman from the Palm Beach state
attorney’s office said she was not sure when Fr Guinan
would return.

“We do not have a definite time for him to come back,’’
she said.

“Nothing becomes public record until someone comes into
the county jail, so we can’t confirm if an arrest warrant
has been issued.”

The Palm Beach diocese is thought to be one of the
richest in America with an affluent retired congregation
donating millions to the church.

According to the police report on the case, the priests
hid millions of dollars in a number of “slush” funds and
spent it on their girlfriends, trips to the Bahamas and
Las Vegas, property and personal expenses, including
property taxes and credit card payments.

*************************

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1021/robinsonm.html?rss

Mary Robinson Honoured In Spanish Awards

21 October 2006 15:38

The former President, Mary Robinson has been awarded the
Prince of Asturias prize for social sciences.

The prize is the most prestigious to be awarded in Spain
and is given to people for outstanding contributions to
areas ranging from the arts and science to sports and
international cooperation.

The jury had singled out Robinson's 'moral strength', her
defence of 'ethics in the field of politics and academic
research' and her 'tireless efforts to bring about a
world without borders'.

Mrs Robinson used the occasion to call on countries to
recognize the rights of immigrants.

'Immigration is, when it comes down to it, the human face
of globalisation', said Mrs Robinson as she received the
award from Spain's Crown Prince Felipe.

Mary Robinson, 62, served as Ireland's first woman
President from 1990 to 1997.

From 1997 to 2002 she was the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, before founding the
Ethical Globalization Initiative, an independent body
campaigning for fair trade, human rights and the fight
against HIV/AIDS.

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606840659.html

An Daingean Votes For Bilingual Name

Anne Lucey in An Daingean
21/10/2006

An overwhelming majority have voted to change the name of
the Gaeltacht town of An Daingean to the bilingual Dingle
Daingean Uí Chúis. In spite of the decisive result of the
plebiscite, there was legal uncertainty about the effect
of the vote.

Minister for the Gaeltacht Eamon Ó'Cuiv, wants to meet
members of the county council to discuss the way forward.

In a postal ballot some 1,222 residents and ratepayers in
the town were asked if they consented to an application
being made to the Government for an order to change the
name.

A total of 1,095 votes were cast and of these 1,005 were
in favour of the name change. The town council's
returning officer, Charlie O'Sullivan, announced the
result at the count in Dingle yesterday afternoon,
speaking first in Irish. The result prompted loud cheers
from a packed room.

Only 70 voted against and there were some 20 spoilt
votes.

Eamon Ó'Cuiv has already warned that a Gaeltacht place
name could not be bilingual legally and that he was not
going to change the law affecting 2,300 placenames to
suit one place. The plebiscite, at a cost of around
€10,000, was set in train by a county council motion
proposed by local Fine Gael Cllr Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald
.

Yesterday Cllr Fitzgerald said "the people have spoken".
The returning officer would now be bringing the result
before a council meeting and Cllr Fitzgerald said he
would be recommending to his council colleagues that they
pursue the Government order.

"The people have spoken and spoken very strongly. All
they want is to retain both names in the town and for
signposts outside the Gaeltacht to be bilingual." He
rejected the Minister's assertion that there could not be
a bilingual name in a Gaeltacht.

"I always believed politics to be the art of the
possible," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

Mr Ó'Cuiv ruled out amending the Official Placenames Act,
saying "the overwhelming evidence was . . . the vast
majority of Gaeltacht communities were delighted" that
for the first time Gaeltacht placenames had official
status.

He would have to consult the wider Gaeltacht community
which covered in excess of 2,300 placenames were he to
change the law. He now intends to address the council on
the issue.

The campaign for Irish only placenames and roadsigns in
Gaeltacht areas had actually begun in west Kerry, Mr
Ó'Cuiv recalled. However, yesterday the reverse was the
case; the main town sign on the approach road from
Killarney saying "An Daingean" had the English "Dingle"
painted over it.

Boxes were opened shortly after 11.35am at the Hillgrove
Hotel on the outskirts of town on the Conor Pass Road and
a mass of pre-addressed brown envelopes flooded on to the
table.

Reporters and the public were kept well back to protect
the identity of voters as their names along with that of
a witness were on the ballot paper. Returning officer
Charlie O'Sullivan's announcement that there were some
1,086 envelopes - a small number had more than one vote -
was greeted with applause by up to 100 people, most of
them Yes voters.

A high turnout was needed to ensure the carrying of the
plebiscite as some 612 voters would have to vote Yes.

Feelings were running high at the count, with some
stalwart Fianna Fáil voters saying they would not be
voting for the party next time out.

Patsy Fenton, retired dentist, and a fourth generation
Dingle woman, who lives in Green Street said the name-
change imposed on her town represented a lack of
democracy. The same thing was happening in Mayo she felt.

