Irish Echo September 2019

WILL THE EU CALL BORIS’ BREXIT BLUFF?

STILL THE ONE Why Ireland’s whiskey distilleries are showing renewed spirit TRAVEL :: PAGE 28

Fintan O’Toole Interview :: PAGE 24-25

THE IRISH IN HURLEY

New Governor General traces Irish heritage to Cork village PAGE 6

September, 2019 | Volume 32 – Number 9 | AU$5.95 (incl GST)

STATISTICAL SNUB

Returning emigrants now called immigrants Aussie-Irish women on top of the GAA world Australasian teams impress at the GAA World Games in Dublin See Page 30 Tricia Melanaphy, left, and Clara Fitzpatrick of Australasia celebrate after winning the GAA World Games Ladies Football Irish Cup Final at Croke Park during the GAA World Games.

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Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

IRELAND’S Central Statistics Office (CSO) now officially refers to Irish citizens returning to live in the country as ‘immigrants’.

The CSO, the official statistician for the Irish government, used the term in its latest report on Population and Migration.

In a statement accompanying the report, statistician James Hegarty wrote: “In the year to April 2019, Irish nationals accounted for 26,900 (30.4 per cent) of the 88,600 immigrants to Ireland and 29,000 (52.8 per cent) of the 54,900 emigrants from Ireland.”

Asked to explain why Irish citizens were being called ‘immigrants’, Mr Hegarty said the CSO was using the “Eurostat definition for both immigration and emigration”.

He said that for the purposes of reporting migration patterns, nationality was not taken into account.

“The act of immigration/emigration describes the action that a person undertakes and is not specific to any particular nationality,” Mr Hegarty said in a statement.

“While the majority of Irish nationals moving to Ireland will be returning former residents, there may also be a cohort of Irish nationals/citizens moving to Ireland for the first time.

The Eurostat definition accommodates both of these situations.”

The government was asked for

comment on the terminology but no response was received by deadline.

Emigrants returning to live in Ireland have complained about being treated “like immigrants”, especially when trying to resume access to social or government services, or while going through the process of satisfying the Habitual Residency Provision.

These concerns, and other specific problems associated with the decision to return to live in Ireland, prompted the Government to commission a report, which was completed in February 2018.

The subsequent report, produced

by Indecon, identified many real challenges encountered by returning emigrants and made 30 recommendations, only a handful of which have been adopted by the government.

The CSO report found that an estimated 29,000 Irish nationals emigrated in the year to April 2019 compared with 26,900 who returned to the country.

There was a surge in emigration to Australia, as the numbers leaving Ireland for the country increased by 2,000 to 6,500 in the year to April 2019 – a figure last recorded in 2015.

The numbers heading to Australia had been declining or remained flat in the intervening period. The number of people returning to Ireland or emigrating from Australia declined from 7,200 to 5,800.

Print Post No 100007285

BILLY CANTWELL

2 | September, 2019

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THE IRISH ECHO

Opinion

From the editor’s desk Editor/Publisher Billy Cantwell

Diaspora referendum may expose Ireland’s ‘domestic xenophobia’ NEW figures from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office have revealed that despite a sharp improvement in the country’s economic fortunes. People continue to leave in droves.

Some 29,000 Irish nationals emigrated in the year to April 2019 while approximately 26,900 Irish emigrants returned to live in Ireland.

This marks a return to net outward migration after a year when, for the first time in nine years, the number of Irish people returning to live in Ireland from abroad marginally overtook the number emigrating.

The shift in numbers comes just months ahead of a crucial electoral test which will, for the first time, publicly and unambiguously test the country’s relationship with its diaspora.

The referendum, to be held in late October, will determine whether or not voting rights will be extended to all Irish citizens no matter where they live or how long they have been away.

These voting rights do not extend to Dáil elections or referenda, only to presidential elections that occur every seven years.

The next one is due in 2025.

If the referendum fails, and the government fears that it may, Ireland will come face to face with an uncomfortable truth about a form of domestic xenophobia.

People in Ireland often view Irish citizens abroad, particularly emigrants, with a mixture of pity and envy.

Almost every family in the country has been touched by emigration. Even in good times, like now, Irish people have shown an instinct to wander, scratching an itch of curiosity about the world beyond the island.

The young Irish nurse who flew out of Dublin on her way to Sydney last week may not realise it, but her departure has immediately made her a second-class Irish citizen. She has lost the right to vote despite the fact that she may very well return to live and work in Ireland some day. She will have fallen victim to Ireland’s very restrictive electoral laws that unapologet ically prioritise residency over citizenship when it comes to political rights.

Those laws make Ireland an outlier among western democracies.

In Europe, all countries except Cyprus, Denmark and Malta allow their

citizens abroad to vote. Of course, the referendum is alarmingly ambitious in one respect and feebly gutless in another. Ambitious in that it proposes that all Irish citizens be allowed a vote for the President. Was anyone really

“The referendum

is alarmingly ambitious in one respect and feebly gutless in another.

”

lobbying for that? Do third-generation Australians with an Irish granny really want to vote in Irish elections?

The strongest voices in favour of votes for the Irish abroad have focused their energies on simply bringing Ireland into line with other

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democracies. This could be achieved by changing the rules so that citizens abroad can only vote if, for instance, they were first registered in an Irish constituency and then by limiting the time before which they might lose the right to vote. This is very much the way it works in Australia.

But the referendum is also feeble in that it seeks to introduce different rules for one democratic event only, the presidential election.

Is this an undeclared acknowledgment by Ireland’s decision-makers that proposing to extend the franchise for Dáil elections was never going to be supported and that the presidential vote has a better chance of succeeding? We shall see.

The initial response in Ireland to the referendum has not been encouraging. There is a harshness to the view that once Irish citizens leave the country they forfeit the right to have a say.

The latest CSO figures point to the reality that many, many emigrants eventually return. Revealingly, the CSO described those returning emigrants as ‘immigrants’.

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LOCAL NEWS

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK STAR TO FEATURE IN SYDNEY PRODUCTION OF MARTIN MCDONAGH PLAY

New leading lady for Leenane STC beauty ORANGE Is The New Black star Yael Stone will play the title role in Sydney Theatre Company’s forthcoming production of Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen Of Leenane.

The role of Maureen Folan was originally to be played by Rebel Wilson but the Hollywood actor pulled out due to a scheduling clash.

Stone is an impressive replacement having also built an international following from her role as Lorna in all seven seasons of the Emmy-winning prison show.

She was also catapulted into the media spotlight late last year after going public with allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush with whom she co-starred in a Sydney production of Diary Of A Madman in 2010.

Rush, who won a defamation case against The Daily Telegraph over reports of inappropriate conduct during a production of King Lear, has denied the allegations.

Stone, a NIDA graduate, has worked

extensively in the Australian film, television and theatre industry since she began her professional career at 13.

Also joining her in the cast is wellknown Australian actor Noni Hazlehurst, who will play Maureen Folan’s cruel mother Mag. Hazlehurst has performed in everything from Playschool to The Letdown and A Place To Call Home.

Director Paige Rattray said the two central characters are “brilliant roles for women”.

“They are both incredibly flawed beings, playing domestic roles that have been thrust onto them by society and circumstance,” she said.

“Their psychology is complex and you see-saw between feeling anger, sympathy, understanding and outrage at their actions.”

The STC production, which opens on November 18, comes on the back of a sell-out season of McDonagh’s equally dark comedy The Cripple Of Inishmaan at the Old Fitzroy Theatre.

Yael Stone and Noni Hazelhurst will star in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Martin McDonagh’s classic The Beauty Queen Of Leenane.

Picture: Rene Vaile.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CRANK UP CONTROVERSIAL VISA CANCELLATIONS LAWS

Deportation numbers set to soar MEG KANOFSKI

Minister for Immigration David Coleman

IMMIGRATION experts have warned the federal government’s proposed changes to the Migration Act could mean the number of non-citizens deported might increase five-fold.

Australia’s Minister for Immigration David Coleman introduced legislation to allow the government to cancel the visas of people who have been convincted of a crime that carries a maximum sentence of at least two years, even if they never served time in prison.

Mr Coleman said tightening character tests based on criminal

conduct was necessary to protect society from harmful people.

In a Senate committee submission, immigration researchers said the changes would affect those “who are unlikely to be an ongoing threat to the Australian community”, with many non-citizens potentially deported for non-custodial offences such as common assault, which frequently carry a lesser punishment of a fine or a community correction order.

Researchers including Abul Rizvi, former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration, said a more stringent character test would “immediately expand the number

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of people failing”, especially as the legislation could be applied retrospectively, and that it would “exacerbate the divide between citizens and non-citizens”.

The Migration Act was last changed in 2014 under Tony Abbott’s prime ministership, when amendments allowed the immigration minister to cancel a non-citizen’s visa based on association with groups involved in criminal conduct, sex offences involving a child, crimes against humanity, and other offences of national and international security concern.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has opposed the

policy under which people who have lived almost all of their lives in Australia can be sent back to the countries of their birth.

Ms Ardern said the issue had corroded the political relationship between New Zealand and Australia.

Between 2012 and 2013, 76 New Zealanders had their 501 Visas cancelled.

The figure jumped to 1,277 in 2016-17 after the passing of the 2014 amendments.

A stricter character test, as proposed by Mr Coleman, could mean thousands more non-citizens would be removed from their Australian lives and families.

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4 | September, 2019

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IRISH AUSTRALIA

FAMILY’S RELIEF AS ASHES LOST EN ROUTE TO IRELAND RETURNED HOURS BEFORE SERVICE

Lost luggage ashes drama for Tasmanian Irish family MICHELLE DEVANE

AN emotional and upsetting few days have come to an end for an emigrant family that has finally scattered the ashes of their loved ones in Northern Ireland and England.

Bob Gilmour was unsure if they would ever be able to scatter the ashes of his parents after the urn containing their remains was lost en route to Ireland.

He had travelled from Australia with his wife Kristen Hynes and their children Declan and Sarah to fulfil the wishes of his parents, Sam and Marjorie, who wanted to be laid to rest in their home places of Northern Ireland and England.

Born in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Sam Gilmour met his wife Marjorie, who was from Birmingham, while serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. They emigrated to Australia in 1967. They told their son before they died that they wanted their ashes scattered on the family graves in their home countries.

But the family were left in limbo for almost four days when they arrived in Dublin from Italy and learned that Aer Lingus had mislaid their luggage containing the ashes.

Bob Gilmour with his wife Kristen Hynes, and their children Declan and Sarah Gilmour with the returned bag that contained the ashes of his parents Samuel and Marjorie Gilmour.

It was Wednesday morning, just hours before a planned memorial in Ballymena, that the baggage was returned. Ms Hynes said it had been an emotional and upsetting few days for the family, who had planned the trip for years.

“The baggage arrived two hours before the memorial service,” she told PA. “Thankfully, at least, it did turn up in time. It was a complete relief

... It’s a long way to come to lose the reason that you came.”

She said it was not “so much the stress” about the bags going missing as the disappointment that the airline was not doing more to help them.

“It became so frustrating that we didn’t hear back from anybody (at the airline),” she said, adding that when she did get through to someone they “couldn’t tell her anything”.

FEDERAL COURT THROWS OUT DEPORTATION APPEAL

Irish-born ex-bikie set to be deported MEG KANOFSKI

THE Federal Court has thrown out an Irish-born former bikie’s appeal to avoid deportation.

Dublin-born Paul Pennie, who has lived in Australia for 40 years, said his representations in favour of having his visa reinstated had not been given “proper, genuine and realistic” consideration by the Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, in his first court hearing. These include concern that Mr Pennie could be homeless, unemployed and not have access to mental health care and treatment for heart problems if he is forcibly returned to Ireland.

Appeal judges Justice Davies, Derrington and Colvin disagreed, declaring, “no error is discernible in the primary judge’s reasons”.

“The minister accepted that he may experience significant difficulties … but was of the view that Mr Pennie would have a level of access to healthcare, social welfare and housing comparable to that which is available in Australia.”

The appeal judges agreed with the original judgement not to reinstate Mr Pennie’s visa.

Mr Pennie filed submissions stating that the views expressed by the Minister were incorrect, given

Paul Pennie, awaiting deportation.

that he would not be eligible for job seekers allowance or state pension in Ireland because he has lived in Australia since childhood. However, the appeal judges found the minister had no legal duty to ensure the 46-year-old would be entitled to welfare in Ireland.

The judges said the minister’s concerns that the Irish-Australian was at risk of engaging in further criminal conduct were reasonable, because although Mr Pennie said he had severed ties with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, those involved with the outlaw group were still pressuring him to reoffend.

“In those circumstances, it was open to the minister to reason that separation from the club was ongoing … not completed.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said non-citizens who engage in criminal activity or other serious conduct of concern such as involvement in outlaw motorcycle gangs “can expect to have their visas considered for cancellation”.

Mr Pennie was sentenced to prison in 2015 for possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, leading to the cancellation of his visa in 2016.

Following the dismissal of his appeal, Mr Pennie wrote on Facebook from a Perth detention centre that the “putrid system” was destroying families’ lives.

His father Gerry Pennie said the decision had devastated Paul. “He couldn’t even talk to me.”

In a letter to Mr Dutton, Gerry Pennie said: “We have already been forced to endure … burying our youngest son Keith. Should you cancel Paul’s visa, we would again be put through the unbearable grief of losing another of our children.”

Paul Pennie will leave behind his elderly parents, sisters, and nieces and nephews when he leaves Australia in late November.

Aer Lingus apologised to the family for any inconvenience caused.

A spokeswoman said: “Aer Lingus has confirmed that the missing baggage was located in Milan Malpensa Airport. Regrettably it was not loaded on to the Aer Lingus flight by the baggage handlers at Malpensa Airport.

“The baggage arrived overnight (on Tuesday) into Dublin Airport, where it was immediately transported to the

family. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

Ms Hynes said the family will now travel to Birmingham to scatter Marjorie’s remains. But she said the urn would not be in the hold this time.

“We’ve got her and she won’t be going in the luggage underneath the plane this time around.We’ll be carrying her ashes in our hand luggage.”

BUSINESS AWARD

Annie Slattery, her husband Keith Moore and their daughter Romy.

Dublin entrepreneur picks up national start-up award AN entrepreneur from Clontarf eclipsed more than 100 applicants to win Australia’s top gong for women-led tech start-ups.

Annie Slattery, 34, was awarded the prize for her start-up ConX after a pitch competition following the Grace Hopper Celebration, the world’s largest gathering of women technologists.

“ConX is a platform built for contractors in the construction industry to simplify how they find and win work,” she said. “We have built a simple and affordable suit of tools to manage tenders and hire a team.”

The award judges were impressed

by Slattery’s new onscreen measuring tools that allow construction workers to measure and mark out pre-build plans without printing blueprints, sav-

ing time and increasing accuracy.

Slattery, who started ConX with her carpenter husband Keith Moore, moved to Australia 10 years ago.

Ms Slattery said ConX users were using the technology to put themselves ahead of the pack during the construction industry downturn partly caused, she says, by a sharp reduction in residential building approvals.

“We’re seeing the rate of subcontractors measuring plans and submitting quotes is really increasing as guys get hungry for work again.

“This prize represents a fantastic opportunity for ConX to expand into global markets, with the United States top of our list,” Ms Slattery said.

ConX is forecast to turn over $2.5 million in 2020.

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LOCAL NEWS

August, 2019 | 5

IRISH CHARITY’S GARDEN PARTY RETURNS TO SYDNEY HARBOURSIDE MANSION AFTER HIATUS

Fairwater coup for Ireland Fund MEG KANOFSKI

AUSTRALIA’S most expensive house will once again host the Ireland Funds’ flagship fundraiser after the property was bought by a technology billionaire.

The Garden Party fundraiser has been held at Sydney’s Fairwater estate 27 times in the past 30 years.

The Ireland Funds’ Australian executive director, Teresa Keating, said the late Lady Mary Fairfax’s personal connection with the charity had inspired her “amazing generosity” in allowing use of the harbourside property.

“Tony O’Reilly founded the Ireland Funds … he had a publishing background and he met Lady Fairfax at a publishing conference in New York,” Ms Keating said.

“They got on very well, and she offered the Ireland Funds use of her property in Australia.”

After Lady Fairfax’s death in 2017, the property was purchased by enterprise software company Atlassian’s co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes as a family home.

The 1.121 hectare estate on Sydney Harbour, owned by the Fairfax family since Federation, is understood to have been bought for almost $100 million, making it Australia’s most expensive house.

Atlassian’s co-founder Scott Farquhar bought the neighbouring Elaine estate.

The future of the Garden Party at the iconic location was thrown into doubt after the sale.

The Cannon-Brookes family, however, chose to invite the Ireland Funds to use the venue again.

“It’s a real coup for us and the supporters that the new owners have invited us back,” Ms Keating said.

The 2018 Garden Party raised more than $200,000 for causes including integrated education, community development, and peace and reconciliation in Ireland.

Ms Keating is confident this year’s gathering will be just as successful.

“It’s a chance for supporters who have spread their wings to give back through the Ireland Funds in Australia,” she said.

