Irish Echo September 2018

JIM MCKIERNAN RIP

DANNY O’REILLY

PAGE 3

INTERVIEW :: PAGE 4

Tributes For Cavan-born Former WA Senator

Coronas Frontman Eager To Get Back To Australia

For breaking news visit www.irishecho.com.au

AUST RALI A’ S I RI S H N E WS PA P E R September, 2018 | Volume 31 – Number 9

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Tralee Hails First African Rose Winner Waterford Winner Of Zambian Heritage PAGE 8

LEGACY OF CHILD ABUSE WITHIN CATHOLIC CHURCH DOMINATES POPE FRANCIS’ VISIT TO IRELAND

POPE Francis, who paid a two-day visit to Ireland last week, encountered a very different nation to the one which greeted Pope John Paul II 40 years ago.

While the public welcome was warm and many people lined the streets to

catch a glimpse of the pontiff, the dark legacy of abusive priests, nuns and brothers, combined with forced adoptions, Magdelene laundries and the protection of paedophiles within the Catholic Church dogged his visit.

The Pope was challenged by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins to do more to deliver justice for victims.

“There is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for

victims and survivors,” Mr Varadkar said. “Holy Father, I ask you use your office and influence to ensure this is done in Ireland and across the world.”

PAGES 10-11

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EW S PAPER

irish australia TRIBUTES FOR JIM MCKIERNAN

Irish-born former WA senator dies Billy Cantwell

CAVAN-born Jim McKiernan has died at the age of 73.

The former Labor Senator for Western Australia died at his home in Perth on Friday, August 10 after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

WA Labor paid tribute to the Irishborn parliamentarian, who represented his state in the Australian Senate from 1985 to 2002.

“Sad news for the WA Labor family today, with the passing of the great Jim McKiernan,” the party posted.

“A unionist, a great parliamentarian, and one of the great senses of humour in politics.

“Fr om Cavan, Ir eland to the Dillingham shipyards in Fremantle, to the Senate in Canberra, his story is one of a working-class kid made good, and a life well-lived.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Vale, Jim.” The Embassy of Ireland in Canberra also paid tribute. “[We have] learned with great sadness of the passing of Senator Jim McKiernan RIP,” the embassy statement read.

“For more than 40 years he was a tireless advocate for Ireland and the Irish community in Australia. While in parliament he played a lead role in the Irish Australian Parliamentar y Friendship Association.

“He was often the first port of call for Irish people in need.

“Since his retirement from active politics, he continued to be active in the Irish community in Per th and Western Australia through his involvement with the Irish Club of Western Australia. Jim McKiernan took great pride in his Irish background and was a keen advocate for Ireland and the Irish throughout his life.”

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerr y Adams TD also expressed his “sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jim McKiernan”.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jim McKiernan,” Mr Adams said. “The links between Ireland and Australia are old and enduring. During my visits to Australia I had the privilege of meeting many Irish-Australians. Some were newly arrived; others were among the one in three Australian citizens who can trace their ancestry back to Ireland.

“For more than 40 years he was a tireless advocate for Ireland and the Irish community in Australia.”

“Jim McKiernan was one of the many Irish who emigrated to Australia in search of a new life.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his wife Jackie on my two visits to Australia in 1999 and 2004. Jim also hosted Martin McGuinness during one of his visits to Australia, as well as working with other Sinn Féin representatives during their time in Australia. He was proud of his roots and ver y supportive of Sinn Féin’s efforts to advance the peace process and Irish unity.

“I want to extend my sincere condolences and solidarity to Jim’s wife Jackie, their children Steven, Donna, Jimmy, Lisa, Kim, Kate and Ben, their partners as well as 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.”

The third of eight children of James and Mary (Maisie) McKiernan, Jim left school at 14 to help support the family.

He worked as a petrol pump attendant and an abattoir worker before emigrating to England. In 1969, having gained a trade qualification as a firstclass machinist, he migrated to Perth, taking advantage of an assisted passage scheme.

He took on a position as a machinist/fitter and turner at Dillingham Shipyards in Fremantle, where he remained for the next four years.

He joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) which later became the Amalgamated Metal Workers’ Union (AMWU). In 1976 he was appointed as the AMWU’s first full-time education officer in Western Australia. He joined the Australian Labor Party and became increasingly immersed in politics. He put his name forward for preselection to run for a Western Australian Senate seat and in the 1984 half-Senate election,

Long-serving WA Senator Jim McKiernan and his wife Jackie, also a former politician, pictured in 2014.

McKiernan was elected to Canberra.

After his first marriage to Jean ended in divorce, McKiernan married Jacqueline (Jackie) Watkins, a sitting member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly who held the seat of Joondalup (1983–89) and, later, the seat of Wanneroo (1989–93).

McKiernan was re-elected to the Senate in 1987, 1990 and 1996, the latter two from the top of the ALP ticket. During his time in Canberra, he agitated to remove references to the Queen from the oath or affirmation of allegiance to be made by new Australian citizens.

The passage of the Australian Citizenship Amendment Bill 1993 brought this campaign to a successful conclusion and many Irish permanent residents became Australian citizens as a consequence. According to those closest to him, it was his proudest political achievement.

One of his roles was as returning officer for the Federal Parliamentary

Labor Party (1990–96) a role which famously saw him preside over and announce the results of both leadership ballots held between Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, in June and December 1991.

During these contests McKiernan was a vocal Hawke supporter and a critic of Keating, effectively precluding him from a ministerial post under a Keating-led Government. In his final days, Hawke gave him a call to wish him well.

McKiernan became an early victim of Section 44 of the Constitution when he was forced to give up his Irish citizenship before the 1990 election.

He said in 1999: “Regrettably in the late ‘80s I had to, on advice, relinquish my Irish citizenship. It was something I didn’t particularly enjoy doing at the time, but it was something I had to do in order to hang on to my job.”

McKiernan remained in the Senate until his retirement in 2002.

He used his valedictory speech to

reflect on his personal experience of migration. He stated that his generation of Irish were “born for the road” and that, in his case, for tune had smiled on him, in both England and Australia.

His parliamentary biography reads: “His fellow senators lauded his contribution to and expertise in the field of migration and noted the assistance his staff had provided when negotiating difficult migration processes. They also noted that he had brought a great sense of humour to the chamber and had been one of its outstanding characters, with his unorthodox taste in ties drawing considerable comment.”

He is survived by his wife Jackie, his and her children Steven, Donna, Jimmy, Lisa, Kim, Kate and Ben, their partners as well as 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A celebration of his life was held at Pinnaroo Memorial Park on August 20.

His cof fin was draped in an Irish Tricolour and the Eureka flag.

OLYMPIAN SONIA O’SULLIVAN AND TADHG KENNELLY LEAD AUSTRALIAN LEG OF GLOBAL 5K

Irish poised to run the world again

AND THEY’RE OFF, AGAIN: Tadhg Kennelly and Michael O’Loughlin starting the 2017 Global 5k in Sydney. (Right) Sonia O’Sullivan.

SEVENTEEN cities, eight countries, one global nation.

The Ireland Fund’s Global 5k run will get into stride again on September 22.

Events will take place in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to raise money for causes in Australia and Ireland.

The global patron for the run is Irish Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan, who will take to the field in Melbourne this year.

The Sydney run will be led by former Sydney Swans star Tadhg Kennelly.

“It’s hard to believe we’re in the fifth year of this event,” said John Gallagher, chairman of the Ireland Fund Australia Sydney Young Leaders.

“It’s grown every year but we are really hopeful that this is the year that the run becomes a really established, fun event for runners, walkers, families, pets, anyone who likes, on the Irish Australian community calendar in all three cities.

“We’re thrilled to have the support again of both Sonia O’Sullivan and Tadhg Kennelly, helping us to raise much-needed funds for worthy causes in Ireland and Australia.”

Starting in Brisbane at 7am, with the baton handed to Sydney and then over to Melbourne, the young leaders will run 5kms in their respective cities before passing the virtual baton.

The Global 5k will conclude when the last young leader crosses the finish line in San Francisco.

“It’s a really excellent event,” Kennelly said. “I brought the family along last year; tried out my knees again for the first time in a few years.

“And it’s a very Irish take on a fitness event – we all get the exercise in first, and the sausages and goodies afterwards! I enjoyed the chat and the craic and meeting everyone last year.”

People can support the event by signing up to run, by volunteering on the day, by sponsoring a runner or making a donation.

All runners get an event T-shirt, plus a delicious breakfast BBQ after the race. Sponsorship packages are also available.

Global 5k runs take place in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, New York, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Belfast, Dublin and London.

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

irish australia DUBLIN POP QUARTET HEADING DOWN UNDER IN NOVEMBER

Another quick round of Coronas David Hennessy

JUST a year after releasing their Irish number one album Trust the Wire and their last Aussie tour, Dublin rockers The Coronas return to Australia for three shows in November.

Since establishing themselves in 2003, The Coronas have built up a loyal fanbase in Ireland and cemented themselves as one of our best live acts.

Fresh from playing to 14,000 fans at Dublin’s 3Arena, lead singer Danny O’Reilly told The Irish Echo how excited the band are to be heading back down under.

“The reaction we have been getting there is just amazing so we’re really excited about going back,” O’Reilly, the son of singing legend Mary Black, said.

“We had a cool gig in Sydney in March, just to launch the gigs, and we love going there. We’re really excited and hopefully by the end of November, it will be nice and sunny as well so we’ll get a bit of sun on our skin.

“Often times we don’t get to enjoy the cities too much but hopefully we’ll get a few days either side just to enjoy the place. It was cool to be back in Sydney for a few days. We have a couple of friends living there now.

“Hopefully when we go back in November, we might have a few days to enjoy it and chill out and catch up with people again.”

It was just last year that the band released their fifth studio album but in June they followed it with new material in the form of the EP, The Reprise, a collection of loose-end songs that did not fit on previous albums.

“We’ve been playing a few songs off it. It’s been going well. It’s always nice to have something new out there.

“I think the EP’s a little bit different for us, it’s a little bit of a departure from what we’ve done in the past. I mean it’s still Coronas, it’s still three and a half minute songs of my whiny voice on top of some pop songs but I think musically it’s slightly different for us.

“It’s been getting an amazing reaction, much better than we even thought. We thought we were gonna release it under the radar just to have

Danny O’Reilly (second from left) and The Coronas.

a release for our really eager fans who want to hear some new music but I think it’s helped us garner some new attention and some new fans so it’s really encouraging.

“We had more freedom because we produced it ourselves. It’s the first piece of work that we self- produced.

It was ver y free and easy and like, ‘Okay, there’s no pressure on it to be a big successful album, we don’t need a load of hits, this is just something for us’. And I think taking that pressure off made it more enjoyable.

“Sometimes when you get too caught up in trying to write singles you can get off track a little bit. With this, we didn’t worry at all about getting radio play; this was more of a self-indulgent … undertaking. It was nice to be able to do that and scratch that itch and let ourselves just go with it.”

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The lead single on The Reprise is The Note, striking for both the singalong and triumphant tune and the heartbroken lyrics it is married to.

O’Reilly has often spoken about how he writes about his own life in his music. This song could very well be from the period after his high-profile break-up with television presenter, Laura Whitmore.

“It’s about the str uggle after a break-up and sometimes that maybe things aren’t great and they might not get better and having those depressing feelings so it’s definitely darker lyrically,” he said. “People are loving it and that’s really great to see. It’ s nice we found a home for it because it’s a song we’re really proud of.”

The band have star ted putting together material for their next album and O’Reilly reveals this comes as a

relief after the last album’s difficult preparation.

“I’m really excited about the new stuff, more so than years gone by. With the last album Trust the Wire we’re really proud of it. I definitely think it’s one of our strongest albums but I think it was the closest I’ve ever been to having writer’s block.

“I was definitely struggling creatively for a while so I just thought: ‘We’re getting older, trying to continuously improve creatively, it’s going to be difficult and it’s going to just get harder as you get older’.

“That’s sort of what I had resigned myself to but then we went down to Dingle and had these two weeks where there were just songs falling out of us and I was like, ‘Oh my God. These are great’.”

O’Reilly will not be the only family

depending on the visa, occupation and size of the business.

For a business with an annual turnover of less than $10 million per annum the levy for the 482 visa is $1,200 for each year of the visa.

So, for a two-year 482 visa, the employer would pay $2,400; or for a four-year 482 visa: $4,800.

The amount is payable by the employer at the time they make the nomination application. For larger employers; with an annual turnover of more than $10 million P/A the levy is $1,800 for each year of the visa.

There are levy refund options for the employer in some circumstances. For example, if the person’s 482 visa is granted but they don’t start work with the employer; or, if the employee leaves within the first 12 months, the remaining years’ levies can be refunded.

If the 482 visa application is refused on health or character grounds, the employer can also claim a refund of the SAF levy.

Aside from the SAF levies, new rules on labour market testing now apply to the Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visa programs. This means the employer must have advertised the role for at least four consecutive weeks in the four

months before they lodge their nomination application.

This advertising is the employer’s evidence of attempts to recruit suitably qualified Australians. The advertising must be in mainstream media, and it must state the salary range, skills and experience and main duties of the role. If the advertising is not completed in the correct manner the employer’s nomination is likely to be refused, causing major problems for the visa application The employer’s nomination application would typically be lodged before your visa application is made however, the nomination does not need to be approved before you lodge the visa stage.

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member in Australia in November as his mother Mary Black will perform at the Sydney Irish Festival.

Asked if there could be some overlap of their time here, O’Reilly replied: “It will be great. To be completely honest, I had no idea we were going to be in Australia at the same time, so thank you for that. It would be so cool.

“If I can do it, I would definitely consider going over a week early maybe to Australia, seeing her show and just chilling out for a week. I hope that might work out, make a family holiday out of it.”

The Coronas play Prince Bandroom, Melbourne on 22 November, Metro Theatre, Sydney on 23 November and Capitol, Perth on 24 November.

For more information, go to www.troubadour-music.com

A U ST R A LI A’ S I R I SH N E WSPA P E R

Telephone: +61 2 9555 9199 Facsimile: +61 2 9555 9186 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

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EW S PAPER

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irish australia HERMITAGE GREEN SET FOR AUSTRALIAN TOUR IN NOVEMBER

Limerick’s finest fired up for Australian return LIMERICK folk/pop outfit Hermitage Green have developed a strong affection for Australia, which is why they are returning down under for the second time in 12 months.

Guitarist Darragh Griffin said the reception they received last year was motivation enough for a quick return.

“When we were there last November, we kind of said, ‘We need to do this regularly; this can’t be a once every three years kind of thing’,” Griffin said.

“What we’ve tended to find as well is you have to do a bit more work to win the crowds over but that can be kind of an enjoyable challenge.”

Darragh shares vocal and guitar duties with the Murphy brothers Dan and Barry, the latter of which had a successful career with Munster rugby before taking up music as a serious pursuit.

The band have been coming to Australia since 2013.

“Our first time going to Australia was a surreal stand-out experience for us.

We played a couple of weeks in Perth and had built up a bit of a reputation and people got to know us and enjoyed us and then we did the east coast.