"It's going to affect the Fianna Fáil vote," she said.

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606842298.html

Public To Get View Of Rarely Seen Dublin Buildings

21/10/2006

People will have an opportunity this weekend to get a
glimpse into parts of many architecturally important
buildings in Dublin that are not normally open to the
public.

As part of the "Open House Dublin" weekend, there will
also be walking tours of new and established
neighbourhoods in the city.

More than 50 events involving nearly 100 buildings are
involved in the project, organised by the Irish
Architecture Foundation (IAF). Foundation chairperson
Antoinette O'Neill said last night that all the events
requiring prebooking, or tickets were already booked out,
and there were indications that many other buildings
would attract large crowds.

"I feel I must warn people that queues are likely, and
people may not be able to get into particular buildings
they had hoped to visit."

Among the places likely to be very popular with visitors
are the viewing platform at Liberty Hall and the museum
flat at the Iveagh Trust building in Patrick Street.

The award-winning urban garden designed by Diarmuid
Gavin, which was installed at an apartment scheme at
Hanover Quay after its triumph at last year's Chelsea
Garden Show, will also be open to the public.

There will be tours of Temple Bar and Smithfield over the
weekend, while there will also be an opportunity to see
Dublin docklands by water tomorrow afternoon.

People will be able to visit Liberty Hall's viewing
platform today and tomorrow. Visitors should call to
Liberty Hall reception between 10.30am and 2.30pm each
day for access to the building. Des Rea O'Kelly, who
designed the 1965 tower block, will be speaking on the
genesis of the building on Saturday, while Brian Hogan,
who redesigned the adjoining Performing Arts Centre in
2003, will be speaking tomorrow.

Busáras on Store Street will be open from 1.30pm to
4.30pm tomorrow.

All the events are free of charge, although some required
prebooking, which is no longer available.

At the heart of Open House Dublin is the theme of
neighbourhood and the exploration of new and established
neighbourhoods in the city

Featured neighbourhoods include Trinity College, Temple
Bar, the Liberties, Smithfield, Docklands, North Great
George's Street and Henrietta Street.

The IAF website is www.architecturefoundation.ie

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606842256.html

Hidden Dublin

21/10/2006

Places and buildings to visit at the weekend:

TODAY

Apartment on Blind Quay - 10 Blind Quay, Dublin 2, 10am -
noon (booked out)

Dublin City Library and Archive - 138-144 Pearse Street,
D2. 10am - 1pm

Exhibition Centre RIAI - 8 Merrion Square, D2,10am - 4pm

The Green Building - 3 Crow Street, D2, 10.30am - 11.30am

Liberty Hall - Eden Quay, D1, Saturday and Sunday 10.30pm
- 1pm (no pre-booking, but expect large queues)

Architectural Walk - Trinity College Dublin, 10.30am
(booked out)

Living in Temple Bar, 11am one tour, first-come basis,
meet outside Starbucks, Foster Place

Smithfield- From Market to Multi-ethnic Quarter, 11am one
tour, first-come basis, meet at Fruit and Vegetable
Market, Ormonde Square

Iveagh Trust Museum Flat - 3b Iveagh Trust Flats, Patrick
Street, D8, 11pm - 2pm (no pre-booking, but expect large
queues)

Afternoon

Apartment on Parliament Street - 35 Parliament Street, D2
12.30pm - 1.30pm

Architects' Offices - 4 St Catherine's Lane West, D8, 2pm
- 4.30pm

Donore Avenue Community Centre - Donore Avenue, D8, 2pm -
4.30pm

Smithfield Tour of the new and old quarter, 2pm one tour,
first-come basis, meet at the Chimney Stack

Living in Temple Bar, 2pm one tour, first-come basis,
meet outside Turk's Head Essex Street

The Ark - 11a Eustace Street D2 2pm - 4pm

Independent Artists' Studios, 11 and 16 Eustace Street,
D2, 2pm - 4pm

The Gaiety School of Acting, Sycamore Street, D2, 2pm -
4pm

Dublin Civic Offices - Wood Quay, D8, 2pm - 4pm

City Hall - Dame Street, D2 2pm - 4pm

Rates Office - 16 Castle Street, D2, 2pm - 4pm

The Daintree Building - 62 Pleasant's Place Camden
Street, D2, 2pm - 4pm

The Digital Depot - Thomas Street, D8, 2pm- 4pm

Mercy Family Centre - South Brown Street, D8, 2pm - 4pm

St Catherine's Foyer - Marrowbone Lane, D8, 2pm - 4pm

Dining Hall and Loos Bar, Trinity College Dublin, 3pm one
tour (booked out)
----

TOMORROW

Morning

Macro Community Resource Centre, 10am - 12.30pm

3, 4, 5 Temple Cottages, 10pm - 1pm (booked out)

