Irish Echo June 2019

JOHN CONNORS

KATIE TAYLOR

INTERVIEW :: PAGE 7

PAGE 23

Love/Hate Actor Brings HardHitting One-Man Show To Australia

Beloved Boxer Is Undisputed Champion Of The World

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June, 2019 | Volume 32 – Number 6

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So, where the bloody hell are ye?

Donegal island’s open invitation to Australians: PAGE 5 AUSTRALIA THE BIG WINNER AS IRISH DOCTORS EMIGRATE IN INCREASING NUMBERS

UNHEALTHY EXODUS 13 per cent in 2000 to 42 per cent in 2017, and last year there were 500 vacant consultant posts nationwide.

The emigration of Irish-trained doctors to Australia is a subset of this larger migration from Ireland to Australia after 2008, the report says.

“It might be expected that doctor migration would follow the same patterns, i.e. peaking between 2011 and 2013 before returning to pre-2008 levels by 2014 as the Irish economy showed signs of improvement.

“However, the number of Irish citizen doctors granted 457 visas increased in the period 2008-2012 and has continued to increase.

“In 2017-2018, a decade since the onset of recession in Ireland, 326 Irish citizen doctors were issued with working visas (temporary and permanent) for Australia, more than double

the 153 issued in 2008-2009. This trend suggests that the migration of doctors is not primarily related to economic circumstances, which began to recover in 2013-2014, but perhaps to health system factors.”

The report, written by the Human Resources For Health group, also obser ved that early career Irish doctors are increasing attracted by offers of work and sponsorship for RMO/resident medical officer posts in the Australian health system.

“The number of doctors migrating from Ireland to Australia at this early career stage increased from 22 in 2005-2006 to 221 in 2017-2018,” the report found. “In 2017-2018, 221 of the Irish doctors granted 457 visas were early career stage doctors, while the remaining 86 were more senior.”

The chairman of the Irish Medical

Organisation’s Consultants’ Committee, Clive Kilgallen, said cuts to wages during the recession have been a major factor in many doctors’ decision to move abroad.

“This is a systemic issue, in particular for consultants appointed after 2012, who could be working for up to €50,000 per year less than their colleagues who were appointed before 2012, and are doing the same job. This is grossly unfair and it is no wonder so many of them have turned their backs on [Ireland],” he told irishhealth.com.

The report also notes that in 2014, 684 Irish/EU doctors graduated in Ireland but 627 doctors emigrated from Ireland to countries such as Australia, the UK and the US. “These figures are clearly unsustainable for our health ser vice,” Dr Kilgallen said.

The number of Irish-trained doctors in Australia continues to rise.

Irish Echo Australia | www.irishecho.com.au | 02 9555 9199 | newsdesk@irishecho.com.au | (Admin): mail@irishecho.com.au | PO Box 256, Balmain, NSW 2041 I Print Post No 100007285

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AUSTRALIA is the primary beneficiary of a sustained exodus of Irish-trained doctors from Ireland, a new detailed study has found.

Doctors are continuing to emigrate from Ireland in high numbers and many are choosing Australia.

This is having a seriously damaging ef fect on the Irish health ser vice, experts claim.

The study, called “Tracking the leavers: Towards a better understanding of doctor migration from Ireland to Australia 2008-2018”, found that even though overall Irish emigration numbers to Australia decreased as the Irish economy recovered, the number of doctors emigrating here has continued to increase year on year.

The repor t also points out that Ireland’s dependence on internationally trained doctors has increased from

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1988-2019

Anniversary Souvenir Edition

YOUR AUSTRALIAN IRISH NEWSPAPER IS CELEBRATING September 28 – October 11, 2005

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Kennelly tastes sporting immortality in his adopted Kingdom

by Billy Cantwell at the MCG

How Sweet It Is: Sydney Swans star Tadhg Kennelly celebrates on the dais after becoming the first Irishman to secure an AFL Premiership medal last weekend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pic: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

IRA abandons all arms

by Ian Graham

Decommissioning body chairman, General John de Chastelain.

THE IRA has put all of its weapons beyond use, according to the head of the international decommissioning commission.

In an historic announcement, General John de Chastelain said “very large quantities of arms, which we believe include all the arms in the IRA’s possession”, have been decommissioned.

Speaking at a news conference outside Belfast, the general said he and his fellow members on the commission had been provided with estimates in 2004 by the British

and Irish security forces on what the IRA arsenal was believed to be.

An inventory of weapons decommissioned was “consistent with these estimates”, he said.

“We are satisfied the arms decommissioned represent the totality of the IRA’s arsenal,” he went on.

He said it included ammunition, rifles, machine guns, mortars, missiles, handguns, explosive substances and other arms, including all the categories described in the estimates by the security forces.

He continued: “The Com-

mission has determined the IRA has met its commitment to put all its arms beyond use in a manner called for by legislation.”

He said it remained for the Commission to address the issue of Loyalist arms and he asked everyone with influence to use it to that end.

The Rev Harold Good, a former president of the Methodist Church in Ireland and one of two churchmen who witnessed the process said he was utterly certain about the accuracy of General de Chastelain’s report.

He said: “We have spent many long days watching the

meticulous and painstaking way in which General de Chastelain went about his task of decommissioning huge amounts of explosives, arms and ammunition.”

He said witnessing the process on a minute-byminute basis gave them clear and incontrovertible evidence “that beyond any shadow of doubt the arms of the IRA have now been decommissioned”.

The general described IRA decommissioning as “an important milestone towards the completion of its task to achieve decommissioning by all paramilitary groups”.

Quarter Page Colour

THE name of Tadhg Kennelly can now be added to the list of Irish sporting heroes who have tasted unprecedented success in Australia.

After becoming the first Irishman ever to win an AFL Premiership medal last weekend with the Sydney Swans, the young Kerryman ranks alongside Brownlow Medal winner Jim Stynes and dual Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld. All three have written themselves into Australian sporting history and provided Irish expats with moments of extraordinary pride and joy.

The running half-back played an enormous role in the Swan’s heartstopping four-point victory over the West Coast Eagles. In the final seconds, he rushed behind and relieved the pressure as the Eagles tried to sneak a last minute goal. He accumulated 17 possessions and scored a rare goal in the Swans’ historic win, the first for the club in 72 years.

After receiving his Premiership medal, Kennelly broke into a spontaneous Irish jig before thumping the air in unbridled delight.

The numerous tricolours spotted around the Melbourne Cricket Ground waved enthusiastically and Irish pubs from Kerry to Kings Cross erupted in hugs and cheers.

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irish australia IRISH ANZAC GREAT GRANDFATHER INSPIRED REBECCA TO ENTER ROSE OF TRALEE

Sydney Rose Rebecca calls on Anzac spirit Aine Hegarty NEWLY-crowned Sydney Rose of Tralee Rebecca Mazza was inspired by her heroic Irish great-grandfather to enter the contest.

James Daly emigrated from Kanturk, Co Cork to Fremantle at the age of 19 in 1909 where he pioneered clearing land and farming in Western Australia while raising four children with his wife.

He enlisted with the Australia Imperial Force (AIF) in 1915 and fought bravely at Gallipoli and later at Pozieres where he was wounded and unable to take any further part in the war.

Although he died before Rebecca was born, the 24-year-old said the Irishman’s courage and strength continue to influence her family to this day.

“Without him coming to Australia and without him surviving Gallipoli and the Western Front, we wouldn’t be here.

There’s this idea of where we came from and all the things that happened to make us as individuals. I often think, imagine if James got killed at Gallipoli, I wouldn’t be here,” she says wistfully.

“Knowing that inspires me to do as much as I can with my life because it’s so meaningful. You don’t know the impact you are going to have on future lives and that really resonates with me.”

James is something of a talisman for Rebecca and the Mazza family.

“Anytime something difficult is going

on my Dad says ‘You’ve got the blood of Anzac flowing through you, so you can do anything’,” Rebecca said.

It’s a strength the family called on after Rebecca’s younger brother Tom, 21, was diagnosed with a devastating brain tumour two years ago.

Rebecca, who was raised in Perth but moved to Sydney last year, says her selection as Sydney Rose came as a welcome boost for her parents Catherine and Anthony Mazza and siblings Madeline and Thomas.

“My family are absolutely thrilled.

I don’t think I’ve seen my parents on such a high for such a long time.

“They’ve been through the mill after my brother was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He had to have emergency surgery and came out of that not being able to speak and it was just horrific.”

Tom underwent further operations and thankfully with help from speech and rehab teams, he is now fully recovered and studying nursing.

Rebecca currently works as a mobile speech pathologist helping families to develop strategies to communicate with their son or daughter who has difficulty speaking due to conditions like autism or cerebral palsy.

She was studying speech therapy at university when Tom got sick and said it spurned her on to complete her degree so she could help her brother and others like him who face speech issues

Rebecca, 24, pictured with her proud parents Catherine and Anthony Mazza and (below) her great grandfather, Corkman James Daly, who survived the First World War. due to medical conditions.The 24-yearold spent several months working in a school in Waterford in 2013 and can’t wait to get back to Ireland this summer.

“I need someone to make me laugh; I just love the Irish banter.

“Irish people are so good at communicating with each-other and telling stories. I remember coming back from Ireland and the banter wasn’t there.

Australian guys lack the same level of wit as the Irish and I do miss that.

“I have a very Irish sense of humour.

I just absolutely love Irish people. I can’t wait to meet all the Roses from around the world. It will be fascinating.”

But Mazza is keeping her cards close to her chest about what she will perform on stage for RTÉ’s television cameras.

“I play guitar and piano so I have a few options up my sleeve,” she joked.

MELBOURNE ROSE PAGE 8

RAY OF HOPE FOR IRISH FAMILY FACING DEPORTATION FOLLOWING LOCAL MP’S INTERVENTION

Minister reviewing family’s case Aine Hegarty and David Hennessy

The Hyde family, Anthony, Christine and young Darragh.

A LOCAL federal government backbencher and the Victorian Premier have voiced their support for an Irish family facing deportation.

Federal member for the seat of Nicholls, Damian Drum, is backing the Hyde family’s bid to remain in Australia and says acting Minister David Coleman is reviewing their case.

“I am waiting for the Minister to get an opportunity to look through the file.

It will be done probably within the week,” he told the Irish Echo last week.

“I’ll be in constant contact with the Minister on this one and we are hopeful that we can get a good decision but we are not in a position to make a call on it yet,” he said.

Christine and Anthony Hyde’s application for permanent residency

was refused because their son Darragh, 3, has cystic fibrosis.

Unless the Minister intervenes, the family who have lived in the north Victorian town of Seymour for 10 years, must leave the country by June 18.

“I spoke to David (Coleman) on this case,” Mr Drum said. “The Minister is in a very difficult position here. This situation where you have people out here on work visas who have children with severe disabilities. There is a real potential that this could cost the country millions of dollars and everyone understands that.

“If the Minister intervenes in this case it will set a precedent, so we have to be very careful,” he explained.

Despite this, the Nationals MP said he feels “relatively confident” after his conversations with the Minister.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done

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in relation to all the data that goes into the appeal; all the data that the Hydes need to present. All that data has to find its way from the Department to the Minister.”

The Nationals MP said he became involved in the case at the request of the local community.

“Many people from within the community have been stopping me and saying: ‘Can you help this family?’”

He said the Hydes have proven that “they are making a substantial contribution to our nation”.

Christine works as assistant principal at a local primar y school and Anthony works as a bus driver.

The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, has also thrown his support behind the Hydes saying “they’re effectively Aussies.”

“This is a great family. The young

boy was born here. Some compassion and some common sense [is needed],” Mr Andrews said.

Christine Hyde said the family is desperate to have some certainty.

“I have no idea what we’re doing.

I honestly don’t know where to begin.

There’s parts of me that says, ‘It will be fine, don’t worry about it’. Then there’s parts of you thinking, ‘Do we need to start packing?’ .

“We don’t want to be seen as the people who overstayed a visa or anything like that. It’s not us; we want to follow the request. If the request is to leave by June 18, so be it. We’ll do that. Don’t tell us on 17th June that the answer is a no, that you’re not going to intervene,” she said.

“Now there’s a time line on it, now we have an end date to this, it’s like, ‘Come on’. I don’t know what to do.”

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irish australia MATES MAKE SURE GRIEVING FIANCEE GETS FRANKIE’S CAR

Touching tribute after tradie tragedy Aine Hegarty

FRIENDS of an Irish tradie killed in the M4 crash worked around the clock to finish a car he was working on, as a surprise for his heartbroken fiancee.

Francis Shanley’s colleagues from Vaughan Civil in Sydney worked in secret to renovate a Subaru WRX so they could present it to Broc Nicholson at a celebration of their mate’s life on Tuesday, May 21.

The 36-year-old’s fiancee was over the moon when she was surprised with the car that has customised Frankie plates in honour of her partner.

Francis Shanley, from Bornacoola, Co Leitrim died when his car was hit by a beer truck in a pile-up involving 11 cars on the M4 motorway in Sydney on May 9.

A-53-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after police allege he changed lanes and then stopped, causing the fatal crash that killed Frankie.

Jamie Morrissey said his mates at Vaughan Civil “worked round the clock for the past nine days” to get the car ready for the ceremony at Macquarie Park Cemetery, where it was presented to Broc.

“All his close friends came together to work on it. People who knew nothing about cars came to work on it because they wanted to do it for Frankie. It was good for us as well; it kept our mind off things.”

Frankie loved to buy cars and fix them up and he was working on the Subaru WRX when he was killed. The car was fully stripped in his work yard, with hundreds of parts everywhere so it was no easy feat for his mates to fully restore it in nine days.

“Frankie was an outstanding person.

He was a gentleman and that’s why we did it. If it was any one of us, he would be the first person to step in and help so we thought it would be a fitting tribute. He would do anything for you.

Today is a very sad day for Broc but we hope we can bring a smile to her face when we surprise her with the car,” Jamie explained.

Broc Nicholson said Frankie would

be so proud that his friends had finished the car for her.

“He would be so proud and so am I. I know he’s going to be so jealous when I’m driving it instead of him,” Borc said.

Family and friends of Francis Shanley who gathered for a special celebration of his life at the Camellia Chapel in Sydney Macquarie Park Cemetery were told that he lived life with “love, honour, integrity and a sense of humour”.

Celebrant Brett O’Brien said: “He was alert and alive. He made people laugh. He had a fearless enthusiasm for life and our world is poorer without him.”

His Australian fiancee paid a beautiful tribute to Frankie.

“You’ve touched our hearts, beautiful …You always knew how to make me laugh, listen to my problems, make me feel better when I was sick,” she said.

She poignantly read the vows she had written for their planned wedding.

The couple were due to get married in August.

“You are my world. You are my rock.

You are the reason I am the person I am today. I will hold you, honour you, respect you, cherish you and most importantly love you. To the most charming, funny, handsome person – I will always love you.”

Frankie’s younger sister Ruth Shanley said his family was heartbroken to lose him but had “beautiful memories” of their time together.

“Frankie always used to look after me. He always had my back. He always put a smile on my face with his silly sense of humour and his cheeky smile.”

His close friend Gar y Har t was friends with Frankie for more than 20 years after meeting in school in Leitrim. “There was never a dull moment when Frankie was around. He was horrid craic. He’ll be sadly missed in this country and in Ireland,” he said.

Frankie is survived by his fiancee Broc Nicholson, his parents Christine and Basil Shanley and his siblings Mark, Ruth and Catriona Shanley.

VISA-BILITY Your visa questions answered

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

Hi John, I have been in Australia since 2013. I applied for citizenship last year and have just received a letter to tell me my application has been refused. What can I do? I gained my permanent residence through a Partner Visa, but my partner and I have since split up. Does this affect my permanent residence? Could my permanent visa be cancelled?