“We were coming back (to Perth) for one gig at the end of it and for that last gig, there was literally this enormous queue of people up the road where they couldn’t get any more people into the pub so we ended up actually going out and playing to the fewer [number of] people who were waiting, because we knew they weren’t going to get in.

“When you see that kind of hype being built up in the space of two weeks, that’s all it was, and I suppose that news had spread from coast to coast literally between the community and it was absolutely amazing. It’s

something we weren’t expecting to happen on that sort of scale at all.”

The Limerick band’s Australian preoccupation is not just about audiences.

They’re travelling with a didgeridoo as the instrument features in the song The Lion’s Share.

“I can tell you it’s not the easiest thing to travel with,” Griffin joked.

How did an Australian crowd react to seeing an Irish band with the quintessentially Australian instrument?

“It definitely raises the eyebrows. I think you can recognise if someone is doing something from an angle of a gimmicky thing but it’s essentially the foundation the rest of the song is built on top of. You couldn’t have a bunch of Australians coming over to Ireland and jumping around with a fiddle on stage.

That wouldn’t be appreciated [just as] it wouldn’t be appreciated in Australia to be disrespectful to the didgeridoo.

“As soon as people recognise that it’s an integral part of The Lion’s Share, I think they appreciate what are trying to do with it; we’re trying to incorporate it into our own sound.”

The band’s last tour got off to a disastrous start when some band members couldn’t get into the country in time, meaning that their Prince Bandroom gig, the first of their tour, had to be cancelled. They won’t repeat the same mistake again.

“We’re going to Melbourne a week and a half early this time to make sure.

A monumental mess-up was what it was and a little bit of naivety on our part.

“We were just really devastated that people had been coming from far and wide and then suddenly the gig was cancelled. We were just really, really gutted. We do not cancel gigs, it’s got to be something absolutely monumental to cancel a gig because

NEW ZEALAND

IRISH-AUSTRALIAN WOMAN TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARDS SAINTHOOD

David Hennessy

Buying houses off limits for foreigners NEW Zealand has banned most foreigners from buying homes as it tries to stem rising housing prices.

Previously the housing market was open to investors worldwide, but the government last week passed legislation that allows only New Zealand residents to buy homes.

In recent years, there have been many anecdotal stories of wealthy foreigners from Silicon Valley and beyond buying ranches in picturesque rural New Zealand as a “bolt hole” or escape option from a turbulent world.

There have also been stories of wealthy Chinese buyers outbidding New Zealanders on suburban homes in Auckland.

Statistics indicate that about 3 per cent of New Zealand homes are being sold to foreigners, but that percentage rises to 5 per cent in the scenic Queenstown region and 22 per cent in central Auckland. The new law fulfils a campaign pledge by the Labour government, which came to power last year. There are some exceptions.

Foreigners with New Zealand residency status will still be able to buy homes, as will people from Australia and Singapore, due to existing freetrade agreements.

The median house price in Auckland is AUD $760,000.

CROWD PLEASERS: Hermitage Green got such a warm reception they just had to come back to Australia. we know the effort people make to go to gigs because we make it ourselves.

It’s devastating when it’s called off. We 100 per cent will not be making that mistake again. Hermitage Green will be there on stage as planned.”

All of Ireland was shocked by the sudden death of Dolores O’Riordan in January and nowhere more so than inLimerick. Hermitage Green paid tribute to one of Limerick’s most famous daughters at a special gig in King John’s Castle when they played the famous Cranberries’ songs Dreams

and Zombie. “It was phenomenal, I’m getting [the] shivers thinking about it.

“There were 2,000 people screaming these lyrics back at us and we ended Zombie and the crowd just kept singing it and it wasn’t really planned out like that. They kept singing the end of Zombie and we had that 15 seconds where we all just stood at the front of the stage and looked over 2,000 people, over the wall of King John’s Castle and onto the city and the Shannon and it was just really, really emotional. It was an incredible moment. It’s a hard

one to top. We’re going a few years and that’s a stand-out moment. I’m emotional talking about it. It was incredible.

“Noel Hogan [Cranberries guitarist] was at the gig, so knowing he was in the audience watching this, on top of everything else, really kind of brought it all home. It was absolutely amazing.”

Hermitage Green kick off their tour in Perth on November 10 before gigs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Thirroul.

Church praises recognition AUSTRALIA’S push for a Sydney woman to be made a saint has received a significant boost from the Vatican.

Eileen O’Connor has been officially declared a ‘Servant of God’, the first major step towards sainthood.

It comes six months after Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher began the formal process for the beatification of Eileen, who founded the religious order Our Lady’s Nurses of the Poor.

The order, also known as the Brown Nuns because of their distinctive brown cloaks and bonnets, is cares for the sick and dying poor in their homes, inspired by Eileen’s own family’s financial struggles after her father’s death.

Bor n in the inner Melbour ne suburb of Richmond on 19 February 1892, Eileen Rosaline O’Connor suffered a crippling break in her spine at age three and lived her short life in constant nerve pain from what was later diagnosed as tuberculous osteomyelitis. The O’Connor family moved to Sydney when Eileen was 10 and despite her poor health and immense suffering, she co-founded the religious order of Our Lady’s Nurses of the Poor with a local priest, Father Edward McGrath, in April 1913.

At a time when no publicly funded healthcare was available, the order cared for the sick and dying poor in

their homes. The order’s work continues to this day.

Unable to undertake the work herself, Eileen supported the nurses with prayers and counsel.

At just 115cm tall, the nurses lovingly referred to Eileen as “Little Mother.”

“Eileen’s was a life of immense suf fering and judged by today’s standards many would have viewed it as lacking in dignity, value or hope,” the archbishop said in a statement.

“That she is on her way to possibly being our next saint shows even a short life, marked by incredible suffering, can be an inspiration to all and reminds us of the dignity of ever y human life.”

In March,a priest based in Rome, Father Anthony Robbie, was appointed postulator – the person who guides the cause for beatification or canonisation through the Church’s rigorous processes for recognising a saint – for Eileen O’Connor.

The Catholic Church posthumously confers beatification, and later sainthood, on people considered so holy during their lives that they are now believed to be with God and can intercede with him to perform miracles.

Mary Mackillop became Australia’s first saint in 2010.

“With every passing year since her

Eileen O’Connor, who founded the Our Lady’s Nurses Of The Poor in Sydney in 1913. At just 115cm tall, she was known as ‘Little Mother’.

death a century ago, Eileen O’Connor has grown in the love and devotion of the people of Sydney and of all Australia.

“Always thinking of others in need despite her own severe hardships, she is an outstanding role model for today’s Australian youth and for the l a y a p o s t o l a t e i n p a r t i c u l a r, ” Archbishop Fisher said.

“May she inspire many others to devote themselves to the needs of the outcast and forgotten as her own life becomes better known.”

Former congregational leader and Eileen O’Connor project leader, Sister Margaret Mary Birgan said news of

Eileen’s advancement to Servant of God was “wonderful news and my sister companions and I are extremely happy that Eileen has been recognised in this way”.

“Eileen has always belonged to the people of God, not us, and we pray that she becomes a ray of sunshine to the faithful today as she was in her short life.”

Eileen died in 1921, a month short of her 29th birthday.

In 1936, 15 years after her death, Eileen’s cof fin was moved from Randwick Cemetery to the chapel at Our Lady’s Home in Coogee, where the order currently resides.

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

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news NEW AUSSIE PM QUOTED U2 SINGER IN MAIDEN SPEECH

ScoMo looked to Bono for speech inspiration NEW Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has no discernible links with Ireland but he did quote Bono in his maiden speech.

Mr Morrison, 50, has promised a stable government at the end of a tumultuous week in which his predecessor was forced out of office, 13 ministers resigned and parliament was shut down for an afternoon.

Disgruntled government legislators forced former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull from office, arguing that most Coalition MPs had lost faith in his leadership. He is the fourth prime minister to be dumped by their own party since 2010.

Mr Morrison distanced himself from the turmoil, saying he had not been part of the push led by fellow lawmaker Peter Dutton to oust Mr Turnbull over four chaotic days.

“We will provide the stability and the unity and the direction and the purpose that the Australian people expect of us,” Mr Morrison, known as ScoMo, told reporters. “The work of government continues. I want to assure all Australians that those normal wheels are turning.”

Mr Morrison, a devout Christian who is a member of the Pentecostal church, is seen as both socially and economically conservative. He is synonymous with the hardline “stop the boats” policy aimed at intercepting refugees and asylum seekers before they reach Australian shores. In his maiden speech in 2008 however, he spoke passionately about the plight of African people confronting war, poverty and famine.

“Africa ... is a humanitarian tragedy on an unimaginable scale,” he told the House of Representatives. “It is a true moral crisis that eclipses all others.

The African tragedy is driven by war, poverty, disease, famine, corruption, injustice and an evil that is robbing generations of Africans, our fellow human beings, of their future.”

He then quoted Bono: “Paul Hewson, better known as Bono, said: ‘There is a continent – Africa – being consumed by flames … When the history books are written, our age will be remembered for ... what we did, or did not do, to put the fire out ...’”

Time will tell as to whether Mr Morrison can douse the fires of hatred within the parliamentary Liberal Party.

New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his daughters, Abigail, second from right, and Lily, second from left, and his wife Jenny, after being sworn in at Government House, Canberra. Picture: Andrew Taylor

KIRSTEN MATÉ MAHER BECOMES FIRST INTERNATIONAL ROSE OF TRALEE OF AFRICAN HERITAGE

‘There is no typical Irish woman’ Staff reporters

Kirsten Maté Maher representing Waterford has become the 60th winner of the International Rose of Tralee. Picture: Dominick Walsh

KIRSTEN Maté Maher has become the first woman of African heritage to win the International Rose Of Tralee but she says Ireland is increasingly diverse and “everyone is different”.

“It’s lovely to see diversity and, at the end of the day, every single girl that was in this festival is so different in their own way and it’s mad how you can get 57 different girls, with different personalities, to get on so well.

“I think that’s why we get on because we’re OK with difference and we got on great,” said the 21-year-old who represented Waterford at the festival.

“It’s mad that we have to be surprised when there is a person of colour or a mixed-race person in the Rose of Tralee because so many people in Ireland are mixed,” Kirsten said.

“I mean there’s so many different races and so many different people here [in Ireland].”

The eldest of four children and the daughter of Jacinta Maher from Mullinavat and Kwalo Maté from Zambia, Kirsten said she had very few negative experiences growing up in Kilkenny because of her race.

“I went to school in Co Kilkenny. It was a small school but I got on fine.

Obviously, you might get a little bit [of harassement] but it would be the same as anyone getting stick for maybe having glasses,” she answered.

Her father moved to Ireland 22 years ago and he is now “part of the furniture”, she said.

Kirsten said she is immensely proud of her Zambian heritage.

“I am proud of my Zambian roots and I want to bring that across and I want everyone to know that I am half-Zambian but you shouldn’t be focusing in on the fact that I am dark or that my hair is a little bit different because there are actually Irish people with curly hair like me.

“It’s lovely just to be able to say I’m the first ever Irish-African Rose and I’m also the 60th Rose of Tralee and the

Kirsten Mate Maher with her parents Kwalo Mate and Jacinta Maher at the Festival Dome in Tralee. Picture: Dominick Walsh

third Rose from Waterford,” she said.

In an earlier inter view on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said there is no “typical Irish woman”.

“I’ve curly hair and darker skin but, at the end of the day, we need to see past that and realise that there is no typical Irish woman and we are all different, and we all come in different shapes and sizes and skin colours and hair and freckles and no freckles.

“We are such a diverse community and we need to embrace that,” she said.

The 21-year-old has just been accepted on to a course to study computer science but her plans may have to change now she has been crowned the 60th Rose of Tralee.

“I actually just got accepted into my course, so I haven’t clicked any buttons yet. I might have to click on the ‘defer’ button. I haven’t thought this far [ahead]. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I have to make a few plans,” said Kirsten.

One thing she may give her time to over the next 12 months, is the charity Pieta House, an organisation that runs suicide crisis centres throughout Ireland. “I held my 21st birthday as a fundraiser [for Pieta House]. I had bands from Water ford and just all

around playing and we raised money purely by donations and we ran a raffle and everyone in Waterford donated to giving really good prizes.”

“We raised over €1,500 which is insane and I can’t wait to do more.

“Suicide is getting more and more predominant in Ireland and we need to step back and say, ‘This needs to stop,’ and Pieta House does the most amazing work,” Kirsten said.

She is also interested in Adi Roche’s c h a r i t y, C h e r n o b y l C h i l d r e n International.

Five Australian Roses made the long trip to Tralee but only three featured in the live TV ‘final’.

Sydney’s Caitlin MacInante, Melbourne’s Suzie Jackson and Perth’s Laura Cannon were part of the televised Rose Of Tralee final. But Queenland’s Sarah Grif fin-Br een and South Australia’s Emilie Helbig missed out.

Unlike in previous years, only 32 of the 57 participating Roses got to take part in the televised portion of the pageant.

“Not fair on the other Roses,” one contestant posted when the final list of 32 was revealed. “I think they should all go through after all the effort these girls went through to get there.”

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

news WARTIME SIGNAL REVEALED BY GORSE FIRE IN CO WICKLOW

‘Eire’ stone sign one of many from time of war Aoife Moore A GARDA Air Support Unit crew has discovered an “EIRE” sign dating from the Second World War in Co Wicklow.

The sign in Bray Head is made entirely of stone, and was made visible due to a large gorse fire that took place on the headland recently.

The signs were originally curated around the country to warn air crews of their location in neutral Irish territory during the Second World War. The Defence Forces Air Corps were helping emergency services extinguish the fire when they noticed the sign from above. “The signs themselves are quite common on the west coast but unusual on the east,” a spokesperson said.”The Air Corps helped put out the fire and then the Garda helicopter noticed the sign emerging from the past.”

Up to 150 tonnes of stone were used in some of the 83 signs dotted around the coast of Ireland. At the request of the United States air force the number of the nearby lookout post was added, turning the signs into air navigation aids. This assisted American bomber pilots in navigating across the Atlantic.

The so-called Coastal Watch was set up in 1939 to guard against invasion of Ireland, declared neutral, via the sea.

More than 80 sites around the coast from north Louth to Donegal were selected, and lookout posts were put on these sites. A team carried out watch duties over the sea from these sites. Each site was numbered from 1 through 82, with number 1 being located in Ballagan Point, Co Louth, and number 82 in Inishowen, Co Donegal.

A website – eiremarkings.org – has been published with information about the structures.

Researcher Treasa Lynch, who coordinates the website, said: “When I started the project initially, I hoped to find around 12 signs still in place.

“At this point in time, I’m aware of about 30 in varying states of repair.

“Several sites are starting to suffer damage owing to coastal erosion – Portacloy in Mayo is an example. The sign at Mizen Head is little more than one letter and some stones.

“Some sites have been renovated, namely Loop Head in Clare, Baltimore in Cork and Melmore Head in Donegal to name a few.”

The huge EIRE sign at Bray Head, revealed after gorse fires burned the undergrowth.