Founded in 1976, The Ireland Funds operate in 12 countries and have raised more than $800 million for more than 3,200 organisations.

The organisation is one of the largest private funding sources for not-for-profit and charitable causes in Ireland.

This year’s Garden Party will take place on Sunday, October 20. For details, contact Jennifer Nadjek by emailing jnajdek@irelandfunds. org

(Clockwise from above) A previous Ireland Fund event at Fairwater; the house’s new owner Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes and the front of the $100m property on New South Head in Double Bay.

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6 | September, 2019

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LOCAL NEWS

CELTIC CLUB ELECTIONS TO DETERMINE FUTURE LEADERSHIP OF MELBOURNE IRISH INSTITUTION

President challenged as Celtic Club members vote DAVID HENNESSY

THE candidate challenging incumbent Celtic Club president Brian Shanahan in the forthcoming election has told The Irish Echo that he does not want to smear his opponent.

But Peter Donnellan, who heads up a group of concerned members dubbed ‘Dire Straits’, does believe the club is being mismanaged.

“None of our pieces of work say anything about particular individuals.

None of the things that we put out say bad things about people,” he said.

“I think if people felt like they were included, there wouldn’t be the level of antagonism and name calling and this sort of stuff that has been going on in the place for a long time.

“If the sale [of the club’s premises] had gone according to the way sales should proceed instead of trying to bluster and force their way through it like some sort of rugby pack, you would say, ‘right, we’ll probably give it a go’.

“I think a lot of the dissension is caused by the methodology and the abuse and so forth that happens simply if you disagree. You’re perceived as an enemy by nature if you disagree.

Because our team don’t agree and they put their heads above the barricades, they’re there to be knocked off.

I don’t think it’s necessary and I don’t think it’s productive for the club in the long term or in the short term.”

Mr Donnellan also says his team is just looking for greater transparency

Presidential candidate Peter Donnellan.

within the club. Mr Donnellan says his ‘Dire Straits’ team want to open up club meetings to all members and provide information of these meetings to members who are not present.

They also promise to provide regular financial statements and protect members’ rights.

“We’re pretty sure that Brian probably has the numbers and good luck to him but we have a responsibility to say, ‘this stuff can’t keep going on’.

“At the moment we can’t get a list of club members to send stuff to.

That’s against the spirit of the act and it’s not within the spirit of the club rules so it’s very hard to get anything directly to members.”

In response to Mr Donnellan’s comments, Mr Shanahan insisted that material put out by the ‘Dire Straits’ team had mentioned people by name.

On the topic of getting electoral information to members, Mr Shanahan said all candidates had the same opportunity to connect with members. “All members standing for committee are invited to provide a statement of up to 200 words and a photograph to the returning officer and it will be sent to all club members at the club’s expense,” he said.

“This is a long standing practice at the Club, and all candidates should have received this information.

“The mail out of this information would be expected to commence some days after the draw for ballot positions is undertaken by the returning officer or his representative. The ballot draw has not yet happened.

The assistant returning officer. has advised that all candidates will have their 200 word statements and photographs (once provided) sent to all members in the next two weeks, as is the usual practice.”

On the suggestion there was no business plan and that members are given no indication of how the club is doing and its plans, Mr Shanahan said: “The Club has a budget for 2019/20, which is break even, or a small profit. On top of this, we have assets in excess of $18 million and no debts. After considerable efforts, we were successful in reducing our operation losses, and we are confident of a small profit in 2019/20.

“Furthermore, at the recent confidential members only meeting, attended by ‘Dire Straits’, the Celtic

Club’s future strategy and business plans were discussed in detail by me and other committee of management (COM) members. Club members can be allowed to attend COM meetings if they request to do so, there is no blanket ban. Obviously there is a need for discretion as some matters are sensitive and confidential.”

The club’s headquarters at Queen Street were sold to Malaysian developer Beulah for $25.6 million in 2016 but the club held onto the option to return to Queen Street when it is refurbished in two to three years’ time. In the meantime, the Celtic Club’s temporary home for functions and entertainment is at the Metropolitan Hotel, Courtney St, North Melbourne with an administration centre on William St, West Melbourne.

Mr Donnellan insisted that the members were concerned about the lease arrangement.

“We’re told the Metropolitan lease is now on a month-to-month basis whereas we thought the club had a five-year by five- year lease,” he said.

“However, if we’re on a month-tomonth lease, the club has lost money on the Metropolitan. It’s not regularly open [so] why don’t we get rid of the Metropolitan and find ourselves a better venue?

“There hasn’t been a business plan, not to my knowledge. There’s been nothing that says: ‘This is what we plan to do, this is what we’ve got, this is how we plan to make some money and move forward.’ The club’s cap-

ital is just disappearing. There is no allegation other than mismanagement that we’re making but we have no knowledge at all how things are going and why we’re losing money.

“The sale of the club caused a lot of anxiety within the club and a lot of fighting that probably could have been handled better by every side,” said Mr Donnellan, who served on the committee as secretary.

“I resigned over the non-implementation of governance and accountablity and financial reforms.

People wanted to carry on and get things back to some sort of new normal but it didn’t work so I left. There’s a degree of disarray at the club.”

Committee elections are coming up on September 20. The new committee will then take over after the AGM, which is usually in October.

“I expect our votes to go up and from Brian’s team’s reaction, I would expect that they do feel challenged, Mr Donnellan said. “I think they’re concerned that what we’re saying is biting into their base.”

THE Irish Echo reported last month that grievances against the Melbourne Celtic Club were coming from a website called The Continuity Celtic Club and that this and the ‘Dire Straits’ team were one and the same. This was incorrect.

The website had just posted the ‘Dire Straits’ team’s newsletters and the ‘Dire Straits’ team has nothing to do with the website.

HERITAGE GROUP HELPS GOVERNOR-GENERAL FIND HIS IRISH ROOTS

From Ballinspittle to Yarralumla MEG KANOFSKI

AUSTRALIA’S Governor-General has joined hordes of Australians rediscovering their Irish roots.

Governor-General David Hurley was able to uncover his family history through the work of dedicated Cork volunteers.

“I’ve discovered that Murtagh Hurley was transported from Cork to New South Wales in 1827 for theft … he settled near Cooma [in NSW],” General Hurley said.

Murtagh is thought to have come from Ballinspittle, the village famed for the first sighting in a string of moving statue phenomena in Ireland more than 30 years ago.

“Interestingly, I’ve since discovered that the pub in Ballinspittle is called Hurley’s,” General Hurley said.

“We hope to visit one day.”

The governor-general, who represents Queen Elizabeth in Australia, acknowledged that the formative links forged in his ancestors’ time continued to influence the bond between Australia and Ireland that still exists, with more than 2 million Australians claiming Irish heritage.

“Today, our historical links are the foundation of an exceptionally close

and ongoing friendship between our nations, with bonds ranging from the sporting field, to trade and education.”

General Hurley experienced this affiliation early in his career in the Royal Australian Regiment, going on exchange to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

The former Governor of NSW recalled the achievements of esteemed Irishmen, from the “transformational” work of his predecessor, Dublin-born Sir Richard Bourke who held the role from 1831 to 1837, to the skill of a more unlikely hero.

“More recently, and on a totally different tack, as a rugby fan I always admired [former Irish rugby skipper] Keith Wood, even if I wasn’t such a big fan when he was facing the Wallabies,” he said.

Ireland Reaching Out’s Laura Colleran said the Consul General of Ireland in Sydney, Owen Feeney, contacted the organisation to find out more about General Hurley’s lineage.

“Ireland Reaching Out connects people of Irish origin, living all over the world, with their ancestors place of origin.

“It is a non-profit organisation funded by the Department of Foreign

Governor-General David Hurley can trace his Irish heritage to Ballinspittle, Co Cork where a pub called Hurleys exists today.

Affairs and Trade and the Heritage Council,” Ms Colleran said.

“We have a volunteer network of over 300 people all over Ireland, and an active group in County Cork.”

Ms Colleran described uncovering the roots of the Australian governor general as one of the highlights of the

year for volunteers. Irish-Australians have embraced the opportunity to reconnect with both their place of origin and family members still living in Ireland, with 87 groups of Australians returning to their ancestral lands with the help of Ireland Reaching out in 2019.

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September, 2019 | 7

LOCAL NEWS

IRISH SOFTWARE COMPANY FINEOS LAUNCHES ON AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

ASX goes green for Irish firm MEG KANOFSKI

AN Irish software firm has taken out the title of Australia’s largest foreign stockmarket listing of the year.

FINEOS has raised $211 million in an initial public offering (IPO) that was celebrated with Irish music and dance at the ringing of the opening bell at the Australian Securities Exchange.

The leading tech company makes software systems for the life, accident and health insurance industries.

Speaking at the listing ceremony, FINEOS’ founder and chief executive, Michael Kelly, said: “Being Irish in Australia is always a great thing … but you guys have made this very special.”

“We’ve bought our leadership team from Ireland down[to Sydney] … this is really the start of the next chapter of our journey.”

The ASX approached FINEOS two years ago to propose a listing.

Six of Australia’s top life, accident and health insurance companies use FINEOS software, helping company executives make their decision.

“We thought, ‘We have a great team in Australia, maybe it’s not a bad idea that we investigate this’,” Mr Kelly said.

The ASX’s executive general manager of listings, Max Cunningham, said FINEOS was an attractive global company, with workforces in eight countries.

“FINEOS will make the largest ever foreign tech listing that we’ve received and compliment our technology sector,” he said.

FINEOS has a market capitalisation of more than $500 million, 26 years after it was founded.

Sydney Irish Consul General Owen Feeney said Irish businesses were flourishing in Australia, and he hoped Australian companies would follow suit in exploring Ireland for market opportunities and as a staging post into Europe.

“Irish companies … look abroad, it’s in their blood. There’s no better example than FINEOS.” Apart from being the largest IPO by capital raised among companies this calendar year, it was the third largest tech IPO ever by capital raised and the ASX’s largest foreign tech listing.

Fineos becomes the fourth Irish company listing on the ASX. The company plans to use the windfall to pay down debt in Europe and take on another 100 staff, the Sydney Business Post reported.

Owen Feeney (Sydney Consul General of Ireland), Michael Kelly (CEO of Fineos) and Anne O’Driscoll (Fineos chairwoman) toast the company’s IPO with a Guinness at the Australian Stock Exchange.

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8 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

LOCAL NEWS

NEW ‘PRE-CLEARANCE’ SYSTEM FOR NON-EEA DE FACTO PARTNERS OF IRISH CITTIZENS

Processing times key to success of de facto visa rules AIOFE MOORE

THE Irish government has launched a new ‘pre-clearance process’ that it says will make it easier for Irish emigrants to return home with their non-European Economic Area (EEA) de facto partners.

The changes, which impact directly on Irish emigrants returning to Ireland from Australia, has been welcomed by migration advocates but some concerns remain about timing issues and possible processing delays.

The new pre-clearance system introduces for the first time the possibility to apply for a visa to enter Ireland as a non-EEA partner from a non-visa required country (such as Australia) in advance of travelling to Ireland. Until now, these partners would have applied for immigration permission on arrival in Ireland and would wait for up to six months for a decision before they would be allowed to work.

This had been widely deemed by Irish citizens as a deterrent from returning to Ireland with their nonEEA partners from countries like Australia, Canada and the USA. This change has been lobbied for by many stakeholders, including Crosscare Migrant Project in Ireland, that provides information and

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan.

advocacy to many Irish migrants inquiring about the de facto rules.

Under the new rules de facto partners from both visa and non-visa required countries must apply for a de facto visa in advance of travelling and have received a pre-clearance permission letter if they wish to stay for longer than 90 days and work in Ireland.

“In general we think this will be fine, but for emergency returns [such as coming home to care for a loved one, or if someone is deported] it could cause problems,” Crosscare policy officer Danielle McLaughlin said. “We hope that discretion will be applied in emergency cases, for either very quick processing or to

allow people enter Ireland with their Irish partner and then apply.”

The new system has no impact on the system for spouses or civil partners. They can continue to travel to Ireland and get permission on arrival subject to normal Irish visa rules.

All applications will be processed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in Dublin.

Embassies will only continue to play a role in accepting visa applications, but these too are processed in Dublin or in an INIS visa office.

Writing in The Irish Times, Crosscare’s project officer, Richard King, welcomed the new scheme but cautioned that inefficient processing times could cause frustration.

“The success of the pre-clearance system will in a large part come down to the efficiency of the processing,” he wrote. “A long delay or uncertain processing times could have a huge impact on those returning. For example, couples with children need the assurance of being able to get a response in time to put everything else in motion and get back before the school year starts.”

Mr Flanagan said he hoped the new system “will encourage more people to come home”.

Full details of the new procedure are set out on the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie

Q and A: All you need to know WHAT problems do the new rules resolve?

UNDER the previous process for de facto partner immigration permissions, visa required nationals would have had to obtain a visa before travelling, while non-visa required nationals could travel to Ireland without obtaining a permission in advance. However, at that point, for both groups, if wishing to reside in Ireland for a period greater than 90 days, the application process for de facto partners could only begin upon their arrival in Ireland. The process could have taken up to a year to complete, during which time the applicant could not access the labour market. Under this new process, once preclearance has been granted prior to travelling, applicants can arrive and should register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) during their initial 90 days of entry.

Once registered, they will then have access to the labour market straight away.

WHAT about couples who are actually married? Are the rules different?

THE process for the spouses and civil partners of Irish nationals remains the same and preclearance approval is not required. Visa required nationals must obtain a visa in advance of travel. Both visa and non-visa required spouses will register with the immigration authorities after arrival in Ireland.

CAN non-EEA de facto partners of Irish citizens enter the country without preclearance?

IF the de facto partner is entering Ireland for a stay of less than 90 days preclearance is not required. Visa required nationals will require a visa to travel for a stay of less than 90 days.

THERE’S a transition period until November 1 but, after that, how much time should couples allow for preclearance?

THE transitional period is intended to allow for those who have made plans to travel to Ireland in the short term, before the recent announcement. While a preclearance application can be made from this point onwards, a letter of approval will not be required for entry unless arriving in Ireland on or after 1 November. In relation to processing times, these will depend on volumes and complexity of applications on hand, so it is advised that applications be made well in advance of travel plans.

Answers supplied by the Embassy of Ireland.

DERVLA MCTIERNAN’S BOOK TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN BY COLIN FARRELL’S PRODUCTION COMPANY

Rúin film deal thrills author DAVID HENNESSY

A BESTSELLING debut crime novel by an Irish-Australian author living in Perth is set to be made into a major feature film.

Dervla McTiernan’s The Rúin has earned the debut author high praise and topped book charts for fiction and crime. It has just been announced that the screen adaptation will be the first project for Colin Farrell’s new film production company.

Chapel Place Productions, run by Farrell and his sister Claudine, will work with the Australian Hopscotch Productions and producer Lee Madigay (producer of The Lobster and The Favourite) on the adaptation.

“I’m thrilled. It’s wonderful news,” McTiernan told the Irish Echo.

“I had been given a heads up that it was coming but as these things tend to take a bit of time. I woke up in the morning and had about 55 WhatsApp messages from Ireland so it was kind of fun to hear about it that way.

“I hadn’t mentioned anything to my family so none of them knew about it and then suddenly everybody got very excited. It was a really nice way for it to come out.”

Hopscotch Productions had already optioned the novel after meeting McTiernan more than a year ago. She was updated as Hopscotch started to discuss matters with the

Farrell siblings. “Andrew [Mason, Hopscotch producer] got in touch a few months back to let me know that that Colin was very excited about the book.

“He really liked it and liked the character and liked what I done with it,” she said. “It all kind of came together. Now I have the best of both worlds. I have the Hopscotch team and I have Colin and Claudine and then Lee Madigay as well.

“I’m excited. I think the fact that Colin and Claudine chose it for their first project is such a vote of confidence and I’m just watching this space and what happens next.”

The former lawyer’s writing success comes after a serious health scare. The mother of two was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 but has since made made a complete recovery. Could she have believed when she was writing it that she would be in this position now?

“I never thought for a second, not in my wildest dreams. The honest truth is when I sent it to agents I was hoping for a personalised rejection because if you get a personalised rejection, it means that the agent thinks you have some potential.

“I thought if I managed that I would be doing well. To get agents offering and then publishers offering and then the book to go well … and then this, it still doesn’t feel real.”

The Rúin’s story centres around Cormac O’Reilly, a garda who returns to Galway to be confronted with an old case that has always haunted him, the apparent drug-related death of a parent that he encountered as a trainee garda. When one of the two children that mother left behind is believed to have committed suicide, Cormac looks into both deaths to find out if either were as they seemed.

The author was born in Cork before her family settled in Galway.

She and her family moved to Australia in 2008 and now calls Perth home.

She said she is excited to see who will be playing the various character.

“I know what they look like in my own head but this casting could be completely different,” she said.

Dervla has since followed Rúin with The Scholar which has been just as well received. The third instalment is coming next year.

“It’s called The Good Turn. It will be out in March,” McTiernan reveals.