Name withheld

Dear NW, The government has been trying to change citizenship rules over the last year or two, however, no rule changes have been passed into law at this time.

Currently to be eligible to apply for citizenship you must 9a) have been resident on a valid visa in Australia for at least four years prior to applying with at least one of those years as a permanent resident; (b) not have been out of Australia for more than 12 months during the four years and (c) not have been out of Australia for more than 12 weeks in the year before applying.

Finally, you must be of good character.

Citizenship applications, and visa

(Clockwise from above) The car that mates of the late Francis Shanley restored to give to his grieving fiancee at his funeral service; some of Frankie’s mates who worked on the car; the Subaru before the mammoth restoration effort and a recent picture of Mr Shanley and his fiancee Broc Nicholson. The pair was to have married in August.

applications that are refused can often be appealed at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Information on this option is typically contained in the refusal letter from Immigration.

(Visit www.aat.gov.au/apply-online/ department-of-home-affairs-decisions/ citizenship).

There are strict time limits on lodging appeals so don’t delay. Appeals are expensive and complex so consider asking a registered migration agent/ lawyer for help If a citizenship application was refused due to not meeting the residence requirements, it might be simpler and cheaper to re-calculate your times in Australia and reapply.

The citizenship application fee is $285.

Immigration advised recently that it has 250,000 citizenship applications on hand, so expect processing to be very slow.

If a citizenship application is refused because of character issues or incorrect answers in the application, it is best to seek professional advice before making any new appeal or application.

The character assessment for citizenship applications a little different to visa applications. In a citizenship application Immigration says it considers you to be of good character if it believes you are likely to uphold and obey the laws of Australia.

It will look at your police convictions for all countries you have lived in for over 90 days since turning 18. The existence of a criminal record does

not mean that you will automatically be assessed as not of good character.

Each case is assessed on its merits.

It is very important to provide full and accurate details in your application even for simpler misdemeanours.

Some examples that would stop citizenship being granted include; having proceedings for an offence pending against you; or you are on parole or subject to a good behaviour bond or bail where action may be taken against you for breach of those conditions. Or recently released from prison /in prison.

You may also be considered not to be of good character if you have multiple offences for drink driving, assault, domestic violence. For more serious offences, Immigration can look to cancel a person’s permanent residence visa.

This would typically where a person has a substantial criminal record and served a prison sentence of more than 12 months. A permanent residence visa gained via an Australian partner would not be cancelled if the couple later split.

However, if Immigration becomes aware that a permanent visa was gained falsely, they can take action to cancel visas. If your application is complex. Consider getting assistance.

Find a registered migration agent at mia.org.au.

Editor/Publisher Billy Cantwell Telephone: +61 2 9555 9199 Postal Address: PO Box 256, Balmain, NSW 2041, Australia E-mail (Admin): mail@irishecho.com.au E-mail (Editorial): editor@irishecho.com.au Web: www.irishecho.com.au The Irish Echo is a national publication published monthly by The Irish Exile P/L Printed by Spot Press Distributed by Network Distribution Services

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irish australia DONEGAL ISLAND’S OPEN INVITATION TO AUSTRALIANS

Arranmore Island ‘open for business’ Staff reporters

THE people of the tiny Donegal island of Arranmore have issued an open invitation to Australians to consider a life there.

In an open letter from one island people to another, the offer begins: “To the people of Australia, you’ve probably never heard of us but we are writing to you from the island of Arranmore (Árainn Mhór in Gaelic), off the west coast of Ireland.”

“Over the past 150 years, since the Famine first hit Ireland, hundreds of our natives have made their way Down U n d e r, i n s e a r c h o f n e w opportunities.

“This mass exodus continues year after year. Traditional industries such as fishing and farming just aren’t enough of a draw to keep young people here anymore. It’s been a challenge for people to work here.

“Until now that is.”

The population of Arranmore, all 469 of them, is very excited about its new broadband connection and sees it as an opportunity to pitch its wares to the globe.

“Last month we got high-speed broadband for the first time – robust, secure connectivity that is as good as any office in Sydney or Melbourne,” the letter read. “We wanted Aussies to be the first to know that Arranmore

COME ALL YE: The islanders of Arranmore, Co Donegal have issued an open invitation to Australians to come and live and work there.

Island is now of ficially open for business.”

The letter went on to say that many of the multi-talented locals are ready to collaborate, including “Jessie, a graphic designer; Neil, a mobile games developer; Matt, an app developer and Elaine, a photographer”.

Arranmore might be the perfect sea change for stressed-out Aussies stuck in the rat race.

“Your commute will only ever be five minutes, the islander promise.

“Swap brown snakes and great whites for acres of open (and safe) space. Fed up of overpacked beaches?

On Arranmore, you’ll have secluded beaches all to yourself.”

Finally, there are the pubs which, they admit, “don’t have schooners, but they do have Guinness on tap that will blow them out of the water”.

Lic 2TA00839

Blacktown

SYDNEY IRISH ACTOR CHARGED

Corkman denies hitting female police officer Staff Reporters

AN Irish actor, who has appeared in the hit Aussie soap Home and Away, has been charged with a string of of fences after being ar rested at Sydney’s Cargo Bar on Saturday, May 25.

Cork native Keiren Noonan appeared before Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday May 26 via video link charged with assaulting police causing actual bodily harm, resisting arrest, offensive language and failing to quit licenced premises.

Noonan, 32, who appeared as Spike in five episodes of Home and Away, was granted bail.

NSW police say the Noonan (pictured) was intoxicated and refused to leave the Darling Harbour bar. It is alleged he got into a physical altercation with plain-clothes police who identified themselves to him as they asked him to leave.

“The officer immediately started bleeding from the nose, while other police arrested the man and conveyed him to Day Street Police Station,” a police statement said.

Noonan, who came to Australia to work as an electrician before being spotted for a small role in the TV soap, said he was really apologeti”, the Daily Telegraph reported. He will defend the charges.

Noonan told the court, from a Surry Hills Police Centre holding cell: “Your honour, can I give you my version of events.

“I would just like to say I’m really apologetic for what happened. I would never hit anybody, especially not a female police officer.”

His legal aid representative stopped him, saying: “Mr Noonan, if you could refrain from talking on the public record. That’s in your best interest.”

A NSW Police spokesman said: “The officers, who were in plain clothes, identified themselves to the man who again failed to leave the venue.

“A physical altercation ensued when the man pushed one officer in the chest and punched another officer in the face.”

The injured officer was treated at St Vincent’s Hospital for a broken nose and swelling to the face.

Speaking to reporters outside the police station where he spent the night, Noonan said he would be defending the charge.

“I would never hit anybody, especially not a female and especially not a female officer,” he said.

A court date for his reappearance has yet to be set.

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irish australia SYDNEY IRISH CLUB BOARD RESIGNS EN MASSE BEFORE EGM

Gaelic Club leadership spill Billy Cantwell

THE board of Sydney’s Gaelic Club is to step down en masse after an extra ordinary general meeting (EGM) was called by a group of its members.

The Gaelic Club, which is affiliated to the Irish National Association (INA), is based at 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills. The INA, which owns the site, has lost confidence in the Gaelic Club’s leadership team and wants to see change. Sixteen members of the Gaelic Club signed a petition to request the EGM. Seven signatories are serving INA committee members.

The petition said the purpose of the request was to “elect a new board which will develop a business and management plan for the operation of the Gaelic Club and a Memorandum Of Understanding with the INA on the Gaelic Club’s use of premises.”

In a letter to members dated May 25, 2019, a clearly unhappy Gaelic Club president Alana Sheil said the Gaelic Club Board had received a letter from the INA president, Karl

Kinsella, in December 2018 requesting that the club enter a formal lease arrangement. The board rejected this request because “this would make directors personally liable for any shor tfall in income to pay agreed rent”, Ms Sheil said.

The Gaelic Club is a not-for-profit entity and its directors are volunteers.

Its 2018 annual report says the club’s total income was $203,130, with a small operating loss of $345.

Ms Sheil’s letter, which was co-signed by the club’s secretar y, Maria Hayes,says: “The [Gaelic Club] board and the INA committee did have two face-to-face meetings … to resolve these issues”.

“The current Board has tried ever ything in its power to negotiate a reasonable outcome,” Ms Sheil wrote.

Mr Kinsella has written to the Gaelic Club’s 100 or so members urging them to “support the election of a reform group” to the club’s board.

In the letter, dated May 28, Mr Kinsella said the INA had intervened “following numerous complaints from members and groups concerning the

The exterior of 64 Devonshire St Surry Hills, home to Sydney’s Gaelic Club.

club’s operation” and that they were “disappointed that the club has not acknowledged or addressed the issues we have raised”.

The Gaelic Club and the INA have endured a turbulent histor y at the Devonshire Street premises.

The proper ty was once owned outright by the Irish National Association. However, 20 years ago, an audacious bid to redevelop and

regenerate the club failed. The financing of the redevelopment was provided by private individuals and the NSW GAA. The subsequent build was struck by delays and financial pitfalls.

When the revamped Gaelic Club finally opened, two years behind schedule in March 2002, it was not as profitable as had been hoped.

The ground floor bar and auditorium remained in Irish community ownership for just two more years before being sold off for $3.45 million to repay debts.

The INA, which is a registered charity, retains ownership of the upper floor which, according its most recent annual report, is valued at approximately $3 million.

The premises is also home to the Irish Support Agency (ISA), which pays rent to the INA. During her recent visit to Sydney, Irish Minister Heather Humphreys officially opened the new ISA office at the Gaelic Club.

The Gaelic Club EGM will be held at 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills on Monday June 17, 2019 at 7pm.

MORE THAN 5,000 WALK FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

The Bondi Darkness Into Light (DIL) event attracted more than 2000 people. (Below) Event volunteers relax at Bondi Beach after the 5km trek.

Light fantastic as $250,000 raised to fight suicide AN annual Irish initiative to combat the scourge of suicide attracted more than 5,000 walkers at eight events around Australia last month.

Darkness into Light is an event in which participants gather in the pre-dawn darkness and walk into the morning light to symbolise hope and recovery from depression and mental illness. Organisers of this year’s event said it was a great success with almsot 2,500 people attending the Sydney event alone.The weather was perfect at Bondi Beach as the mainly Irish crowd took on the 5km trek along the cliffs between the famous beach and Bronte.

There are more than eight deaths by suicide every day in Australia, and suicide is the leading cause of death for those under 25.

An estimated $250,000 was raised for Irish mental health charity Pieta House (which founded the walk in 2009) and local organisation Batyr.

“It has been by far our greatest event to date. The[bad] weather held off; everyone seemed to have such a great time and the number of participants was up on last year,” the event chairman for Sydney, Brian McCaormac, said.

“The event just goes from strength to strength every year here in Sydney.

We raised over $250,000, after costs, for local charity partner Batyr and Pieta House back in Ireland. A big thank you must go to Diona, event sponsor and their sub-contractors, who made this year extra special, donating very generously.”

Walks were held in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle, Byron Bay and Darwin, as well as four locations in New Zealand.

Since Darkness Into Light began 10 years ago, the event has helped to raise almost €20 million ($32 million) for the suidice awareness charity.

BOB HAWKE, RIP

President pays tribute to former Aussie PM Billy Cantwell IRISH President Michael D Higgins has added his tribute to the late Bob Hawke, who died on on May 16.

“I have learned with sadness of the death of Bob Hawke, Australia’s 23rd Prime Minister, former leader of the Labor Party and trade union leader,” the president said in a statement. ”Bob Hawke inspired great enthusiasm and faith among Australians of all generations in the power of politics to make meaningful changes in society, to the benefit of those often excluded.

His emphasis on consensus-driven change and social partnership arrangements left an important legacy.

“He will also be remembered for the international leadership he gave, as trade union leader, in his opposition to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express condolences to the people of Australia and in particular to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Mr Hawke, who was 89, was Australia’s longest-serving Labor Party prime minister. Ireland’s Ambassador to Australia, Breandán Ó Caollaí, said Mr Hawke was a great friend of Ireland.

In October 1987, Mr Hawke became the third Australian Prime Minister, after Bob Menzies and Gough Whitlam, to visit Ireland. He was the first Australian prime minister, and only the third foreign political leader after John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, to address a joint sitting of the Oireachtas. In that speech, he said Ireland was “the head of a huge empire in which Australia and the United States are the principal provinces”.

“It is an empire acquired not by force of Irish arms but by force of Irish character; an empire not of political coercion but of spiritual affiliation, created by the thousands upon thousands of Irish men and women who chose to leave these shores, or who were banished from them, to help in the building of new societies over the years.

“It is true that more of your fellowcountrymen and forefathers became American than Australian. But it is true, too, that the Irish form a greater proportion of the Australian population than of the American. Indeed, almost one-third of Australia’s population proudly claim Irish ancestry.

“Australia is very much the richer for having been able to draw on the generous influx of Irish aspirations, Irish traditions, and Irish spirit. We would not be the country we are today were it not for you.”

Ambassador if Ireland Breandán Ó Caoillaí and the late Bob Hawke pictured at the Woodford Folk Festival in 2017.

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irish australia LOVE/HATE ACTOR JOHN CONNORS BRINGS HIS ONE-MAN SHOW TO AUSTRALIA

Uncomfortable Irish truths David Hennessy

JOHN Connors, who came to prominence in the hit RTE TV show Love/ Hate and rose to stardom for his “acclaimed performance in Cardboard Gangsters is coming to Australia with his one-man stage show.

First showcased at the Dublin Fringe Festival, Ireland’s Call is Connors first foray into writing. He also made the accliamed documentary I Am Traveller, about his own community.

Ireland’s Call is about three Dublin teenagers being enticed into a life of crime. It explores issues like class, religion and identity in modern Ireland.

The Irish Times called it a “stark anthem to life on the margins”. It has also been described as an unflinching exploration of the Irish psyche.

“I grew up in Darndale and seen all that and experienced it all,” Connors told The Irish Echo from Dublin.

“Discrimination is something I’ve faced all my life. Classism and discrimination of being a Traveller. This is about class overall, the issue we don’t want to talk about in Ireland.”

Collecting his 2018 IFTA award for Best Actor for his role in Cardboard Gangsters, Connors made a compelling speech where he revealed he contemplated suicide before embracing a creative career with acting.

He also talked about how he had no agent representating him and could not get casting directors to look past the fact that he was a Traveller.

“If people like myself don’t tell it, no one else is going to do it. You know

John Connors is bound for Australia with his one-man show Ireland’s Call.

yourself, Ireland is a big clique and it’s about who you know. All that industry are the same kind of people so I was confronted by push back from all of them so I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to tell my own stories’.”

Mental illness and suicide are huge problems in Ireland and particularly in the Travelling community, Connors says. His father took his own life when the actor was just a boy.

“Any community which experiences discrimation has higher suicide rates, just like we have more representation in prison and low employment and low education levels.”

The 29-year-old says while Ireland’s Call pulls no punches, it has elements of light and shade.

“The first 20 minutes, you would swear you were in a comedy,” he says.

“There’s madness but there’s fun and there’s laughs and there’s a lot of lad banter. As it progresses it gets darker and darker.”

Connors makes no secret of his dislike for mainstream Irish politicians and the European Union, not to mention the widely disliked rugby anthem that gave his play its name.

“We actually have our own national anthem so I don’t see the point of having that,” he says.

“Also, it represents compromise on Ireland’s behalf, which I think is funny and ridiculous because we should not be the ones who ever have to compromise. We have compromised enough.