TWO IRISH PUBS PER WEEK ARE SHUTTING UP SHOP

Closing time for many Irish pubs Cate McCurry

LAST ORDERS: A boarded-up pub in Cork.

THERE were 1,477 fewer pubs in Ireland last year than there was in 2005 – a rate of two closures every week.

The drop of 17.1 per cent in business across the countr y means there are 7,140 pubs nationwide – a decline from 8,617 in 2005, according to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (Digi). Every county in Ireland has been affected by the decline over the last 12 years, with Cork suffering the biggest loss with a drop of 25 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of off licences jumped by 11.8 per cent since 2005. Representing a shift in trend, the number of wine-only bars and restaurants rose by 3.1 per cent.

The figures, based on an analysis of the liquor licence figures published by Revenue, show that rural counties had the biggest drop in the number of pubs, which serve as a major source of employment regionally.

In 2005, there were 7,831 pubs in Ireland outside Dublin. In 2017, that number dropped by 18.7 per cent to 6,367.

Wexford, Meath and Dublin had the smallest decline in the number of publican’s

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These pubs are small businesses, mainly in rural Ireland, that provide significant employment and continue to create jobs in local communities.

”

licences. Wexford pubs dropped from 158 to 157 while Meath was down three pubs from 210 to 207.

In 2017, there were 773 pubs registered in Dublin city and county – down only 1.7 per cent from 786 in 2005. However, the number of Dublin pubs in 2017 is 4.7 per cent higher than in 2012 – the lowest year for the number of pubs in Dublin.

The chief executive officer of Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, Padraig Cribben, said the decline in the number of pubs is worrying.

“These pubs are small businesses, mainly in rural Ireland, that provide significant

employment and continue to create jobs in local communities,” he said.

“In Mayo alone, hospitality and drinks businesses enable 4,095 jobs while in Donegal, there are 368 pubs and 7,445 jobs supported by the industry.

“This demonstrates the scale of employment that this sector creates rurally. However, the sharp decline in the number of pubs is further evidence of the need to monitor the industry and ensure the necessary supports are in place to reverse this trend.

“While the Government committed to assist small rural businesses recover during the recession, business owners in the drinks industry were challenged by two increases in alcohol excise tax in budget 2012 and budget 2013. Our punitive alcohol excise tax - the second highest in the EU - slows the growth of these businesses and impacts their day-today operations and bottom line.”

About 90,000 jobs are dependent on the drinks industry alone. The industry buys over €1.1bn wor th of Irish produce annually, exports goods worth more than €1.25bn, and pays more than €2.3bn in excise and VAT to the state.

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10 pope’s visit to ireland

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

CLERICAL ABUSE DOMINATES PAPAL VISIT

Different Ireland greets Pope Staff Reporters, PA

THE Pope has met victims of church abuse and mistreatment after expressing his pain and shame over church Send Queensland boat arrivals to Nauru: Ciobo failures to tackle the scandals.

The 90-minute encounter with eight survivors, at the Papal Nuncio’s residence in Dublin, came hours after the Pope acknowledged that Irish people had a right to be outraged by the church’s response to the crimes.

On the first day of his historic visit to Ireland, the pontiff also prayed for all victims of clerical sex abuse.

The Pope’s decision to address the dark legacy of abuse in a speech in Dublin Castle drew praise in some quarters, but others criticised Francis for not saying enough or offering a public apology. With the reverberations of a litany of clerical sex crimes casting a shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years, Francis acknowledged the gravity of what had happened.

“With regard to the most vulnerable,

I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education,” he said. “The failure of ecclesiastical authorities – bishops, religious superiors, priests and others – adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community.

“I myself share those sentiments.”

Later in the day, Francis sat in prayer ful contemplation inside St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, at a candle that is perpetually lit for those abused.

The Pope also visited homeless people who receive support from a centre run by the Capuchin Fathers’ religious order.

Ireland has undergone seismic social changes in the four decades since the last papal visit in 1979, when John Paul II was lauded by a nation shaped by its relationship with an all-powerful Catholic Church. But the church’s response to clerical sex abuse scandals, most of which emerged years

Pope Francis with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.

after John Paul II’s visit, have severely damaged trust in the religious institution and seriously weakened its influence on Irish society.

While thousands lined the streets of the capital to catch a glimpse of Francis passing in the Popemobile, the crowds were certainly not on the scale when John Paul II made a similar trip.

Among the well-wishers lining Dublin’s streets there were protesters, who vented their anger at the Pope.

During his address at the castle, Francis referred to steps taken by his predecessor, Pope Benedict, as he insisted the church was acting on abuse. “It is my hope that the gravity of the abuse scandals, which have cast light on the failings of many, will serve to emphasise the importance of the protection of minors and vulnerable adults on the par t of society as a whole,” he said.

After wards, one abuse sur vivor, Colm O’Gorman, branded his response disgraceful.

“He could have talked to us all in a way that was blunt, that was clear, that was frank, that was human, that was accessible,” he said. “He refused to do so. And that’s a huge shame. I think frankly it’s rather disgraceful”.

In the speech, the Pope said he also wished to acknowledge women who in the past had “endured particularly difficult circumstances”.

Later, he passed close to the site of a former Magdalene laundry as he arrived on Sean McDermott Street in the nor th inner city to meet well-wishers.

TAOISEACH URGES POPE TO LISTEN TO VICTIMS OF CLERICAL ABUSE

SOCIAL MEDIA

Papal appeal to cut down screen time SOCIAL media poses a threat to reallife relationships and it could end up “imprisoning people in a virtual reality”, Pope Francis has said.

The pontiff said families should be asking themselves whether they should cut down on their technology usage and spend more time with each other instead.

More than 80,000 people gathered for a World Meeting of Families festival at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday night. Pope Francis was treated to a special performance of Riverdance by a troupe of Irish dancers and of Ave Maria by Andrea Bocelli.

The pontiff said social media could serve to build a network of friendships and solidarity, but he warned it should only be used in moderation.

He said it was important that social media “never become a threat to the real-life relationships by imprisoning us in a virtual reality and isolating us from the very real relationships that challenge us to grow”.

Families, the Pope said, should question whether they should be cutting down on the time they spend on technology and be spending more quality time with each other.

“When you use social media too much you go into a sort of an orbit when, at the dinner table, instead of talking to each other within the family each of you uses his phone to connect with the outside world,” he said.

“Then you go into an orbit.”

He said it was dangerous behaviour because it takes away “the completeness of the family” and leads individuals “to a fuzzy life without any substance”.

HOMELESS

Help with dignity ‘face of Christ’

FLASH MOB: Well-wishers photograph Pope Francis as waves to the crowd from the Popemobile on O’Connell Street, Dublin. Pic: PA

Friendly but firm Taoiseach sets Pope challenges Cate McCurry TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has urged Pope Francis to listen to victims of clerical abuse as he called for zerotolerance for those who target children.

In a speech in front of the pontiff inside Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach also said the past treatment of many women and young people by church and state had left a history of “sorrow and shame”.

Following a private meeting with the pontiff, Mr Varadkar said: “In place of Christian charity, forgiveness and compassion, far too often there was judgement, severity and cruelty, in particular towards women and children and those on the margins.

“Magdalene laundries, mother and baby homes, industrial schools, illegal

adoptions and clerical child abuse are stains on our state, our society and also the Catholic Church.

“Wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors. Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and across the world.”

He called for zero-tolerance for those who abuse children or those who facilitate the abuse.

“We must now ensure that from words flow actions,” he added.

“Above all, Holy Father, I ask you to listen to the victims. The Ireland of the 21st century is a very different place today than it was in the past. Ireland is increasingly diverse. One in six of us were not born here, and there are

more and more people who adhere to other faiths, or who are comfortable in declaring that they subscribe to no organised religion.”

In reference to the recent Pennsylvania grand jury report that detailed the sex abuse of more than 1,000 children within the Catholic Church, Mr Varadkar added: “In recent weeks, we have all listened to heart-breaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims. It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland.”

Mr Varadkar told the crowd that families “come in many forms”.

He added: “Holy Father, I believe that the time has now come for us to build a new relationship between church and

state in Ireland – a new covenant for the 21st century. It is my hope that your visit marks the opening of a new chapter in the relationship between Ireland and the Catholic Church.

“Building on our intertwined history, and learning from our shared mistakes, it can be one in which religion is no longer at the centre of our society, but in which it still has an important place.

“One with greater diversity and choice when it comes to the patronage of our schools – and where publiclyfunded hospitals are imbued with a civic and scientific ethos. Modern Ireland is still a country with faith and spirit and values. Family, community, enterprise, social justice, diversity, openness and internationalism, equality before the law, and individual liberty. These values describe the Republic we aspire to be.”

THE Pope paid tribute to the dignity of the homeless as he kissed a baby at a day centre in Dublin.

The Capuchin religious order runs a lifeline ser vice for those without shelter and in need of food and infant supplies. Bella Rose, 11 months old, came face-to-face with the pontiff, her proud mother said.

Candice Hartigan, 37, added: “He blessed all the children but she was the only one that got the kiss.”

The centre is non-judgmental, she said. “They ask you nothing. They don’t ask you why you want something; they don’t ask you why you want to be fed.

“They don’t ask you why you want baby food and nappies; they don’t ask you anything. You just put your name down and that is it, you are not asked anything else.”

Addressing a gathering of the disadvantaged who use the centre, the Pope thanked them for trusting the Capuchin fathers.

“They help you without taking away your dignity,” he said. “That’s the face of Jesus Christ.”

Brother Kevin Crowley, a co-director at the centre, said: “The message he gave was that we should show dignity and respect to every person in need. It is very sad to think that little children have to go back to hostels when they leave our centre.”

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

pope’s visit to ireland POPE JOHN PAUL II WAS GREETED BY A VERY DIFFERENT IRELAND IN 1979

Papal visit that stopped the nation Cate McCurry

IT has been almost 40 years since the last Papal visit in Ireland, when Pope John Paul II toured for three days drawing in crowds of millions.

During his trip to Ireland in 1979, the Pope visited Dublin, Drogheda, Galway, Knock and Maynooth.

An estimated 2.7 million people went to see him, with many travelling for hours to catch a glimpse of the Pope.

Martin Lynch and his wife Paula were among the 1.25 million people who attended Mass in Phoenix Park.

Mr L ynch, a father-of-four from Roscommon, recalled his memories from that day.

“Everything was a highlight. I was right beside where the Pope landed in the helicopter and I also spoke to the pilot,” he said. “Paula’s dad had an accident two weeks before and rather than hold on to him for observation, they let him go from the hospital so they would have spaces available for any casualties from the Pope visit.

“They cleared every hospital [admission] that wasn’t an emergency.”

Mr Lynch was a Eucharistic minister at the Mass, while his wife Paula helped out at the Red Cross.

He continued: “He was a tall, dignified man and to me he didn’t trade on his fame or respect. He was a simple priest. It was lovely to be so close to him. Everything was much more informal and easy-going compared to this time. I remember him going down Westmoreland Street and he took over the city in a way that nobody has since John F Kennedy’s visit.

“To me, it wasn’t particularly reli-

Throngs of people greet Pope John Paul II at Knock shrine in 1979 and (inset) Maria Robinson with her ticket for the Pope’s youth Mass (above) in Galway.

gious occasion, it was more spectacular, it was joyful.”

Maria Robinson, from Wexford, travelled to Galway for the youth Mass when she was 17.

“My mother organised a ticket for me and my cousin and the two of us headed of f to Galway early in the morning,” she said.

“We travelled in a mini-bus crosscountr y from Wexford to Galway which wasn’t easy. I remember the bus driver telling us we had to hurry back after as he had to be back in Wexford to bring the women to bingo, so there was no hanging around.

“The day itself was gloomy and raining. We waited for hours for him to arrive. There was lots of singing and waving arms. It was a great experience.

When I was growing up it was all about the Catholic church and the Pope was almost God-like, but you never saw him and when we heard he was coming to Ireland it was a huge thing back then.

“To be able to see him it was very exciting for everyone. No one came to Ireland back then, there were no pop bands coming and you never got to go anywhere. I had never been outside of Ireland at that stage.”

Like many people, Ms Robinson has

kept a number of items from that historic day, including her ticket.

Mary Gauci, originally from Dublin and who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, recalled her memories of the 1979 visit.

“I’m originally from Ballyfermot, which is quite close to the Phoenix Park, and was living there in the family home at the time the Pope came.

“I was 19. I walked down to the park with my dad and my younger sister. It was pitch black outside but the roads were alive with hundreds and hundreds of people all heading to the same place,” she said.

“Everyone was very quiet; nobody messing around or laughing. Just talking in hushed voices. I can still remember the feeling of being a part of something so special that I wouldn’t ever see again.

“We … waited for hours for the Pope to arrive. I think we all sang songs and hymns while we waited.

“The lines for the Portaloos were hours long as they didn’t realise so many people would turn up. I remember how excited everyone was when we heard the papal helicopter finally arriving. We were all cheering and waving so much.”

POPE’S MEETING WITH VICTIMS

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Pope denounces those who protect abusers as ‘s**t’ Michael McHugh

THE Pope spent 90 minutes meeting Irish survivors of clerical abuse and mistreatment.

The polite and cordial discussion focused on the plight of past residents of Catholic homes for mothers and babies and victims of forced and illegal adoption. The meeting took place at the Papal Nuncio’s residence.

A letter from sur vivors released afterwards said: “Around 100,000 single mothers who were forcibly separated from their babies were regularly told it was a mortal sin to search for, or even contact, their own sons and daughters. As an act of healing, we ask that you make it clear to the now elderly and dying community of natural mothers and adoptees that there is no sin in reunion and rather that it is a joyous event that should be encouraged and facilitated by the Catholic Church.”

The letter added: “Five orders and congregations of Catholic nuns ran Ireland’s notorious mother and baby homes where over 6,000 babies and children died, as well as dozens of young mothers. These nuns have never taken responsibility for their wilful neglect. We ask you, Pope Francis, to publicly call on these nuns to acknowledge their actions and issue an unqualified apology to all the survivors of their institutions. We also request that you call on these nuns to immediately commit to paying the full cost of the current inquiry and any redress that may be awarded in the future.”

Children’s shoes hang from black ribbons in Dublin during the visit of Pope Francis.

Clodagh Malone, who was born in Saint Patrick’s mother and baby home in Dublin and adopted at 10 weeks old, asked the Pope to publicly state that the natural mothers who lost their babies to adoption had done nothing wrong, and call for reconciliation and reunion for these families broken by the Catholic Church in Ireland and around the world.

The Pope did apologise to all for what had happened in the homes, the sur vivors said. “Pope Francis condemned corruption and cover up within the church as ‘caca’. Literally filth as one sees in a toilet, his translator clarified.”

Paul Redmond, who was born in a mother and baby home in Co Westmeath and adopted at 17 days, said: “The Pope was genuinely shocked to hear about the 6,000 babies who died and the 3,000 banished babies ... [he] lifted his hands to his head in shock.”

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

ireland RELATIVES CALL FOR NEW INQUEST INTO NIGHTCLUB BLAZE THAT KILLED 48

New appeal for inquest into Stardust inferno Aoife Moore A WOMAN who lost both parents in the Stardust tragedy has added her voice to a campiagn for a new inquest.