“Even though all the books can be read as standalone, for me I see them as a group of three and this is the third one that completes the group.

The parts of the plot that are suggested in The Rúin and are quiet in The Scholar really come to the fore in the good turn and are resolved.

“It’s probably the book I’m most proud of so a little nervous about how it goes but I guess we’ll see.”

Auther Dervla McTiernan and (inset) Irish actor Colin Farrell whose production company will adapt her book The Rúin for the big screen.

irishecho.com.au

MODEST IRISHMEN HAILED AS HEROES AFTER FIRE RESCUE TWO Irishmen risked their own lives to save a man from a burning vehicle that was just metres from petrol pumps in a dramatic rescue in Perth.

A group of Good Samaritans, including Steve Kingston from West Cork and James Kelleher from Clare, saw a car burning near a petrol station in Dianella, Perth. When they realised someone was inside, and without hesitation and at great risk to their own safety, they intervened to get him out.

The man was slumped in the driver’s seat. When people realised the vehicle was on fire, they were worried because it was parked at a petrol station. One person warned the station operators to turn off all machines and when someone checked the vehicle itself, they realised someone was inside. The Irish Echo understands the man was unconscious with his foot on the accelerator. The Good Samaritans tried to extinguish the fire and pull him out. The driver was taken to Royal Perth Hospital but was not seriously hurt. The two Irishmen, both in their mid-30s, did not want to comment. However, a friend of theirs brought their actions to the attention of the community via social media and the men’s actions were applauded by many. Con O’Sullivan believes the Irishmen should be honoured: “Well done, guys!! There should be an ‘Irishman of the Year’ award like there is in America. You guys would be well deserving.”

September, 2019 | 9

IRISH AUSTRALIA FAIRYTALE HOMECOMING FOR ARMAGH COUPLE

Castle hotel a family affair MEG KANOFSKI

AN Armagh couple who left Ireland for Australia more than 50 years ago have been drawn back to their home county to open a new castle hotel owned by their son.

Michael and Pauline Boyle’s son Mick has spearheaded the restoration of a castle estate in Killeavy in south Armagh, a region from which they emigrated in the 1960s.

Mr Boyle Snr was honoured to cut the ribbon at the hotel’s recent grand opening surrounded by his extended family. His son’s venture would share the magic of the area to visitors, he said..

“South Armagh has always been a special place for Pauline and I, and we are so happy to be able to return to open this hotel that will showcase its beauty to the world,” he said.

The family emigrated to Australia in the 1960s when Mick Boyle Jnr was just five years old. South Armagh was an area that witnessed much violence during the Troubles and the restoration of the castle – along with the opening of the hotel – has been warmly welcomed as a boost for the local tourism economy.

After falling into disrepair, the 1836 castle was bought by the Boyles for £1.3million six years ago, and has since undergone extensive restoration. It features a spa, restaurant

The extended Boyle family travelled from Australia for the opening of the family-owned Killeavy Castle Hotel in south Armagh.

Michael and Pauline Doyle (front, centre) emigrated from the area in the 1960s.

and event space, with the castle at its centre. The 350-acre estate is just more than an hour’s drive from Dublin.

It is hoped the 45-bedroom venue will become a destination for both international travellers and those holidaying within Ireland, as well as a popular choice to host weddings and corporate events.

Owner Mick Boyle Jr relished in the opportunity not only to restore

a significant historic building but to create local employment, with almost 100 staff recruited.

The Boyles say they have many plans. “There are lots of environmental improvements we want to implement” Mick Boyle Jr said.

His wife Robin added: “Northern Ireland has the lowest percentage area of woodlands in all of Europe.

We are talking with the Woodland Trust and the Northern Ireland

Forestry Service about a scheme we have developed to plant the slopes of Slieve Gullion behind Killeavy Castle with an additional 100 acres of broadleaf woodlands. [This would] provide over 200 acres of continuous woodlands expanding and linking the woods in Killeavy Castle Estate with the woods at the adjacent Slieve Gullion Forest Park.

What a gift that would be for future generations.”

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September, 2019 | 11

OBITUARIES

FR MÍCÉAL Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN :: 1927-2019

Australia became home from home for Cork priest PATRICK O’BRIEN

FR Míceál Ó Súilleabháin passed away on July 20 after a short illness.

Born in Cobh, Co Cork in 1927, he was the third of six children born to Patrick O’Sullivan and Australian-born Mary O’Connell.

Ireland was not only the place of his birth, it was where he grew up and was educated, where he was ordained as a Catholic priest and where he returned almost annually to visit his many friends and relatives.

Míceál’s father, who had an enormous influence on his life, had close links to Ireland’s struggle for independence. Patrick O’Sullivan initially worked as a journalist and following independence, practised law and became a judge in Co Cork for the newly formed Irish Republic.

In 1939, Mary travelled to Australia with her four daughters, leaving 11-year-old Míceál and his brother Donal in Ireland with their father. The war then broke out and the family remained separated for many years on opposite sides of the world. The girls were enrolled at St Vincent’s College, Potts Point and raised in Sydney without their father and brothers.

The brothers remained in Ireland and attended boarding school. In the holidays their father set them to

Fr Míceál Ó Súilleabháin with his sister Sr Moira O’Sullivan at the Aisling Society’s St Patrick’s Day Dinner in 1996.

work on his large property at Glenanaar or sent them to their cousins’ farms were they cut peat, baled hay and milked cows. When there was time, Míceál learned to sail on Cobh Harbour, a sport he loved all his life.

After leaving school, Míceál was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood and studied at the All Hallows College seminary in Dublin.

He undertook a Bachelor of Arts degree at the National University of

Ireland. His father did not live long enough to see Míceál ordained on June 22, 1952, but his mother and sisters travelled from Australia to be with him on the day.

Soon after his ordination, Míceál set sail for a new life in Australia with another of his All Hallows classmates and lifelong friend, Fr Dan Hanratty.

However, before that new life began, his mother directed him to have elocution lessons because, as she said, there were far too many Irish priests in Australia whose accents were “so thick you couldn’t understand them”.

In Sydney, and despite being kept busy with his religious duties, Míceál found time to develop his love of the Irish language and to celebrate the Irish culture, particularly with the Irish National Association and the Aisling Society.

From 1953, Míceál said the rosary, and later Mass, in Irish at the Memorial to the 1798 Irish Rebellion at Waverley Cemetery.

In addition, Míceál also found time to write a tract about the history of that impressive monument.

His other great passion was sailing and he owned a blue hulled boat he named Allanah. Bought in 1967 in Ireland with money given to him by his mother to buy a car, the little 12-footer was a source of great happiness to him throughout his life.

Míceál was appointed parish priest at St Therese, Mascot in 1976 where he remained until 2002. During that period he oversaw significant growth in the parish.

The local school tripled in size under his watch. He was beloved by his parishioners, many of whom kept in touch with him in the years following his retirement.

Míceál retained special memories of his time at St Therese, and he later wrote a history of the parish.

When he became too frail to live alone in retirement at Kogarah, Míceál moved to St Vincent’s Nursing Home at Bronte where he was able to keep in close touch with his sisters, Margaret and Gabrielle who lived nearby.

That connection grew even closer when his brother, Donal, moved into St Vincent’s as well and the two brothers were again living under the same roof.

He is predeceased by his parents Mary and Patrick and his two older sisters, Eibhlin and Eilis.

He is survived by his three younger siblings, Donal, Margaret and Gabrielle.

His life was celebrated at a Pontifical Mass at the Mary, Mother of Mercy Chapel, Rookwood Catholic Cemetery on Thursday August 1 and he was buried in the Priest Lawn.

RON CHANDLER :: 1936-2019

TOM BRADY :: 1948-2019

SYDNEY’S Irish business community is in mourning following the death of much-loved Dubliner Ron Chandler at the age of 83 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Affectionately known as The Silver Fox, Mr Chandler died on August 16 with his family at his bedside.

Born in Cappagh, Co Dublin in 1936, he was well-known for his work in the travel industry, particularly for global car-hire company Avis.

After joining Avis UK in 1965, he had postings in Japan, Ireland, Hong Kong, Canada, Europe and eventually, Australia where he was transferred in 1981.

He was twice transferred back to the UK but after being moved back to Australia for the third time, he declared that he had found paradise and was staying Down Under.

He went on to become director of international sales and marketing for Avis until his retirement in 2001.

Always a proud Irishman, he was a passionate supporter of the Lansdowne Club, where he served on the board, and the Ireland Funds.

He was honoured by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents at the National Travel Industry Awards, when chief executive Mike Hatton presented him with an award for his

IRISH diplomat Thomas (Tom) Brady, who had many friends in Australia, died on August 6, aged 71.

Born in Dublin in 1948, he was educated at Belveder College before attending University College Dublin. In 1972, he graduated with a BA degree and a Higher Diploma in Education.

He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Third Secretary on January 19, 1976.

His first overseas posting was in Stockholm, Sweden where he served as Third Secretary between 1978 and 1981.

He returned to Dublin where he worked in the press division before being transferred to Bonn as First Secretary in 1983.

After five years in Germany he again returned to Dublin where he worked in the political division of the department until August 1990 when he was transferred to Ottawa, Canada as First Secretary. He spent a year in Ireland in 1994 before another overseas transfer to Brussels where he served as part of the Irish team at the European Union.

In January 2000, he was appointed the first Consul General of Ireland for Sydney, overseeing the establishment of the new mission.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern opened the new consulate in February 2000 before the Sydney Olympic Games in September of that year.

Tom became a cherished member

Travel executive had a passion for Ireland Dubliner Ron Chandler was a passionate supporter of the Lansdowne Club and the Ireland Funds.

contribution to the industry. Such was the respect in which Ron was held that in retirement he was regularly sought out by Avis management globally for his advice. He was also an active member of the Avis Travel Agent Advisory Board and a board member and adviser for some travel industry companies Ron was also an enthusiastic member of the global travel industry asso-

ciation Skal International. He was president of the association in 1996 when Skal International Sydney was recognised as the global Club of the Year. In 2014, he was awarded life membership of Skal International Sydney for his 49-year service.

Beloved husband of Monica, he was a devoted father of Elaine, Mark, Stuart and Gareth; father-in-law of Pete, Alison, Sara and Melissa; much adored grandpa of Laura, Liam, Alice, Ryan, Ella, Stephanie, Alexandra, Anna, Owen, Rhys and great-grandpa of Mia. He was predeceased by parents Douglas and Norah and sister Mary and is survived by siblings Douglas, Paul, Sophie, Brendan and Vincent.

His funeral Mass was held at The Sacred Heart Church, 2 Richard Porter Way, Pymble on Friday August 23.

Dubliner became Sydney’s first Irish consul general

Tom Brady had a 38-year career with Ireland’s Deprtment of Foreign Affairs.

of the Sydney Irish community and is remembered for his hard work, sharp intellect and good humour.

In September 2002, he returned to Dublin where he worked in the consular section of the department before being appointed Ambassador to Cyprus in 2006. In June 2010, he became Ireland’s Ambassador to Slovenia. He retired from the department in 2014.

He died at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin surrounded by his family. He will be deeply missed by his children, grandchildren, siblings, other relatives and many friends.

His funeral took place at the Church of the Holy Child, Whitehall. Fr Alan Hilliard, who served as chaplain to the Sydney Irish community, delivered the eulogy.

12 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

IRELAND

INTERNATIONAL ROSE OF TRALEE FESTIVAL

Future looks rosy for Limerick lady after Tralee fest STAFF REPORTERS

LIMERICK doctor Sinéad Flanagan has been crowned the 2019 International Rose of Tralee.

The 27-year-old was chosen from 32 young women who travelled from all over the world to the Kerry town for the annual festival. She told host Dáithí Ó Sé: “I think you can tell by me I’m a bit shocked alright!”

Flanagan said the experience was amazing.

“It’s Limerick’s year,” she said backstage. “We’ve had the All-Ireland, the league, the Munster final and now the Rose of Tralee.”

The new Rose grew up in Mungret and now lives in Adare, Co Limerick.

After qualifying as a physiotherapist at University of Limerick, she studied Medicine in University College Cork and graduated in 2018.

Australia sent three representatives this year. Perth, Queensland and Darwin were not represented in 2019 after organisers limited numbers by introducing a rotation system for the first time.

Sydney’s representative was 24-year-old speech pathologist Rebecca Mazza. Born and raised in Perth, she moved to Sydney to pursue her career after completing her Masters degree. ‘ Limerick-born Jordan Balfry represented Melbourne. The 28-yearold occupational therapist is a recent arrival in Australia having moved to the Victorian capital two years ago.

South Australian Rose Simone Hendrick Buchanan was also born in Ireland but moved to Adelaide aged 11. Cork-born and raised in Dingle, Hendrick Buchahan is studying to be a primary schoolteacher.

Arizona Rose Kayla Gray made history after becoming the first Rose of Tralee contestant to get a tattoo backstage during the televised finals.

There was also controversy after Newstalk radio presenter Susan Keogh criticised the show’s host Daithi Ó Sé who claimed the Rose concept empowered women. Ms Keogh said she had “never heard such bulls**t” and that the idea it empowered women was a “complete oversell”.

“Where is the body diversity. Will you see any fat Roses?”.

Keogh said the event “does not represent modern Ireland”.

She also asked why the women who do not have degrees are not represented in the live final.

The 2018 winner, Kirsten Mate Maher, fiercely defended the festival, saying: “I don’t have a degree, I haven’t set foot in college yet”. The Waterford Rose, whose father is Zambian, said: “She [Ms Keogh] is attention-seeking”.

“I think it is really nasty and her views are wrong,” she said.

DEMOGRAPHICS

EMPLOYMENT MOMENTUM GROWS WITH 45,000 MORE IN WORK

Population in sharp decline before Vikings IRELAND’S population was in serious decline before the arrival of the Vikings, new research has found.

It had been assumed that the Irish population steadily rose through the centuries until the Famine in the 1840s. However, researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have produced an estimate of past population numbers that shows there was a steady fall for decades before the Vikings settled in Ireland in the 10th century.

They did this by analysing a database of archaeological sites discovered during Ireland’s so-called Celtic Tiger years, when there was a boom in motorway building that unearthed ancient sites. “Millions of people lived in Ireland during the earliest Christian times,” Dr Rowan McLaughlin said, “[but] around the year 700, this population in Ireland mysteriously entered a decline, perhaps because of war, famine, plague or political unrest.”

International Rose Of Tralee winner for 2019, Limerick’s Sinéad Flanagan.

Rose Season: (Above) Australia’s Ambassador to Ireland, Richard Andrews, with (from left) Sydney Rose Rebecca Mazza, South Australia Rose Simone Hendrick Buchanan and Melbourne Rose Jordan Balfry. (Below, from left) Jordan Balfry, Simone Hendrick Buchanan and Rebecca Mazza on stage in Tralee. Pictures: Dominick Walsh

Record number of workers CATE MCCURRY

THE number of people in employment rose by 45,000 in the first six months of the year, new figures show.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) data shows further growth in Ireland’s labour market, with a year-on-year rise in employment of 2 per cent.

Labour Force Survey (LFS) data shows that a record 2.3 million people are in work. Unemployment also fell in the second quarter to 5.2 per cent, down by 20,900 people compared to last year. Meanwhile, the latest population statistic estimates that there are 4.9 million people in Ireland, an increase of 64,500 over the year.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe said the employment figures were in line with the government’s predictions. “It’s a really important development, particularly as our economy approaches the challenges that Brexit may bring,” he said.

“We have more people working in Ireland than ever before. We now have 2.3 million people working in

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

our economy and the analysis from the CSO points out that this employment growth is taking place across many different parts of our economy,” he said.

“The figures also make the point

that if you look at where we are on the second quarter of this year cumulatively we now see that over 45,000 more people have worked in our economy than we had at this point a year ago.

“As we look at where we started in the first half of the year, we see an economy, that from an employment point of view, is performing very well.

“Those employment forecasts are in line with the forecast that I published in the summer economic statement and also in the stability program updates.”

Turning to Brexit, the finance minister said there is growing concern about consumer sentiment.

“My message to those who are concerned is that we have an economy that is more resilient and diversified.

“We are capable of responding to the challenges that Brexit may bring while acknowledging that those

challenges, from an economic point of view, would be significant,” the Minister said.

The report also shows that employment increased annually in six of eight regions and 11 of 14 sectors measured by the CSO. The largest sectoral employment increases in the second quarter were in transportation and storage, and education.

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, said the figures marked the 28th quarter in which Ireland has had a decline in unemployment.

“We are continuing the strong momentum in economic growth seen in recent years,” she added.

“Overall, since 2012, we have seen the creation of over 420,000 jobs – a reflection of the success of the Action Plans for Jobs.

“We are now working to consolidate these positive trends through Future Jobs Ireland, our whole-of-government plan to prepare our businesses and workers for the future.”

irishecho.com.au

September, 2019 | 13

LOCAL NEWS

THOUSANDS OF EXTRA THIRD-LEVEL STUDENT PLACES PLEDGED

Funding boost for unis CATE MCCURRY

A €100 million cash injection in five third-level education building projects will support an additional 14,000 student places, the Government has announced.