Eight hundred years of colonisation showed that. Also, it is a total contradiction: we’re not together standing tall; we’re not shoulder to shoulder. It’s complete bollocks and I go into the reasons and examples of why we’re not that.”

When it comes to politics he has no time for Ireland’s current government, dubbing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Simon Coveney “psychos”.

“They’re promising they’re going to do something [about homelessness] but the numbers go up with ever y figure.

“I don’t know how it’s going to stop because we have the most apathetic government we have ever had.

“They don’t care about people.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are two cheeks of the same arse and Labour’s like a hole in between them as well.

They’re all the same and it’s not going to change unless people break out of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail bollocks and vote someone else, at least give someone else a chance.

“Europe are controlling Ireland and we get choked basically … I would like to see the end of that. I would like to see us leave the EU. Irexit, bring it on.”

Connors says Love/Hate was a breakthrough show for Ireland.“We have never had a show like that. The whole of the countr y were in of a Sunday night watching Love/Hate. It was a cultural sort of phenomenon.”

Ireland’s Call plays the Alex Theatre, St Kilda on June 20 and the Pavilion Theatre, Bondi on June 22

THEATRE

No Rebel for STC Beauty David Hennessy

HOLLYWOOD star Rebel Wilson has withdrawn from the for thcoming Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

Wilson was the most high profile and exciting casting for the 2019 season when she was announced for the role of Maureen Folan in the dark comedy but she will no longer be part of the show due to an “unforeseen scheduling conflict”.

When Sydney Theatre Company announced its 2019 season last year, artistic director Kip W illiams said the McDonagh production was her choice.

Williams told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time: “We had a different play on the table.

She came back to us and said, ‘Thanks, very interested in that but I would love to do Beauty Queen Of Leenane’.”

A replacement for Wilson (pictured) has yet to be announced.

The actress, who lives in Sydney, is well known from roles in Hollywood films such as Bridesmaids and the Pitch Per fect film series. She can be seen star ring alongside Anne Hathaway in The Hustle, a female remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

The Beauty Queen Of Leenane runs 18 November to 21 December at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney.

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irish australia SYDNEY ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AGM

President keen to march on Billy Cantwell

PLANNING for the 2020 Sydney St Patrick’s Day celebrations will begin in earnest this month when the new organising commitee is elected.

The annual general meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 18 at the Gaelic Club at which the current committee will stand down and new office bearers will be voted in.

Incumbent president Karen Murphy will again put herself forward to lead the organising committee.

“Yes I will be putting my hand up again for president,” Ms Murphy told the Irish Echo.

Moving the community celebration to The Rocks area had been a great succcess, Ms Murphy said, and it was important to continue working with all stakeholders to make it even better.

“The Rocks is the ideal location for

the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade celebration,” she said.

“This year we elevated the profile of the event through different stakeholders in the Irish community along with Proper ty NSW and Tourism Ireland. This will continue for 2020.”

Fundraising, she said, would be a key focus if she is re-elected “We want to create a first-class event for the Irish community marking our nation’s heritage and culture.”

This year’s celebration attracted thousands of revellers to The Rocks but relentless rain during the day forced the early closure of the community concert at Dawes Point Park.

Ms Murphy said that the full impact of the early closure will be revealed at the AGM. “We had a reserve fund for a rainy day but our performance this year was

Karen Murphy is seeking re-election as president of the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

a little affected by the weather.”

Both she and the treasurer would report to the AGM, she said, but fund raising would remain a key priority.

“Fundraising is always needed as with any community group relying on the big hearts of volunteers,” she said.

“The committee will continue to organise regular fundraising events throughout the year, the highlight being our annual Christmas Ball which will be held late November or early December.

“The Mercantile Hotel is also organising a raffle whereby a $2,000 flight voucher is up for grabs with 100 tickets being sold for $50 each.”

Ms Murphy says if sheb is reelected, she will also continue to devote her energy to “the parade, children and family culture activities, citizenship ceremony, great live music and possible international acts.”

The Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade AGM will be held at the Gaelic Club on Tuesday, June 18 beginning at 7pm. All are welcome.

DUBLIN BAND’S 1987 ALBUM TO FORM CENTREPIECE OF 2019 SHOWS

ROSE OF TRALEE

Melbourne Rose Jordan Balfry

Limerick lady to represent Melbourne David Hennessy

The Joshua Tree Tour has already been seen by almost three million fans.

U2 set to return to Australia after nine-year hiatus Staff reporters U2 return to Australia in November for the first time in nine years.

The Dublin quarter will bring their Joshua Tree show to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds as support.

The show features all the songs from the seminal 1987 album The Joshua Tree, performed in the order they appeared on the original recording.

“It’s only taken me 30 years to learn how to sing these songs and it’s great to be able to say that I’ve finally caught up with the band,” Bono said.

“Our audience has given the Joshua Tree a whole new life on this tour. Doing these shows has been very special for us, a lot of emotion … From the despair of how relevant some of the

dark songs still are, to the joy, pure fun of the staging … it’s quite a ride.

“And now we get to do it all over again. Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul … We’re coming for you”.

“We really, really wanted to bring The Joshua Tree to New Zealand, Australia and Asia,” The Edge said. “We promised we would and finally, now we can say that we will see you in November ... It’s going to feel like a homecoming and we are very excited”.

It will be the first U2 tour of Australia since the hugely-successful 360° Tour in 2010.

The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 kicks off in Auckland on November 8 before their first Australian show in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on November 12.

Marvel Stadium in Melbourne hosts the band on Friday, November 15

before an Adelaide Oval show on Tuesday, November 19.

The Sydney Cricket Ground is the next venue for the band on Friday November 22 before the Australian leg wraps up at Perth’s new Optus Stadium on Wednesday, November 27.

Tickets for the shows go on sale on Tuesday June 11. U2.com subscribers already have access to tickets.

The Joshua Tree Tour is a celebration of the original album and tour of the same name undertaken by U2 in 1987 and features the complete album played in sequence along with a selection of highlights from U2’s extensive catalogue of songs.

The innovative staging includes a specially commissioned series of haunting and evocative films from Dutch photographer, film-maker and longtime collaborator Anton Corbijn – whose

iconic photography accompanied the original recording – in brilliant 8k resolution on a 200 x 45 foot cinematic screen, the largest high-resolution LED screen ever used in a touring show.

The show opened to rave reviews in Vancouver, Canada in May 2017, the first of 20 sold-out stadium dates across North America. The sold-out European run kicked off in London’s Twickenham Stadium on July 8. The band return home to play to 78,000 fans in Croke Park, almost 30 years to the day after they played the legendary Dublin venue on the original Joshua Tree tour.

Having played to more than 2.7 million fans in 51 shows across North and South America, the UK and Europe, and Mexico in six months, The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 was the most successful tour of the year.

LIMERICK-BORN Jordan Balfry will rerpresent Melbourne at this year’s Rose of Tralee festival.

“I think I’m still in shock, to be honest,” she told the Irish Echo after beating eight other entrants to take the honour at the Melbourne Rose Ball last month.

“I can’t wait. It’s obviously extra special because I am so far away from home, literally on the other side of the world. I think that was almost bittersweet you know when you’re announced the winner and all you want to do is grab your parents and give them a squeeze. I think it’s going to make it extra special landing in Limerick in August,” she said.

Balfry, 28, is orginally from Caherconlish in Limerick. She has been in Melbourne since January 2018 and works as a forensic mental health occupational therapist within the prison service in Melbourne.

Jordan is proud to be representing her adopted home.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing Australia with me,” she said.

“I’m not the Limerick Rose, I’m the Melbourne Rose. To think that I came over here and now just over a year later heading back to Ireland and representing the city, it is unbelievable.

I’m really honoured. I’m so thankful that they picked me. They could have sent any one of us and we would have done a fantastic job.”

It was family tradition that made Jordan keen to be a Rose one day.

“My memory of the Rose of Tralee is we would get sweets from the shop and we would be in our pyjamas and watching it and looking at the dresses and style. I think every Irish girl kind of grows up wanting to get there eventually but I’m still very much in shock to think that I could be that person for somebody else that might be young, growing up in ireland and watching. But it was always pretty big in our house.”

Joran’s passions include Aussie Rules football and jiu jitsu. She also ran the half marathon in Melbourne last year. On the night of the ball, she was supported by her teammates from Powerhouse Football Club in St Kilda.

“That’s why I think the night was so special for me because I was sponsored by that team and then the majority of the people who were there for me were from that team. They’re unique in terms of the sense of family and togetherness,” she said.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival runs 23-27 August

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irish australia BLOOMSDAY CELEBRATIONS PLANNED FOR SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE

DEPORTATION

Staff reporters

Irish-born ex-bikie to fight decision

THE work of James Joyce will be celebrated at a number of events in Sydney and Melbour ne to mark Bloomsday.

Joyce’s seminal novel Ulysses is set on June 16 which has become known as Bloomsday after the central character of the novel, Leopold Bloom.

Each year, fans of the book and Joyce’s other work gather to hear passages from his work read aloud or celebrated through music.

This year’s Bloomsday festivities begin in Sydney on Thursday June 13 at the Stanton Library in North Sydney.

Among those reading passages from Ulysses will be former NSW premier Bob Carr and the State Librarian for New South Wales Dr John Vallance.

Musical entertainment will be provided

by Martin Horan.

This event is free but bookings are essential.

On Saturday, June 15, a group of Irish and Australian actors and musicians will celebrate Bloomsday at the State Library of New South Wales.

Performers for the evening include journalist and broadcaster Daniel Browning, Áine De Paor, Awaye, harpist Clíona Molins, Brendan O’Reilly and members of the Aisteoirí Theatre Company.

The event begins at 6pm and tickets are $10. Bookings can be made via the State Libary’s website.

The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills will host its own Bloomsday celebration on the day itself, Sunday June 16.

AN Irish-born man whose Australian visa was cancelled while he was serving a prison term will appeal his deportation order to the full bench of the federal court.

Paul John Pennie has lived in Australia since he was six but never became a citizen. He was sentenced in July 2015 to four-and-a half years jail for drug offences. During that time his visa was cancelled by the Minister for Border Protection, Peter Dutton.

In April, the federal court rejected Pennie’s application for the decision to be rescinded despite the fact that his parents and siblings live in Australia and he has no remaining family or support network in Ireland.

Since 2014, more than 4,000 people have been stripped of their Australian visas and returned to their country of birth, regardless of how long they have lived in Australia.

Prominent civil rights lawyer Stephen Blanks says the policy is flawed, misconceived, hypocritical and contrary to the rule of law.

“Visa cancellation should not occur in the case of visa holders who have been absorbed into the Australian community due to the length of time they have lived in Australia,” he said.

“Many UK and Irish citizens … are not aware that they are not legally Australian citizens.

“It is also hypocritical for a government which is ostensibly pro-family to apply this policy in a way which breaks up families.”

Celebrating the Joyce of life

Johnathan Peck plays James Joyce in a production of Tom Stoppard’s Travesties in Melbourne this month.

The event, which begins at 3pm features a program of readings, music and song. Admission is free.

In Brisbane, the Queen St mall will play host to a free, family-friendly celebration of Joyce’s work.

Readings will be interspersed with music and other entertainment featuring the Queensland Irish Association pipe band and Irish dancers.

The event runs from 11am to 2pm.

In Melbourne, Bloomsday will be celebrated with a seminar and lunch at the Swiss Club in Flinders Lane.

The seminar will be chaired by

Australian polymath, writer, teacher, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician Barry Jones and feature eminent speakers Dr Ronán McDonald, Gerry Higgins, Chair of Irish Studies at the University of Melbourne, and Dr Steve Carey.

Dr McDonald, a Dubliner, will present a paper entitled The Consecration of Ulysses: National or Universal? in which he will examine how Joyce’s ground breaking novel gained its status as one of the great works of the 20th centur y. Dr Carey will speak about Joyce’s time in Zurich in 1917 during

the First World War when he was writing Ulysses.

This key time in Joyce’s life, during which he produced a stage production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest, par t-inspired Tom Stoppard’s play, Travesties in which the writer is a central character.

Bloomsday organisers in Melbourne are staging a production of Travesties as part of their Joycean celebration.

The play, directed by Globe-trained Jennifer Sarah Dean, will be performed at for tyfivedownstairs theatre in Flinders Lane from June 12 to 23.

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ireland Medics urge caution over cannabis laws THE Government is sleepwalking into

the unsafe legalisation of cannabis, a group of senior doctors has warned. The Cannabis Risk Alliance claims increasingly relaxed attitudes towards cannabis are gaining ground among legislators, despite new research showing a sharp rise in the number of cannabis-related cases in addiction centres and psychiatric hospitals. The group, which includes 20 specialists in psychiatry, neurology, and addiction services, along with GPs and emergency department consultants, believes the Government is taking steps towards legalising the drug for medicinal purposes without taking into account the potential harm. Cannabis use for recreational purposes in Ireland is illegal.

Journalists urge NI police to back off TWO journalists arrested for

airing confidential material in a documentary have told police to drop the case after judges indicated their warrants will be quashed.

Trevor Birney and fellow film-maker Barry McCaffrey were detained last year over the alleged theft of a police watchdog document that appeared in their film No Stone Unturned, which is about the murders of six men in Loughinisland, Co Down, in 1994. They remain under police investigation and are on bail. The award-winning reporters mounted a High Court challenge against police, accusing them of unlawfully seizing millions of journalistic documents and digital files when they raided their homes and offices in Belfast last August.

At the conclusion of the hearing in Belfast High Court on Wednesday, Northern Ireland’s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, who heard the case alongside two fellow judges, said they were “minded to quash the warrants on the basis they were inappropriate”. Following the hearing, Mr Birney urged police to stop digging and drop the criminal probe while Mr McCaffrey said the judges’ remarks had proved that “journalism is not a crime”.

Hospital waiting lists up 800 per cent THE number of people on long-term

hospital waiting lists has risen by 800 per cent in three years, an Oireachtas committee has been told. More than 550,000 people have been waiting to see a consultant for more than a year and a half. Fianna Fail’s Stephen Donnelly criticised access to outpatient care, adding: “Right across the system access is becoming worse and worse and worse. For the first time ever we have over 550,000 on the list for outpatients.”

‘Distorted ideology’ led to child abuse PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has criticised those who perpetuated and ignored state institutional abuse.

Abuse survivors connected to the Christine Buckley Centre, a charity that supports those who suffered abuse in industrial schools and other institutions, visited the Áras.

The President said he condemned those who turned a blind eye to the “trauma inflicted on children by the failures of the Irish state”, and the “distortion of religious ideology” that perpetuated the abuse.

WOMAN, 81, MEETS 103-YEAR-OLD MOTHER FOR FIRST TIME

A family reunion, 81 years in the making

AN 81-YEAR-OLD Irishwoman has met her 104-year-old mother for the first time.

Eileen Macken said she had never been happier.

She grew up in the Bethany Home orphanage in Dublin and has spent most of her life looking for her birth mother.

A genealogist tracked down her biological mother in Scotland.

“Once I heard that, nothing would stop me trying to get to see her,” Ms Macken told RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline programme.

“I went over to see her and she’s the most beautiful lady. Lovely family; they gave me a great welcome.

“We came in and, honestly, I haven’t got over the acceptance that I got,” Ms Macken said.

“They accepted me and I had a great chat with my mother.”

The Bethany mother and baby home in Dublin is one of a number of mother and baby homes scrutinised by an Irish government-appointed Commission of Investigation.

Mother and baby homes were generally institutions in which women who became pregnant outside marriage gave birth. In the main, these babies were adopted. Bethany was run by Protestant clergy.