Lisa Lawlor, 38, who was just 17 months old when her parents died, said that she had not been strong enough to speak out before.

“I went through intensive counselling for years. I was afraid of what I would hear and see if I joined the campaign.

I wasn’t strong enough; I wanted to ignore it, and I can’t ignore it anymore.

We need closure. I can’t live with not knowing [what actually happened]” she said.

Forty eight people died and 200 were injured on Valentine’s Day 1981, in the Stardust nightclub in the Artane area of Dublin. A tribunal held in the year following the fire, chaired by Justice Ronan Keane, was labelled flawed and the conclusion was contested by the victims’ families.

He concluded the cause of the fire was probably arson.

In 2009, an independent examination into the tribunal reported there was no evidence to support Justice Keane’s

Northern Ireland pipe band success A PIPE band from Northern Ireland

has been named the World Pipe Band Champions for 2018 in the competition in Glasgow. The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band won the event, followed by Inveraray and District in second place and St Laurence O’Toole, based in Dublin, who were third. About 8,000 pipers and drummers from 214 pipe bands took part in the two-day World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green. They came from 13 different countries including New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, Canada, Oman, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Ireland, the US, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Annan was voice for peace: Coveney THE Irish Government has hailed

former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as a voice for a more peaceful and equal world. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served two terms as head of the organisation dedicated to maintaining the international order and tackling conflict, died last week aged 80. Foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said: “Kofi Annan was an exceptional international statesman who worked tirelessly for a more peaceful and equal world, both during his long and illustrious career in the United Nations and since his retirement, championing the cause of peace and reconciliation, in particular on his own beloved continent of Africa.”

Irish-bound cocaine haul intercepted COCAINE with a street value of €10

million and destined for Ireland has been seized in Costa Rica. An estimated 133 kilogrammes of the drug, which had been concealed in a cargo of fruit on board a ship called Polar Chile, was discovered by the Central American country’s authorities.

finding that the fire was started deliberately near the ballroom of the nightclub. Families have campaigned for a new inquiry ever since the 2009 report.

The latest rejection was in 2017.

Now the families have launched a postcard campaign, appealing to the Attorney General Seamus Woulfe SC for a new inquiry.

Antoinette Keegan, who lost two sisters in the fire, criticised what she said was government inaction.

“We have huge political support across the board, except from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The state has an obligation [to hold] a criminal investigation. [Taosieach] Leo Varadkar and [Justice Minister] Charlie Flanagan can get this inquest reopened and we won’t be stopping until it is,” she said.

The campaign hopes to amass 48,000 signed postcards in support of a new inquest – 1,000 for each victim.

The Department of Justice said: “The minister [Mr Flanagan] has no role in the ordering of a second inquest ... and it would not be appropriate for him to make any comment in regard to the application to the Attorney General, nor to try to influence [his] decision.”

Members of the Stardust Justice Campaign, including Lisa Lawlor (left), who lost both her parents in the Stardust tragedy, and Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan (right) at a press conference in Dublin. Picture: Aoife Moore

MOTHER AND SIX CHILDREN SLEPT AT GARDA STATION

Homeless crisis deepens Aoife Moore

THE plight of a young homeless family has captured the attention of the country after a mother and six of her seven children spent a night in a Garda station.

Margaret Cash, 28, had to sleep in Tallaght Garda Station with her children due to lack of emergency homeless accommodation.

“I was heartbroken that I couldn’t do more for them, I was ashamed to see my kids splattered round a station floor like that,” she said.

Ms Cash and her seven children – Johnny, 11, Tommy, 10, Rebecca, nine, Miley, seven, Jim, four, Rocky, two, and Andy, one – have been in emergency accommodation for more than a year after her landlord went bankr upt and their house was repossessed.

She had been in different one-night emergency family accommodations ever since. This was the third time she had been sent to a Garda station, she revealed. She circulated pictures of her children on social media after she said she could not take any more.

Ms Cash said the year had taken its toll on the children and her own mental health.

“The kids know they’re homeless, they kept saying: ‘Mammy what are we going to do?’ I had to tell them the Garda station, because it was either that or sleep under some cardboard outside. The little ones were scared, and worried about who was going to come in, and we didn’t have any blankets until midnight.”

“You’ll never know what it’s like until it happens to you. Anyone can be homeless, it can happen so quickly.”

The Gover nment and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy came under intense pressure after the photos were published. Ms Cash said she felt abandoned by the Government.

“I hope and pray Eoghan Murphy’s family never have to go through this.

The Government don’t care, their

TURFED OUT: Photographs of the Cash children sleeping at Tallaght Garda station caused national outrage.

families are safe and warm, why would they care about us? I feel like before now no one wanted to know, we’re swept under the carpet.

“It’s hard to think you have to put it on social media for people to wake up.

I’m not the only person like this, other children slept in Garda stations last night too. That’s the truth; there’s hundreds of families like mine.

“In emergency accommodation, I’d see lots of families with kids. We’d walk out in the morning and spend all day waiting until we can go to the next place. We’re expected to walk the streets all day, or go to playgrounds, my kids are sick of playgrounds.”

Days after the photos of the children were published, the family was offerred accommodation by the local council. A three-bedroom apartment in Dublin city was made available to her and her seven children. It emerged that Ms Cash, 28, had turned down emergency accommodation that had been offered to the family in Co Meath because she said it was too far away.

“It’s better news than what it was last week,” Ms Cash said.

“I’m really happy”.

RENTAL HOME REPOSSESSED: Margaret Cash with six of her children.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

ireland DIRECTOR DONATES ARCHIVE TO NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND

Jordan’s gift to state Cate McCurry

OSCAR-winning screenwriter and director Neil Jordan has donated more than 25 years’ worth of archive material – including scripts and unpublished drafts – to the National Librar y of Ireland.

The Irish director achieved international critical acclaim for his writing and directing for films including Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, and Breakfast On Pluto.

More than 120 archival boxes have been donated to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and include film and TV scripts, production files, stor yboards, plays, notebooks and personal correspondence with artistic collaborators and political figures.

The award-winning director was joined by NLI director Dr Sandra Jones and Culture Minister Josepha Madigan to launch the collection in Dublin.

Speaking about the various items, he said: “It’s everything I have written between 1993 and the present day. As you write and make movies, you accrue stuff around you and you don’t know what to do with it and it always amazes me that people are interested in it, but in fact they are.

“You get international requests for archives to do with your film or literary work and I’m just glad that I could have it all in the one place. If people want to read it and access it then they can but they don’t have to.”

Looking back on his work, he said: “It’s weird, there’s unpublished drafts of things I have written, there’s scraps

Film director Neil Jordan

of poetry. Some of the most interesting things to me is that when you make a movie like the Butcher Boy, Interview With The Vampire, Michael Collins, I don’t make it myself; it’s made by collaborators, the set designers, the camera man, the musician, the costume designers. There’s so much artistry that goes into the silly thing that you might see in the cinema.”

Some of the highlights of the collection include behind-the-scenes pictures of the Oscar-nominated Michael Collins taken while filming on location in Dublin, research notes for the Oscar-nominated Interview With The Vampire as well as handwritten letters from collaborators and colleagues, such as politician Mo Mowlam and singer Sinead O’Connor.

Born in Sligo in 1950, Jordan won n

an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The Crying Game in 1992, which he wrote and directed. In 2003, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Irish Film and Television Academy.

Jordan, who used to work in the National Library, said of the building: “To me it occupies a very special place in a very private place, so I was thrilled to be asked to donate these items to the library. When you start out writing you get kind of lost, almost homeless, and I think libraries create a sense of home to those who have a sense of what they want to do but no idea how to do it. Ireland will always be my home, it gave me my start in writing and filmmaking and has served as the inspiration and backdrop for so much of my work.”

Dr Collins said: “Neil has had an indelible impact on filmmaking at home and abroad, and we are delighted that he has chosen to donate his rich and diverse archive to the NLI.” The director also spoke about streaming services, including Netflix and how it has changed the film industry. “What’s happened by accident is there is this extraordinary new longform way of telling stories, which is an amazing thing. I did one series myself called The Borgias and that was a movie I was going to make that was to last two hours but because Showtime commissioned a whole series of it, it lasted 40 hours.

“But the corollar y of that is the exhibition end of things that is shrinking, and that’s rather sad.”

Eva Fullen, 18, with dad Francis and mum Aisling at Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin after receiving her Leaving Certificate results.

LEAVING CERTIFICATE RESULTS

Stem numbers a concern

CONCERNS have been raised about the number of Irish students studying Stem subjects, despite a rise in candidates sitting higher level maths in the Leaving Certificate.

Engineers Ireland said industr y demand still outstrips supply for people with science degrees.

More than 57,000 students across the countr y received their Leaving Certificate Results last week.

Almost one-third of them sat a higher-level mathematics paper.

Although it only represents a slight increase, of those students 92 per cent of them received a H6 or higher.

Overall, more than 3,700 students failed maths this year. Most of those who did not secure a pass grade had sat the ordinary-level paper.

Engineers Ireland’s Damien Owens

said: “More than ever, we need to encourage primary and post-primary students to equip themselves with an adequate knowledge of Stem, to study engineering at third level.”

Seven students achieved Higher Level Grade Ones in eight subjects this year. It is the second year that students are being measured by a new grading system in place, which replaced the old alphabetical system.

Eva Fullen, 18, from Por tobello, Dublin was one of the tens of thousands who received her results.

The Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, student opened the envelope the minute she got her hands on it.

“I’m happy,” Ms Fullen said.

“Hopefully I’ll get one of my courses, I’m hoping to do global business in Trinity so we’ll see.”

IRISH ACTS TOURINg aus in 2018 GARY ÓG

09 Nov Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

22 Nov Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

30 Nov Mick O’Malleys, Brisbane

10 Nov Sydney Irish Festival

23 Nov Metro Theatre, Sydney

01 Dec Paddington RSL, Sydney

11 Nov Badlands, Perth

24 Nov Capitol, Perth

07 Dec Max Watts, Melbourne

tickets on sale now from

troubadour-music.com

08 Dec The Boston, Perth 09 Dec The Boston, Perth

14 ireland :: brexit

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

AHERN: BREXIT TRANSITION KICKED DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL AFTER UK ELECTION

Brexit deal ‘will not happen’ Michael McHugh

THE Brexit transition period will be stretched out until after the next British general election, a former Irish Taoiseach said.

Bertie Ahern predicted that a resolution to the UK’s relationship with the EU would be put off until after the country goes to the polls in 2022.

He said Prime Minister Theresa May would not seal a withdrawal deal

by October, when a crucial European Council meeting of EU leaders in Brussels is scheduled.

“It will be kicked down the road a little bit,” Mr Ahern said. “It will probably be kicked down the road to March [Brexit Day].

“The transition period will be lengthened, it will be kicked out to the other side of the British election and I don’t know what will happen then.

“I don’t have much faith in [British Labour Party leader] Jeremy [Corbyn] either.”

Mr Ahern is one of the architects of

the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

He was Taoiseach between 1997 and 2008. He has warned about the impact of Brexit on the peace process and the effect of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The former Fianna Fáil leader reflected on the chances of a Brexit deal being implemented in the short term. “It is not going to happen. We can dream on but I can think of better dreams.”

Earlier this year the UK and EU said they had agreed on a large part of the deal that will lead to the orderly withdrawal of the UK. Issues remaining to be resolved included the Nor ther n Irish border with the Republic. Officially, the transitional period is expected to last from Brexit day on March 29, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The UK and EU have expressed differing visions of what exactly the transition period entails but the Irish Government has said a

Bertie Ahern does not believe the British government is committed to finding a deal on Brexit.

backstop means Northern Ireland will continue to follow certain EU rules.

Mr Ahern also urged Stormont’s quarrelling politicians to get back to work to address Brexit challenges.

“Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think any politicians here stood

on the grounds of not doing anything for the next few years.”

He said Brexit was the worst decision the UK had ever made.

“The hope is that Theresa May will get her way and leave the EU but actually stay in it.”

Former Ulster Unionist leader tur ned Conser vative peer David Trimble addressed the same event as Mr Ahern at Queen’s University, Belfast. He is a proponent of Northern Ireland Brexit, as part of the UK, and reiterated his view that the divorce did not pose any threat to the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Trimble also blamed the EU for engaging in last-minute brinkmanship over the future of the Irish border.

“It is not a problem. If we could just get the parties concerned to sit around the table for half an hour we would solve it,” Mr Trimble said.

He accused Brussels of playing games. “It [Brexit] will happen and it is not going to be a problem as far as Northern Ireland is concerned.”

BORDER COMMUNITIES GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUM

Equine industry braced for chaos A NO-DEAL Brexit has the potential

to wipe out many parts of Ireland’s sport horse industry, experts have warned. Ireland’s €816 million export-led industry faces serious threats from Brexit, particularly those that depend on the British market, a panel organised by the Royal Dublin Society concluded. Britain is the largest export market for the Irish sport horse industry. Royal Dublin Society chief executive Michael Duffy said: “Last year we first broached this topic in the hope that 12 months on we would have clear parameters for all industries to work within.

Unfortunately, we don’t have this, which is especially concerning to many export-led businesses that are reliant on sales in Britain for their livelihood.”

Del Boy would love Brexit, says actor DAVID Jason has said Del Boy would have backed Brexit and seen it as a way to make money. The veteran actor, 78, played wheeler dealer Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the classic sitcom Only Fools And Horses from 1981 until 2003. Alongside his younger brother, Rodney, played

by Nicholas Lyndhurst, he devised numerous get-rich-quick schemes that rarely paid off. In an interview with The Sun, Jason said the character would have been in favour of Britain’s departure from the European Union because he would have been able to make money from it. “When it comes to Brexit, Del would just think, ‘We’ll earn out of this, Rodders’. One day he’d be flogging something to people who want to leave and then the next day he’d be flogging something to people who want to stay.”

Barnier ready to improve proposal

Political leaders have not truly considered the “day-to-day impact” a hard border would have on people across the island of Ireland, a new group has claimed. Derry Girls Against Borders has called on those involved in the Brexit negotiations to listen to the fears and anxieties of those living in border communities. Founder Tanya McCamphill said women from all walks of life had come together because they were worried and felt that their way of life was being threatened. “It is widely recognised that a hard border in Ireland or down the Irish Sea would cause significant social, economic and political challenges, yet still there is no agreed solution,” Ms McCamphill said. “Our campaign reflects a growing anxiety that our way of life is under threat.”

NO-DEAL BREXIT WOULD BE A ‘MISTAKE WE WOULD REGRET FOR GENERATIONS’

Britain’s Foreign Secretary sounds ‘no-deal’ alarm Dan O’Donoghue A NO-DEAL Brexit would be a “mistake we would regret for generations”, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

Mr Hunt also revealed that the British Government would consider EU proposals that demanded accepting European environmental and social legislation, in order to facilitate a free-trade agreement.

Discussing the risk of no proper negotiated deal he said: “It would be a mistake we would regret for generations, if we had a messy, ugly divorce and would inevitably change British attitudes towards Europe.”