The investment is part of the Project Ireland 2040 initiative.

Some €25 million will be spent on a new technology society and innovation building at Maynooth University, with an increase of more than 3,000 students. The project includes more than 10,000 metres squared of new build construction, as well as the refurbishment and upgrading of existing space on campus.

A further €6.6 million will be spent on extending the central campus project at IT Sligo. This project will include a complete rebuild of J Block with an investment of €18.58 million, turning the single-floor 1970s building into a modern four-storey complex that will enhance the modern, state-of-the-art campus.

Some €25 million will go to the

new state-of-the-art Business School building at UCC in Cork city centre, while NUI Galway will get a €15 million cash injection towards its plans for a major regeneration of the existing library building.

UCD will have €25 million pumped into its new phase of camp development, which will feature the creation of some 22,500 metre square of teaching, learning and research space.

“The funding … facilitates a total investment of more than half a billion euro in higher education infrastructure over the coming five years,” Education Minister Joe McHugh said.

“This will have a major positive impact on the sector’s ability to cater for significant increases in enrolments over the coming decade.

“We are planning and investing for the future and with that we are driving choice and increasing options for students,” he added.

Between 2017 and 2030, the number of full-time students enrolled in higher education is projected to increase by more than 38,000 to a

RACISM IN IRELAND

Immigrant Luas driver tells of consistent racial abuse

Minister for Education Joe McHugh

total in excess of 222,000. Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Today’s significant announcement complements other capital investments in the sector, including the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme and the development of the TU Dublin City Campus at Grangegorman.

“Private finance played a critical role in the development of our uni-

versity campuses during a time of particular difficulty for the public finances.

“This co-funding approach responds to calls from the sector for a greater level of state support while recognising the continued importance of leveraging other sources of investment.”

The building fund investment comes on the back of controversy over student fees.

Irish universities rounded on Mr McHugh earlier in the month after he pledged not to increase student fees in the next five years.

The universities sector has called for “positive solutions on funding” from the government.

In a statement, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) said Mr McHugh’s promise not to increase fees beyond €3,000 “tells us what the Minister will not do”.

“We now need to hear what he and Fine Gael will do to solve the long accepted funding crisis”, the statement read.

40 YEARS SINCE MOUNTBATTEN ATROCITY

AOIFE MOORE

ONE of Ireland’s first Luas drivers says he has suffered horrific racial abuse from passengers of all ages.

Lanre Bode Olatunji, 42, originally from Nigeria, came to Ireland in 1997 and began his job in 2004 as one of the first round of recruits for the Luas tram system in Dublin.

He said that throughout his 15 years working for Luas, he has had passengers of all ages, male and female, racially abuse him.

“I’ve had monkey chants, calling names and giving you the fingers and even standing in front of the tram,” he said.

“They’re giving you all sorts of looks and names, and you see that everywhere, not even at the job, it could be somewhere else. To be honest with you I’m kind of used to it, it doesn’t bother me any more, I’ve seen it so many times, and I believe some of them are ignorant. It’s something we have dealt with even internally, individually, sometimes you just ignore them. It doesn’t matter how old or young, it’s the same.

“The most shocking ones are the times when you see an elderly person insulting you, calling you names. To me that is unbelievable, that’s the only time it gets to me.

“I think, ‘You’re an adult, you should know better. I’m human just like you. I expect them to be wiser, it’s shocking.”

Mr Olatunji said that despite the abuse he believes Ireland is getting better at dealing with racism.

IN BRIEF

OLD TV LICENCE FEE TO BE SWITCHED OFF THE outdated traditional TV licence fee is to be scrapped and replaced with a new device broadcasting charge to take account of technological changes. The Government has agreed to make changes to the licence fee system to address the rapidly changing media and technology landscape and the changes in the way people consume media. A new five-year contract for the collection of the licence fee will be put out to tender later this year. At the end of that period the Government has agreed that the fee should be replaced by a new “device independent broadcasting charge”. The Government will decide the amount of the charge, with funds to be allocated by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN HIT BY SMEAR TEST ‘GLITCH’ MORE than 4,000 Irish women have been affected by an IT glitch which led to a failure to inform them of their smear test results, a review into the incident has confirmed. The delays related to a Quest Diagnostics laboratory based at Chantilly in Virginia in the US which processed tests for the Health Service Executive’s CervicalCheck programme. In July, Professor Brian MacCraith was asked to examine the series of events that led to the delay in a rapid review. Before the review, the predicted number of women affected was 800, five times lower than the actual figure. There are 3,025 tests at risk of expiry while in a backlog after a delay in reporting results, the review found.

DRIVE TO DOUBLE NUMBER OF FEMALE BUS DRIVERS

Dublin Luas driver Lanre Bode Olatunji

“I think Ireland is getting better every day, it’s different from when I first came here, and there has been a lot of improvement which I’m very proud of,” he said.

Mr Olatunji was speaking at the launch of a new anti-racism campaign on Ireland’s public transport. More than 900 commuters donated their selfies to the cause, and the images were used to create artwork for the new advertising campaign, which will be displayed on the livery of Dublin Bus and other services. The campaign was criticised however when it emerged that some of the transport providers involved do not record racist incidents.

The campaign was necessary because of under-reporting, the chief executive of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, said. “It’s not just about promoting anti-racism. It’s about celebrating the diversity of the staff who work in public transport, and a reminder to customers that they should respect their drivers,” she said.

Irish Rail said it has recorded 12 incidents since last year.

DUBLIN Bus has set out plans to double the number of women bus drivers as part of a huge recruitment campaign. Women make up only 4 per cent of drivers in the company in what is often seen as a male-dominated industry. In a bid to increase the number of women behind the wheel, Dublin Bus is hosting a number of open days for prospective female drivers. The firms employs some 3,500 people, but only 7 per cent are female. Of 2,550 bus drivers, only 97 are women.

Mary Hornsey holds a photograph of her 15-year-old son Paul Maxwell, who was among the slain when the IRA blew up Louis Mountbatten’s fishing boat off the coast of Mullaghmore in Co Sligo on August 27, 1979. The murder of Louis Mountbatten (left), two members of his family and Paul Maxwell occurred on the same day as 18 British soldiers were killed by two bombs at Narrow Water, Co Down. Both events were commemorated last week in Ireland. In Mullaghmore, a service was held to remember four victims of the fishing boat bomb. At Narrow Water, Co Down, veterans gathered at the roadside to remember the soldiers who were killed on the same day in 1979. Main picture: Brian Lawless

OCEAN ‘VACUUM’ TO CLEAN UP HARBOUR AN ocean vacuum that sucks rubbish and diesel from the water has been launched at a north Dublin harbour.

The floating seabin collects rubbish from the water, including micro-plastics and oil. Marine biologist Rowan Byrne helped launch the new device at Howth Harbour after he raised €4,500 through crowd funding. The Howth seabin, which is around a metre in depth, sits just beneath the surface of the water.

14 | September, 2019

NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE SERVICE SOUNDS ALARM

Year of violence after ‘no-deal’ DAVID YOUNG

A NO-DEAL Brexit could prompt a year-long upsurge in dissident republican violence in Northern Ireland, a senior police commander has said.

Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said it was too simplistic to attribute the recent spate of dissident attacks to Brexit.

But the officer, who heads up the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s counter-terrorism response, warned it would likely become a motivating factor for extremists in the event of a disorderly exit.

As well as several recent attacks, one of which resulted in the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in April, Ms Gray revealed 10 other murder bids have been foiled in the past two years.

“We will be prepared and we will be very ready for any potential upsurge in violence that may happen after Brexit,” she said.

“We predict that a six- to 12-month period, if there’s a no-deal Brexit, that there could be an upsurge in violence.”

The PSNI is attempting to combat the threat from several dissident groupings. The New IRA is the largest but a recent bomb blast in Co Fermanagh blamed on the Continuity IRA demonstrated the threat still posed by that group.

Officers also consider the smaller

irishecho.com.au

BREXIT

Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray

Arm na Poblachta (ANP) and Irish Republican Movement (IRM) as risks to national security.

“Anything that brings the border issue into question in Northern Ireland brings tension,” Ms Gray said.

“I think in the last few weeks, probably since the new Cabinet, the new PM and his announcements (on the exit date) that ‘this is October 31, this is what we’re looking at’, I think generally you can almost feel at bit of anxiety rising across society.”

Ms Gray said policing the border in significant numbers to support any checks or controls that might be required in a no-deal scenario would bring risks for officers.

“If questions of the border are being brought into play that does

bring with it pressures,” she said.

“If we, as a police service, have to at times maybe support other enforcement agencies – could be agriculture or whatever else – that does bring us into the picture probably in a different style and tone than we have been policing around border areas for many years now.

“Overall, our assessment would be that we would be concerned for a sixto 12-month time frame there would be some sort of upsurge in support for dissident republican groupings and activities.”

Meanwhile Ireland’s education minister says his constituents are already feeling the effects of Brexit uncertainty. Joe McHugh, a TD for Donegal, said the tourism and hospitality sector on the coastal county has seen a marked decline in English and Northern Irish visitors.

It has been reported by the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotel Federation that the countyis having one of its worst summer seasons in recent years due to a 25 per cent decrease in the number of visitors coming from Northern Ireland and Britain.

As the October 31 deadline approaches, Mr McHugh said the issue of a no-deal Brexit has been a live discussion in his area. “They’re talking to me and asking me; there are serious concerns and uncertainties.”

SUSPENSION OF PARLIAMENT

Protesters taking part in the ‘Let Us Vote’ day of action, organised by Another Europe is Possible campaign group, in central London to demonstrate against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament for up to five weeks before a Queen’s Speech on October 14. Picture: Rick Findler

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September, 2019 | 15

BREXIT

TÁNAISTE SAYS BRITAIN MUST COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVES TO THE BACKSTOP IF A DEAL IS TO BE DONE

Ireland wants a deal, Coveney DAVID YOUNG

THE EU has no problem creating time for further Brexit talks but the UK must present a credible alternative to the backstop at those negotiations, Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said.

Foreign Affairs Minister and Tánaiste Simon Coveney insisted the EU would negotiate five days a week if need be.

On a visit to Helsinki, he made clear the bloc would only accept changes to the Withdrawal Agreement if the British government presented a workable alternative to the Irish backstop, something he said was yet to materialise.

Mr Coveney said it would not fly for the UK to ask the EU to accept the removal of the backstop on the

promise of an alternative that had not emerged.

“I don’t think there’s any problem from a European Union perspective in terms of making time available for negotiations,” he said.

“We all want to try to resolve these issues, we want to find a way of getting a deal that the UK are happy with and that the EU is happy with and can accept too. There is no country that wants a deal more than Ireland.

“We want to get a deal that manages a sensible Brexit, that moves us into a transition period that gives us time and space to work out a future relationship.

“But that deal has to be based on the Withdrawal Agreement and it has to be consistent with that, and if the UK wants to remove an

Tánaiste Simon Coveney

element of the Withdrawal Agreement they have to acknowledge that that causes problems and they have to propose alternatives that can solve those problems, certainly in the case of the backstop.”

On British Prime Minister Boris

UNITED IRELAND QUESTIONS DOG TAOISEACH

Johnson’s suggestion of negotiations for two days a week, Mr Coveney said: “I’m sure if he wanted five days of negotiations a week, the EU would be okay with that.

“Michel Barnier is there as the chief negotiator for that purpose. He has a team that’s ready to go. We all want to get a deal but at the moment nothing credible has come from the British Government in the context of an alternative to the backstop.

“If that changes, great. We’ll look at it in Dublin but more importantly it can be the basis of a discussion in Brussels, but it’s got to be credible.

It can’t simply be this notion that ‘look we must have the backstop removed and we’ll solve this problem in the future negotiation, without any credible way of doing that’.

That’s not going to fly and I think

CENTRAL BANK ISSUES GRIM WARNING

Severe implications for Irish economy from ‘no-deal’ CATE MCCURRY

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured in West Belfast during a visit to Northern Ireland. Picture:Liam McBurney

‘Border poll’ would be divisive, says Varadkar MICHAEL MCHUGH

A VOTE on Irish unity would be divisive, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar warned it could divide people along sectarian lines and may be defeated or only narrowly passed.

“I think it would result in some of the mistakes made 100 years ago, when partition happened, being repeated but just the other way around: a huge number of people, those from a unionist, British, Ulster background, being brought into a united Ireland against their will.” He made the comments in west Belfast last month.

The aspiration for Irish unity must be afforded the same respect in Northern Ireland as the desire to maintain the Union, the Taoiseach said.

Equal standing for the competing political goals was at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement’s concept of parity of esteem, he said.

The Taoiseach was recently criticised by the DUP for talking about the potential weakening of the Union in the event of a no-deal Brexit. DUP leader Arlene Foster accused him of engaging in “Project Fear Mark II” and deputy leader Nigel Dodds claimed he was breaching the 1998 peace accord by talking up the prospect of unification.

But Mr Varadkar said he hoped Brexit would not bring “constitutional questions to the fore”.

He said the comments in Co Donegal last month that drew criticism from the DUP were about not “burying our head in the sand” and acknowledging that a no-deal Brexit could raise questions about the constitutional position. He reiterated that he did not want a border poll soon.

“My position, and that of the government, has always been consistent that we don’t favour a border poll at this time,” he said.

“We believe there would be a high

probability that it would be defeated and it would be divisive, I think, here in Northern Ireland.

“However, the Good Friday Agreement points out that the aspiration to Irish unity is one that should be respected, one that should have parity of esteem in the same way as the aspiration to strengthen the Union and maintain the Union should be respected,” the Taoiseach said.

“And the Good Friday Agreement does include provision for a border poll at a certain point in time, under certain circumstances, and that is what the principle of consent in the Good Friday Agreement is all about - that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because the people of Northern Ireland want it to be, but the people of Northern Ireland have a choice to change that by referendum should they choose to in the future.

“But it’s not something I am looking for at the moment.”

it’s important that we are all honest about that,” the Tánaiste said.

Mr Coveney’s remarks struck more of a consiliatory tone than earlier comments he made in Paris when he accused the UK government of “wiping the slate clean” on “the Irish issue”.

“We have a British government who seems to be wiping the slate clean on the Irish issue,” Mr Coveney said. “We must ensure that the commitments that took two years to negotiate to deal with the complexity of those issues on the island of Ireland are actually followed through. We’re not going to compromise on a peace process that is fragile; a peace agreement that has … created normality between communities that in the past were in conflict.”

A NO-DEAL Brexit would have an “immediate and severe impact” on almost all areas of economic activity, the Central Bank of Ireland has warned. In the annual pre-budget letter, acting governor Sharon Donnery said that a number of sectors would be disproportionately affected by tariffs and border delays.

Ms Donnery said that a prudent budgetary approach was critical to ensure the economy had sufficient resilience and policy had room to manoeuvre. She warned that a disorderly Brexit was one of the main risks to the Irish economy along with tensions in international trade and the global economic outlook.

Her comments came on the same day Britiosh Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen to suspend Parliament for more than a month. The PM will temporarily close the Commons from the second week of September until October 14 when there will be a Queen’s Speech to open a new session of Parliament.

Ms Donnery said that if a disorderly Brexit could be avoided, the outlook for the economy was positive.

Assessing the potential impact of Brexit, she said: “A no-deal Brexit would have an immediate and severe impact on almost all areas of economic activity.

“Certain sectors such as agriculture, food production and manufacturing have particularly strong links to the UK, both as an export market and as an important source of intermediate inputs into their supply chains.

“These sectors would be disproportionately affected by the imposition of tariffs and non-tariff barriers such as increased border delays and significantly increased administrative requirements for firms

exporting goods both to the UK as a final destination and through the UK to continental Europe.”

Referring to the potential fiscal effect of a disorderly Brexit, she noted it would be significantly more challenging for the nation.

“Such a situation would lead to a material deterioration in the fiscal position,” she added. “Any fiscal response to Brexit must be consistent with long run debt sustainability and does not undo the hard work in re-establishing Ireland’s fiscal credibility and risk the emergence of unsustainable debt dynamics.”

She noted the importance of reducing public debt in the current favourable financial market conditions, stating that fiscal windfalls, including those from corporation tax, could be ring-fenced to play a part in reducing the public debt burden.

She urged that the 2017 budget proposals to introduce an Irish specific debt target of 45 per cent of GDP should be formalised by the Government as soon as possible.

Pointing to the unpredictability of corporate tax revenues in recent years, she said: “Any strategy on corporation tax receipts should work in tandem with the medium-term expenditure framework to ensure that revenue windfalls are used to strengthen the resilience of the economy rather than finance permanent expenditure growth.

“Favourable market conditions and windfall tax revenue should be used to reduce public debt and build buffers for future downturns as opposed to financing current expenditure.”

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Government had not decided whether to base October’s budget on a no-deal Brexit scenario but added that the risk of the UK crashing out was growing.