Ms Macken travelled to Scotland with her family to meet Elizabeth, who turned 104 last month. The mother of three also discovered after meeting her mother that she has two half-brothers.

When she knocked on the door she was met by a man who turned out to be her half-brother.

“I told him I was from Ireland and that I had found my mum here and could we come in to see her, and he said, ‘Certainly’.”

Ms Macken said she had a great chat with her mother during her threeday trip. “She was reading the newspaper and when she saw me, I said we were from Ireland and she said, ‘I was born in Ireland’.

“She was thrilled and she never let go of my hand,” Ms Macken said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever come down out of the cloud.”

LOVE CONQUERS ALL: Eileen Macken (right) with her 104-year-old mother Elizabeth, whom she met for the first time last month.

RADICAL PLANS TO EASE HOUSING CRISIS SET TO BE INTRODUCED

New rules to free up rentals Cate McCurry and Michelle Devane

RADICAL plans to regulate short-term lettings to tackle Ireland’s housing crisis are set to be introduced in the coming weeks. The new legislation aimed at easing the housing shortage has been praised by all sides of politics.

The new rules, under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, will mean shortterm lettings of houses or apartments that are not a principal private residence will need planning permission for change of use.

Landlords and property owners will have to change the status from residential to a holiday home if they want to sub-let the residence for more than 90 days annually. These changes are set to come into effect on July 1.

Appearing at the housing committee, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy explained: “Where a person owns a property in the rent pressure zones (RPZs), which is not their principle private residence, any attempts to let it for a short-term let-

ting purposes will be required to apply for change of use of planning permission unless the property has a specific permission to be used for tourism for short-term letting uses. It would be highly unlikely that planning permission will be granted for such shortterm lettings in these zones.”

He said it will be an offence for anyone to make a false declaration.

“The objective here is to bring proper ties that would have been long-term rentals that have gone into the short-term rental market back into the long-term rental market, which is a good thing,” r Murphy said.

It comes as new figures show the level of homelessness has increased again to 10,378. The figures for April show that the number of homeless children is 3,794 and 6,584 adults. Mr Murphy said family homelessness continues to be very challenging.

Meanwhile, residential property prices have increased by almost 4 per cent in the year to March across the country.

The Central Statistics Office says

Irish minister for housing Eoghan Murphy.

the prices of houses and apartments rose by 3.9 per cent in the period, but the rate of growth is slowing down.

Prices in the 12 months to the end of February increased by 4.3 per cent, while the increase in 12 months to end of March last year was 12.6 per cent.

Homes in Dublin rose in price by

1.2 per cent in the year to March, while prices across the rest of the country rose by 6.8 per cent.

Overall house prices were up by 6.7 per cent and apartment prices rose by 8.6 per cent. The index found that the price of homes are now 18.6 per cent lower than the peak reached in 2007.

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) said the slowing rate of price increases represented some realism returning to the market following a period of exuberant growth.

IPAV chief executive Pat Davitt said prices in many areas of the country were still below the cost of building and that most houses purchased were existing dwellings, pointing to the difficulty of building new homes.

“While Dublin is awash with international funds keen to build to rent and enjoy extremely favourable tax treatment, finance at reasonable rates of interest is still difficult if not impossible to get for SME builders wishing to build,” Mr Davitt said.

PERMANENT TSB FINED 21 MILLION EURO FOR TRACKER MORTGAGE FAILURES

Massive fine for bank that ‘broke trust of customers’ Michelle Devane

PERMANENT TSB has been fined €21 million for tracker mor tgage breaches.

The Central Bank of Ireland reprimanded and fined the bank in respect of serious failings to 2,007 tracker mortgage customer accounts between August 2004 and October 2018.

The Central Bank added that PTSB had admitted, in full, 42 separate regulator y breaches of the Code of Practice for Credit Institutions and the Consumer Protection Codes.

“This fine is the largest imposed to date by the Central Bank,” a statement

by the Central Bank read. “It reflects the gravity with which the Central Bank views PTSB’s failings and the unacceptable harm PTSB caused to their tracker mortgage customers, from extended periods of significant overcharging to the loss of 12 family homes and 19 buy to let properties.”

To date PTSB has paid €54.3 million in redress and compensation to the affected customer accounts.

The Central Bank’s director of enforcement and anti-money laundering, Seana Cunningham, said taking out a mor tgage is the single most significant financial commitment most people will make in their lifetimes.

“Consumers must have confidence that lenders are acting in their best interests, particularly given the complexity of mortgage documents they need to understand in order to make the best decision,” she said.

“Our investigation found that PTSB failed to put their customers first, with distressing and, in some instances, devastating consequences.

“PTSB failed in their obligations to do the right thing by their customers.

In doing so, they broke the trust of their customers and damaged the public’s confidence in PTSB. Where firms fail to protect their customers’ best interests, our response will be

robust and the consequences will be serious,” Ms Cunningham said.

PTSB’s chief executive Jeremy Masding rsponded: “On behalf of Permanent TSB, I apologise unreservedly to all customers affected by the tracker mortgage issue, and for the distress caused as a result.

“Addressing and resolving the tracker mortgage issue for the account holders of the 2,007 impacted accounts has been of the highest priority. We are confident that we have fully addressed the … weaknesses which have been identified in this exercise. We remain committed to improving our policies and procedures for all customers.”

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news SEPARATION PERIOD TO BE REDUCED

Ireland votes to peg back divorce laws Rebecca Black

MARRIED couples in Ireland are set to face a reduced separation period of two years before they can divorce.

It follows a landslide referendum vote to liberalise the country’s divorce laws in which 82 per cent supported the Yes vote. Only 17 per cent of the 1.7 million people who voted opted for No. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is now set to bring for ward a Bill to amend Section 5 of the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to reduce the minimum living apart period from three years to two.

However, the Minister said thar core protections for marriage will remain in the Constitution. “The Government wants to ensure that the process for obtaining a divorce is fair, dignified and humane, and allows both parties to move forward with their lives within a reasonable time frame,” he said.

“It is, therefore, my intention to reduce the living apart period to a minimum of two out of the preceding three years, and to do so by way of ordinary legislation, which I will bring forward as soon as possible.”

At present couples have to prove to

a court that they have been separated for four of the previous five years before they can get a divorce. Voters were asked to amend the Constitution to give politicians the power to set the length of the pause period.

Couples can secure a judicial separation in a shorter time frame, but they must then proceed to a second legal stage to obtain a formal court-approved divorce. Those advocating a No vote had warned against the prospect of so-called quickie divorces, expressing concern about giving politicians a free hand to potentially reduce the waiting time even further in the future.

A second element of the referendum focused on foreign divorces. The Yes vote will make it easier for these divorces to be recognised in Ireland.

Josepha Madigan, Irish Culture Minister and advocate of the liberalisation of the nation’s divorce laws, moved a Private Member’s Bill in 2016 that proposed a liberalisation of the law, which led to the referendum.

“I think it’s an emphatic, unequivocal result, and, even though we have a very low marital breakdown in Ireland, it just demonstrates the amount of people who stand in solidarity with [couples in failing relationships],” she said.

SISTER OF LYRA MCKEE VOWS TO ‘SUPPORT’ HER KILLERS

Lead singer of Snow Patrol Gary Lightbody poses with Sara Canning, partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee, in Derry. (Inset) Lyra McKee’s sister holds up a copy of the Good Friday Agreement. Pictures: Liam McBurney

Lyra’s campaign for justice goes on Michael McHugh A SISTER of murdered journalist Lyra McKee has vowed to support the killers if they turn themselves in to police.

Nichola Corner said failure was not an option as she urged justice for her family and praised those who have given evidence to police.

Ms McKee, 29, was shot in the head by dissident republican group the New IRA while she was observing clashes with police in Derry last month. Ms Corner said she would come to any police station to meet whoever admitted shooting the journalist, and help them through the experience.

Her comments came as hundreds of people gathered for a rally at the conclusion of a three-day peace walk in Lyra’s memory.

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody joined the procession, before a demonstration at Derry’s Guildhall Square.

Ms Corner held the 1998 Good Friday Agreement aloft as she urged politicians to do a deal to end the threat of bombs and bullets once and for all.

“Here, in front of all of these people present, in the name of my sister, I offer to support you in the difficult task of coming forward and accepting responsibility for your actions.”

“I know that is not going to be easy,

and it is certainly not going to be easy for me. I promise you here and now that I will meet you at any police station, anywhere on this island, to support you in taking the brave step of handing yourself in and allowing my sister the justice she deserves.”

Lightbody, who performed two songs for the gathering, said he was honoured to take part.

“If anybody feels frustration at our political system ... look to the positivity today of people gathering together.

That all they care about is that the people can be who they want to be, love who they want to love and live in peace and prosperity for all of our kids.”

IRELAND TO RECEIVE LGBTI AWARD

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Minister Katherine Zappone will accept the award in New York.

Ireland now ‘a leading voice’ for LGBTI rights: Minister Michelle Devane

IRELAND is to receive an award at World Pride in New York this month for its leadership in the support of the LGBTI community, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said she will travel to New York to accept the luminary award on behalf of the country at the festival, which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in the city. The 1969 riots helped fuel the fight for moder n LGBTI rights worldwide.

“It is 50 years since members of the LGBTI+ community asser ted their rights on the streets of New York with the Stonewall riots,” the openly gay Minister said. “Next month on those same streets Ireland’s leadership will be acknowledged. At World Pride we

will be honoured as a nation with a luminary award.”

She said Ireland was now “a leading voice, a recognised global leader, for LGBTI+ rights” but with this honour came responsibilities. TDs and senators should never shirk away from their duty to protect the rights of the community, she said.

Ms Zappone told the committee it was fitting and timely that she had given an update on the national LGBTI youth strategy as the world prepared to mark Stonewall’s 50th anniversary.

“I had just fallen in love at that time.

I was a young teenager; her name was Katherine too,” she said.

While Ireland was clearly a changed country, Ms Zappone said there was still work to be done.

“If our goal is a fully inclusive, equal and fair society, we are not there yet,” the Minister added.

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ireland IRISH UNIVERSITY DEVELOPS ROBOT TO BATTLE LONELINESS IN THE ELDERLY

Trinity’s robot ‘Stevie’ a wonder for lonely oldies Aoife Moore AN Irish university has developed a robot to help battle loneliness amongst the elderly and those living in long-term care or nursing homes.

Engineers from Trinity College, Dublin, unveiled ‘Stevie II’ last month, an upgraded version of Ireland’s first socially assistive robot with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features.

The new and updated version of ‘Stevie I’ can be deployed in long-term care environments to help seniors and people living with disability.

Stevie II, a more mobile and dextrous model of its predecessor, uses advanced sensing technologies including laser rangefinders, depth cameras and vision sensors to interact intelligently with humans and its surrounding environment. In developing the robot, the team consulted a range of experts including nurses and caregivers, as well as older adults living at home or in long-term care facilities.

Among those partners is ALONE, a national organisation that supports older people to age at home.

ALONE provides technology to

Ryanair profits down by 25 per cent SHARES in Ryanair have taken a battering after the airline unveiled a hit to profits amid turbulence in the aviation industry. The group’s full year profits have fallen by 29 per cent to €1.02 billion. The company had traffic growth of 7 per cent and a decline in fares of 6 per cent in the year to March 31, 2019.

Revenues at the low-cost airline grew by 6 per cent to €7.56 billion over the same period.

Church reaffirms ‘dignity of life’ THE Catholic church has reaffirmed

the fundamental dignity of life, on the anniversary of Ireland’s abortion referendum. Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran said he was saddened at last year’s decision to liberalise the regime on early terminations. He said many people had voted for change with ambivalence and may not be happy with their choices.

“In marking this anniversary, we reaffirm our belief in the fundamental dignity and right to life of every human being from conception to natural death,” he said.“We believe that there are many who voted ‘yes’ with a certain ambivalence and who may now not be entirely happy with their choice.”

support older people to remain independent and socially connected.

The concept behind Stevie was initially to carry out menial chores in care homes, like reminding residents to take their medication. However, researchers found that the those living in homes enjoyed Stevie’s social side.

The robot being so expressive helped to humanise the technology and led researchers to believe Stevie could have a wide range of high-impact uses, performing assistive tasks, helping caregivers and provide access to existing technologies like video calling, which can be inaccessible to older adults.

Niamh Donnelly, who specialises in the artificial intelligence behind Stevie, says a more humanised side of robotics is the most requested feature.

“I’d love to work on small talk with Stevie. It’s extremely difficult as it’s very context dependent, so I’d love to see Stevie develop that ability. “We’d like him to be able to have some banter with people,” she said.

Over the coming months, the team are planning several more pilots of the technology, including a trial in the UK.

Ireland’s first socially assistive AI robot ‘Stevie II’ from robotics engineers at Trinity College Dublin, with Brendan Crean, who helped trial the robot through the charity ALONE, during a special demonstration at the Science Gallery in Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless

CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY DECLARED IN IRELAND

Dáil unites in call for action Michelle Devane and Cate McCurry

IRELAND has become the second country in the world after the UK to declare a climate emergency.

The Dáil made the decision after an amendment to a parliamentary climate action report was agreed by both the Gover nment and the opposition parties. It comes as EU leaders put action on climate change at the top of the agenda in the next five years.

Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton said climate change has been rightly described as the greatest challenge facing humanity.

“We’re reaching a tipping point in respect of climate deterioration,” he said. “Things will deteriorate ver y rapidly unless we move very swiftly and the window of opportunity to do that is fast closing.”

He added that urgency had been injected into the debate by the protests by school students calling for action from parliaments around the world.

“It is justified that a level of urgency be injected into this debate,” he said.

“When we speak of an emergency

people often think of something unexpected that can be resolved through a sustained effort for a relatively short time. This is not an emergency of that sort. This is a much more challenging emergency in that we must change our behaviour in profound ways and do so on a sustained basis.”

The Minister later said that the public will have to adopt a new set of beliefs to fix the Earth’s climate.

“We haven’t even thought through the sort of things we need to do,” he said. “Honesty and information is key to it. If it becomes the elite versus the ordinary person we are lost.”

“We have a big battle on our hands.

It is like a new set of beliefs that we have to adopt. If we are not seen to be making changes in our areas of influence, if we are not out there influencing our supply chain, we won’t do it.”

Chair woman of the Oireachtas Climate Change committee Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the cross-party support in recognising the need for urgency and declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency. She urged the government to fast track

Ireland’s Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton

legislative changes. In a tweet she wrote: “Good news at the end of the Dail motion today suppor ting the repor t of the Climate Action Committee.

“We now have cross-party support in declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency. Action now needed.”

Fianna Fail’s climate action spokesman Timmy Dooley, who moved the amendment, said: “Unless we cut emissions significantly by 2030, the

consequences will be dire. Biodiversity loss is an existential threat that is fundamentally linked to the climate crisis and Ireland’s response is similarly lacking.”

He maintained that if the Government implemented the recommendations made in the committee’s report it would allow the country to “bring an end to our laggardly response to climate change”.

Green Par ty deputy leader Catherine Mar tin said: “It is also essential that in declaring a climate emergency we commit to concrete, real and identifiable action rather than just uniting around vague concepts.”

Laura Burke, director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said: “Mitigation is essential, adaptation is equally as essential, anything less is unsustainable – indeed irresponsible – given what we now know are the impacts of climate change. Targets and limits and standards are no longer sufficient. We need people to want to do this, to work towards what will be considered a new normal.”