Asked to compare himself with his predecessor Boris Johnson’s approach as foreign secretary he said: “I think the role of the foreign secretary is to go around foreign capitals and point

out [that] the implications of not getting a deal are profound in terms of our friendship and corporation with foreign countries across a whole range of areas.”

Meanwhile, businesses have been advised to start making preparations for a no-deal Brexit by acquiring logistics software and consulting customs brokers to assist with any new trading regulations.

Firms that export and import from the EU may also have to apply for licences to continue to do so.

In Northern Ireland businesses that trade over land with the Republic have been told to contact the Irish government about preparations they may need to make as ministers there have “indicated they would need to discuss arrangements in the event of a no-deal with the European Commission”.

The advice forms part of the nine-

page “Trading with the EU if there’s no Brexit deal” technical notice – one of a raft of documents published by the Brexit department advising businesses and the public on what they need to do to prepare for a no-deal scenario.

The document states: “Businesses should now consider the impacts on them in a no-deal scenario, which would mean a requirement to apply the same customs and excise rules to goods traded with the EU that apply for goods traded outside of the EU, including the requirement to submit customs declarations. Businesses should consider whether it is appropriate for them to acquire software and or engage a customs broker, freight forwarder or logistics provider to support them with these new requirements.”

“Engaging a customs broker or acquiring the appropriate software and authorisations from HMRC [Revenue

and Customs] will come at a cost.”

On trade. the paper says the British Government is ready to engage constructively to act in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal.

However, the department urged businesses in Northern Ireland to contact the Irish government for advice, stating: “The Irish government have indicated they would need to discuss arrangements in the event of a no deal with the European Commission and EU member states. We would recommend that, if you trade across the land border you should consider whether you will need advice from the Irish government about preparations you need to make.”

The document concludes by stating that the Government “will provide further information on action to take to prepare for this scenario over the coming months”.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has signalled a willingness to be flexible in Brexit negotiations around the Northern Ireland border. Fears of a return to violence have been raised if the Good Friday Agreement is damaged by the imposition of a hard border after Brexit. The EU’s suggested solution to the problem – a common regulatory area for goods and customs with the rest of the EU – has so far been rejected by the UK as annexing Northern Ireland.

Calling the issue the biggest risk caused by Brexit, Mr Barnier said he was ready to improve the EU’s proposal. “Since we will not know what the future relationship will bring by autumn 2018, we need to have a backstop solution in the agreement,” Mr Barnier said.

NI trade vulnerable to Brexit outcome SALES from Northern Ireland to Britain were worth nearly four times the value of exports to the Republic of Ireland in 2016, new data revealed. Sales of finished products to Britain relied upon cross-border trade, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted. “The sale of finished products to Great Britain relies upon cross-border trade in raw materials and components, meaning trade with both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland are vital to Northern Ireland’s economy”, the report stated.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EW S PAPER

northern ireland PROSPECT OF UNITED IRELAND ‘A WAKE-UP CALL FOR UNIONISTS’

United Ireland time ‘drawing near’

Rebecca Black

ULSTER Unionist Mike Nesbitt said unionism needs to wake up over the prospect of a united Ireland.

The former UUP leader also challenged nationalist and republican leaders to tell unionists that they are wanted in a united Ireland.

His comments came during a debate at St Mary’s University College as part of the West Belfast Festival.

A panel of four from a unionist background, chaired by commentator David McCann, debated whether there would be a warm house for unionists in a united Ireland.

The discussion came after comments by former DUP leader Peter Robinson urging unionists to prepare for the possibility of a united Ireland.

While DUP leader Arlene Foster stood by Mr Robinson, DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the remarks were dangerous.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Mr Nesbitt said unionists are not good at building relationships.

“I have heard you legitimately for many years express your desire for a new unitar y state on this island.

Recently I have also heard people talk about protecting the rights of the unionist, British community, but what

I haven’t heard is ‘We want you’,” he told the audience.

“For me, it’s not about talking about border polls or new constitutional arrangements. It’s about relationships.

There is a lack of tr ust building between the parties at Stormont at the minute and, if you don’t have trust, you can’t do politics.

“I think, for unionism, we are not very good at building relationships.

“Unionism should be engaging because you have to engage with what you are uncomfortable with. We also have to look at how we protect unionist and British culture and identity.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said an Irish unity referendum is now at the centre of political discussion. The comments come a week after she said a poll on Irish unity should not be held while there is still uncertainty about Brexit.

“It is not a question of if a unity referendum will happen but a question

of when,” Ms McDonald said in a speech at the National Hunger Strike Commemoration in Castlewellan, Co Down. The process of building a new and united Ireland must include unionists and the Irish government in Dublin has a responsibility to lead the discussion, she said.

“The need for a referendum to end partition is writ large and the time for a unity referendum is drawing near.

“Political leaders must begin practical preparations for a new, inclusive Ireland beyond partition.

“The Irish government in particular has a responsibility to lead an informed, reasoned and respectful public dialogue on this issue.

“As Britain turns away from Europe, the appeal of being part of a new and outward-looking Ireland will, I believe, prove ever more attractive to some within the unionist community. British identity can and must be accommodated in a united Ireland and I believe

nationalist Ireland is open to constitutional and political safeguards to ensure this.”

The Sinn Féin leader added that the party is committed to re-establishing the Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland.

“The Irish and British governments have said there will be a new round of talks in the autumn. That is welcome.

“However basic rights, respect and equality cannot be disregarded. They are not bargaining chips.

Ms McDonald added there are more Republicans across Ireland now than at any time since partition.

“The tide of history is with those who seek a united Ireland. It is increasingly clear that the partition of Ireland is an obstacle to building a modern, open and forward-looking society.

“Brexit and the prospect of a hard border are further exposing the fact that a divided Ireland does not serve the needs of our people.”

OMAGH BOMBING 20 YEARS ON – ANGER AND GRIEF STILL LINGER

Pride, panic and fear on darkest day Rebecca Black

A NURSE working at the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh the day of the bomb has recalled it as the darkest of her life.

Sister Joann McCullagh (pictured right) was then a staff nurse, and says she is proud to have been on duty that day, and also proud of how the people of Omagh pulled together and supported each other. She had been relaxing at home on that Saturday afternoon following a week of night shifts when she heard about the bomb and immediately returned to the hospital.

When she arrived at accident and emergency there was utter chaos.

“There were multiple people screaming and cars everywhere, buses coming. It was chaos,” she said.

“There was no concept of time, it was just a mass of people coming through the doors, people asking for loved ones. One of my memories was Mr Pinto [a surgeon] asking me to get a priest. I recall at the bottom of the stairs, there were hundreds of people, roaring, shouting, crying, screaming for loved ones.

“I recall seeing a priest, I remember reaching over this mass of people dragging him up the stairs. When we got to the theatre door, there was a red line, he stopped and said, ‘You can’t enter theatre’, I remember going, ‘I need you now’, and pulling him into the theatre. He was obviously giving last rites to one of the victims.”

Ms McCullagh said she is proud of how the town came together in that dark hour.

“It was the people of this town, our friends, family, our loved ones, neighbours, friends – everyone knew everyone because we are a small community,” she said. “We just worked and worked and worked, I went home, I think it was about 4.30am in the morning.

“It was the darkest day of my life, but the nursing and clinical care given on that day was exceptional.

“I’m very proud to have been a nurse on that day, as I am so proud of the people of this town.”

The 20th anniversary of the devastating Omagh bomb is marked. Picture: Niall Carson

Row over whether bomb could have been prevented Rebecca Black THE 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb has been marked in what is expected to be the final large public memorial event related to the atrocity.

However, the day was dominated by a row between Northern Ireland’s police chief and the former police ombudsman over whether the incident could have been prevented.

Crowds gathered in the Co Tyrone town at the exact moment 20 years on from when the dissident republican bomb caused devastation.

Some 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, were among the dead.

It was the greatest single loss of life during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

A bell tolled 32 times, once for each of the victims as well as a final ring for all the victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

However, the day was dominated by a war of words between former police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan and

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable George Hamilton. Ms O’Loan called for a public inquiry into the bombing and seriously questioned the handling of security force intelligence.

“My view now is that it could have been prevented,” she said.

Ms O’Loan said the various intelligence services could have worked in a more cohesive way. Mr Hamilton insisted officers could not have prevented the blast.

“I consider this comment to be inaccurate, unfair and unreasonable,” he said. “Police were not in a position to prevent the Omagh bombing.”

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann also criticised Ms O’Loan.

“The blame for this atrocity lies at the feet of those who planned, made and delivered the bomb to Omagh,” he said. “It is regrettable that the former police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has chosen today of all days to make her controversial comments.”

But Ms O’Loan stood by her claim.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talk-

Nurse Joann McCullagh back programme, she said due to the emergence of further information since 1998, she now believes the bombing could have been prevented.

“It doesn’t come easy to me to say this, I feel profoundly saddened, but I think that if you have a view which is informed by experience of investigation, of systems, then you do have certain duties and I think it was incum-

bent on me to say this,” she said.

The massive car bomb ripped through Omagh just months after the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement was supposed to have largely ended violence. A splinter dissident republican group opposed to the peace process, the Real IRA, was blamed for the carnage after inaccurate warnings meant police evacuated shoppers towards the bomb site. Twenty years later, no one has been convicted of murder.

The victims included Protestants and Catholics, tourists from Spain and others on a day trip from the Republic of Ireland. One of the biggest police manhunts in history unfolded, but criticism of the police investigation led to unfulfilled calls for a public inquiry.

Chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Mark Lindsay, said: “Baroness O’Loan has taken to the media to voice her assertions without providing a shred of evidence to back them up. She has chosen the 20th anniversary ... to contradict her own findings when she was ombudsman.”

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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 MAYO

Hard Brexit will hurt hospitality industry MAYO’S drinks and hospitality sector jobs are under threat should there be a hard Brexit, a report published by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) says.

The Mayo News reports that in the case of Co Mayo, the sector accounts for 5.6 per cent of employment, or 2,889 jobs.

The ‘National and Regional Employment in the Drinks and Hospitality Sectors’ report was carried out by DCU economist Anthony Foley.

Irish Distillers’ communications and corporate affairs director, Rosemary Garth, said “the new report clearly demonstrates the vital importance of the drinks and hospitality sector to rural Ireland, local employment and the economy in general”.

“In many parts of Mayo, drinks, hospitality and tourism businesses are the primary and sometimes the only employers. These areas highly vulnerable to economic shocks, like Brexit,” said Ms Garth.

“If a hard or no deal Brexit occurs and sterling devalues further, British tourists will look to save their money rather than spend it … Considering the British are our single biggest tourism market, this is a significant problem for rural areas that completely rely on foreign spend to power their local economy.”

CLARE

Judge incensed

by Traveller feud A CIRCUIT court judge has hit out at the absolutely outrageous conduct of feuding Traveller families in Ennis.

The Irish Examiner reports that Judge Gerald Keys told members of the Sherlock and Molloy families that “you have disgraced your fellow Travellers in the way that you have behaved”.

Members of the two families were charged with offences in connection with a confrontation on the steps of the same Ennis courthouse in 2017.

Judge Keys pointed out that the accused were on legal aid: “Look at the amount of previous convictions all of you have together,” he said to the accused, adding that the ordinary taxpayer has to finance the legal proceedings.

At the hearing gardaí took precautions to prevent a repeat fracas: 17 uniformed gardaí and three members of the regional armed support unit were on duty.

Judge Keys referred to this strong gardaí presence, saying: “Look at the amount of police that have to be here today. The cost of that. The cost of all of this.”

He told both sides: “If there is a bark out of any of ye towards one other, inside court, outside court, you’ll get the maximum sentences.”

Garda Noelle Bergin told the court that relations between the two feuding families are still volatile.

Counsel for James Sherlock, Brian

McInerney BL said that efforts for both sides to enter mediation are underway.

BELFAST

Belfast racists attack Castlereagh beauty salon for second time A LITHUANIAN woman who rebuilt her east Belfast salon following a racially motivated arson attack three years ago has spoken of her hurt after her business was daubed with graffiti.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Asta’s Glam Factory, owned by Asta Samaliute, on Castlereagh Street, was targeted in the attack.

The message ‘Closing due to Brexit’ was sprayed-painted on the front shutters of her premises.

The PSNI are treating the case as a racist hate crime.

In April 2015, the same salon was gutted by a fire in an attack which prompted the local community to raise funds to help her get back on her feet.

DUP councillor George Dorrian condemned the recent incident and appealed for help to trace the perpetrators.

DONEGAL

Sex and the City star’s homage to Donegal THE US film and TV actress Sarah Jessica Parker has declared her love for such North West delights as spuds, turf, and fickle skies during her latest family holiday in Donegal.

The Derry Journal reports that the Sex and the City star, 53, issued her praise of the county after the latest of regular visits to her husband Matthew Broderick’s ancestral home in the Kilcar area.

Saying goodbye to Donegal on Instagram she posted: “Farewell sultry and fickle skies. Farewell plumes of smoke from chimneys.

Farewell ranges emitting the earthy and welcoming smell of turf.

“Farewell chips and tweed and open smiles. Farewell ‘marked bags’, lamb cutlets and Kerrygold. Farewell to the most perfect spuds in all the world. Flowery or waxy. I will miss you most of all. Xxx, SJC.”

LIMERICK

Bishop points up ‘Church’s dark history’ The BISHOP of Limerick has said that “everyone in the Church bears the shame “of its dark history”.

The Limerick Leader reports that his homily at the Feast of the Assumption of Mary in Killeedy focused on the Church’s need to “acknowledge our past, good and bad”.

He said that the Church needs to prepare for the papal visit by “seeking forgiveness for the sins of the past”.

He added that there is a need

Business owner John Prendergast holds a statue of Pope Francis in Knock, Co Mayo, where the pontiff visited on his official visit to Ireland. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire to pray for those wounded by the Church and a need “to keep listening and to learn from them how to clarify and repair our church”.

“We know that not every bishop or priest or sister or brother or lay person engaged in church circles was bad. And we know that not everyone was good. Those of us of a certain age, however, know many, many who were very kind, caring and helpful. But to acknowledge with gratitude the good can never eclipse recognition of sin, criminality and evil. In some way, everyone in the church bears the shame of these darks aspects of our history.

Few of us can throw stones as if we ourselves were not somehow associated.”

KERRY

More people in Kerry town than An Post thinks A KERRY community is contesting the population An Post says it has in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to retain its service.

The Kerryman reports that more than 100 citizens attended an emergency meeting in Ballylongford in response to the looming closure of its post office under the latest rationalisation plans by An Post.

It is feared that up to 10 of the county’s most rural offices will close.

An Post has said that communities of more than 500 will have a post office and that more than 95 per cent of the population will live within 15 kilometres of a post office after the round of closures.

“We can’t allow our post office to close,” local organiser Brian Finucane said. He is asking residents to use their post accounts or open new ones.

The local Centra, the last surviving shop in Ballylongford, has expressed interest in opening a post office in its premises.