The LAB and Dance Centre - Foley Street, 10pm - 4pm

Mews House - Rere 63 Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Lane,
10am - 4pm

Liberty Hall - Eden Quay, D1, Saturday and Sunday 10.30pm
- 1pm

No 10 Henrietta Street - Henrietta Street, D1, 11am -
3.30pm

King's Inns - Henrietta Street, D1, 11.30am one tour
(booked out)

Busáras - Store Street, D1 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Afternoon

Hanover Quay Building - Sir John Rogerson's Quay, 2pm and
3pm two tours,

first-come basis, meet at front entrance Sir John
Rogerson's Quay

Contemporary House - 31a Pembroke Lane, D4, 2pm - 4pm
(booked out)

Penthouse Clarion Quay - Clarion Quay, D1, 2pm - 4pm

Cigar Box Apartment - 26 North Great George's Street, D1,
2pm - 4pm

Cigar Box Architects Office- 26 North Great George's
Street, D1, 2pm - 4pm

Converted Warehouse- 27 North Great George's Street, D1,
2pm - 4pm

Belvedere House - Great Denmark Street, D1, 2pm - 4pm

Architects' Office - 11-12 Baggot Court, D2, 2pm - 4pm

Contemporary House - 54 Percy Lane, D4, 2pm - 4pm

Contemporary House - 1 Stable Lane, Cambridge Road, D6,
2pm - 4pm

Contemporary House- 2 Stable Lane, Cambridge Road, D6,
2pm - 4pm

Contemporary House- 3 Stable Lane, Cambridge Road, D6,
2pm - 4pm

Modern House - 1 St Mary's Lane, D4, 2pm - 4pm

Architects' office and residence - 41 Francis Street, D8
2pm - 4pm (booked out)

CHQ Stack A, 2pm - 4.30pm

Georgian House - Mahaffy House No 38 North Great George's
St., D1, 2pm and 4.30pm two tours (booked out)

Georgian House - No 11 North Great George's Street, D1,
2.30pm one tour (booked out)

Georgian House - No 50 North Great George's Street, D1
2.30pm one tour (booked out)

Dublin Docklands by Water: 3pm and 4pm two tours, first-
come basis, departs landing stage at CHQ, Custom House
Quay

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606842421.html

RTÉ's Jimmy Magee Gets Award To Mark 50 Years In Broadcasting

21/10/2006

RTÉ broadcaster Jimmy Magee was last night presented with
an Outstanding Achievement Award to mark his 50th year in
broadcasting.

The achievement was marked at the Phonographic
Performance Ireland (PPI) awards, now in their fifth year
and which promote excellence in radio broadcasting.

The sports broadcaster, whose career began in 1956 on the
junior sports programme on RTÉ Radio has covered a range
of sports as well as 10 Olympic Games, 10 World Cup
finals, and eight Tour de France races.

Jimmy Magee has become known as the "memory man" for his
ability to remember sporting names and dates. He also has
a keen interest in music, and produced Ireland's first
ever official chart.

His achievements include composing six published songs
and he presented the first sponsored late night radio
show.

PPI was established in 1968 as the central administrator
of record company rights in the public performance,
broadcasting and reproduction of their recordings.

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1021/1160606842499.html

Questions Raised About Value Of Refloating Dolphins

Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent
21/10/2006

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has questioned
the value of refloating dolphins after another mass
stranding on the Mullet peninsula in north Mayo
yesterday.

Belmullet divers, lifeboat volunteers and fire brigade
staff joined local people in returning 12 striped
dolphins to sea yesterday morning, just four days after a
similar effort outside the town when 20 of the same
species were shepherded out to deeper water.

However, four striped dolphins have been found dead on
the north Mayo coast over the past week, prompting
concerns about the health of what may be a large pod of
the marine mammals off the northwest coast.

Striped dolphins are rarely seen close to Irish shores,
preferring oceanic habitats, and tend to travel in
schools of up to 100.

"There is a strong argument that these dolphins should be
left to their own devices, or that the authorities might
consider euthanasia as a more humane option,"said Padraig
Whooley of the IWDG.

The IWDG believes the dolphins may be beaching for a
particular reason, such as illness, and refloating may
only contribute to the stress of the mammals.

© The Irish Times

*************************

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_5082687,00.html

Irish Visitors Right At Home

Rural residents retrace long-ago journey taken by Ulster-
Scots ancestors

By Fred Brown, brown@knews.com
October 21, 2006

NORRIS - The scene might be classified as a homecoming of
sorts.

As the tour bus huffed to a stop in front of the Museum
of Appalachia, 52 ruddy-faced souls stepped out, looked
around and smiled.