JUSTICE MINISTER COMMISSIONS STUDY INTO DOMESTIC HOMICIDE

Bacon masterpiece sells for £39 million

Spate of domestic murders prompts research project

A PAINTING by Irish artist Francis

Aoife Moore

Bacon, considered one of his most important left in private hands, has sold at auction for more than £39 million ($71.5m), Sotheby’s said.

Study For A Head (1952), from Bacon’s “screaming popes” series, had remained in the collection of Richard E Lang and Jane Lang Davis since 1975 and had only been exhibited in public once in its 57-year history. Born in Dublin, Ireland, to British parents, Bacon took up painting in his 20s and went on to become a world-leading artist and one of the most prominent of the 20th century.

AN in-depth research study focusing on fatal domestic violence has been commissioned by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

The study will review how families are supported after familicide, and inter national best practice in the conduct of domestic homicide reviews.

The review comes after the family of Clodagh Hawe, who was murdered, along with her three children, by her husband, said they struggled to get vital information about the case from Gardai and other state agencies.

The minister acknowledged that his department could be more proactive in tackling domestic violence issues, after a spate of domestic homocides in 2019.

“The object of the exercise is to ensure that the trauma visited on victims is minimised,” he said. “I was very struck meeting the Coll [Clodagh Hawe’s] family, the incapacity on the part of the State to deal with such trauma.

“I want to ensure that clear protocols and guidelines are in place so that the State can provide appropriate supports in a co-ordinated, timely manner.”

Norah Gibbons, former chairman of

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and former director of advocacy with Barnardos, will lead the study. Ms Gibbons said it was absolutely essential that those who have suffered familicide or loss through domestic homicide come forward.

“It’s crucial that those families are involved. They know what it’s like, and what would have helped at the time,” she said. “If people are unable to travel to see me, I’ll travel to them.”

The objective of the review is that a series of recommendations will be provided to enhance information and suppor t to the family members of victims of familicide.

Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and their three sons Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, six, before killing himself in Cavan in 2017.

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ireland IAN BAILEY ‘PRAYING TRUTH WILL COME OUT’ ABOUT WEST CORK MURDER

Journalist guilty, court finds Michael McHugh

A FORMER journalist convicted of the murder of a French film director’s wife in Ireland more than 20 years ago has said he is praying the truth will eventually come out.

Ian Bailey, 62, was found guilty by a Paris court, in his absence last week, of killing Sophie Toscan du Plantier, 39. The trial lasted only three days, after Irish authorities twice refused to extradite the accused.

Bailey says accusations that he is the culprit in Ms Toscan du Plantier’s murder are a “bundle of lies”.

“I know there are people in this country who know that it was not me that was the culprit. And I know that, sitting on that, my prayer has been that the truth will come out,” Bailey told RTÉ Ms Toscan du Plantier’s battered body was found on an isolated hillside in Toormore, near Schull, west Cork, two days before Christmas in 1996.

Presiding judge Frederique Aline listed all the evidence presented to the court during the trial, saying there was

British journalist Ian Bailey and the French woman he is alleged to have killed, Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

significant evidence of Bailey’s guilt.

She ordered that he be imprisoned for 25 years, directed that a new EU arrest warrant be issued and said there would be an announcement on June 11 about how much compensation he would be told to pay Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family.

Bailey added that he was continuing with life in Co Cork and the trial outcome was “water off a duck’s back”.

He said Ms du Plantier’s family had

been told a “bundle of lies from the beginning” that somehow he was the culprit. “They have chosen to believe that and they still have my sympathy,” he said.

The victim was the wife of celebrated cinematographer Daniel Toscan du Plantier and her death has been one of Ireland’s most infamous unsolved killings. Bailey, who lived three kilometres from Ms Toscan du Plantier, was arrested twice in connec-

tion with the death but was never charged, amid allegations of incompetence and corruption against local Irish police.

Marie Farrell, the only witness to put him at the scene at the time of the killing, later retracted her evidence, claiming she had been cajoled by Gardaí into giving false evidence.

The case has taken many twists and turns over the years, including Bailey bringing a successful defamation case against newspapers in 2014.

Frustrated by the lack of progress in Ireland, the French authorities started their own investigation in 2008, even exhuming her body in the hope of finding further forensic evidence.

Bailey’s trial at the Cour d’Assises in Paris was conducted at breakneck speed. A judge and two magistrates heard live evidence from only two Irish witnesses and relied primarily on read statements.

The court repeatedly returned to Ms Farrell’s evidence, despite her retraction and the fact she is considered an unreliable witness by Irish authorities.

STAR WARS TRAGICS DESCEND ON SACRED IRISH SITE TO MARK MAY THE FOURTH

Cadbury’s Ireland to slash Dublin jobs THE owner of Cadbury’s Irish

operation is seeking to cut 70 jobs at its Dublin plant. Representatives of trade unions SIPTU and Unite said they have met management of Mondelez Ireland to discuss the threatened job losses at the Coolock confectionery facility in north Dublin.

Some 380 people are employed at the plant. SIPTU organiser Colm Casserly said: “Workers at the plant have, over recent years, agreed to the major restructuring of operations and changes in work practices.

In light of this, the current approach of management is unacceptable and once again raises fears concerning its long-term commitment to this plant and its workforce.”

McGregor Florida case dismissed PROSECUTORS in Florida have dropped all charges against mixed martial artist Conor McGregor (pictured) after he was accused of stamping on a fan’s mobile phone.

The Irish fighter had been charged with robbery by sudden snatching and criminal mischief. A trial was due to go ahead at Miami-Dade County Court but the court’s online system has recorded “nolle pros” next to the charges and the case will not proceed. The alleged incident took place outside the Fontainebleau Hotel on March 11. McGregor’s lawyer Sam Rabin told RTÉ: “This case was officially dropped today. The case is over.”

He said his client was relieved, adding: “He feels he should not have been arrested but he believes that this is a just and fair resolution.”

Anti-gay preacher banned from Ireland

A surfer passes a member of the ‘501st Legion Ireland Garrison’ dressed as Darth Vader on St. Finian’s Bay, Kerry, overlooking the Skellig Islands during the May the 4th Festival in Portmagee, where scenes from Star Wars were filmed. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

SPORTS CLUBS IN IRELAND URGED TO BECOME MORE INCLUSIVE

Irish sport dropping the ball on diversity: report David Young

Westmeath GAA star, Boidu Sayeh, has become a trailblazer for sporting diversity in Gaelic Games.

IRELAND’S sporting community has been challenged to be more inclusive after research found that foreign nationals are significantly underrepresented in clubs. The Federation of Irish Sport said non-nationals were 61 per cent less likely to be a member of a sports club or organisation than Irish-born players. About one in five Irish-born adults are members of a sports club (19.7 per cent) compared to just 7.7 per cent of non-Irish-born adults, the federation said.

It also raised concern about participation rates among people on lower incomes and those with disabilities. The federation said while 43 per cent of

Irish adults participate in sport, the rate was 30 per cent among those in the lowest income bracket and 23 per cent of adults with disabilities.

The research was released before the federation’s annual conference in Dublin last month.

The federation is the representative organisation for national governing bodies and local sports partnerships in Ireland. The event challenged sporting bodies on their inclusivity record, urging them to make more efforts to include people with disabilities, members of the LGBT community, ethnic minorities and members of the older generation. Conference speakers included Gareth Thomas, former Wales rugby international and gay rights

advocate, and Boidu Sayeh, the Liberian Westmeath GAA star.

Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor, said: “We all recognise the invaluable role sport plays in bringing communities together, stimulating personal development and fostering greater social cohesion across society.

“While nearly half of Irish adults are involved in sport, unfortunately these numbers drop off dramatically when it comes to the economically disadvantaged, adults with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the LGBT community and ageing populations. At present, 17.3 per cent of the Irish population were born outside Ireland. Sport has the potential to be a key gateway for integrating foreign-born populations.”

AN anti-gay preacher has become the first person banned from Ireland.

Pastor Steven L Anderson, who founded the Faithful Word Baptist Church in 2005, in Arizona, was set to deliver a sermon in Dublin last month as part of a short tour of Europe. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, signed an exclusion order under Section 4 of the Immigration Act to keep him out.

Pastor Anderson has claimed in sermons that God had ordered in the scriptures that gay people should be killed, and that if humanity wanted to have an “AIDS-free world

by Christmas” that is what should be done. After 49 people were killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Mr Anderson said the victims “deserved to die in the shooting”.

Rare proclamation sells for €14,500 A RARE copy of the Irish

Proclamation has sold for almost €15,000 at auction to a private client. It was printed on the first anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. There are only three 1917 Proclamations known to still be in existence.

They were printed by Cumann na mBan with the printing blocks used for the original version after they were gathered from the wreckage of the GPO. The document was part of the recent Irish Connections Collectors auction at Victor Mee auction house in Co Cavan.

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ireland :: brexit MICHEL BARNIER BLAMES BREXIT ON NOSTALGIA

Brexiteers ‘living in the past’ Harriet Line

NOSTALGIA for a time when Britain was a powerful and global nation was partly to blame for the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, Michel Barnier has claimed.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator said nostalgia “serves no purpose in politics”, as he warned Tory leadership hopefuls that Brussels will not renegotiate British Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement.

Mr Barnier, who is tipped to replace the outgoing European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, also suggested a hard border on the island of Ireland would lead to a renewal of conflict.

“Looking at the causes of Brexit, we also find typically British reasons: the hope for a return to a powerful global Britain, nostalgia for the past-nostalgia ser ves no purpose in politics,” Mr Barnier he told the New York Review Of Books. “In my country, too, some politicians still prefer to live in the past.

But there were, also, people voting for

Brexit who simply don’t want to accept r ules. Some based in the City of London voted to leave, as they don’t want to accept the Union’s regulations on their trading; they want to speculate freely and the Union doesn’t allow them to do so.

“Finally, and most impor tantly, there are many people who feel abandoned. They feel that the quality of public services, healthcare, transport, is worsening.

“We must listen to these fears and address them.”

Brexit has dominated the debate among candidates seeking to replace Mrs May, who anonounced her imminent resignation last week.

The so-called backstop, which seeks to avoid a hard border in Ireland, is part of the withdrawal agreement but many Brexiteers want to see it removed from the deal.

“If the UK wants to leave in an orderly manner, this treaty is the only option,” Mr Barnier said. “If the choice is to leave without a deal, fine. If the choice is to stay in the EU, also fine.

But if the choice is still to leave the EU

Michel Barnier has chided those who voted for Brexit as being nostalgic for a time when Britain was a powerful global nation.

in an orderly manner, this treaty is the only option. This is all that our legal constraints allow.”

Asked if a hard border would lead to renewal of the conflict in Northern Ireland, he replied: “Yes, it creates a very difficult situation for people.

“I remember a meeting after the Brexit vote with a group of 20 women

working on both sides. Several of the women were crying, worried about their livelihoods. They said, ‘Help us!’

“We have found an agreement. We said that after the withdrawal agreement is accepted, we can immediately start work on a long-term solution for the Irish border. It was a British proposal to build the backstop into a UK-wide solution-to make the whole of the UK (including Nor ther n Ireland) par t of a single customs territory until we find a solution. The backstop is insurance, in case we do not find this solution.”

There is a crowded field in the race to replace Mrs May as Tory leader and Britain’s next prime minister. Up to a dozen Conservatives have declared their intention to fight for the top job after Mrs May resigns as Tory leader on June 7.

Committed Brexiteer Boris Johnson remains the bookies’ favourite. Mr Johnson has said he would work to renegotiate the terms on offer with Brussels but would make sure the UK leaves on October 31, with or without an agreement.

Common travel area deal secured A DEAL preserving the Common

Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and Ireland after Brexit has been signed. The memorandum of understanding between the two governments allows citizens of both countries to cross the Irish border and move freely between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

It allows cross-border access to education and healthcare. The non-legally binding understanding was signed by senior British and Irish ministers in London. The CTA predates the UK and Ireland’s membership of the EU. It was signed by the UK’s de facto deputy prime minister David Lidington and Irish deputy premier Simon Coveney. Mr Lidington said: “This memorandum of understanding highlights the value both of our governments place on the CTA – a long-standing, cherished set of arrangements that have real significance in people’s day-to-day lives. Our message to Irish citizens in the UK is that your rights will not change. You will still be able to move freely between Ireland, the UK and the islands.”

TAOISEACH WARNS CORBYN THAT ONLY BIG CHANGE COULD REOPEN BREXIT DEAL

Nicola Sturgeon and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin.

Sturgeon calls for new referendum SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola

Britain’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn signs the visitors’ book at Government Buildings in front of Taoiseach leo Varadkar. Picture: Supplied

Varadkar, Corbyn agree ‘no-deal’ spells disaster Michelle Devane THE UK cannot continue to be granted rolling Brexit extensions unless there is a general election or a second referendum in the pipeline, the Taoiseach has warned the UK Labour leader.

Leo Varadkar told Jeremy Corbyn that the withdrawal agreement was closed and could only be altered if there was a fundamental change of heart bt the British government.

The Taoiseach and Mr Corbyn met at Government Buildings in Dublin last week. Mr Corbyn also held a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin during his visit to the Irish capital.

It comes as pressure mounts on Mr Corbyn to back a second referendum on Brexit. Ahead of his Irish visit, the Labour leader said that an election or referendum would be the only way out of the Brexit crisis.

He also said he would seek to renegotiate Brexit to get a better deal for the UK that avoided a no-deal outcome.

After the meeting the Taoiseach told the an Irish parliamentary committee: “I very much imparted that message as politely that I could that the chances of a further extension are pretty slim and the withdrawal agreement, including the Irish protocol and the backstop, is closed from our point of view.”

Mr Varadkar said the only way that the withdrawal agreement could change would be if there was a “fundamental change in red lines from the next UK prime minister or government” such as a decision to stay in the customs union or the single market.

“There is a hardening view across the European Union that we cannot continue to have rolling extensions,” he added. “While there could potentially be a further extension if there was an

election, in order to allow that election to happen, or if there was a second referendum, I don’t think it’s viable to believe that there would be sufficient support or unanimous support ... for a further extension while the UK continues to figure it out or for another set of indicative votes,” he said.

The meeting lasted an hour and a half and a spokesman for Mr Varadkar said the pair shared their serious concerns about a no-deal scenario and its “inherent dangers, including the possibility that the UK may end up in a no-deal situation by default unless alternatives are pursued”.

They also focused mainly on the need to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland and the importance of ongoing engagement with all political parties in the region. The importance of avoiding any return of a hard border was also discussed.

A spokesman for Mr Higgins said the

president and the Labour leader had known each other for decades, adding: “The president and Mr Corbyn had a lengthy and comprehensive meeting at which they discussed a range of current issues including Irish-UK relations, Brexit, the future of the European Union and Northern Ireland.”

Mr Corbyn also met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary, Patricia King, to discuss issues facing workers north and south of the border in the event of Brexit.

He told reporters he would seek to renegotiate Brexit to get a better deal for the UK that avoided a no-deal outcome, despite the EU being clear that the Withdrawal Agreement was not open for renegotiation.

Asked if a second referendum is the only option for the UK, the Labour leader said: “The referendum would be on a negotiated deal or alternatives to that. It’s not a rerun of 2016.”

Sturgeon has called for a new independence referendum in the second half of next year. She made her comments on a visit to Dublin. Ms Sturgeon she said the latter half of 2020 would be the right time for a new poll. The SNP leader predicted victory in a second vote, with Scotland becoming an independent country just like Ireland.

“There will be another Scottish independence referendum and I will make a prediction that Scotland will vote for independence and we will become an independent country just like Ireland, and the strong relationship between our two countries now will become even stronger soon. Scotland has been treated with contempt

by Westminster and people are contrasting that with Ireland, that has been shown real solidarity and support from the European Union.