Ballylongford Enterprise chairman Noel Lynch echoed Mr Finucane’s feelings: “Fifty years ago we had a population of up to 1,000; 30 shops, three supermarkets, a thriving hardware business and mil … But it’s a chicken-and-egg situation now, as we’re told we can’t have services because we don’t have the population, which we don’t have because we’ve lost so many services.”

DOWN

Disabled man barred from mercy flight KILLINCHY man Steve Smithers wanted to visit his sick father in England. Mr Smithers, 48, was prevented from flying out of Belfast International Airport because he needed to bring tools with him to adjust his wheelchair.

The Down Recorder reports that a security guard refused to allow the toolkit onto the aircraft, and Mr Smithers was denied access to the flight. The newspaper said that “a tense and fraught exchange between the determined security supervisor and Steve in front of other boarding passengers left him in tears”.

The refusal by Mr Smithers and his partner to accept the unfair treatment led to a public apology and an undisclosed amount of compensation from Belfast International Airport.

Mr Smithers was paralysed from the chest down 11 years ago after he was hit head-on on his motorbike by a car making an illegal right turn.

Since then he has successfully travelled on four continents. He counts what happened at Belfast Airport as his worst experience anywhere.

Mr Smithers and his partner Lisa Clydesdale are now determined to turn a humiliating experience into a positive one for people with disabilities travelling in the future.

Mr Smithers has donated the compensation money to a charity for disabled people.

KERRY FERMANAGH

Number of Masses in the Diocese of Clogher is to be slashed THE dramatic decrease in the number of priests has led the diocesan administrator Mgr Joseph McGuinness to announce a radicalisation in the number of church services and reduce the number of Mass services being offered.

Only 58 priests now serve the 37 parishes and 85 churches in the diocese, a reduction of around a third in the past 20 years. Only seven of the priests are under the age of 50, and 28 are over the age of 65.

During September the priests will meet Mgr McGuinness to arrange a new timetable for all church services, and work out a roster for funerals, marriages, baptisms and confirmations.

The situation in Clogher is mirrored throughout Ireland as the influence and presence of the Catholic Church wanes.

DONEGAL

QE2 returns to Donegal THE Queen Elizabeth II luxury liner has made its second visit to Donegal in a month, an unprecedented move for the ship, the Donegal Democrat reports.

The Cunard Line cruise ship berthed at Killybegs last week, the largest liner to visit the deep water harbour.

The new 300 metre pier was just perfect to accommodate the 92,000 tonne ship which, at 294m, is twice as long as Croke Park .

With more than 2,000 passengers and about 1,000 crew members, the liner brought Killybegs something of another financial bonanza.

LOUTH

Major challenges to police border after Brexit POLICING the border after Brexit could pose major challenges, Louth’s top gardaí officer has said.

The Argus reports that Chief Supt Christy Mangan highlighted the potential risk of an increase in crimes unique to the border area, including smuggling and illegal immigration.

Chief Supt Mangan also warned that gardaí did not have sufficient resources to manage in the event of Brexit leading to a hard border with the North.

He added that it would be impossible to man each of the 291 crossings along the 500km border. Primary routes would have to be policed. In his opinion, to have manned border posts on the M1, the principal route across the border, would cause traffic chaos.

Along with traffic problems a hard border would also present opportunities for smuggling, tax fraud and immigration, Chief Supt Mangan said.

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

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18

review

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

Bad bet, either way

THIS is the first in a set of five books based on the Spanish Armada and the adventures of some of their survivors in Ireland. The central character and first person narrator is Abel Santiago, a soldier in the Spanish army. His main role is as a sharpshooter, at which he is an expert.

As the story opens, Abel and his comrades are fighting the heretics in the Netherlands. He has married a local girl who is expecting their first child.

After the fall of Antwerp the Spanish army, which has not been paid for some time, goes on a rampage of plunder and murder. Abel’s wife and her father, living in a nearby town, are among the victims. He learns that his sergeant and two of the latter’s sidekicks were responsible for that mayhem, and he spends the remainder of his life seeking

revenge. The story moves to Valencia, where the Spanish Armada is being assembled. Abel is captured and sold as a galley slave and later used as a lookout.

The defeat of the cumbersome Armada by the faster and slicker hit-and-run tactics of the English is described in detail. Eventually, Abel’s boat is wrecked off the west coast of Ireland and the remainder of the story takes place in Sligo and Leitrim.

While the research is impressive, the book is devoted to Abel’s long and tiresomely repetitive fight for survival and revenge. Each of the former comrades who were responsible for his wife’s death has to be followed and dealt with separately, while he survives beating after beating. In one of his fights, his friend joins in to help him and his attacker has a ‘dagger half buried in his back … a burst of blood spurted [from the wound]…’

Yet the injured man, who has only one arm, goes on fighting as if nothing has happened. “I parried another sword thrust as he shoved me against the gun, then swung his stump at me which I caught with my other hand.” The reader easily loses interest.

There are encounters like this throughout the story. Abel is flogged, chained, tortured, wounded; he scarcely eats or drinks; he is present at sea battles, shipwrecks and land massacres which he alone survives. Even in Ireland he has to put up with aggression from some of the locals.

Books like this are long out of fashion: modern readers look for stories with a possibility of some contact with reality. There are enough loose

“While the research is impressive, the book is devoted to Abel’s long and tiresomely repetitive fight for survival and revenge.

”

BOOKS THE SHERIFF’S CATCH

By James Vella-Bardon Unbound 312 pp

CC TONY 10

By Declan Lynch and Tony O’Reilly Gill Books 260 pp 16.99 Euro

CCC Frank O’Shea ends, however, to imagine that there will be plenty of ways the whole thing can be carried on in the remaining four books.

YOU have to be patient with this book. This is mainly because you are likely to be scratching your head at the reckless stupidity it describes.

As a reader, you know that what the central character is doing is the depth of ignorance, a kind of way of dealing with reality that would be regarded as unworthy of a four-year-old. And there is anger at bookmaking companies like Paddy Power, whose business models are based on making massive profits from people with the intelligence of a four-year-old.

Tony O’Reilly was a young barman in a pub in Carlow town when he won €45 for a €1 bet on who would score the first goals in two football games.

The bet was “just to have an interest” but the reward started

him on the road to a belief that he could pick winners. Initially, his bets were small, €20 or €50, and often on complicated combinations of football, basketball, tennis and boxing as well as horseracing and dogs.

But the numbers quickly got bigger. To give an idea, the book describes some of his outlays over one long weekend, at a stage when he was betting four-figure sums. He was on a roll, with 46 winning bets out of 116 he placed, turning an initial €5,000 into more than €462,000. All that money went back to Paddy Power the next day where a winning average of two out of 31 reduced him back to zero. Call it what you will, but it is difficult to think of a better example of stupidity.

In time, he would be sent invitations by Paddy Power to special seats at football games or exclusive tents at race meetings.

And somehow, he never worked out that they were playing him like a child on a rollercoaster that you can never get off until it reaches the bottom.

Much of his stake money was courtesy of the financial institutions that were pouring out money at the height of the Celtic Tiger. In time, this was not enough and he began to steal from his employer, An Post: at first small amounts that were not noticed in the rushed audits, but eventually larger and larger sums until he had taken just less than €1.8 million.

Of course, he is caught and it is his childish attempts to get away from justice that changes your attitude to him and makes you realise that, yes, he has the intelligence of a four-year-old but he has a self-inflicted illness as real as that of an alcoholic or a drug addict.

He is eventually sentenced to three years in prison, undoubtedly to the distress of Paddy Power althoughit doesn’t have to return €1.8 million to An Post.

The second half of the book describes his slow rehabilitation, leading to his current role as an addiction counsellor in some of the same programs he himself undertook.

Despite prose that can at best be described as pedestrian, this is a book that deserves to be widely read, including in this country. At least Ireland does not have poker machines except in ‘private clubs’ whatever they are.

The fact that Paddy Power now has a malign presence in Australia suggests that he realises he is on a world winner, the latest bit of Irish colonialism.

I wonder whether it would be fair to blame the poor knowledge of mathematics in the wider community.

“He was on a roll, with

46 winning bets out of 116 he placed, turning an initial €5,000 into more than €462,000.

”

THE TOP 10 BOOK CHARTS FROM IRELAND BESTSELLERS

HARDBACK NON-FICTION

1

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

2

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

3

100 Poems

4

Oh My God What a Complete Aisling

5

A Ladder to the Sky

6

Pieces of Her

7 8 9

The Couple Next Door

Gail Honeyman Heather Morris

1

100 Poems

2

Jamie Cooks Italy

Seamus Heaney Jamie Oliver

Seamus Heaney

3

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Sarah Breen/Emer McLysaght

4

The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness David Flynn & Stephen Flynn

Jordan B. Peterson

John Boyne

5

A Pocket History of Ireland

Karin Slaughter

6

Unhinged

The Break

Marian Keyes

7

Notes on a Nervous Planet

A Stranger in the House

Shari Lapena

8

The Secret

Rhonda Byrne

Shari Lapena

9

The Confidence Kit

Caroline Foran

10 The World’s Worst Children 3

David Walliams

ORIGINAL FICTION 1

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

2

A Ladder to the Sky

3

Pieces of Her

4

The President is Missing

5

The Woman in the Window

6

The Secrets of Primrose Square

7

Skin Deep

8

The Gospel According to Blindboy

9

An Unwanted Guest

10 The First Sunday in September

Joseph McCullough Omaraosa Manigault Newman Matt Haig

10 Colour of Time: A New History of the World

Dan Jones

CHILDREN’S Heather Morris

1

The World’s Worst Children 3

John Boyne

2

Wonder

David Walliams

Karin Slaughter

3

The 104-Storey Treehouse

Bill Clinton & Jam Pattersonn

4

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

J.K. Rowling J.K. Rowling

R. J. Palacio Andy Griffiths

A. J. Finn

5

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Claudia Carroll

6

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway

Liz Nugent

7

Gangsta Granny

Blindboy Boatclub

8

Hey, who’s in the loo?

9

Tom Gates: Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans

Shari Lapena Tadhg Coakley

10 Bad Dad

Jeff Kinney David Walliams Harmen van Straaten Liz Pichon David Walliams

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

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19

1 PJ O’BRIENS, SOUTHBANK 2 DURTY NELLYS, WEST PERTH 3 J B O’REILLY’S, LEEDERVILLE 4 PJ O’BRIENS, SYDNEY 5 THE DRUNKEN POET, WEST MELBOURNE 6 THE IRISH TIMES, MELBOURNE 7 THE QUIET MAN IRISH PUB, FLEMINGTON 8 MALONEYS HOTEL, SYDNEY 9 O’MALLEYS IRISH PUB, BRISBANE 10 THE DUKE BAR AND BISTRO, CARRAMAR

Saturday, 1st December 2018 6:30pm to 11:30pm Shangri-­La Hotel, Sydney

1 P.J. O’BRIEN’S, SYDNEY 2 MALONEYS HOTEL, SYDNEY 3 THE MEAN FIDDLER, ROUSE HILL 4 MERCANTILE HOTEL, THE ROCKS 5 FORTUNE OF WAR, THE ROCKS 6 THE PORTERHOUSE, SURRY HILLS 7 CARRINGTON HOTEL, KATOOMBA 8 HERO OF WATERLOO, MILLERS POINT 9 NERTHERN STAR HOTEL, HAMILTON 10 THE DOSS HOUSE, THE ROCKS

Ticket price: $185 (including booking fee) Includes 3 course meal and 5 hour drinks package Entertainment: Strawberries and Cabbage Dress code: Formal

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Huge raffle prize -­Flights for 2 to Australia + $500 spending money For bookings contact: secretary@sydneystpatricksday.com.au

PIPELAYER

1 P.J. O’BRIEN’S, SOUTHBANK 2 THE DRUNKEN POET, WEST MELBOURNE 3 THE IRISH TIMES, MELBOURNE 4 THE QUIET MAN IRISH PUB 5 IRISH MURPHY’S, GEELONG 6 YOUNG & JACKSONS, MELBOURNE 7 JIMMY O’NEILLS, ST KILDA 8 BRIDIE O’REILLY’S, SOUTH YARRA 9 THE SNUG PUBLIC HOUSE, BRUNSWICK 10 MITRE TAVERN, MELBOURNE 1 DURTY NELLY’S, PERTH 2 J B O’REILLY’S, LEEDERVILLE 3 THE DUKE BAR AND BISTRO, CARRAMAR 4 MURPHY’S IRISH PUB, MANDURAH 5 CROWN PERTH 6 PADDY MALONES, JOONDALUP 7 FIBBER MCGEES, LEEDERVILLE 8 WOODBRIDGE HOTEL, GUILDFORD 9 ROSIE O’GRADYS IRISH PUB, NORTHBRIDGE 10 MERCURE INN CONTINENTAL, BROOME

– WATER – SEWER

A FULL TIME POSITION FOR A PIPELAYER WITH EXPERIENCE IN WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PROJECTS IN SYDNEY BASIN. POSITION INCLUDES:

O’MALLEY’S, BRISBANE IRISH MURPHY’S, BRISBANE FINN MCCOOL’S, FORTITUDE VALLEY PADDY’S PORT DOUGLAS IRISH CLUB HOTEL, TOOWOOMBA THE DARCY ARMS, SURFERS PARADISE GILHOOLEYS, BRISBANE MCGINITY’S BAR AND THAI TAM, CAIRNS PIG AND WHISTLE, RIVERSIDE FIDDLER’S GREEN IRISH BAR, SURFERS PARADISE

1 2 3 4 5

SHENANNIGANS, DARWIN NORWOOD HOTEL, NORWOOD VERVE BAR & KITCHEN, OAKLANDS MICK O’SHEA’S IRISH PUB, HACKHAM WATERMARK, GLENELG

• VEHICLE SUPPLIED • TRAINING WHERE REQUIRED • SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT • SALARY AND INCENTIVES Please email your resume to dcrowley@mystold.com.au or call Declan Crowley on 0417 682781

1 2 3 4 5

NEW SYDNEY HOTEL, HOBART IRISH MURPHY’S, HOBART, THE IRISH, LAUNCESTON REPUBLIC BAR & CAFE, NORTH HOBART PADDY WAGON’S HOTEL, GLENORCHY

Find your closest pint. guinnesspubfinder.com.au

THE BLACKLIST RANKS PUBS BY THEIR VOLUME SALES OF DRAUGHT GUINNESS. THE RANKING IS SUPPLIED BY LION. THE GUINNESS WORD AND HARP DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED LOGOS ARE TRADE MARKS. GUINNESS & CO. 2018.

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September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

EPIC TALE OF HARDSCRABBLE LIVES: wTony Cogin, Anita Hegh and Tara Morice are among the 18-strong cast in the stage production adapted by Kate Mulvany of Ruth Park’s The Harp In The South performing at the Sydney Theatre Company until October 8. Picture: Rene Vaile

Saturday, August 18 – Monday, October 8 SYDNEY, NSW The Harp in the South – Sydney Theatre Company

Sydney Theatre Company presents The Harp In The South (parts one and two) by Ruth Park. An adaptation for the stage by Kate Mulvany. This new work is one of the most ambitious productions STC has created. Celebrated playwright Mulvany has adapted novelist Ruth Park’s revered Australian trilogy – Missus, The Harp In The South and Poor Man’s Orange – and spread these beloved stories across two equally ambitious plays.