16 | September, 2019

DEATH OF YOUNG IRISH CITIZEN IN MALAYSIAN JUNGLE

Family ‘questions’ about teen’s death TOM HORTON

THE family of Nora Quoirin have said they hope to have “more answers to our many questions” about the death of their daughter in a Malaysian jungle last month.

The 15-year-old’s unclothed body was discovered 1.6 miles from a holiday resort where the family was staying. Malaysian police say the teenager starved after her disappearance and there was no evidence of abduction or kidnapping at this point in their investigation.

After meeting Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, the family said it was “struggling to understand the events of the past 10 days”.

The statement, issued on the family’s behalf by the Lucie Blackman Trust, added: “The initial post-mortem results have given some information that helps us to understand Nora’s cause of death.

“But our beautiful innocent girl died in extremely complex circumstances and we are hoping that soon we will have more answers to our many questions.”

Malaysian police said Nora is likely to have spent a week in the jungle

irishecho.com.au

IRELAND

Nora Quoirin, who was found dead in the Malaysian jungle more than a week after going missing from a resort.

on her own. The London teenager was born with the brain defect called holoprosencephaly.

Her family said she was vulnerable because of her condition. The teenager went missing from the resort of Dusun on August 4.

The 15-year-old died between two and four days before her body was

discovered, a post mortem showed.

The family said they will be bringing Nora’s body home “where she will finally be laid to rest, close to her loving families in France and Ireland”.

They also thanked Malaysian authorities and search parties for their efforts in locating the teenager.

“Tragically, as we know, this wasn’t enough to save Nora,” they said.

Nora lived in London and is the daughter of French-Irish parents, Sebastien and Meabh Quoirin.

Negeri Sembilan state police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop said that the post mortem had found no evidence that the teenager had been abducted or raped.

He said she had died between two and four days previously, from intestinal bleeding, most likely due to starvation and stress.

“The cause of death was upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to duodenal ulcer, complicated with perforation ... it could be due to a lack of food for a long period of time and due to prolonged stress.”

He said there were some bruises on her legs but these would not have caused her death.

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SCHOOL LEAVERS GET THEIR RESULTS

Reformed Leaving Certificate delivers first class of graduates ALMOST 59,000 students have received Leaving Certificate results following major reforms to the exams timetable.

A total of 58,787 students, a 2.9 per cent increase on last year’s total, took examinations across the Leaving Certificate Established, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme this year after the timetable was extended by two days to minimise clashes for students. As a result of this measure, no students were required to sit three examinations in one day.

Among those receiving results are more than 2,716 students who took the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), an alternative to the traditional academic exams. Some 608 of these students earned a distinction grade.

Another reform was the introduction of a more compassionate approach towards students who suffer a close family bereavement around the time of exams and can defer up to three days of tests.

“I want to congratulate everyone who sat the Leaving Certificate this year,: Education Minister Joe McHugh said.

“It is another step through life but there are many more days and changes that will define your future.

You should be very proud of your achievements.

Coláiste Rís, Dundalk students Cliodhna McGuinness, Aine O’Hagan and Rosie Cousins with their Leaving Cert results.

“Principals, teachers and other school and education staff deserve huge credit for their work to support students in reaching their potential, as do the 23,000 teachers directly involved in the operation of the state examinations, without whom the exams would not happen.

“Parents and guardians also deserve our thanks. I am sure many felt that they themselves were sitting the exams. Your role in supporting students through the senior cycle cannot be underestimated.”

Mr McHugh also welcomed the reforms to the Leaving Certificate examinations this year.

“I introduced a number of measures to try and alleviate the stress and burden experienced by some students,” the minister said. “These changes are about trying to ease some of the pressure which students face.”

irishecho.com.au

September, 2019 | 17

IRELAND

APPLE SUBCONTRACTOR SHEDS 300 STAFF

Cork hit by IT job cuts AOIFE MOORE

A WAVE of job losses has caused concern in Cork after 300 tech staff were laid off.

Hundreds of employees working for GlobeTech were let go after Apple announced it would make changes to its Siri voice assistant.

“It’s a disgrace that 300 people have been let go with no notice and, in many cases, with one week’s pay,” the Solidarity–People Before Profit TD for the area, Mick Barry, said.

“There are workers from Cork, other EU countries and outside Europe, and none of them were given any notice of this, and while they will try and find alternative employment, they have been given no guarantees”, he said.

Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan said there is concern about young people employed at GlobeTech finding new employment.

“A lot of the workers will be younger people, mainly in their 20s and 30s. It’ll be a big concern for everyone,” he said.

IT solutions business GlobeTech confirmed last week that a number

of employees had been informed “that a client project has been brought to an early conclusion”.

“The company is assessing the impact of this decision on the business and will continue to engage proactively with all employees in the coming days,” a statement said. “This is a difficult situation for everyone involved,” said GlobeTech chief executive Kevin Kelly.

“The nature of our business means that the majority of our employee contracts are fixed purpose and are linked to client requirements and project life cycles. We are committed to supporting our employees through potential redeployment opportunities, where possible.”

The changes to Apple come after the Guardian newspaper reported that whistleblowers said staff in some centres regularly heard “confidential medical information” and “recordings of couples having sex, as part of their job providing quality control”.

There is no suggestion in the Guardian’s reporting that staff in Cork were involved in listening to Apple customers.

KNOCK MARKS 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF APPARITION

Knock Shrine is celebrating 140 years since the reported apparition of the Virgin Mary at the Mayo village. According to reports, 15 local people, who were reciting the rosary, saw the apparition on the gable wall of the parish church on August 21, 1879 and, despite the poor weather and fading light, were able to clearly make out the figures. Witnesses said they saw Mary, wearing a white cloak and hovering a few feet above the ground, deep in prayer, with her eyes raised to heaven. They also saw a cross on an altar, and a lamb surrounded by angels behind Mary. St Joseph, also reported to be wearing white robes, stood to the right of Mary. St John the Evangelist was partly turned away from the other figures, and was dressed in a long robe. (Pictured above) Members of Cairde Mhuire (frinds of Mary) with the new processional statue of Our Lady of Knock before its unveiling during celebrations to mark the 140th anniversary of the apparitions. (Right) Souvenir bottles of holy water on sale at Knock. Photo: Brian Lawless

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18 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

TIME OUT

Cr ssCountry Mal Rogers scans Ireland’s regional media for what’s making news in your county.

off-licence owners. Ireland has the second-highest overall alcohol excise tax in the EU, the highest excise tax on wine, the second highest on beer, and the third highest on spirits.

“Our whole culture has changed,” a well-known Donegal publican, Stephen McCahill, said. “People have adopted a much healthier lifestyle and have simply cut down on their consumption. ”More importantly there is the fear factor; people who may have enjoyed a pint or two during the day are simply afraid as they may be over the limit [for driving] The result is that many are resorting to the off licences which I feel is a very dangerous development.

“In a pub measures are controlled and the publican ensures that if someone has consumed too many, they will ensure that they get home safely. That does not exist at the many house parties at weekends.”

MAYO

Keem Bay ranked third in the world

A man walks past a new mural of Irish author Brendan Behan in Richmond Cottages in the centre of Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

BELFAST

Ashers’ gay cake case goes to the European court THE legal case involving a Belfast bakery that refused to make a cake with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ will face fresh scrutiny in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Belfast Telegraph reports that the latest development comes after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Ashers Bakery, which is owned

by Belfast couple Daniel and Amy McArthur.

In 2014, the company refused to make the cake for Gareth Lee because they said it conflicted with their religious and political beliefs.

It was initially found by Belfast County Court in 2015 that Ashers had broken political, religious and sexual orientation discrimination laws.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast then upheld the decision before it was overturned by the Supreme Court last year.

This time, the case is being taken against the United Kingdom.

Human rights solicitors Phoenix Law were instructed by Mr Lee to take the case.

The firm said they will argue that the Supreme Court failed to give appropriate weight to Mr Lee’s rights under the European Convention of Human Rights.

His solicitor Ciaran Moynagh said: “No legislation is perfect, but in equality law a hard line must be drawn

to ensure no discrimination of any type exists.”

The court case has already cost many thousands of pounds. But Dr Michael Wardlow, the head of the Equality Commission, defended spending the large sum of public money, saying it had been prudently spent and was important to support Mr Lee.

KERRY

Dingle dolphin tops sociability charts THE MARINE Connection charity’s ‘Lone Rangers’ report into the 114 whales and dolphins – or cetaceans – around the world that have regularly interacted with humans since the 1950s lists Fungie the Dingle Bay dolphin as maintaining the longest contact with people.

The Kerryman reports that other friendly dolphins have died, disappeared or rejoined the company of their own kind, but Fungie has remained attached to Dingle Harbour where an industry has built up around him.

It is generally accepted that Fungie was first spotted by Dingle lighthouse keeper Paddy Ferriter in 1983 or 1984.

He is a bottlenose dolphin – a species of cetacean that can live 60 years or more.

As word spread, sightseeing trips began. It took some time for the dolphin trips to catch on, but they have now become an industry in Dingle with about 11 boats, employing about 30 people, bringing tens of

thousands of visitors to see Fungie every summer.

In his 35 years in Dingle, Fungie has been the subject of several documentaries and countless media reports, and has attracted a worldwide following.

DONEGAL

Decline in pub numbers continues in forgotten county THERE has been a continued decline in the number of pubs in Donegal in recent years with the pub population down 20 per cent which amounts to 91 fewer pubs in the ‘forgotten county’ than 14 years ago.

The Donegal Democrat reports that a new survey published by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland reveals the exodus from the industry in the county since 2005. In the past two years alone six pubs have closed in the county.

This decline, apart from the social void that it has created, has had serious implications on employment in a county where the drinks and hospitality sectors provide 7,443 jobs and €168 million in tourism spend in the county The figure is in line with the rest of the country with the exception of Dublin which shows a decline of only 1 per cent.

The high cost of alcohol excise tax remains a source of significant concern for rural publicans and, indeed, hoteliers, restaurateurs and

ONLY a beach in the Caribbean and a beach in Hawaii stood in the way of Achill’s Keem Bay of being ranked the world’s best beach.

The Mayo News reports that the beach has been ranked third by Condé Nast Traveller.

The honour comes on foot of travel website Big 7 naming Keem as the eleventh best beach in the world in its annual list of the top 50 beaches in the world.

Keem Bay is the only Irish beach to make either list.

Journalist Lizzie Pook compiled the top 20 for Condé Nast Traveller.

“It’s a windy road to Keem Bay, but the staggering cliff-top views are worth it,” she wrote. “This sheltered inlet, on Achill Island in County Mayo, is almost unknown to visitors, but its clear malachite waters and soft biscuit sand makes it a family-friendly spot – that’s also wonderfully crowd free.

Bring binoculars for spotting basking sharks; in warmer summer months you’ll find herds of ice-cream vans in the car park.”

DOWN

Imminent return of Canon Brown CANON Francis Brown is expected to return to his ministry soon after being informed by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that it does not intend to prosecute him in relation to an allegation of abuse made against him, the Newry Democrat reports.

A Hilltown native, Canon Brown stood aside in May 2018 while a police investigation took place into a historic allegation, by a member of the clergy, of abuse.

Last week, a statement issued by Elliott-Trainor solicitors in Newry on behalf of Canon Brown stated that the decision by the PPS “vindicates Canon Brown, who has constantly denied any wrongdoing at any time in his life and throughout his ministry as a priest”.

Canon Brown is a former teacher and was president of St Colman’s College until 2009, when he was

moved from the role by the former Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, as part of the annual diocesan changes.

He also held the position of the chairman of the board of governors at St Clare’s Abbey PS.

WICKLOW

Wicklow ranks second in crime helpline calls ABOUT 10 per cent of calls to the Crime Victims Helpline in 2018 came from Wicklow, according to the service’s annual report.

The Wicklow People reports that the county had second-highest percentage of contacts with the service. Dublin was at the top of the league with 41 per cent of calls to the listening service.

While the service was contacted by people from every county in the country, Wicklow was over-represented in the contact figures relative to the county’s population.

Less than 1 per cent of contacts to the service came from Roscommon and Leitrim.

The Crime Victims Helpline 2018 report, released this month, recorded a 52 per cent increase in calls to the service since 2015. This increase was partly attributed to a growing awareness of the volunteer-led service’s availability following publicity campaigns.

People got in touch with the organisation primarily for emotional support and information about the criminal justice system or other local support services.

Assault and harassment were the most common crimes experienced by people who contacted the service in 2018.

People also contacted the service following incidents of burglary, theft, road traffic accidents and anti-social behaviour.

DERRY

Dutch child distressed by street assault A DUTCH child was distressed after witnessing an alleged assault in Derry city centre, reports the Derry Journal.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had responded to an incident where it was alleged a man threw a chair at a woman outside a shop.

“During the incident a member of the public was threatened, and a young Dutch child at the scene was left distressed by the disturbance,” said a PSNI spokesperson.

“The male suspect was located nearby and was arrested for assault and public order offences. He was removed to hospital for assessment and while there spat on two police officers.”

The PSNI praised the actions of staff working in a shop close to where the incident occurred.

“Thanks so much to Centra, Waterloo Place, who took the Dutch child inside the store and offered her a complimentary ice-cream of her choice,” the police announced on Twitter.

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IN BRIEF

HIGH STREET FEARS AS CONSUMER SPENDING DIPS CONSUMER spending in Ireland dropped in July compared to a year ago, a new report has revealed.

The Irish Consumer Spending Index, which measures expenditure across all payment types including cash, cheques and electronic payments, signalled another reduction in household expenditure last month. Spending was down 0.3 per cent year-on-year, the third successive decline.

The latest fall, however, was only marginal, dropping from a 2.6 per cent decrease in June to the lowest in the current sequence of falling spending.

Face-to-face spending remained the main source of weakness in July, with a reduction in expenditure for the third month running.

Sector data suggested that the overall reduction in spending was centred on three categories: food and drink ( minus 1.3 per cent), clothing and footwear (minus 4.6 per cent) and miscellaneous goods and services (minus 4.9 per cent). In each case, however, rates of contraction eased from those in June. Spending on clothing and footwear has fallen for 12 of the past 13 months.

“Although improving from the worrying picture in June, a third successive decline in consumer spending in July extends the generally weak trends seen in recent months,” IHS Markit associate director Andrew Harker said.

“The high street continues to struggle, with clothing and footwear remaining under pressure.

“While labour market conditions remain supportive, other areas such as consumer confidence, retail sales and business activity chime with the challenging environment highlighted by the CSI as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit seems to become more likely.” .

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IRELAND

ECONOMY :: SMALL RISE IN HOUSE PRICES BUT CONFIDENCE HAS TAKEN A HIT

House price growth stalls CATE MCCURRY

HOUSE prices in Ireland have increased by 2 per cent in the past year, a report has shown.

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that residential property prices growth is continuing to slow nationwide.

The rise of 2 per cent in the year to June is compared to an increase of 2.6 per cent in the year to May and an increase of 11.9 per cent in the 12 months to June 2018.

In Dublin, residential property prices rose by 0.1 per cent in the year to June, with house prices unchanged and apartments rising by 0.1 per cent.

The highest house price growth in Dublin was in South Dublin at 3.6 per cent, while Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown saw a decline of 4 per cent.

Residential property prices in

Ireland, excluding Dublin, were 3.9 per cent higher in the year to June, with house prices up by 3.6 per cent and apartments by 6.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, the region outside Dublin that had the largest rise in house prices was the border, at 14.7 per cent. The mid-east recorded a decline of 0.1 per cent.

Overall, the national index is 18 per cent lower than its highest level in 2007. Dublin residential property prices are 22.2 per cent lower than their February 2007 peak, while res-

idential property prices in the rest of Ireland are 21.3 per cent lower than their May 2007 peak.

Property prices nationally have increased by 83 per cent from their trough in early 2013. Dublin residential property prices have risen 92.7 per cent from their February 2012 low while prices in the rest of Ireland are 81.1 per cent higher than at the trough, which was in May 2013.

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) said the continuing slowing in the rate of increase is indicative of uncertainty among buyers and other factors.

“Would-be purchasers who have become more risk averse since the financial crisis would appear to be adopting a wait and see approach in the current uncertain environment,” IPAV chief executive Pat Davitt said.

“Confidence is critical and it is

BOTTLE OF 150-YEAR-OLD WHISKEY SELLS FOR 23,000 EURO

FEWER PEOPLE ON JOBLESS REGISTER THE number of people signing on the Live Register has decreased to a record low since 2008, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

The figure fell by 100 people in July to 190,300 on a seasonally adjusted basis. It is the lowest number of people recorded claiming unemployment benefits in the seasonally adjusted series since February 2008.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of men on the register decreased by 300 in July, while the number of women on the register increased by 100 in the same period.

In unadjusted terms, there has been a 12 per cent decrease in the past 12 months to 206,396 people signing on the register last month.

This represents a decrease of 28,049 people since July last year.

The number of long-term claimants on the register was down 18 per cent in the past 12 months to 76,658 in July.

The CSO said the percentage of people aged under 25 signing on to the register now stands at 10.9 per cent, down from 11.1 per cent in July 2018 and 11.7 per cent in July 2017.