Suddenly this idea of being a small independent country in the European Union, we only have to look at Ireland to see the benefits of that and many people are having their eyes opened.”

Proposed FrancoIrish power link IRELAND and France have made

a joint pitch for EU funding for a €1 billion electricity link between the countries as part of post-Brexit energy planning.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and French President Emmanuel Macron have submitted a joint request to the European Commission seeking financial support for the Celtic Interconnector. The proposed connector between the south coast of Ireland and north-west coast of France would stretch for 500 kilometres under the sea.

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euro/local elections :: ireland ALLIANCE PARTY LEADER CLAIMS NI’S VOTERS ARE TIRED OF STALE POLITICS

Pro EU Alliance claims one of three NI seats THE leader of the Alliance Party says Northern Ireland voters are sick of stale politics after it swepy to a stunning success in the European election. Its candidate Naomi Long secured the cross-community party’s best result after taking the second of the region’s three seats.

Incumbent MEPs Diane Dodds of the DUP and Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson took the other two seats. This is the first time Northern Ireland has elected an all-female European line-up.

Ms Long’s 105,928 first-preference vote total was double the Ulster Unionist Party’s 53,052 votes. The UUP, once the once preeminent force in Northern Ireland politics, relinquished a seat it had held for 40 years. ms Long’s win marked another extraordinary achievement for the politician who has earned a reputation as a formidable electoral performer, having famously dethroned former DUP leader Peter Robinson as East Belfast MP in 2010.

“I am speechless for once,” she said.

“I am really delighted, I am totally blown away by the result. I think people are tired of the fact that the stale politics of the past isn’t delivering and I think what we are offering people are solutions to the problems we have, not just more problems,” she said.

Pro-European Ms Long, whose party made big gains in this month’s local elections in Northern Ireland, said the vote showed the region still wanted to remain in the EU. “For those who try to misappropriate it – and try to put it into unionist and nationalist boxes – I am not having that.

“The people who voted for me came together from right across the community, regardless of unionism, regardless of nationalism. They came together behind Alliance to send [the] a message [that] we want to remain in the EU.” Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson topped the poll with 126,951 votes, although the party’s share was down more than three per cent.

The DUP’s outgoing MEP Diane Dodds was up by 1 per cent on the 2014 result.

LOCAL ELECTIONS

EURO ELECTIONS :: STRONG SHOWING FOR FINE GAEL, INDEPENDENTS, GREENS

SF vote dips as Greens, FF make gains

Aoife Moore

David Young

Cate McCurry

FIANNA Fáil remains the biggest party at local government level nationwide, while Fine Gael took the most seats in Co Dublin. The fall in Sinn Féin’s vote was the big talking point from Ireland’s local elections.

Fine Gael gained seats but the biggest surge has been in the Green Party, with major gains across local government resulting in a total of 48 seats. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin suffered huge losses on councils, particularly in Dublin, where it lost almost half of its councillors. It now has 18 councillors, down from 32. Its primary vote was down by 5.8 per cent.

Par ty president Mar y Lou McDonald insisted Sinn Féin was “not simply about winning elections”.

“It has been a challenging [result] for us but you see the thing about Sinn Féin is we will meet challenges. Sinn Féin isn’t just about a single election, in fact we are not simply about winning elections.

“Sinn Féin is an ideal. Sinn Féin is about social justice; it’s about Irish unity. Whatever challenges and difficulties we encounter we will always rise to them and meet them.”

Irish voters went to the polls last Friday to elect 949 councillors across 31 local authorities. Some of the notable candidates included UFC fighter Paddy Holohan, who won a seat in South Dublin as a Sinn Féin councillor.

The national voter turnout was 50.2 per cent, and Fianna Fáil received the highest number of first preference votes with 26.9 per cent. Fine Gael got 25.3 per cent of first preference votes, and it emerged as the biggest party in the Dublin area.

Independent candidates got 19.6 per cent of first preference votes. Sinn Féin got 9.5 per cent; Labour Party, 5.7 per cent; Green Party, 5.5 per cent and Social Democrats, 2.3 per cent.

The Alliance Party’s Naomi Long was the big winner at the European elections, winning one of the three Northern Ireland seats with a massive first-preference vote of 105,928.

Varadkar hails Euro result TAOISEACH and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar hailed his party’s performance in the Euroepan elections as the best in decades.

“The European elections are shaping up to be very good for Fine Gael.

We have about 30 per cent of the vote, which is our biggest and best result since 1984,” he said.

Fine Gael secured four of the 13 seats. Mairead McGuinness topped the poll in Midlands North West, easily retaining her seat. Her strong showing helped new candidate Maria Walsh get elected. Ms Walsh came to public prominence in 2014 when she won the International Rose Of Tralee crown, the first openly gay woman to do so.

“I am deeply humbled. A huge, great thank you to all, I am so encouraged and energised by your vote,” she told the Connacht Observer.

She said her campaign team spread the message that oppor tunity can happen in rural Ireland and she is “so bloody passionate” about it.

“I feel privileged to represent all

those in the Midlands-North-West and would like to thank ever yone who voted for me and assure the entire electorate that I will work tirelessly to represent their best interests.

“As a newcomer to the political platform, I am encouraged by your support, and would like to encourage others, who like me don’t fit the traditional political mould, to consider politics,” she said.

Also elected in Midlands Nor th West constituency was Independent Luke “Ming” Flanagan and Sinn Fein’s Matt Car thy. Independent failed presidential candidate Peter Casey failed to secure preference flows after a positive first preference showing.

Fianna Fail fielded two candidates – Anne Rabbitte and Brendan Smith – who were both eliminated.

In Dublin, the Green Party’s Ciaran Cuf fe, former Fine Gael Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, Clare Daly of Independents4Change, and Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews were elected.

The fourth seat in Dublin is one of two extras Ireland has been allocated as a result of the Brexit vote.

IRELAND’S NEW MEPs Midlands North West Mairead McGuinness (FG) Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (Ind) Matt Carthy (SF) Maria Walsh (FG) Dublin Ciarán Cuffe (Greens) Frances Fitzgerald (FG) Barry Andrews (FF) Clare Daly (I4C) South* Sean Kelly (FG) Billy Kelleher (FF) *Three seats still undecided

Those candidates who take Ireland’s two additional seats at Brussels and Strasbourg will not be able to fill them until the UK actually leaves. Speaking after she was elected Ms Daly said: “I hope to bring the same fighting ability that I demonstrate in the Dáil.”

It has been some 15 years since Fianna Fail had an elected MEP in the Dublin constituency. Mr Andrews said

the result was “brilliant and satisfying”.

“We put in so much effort and one of the central parts of my strategy was try to close the gap between what the local election results might be in Dublin and the European elections,” he added. “It’s a real endorsement of hard work and I think people are listening to us again.”

Green Party candidate Ciaran Cuffe took the first seat while Fine Gael veteran Frances Fitzgerald took the second. Following his election, Mr Cuffe hailed his win as an auspicious day for the Green Party in Ireland as he topped the poll with 63,849 votes.

“Today and this weekend shows young people want to see change,” Mr Cuffe said.

“People have voted for an alternative to business as usual. This is an auspicious day and a new beginning for the Irish Green Party.”

Ms Fitzgerald said the result for Fine Gael was “support for the party’s approach to Europe and how we have dealt with Brexit over the last number of years”.

FULL RECOUNT ORDERED FOR IRELAND SOUTH CONSTITUENCY

Sinn Féin demand full recount after very tight result

Michelle Devane

THE Ireland South constituency may be left without representation in Europe for more than a month as a full recount gets under way.

A recount of all 755,000 ballots was ordered as Sinn Féin and the Green Par ty battled it out for the final European Parliament seat in the country. The process is expected to take 28 working days.

Sinn Féin candidate Líadh Ní Ríada made the request for a recount and recheck when just 327 votes separated her and the Green Par ty’s Grace

O’Sullivan on the 18th count. Despite a recheck of Ms Ní Ríada and Ms O’Sullivan’s 200,000 ballot papers changing the outcome by just one vote, Sinn Féin pressed ahead with the request for a full recount.

It is understood the full recount could cost as much as €1 million.

“Having completed the recheck of Líadh Ní Ríada and Grace O’Sullivan’s papers, Líadh Ní Ríada has confirmed that she wishes to proceed with a full recount of all the papers,” the returning officer, Martin Harvey, said.

“It’s difficult but it can be overcome and we will overcome it and we will do

it. But unfortunately it will take time.

It’s democracy in action.”

Sinn Féin’s director of elections Jonathan O’Brien defended the party’s decision to call for a recount, saying he estimated only 2 per cent of all the total ballots had been checked.

He added the only way of knowing for certain whether the outcome would change was by a recount.

Ms O’Sullivan’s election agent Ed Davitt said he did not believe the outcome of the recount would produce a different result.

“It’s understandable from Sinn Féin’s point of view. There’s absolutely

no bad blood, that goes without saying.

It’s a tough day for them but it is disappointing that we are proceeding with this,” Mr Davitt told RTE News.

Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly, a former president of the GAA, and Fianna Fail’s Billy Kelleher took the first two seats in the five-seat constituency.

Independents 4 Change candidate Mick Wallace looks set to take the third seat with 112,441 votes.

The race for the fourth seat and the fifth – the so-called Brexit seat – has been tight throughout the count. The winner of the fifth seat will not be able to claim it until Britain leaves the EU.

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

Mal Rogers scans Ireland’s regional media for what’s making news in your county BELFAST

Ex-RUC piper finds herself leading INLA funeral LEE Lawson, a former member of the RUC Pipes and Drums Band, believes she has been put at risk after being booked to play at the paramilitary procession.

Sunday Life reports that the awardwinning professional musician says she had no idea that the funeral was to be a show of strength featuring masked INLA members or that she would end up on the front of national newspapers and television bulletins.

She told Sunday Life she turned up not even knowing the surname of the deceased man.

Ms Lawson sad that when she arrived in west Belfast for the service, she was too afraid to turn back because of the presence of masked men.

She has now been the victim of online abuse after her picture appeared in the media.

“The police were out at my house on Friday night because of the abuse I was getting. It’s because I was in the RUC band,” she said.

“They have told me that if I had refused to play I would have put myself in more danger. I had no choice.”

Ms Lawson, who regularly plays at church services and band competitions across the North, explained that she was booked by an undertaker to play at a funeral in west Belfast.

She says she was provided with few details of the service and did not know it would involve paramilitaries.

LIMERICK

Stolen car passenger already has 100 convictions A 19-YEAR-OLD Charleville man with 100 previous convictions has pleaded guilty to allowing himself be carried in a stolen vehicle.

The Limerick Leader reports that Calvin O’Reilly of Broghill, Charleville was arrested and charged with the offence by Garda Dino Wilkinson in Kilmallock Court.

Garda Wilkinson said O’Reilly made no reply after caution.

Sergeant Michelle Leahy said the defendant was a passenger in a stolen vehicle at Knockaunacurra, Galbally.

“He allowed himself to be carried in a vehicle he knew to be stolen.

There were five in the car. Their original vehicle broke down, and a car was stolen to get back to Fermoy,” said Sergeant Leahy.

The prosecuting sergeant said O’Reilly has 100 previous convictions including five for allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle.

Kevin Power, solicitor for O’Reilly, said his client is serving a four-year prison sentence for burglary.

“He is 19-years-old. He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

I’m in your hands. He has a very poor record,” said Mr Power.

Judge Marian O’Leary convicted and fined Mr O’Reilly €500.

MAYO

Mayo man killed in New York crash A 33-year-old man from Tourmakeady, Co Mayo has died following a road collision in New York, along with his partner.

The Connaught Telegraph reports that John Heneghan was fatally injured after the car he was driving was hit by a vehicle driven by a suspected drunk driver near Albany.

Mr Heneghan’s partner, Caitlyn Holtzman, also died in the tragedy.

Two other Irish men who were passengers in Mr Heneghan’s car, both aged 25, were seriously injured in the crash.

Mr Heneghan was born and raised in Tourmakeady, moving to reside in America a number of years ago.

It has been widely reported that police arrested a man at the scene for aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

CORK

Cork Rebel Way launched A NEW history trail, The Cork Rebel Way, which highlights locations of historical significance in West Cork from the 1916 Rebellion through to the Civil War and War of Independence has been launched.

The Cork Rebel Way will stretch from Kinsale in the east, to the Beara peninsula in the west and from the Wild Atlantic Way along the south Cork coast to the Macroom-Killarney road (N22) in mid-Cork.

Visitors will be guided to ambush sites like Kilmichael, Béal na Bláth and Crossbarry, as well as significant battle sites, and museums where the history of Cork’s insurrections can be traced.

LIMERICK

Row over rubbish sparked death threats in Limerick town A FATHER-of-two who climbed out the window of his home and threatened to stab another man after he was asked to clear rubbish from his driveway has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

The Limerick Leader reports that in imposing sentence Judge Mary Larkin said the behaviour of Robert Heffernan (25) was quite extraordinary and that she had no option but to jail him.

Newcastle West Court was told the charges before the court related to an incident on the evening June 15, last.

In his evidence Wojciech Jopek said he called to a friend’s house to deliver a car which he had repaired

Minister Joe McHugh T.D. with tourists Rachel McGoldrick from Sligo, Sophie Bannigan from Sligo, Elizabeth Sterritt from Toronto and Sandra Campbell from Omagh, at official opening of €4.95m Sliabh Liag Visitor Centre and cliff walk. Photo: Paul McGuckin/PA Wire earlier in the day. While there his friend, Marzena Kopczynska, asked that he speak to her neighbour about rubbish that had been left in the driveway and in front of her house.

“She doesn’t speak English; I was asked to do a favour. She asked me to ask her neighbour to clean up the driveway,” he told Inspector Andrew Lacey.

Mr Jopek said when he spoke to the defendant he was agressive. A physical altercation then took place.

“He threatened he was going to kill us,” he said.

Giving evidence with the assistance of a translator, Ms Kopczynska said she was irritated by rubbish from refurbishment works at Mr Heffernan’s home.

She described how Mr Heffernan began to shout and roar after he was approached by Mr Jopek.

She said after jumping out the window of his home, he approached her home and began kicking the front door.

Judge Mary Larkin was told a number of gardaí attended the scene on the night and that when arrested and questioned a number of days later, Mr Heffernan replied “no comment”.

Convicting the defendant, she said she had no doubt things happened as described by Mr Jopek and Ms Kopcznska who, she said, were solid individuals.

“I don’t believe they would invent a story about him. I have absolutely no doubt it happened,” she said.

She imposed a three-month prison sentence in relation to the threat charge, and fined him €100 for a separate minor drugs offence, which he admitted.

KERRY

Delay in Skelligs visiting season THE start of the visiting season on Skellig Michael has been delayed indefinitely by the OPW. The Kerryman reports that the UNESCO world heritage site was due to open to visitors at the end of May but the Office of Public Works said that recent poor weather and sea conditions had delayed necessary pre-season safety and preparation works.

“Owing to poor weather and sea conditions right throughout March, April and early May, we have only been able to land our works team on the island very briefly to date” a

statement for the OPW said.

“Normally, we need two to three weeks to check Skellig Michael for winter storm damage; clear away any debris; provision staff quarters and prepare all visitor areas and the Monastic Monument for the public.

“However, pre-season access this year has been very problematic and we now have a significant backlog of work to deal with,” a spokesman said.

While OPW staff were on site for a few days last week forecast poor weather frustrated efforts to return.

The OPW said it can’t provide a date for the island’s opening but an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

MAYO

No more Cupid’s arrows at Knock’s marriage bureau FOR more than 50 years it played Cupid, bringing couples up the aisle to tie the knot in Catholic ceremonies. But now Knock Marriage Introductions – more widely known as the Knock Marriage Bureau – is closing down.