The two parts stand alone, but together they offer more than five hours of monumental, exuberant theatre. It’s a moving family saga and a celebration of Sydney in all its funny, gritty glory. www.sydneytheatre.com.au

Saturday, September 1 RANDWICK, NSW Lansdowne Club Race Day

Your race day experience ($175 per p, ;plus a booking fee) includes: general admission and members’ reserve access at Royal Randwick’s the Oaks Lawn

Marquee; a three-course lunch; a five-and-a-half-hours drinks package; a race book for each guest and complimentary infield parking via High Street – plus interviews with leading trainers including Bjorn Baker.

From 12pm lansdowneclub.com.au

Sunday, September 2 GAA Football All Ireland Finals

All Ireland finals take place at Croke Park in Dublin. Minor Championship final is between Galway and Kerry with the Senior Championship final between Dublin and Tyrone. Check your local Irish pubs for late night viewing and event details including PJ O’Briens and PJ Gallaghers!

Saturday, September 8 SUBIACO, WA Damian Leith, Elvis – The Gospel Collection.

Acclaimed singer- songwriter and 2006 Australian Idol winner Damien Leith revisits the Gospel collection of Elvis Presley in 2018.

A great admirer of the King of rock’n’roll, Damien’s, the show – Elvis: The Gospel Collection – will feature an all-star line up of musicians and singers, from

an electrifying rhythm section to powerful brass to angelic gospel harmonies. Regal Theatre, Subiaco from 8pm www.damienleith.com/tours

Friday, September 21 MELBOURNE, VIC IACC Infrastructure Corporate Lunch

Our annual Infrastructure Lunch is a must for anyone involved in infrastructure, major projects and urban development. There’s something for everyone involved at all stages of the process from funding and advisory to project management and delivery and subsequent operations. This year we welcome guest speaker the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. Commencing at 12pm at Docklands. Details and tickets available via the website. www.irishchamber.com.au

Friday, September 21 NEWCASTLE, NSW Ireland Rocks with Ciaran Gribbin

Performed by Ciaran Gribbin at Lizottes, Ireland Rocks is an innovative show highlighting the legendary songs from some

what’s on

of Ireland’s best-known artists.

Presenting an all-star band, fronted by former INXS singer and Grammy nominated songwriter, Ciaran Gribbin, the show is a guaranteed great night out!

Ireland Rocks set list includes a broad selection of classic Irish songs from every era of Irelands rich music history. You’ll enjoy a musical journey from the haunting songs and traditional melodies of old Ireland through to the modern pop and rock era of today.

Ireland Rocks is a spectacular high energy show with unique song arrangements achieved by blending traditional Irish instruments such as the Bohdran, Accordion and Fiddle with loud rock Guitars, Bass and Drums.

Cost: $35.

Friday, September 21 TANUNDA, SA Damian Leith, Elvis – The Gospel Collection.

Acclaimed singer- songwriter and 2006 Australian Idol winner Damien Leith revisits the Gospel collection of Elvis Presley in 2018.

A great admirer of the King of rock’n’roll, Damien’s, the show – Elvis: The Gospel Collection – will feature an all-star line up of musicians and singers, from an electrifying rhythm section to

powerful brass to angelic gospel harmonies. Barrossa Arts and Convention Centre from 8pm www.damienleith.com/tours

Saturday, September 22 BRISBANE QLD, MELBOURNE VIC AND SYDNEY NSW The Irish Run the World This global 5K Fun Run is a series of charity fun runs in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and is part of a global event which takes place on the same day in 17 cities around the world. Starting in Brisbane, the Young Leaders will run a 5k in their respective cities before passing the “virtual baton” off to the next city. The Global 5K will conclude when the last Young Leader crosses the finish line in San Francisco! irelandfunds.org

Saturday, September 22 SYDNEY HARBOUR, NSW Sydney Irish RFC Gala Ball

Come and celebrate another great year for the club with a three-course sit-down dinner and four hours of beer/wine/soft drink and a live band, all while cruising Sydney Harbour on the Majistic Two Boat. Departing Wharf No. 5, King Street Wharf.

Bookings: www.trybooking.com

Saturday, September 22 ADELAIDE, SA Damian Leith, Elvis – The Gospel Collection.

Acclaimed singer- songwriter and 2006 Australian Idol winner Damien Leith revisits the Gospel collection of Elvis Presley in 2018.

A great admirer of the King of rock’n’roll, Damien’s, the show – Elvis: The Gospel Collection – will feature an all-star line up of musicians and singers, from an electrifying rhythm section to powerful brass to angelic gospel harmonies. Venue, Dunstan Playhouse from 8pm www.damienleith.com/tours

Wednesday, October 3 to Saturday, October 6 MELBOURNE, VIC Australasian Gaelic Games, VIC A bumper crop of more than 20 teams will contest the four disciplines at this year’s Australasian Games. Gaelic Park in Melbourne will be hosting the men’s and ladies’ football, hurling and camogie on October 3-6. www.australasiangaelicgames.com

stay up to date with what’s on at

IrishEcho.com.au whatson@irishecho.com.au :: (02) 9555 9199

September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

Tiocfaidh ár entrée FORMER Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is to publish a negotiators’ “cook book” on his experiences during the peace process.

The former party president said it would include some of the best-kept secrets of the talks, which produced the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Adams addressed the West Belfast Festival last week.

The Irish Times reported the book, to be printed before Christmas, was to be called The Negotiators’ Cook Book. Mr Adams said: “The British never fed us. They never had any food. But as intrepid republicans and being blessed by one or two great cooks these are the recipes that sustained the Irish negotiating team.

It contains some of the best-kept secrets of the Irish peace process.”

The Hurler reckons that you will not find any Beef Wellington or Yorkshire Pudding in Adams cook book but keep an eye out for his Long Kesh Lasagne, the delicious Beef Shinner Rah-gu and the punchy Erin Go Broth which only features ingredients grown under an Irish sky.

For dessert, he may reveal the secrets behind his Bomb Alaska or Chocolate Bullets from his early days or his more recent creations, including the delicate Stormont Souffle which is prone to collapsing if the temperature’s too high.

Slanging match THE much-loved Irish actor Chris O’Dowd (Moone Boy, IT Crowd, Calvary) is teaming up with the equally adored Aussie star Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) in Juliet, Naked, a new film based on the book by Nick Hornby. The pair decided to shoot a rather lame video together, during which they tried to enlighten each other about Irish or Aussie slang terms.

Chris had no trouble deciphering what ‘no wozza’, ‘gone walkabout’ or ‘carry on like a pork chop’ but he did struggle with ‘goon bag’ which obviously means he never spent time as a backpacker in Co Bondi.

Rose struggled to work out what ‘the jacks’ were or what ‘banjaxed’ meant or event what ‘the black stuff’

was. “Depressed?,” she asked.

But ‘rugger bugger’ really stumped her even when Chris hinted: “You know like in south Dublin, oh my God he’s such a rugger bugger” to which Rose replied: “Like he’s gay?”

Hay holy father A GIANT scarecrow version of the Pope has won joint-first prize in a competition in an Irish town.

The massive model of Pope Francis in his popemobile was created by a group of men in Durrow, Co Laois, for the popular annual Durrow Scarecrow Festival.

Chairwoman of the Durrow Development Forum, Evelyn Clancy, said there had been a huge amount of interest from across Ireland.

The festival is known for its topical depictions, from Donald Trump to King Kong. Ms Clancy added: “People expect it, King Kong was higher than a two-storey house, people have that expectation from this group of men.”

The talented and creative group behind the creation (pictured) includes engineers and carpenters who have put many evenings of work into their scarecrow.

Chairman of the Conahy Vintage Club, Michael Bergin, told the Leinster Express they enjoyed the camaraderie. “We always think that big is beautiful. There was work for everybody in it, from steel to straw, overalls, shoes down to making tea and having a chat. You make it up as you go along.”

The group added lights to the

popemobile and when you press a button the scarecrow Pope waves.

Money raised from visitors to the festival is reinvested in the community, Ms Clancy said.

Cleary too much time on their hands in Durrow.

Pope’s children THE visit to Ireland by Pope Francis had many reminiscing about the 1979 trip by JP II. During the youth Mass at Galway racecourse he famously declared: “Young people of Ireland, I love you”.

For many present, the warm glow of the holy father’s affection were lost in the day-long traffic jam that followed the rain-soaked jamboree.

In fact, it was this bunch of people who began the relentless drift away from the church which has subsequently become a stampede.

The other memorable image from that day was of course the pre-papal entertainment which featured two giants of the Irish Catholic church, Bishop Eamon Casey and Fr Michael Cleary, both of whom have since died. The two men had a unique and special understanding of youth affairs. Casey’s son Peter was turning five and Cleary’s son Ross was still in nappies. Not that we knew ...

Quiz

Crossword

1. Which Irish-American dramatist won a 1920 Pulitzer for Beyond the Horizon, his first full-length play?

Clues across:

Clues down:

1. Waste long time in part of castle (7)

1 & 5 down: A succulent deal produces Co. Antrim fortification (7,6)

2. How many counties have a shoreline on Lough Neagh?

3. In which county was the actress Maureen O’Sullivan born?

4. Who was popularly known as the ‘Uncrowned King of Ireland’?

5. What is the common name for the plant with the Latin name Hedera hibernica?

6. What sort of a horse-drawn vehicle is two-wheeled, can carry four passengers, and has a jarvey driving it?

7. Which Taoiseach declared Ireland a republic?

8. Which Irish town name is derived from the French war cry: “Boutez-en-Avant”?

9. What’s the final word in Ulysses?

10. Cork city has a bridge over the Lee named after a famous hurler. Who?

5. Calcium incline for Irish family (6) 8 across and 9 down: Article five in Rome article precedes badly spelt horticulturalist star (3,8)

2. The usual standards encompassing an early group of Irish invaders (7)

12. On the run in Tullylammy (3) 13. Tryster of Tristan (6) 15. A changed Barbarian becomes religious prelate (5)

2

3

4

5

9. see 8 across

6

7

8

9

10

11

12 13

14

15

16 17 18

7. Letter in Carrigaline (4)

19

20

21

22

14. Perceive a religious area (3)

20. Chronic pain in Garranmachenry (4)

18. Certainly, it’s by example (6)

23 24

25

27

28

26

19. see 16 down 20. Chocolate aviation? (4) 21. see 16 down

24. Respect, which on going back 22. Fish found where there’s a sombre ambience (5) meets energy (6) 23. Woman made from gold and 25. Family address to an Irish soda bread slice? (8) sodium (4) 27. Irish family and their strange 26. Payment in Iskanafeelna (3) demand for incense (6) 28. Nenagh, LA, both involved in Irish family (8)

1

6. Clothing found in Chatsworth (4)

17, 19 & 21 down: O’Neill work eh? Hectic moment caused rearrangement (3,6,6)

22. Common salt found within naked shelled creature (8)

“Everyone has come too far. Twenty years of relative peace ... cannot be lost because of a vacuum of political leadership … This has to be taken as very serious, potentially dangerous moment in the history of Northern Ireland.”

Former US Senator and peace envoy to Northern Ireland, George Mitchell, speaking about the political impasse at Stormont.

“I think it is important that the government has a clear view as to what it wants to achieve and what measures it is going to use. Diplomacy is not just a matter of argument, it is also a matter of pressure.”

Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Trimble.

“We need a church of light, a light that exposes darkness for what it is, and a light that is such that the mechanisms of cover-up and selfjustification cannot extinguish or tone down.”

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

“Is this a waste of a good ticket?”

A Shane Ross tweet showing an image of Danny Healy-Rae TD apparently sleeping in Croke Park.

“I did nothing wrong by closing my eyes for a few minutes. I’ve been working hard all summer helping people … Ross is just trying make a man of himself”.

Danny Healy-Rae’s less than good-humoured response.

“Most major labels are no longer in a position or willing to take that kind of risk and make that kind of investment to develop cutting edge artists exploring the fringes of what is possible creatively … A songwriter now will be better off working in a hamburger bar on a minimum wage because they will probably make more money.”

Feargal Sharkey, the former Undertones frontman and vocalist.

“The church has to take responsibility for the damage inflicted on generations of men, women and children by the evil teaching that it holds around homosexuality.”

Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland.

“What I think about sport is, we are very lucky in Ireland to have a reputation that people can win with enthusiasm and lose with grace. That is a great credit to the country.”

President Michael D. Higgins.

“If I had my way, I wouldn’t have advertising or any access to gambling platforms in sport at all. I really worry when I read the cases.”

President Michael D Higgins.

“I will always govern in the interests of the whole community in Northern Ireland, not just one part of it. Northern Ireland makes a major contribution to our Union and it also derives great benefit from being an integral part of the UK.” British Prime Minister Theresa May. “It is not a question of if a unity referendum will happen but a question of when.”

Mary Lou McDonald, President of Sinn Féin.

5. see 1 down

16. Approximately in reverse, I’m not honest about Irish dance (5)

21. Copper energy prompt (3)

time out They said it...

3. Family found within Scottish Gaelic presidential name (7)

10. Sometimes wild, these are found in Tralee and other parts 4. Sodium smell just coming into of the world (5) existence (7) 11. Irish hero and Roman film surrounded by Father Christmas (7)

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LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS: Clues across: 1. Pennsylvania. 7. Internal. 8. Hijabs. 9. Leo. 10. Crick.

11. Heron. 12. Yearns. 13. Coarse. 16. Err. 17. Tolka. 18. Rivals. 21. Lodge.

23. Etui. 24. Oxgang. 25. Scot free.

Clues down: 1. Paisley. 2. Nationally. 4. Val McDermid. 5. Inishbofin.

6. Dubious. 14. Reactor. 15. Erskine. 17. Taboo. 19. Alga. 20. Ban. 22. Ego.

Answers: 1. Eugene O’Neill; 2. Five; 3. Roscommon; 4. Parnell; 5. Irish ivy, or Atlantic ivy.

6. A jaunting car; 7. John Costello; 8. Buttevant; 9. “Yes”; 10. Christy Ring.

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September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

sports FRAMPTON FULFILLS LIFELONG DREAM BY WINNING AT WINDSOR PARK

Frampton too strong for Aussie challenger BELFAST’S Carl Frampton won his dream fight at Windsor Park by stopping Australian Luke Jackson in nine rounds to secure another shot at the world featherweight title.

Having successfully defended the interim WBO title, he will be confirmed as mandatory challenger to full champion Oscar Valdez but will next fight IBF titlist Josh Warrington, who travelled to Windsor Park to be ringside.

Against Australia’s Jackson, the 31-year-old had long been a significant favourite in a fight that essentially served as a celebration of his popularity in his home city, where he may even have fought for the final time.

With Jackson increasingly struggling to defend himself and remain on his feet having already been knocked down in the eighth, his corner rightly threw in the towel for referee Terry O’Connor to wave the action over after one minute and 21 seconds of the ninth.

The stoppage was Frampton’s first since that of Chris Avalos in 2015, and showed why he will remain favourite against Britain’s Warrington in the fight they will have later this year.

