Derry woman Claire Crockett liked to smoke, have a drink, party. Then she became a nun and died abroad while looking after children. Is she on the road to becoming a saint? Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy, speaking at a memorial for John Francis Green in Castleblaney at the weekend, called on the British government to […]
The Young Scientist – is that all?
The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which ends today, is a noble achievement. It involves over 1,000 student finalists who are judged by 85 experts from Ireland’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors. President Michael D Higgins was right to praise it: “It is both an exciting and a morally challenging time […]
PAT+JUDE TALK ABOUT CONOF MURPHY’S MOVE SOUTH, GREENLAND FOR SALE, AND IS THE SOUTH ON THE SLIDE?
Conor Murphy is planning to stand for the Seanad in Dublin, relinquishing his Stormont seat and portfolio. Is he doing it for health reasons – or will he have an impact on preparation for a border poll? Stephen Collins of the Irish Times thinks he’ll have zero impact. Greenland in recent days has received more […]
Bangor Academy wants it but Minister Paul knows better
Oh boy. The DUP didn’t have to choose the Education portfolio up in Stormont, but it did. Likewise the party didn’t need to appoint Paul Givan as their Education minister but they did. Right now that looks like two very bad decisions by the DUP. Talkback on Raidio Uladh is buzzing over the fact that […]
Shame and rape: whose shame?
Picture this. A woman sits in a court room, listening while a man who broke her arm and punched her face so hard the scars are permanent, is tried. The man is found guilty and sent to jail. The judge commends the woman, saying she showed great courage in coming to court and refusing to […]
FF, FG and the company they keep
So now we know – both Simon Harris and Micheál Martin are willing to have Michael Lowry help them form a government. Simon Harris:“That’s the way our democracy, our parliamentary democracy, works. And the deputy [MichaelLowry] has been elected.” Micheál Martin: “Michael Lowry has been elected by the people of Tipperary three times since 2016, and […]
The Brutal Murder of Sean Brown and the constant Intimidation of members of the GAA – by Joe McVeigh
Since 1970, people involved in the GAA have been targeted and murdered by MI5, Loyalist killers and the British army. Many others were harassed and threatened by British soldiers and the RUC. A new book, ‘Lost Gaels-Remembering the Members of the GAA Killed during the Conflict in Ireland’ by Peadar Thompson from West Belfast recalls many […]
PAT+JUDE TALK ABOUT ELON MUSK & REFORM UK,, IRISH ROADS & RAILWAYS, AND COMPULSORY IRISH IN SCHOOLS
What is Elon Musk playing at? First he hints he’s going to give biiiig money to ReformUK, then he says Nigel Farage isn’t fit to lead ReformUK. And he claims Keir Starmer presided over the grooming of children by paedophile gangs and should be put on trial. Does being the richest man in the world […]
IN DEFENCE OF DECENT PEOPLE by Donal Kennedy
A classmate of mine in Rockwell from 1957 to 1959, Philip MacAllister, from Donabate I had forgotten for 35 years, had joined the Holy Ghost Fathers and had laboured heroically in Africa for decades before being martyred, with others in Sierra Leone in March 1994. Philip had Gaelicised his name to Felim while the […]
SHOW ME THEIR COLLABORATORS AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE by Donal Kennedy
In my recent BLOG – “Teachers, Pupils and Parents” (January 4th 2025) I recalled how the universally loved Thady O’Connor, a Holy Ghost Father, was a life-long friend of Eamon de Valera. I quoted my Mother’s advice “Show me your companions and I’ll tell you what you are.” More evidence of the stature […]