The Mayo News reports that with the rise of online dating the service’s future became unsustainable.

Announcing its closure in May, Director Father Stephen Farragher, said: “In recent years there has been a noticeable decline in the demand for the service offered by Knock Marriage Introductions, to the point that is no longer viable to run the service.

“The annual subscriptions from clients who have used the service have had to be supplemented in recent years by donations from dioceses around Ireland. Obviously this is not sustainable long term.

“It is for these reasons that the board of directors of Knock Marriage Introductions have decided at a recent meeting to wind down the agency.”

Established by Fr Michael Keane in the 1960s at a time when emigration was rife and the means of communication were practically non-existen’ in comparison to contemporary forms, the service was defined by its personal nature, sense of safety and confidentiality.

“We wish to express our gratitude to all who worked for the agency, especially the women who answered the calls and who were responsible

for making the introductions,” Fr Farragher said.

“We extend particular thanks to Father Michael Keane, who was the founder and first director, and to Canon Joe Cooney, who took over the mantle from him and was director until his retirement two years ago.”

CARLOW

Carlow in bid to get bilingual town status ALTHOUGH some 130km from the nearest Gaeltacht, Carlow is bidding to become one of Ireland’s first bilingual towns.

The Carlow Nationalist reports that the county is already “a welcoming destination for people who want to speak Irish, experience Irish culture and enjoy numerous festivals and events”.

As Gaeltacht areas become increasingly concerned about the decline of the language, Glór Cheatharlach, the Irish language movement, has helped to turn Carlow into a hub of spoken Irish.

According to the organisation 1,000 children are educated through Irish in Carlow every single day.

It now wants the entire community to unite and increase the county’s draw as an Irish language destination by putting a structured plan in place to support and promote the use of Irish in the area.

The Irish language activists want to take the next step and establish Carlow as an Irish language destination.

MAYO

Ramming home a sore point A VIOLENT ram was removed from a public accessible area after Gardai in Ballina received a complaint of an attack on a walker near Downpatrick Head in Ballycastle, Co Mayo. The Connaught Telegraph reported that gardai had issued a warning about the ram, who is equipped with a full set of horns, at the popular Mayo tourist beauty spot It is alleged that the ram attacked a woman on a public access area one evening last week. The woman told Midwest Radio she was left shocked and bruised by the incident, and she wanted to warn others.

The ram had knocked her over and repeatedly headbutted her, she said.

June, 2019 I www.irishecho.com.au

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a veiled but clear acknowledgement

by Britain that the nation has misread the Brexit process, realising too late that the Brits were not in charge of the outcome.

It was called, Bigger Than Us.

They said it...

“We are now entering a very dangerous period for Ireland.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking about the possibility of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ successor to Prime Minister Theresa May.

Pub with no beer PUT BRITAIN FIRST: Brian McFadden

Brian and Brexit WHAT the Brexit debate needs now is clear thinking and authoratative voices. Thank heavens then for the wisdom of has-been popstar Brian McFadden.

The Dubliner, who lives in the UK, showed his frustration over the ongoing Brexit drama following Theresa May’s resignation announcement, saying that the country is “literally f***ed”.

McFadden tweeted his apparent disapproval of Boris Johnson, who is one of the front-runners for the Tory leadership race, as well as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

He wrote: “The fact that borris [sic], farage and Jeremy are the front runners to be prime minister is scary!

Britain is f***ed!!! Literally f**ed!”

Ok so we’re not entirely disagreeing with Brian’s political analysis here. But then his tweet, much like his musical career, went downhill.

“Incredible how many brits jump on the anti trump bandwagon,” he added. “He’s exactly what Britain needs! A Britain first at all costs attitude is essential.”

But her retro-inspired staging and upbeat vocal performance failed to connect with the international audience during the second of two live semi-finals, and she was placed in the bottom eight of the 18 acts.

The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence went on to claim victory and Australia, yes Australia, was ninth.

The UK was guaranteed a spot in the final as one of the “big five” along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The “big five” jump the queue because they largely fund the show.

In the final, the United Kingdom came in 26th place (last) with only 11 points from 41 international juries and the public.

The Hurler thought Michael Rice’s song might do better. As the Brexit mess just gets messier, the song’s title could have been interpreted as

JESUS, Mary and Joseph is nothing sacred? We all know Ireland has become the most enlightened island on the planet. But does that mean we need an alcohol-free bar?

Apparently so. There’s one opening on Dublin’s Capel Street and its to be called The Virgin Mary no less.

Owner Vaughan Yates reckons there is an untapped market in the Irish capital for those who are mindful of their alcohol intake, or completely teetotal.

Mr Yates says he is banking on a new type of night-reveller who may want to have a night out “but still be able to go to yoga in the morning”.

Hmmm. Who says you can’t do yoga with a hangover?

Vaughan’s clearly in touch with Ireland’s zeitgeist. After all, before the recent referendum which demanded references to blasphemy be removed from the Constitution, he might have been stoned to death for calling his pub The Virgin Mary.

Vaughan Yates outside his ‘pub’, The Virgin Mary, in Dublin that will be the first alcohol-free bar in the capital. Good luck, Vaughan.

DESPITE Ireland’s increasing Europhilia, the nation seems to have lost its Eurovision mojo.

Once again this year, Ireland’s Eurovision Song Contest entry failed to qualify for the grand final.

Sarah McTernan, 25, was hoping to change Ireland’s recent fortunes in the contest. The nation has competed 52 times, triumphing on a record seven occasions, but has not won since 1996 with Eimear Quinn’s The Voice.

1. Which country was Patrice de McMahon, descended from the Lords of Corcu Baiscind in what is now Co. Clare, president of from 1873-1879?

2. Cammag is the Manx version of which game?

3. Who is the most capped goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland?

4. Which European car manufactures bean making their cars in Ireland in 1949?

5. Which king sailed from sailing from Pembroke and landed in Ireland in October 1171?

6. The River Shannon was first mapped by a Graeco-Egyptian geographer in the 2nd century AD. Who was he?

7. Born in Co. Kilkenny and trained by Ginger McCain, this horse won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Who was he?

8. Who owns the dogs Bród and Síoda (Pride and Silk)?

9. Who is the only leader of Fianna Fáil not to have been Taoiseach?

10. Which two members of U2 were not born in Ireland?

“I thought it was typical Theresa May making it about herself. We elect people to carry out our will. She stood there and told us how great she was. She’s saying ‘You got rid of me even though I’m brilliant’.”

Eamonn Holmes reacting to Theresa May’s resignation speech.

“It is with the greatest sadness that we have to confirm that one of our Everest team has passed away. Kevin was one of the strongest and most experienced climbers on our team, and had previously summited Everest South and Lhotse.”

A statement from 360 Expeditions a UK-based climbing company, on the death of Irishman Kevin Hynes on Everest. Mr Hynes, a Galwayman lived in London.

“Action is required to rebuild and redevelop public confidence in policing”.

Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, speaking after it was announced that Cheshire police boss Simon Byrne is to be the PSNI’s new chief constable.

“It’s a sad day for Formula 1 and Laudamotion. Niki’s spirit and legacy will live on forever.”

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, speaking on the death of Niki Lauda, former Formula 1 World Champion, and subsequently airline boss.

“I’m saddened but ultimately not surprised that Spillers is unable to stock Morrissey’s releases any longer. I only wished I’d done it sooner.”

Ashli Todd, owner of the world’s oldest record shop Spiller’s in Cardiff, speaking about the stores refusal to stock Morrissey’s albums because of his alleged support for a far-right political party.

“The UK should refrain from enacting legislation that would grant amnesty or pardon where torture is concerned. It should also ensure that all victims of such torture and ill-treatment obtain redress.”

A statement by the Geneva-based UN Committee Against Torture following British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt’s statement on her wish to introduce an amnesty for soldiers suspected of committing crimes while on active duty.

Our Euro woes

Quiz

“I think anything is possible now. Britain needs to be careful. From an EU perspective, patience has run out. The EU wants to get on with very challenging political questions.”

Tánaiste Simon Coveney, reacting to Theresa May’s impending departure, and the election of a new British prime minister.

“So I’m going to ask Jim Allister, who is sitting beside me, to please have a little bit of manners. Because. You. Are. In. My. Face.”

Martina Anderson’s slapdown of Jim Allister MLA (Traditional Unionist Voice). Ms Anderson (Sinn Féin) and Mr Allister were taking part in a UTV election debate and Ms Anderson believed Mr Allister was invading her personal space.

Crossword Clues across: 1. Fermanagh man who could misguidedly drain and rub a thespian (6, 6) 8. With enthusiasm before morning turns to Celtic writing (4) 9. US ensign confused with Dublin product, black, white and stout (8) 10 & 24 across: A spaniel line-up awkwardly could reveal Irish instrument (8,5) 11. Makes new supply with short reference to problems (8) 14. One eejit needs to be quick (1,1,1,1) 16. For example, bad actor in Surrey town (5) 17. Lie about Irish town and county (7) 19. One tariff that makes you very angry indeed (5) 20, 26 & 32 across: Versatile thesis in play (3,6,6) 21. Taken by a couple at the match (4) 23. Ben’s vines are askew (5) 24. see 10 across 26. see 20 across 28. Show a Kerry funeral party inside (4) 31. Silver will almost grow into bother (5) 32. see 20 across 33. Irish barkers are communist crossword makers (6)

Clues down: 1. Irish or Welsh town missing an introduction to a yarn (6) 2. A sombrero is inherently shielding Irish woman (6) 3 & 15 down: Irish film, where wayward owners began to feature famous Mrs (5,6) 4. Twice America grasped the head of Russian Bear (5) 5. Irish town besieges international leader (5) 6. Right bits of cricket for a football team from Sligo (6) 7. March celebrity involved in spring prank (5,7) 12. The cardinal points to my unfriendly acquaintance (5) 13. Photo completely gone (4) 14. French friend meeting three cardinals in city or former Dublin station (6) 15. see 3 down 17. Rent isle going free in southeastern Ireland (8) 18. Brought help in as it was complicated (8) 22. Finally feed fire in hearth, wood being low in Kerry (6) 25. Yes to change in small islands (5) 27. A large number of service personnel on time (4) 29. Most lapse in recess in church (4) 30. Get level in Devenish (4)

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12 13 15

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22 24

26

23 25

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30

31 32 33

LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS: Clues across: 1. Arklow. 4. Dungiven. 9. Collins. 10. Delving. 11. Llama.

12. Peregrine. 14. Ninety. 16. Icebergs. 18. Own. 19. Byway. 21. Master.

24. Iffy. 26. Strongholds. 27. Devenish. 29. Europe. 30, 31 across, 20 down: The Wicklow Way. 32. Ben. Clues down: 1. Auckland. 2. Killarney. 3. Oxidant. 5. Udder. 6. Inverness Shire.

7. Nuggets. 8. ASAP. 13. Edinburgh. 15. Yoyos. 17. Eamon.

20. see 30 across 22. Eclipse. 23. Hind. 25. Fyvie. 28. ICI. 29. Ego.

Answers: 1. France; 2. Hurling and camogie; 3. Packie Bonner; 4. Volkswagen; 5. Henry II; 6.Ptolemy; 7. Red Rum; 8. President Michael D Higgins; 9. The current leader Micheál Martin; 10. Adam Clayton and The Edge.

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Travels back to the future

THIS is a big book. The story, improbable as it is, carries you through much dreariness. You are also helped by the fact that sentences are short and there is a great deal of dialogue and a minimum of description. Since there are only four or five characters, you don’t have to memorise a large dramatis personae. With all this, you are inclined to be patient, to persevere in the hope that things will become livelier.

You are told early on that the story is set in the future, so you wonder whether it is science fiction, but it isn’t really.

Because the central character is autistic, you may consider that it is a fictional treatment of how such a person comes to terms with the world and there is certainly an element of that. The book also has a great deal of philosophising, characters mulling over the origin and meaning of life, the universe and everything, and you wonder whether that is the central theme.

After almost 500 pages, it is still not entirely clear which of these

elements is central to the narrative.

The back cover carries fulsome approval by Michael Harding, modern Ireland’s favourite purveyor of media trendiness – the Australian equivalent would be what you might get if you were to improbably combine Shaun Micallef and Phillip Adams.

Harding’s verdict is that “Gough has undoubtedly arrived, as a master storyteller”.

The problem with that commendation is that Gough arrived more than 10 years ago with the brilliantly funny Jude books, and a reader might well purchase this book on the strength of those.

The autistic teenager mentioned above is named Colt, after the gun of the same name.

He left school before the age of 10 and has the kind of mind that absorbs every little detail that his scientist mother tells him. Her research is of great interest to the military and the secret service and she is not allowed to publish her results, some of which were written for her by Colt when he was not ‘ingame’, the new word for being inside the world of computer games.

The day when computers will take over our lives is not far in the future; in fact, it is likely that many of the things treated as fiction in this book and some of the research topics that are covered, are even now in use. Here, AI is everywhere from the fridge to the doors; there are intriguing references to e-skin; Bluetooth is described as ‘dinosaur tech’. This is a world where data collection by drones is ubiquitous, where cars can be as they are today or can self-switch to driverless mode if the driver brakes too suddenly or veers into another lane or is judged to be not paying attenction.

The speculation on the universe is

“The book starts well but requires a great deal of patience to stay with it.

”

BOOKS

a great deal of patience to stay with it. Can we have more of Jude, please, Mr Gough.

CONNECT

THIS is the first novel by Cork-born writer Jacqueline O’Mahony. It is two stories in one, set 100 years apart, each with a woman as central character. In 1919, Hannah O’Donovan is one of four children on a West Cork farm, an enterprise successful enough to be able to employ a live-on farm worker and a live-in house help. When three IRA volunteers on the run from the Black and Tans rest up at the farmhouse for a few days, she has sex with their leader and finds herself pregnant.

Her problems arise from the obvious social and religious culture of the time but also from her need to keep out of the way of the guerilla fighting. Though an innocent in many ways, she is a strong character and has to take desperate action to get herself and her child out of the situation she has got into.

This is the strongest writing in the novel.

The second story, told in alternate chapters, is set in 2019 and introduces Ellen. She lives in London, and is interested in buying the O’Donovan farm, which was where her grandmother grew up, a place no longer owned by the family. She has had a number of miscarriages and one full-term pregnancy where the child died soon after birth. She worries about the fact that she is fat and that her marriage is in trouble.

It is obvious from early on that there is some kind of relationship between Hannah and Ellen, something that she learns when she returns to Cork to look at the farm;

By Julian Gough Picador 480 pp €16.99 euro

CC A RIVER IN THE TREES

By Jacqueline O’Mahony Riverrun 326 pp $14.99

CC Frank O’Shea often close to the way that modern physics speaks. “My research group is coming up with more and more evidence that our universe is alive.

Is an evolved entity. Is the complex product of evolution, not at the level of the gene or the meme, but at a more fundamental level. … Stars call to nearby stars, down magnetic field lines. Structures are built; energy is transmitted; information is transmitted that changes behaviour at the other end. But those signals can take many human lifetimes.”

This kind of speculation and the imagined picture of our technological future will keep the reader involved long after belief in the story has been suspended.

However, towards the end, the story takes second place to technological gobbledygook. “He has to be careful where he enters: he probes a node, but it has been captured by the immune system. … But Colt is a new variable; he has changed the balance of the game: he’s brought his own servers with him, his own brilliant code …”

The book starts well but requires

indeed, it appears that the locals knew the story but she did not. Her wealthy husband buys the farm and farmhouse for her but it is not entirely clear if she will live there.