Auctioneer Victor Mee with a rare bottle of old Irish whiskey that sold for more than double its estimate at auction. The 1880s bottle of Cassidy & Co. Monasterevin whiskey was matured by the Cassidy family, who made whiskey at their Co Kildare mill from 1784 until 1921.

WEALTH :: IRISH HOUSEHOLDS BETTER OFF

Net worth up as debt plummets CATE MCCURRY

THE total net worth of Irish households has reached a new record, while debt levels have plummeted to a 14-year low.

The Central Bank’s latest quarterly financial accounts show the net worth of Irish people rose to €772 billion, which equates to €158,986 per person, or roughly €444,000 per household.

Net worth is the value of total assets, such as savings and investments, minus the total value of outstanding liabilities. The Central Bank, says the increase in net worth was primarily due to the rising value of

financial assets and increased investment in financial assets by households.

Investment rose to €2.3 billion, driven by investment in currency and deposits of €1.4 billion, and in insurance and pension entitlements of €800 million. Household debt fell by €600 million to €136.9 billion, or €28,186 per person – its lowest level since 2005.

This was due to improved valuations of assets and rising investment by households.

The value of households’ housing assets fell by €2 billion, reflecting the second quarter in a row of declining house prices. Household liabilities remained mostly unchanged during

the second quarter, as the pace of active de-leveraging by households eased. Household debt continued to fall during the first quarter of the year, dropping by €600 million. At the end of March, debt stood at €136.9 billion, or €28,186 per capita. Household debt is at its lowest level since 2005. Since its peak of €202.9 billion in 2008, it has decreased by 32.5 per cent, or €66 billion.

Government debt increased by €9.6 billion during the first three months of the year to stand at €234.6 billion.

The government’s net financial worth decreased by €800 million during the quarter.

being dented with the negativity surrounding Brexit in particular.”

He said this was evident in the drop of 5.7 per cent in the number of homes purchased between May and June 2019. Pointing to the decline of 10.5 per cent in the number of new dwellings transacted compared with June 2018 he said this is likely to indicate “a nervousness among some builders about investing”.

“While the capital is throbbing with international funds keen to build to rent and enjoy extremely favourable tax treatment, finance at reasonable rates of interest has been difficult to get for SME builders wishing to build,” he added. “For buyers trading up, the gap between what they can get for their own property and the cost of buying a new one has widened considerably and many are not able to bridge the difference.”

RENTAL MARKET

Rents still at record highs RENTS in Ireland have risen by about 6.7 per cent in the past year, a report has shown.

Daft.ie’s latest quarterly rental report says this marks the lowest rate of rental inflation across the country since the end of 2013. Nationwide, the average monthly rental of €1,391 marks the 13th consecutive quarter of record rents.

The average listed rent is now €361 per month higher than the previous peak in 2008 and almost €650 higher than the low in late 2011.

The slowdown in rental inflation is driven by Dublin, where annual inflation has fallen from a high of 13.4 per cent in mid-2018 to 4.5 per cent today.

There has been a cooling off in inflation in the other major cities.

However, the level of inflation is still higher than in Dublin. In Cork, rents are 7.9 per cent higher than a year ago, while in Galway city rents are 9.1 per cent higher. In Limerick, rents have increased by 10.5 per cent in a year, similar to the increase seen in Waterford city at 10 per cent.

Outside the major cities, rental inflation varies from 6.2 per cent in Leinster to almost 12 per cent in Munster and Connacht-Ulster.

Ronan Lyons, an economist at Trinity College Dublin and the report’s author said: “The slowdown in rental inflation will be welcome news to tenants and policymakers. It is more likely driven by limits to affordability than improved supply, however.

“Availability on the rental market remains at levels that were unprecedented prior to 2015.”

Pierre Yimbog, president of Technological University Dublin Student union, said student renters were at the mercy of the “critically undersupplied Irish rental market”.

“It’s having a negative impact on their studies and wellbeing,” he said.

MERC_OYSTER FEST_ECHO_2019_FA.pdf

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22 | September, 2019

Hurler

They said it...

on the ditch

Compensation for looking at royals

UNIONISTS have their Union Jack knickers in a knot over reports that a portrait of the Queen was taken down from a public area of Stormont Castle.

The move came amid claims a civil servant, who was named under parliamentary privilege in the unelected House Of Lords, had been paid compensation after apparently taking offence at the painting.

Former UUP MP Ken Maginnis told the House of Lords that a civil servant had been paid £10,000 in compensation for being offended by having to walk past portraits of the Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The case was reportedly settled a number of years ago but the issue became a matter of public contention after Maginnis’ intervention earlier this summer.

A UK Government spokeswoman confirmed that the Queen’s image was now on display again.

“A portrait of the Queen – our head of state – is on display in the public area of Stormont House alongside a balanced set of images celebrating and reflecting the work of the Northern Ireland Office,” she said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during a visit to Northern Ireland last month, was asked if he was offended by having to look at portraits of the royals. Leo played

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TIME OUT

“We can be a lot better and we have to be a lot better. That’s not the standard we hold ourselves to. Quite frankly it’s hard to describe it without using a lot of profanity.”

who marched with the monarchy.

Among them is former minister Niall Blair, whose parents emigrated from Co Antrim in the 1970s.

Rory Best, captain of the Ireland rugby squad defeated 57-15 by England.

“We welcome people from a multitude of different communities and opinions. In no way am I going to ask a band to stop singing a song. That is censorship and not what Feile is involved in doing.”

Spitting chips over Kyrgios spud jibe

The insufferable Nick Krygios, who called Irish umpire Fergus Murphy a ‘potato’

a diplomatic straight bat. “The only thing I would say is that in Dublin Castle we do have portraits of British monarchs and we haven’t taken them down and they certainly don’t offend me.”

Questions of loyalty AS reported last month by The Hurler, only 14 of 93 members of the 2019 New South Wales parliament chose to swear an oath to the Queen of England over a declaration of loyalty to Australia and the people of the state.

In 2015, that number was 19 so there’s some progress if you’re republican inclined.

While we don’t know for sure the names of those in the lower house who took the royal route, our spies have revealed the names of those in the Legislative Council

Quiz 1. Which is the province of Connacht’s only city?

2. What links Ireland; Austria; Finland; Malta; Sweden in terms of neutrality?

3. Who replaced Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach?

4. Who was the original guitarist in the ban Taste?

5. In which county is the town of Shillelagh?

6. Which Northern county was the first to win the Sam Maguire?

7. The anemometer was invented in Armagh circa 1845, and the first one to be erected in a public place was in Dun Laoghaire. What does it do?

8. What are the constituents of the cocktail ‘black velvet’?

9. The Council of State is the advisory body to whom under the constitution?

10. This mythical Irish hero changed his name from Setanta to what?

Kevin Gamble, from the management committee of Féile an Phobail (West Belfast Festival) speaking about republican chants during a Wolfe Tones concert. These included “Oooh-ah, up the RA”.

AUSTRALIAN tennis ace Nick Kyrgios has been slugged with a record fine after abusing Irish umpire Fergus Murphy, at one stage calling him “a potato”.

The controversial Australian lost his cool at the Southern Open in Cincinnati after losing the second set to Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

“The worst f***ing ref ever, the worst ref in the game,” the 24-yearold shouted.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. It’s a disgrace.

It’s only with you,” the world No 27 told the umpire. “Why do I always have problems with this potato in the chair? He’s a spud.”

At the end of the match, which Kyrgios lost, he unleashed on Murphy again, saying: “You’re a f***ing tool bro.”

Murphy is one of the most experienced tennis umpires on the pro circuit.

Kyrgios refused to shake hands with the official and spat in his direction after the match.

The incredibly irritating Kyrgios will have time to reflect on his behaviour when the ATP suspends him as expected after the US Open. Good riddance.

“The baggage will now arrive overnight into Dublin Airport where it will be immediately transported to the family.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

A statement from Aer Lingus after losing the ashes of a passenger’s late parents.

“We don’t know what went on in Gibraltar because the British government’s account was wrong, and that the MOD had never explained the contradictions of reports on the day and in subsequent days.”

Roger Bolton, the then editor of the Thames Television programme Death on the Rock, which examined the killing of three IRA activists on Gibraltar. Bolton was speaking on BBC Radio 4 last week.

“This was a deliberate insult to the Bloody Sunday families …

Derry is a city where the Parachute Regiment murdered 14 people on Bloody Sunday.”

Deputy Leader of Sinn Féin Michelle O’Neill referring to DUP members posing under a banner featuring a Parachute Regiment logo.

“If there are any constructive suggestions from Britain, he should respond constructively to those, but to recognise that given this is a British dilemma, it is for Britain to come forward with its own ideas.”

Former Taoiseach John Bruton on a proposed meeting between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The ‘Echo’ Crossword Clues across: 1. One’s royally confused about (5,6) 6, 10, and 14 across: Early film, perhaps about male clad in white chunky sweater? (3,2,4) 9. Start with previous Israeli leader, we don’t hear (5) 10. see 6 across 11. Dispatch, briefly, former Taoiseach in city (8) 13, 31 across, 17 down: She presents gent tentatively in Dublin landmark (2, 8, 5) 14. see 6 across 15. Power of classic films in Ulster (6) 16. Short man with a short rule (3) 18. Oh, are they hiding an airport?

(5) 23. Killed, we hear, in this Meath town (5) 24. It’s said, on your knees, Beatle member, to find Celtic leader (4,6) 26. Prominent element in signs (4) 29. Cell it leases in Monaghan fortification, now digs (6,6) 30. Unhappy with Arab leader (5) 31. see 13 across

Clues down: 1. Small change received back from defunct Belgian airline, we hear, leads to a significant other in Irish politics (6,5) 2. Shun gala, rearrange for harvest festival (8) 3. Pulls Americans (5) 4. A room all eyed, but missed Irish family (7) 5. English town sister consumed, it’s said (8) 7. A position for the French preacher (7) 8. Bantry … in Co Cork and Sydney (3) 12. Oh no! Research this area for river (4) 17. see 13 across 19. The attitude is softened when a deer is consumed in the fasting period (8) 20, 28 down: Hang less pegs crookedly to negotiate Derry mountain throughway (8,4) 21. Archbishop adds the end of the script for the playwright (7) 22. Sportsmen with their own lines of approach (7) 25. Dame Melba, opera singer? (6) 27. On and on with one in middle with root vegetable (5) 28. see 20 down

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10 11

12 13

14 15 18

16

19

17

20 21

22

24

23 25 26

27

28 29

30

31

LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS: Clues across: 1. Eoin Morgan. 7. Suir. 8. Exchequer. 9. Amoy. 10. Hero. 11. Sap. 12 & 15 across: New Hampshire. 14. Plan. 15. see 12 across 18. Rhum. 19 & 24 across: Rathlin Island. 21. American. 22. Clash. 23. Chauvinist. 25 across, 7 down: The Snapper. Clues down: 1. Elementary. 2. Inch. 3. Maeve. 4. Raucous. 5. Acres. 6. Praying mantis. 7. see 25 across 14.Whitelaw.

17. Maldives. 18 Immersed. 21. Narnia. 23. Cap.

Answers: 1. Galway; 2. EU members that are not in NATO; 3. Brian Cowen: 4. Rory Gallagher; 5. Wicklow; 6. Co. Down; 7. Measures wind speed and wind force; 8. Champagne and Guinness; 9. The President of Ireland; 10. Cú Chullainn

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Interview

Brexit: Fintan O’Toole, one of Ireland’s best-known and most influential journalists, says he believes Boris Johnson is trying to bluff the European Union on a wno-deal Brexit. Speaking before last week’s suspension of parliament, O’Toole shared his views about Brexit, Trumpism, Rupert Murdoch and Ireland’s hypocrisy regarding the diaspora, writes Billy Cantwell.

irishecho.com.au AS the author of the bestselling Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics Of Pain, Fintan O’Toole has had much to say on Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

He sees it as “an act of national self-harm” motivated by self-pity, hubris and xenophobic nationalism. So, now that a committed Brexiteer is in No 10 Downing St, how sure is he that the European Union will hold firm and has Boris Johnson not made the calculation that, in political terms, he will gain more from standing up to the Europeans than he will lose from the economic pain of a hard Brexit?

“I think those are great questions and go to

Bluff

THE IRISH ECHO

September, 2019 | 25

might. They could then seek an extension to the October 31 deadline and then, in that circumstance, you might see a second referendum.

“The other thing that could happen is that Johnson goes for an election and we wind up with a very fragmented parliament. And the more the deadlock continues, the more you’re left with no other option. They can’t do a deal and they can’t do a no-deal.”

One of the possible impacts of a no-deal Brexit will be to accelerate the reunification of Ireland and the possible break-up of the United Kingdom.

The Irish Times columnist believes that the Varadkar government should be preparing for such an eventuality but urges caution about

He describes living in the Republic of Ireland right now as like being in an oasis, free of the far-right intolerance of much of the world.

Ireland has, he says, moved “radically towards a more liberal, open, tolerant, complex sense of its own identity”, something he connects with a balance between immigration and emigration.

“Ireland is different in that it is both an immigrant society and an emigrant society.

“As you well know, Irish people have not stopped leaving. Seventeen per cent of people resident in Ireland were born somewhere else while 17 per cent of Irish-born people have lived outside of Ireland.

“That does create a very interesting and complex identity where its harder to get largescale anti-immigrant feeling going. We all know

and they don’t really think of themselves as Irish. Irish citizenship has become a convenience to maintain a connection with the European Union.”

A year ago, O’Toole wrote a controversial column in which he declared that the world was in a ‘pre-fascist’ phase and that millions of Europeans and Americans were being “given the taste for savagery”. Elections were being “rigged”, moral boundaries were being “undermined” and that people were “learning to think the unthinkable”.

The piece was widely lauded as a wake-up call for the western world while others derided it as an outlandish conspiracy theory. A year on, does he still believe the world is descending into fascism and how can we get off this path?

jumping the gun on a so-called ‘border poll’ in Northern Ireland.

“The first thing I would do with this is urge caution,” he says.

“We’re in the middle of the tectonic shift in the political architecture of the two islands.

Scottish independence is a live possibility.

English nationalism has become a huge force.

Welsh nationalism is on the rise and then you have all the Irish issues. I think we have to be very careful that we don’t end up being forced into a united Ireland because the UK is just falling apart and then we’re left to deal with all of the unresolved issues of the island of Ireland in a chaotic situation where you have huge amounts of anxiety and fear, you have economic collapse, you have civil conflict going on. Are those the circumstances in which anybody wants Ireland to be united? I don’t think so.”

Frank and open discussion, honest dialogue and citizens conventions are the best pathways towards a reunited Ireland, he believes.

“The way that this unfolds has to be very consensual, it has to be very open. Do we need to be preparing?

Absolutely. We need very honest dialogue. Not flag waving. Not saying ‘we want a border poll now’.

“We need to have citizens’ conventions which has been a good model for the abortion and same-sex marriage referenda. We need to engage the public in thinking about, or talking about, these issues and being honest and upfront about this stuff.

“We need to ask the obvious questions like ‘Is the population of the Republic prepared to pay higher taxes to subvent a better health service than people have in Northern Ireland?’.”

that our sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and uncles and aunties are immigrants themselves somewhere else.”

Despite the significance of the diaspora to Irish culture and identity, he observes there has been much hypocrisy in Ireland’s attempts to embrace its global family.

He is “not at all confident” that the forthcoming referendum on allowing all Irish citizens to vote in presidential elections will “pass easily”.

“I think it’s really important that this referendum needs to be fought,” he says.

“It can’t be just taken as something that is more likely to pass because we have warm feelings towards the diaspora.

“Once it gets down to the referendum debate, it will have to be concrete. It is going to be won and lost in the way that the last two referendums were won and lost, which is about personal stories. So, what will affect people will be hearing the voices of people like yourself, who have a strong connection with Ireland and who want to have that sense of identity being endorsed.”

Brexit will also play a role in the debate, he believes, because many British citizens are applying for Irish citizenship as “a convenience to maintain a connection with the European Union”.

“Very large numbers of people in England are taking out Irish citizenship and therefore would be entitled to vote in the presidential election,” he says.

“Many of these people, and I’m sure they would say this themselves, have no connection to Ireland, they’ve never been in the country

“Trump is test marketing this kind of barbarism,” he says. “What was appalling a year ago is suddenly less appalling now. This prefascist moment is about normalizing inhumanity and the degradation of other human beings to an extent that people begin to accept it.

“What we do about it is to fight it. That political fight also has to be an economic fight.

You have to address inequality and injustice.

[There is a] profound sense of economic insecurity which millions and millions of people feel, that the fruits of economic growth are going overwhelmingly to the top 1 per cent.

If you don’t address those things, there are reasons to be very pessimistic.

“But those things can be addressed.”

Crucial to shifting the global political dial will be the defeat of Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

But does O’Toole believe he will be defeated and who, from the Democrat side, is in the best position to defeat him?

“I think Trump will do what Trump does, which is up the ante. Its going to be extraordinarily brutal and vicious. But I think he can be defeated.