In the middle distance, colorful roosters stretched their
scrawny necks and crowed and sheep grazed. A slight mist
fell.

The museum's barns, 19th-century cabins and outbuildings
possessed a familiar look. Tools, used in planting and
taming a frontier, also were recognizable.

It looked, felt and sounded a lot like home. Most of the
52 people are farmers or rural folk from Northern
Ireland's countryside. For the past several days, they
have taken part in a tour in the footsteps of America's
early Ulster-Scots pioneers.

Naturally, that trek brought them to the museum that
houses the historic and cultural soul of East Tennessee.

"I recognize the cash register," says tour organizer
Horace Hutton says as he walks through the museum's
exhibitions.

The cash register is a classic, the type that would have
been found in rural stores throughout East Tennessee.

Maurice Small and his wife, Georgena, also were typical
of those who stopped off to see the museum.

They are retired from a dairy and pig farm in Ahoghill,
Northern Ireland. That name does not sound at all like it
is spelled. To pronounce it properly, you have to cough
first to get it going, and the "hill" comes out the other
end as "hagh."

The word "pig" sounds like "peg" when spoken with an
Irish accent.

"Oh, sure," says Maurice, "all of this looks very
familiar. But, you know, we are computerized now. We just
hook 'em up, and you can tell what cow is doing what.
Very smart," he says.

"The barns are a bit different, though," he says. "I
don't recognize them."

"No, dear," said Georgena, "those barns are from an
earlier time."

"Oh," says Maurice. "Yes, well, then, I think so."

Hutton, from Armagh City, is a former business manager
for an Irish fertilizer and farm chemical company. He
says he spends his retirement years traveling about, as
it were.

He formed a travel company in 1975 but really got it
going in 1998. The company gives Northern Irish farm
families a chance to visit America's rural society,
especially the descendants of those who left Ulster
beginning in the 1600s and 1700s to come to America for a
new life.

Hutton also lines up American farm families willing to
host the Irish farmers and their wives for a day or two
during a tour. The families had stayed with Mennonites in
Pennsylvania shortly after the shooting deaths of five
Amish girls early this month.

"That was such a tragedy," says Hutton. "But, you know,
we come from a background of terrorism. We have dealt
with terrorists in Northern Ireland, and we have seen the
toll it takes."

Terrorism, he says, is terrorism, whether in Northern
Ireland or an otherwise peaceful Amish community.

Hutton says he originally came up with the idea of
traveling in the footsteps of pioneering Ulster-Scots by
reading Northern Ireland author Billy Kennedy, a well-
known face in East Tennessee as well as throughout South
Central Appalachia for his many books that focus on the
Scots-Irish immigration to the region.

Kennedy's series of books recount the arduous journeys of
the first Scots-Irish pioneers into Appalachia, their
heritage and their influence on America.

Hutton's tour began early October in Pennsylvania and
finishes this weekend in Nashville.

Along the way, the group wound down through the
Shenandoah Valley, across North Carolina's hilltops and
into East Tennessee, a similar migration route of many of
Appalachia's early pioneers.

"Here," says one as he steps off the bus. "You'll be
needin' this."

He holds a large postcard of a plaque surrounded by
climbing greenery, proclaiming the spot, known as "The
Birches," as the ancestral home of Thomas J. "Stonewall"
Jackson in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Glen Pratt, president of the Ulster-Scots Society of
America, who is from Amarillo, Texas, met the tour in
Knoxville and traveled with them to Norris.

Pratt sees the trip with great symbolism. Many of the
first Ulster-Scots moved on from East Tennessee into
Texas.

"Just like here, in Texas they were known as the Scotch-
Irish, the Scots-Irish or the Ulster-Presbyterians."

Scots-Irish pioneers settled in Texas and even farther
west after leaving the Tennessee frontier, he says.

Pratt says that today the Ulster-Scots Society can count
about 22 million Americans who trace their roots to at
least one family from Ulster. Those Ulster-Scots would
have come to America in the 18th century.

"You know," says Hutton, "on these trips, you learn so
much about America by talking to farmers.

"You also know that a lot of America was settled by the
Ulster-Scots. And today, you have about 25 percent of
Americans can trace their roots to Northern Ireland."

He beamed and his rouge-red cheeks flushed a bit.

Just like home.

Senior Writer Fred Brown may be reached at 865-342-6427.

----
To Subscribe to Irish Aires Google News List, click Here.
To Unsub from Irish Aires Google News List, click Here
For options visit: http://groups.google.com/group/IrishAiresNews

Or join our Irish Aires Yahoo Group, Click here

To Get RSS Feed for Irish Aires News click HERE
(Paste http://irishaires.blogspot.com/atom.xml into a News Reader)

To October Index
To Index of Monthly Archives
Posted by: Unknown / 10:48 AM
Comments: Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?