It is a simple enough story and though the writing is sometimes polished. More often it is repetitive and full of trivial details. “She closed the door and the sea roared sadly at her. She took off her boots and socks and rolled up her jeans as far as they would go. She put her socks in her boots and put them on the floor of the car, with her handbag. She got out of the car …

She walked across to the steps that led to the beach and started down them. They were too narrow and in the rain it was almost impossible not to fall down them.”

The author also has the disconcerting habit of interrupting some action or some discussion by referring to a dream she had and which may or may not have relevance to what is happening. It would be easy to believe that the story might have benefited from the help of a determined editor.

“... The writing is

sometimes polished, more often it is repetitive and full of trivial details.

”

THE TOP 10 BOOK CHARTS FROM IRELAND BESTSELLERS 1

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Normal People

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Lucinda Riley

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown (book 13)

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Cruel Acts

Jane Casey

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway (book 12)

9

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Thomas Harris

9

Bad Dad

10 When All is Said

Anne Griffen

10 The Adventures of Dog Man 2: Unleashed

Jeff Kinney David Walliams Craig Smith Dav Pilkey Shane Hegarty J.K. Rowling Jeff Kinney Jeff Kinney David Walliams Dav Pilkey

June, 2019 I www.irishecho.com.au

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June, 2019 I www.irishecho.com.au

sports GAA :: CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDER WAY WITH SOME SURPRISES

Roscommon celebrate famous win over Mayo David Hennessy IT has been a football championship that has thrown up shocks, with Roscommon defeating neighbours Mayo for the first time in 18 years, Cavan overcoming Monaghan and Limerick stunning Tipperary.

Five-in-a-row chasing Dublin got off to a winning start in Leinster putting five goals past Louth and beating them by 26 points with 14 men after Paul Mannion was dismissed.

They meet Kildare, who needed a replay to see off Longford, for a place in the Leinster final.

Meath and Laois will meet in the other semi-final after Meath thumped Carlow and Laois overcame Westmeath.

In Connacht, goals from Cathal Cregg and Ultan Harney stunned Mayo and took Roscommon into a provincial final. They will meet defending champions Galway who dispatched Sligo.

Limerick won their first Munster championship game since 2012 beating Tipperary by 3-11 to 1-10 to earn themselves a semi-final against Cork where they were unable to pull off a similar shock. Three early Cork goals paved the way for an easy 21-point win. Meanwhile, Clare held on for a onepoint victory over Waterford to set up a meeting with Kerry who were unimpressive in their win over Clare. Kerry now face Cork in the Munster final.

In Ulster, last year’s All-Ireland semifinalists Monaghan were stunned by Cavan, Martin Reilly’s penalty making the difference while Armagh came from three points down in extra-time to beat Down in Newry.

Armagh would see extra-time again when they met Cavan for a place in the final. Jarlath Og Burns’ goal was not enough and extra-time could not separate the teams.

Last year’s All-Ireland finalists Tyrone were made to fight all the way by Derry in the preliminary round although they came away with the six-point win.

The Red Hand men would follow this

with a free-scoring and comfortable win over Antrim. Tyrone now face Donegal who were controlled and patient in their victory over Fermanagh.

In the hurling, Tipperary have flown out of the blocks with three straight wins from three Munster championship matches while Kilkenny have also won their opening two encounters.

All-Ireland champions Limerick’s title defence got off to a losing start.

In Liam Sheedy’s first year back in charge, Tipperary overpowered Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, goals from Seamus Callanan and John McGrath putting the result beyond doubt. Tipperary would follow this with an 18 point victory over Waterford.

Clare were next to fall to Tipp when Noel McGrath, Seamus Callanan and Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher fired the goals in a 13-point victory at Cusack Park. Cork bounced back from their opening defeat to Tipperary to beat last year’s champions Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds thanks to Patrick Horgan’s goal. Limerick’s first win of the campaign came when they inflicted a 20-point defeat on Waterford, Aaron Gillane and Geraoid Hegarty among the goals. Waterford have lost all three of their games so far.

In Leinster, two TJ Reid goals helped Kilkenny come back to win by five points over Dublin. Brian Cody’s team would follow this with a comfortable 14-point victory over Carlow.

Without their injured talisman Joe Canning, Galway made hard work of their six-point win over Carlow. The Tribesmen followed this with a scrappy and uninspiring 0-16 all draw with Wexford, a game that is mostly talked about for Davy Fitzgerald’s confrontation with an official getting him sent off.

Fitzgerald’s team are the draw specialists this year after their opener at Parnell Park saw a late Sean Moran goal rescue a point for Dublin.

Dublin, reduced to 14 men, saw off Carlow by 12 points thanks to Eamonn Dillon’s goals that brought their first win of the campaign.

Conor Daly of Roscommon and Darren Coen of Mayo in action during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

AFLW :: ELEVEN IRISH WOMEN WILL PLAY TOP-LEVEL AUSSIE RULES IN 2020 :: CORA STAUNTON BREAKS LEG

Six more Irish recruits for AFLW David Hennessy

AILISH Considine showed the massive part Irish women can play in the AFLW when she was instrumental in her Adelaide Crows team emerging triumphant in the Grand Final in April and several AFLW clubs have looked to Ireland to improve their squads for next season.

Tipperary dual star Orla O’Dwyer has joined Brisbane Lions. Galway star Mairead Seoighe has penned a deal with Nor th Melbourne. Fremantle have signed Aine Tighe of Leitrim and Kate Flood of Louth while Mayo sisters Niamh and Grace Kelly have moved from the West coast of Ireland to the West Coast of Australia by joining West Coast Eagles.

All five Irish women who competed last season have had their contracts renewed so there are now 11 Irish women on AFLW lists.

It will be a return to Australia for Orla O’Dwyer who was born and spent some of her childhood here.

O’Dwyer, who is also Tipperar y camogie captain told The Irish Echo: “I’m really excited about joining the Brisbane Lions. To now have the

Tipperary’s Orla O’Dwyer has been signed by Brisbane Lions for the 2020 AFLW season.

opportunity to play a new sport like AFLW in a new countr y is such an experience in itself. I know that I will have a lot to learn and adjust to but I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and pushing myself and being involved in a professional setup.”

She is the Brisbane Lions first Irish signing, something she says makes her feel extremely privileged.

“It’s great that they have given me

this amazing opportunity and all the staff, background team and players have been so welcoming and helpful which makes me feel more comfortable about the move in October.”

Other clubs were chasing O’Dwyer’s signature but she decided Brisbane was to be the club for her.

“Initially, I had a couple of interviews with AFLW clubs but Brisbane Lions just stood out. They had a great knowledge of my style of play with camogie and ladies football and a plan of how I would benefit the team.

“They have excellent players and I’m excited to meet them all and play with them. Also, they offered me a contract in a matter of hours after the interview which showed me that they knew what they were about, and I’m delighted with my decision. I know Brisbane has a large Irish population, and I am hoping they will get behind me.

“I was born in Australia and my parents lived there for a few years in the late 90s and some of their friends from that time are now living in Brisbane. I hope to catch up with a few when I get over.”

O’Dwyer has been inspired by the success of the other Irish players in the

AFLW, par ticularly Cora Staunton.

“I watched with great interest a documentary about Cora Staunton, it documented her move to the AFLW. She has been a great role model for women’s sport in Ireland,” she said.

Staunton has suffered a setback in her bid to continue her stellar career.

The 37-year-old broke her leg while playing in the AFL Sydney Premier Division Women’s competition for the UNSW Bulldogs.

Staunton was the first international player to be drafted into the AFLW in 2017, clearing a path for many Irish girls to follow. She has scored 11 goals in 14 games for the Giants. She had already been invited back by the Giants to play in her third AFLW season.

Cora was optimistic in a social media post that showed a picture of her laid up in a hospital bed, saying: “Just want to thank everyone for all the support (calls messages etc) and help. I will be forever grateful to all my @gwsgiants family & unswbulldogs for everything ye have done for me. Sport can be cruel sometimes but hopefully this is only another challenge for me.”

Giants AFLW head coach Alan McConnell told The Irish Echo: “It was

a shocking injury that Cora suffered, but as always she’s taken it head on as another challenge.

“Our medical team has been working closely with Cora in recent days to ensure she has the best care available to be able to get her rehabilitation under way. There’s been a huge amount of support sent Cora’s way and all of us at the Giants are very grateful for the love that’s been shown.”

As the first Irish import, Staunton is credited with inspiring other clubs to look to Ireland.

On this, Cora told The Irish Echo during the past season: “People talk about it being me [that inspired the Irish influx of players] and I’d say next year it will double or treble with four more teams coming into the competition. In part it’s to me but in bigger part it’s to the Giants and in even bigger part it’s probably to Al [McConnell, Giants AFLW head coach].

“I’ve been extremely, extremely lucky. I’ve played inter-county senior football for 24 years, since I was 13. I’ve won everything that there is to be won in the game. I’ve been lucky with injuries. I’ve been lucky that my body has let me keep playing.”

23

June, 2019 I www.irishecho.com.au

sports TAYLOR BECOMES UNDISPUTED LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION AFTER NARROW WIN OVER PERSOON

Bray boxer’s historic victory in New York Declan Warrington KATIE Taylor has made history by unifying all four world lightweight titles with a hard-fought, thrilling and narrow victory over Belgium’s Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In her 14th fight as a professional, she added the WBC title to those she already possessed from the IBF, WBA and WBO to become only the seventh fighter of the four-belt era to become an undisputed world champion, as well as only the third woman.

The 32-year-old from Bray had to survive her toughest rounds as a professional as Persoon, who had a significant size advantage, threatened to force a stoppage in the 10th and final round. However, having reached the final bell she was awarded a majority decision via scores 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94. As an outstanding amateur, Taylor won five world titles, six European titles and Olympic gold with Ireland at London 2012, but her achievements as a professional may have surpassed even that remarkable success.

The key to her victory was perhaps demonstrated as early as the opening round when the rivals – fighting at a remarkably high pace throughout their two-minute rounds – immediately began to trade as the classier Taylor landed with a quick combination that Persoon struggled to resist.

Their furious exchanges not only continued, and suggested Persoon was stronger and desperate to physically impose herself on her more decorated

opponent, but gave the Belgian her greatest chance of success, allowing her to hurt Taylor with occasional big right hands. In the fifth, Taylor then invited Persoon to continue to trade, but it was at that point that victory threatened to become more routine as her opponent tired having struggled to secure the knockout and increasingly lost her form.

While Taylor’s pace also slowed, she did so from a position of comfort and began to tee off on her 34-yearold rival, but she just as quickly found herself at risk again in the seventh and eighth, when she took further flush right hands.

Taylor slipped to the canvas amid an assault in the ninth, by when she was also clearly tiring, took another right and naively fought back instead of protecting herself, and struggled with the physicality forced by an opponent with a by-then severely swollen left eye and forehead.

Another big right hurt Taylor again in the 10th, and as she tired further and barely defended herself she was at risk of being stopped.

In reaching the final bell, again under attack, her demeanour suggested she believed she had lost, but she was confirmed as the undisputed lightweight champion, an achievement she considers the “pinnacle” and surpasses all she has previously achieved.

Bloodied and bruised, Persoon almost instantly then left the ring in tears, having clearly believed she should have won.

A bruised and battered Katie Taylor celebrates after becoming the undisputed world champion. She now holds the WBC, IBF, WBO and WBA world belts in the lightweight division. Picture: Nick Potts

IRISH-BORN SCRUM-HALF NOW A RISING AUSSIE STAR

Expat McDonald to line up against Irish David Hennessy

IRISH-bor n scr um-half Michael McDonald is to line up against the country of his birth at the Under 20s Rugby World Championship in Argentina next week.

McDonald and his Junior Wallabies have just come through an impressive Oceanic Championship campaign in which they won all their matches and even produced a big win over New Zealand. But Ireland are also in form after completing a Grand Slam earlier this year. The two meet in Pool B. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a tough campaign especially with a pool like ours having Ireland, Italy and England in our first three games but really looking forward to it,” McDonald told The Irish Echo.

“The team’s prepped really well.”

The 19-year-old moved from Louth to Australia at the age of 13.

“I can’t wait [to play Ireland]: really, really top opposition obviously coming of f a really good Six Nations that they’ve just won but really looking forward to it, can’t wait to have a good game against them and the whole team is looking forward to that challenge.

It’s such a good team to come up against in the early pool stages.”

Asked about any divided loyalties, the former Dundalk RFC man is focused on the job in hand.

“The biggest focus for me is I’m representing Australia with this team and I’ve got a job to do within the team.

Obviously everyone in this team wants the same outcome, every individual’s got a job to do for the team and hopefully it’s successful.”

Despite playing in the green and gold of his adoptive home, McDonald says he gets plenty of support from his family and friends in Ireland.

“Of course, they’ll always be super proud of me wherever I go. It will be a tough one for my grandmother to get over,” he laughs.

“The support from back home has been awesome and my whole family has been really behind me.”

Australia came through a strong Oceanic Championship campaign in April and May. The Junior Wallabies won all three of their games against

Dundalk-born Michael McDonald in action for the Junior Wallabies.

Japan, Fiji and the teenager stood out in their 24-0 beating of New Zealand.

McDonald even had the honour of captaining Australia against Fiji and he kicked 11 of the team’s 16 points.

“The Oceanic camp that we had proved to be ver y successful.

Preparation has been really key for us but obviously there’s an end goal and that’s the World Cup so that’s our main focus,” he said. “I think any team at this World Cup could do it, they’re all top quality sides.”

McDonald plays his club rugby with Palmyra in Perth and is also a member of the Western Force squad.

MOTOR SPORTS

Kilkenny rally ace driven to succeed in Australia

David Hennessy

KILKENNY rally driver Richie Dalton is a rising talent in Australian motorsports but he saw his assault on the National Capital Rally stall in disappointing fashion in Canberra.

The Shamrock Motorsport driver had been second seed for the event, the second round of the 2019 CAMS Australian Rally Championship held on Saturday May 11.

Dalton set a steady early pace and had a podium finish in his sights after two stages. However, when a fuel pressure sensor shorted out on stage three, the car to ground to a halt. The time it took to fix the minor problem was all it took to stop Dalton and his co-driver Dale Moscatt making the start of heat two.

“It was very disappointing,” Dalton told the Irish Echo. “The rally was in two separate heats. Once we plugged it in and diagnosed it, we had it fixed in a minute and a half but it was such a short turnaround time and we weren’t able to join heat two.

“It is very disappointing because I had sponsors and a lot of followers and stuff coming from everywhere and had travelled a distance for it. That was more disappointing than anything.”

Dalton, who lives and works in Sydney, showed strong pace at the opening round in Western Australia before rolling the car over on day two.

After Canberra, Dalton and his team weighed up their options for the remainder of the Australian Rally Championship, with the next event to be held in Tasmania in late Jun. “We’re going to go to Tassie literally just to gain experience and knowledge

Kilkenny rally driver Richie Dalton with wife Lou and children Emily and Dylan.

of the roads and be more competitive next year,” he said.

Dalton has achieved a lot in his relatively short time in rally driving.

“I haven’t been rallying that long.

The rally last weekend was only my 19th rally ever. I started six years ago so I’m averaging about three rallies a year but I can’t complain. After 10 rallies I was National Australian Four Wheel Drive Champion.

“On my 14th or 15th rally, I finished eighth in the world in Coffs Harbour 2017 and became the fourth person ever from the Republic of Ireland to score points in the World Rally Championships so I haven’t had a bad run,” he added.

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June, 2019 I www.irishecho.com.au

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