“Trump will do more for Democratic turnout than anyone else will,” he says.

But he challenged what he called the “mainstream liberal narrative of middle America”, which says that you need a “bland father figure like Joe Biden”.

“I think Trump would slaughter Biden. I would look at someone like Elizabeth Warren, who has incredible credentials, is very, very smart.

To me, it has to be someone who is coming somewhat from the Left so they can really address the issues of injustice and inequality.”

O’Toole, who nominates artist Sidney Nolan and writer Peter Carey as his Aussie heroes, says he is well aware of Australia’s extreme policies regarding asylum seekers, the country’s “long history of racist migration policies” and what he calls the “toxic” influence of Rupert Murdoch on the political landscape. He says the Australian-born media mogul is “one of the most negative forces in the world”.

“Over the last 30 years, Murdoch has pumped so much toxic waste into political and social culture around the world,” he said.

“Murdoch’s partisanship in Australia mirrors a lot of what’s happened in the US and in Britain.

But perhaps what’s happened in the US and Britain is mirroring Australia.”

or blunder? the heart of the matter,” he says. “I should say first of all that just because Johnson is bluffing – and I believe that he is – does not mean that he is not capable of blundering into a no-deal Brexit.

“I think his calculation is that he wants to be stopped. It’s like a psychopath saying ‘stop me before I kill again’. He wants parliament to stop him and he wants the Europeans to reject his demands. He knows they will be rejected.

They’re so outrageous.”

Speaking before Johnson’s move to prorogue parliament, O’Toole speculated that an election is the likely result of his tactics.

“His calculation is that if he does lose a vote of confidence and goes to the people on the basis that the Remainers, the Europeans, the Irish are all stopping the will of the British people so ‘I need an overwhelming mandate in order to show that we are a sovereign people and we’re going out on October 31’. That is his plan insofar as there is one.”

O’Toole is not confident Johnson will succeed in getting the Europeans to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement which, of course, contains the bane of the Brexiteers, the Irish backstop. But a no-deal election is a very high risk strategy for Johnson.

This, O’Toole says, “is incredibly risky from his point of view because if he loses it, he not just loses the prime ministership, he goes down in history as one of the laughable characters in British political history”.

As for solidarity with Ireland, the veteran historian, biographer, literary critic and political commentator believes that the EU is, to use a phrase popularised by Margaret Thatcher, “not for turning”.

“I was very skeptical when this process began that the European Union would stand by Ireland,” he says.

“But I was wrong about that. I don’t think the Europeans are going to sell out Ireland. I don’t think they can. Rhetorically they’ve gone so far with it that it would shatter the whole credibility of the EU to do so.”

O’Toole declared last December that he believed that there would be a second referendum on Brexit and while he now concedes that it is less likely, there are two ways it could still occur.

“Johnson will face a confidence vote and he could very well lose it,” O’Toole says. “If he loses that vote, it is not automatically a general election but there’s 14 days in which someone else can seek to put together a majority.

“Jeremy Corbyn would not win it but perhaps another Labour figure like Keir Starmer

“

Just because Boris Johnson is bluffing – and I believe that he is – does not mean that he is not capable of blundering into a no-deal Brexit.

”

Fintan O’Toole was a guest of the Antidote Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

26 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

THE IRISH ECHO

Visa-bility

Your visa questions answered.

Co Antrim native and registered migration agent John McQuaid provides a uniquely Irish perspective on immigration issues.

Dear John, My working holiday visa finishes in November and I am looking at staying on in Australia to study.

I have a degree level qualification in education from Ireland and one year of work experience as a teacher.

Do I need to take on higher level study?

Most Masters courses seem to take two years and fees are expensive. Is it possible to get a student visa for just one year?

Thanks for any information Rosie N DEAR ROSIE, STUDENT visas are issued for the length of the course you enrol in with an extra month or two each side.

Courses can be as short as three months for entry level vocational study or three years or more for degree level study.

Masters level courses are costly. Overseas student fees are considerably higher than Australian citizens pay; and probably more than you would pay at home.

Expect to pay from $6,000 per term.

You can opt to undertake study at a lower vocational level, but you should ideally have some career plan in mind. Immigration may question your reasons for taking lower level courses or changing career paths.

Vocational study courses are a much cheaper option starting at about $1,500 per term (three months).

Vocational study options cover a wide range of courses such as IT/media, business and project management, marketing, travel, beauty therapy, accounting, fitness, massage and more.

Check carefully because not all college courses are open to overseas students.

You need to find a course that is CRICOS registered.

A good website is www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/ Most student visas give part-time work rights, up to a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight while the college is in session, and unlimited work rights during college holidays.

Work rights on study visa usually only start when the course starts.

Students need to maintain attendance in their course and make satisfactory progress.

Before you apply for a student visa, you need to be accepted for full-time study by a college.

“

Full time is considered as 20 hours per week in a registered course.

It is possible to apply for courses and the visa while you are here in Australia or from outside Australia.

Applicants need to make a declaration stating they have access to sufficient funds to pay for travel, the course and living expenses in Australia.

Student visa applications have a ‘genuine intention’ criteria so Immigration may check that applicants genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily to gain a qualification and return home.

Where Immigration has doubts, it may look at your financial capacity to pay for living costs, and your intention to comply with visa conditions.

Student health insurance is required and costs about $550 per year for single insurance.

Immigration’s student visa application fee is currently $620.

If you are applying in Australia on a visa that was granted in Australia – e.g. a second working holiday visa – Immigration will also levy a subsequent temporary application charge of $700.

Graduates who complete degree level study after at least two academic years study in Australia can get a post-study two-year open work 485 visa.

Longer work visas are granted for masters or PhD study.

Consider consulting a migration agent for advice on eligibility.

Find a registered migration agent at www.mia.org.au/find-an-agent

Before you apply for a student visa, you need to be accepted for fulltime study by a college. Full time is considered as 20 hours per week in a registered course.

”

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irishecho.com.au

Review

September, 2019 | 27

ARTS

Exiles in life’s strange course BOOKS

MY BROTHER’S NAME IS JESSICA

By John Boyne PUFFIN 247 Pages $16.99

CCCC IN A GREAT SOUTHERN LAND

By Mary-Anne O’Connor HARPER COLLINS 403 Pages $32.99

CCCCC Frank O’Shea WHEN you read John Boyne’s books, it is easy to forget that he first made his name writing for young readers. Even his most famous book, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, was written for this demographic and only taken seriously when adults realised what a wonderful piece of writing it was. It is unlikely that My Brother’s Name Is Jessica will have the same impact, though it is also beautifully written.

The first-person narrator is Sam and we meet him first as an infant, then as a seven-year old, a 10-year old and finally as a young teenager. His hero is his older

he was gay. “And life was a million times brother Jason who fills the roles in his better when I did because people will life that his politician parents might be often surprise you with just how kind expected to take on. Mum is Britain’s and supportive they can be.”

Secretary of State with ambition to He admits, however, that for a young become Prime Minister; her chief-ofboy or girl to come out and say they staff and minder is her husband. Neither are transgender goes to a higher level have much time to take any serious of difficulty. The reaction of parents interest in what their sons are going and other siblings and school friends is through. usually to deny the assertion and claim At the age of 17, Jason announces to that the person will get his family that over it and that it can he regards be overcome by some himself as a girl. “I don’t ... the story is a delight, a medical procedure. All of these situations and think I’m your masterclass in creating some more are dealt brother,” he with in this book. tells Sam. “I believable situations.

But, setting aside think I’m your the seriousness of sister.” The the topic, this is a story now takes marvelously funny book, full of sparkling the expected route through denial by dialogue. At one stage, Sam insists that his parents and even more by Sam, and merciless bullying of both boys at school. since Jason has a willie, he must be a boy. “Sam,” shouted Mum, “no willies In an attempt to make Jason change at the breakfast table.” “Oh, ok,” I said, his mind, Sam cuts off his ponytail while “So when can we talk about them?” “We he is asleep. The older boy is convinced can’t” said Mum. “Why not?” ”Because that this was done by one of his parents they’re disgusting.” ”Ah,” said Dad quietly. and leaves home to live with his aunt “Actually that explains a lot.”

Rose, an old hippy who accepts him This is a book that will be loved by the and calls him Jessica. Soon after this, young readers for whom it is written. But without doing much to make it happen, it should be read by adults also.

Sam finds that he has a girlfriend, a ________________________________ relationship that unwittingly provides the opportunity for another politician IN a note at the end of this quite to challenge Mum for the Prime faultless novel, the author tells us that Ministership. she is a sixth-generation descendant of Though the ending is not entirely a Clancy family, who were sponsored satisfactory, the story is a delight, a emigrants to Australia from Co Clare in masterclass in creating believable the years just before the Great Famine. situations for young people, especially They settled in the Orange region of those going through internal conflict.

NSW, where their successors are still to In an afterword, the author tells us that be found. So it is no surprise that she he was 20 before he could tell everyone

“

”

names the central characters in her book strong woman, but subject to the kind of sometimes subtle, often naked cruelties Clancy and has them originally settling in of the age. That she survives may be that rich farming region of Australia. regarded as a contrived set of circumShe does, of course, change things stances, but by the time that happens, for the sake of her story. For one thing, the reader is engrossed in her troubles she starts her story near KIllaloe in 1851, and quite delighted that, polished English when it could be assumed that any who accent notwithstanding, she is rescued had lived through the Famine years were by one of the Irish Clancy clan. either fortunate or had strong survival The first portion of the story is skills. In the case of the Clancy family, set in Killaloe and Liverpool, but the there was little good fortune, and it may action seems more authentic after be assumed that their assisted passage it moves to Sydney and Parramatta, was paid by a landlord happy to have Orange and finally to Ballan, Ballarat and them off his hands.

Warrnambool in Victoria.

That part of the story is certainly It is a reminder that even as late as the convincing as is the oppression and second half of the 19th Century, there hardship which tenants would have to was a widespread regime of repression endure in order to survive, all of which is and cruelty in early credibly covered Australia. in the story. The The author coaxes feel of staying the reader into close to history ... a reminder that even sympathy with her is sensed again as late as the second main characters and in the second has few agreeable half of the book half of the nineteenth ones on the official when the action century, there was a side of Irish or moves to the colonial society, Ballarat goldfields widespread regime of either as navy, and the agitation repression and cruelty in military, police that would in a or civilian. A reader short time lead early Australia. may be surprised to democracy in at how thoroughly Victoria at a time absorbed he/ when it was rare she becomes in the fortunes of the anywhere else in the world. characters, as much at an emotional The other element of the story is level – keep some tissues to hand – as at based around Eve Richards, a young a practical or material one. servant woman in a prosperous family This is writing of the highest quality, in England who is abused by the son keeping the reader involved from the and heir and eventually transported to first.

Australia for stealing an apple. Eve is a

“

”

Modern love by the Liffey

DUBLIN BACKDROP FOR ANIMALS’ MAGIC

SCREEN ANIMALS Directed by Sophie Hyde Starring Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat Opens nationally Sept 12

CCC Billy Cantwell ANIMALS, directed by Australian Sophie Hyde, is a sassy, urban yarn about female friendship. Based on the novel

by Emma Jane Unsworth, and shot

entirely in Dublin, Animals showcases the Irish capital’s growing reputation as a modern, cosmopolitan city.

“Dublin is a very vibrant city. It’s very romantic,” director Hyde said. “It can be quite raw and rough as well. It has a kind of old world and a new world charm all at the same time.”

The film is an intmate, funny and bittersweet examinaton of the challenges of turning talent into action, and being a modern woman, with faults, longings and competing desires.

Laura (Holliday Grainger) and Tyler (Alia Shawkat) have been flatmates and best friends for 10 years, marauding around the streets of Dublin, rejectng the expectatons that bombard modern women and acting purely on desire.

For Tyler, this is the best version of

life, even with the inevitable hangovers, but when Laura’s (younger) sister Jean gets pregnant ... on purpose ... Laura panics. Can she really have it all? Or is her life of debauchery with Tyler ruining her attempts to create something meaningful?

As Laura struggles to come to grips with what it is that she really wants, she begins to realise that living a life for herself might mean leaving someone else behind.

Animals is a modern chick-flick but all Irish audiences will enjoy the debauchery of Laura and Tyler’s Dublin adventures. The story suffers from the absence of any strong male characters but the performances of Shawkat and particularly Grainger make it worth the price of admission.

Holliday Grainger and Fra Fee star in Animals, based on the novel by Emma Jane Unsworth.

28 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

TIME OUT

Travel High spirits

There are now more the 30 whiskey distilleries spread across the island of Ireland, inviting enthusiast and rookie alike to see, smell and taste uisce beatha.

WHISKEY has been distilled in Ireland since the sixth century, but with the native spirit now in the middle of a global renaissance there has never been a better time to explore the country’s rich whiskey story.

From the iconic distilleries of Jameson’s, Bushmills and Tullamore Dew, to the new generation of makers such as Clonakilty, Glendalough and Echlinville, there are whiskey experiences to be found in every corner of the island.

Offering a great way to discover the heart of Ireland, tours of the distilleries open the door into the sights and sounds of mashing, fermenting, distilling and cask maturation, not to mention the famous Irish welcome, characters and craic.

Distinctive gems across the country include Old Bushmills Distillery on the famous Causeway Coastal Route. One of the few distilleries in the world to distil, blend and bottle the spirit under the same roof, Bushmills is the oldest working distillery on the island of Ireland.

In Dublin, you can see, smell, taste, talk and capture the magic of uisce beatha (literally translated as ‘water of life’) at a collection of no fewer than four distilleries in the colourful Liberties area of the city. With each offering stimulating tours and whiskey experiences, Roe & Co Irish Whiskey, Teeling, the Pearse Lyons boutique distillery and the Dublin Liberties Distillery are among those blazing the trail for the new generation of Irish whiskey makers.

Among the wide range of distilleries to explore are the Dingle Whiskey Distillery in Co Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way, and Slane Distillery in Co Meath, where the guided tours culminate in a tutored tasting of the triple-casked Slane Irish Whiskey. Slane Castle, where the whiskey is distilled, has become internationally renowned as a rock’n’roll venue, graced regularly by the likes of Bob Dylan, Madonna, the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. U2 recorded much of their Unforgettable Fire album at the castle.

And whiskey-lovers simply can’t miss a visit to the Echlinville Distillery In Co Down, which offers a real insight into the workings of Northern Ireland’s first newly licensed distillery for over 125 years. Follow the journey of the spirit from ground to glass, view the beautiful copper stills and enjoy the earthy aromas of the maturation warehouse. Afterwards, enjoy two drinks of your choice in the bar.

This is a good time to get a taste of the resurgence in Ireland’s native spirit.

IRISH WHISKEY EXPERIENCES FIND OUT MORE AT www.ireland.com

The stunning Emo Court House estate in Ireland’s Midlands.

Step into the splendour of Emo Court House One of Ireland’s grandest estates has reopened to the public after refurbishment of its magnificent neo-classical mansion.

WHISKEY A GO-GO: Clockwise from top: The Echlinville Distillery in Co Down, Teeling’s Irish Whiskey distillery in Dublin; Jameson’s in Middleton Co Cork, the Dingle Whiskey Distillery in Co Kerry and Roe & Co in Dublin.

THE splendid Emo Court House in Co Laois has thrown open its doors to welcome visitors after a refurbishment project that has restored it to its former glory.

The 18th Century mansion, one of only a few private country residences designed by the famous English architect James Gandon, was built for the 1st Earl of Portarlington and remained the seat of the earls until 1920. A guided tour of the house will transport you back in time as you uncover its rich history, spanning over 200 years, which included a spell as a Jesuit novitiate.

The impressive architecture, detailing and collection of treasures make for a fascinating experience.

Among the highlights of the house are the elegant rotunda with its double height dome, the salon which runs from front to back and features marble Ionic columns and gilt wood valences, and the dining room with its ornate plasterwork ceiling.

Emo Court House is set in 250 acres of grounds in which are glorious examples of Irish formal gardens at their best as well as extensive parklands, woodlands and a 20-acre lake.

After a visit to the house take a walk through the beautiful grounds along paths studded with Greek sculptures and over 1,000 different species of trees. Don’t miss the 1.5km-long Wellingtonia Avenue path,

which is flanked by giant sequoias.

In the formal gardens the Clucker contains rare specimen trees and glades of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, while the Grapery is an arboretum with a series of pathways, each opening on to vistas of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and Emo Court House itself.

Emo Court House provides the perfect setting for cultural occasions and hosts a number of events during the year including art exhibitions, and music and theatre performances.

The 2019 programme includes a photographic exhibition of the work of Fr Frank Browne, a Jesuit who lived at Emo House when it was a novitiate and who is best known for his photographs of the first stages of the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage.

County Laois is home to a number of other historic sites that are well worth a visit.

These include the impressive Rock of Dunamase, where you can explore the ruins of an important Anglo-Norman fortification and enjoy extensive views over the stunning landscape of Laois.

EMO COURT HOUSE FIND OUT MORE AT www.ireland.com

irishecho.com.au

THE IRISH ECHO

September, 2019 | 29

Interview

The Voice Tommy Fleming tells David Hennessy why he’s looking forward to getting back to Australia, how hard he had to fight to walk again after a car crash in 1998 and how it was soul destroying to continue touring after losing both his parents.

DESCRIBED as ‘the voice of Ireland’, Tommy Fleming has graced many of the world’s most famous stages including Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. In addition to being a solo performer, the Sligo native also toured the world as lead singer of De Dannan, fronting the band from 1994 to 1997.

In fact, it was with Dé Dannan that he first came to Australia. Fleming told The Irish Echo he’s looking forward to coming back for his forthcoming tour: “I fell in love with it then, I really fell in love with it. I’ve been over so many times at this point, I know Sydney better than i know Dublin. I always look forward to coming back. There’s something very homely about going to Oz. The Aussies are not afraid to take the mickey out of themselves and they don’t take themselves too seriously.

“The last time i was in Australia was 2014, that’s five years. The drought is over,” he laughs.

Fleming will tour with Mark Vincent, the Australian tenor who won the 2009 series of Australia’s got Talent and has also performed with Fleming in Ireland before: “I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with Mark, that’s going to be special. He’s got a sepcial talent, an amazing voice.”

Fleming has described his music as neither not opera or rock ‘n’ roll, simply folk with a good story: “It’s what I grew up with, it’s in my blood, really. I am a firm believer in songs

like Danny Boy, Isle of Inisfree, all those songs that have lasted the test of time. The new songs are gorgeous. I will do Bring Him Home from Les Mis and I will probably do Bridge Over Troubled Water but when I’m doing the solo songs, it will be very Irish-based and my heritage and my culture.”

Fleming is conscious of the power of bringing Irish music, a bit of home, to those far away: “I remember years ago, I was living in New York. I remember Mary Black arrived over to do a concert and she sang A Song For Ireland and she brought me home; she brought me straight back home while she was singing that song. I’ve never forgotten that feeling because it wasn’t like it is today where you have Skype, email etc. If you needed to make a phone call, you went down to a phone box.

“One of the last tours I did in Australia, I was in Melbourne and this elderly lady came up to me. She was from the Midlands. I said, ‘When were you last home?’ She said, ‘I haven’t been home since I was 17’. She was in her 70s. That was one situation that really got to me. I sat down for a long time talking to her and telling her about all the changes in Ireland and she just said, ‘All the family are gone’. Her family now are in Australia so she has no reason to go home. I suppose it had gone too far.

“It’s a tough one. I remember my mother telling me stories of her aunt, my

grandmother’s sister. She left for New York at 15. My grandmother said goodbye to her sister. My grandmother was 13, she never saw her again. My granny didn’t die until she was in her 90s. That’s why they called it the ‘American wake’.”

Fleming has overcome great adversity to still be alive, let alone still singing. A car accident threatened both his career and his life in 1998 when, overcommitting to press interviews to publicise a tour, he fell asleep at the wheel and broke his neck. Fleming had to wear a brace for 17 weeks but made a full recovery.

“It could have been a lot worse. I broke my neck in three places and had that been a millimetre either way, I would have been dead. The option wasn’t paralysis, the option was live or die. There was a time when I was told I was never going to walk again and that was the biggest fight of my life to be honest with you. I fought back from that with as much strength as I could muster but that was a long battle, that was a long road.

“I spent three months initially in hospital.

Then when I was discharged, the only condition I could be discharged on was that I had to be discharged to my parents’ care.

My parents were my carers for months. I was told by the specialist that I would never stand on the stage again. That if I was to walk, it would only be with an aid. I fought so hard.

In September of the next year, 1999, I stood

on the stage and did my first concert at the Olympia in Dublin and that was a special moment. In a nice way, I was kinda giving the finger to the specialist, saying: ‘Told you you were wrong’.”

If Fleming had gone to bed after the accident, as he was going to thinking there was no serious damage, he could have woken up paralysed. He was given the choice between surgery or wearing the brace. Neither came with any guarantees of recovery but he avoided the surgery that could have done damage to his vocal chords.

It was in 2012, while on tour in the UK, that Fleming received a phone call that changed his life forever as he was hit by a double tragedy and lost both his parents in one day. After rushing home to be with his hospitalised mother, she passed away days later and his father passed that same night.

Instead of being left alone to grieve, v had to continue with his tour despite entertaining people being the last thing he felt like doing: “That was soul destroying. I couldn’t pull the tour; I was too far down the road. In hindsight I should have just said, ‘To Hell with this. I’m pulling it’. I wish I did but I don’t have regrets.

I try not to have too many regrets. Life is what it is.”

Tommy Fleming tours Australia in November.

30 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

SPORT

HURLING

GAA :: All Ireland Football Final

Dubs force final replay KERRY may not get a better chance of derailing the Dubs ‘drive for five’ than they did on Sunday September 1.

With Dublin star Jonny Cooper getting sent off before the break, Kerry had a golden opportunity to win their first All Ireland title since 2014.

Kerry’s star forward David Clifford was giving Cooper problems from the start. It was Clifford who won Kerry’s first half penalty although Stephen Cluxton saved Paul Geaney’s effort.

Dublin would hit the net first through Jack McCaffrey who finished off a move launched by Cluxton.

At 1-09 to 0-7, it looked like Dublin could finish the job long before the final whistle. However, continuing to foul Clifford, Cooper would walk before the end of the first half for a second yellow card.

Buoyed by the numerical advantage, Kerry were dominant in the early second half and it was former Sydney Swan Tommy Walsh, who would set up Killian Spillane to fire Kerry to within two points of the long reigning All-Ireland champs.

Sean O’Shea’s point put Kerry level at 1-14 apiece with seven minutes to go. The Kingdom pushed ahead with five minutes of normal time remaining but seven minutes of injury time and a great score from Dean Rock

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Diarmuid Connolly of Dublin is tackled by former Sydney Swan Tommy Walsh of Kerry during the GAA Football All-Ireland Final at Croke Park.

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would deny Kerry and make sure Dublin have another chance to make history.

Dublin manager Jim Gavin is delighted that his Dublin team have the chance to rectify what he saw as a sub-standard All-Ireland final performance in Saturday week’s replay.

“That performance wasn’t good enough to get the result today,” he said flatly.

“We have the opportunity now to try to rectify that the next day.”

Gavin refused to criticise match referee David Gough after he showed Cooper two first-half yellow cards, though his demeanour suggested that he was less than happy with the sending off. In the second half Kerry defender Tom O’Sullivan, who was already booked, was lucky to avoid the same fate - something that didn’t escape the Dublin boss’s attention.

“It’s hard to know watching it in real-time,” he said about the Cooper decision. “Both players were grappling. We didn’t get the rub of the green in that regard and that’s the way it is.

“That happens in games, some days you get those calls and some days you don’t,” he said.

“In the second half we could have got a few calls that went our way.”

TIPP TOPPLE CATS IN HURLING DECIDER LIAM Sheedy has taken Tipperary to another All-Ireland hurling title in only his first year back in charge.

Nine years after his Tipperary team stopped Kilkenny making it five-in-arow, Liam Sheedy’s team overcame the Cats in another decider to take their first All-Ireland since 2016.

Richie Hogan’s 33rd minute red card for a late tackle on Cathal Barrett was the turning point in Tipperary’s All-Ireland final win.

Captain Seamus Callanan and John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer hit second half goals for Liam Sheedy’s team as Kilkenny found no way through a Tipperary defence.

Tipperary’s 3-25 to 0-20 win was the biggest championship defeat Brian Cody has suffered in his 21 years in charge.

Kilkenny have not won an All-Ireland since 2015.

Tipperary hurlers celebrate.

GAA World Games

Aussies shine at global GAA festival DAVID HENNESSY

Firedam Civil P/L would like to congratulate the Irish Echo on reaching 30 years.

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AUSTRALASIA’S Irish-born women emerged triumphant in both the ladies football and camogie competitions at the recent GAA World Games.

Former Kerry All-Star Caroline Kelly, who captained the women’s football team, and camogie leader Sam McKillen of Antrim got to lift the tophies in Croke Park after their teams steamed through their tournaments proving too good for all their competitors.

Caroline Kelly, who plays with Brisbane Souths, told The Irish Echo: “It was really special. It’s only starting to sink in now because the week was so quick that it was only afterwards we realised, ‘that was a really special occasion and really special week to be part of’.

Kelly’s team clinched victory in the most dramatic fashion. Having trailed for the entire match to Parnell’s of London, Kelly stormed through to pass to Tricia Melanaphy for the final score which clinched victory: 2-7 to 1-9.

“When I left and went to Australia, I thought the big games were behind me. I certainly never thought I would be in Croke Park again never mind climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand.”

The camogie final was special for the McKillen family. Thirty years on from when Paul McKillen played in an All-Ireland hurling final for Antrim, he watched his daughter Sam become a champion in Croke Park.

Sam, of Cormac McAnallens club in Sydney, told The Irish Echo: “Of course he was proud.

He’s still proud, he’s going round the town telling everyone, ‘this girls’s a world champion’.

“It was great to bring the cup back to Sydney.

Sam McKillen lifts the Camogie Cup at Croke Park.

I don’t think I’ll ever get to climb the steps of Croke Park again but it was class.

“Going to Croke Park, playing in front of your family and friends, playing with those girls especially, the talent is unreal. The girls I’m playing with out there are outstanding players. The feeling is unexplainable.”

Australasia also took the best and fairest in two codes, Karen Jones took the Irish-born camogie honour while Lauren Saunders won for ‘native-born’ women’s football.

Australasia were also runners-up in three more competitions.

The ‘native-born’ women lost out 0-6 to 1-7 to New York’s Liberty Ladies. The Irish-born footballers went down 1-9 to 3-9 to Middle East. The Irish-born hurlers also lost to Middle East by 3-7 to 2-15. The ‘native-born’ footballers were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by New York Freedom.

irishecho.com.au

September, 2019 | 31

SPORT

Rugby :: Nervous wait for fringe players ahead of World Cup

Win boosts Irish hopes

Jacob Stockdale celebrates the second of his two tries against Wales last weekend.

IRISH rugby boss Joe Schmidt has submitted his 31-man World Cup squad to World Rugby, though Ireland will not reveal the finals squad until September 8.

Ireland edged out Wales 22-17 in Cardiff to hit back from last weekend’s 57-15 humbling in England, with Jacob Stockdale grabbing a try brace.

Will Addison fared well at full-back but Schmidt branded the Ulster utility back “underdone”, suggesting he could miss out amid the head coach’s final selection deliberations, with Munster’s Andrew Conway having furthered his claims.

Asked after the match how close he is to his final 31-man selection, Schmidt said: “I can tell you now, I’m not sure. We need to see what our balance is. Whatever you do there’s always a risk you don’t quite get it right. I don’t think we got it right last time (in 2015).

“It’s a horrible couple of days. For those players who miss out it’s going to be a real body blow, I’m incredibly conscious of that. But you can only take 31 players and that’s the reality.”

Jack Carty surely assured himself Ireland’s third fly-half berth with an accomplished performance at 10 at the Principality Stadium.

Schmidt insisted that Johnny Sexton will feature against Wales in Dublin next weekend, and that Joey Carbery will beat his ankle injury in time for Ireland’s World Cup opener against Scotland on September 22.

Munster playmaker Carbery can offer emergency cover at scrum-half,

with Conor Murray and Kieran Marmion likely to be Ireland’s two recognised nines in the eventual squad.

Tadhg Beirne should fill the fourth lock berth, with his ability to feature at flanker allowing Ireland to select five back-rowers.

Rory Best showed up well off the bench in Cardiff, making 12 tackles in a combative 20-minute cameo - reasserting his credentials as Ireland’s World Cup captain.

Addison, Conway, Jordan Larmour and Chris Farrell could now hand Schmidt the biggest deliberations in his backline selections.

“Will (Addison) did some things really well, he took a cut to the head and then got cramp, so we brought him off to protect him from injury,” Schmidt said. “He has such a balanced running style, he gets a good look at the pitch running back from full-back, and he’s accomplished at kicking and kicking goals as well. He’s underdone, he hasn’t had as much rugby as we would have liked, but then versatility is a huge strength.”

Schmidt praised Connacht playmaker Carty for his showing in Cardiff, but admitted again selection calls will not be straightforward.

“Jack’s done well, but it’s apples, oranges and lemons,” said Schmidt.

“You’ve got a number of different 10 options. One of them (Sexton) hasn’t played yet, but we all know he’ll play next week and will go. And another (Carbery) played very well for 50 minutes against Italy, and will certainly be back in time for Scotland.”

Rugby :: Veteran Irish skipper under selection pressure

Critics believe Rory’s best is behind him JOE Schmidt has defended veteran hooker Rory Best, branding criticism of his Ireland captain “unfair”.

After a sub-par performance against England, the 37-year-old Best came under intense scrutiny with many commentators questioning whether the Ulsterman’s position as captain was influencing his selection.

Schmidt refused to give any guarantees that Best will captain Ireland at the World Cup, but defended his regular skipper in the wake of the eight-try England hiding.

“The people who maybe really launched the criticism at him, some of it is unfair,” said Schmidt, of Best.

“The quality of what he provided, his support play and breakdown work, was still of a good standard.

“To put his performance in the nutshell of the lineout which is a lot of moving parts, there’s a little bit of undue criticism.

“At the same time Rory is very self-critical. He is very conscious of wanting to improve himself.

“I know internally he sets an incredibly high benchmark for himself, he didn’t reach that benchmark and

Irish skipper Rory Best tackles his opposite number Owen Farrell during the record defeat at Twickenham.

Picture: David Davies

IN BRIEF

CELTIC SIGN IRISH TEENAGE STRIKER CELTIC have signed Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Jonathan Afolabi. The 19-year-old left Southampton’s academy at the end of last season and had been linked with the likes of Crystal Palace, Lokomotiv Moscow and Wolves after helping the Republic reach the semi-finals of the European Under-19 Championship.

“We have signed him on a free transfer and he is one that’s a development,” Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. “He is sort of on the cusp (of the first-team reckoning). He is raw but he has good potential.”

DEATH OF EQUINE VET STAN COSGROVE STAN Cosgrove, pioneering vet and former manager of Moyglare Stud, has died at the age of 91. Cosgrove led the way in veterinary surgery and was internationally renowned for his work with racehorses as well as his lasting connection with Moyglare. He joined Moyglare Stud as its vet when Walter Haefner bought the Co Kildare property, then an old dairy farm, in 1962.

He became manager nine years later, having established his reputation for ground-breaking equine surgery, and the relationship with his boss lasted right up to Haefner’s death in 2012.

Together, they developed Moyglare Stud into first a commercial farm and then, from the 1980s, one of the finest private studs in the world.

MASSIVE PAYDAY FOR RORY IN ATLANTA RORY McIlroy exorcised two demons at the same time after winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup title for the second time in four years to pocket a record US$15 million first prize in Atlanta. McIlroy carded a closing 66 at East Lake to finish 18 under par, four shots ahead of American Xander Schauffele. World number one Brooks Koepka, who held a oneshot lead after the completion of the delayed third round, ran up a double bogey on the seventh and carded a hat-trick of bogeys on the back nine to slip into a tie for third.

McIlroy came within a whisker of going back-to-back after losing out in a five-way play-off for the European Masters title in Switzerland a week later. The 30-year-old is up to No 2 in the world after his run of form.

IRISH CHALLENGER FOR MELBOURNE CUP he will be very keen to re-establish that benchmark.”

Schmidt insisted there was “no internal noise” regarding Best’s captaincy despite Ireland’s record 57-15 loss to England.

“To be honest, if there is external noise of that nature then there is no internal noise of that nature.

“Probably for Rory it is that inter-

nal noise that is most relevant to him because that is where the decisions are going to be made and - at this stage - there are no decisions that have been made in that direction.”

Schmidt did not attempt to sugar coat the record loss to England.

“It’s an unacceptable result for us.

It was a performance beneath where we’d like to be. It’s a performance be-

neath where we need to be.

“The whole group is very, very conscious that we have a short period of time to make sure we accelerate what is part of our progression. “[But] we looked flat, we looked slow,” Schmidt said.

“To throw everything out would be a mistake. There were a couple of aspects that weren’t too bad.”

ALL roads lead to the Melbourne Cup for Mustajeer after the Irish raider claimed top honours in the Ebor Handicap at York. Beaten a shade over five lengths into fourth place in the prestigious handicap 12 months ago, the Ger Lyons-trained six-year-old won the 2900m race at 16-1 scooping the £600,000 first prize in authoritative style under Colin Keane. Having been snapped up by owners Australian Bloodstock, he will soon head for quarantine and then Flemington.

32 | September, 2019

irishecho.com.au

Sport

All tied up in Croker

Fourteen-man Dublin hang tough to force replay in All Ireland football final thriller

Paddy Small of Dublin is fouled by Seán O’Shea of Kerry during the All Ireland Football Final last weekend.

Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach

Follow your heart.

It’s the best compass there is.

Kylemore Abbey, County Galway

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