The Australian struggled throughout the fight.

In the ninth round, he was knocked down but returned to his feet. Amid further punishment, with his defence gone and his head rocking from hurtful left and right hands, the towel came in and Frampton’s victory was confirmed.

Carl Frampton celebrates victory against Australian Luke Jackson after their WBO Interim Featherweight title fight at Windsor Park. Picture: Niall Carson

RUGBY :: SEXTON APPOINTED LEINSTER CAPTAIN

Sexton’s drive for more silverware Gavin McCafferty

IRELAND fly-half Johnny Sexton believes assuming the Leinster captaincy has given him the drive to improve fur ther after his “dream season”.

Sexton was a key player as Ireland won the Grand Slam and Leinster secured a Guinness PRO14 and European Cup double, before capping off the campaign with a series win in Australia for his country.

But the 33-year-old is in no mood to sit back and reflect on his achievements, especially after being handed his new role.

“The captaincy was probably exactly what I needed,” Sexton said. “I want to get back out there, I want to train better, I want to do everything a bit better to lead by example.

“It’s been great for me and hopefully it will continue to be like that. I just can’t wait to get back now, I am feeling good body-wise and mind.”

Leinster kick off their PRO14 season in Wales against Cardif f Blues on August 31 and Sexton expects they will have to work even harder to repeat their title success.

“It was a dream season last year but it was last year and you know from experience you will be judged on your

Johnny Sexton has been installed as Leinster captain for the 2018-19 rugby season.

last game,” he said. “You are only a couple of games away from being on the other side of the fence, and we have had a taste of that over three years. We had one good year last year and the other two didn’t end as we would have liked. We have got to try – I don’t think to emulate last year – but get better because some of the squads have signed some really good players and brought in some new coaches. They are all going to get stronger, so we have got to get better. “ And we haven’t added to the group

massively. We have replaced Heasy (Jamie Heaslip) with Joe Tomane and that’s it, really. We haven’t replaced a lot of the guys who have left. Straight away we are probably up against it in some ways but we have always relied heavily on our academy system and we will rely heavily on them again.”

Leinster will kick off the Heineken Champions Cup campaign against Wasps. The tournament gets under way in Dublin on Friday, October 12.

Meanwhile, former Ireland captain Paul O’Connell has been named as forwards coach by Top 14 side Stade Francais. The 38-year-old has signed a two-year-deal to work under former Springboks boss Heyneke Meyer at the Paris club, leaving his role in Ireland’s Under-20s set-up.

Former British and Irish Lions lock O’Connell will link up with former Munster team-mates Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo in joining Stade.

The 108-cap former Ireland star’s move will prove another boost to the Irish Rugby Football Union’s long-term plans to develop top-level home-grown coaches, with Ronan O’Gara impressing at New Zealand’s Crusaders after a stint with Racing 92.

“I’m really happy to be in Paris and to … work at this great club alongside Heyneke Meyer,” O’Connell said.

UFC :: COMEBACK FOR MCGREGOR

Title fight for McGregor after two-year UFC hiatus CONOR McGregor will return to the UFC Octagon for the first time in almost two years in October.

It was announced that the controversial Irishman’s grudge match with Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov will be the headline act of UFC 229 on October 6 in Las Vegas.

Nurmagomedov took McGregor’s 155lb title in April, with the Irishman stripped of it due to inactivity.

He took a year out of the sport as he turned to professional boxing, losing to Floyd Mayweather Jnr last summer.

McGregor is unhappy at Nurmagomedov holding a title he believes is his and, having last fought in UFC in November 2016, ‘Notorious’ is ready to return.

The pair will fight for the lightweight title, with McGregor putting his 21-3 record up against Nurmagomedov’s superior mark of 26-0.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the UFC’s 25th anniversar y, president Dana White fielded questions and then said: “We have one last thing we want to show you.”

A promotional video then played to promote the bout. It drew rapturous applause from the the watching media and fans, with White adding: “They’re not here unfortunately. But the fight is done, October, Las Vegas. It’s o,n ladies and gentlemen.”

Former two-weight world champion McGregor has wanted to face Nurmagomedov for some time. After a confrontation between associates of

Conor McGregor has been out of UFC for two years.

the pair, McGregor gatecrashed a Nurmagomedov press conference in New York in April.

McGregor was given five days of community service.

Footage appeared to show him rushing a bus on which Nurmagomedov was a passenger.

Last month he was sentenced to five days of community service in the US after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. As part of a deal with prosecutors the former world champion was also ordered to undertake an anger management class, a spokesman for the Brooklyn district attorney said.

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September, 2018 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

sports HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO WELCOME HOCKEY HEROINES HOME

All eyes on Olympics for Irish hockey stars IRELAND’S ladies hockey team was given a hero’s welcome in Dublin after winning a silver medal in the World Cup final.

Hundreds of supporters lined Dublin’s Dame Street with flags and banners to welcome the side and their support team to a celebration hosted by Dublin’s Lord Mayor Nial Ring.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ring said it was a historic occasion for the nation.

“This is a historic day, on a historic street. The ladies in this team have made history for themselves, their sport and their country.”

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross had earlier announced that Sport Ireland would receive an additional €1.5 million in funding, with a significant portion given to Hockey Ireland.

“This is possibly the greatest day ever in Irish sport,” he said. “The funding is coming, and in direct response the government has decided we will allocate €1.5 million for Olympic preparations. You can thank the Irish team for that. It reflects the pride of the people, I want to say thank you, and we’ll celebrate this for a long time.”

The team, who lined up on stage with their silver medals and draped in the national flag, were thanked by their coach Graham Shaw who said they had no idea how much support had grown across Ireland.

“We’re very grateful to all the supporters and non-hockey supporters that turned out for us,” he said.

The side, captained by Katie Mullan, have won legions of new fans with their underdog journey to the final and hailed the sacrifices made and the hard work put in by each player to reach the final.

“It’s hard to put into words the sacrifices made by the girls, but we can agree it’s all been worth while, especially when we see the crowds here today,” she said.

The team finished the event with a group sing-song of their unofficial anthem, All I Want For Christmas Is You

by Mariah Carey.

Netherlands were crowned winners for a record eighth time after a 6-0 win over Ireland at the World Cup in London. Despite the defeat, Ireland – with players from both sides of the border – have climbed up to 10th in the world rankings for the first time.

Ireland’s women’s hockey team defied all the odds by making it through to the final of the World Cup where they were defeated by the Netherlands.

HURLING :: ALL IRELAND FINAL

Limerick’s 45-year title drought ends LIMERICK are All-Ireland champions for the first time since 1973, after beating Galway 3-16 to 2-18 at Croke Park last week.

It’s been a long 45-year wait for Limerick, made all the more excruciating by having to watch bordering neighbours taste success after success in the interim. Five times the Treaty had been to hurling’s biggest day since 1973, and they had returned back to Shannonside with their tails well and truly between their legs.

Opportunity has come and passed, and no county knows better than Limerick the perils of getting too excited about underage success.

Nonetheless, when John Kiely led their U21 side to All-Ireland glory in 2015, and when they backed it up 12 months ago with a second triumph in three years at the grade, there was a sense that something special was on the horizon. However, few expected that this young side would mature so quickly.

The Treaty came to Croke Park for a crack at All-Ireland champions Galway, having played with a swagger and abandon all season long.

Limerick took the game by the scruff of the neck in the early stages, racing into a 0-03 to 0-00 lead.

However, Galway quickly settled with David Burke and Pádraic Mannion pointing the way for ward, as Joe Canning was his usual accurate self from placed balls.

The Tribesmen perhaps should have been further behind after the early stages as Limerick hit six wides in the opening ten minutes.

With the game in the balance as the sides settled, it was Limerick who landed the first significant blow as Graeme Mulcahy bundled the sliotar across the line after 16 minutes. It may not have been an all-time great final goal, but they all count as the Limerick fans were sent into raptures.

Limerick skipper Declan Hannon

The Treaty were winning battles all over the field, with Mike Casey keeping tabs on Johnny Glynn and Declan Hannon sending over two points while holding Joe Canning scoreless from play. John Kiely’s troops were finding space easier, making smar t use of hand-passes as they strode into a four-point lead at half-time, 1-10 to 0-09.

Limerick were looking to kick on in the second half, and that’s exactly what transpired as they quickly doubled their lead from four to eight, largely thanks to three from Kyle Hayes.

Any suggestions that it was going to be an easy r un-in were quickly silenced, as Joe Canning scored two from play in quick succession to raise the Tribesmen.

However, on 54 minutes, it swung back in the Treaty’s favour. Tom Morrissey stole in from the right, skipping by a host of Galway defenders before firing it past James Skehill to send Limerick into a nine-point lead.

The Treaty were in dreamland, and had an oppor tunity to wrap it up

moments later, but Séamus Flanagan was denied by Skehill.

Galway looked to chase the game as they pulled it back to five, but Limerick’s bench wasn’t being hyped up during the week for nothing. In the 68th minute, super sub Shane Dowling was on hand to bury it into the Hill 16 goal for the second consecutive game.

As the game ticked into eight minutes of injur y-time, Conor Whelan raised a green flag for the Tribesmen to make it uncomfortable for Limerick heading down the final straight. It was made all the more uncomfortable when Joe Canning rocketed a 21-yard free into the top corner to bring it back to two. When Niall Burke pulled it back to one, memories of 1974, 1980, 1996, 2007 and in particular 1994 began to creep into the mind of Limerick.

Graeme Mulcahy pointed to keep Limerick at bay, but Canning sent over a 65 to bring it back to one.

Nonetheless, the Treaty weren’t to be denied, as a late Canning free fell short, as Limerick ended 45 years of hurt and secured their first All-Ireland final since 1973.

Among those to send congratulations was Tiger Woods who said it was “a pretty cool result” for friend JP McManus.

Woods, while confirming he would play the JP McManus Pro-Am in July 2020 in Adare Manor, recalled attending a hurling match and described it as “neat”.

He told golfbytourmiss.com: “JP is one of my dearest friends and it’s cool his Limerick team finally won the title as I know how passionate he is about his hurling as well as his love of horse racing and, of course, golf.

“I remember one year I was over for his Pro-Am and JP took me to a hurling match. I thought it was pretty neat but not a sport I would want to try,” Woods said.

AFL

Meath Hawk Nash extends stay but Irish saint delisted MEATH NATIVE CONOR Nash (pictured) has signed a new two-year deal with AFL outfit Hawthorn, the club has confirmed.

Nash has made the most of his opportunity since he was selected to play against Geelong three weeks ago.

He has scored his first AFL goal and has yet to play in a losing side.

The former Royals minor kicked his first goal at AFL level in Hawthorn’s win over the Saints on Saturday night, and has averaged 11 disposals and three marks thus far in his fledgeling Aussie Rules career.

Nash joined the Hawks in late 2016 as a Category B rookie.

The news was not so good for Ray Connellan who has been delisted by St Kilda. The speedy forward was told in the past week he would not be kept on for 2019, according to afl.com.au Connellan is keen to continue his career at another club after just two years in the AFL. The 24-year-old arrived at the Saints in 2016, previously having played Gaelic football at the highest level in Ireland. Connellan lined up in 33 VFL matches across his two seasons.

Defender Darragh Joyce, another who was also recruited to the Saints at the same time as Connellan, is expected to sign a new deal to stay on as a rookie.

Meanwhile, Brisbane has added Dublin speedster James Madden to its promising list of talent.

Madden will officially join the Lions’ list in November’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft as an international selection and be eligible to play next season, but has already committed to the club.

The 186cm athlete was a man in demand, but Brisbane always led the race for his services and previously visited him and his family in Dublin.

Madden’s 20m sprint (2.69sec) and agility times (7.76) at the European Combine in Dublin in December bettered the respective AFL Draft Combine records set by Joel Wilkinson (2.75) and Stephen Hill (7.77).

He and countr ymen Mark Keane

and Anton Tohill – son of former Melbourne reser ves and under-19s footballer Anthony – then attended the AFL Academy’s annual training camp in Florida in January.

Madden is from the same Gaelic Athletic Association club, Ballyboden St Enda’s, as the late Jim Stynes, who won the 1991 Brownlow Medal and played 264 games for Melbourne.

His elite athletic ability is what caught Lions national recruiting manager Steve Conole’s attention.

“James was at the AFL Academy trip in Florida and I’ve really enjoyed (the Irish players being there) the last couple of years – and it’s one of the reasons I attended that trip,” Conole told AFL.com.au last week.

“There was a group of them, but he was athletically the best of them out there and he took everyone’s eye.”

Madden projects as a similar player to past and current Irish AFL stars Pearce Hanley, Tadhg Kennelly, Zach Tuohy and Conor McKenna, who excelled, and excel, across half-back.

Of the 11 Irishmen currently on AFL lists, five will have an opportunity to play finals footy: Colin O’Riordan (Sydney), Mark O’Connor and Tuohy (Geelong) and Conor Glass and Conor Nash (Hawthorn). Tadhg Kennelly remains the only Irish player to win an AFL Premiership medal.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EW S PAPER

A Government of Ireland measure brought to you by the Department of Justice and Equality

Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme Expression of Interest In 2013 the Government established an ex-gratia redress scheme for the benefit of women who were admitted to and worked in one of 12 ‘Magdalen’ institutions. The Government has now decided to apply the scheme to women who worked in the laundries in those 12 institutions but who were resident in one of 14 adjoining institutions.

The table below shows the 12 institutions covered by the 2013 scheme and the 14 relevant adjoining institutions covered by the recent Government decision.

‘Magdalen’ Institutions in 2013 Scheme

Institutions adjoining the ‘Magdalen’ Institutions GOOD SHEPHERD SISTERS

Magdalen Institution New Ross

St. Aidan’s Industrial School

Magdalen Institution Waterford

St. Dominick’s Industrial School Gracepark Training Centre Mayfield Training Centre

Magdalen Institution Cork

St. Finbarr’s Industrial School Marymount Training Centre

Magdalen Institution Limerick

St. George’s Industrial School St. Joseph’s Reformatory School Rosemount Training Centre SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY

St. Mary’s Refuge, High Park, Dublin 9

An Grianán Training Centre St. Joseph’s Industrial School Martanna House Hostel

Monastery of Our Lady of Charity Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1

St. Anne’s Hostel SISTERS OF MERCY

House of Mercy Domestic Training School, Summerhill, Wexford

St. Michael’s Industrial School, Summerhill

Magdalen Asylum, Forster Street, Galway

No relevant adjoining institution

St. Patrick’s Refuge, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

No relevant adjoining institution SISTERS OF CHARITY

St. Mary’s Magdalen, Donnybrook, Dublin 4

No relevant adjoining institution

St. Vincent’s, St. Mary’s Road, Cork

No relevant adjoining institution

Domestic Training School, Stanhope Street, Dublin 7

No relevant adjoining institution

If you worked in the laundry of a ‘Magdalen’ institution while a resident in one of the adjoining institutions and would like to know if you might be entitled to benefits under the scheme, you should apply for and complete an “Expression of Interest” form. This form is available on the Department’s website www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/MagdalenScheme You may also email RJScheme@justice.ie or phone 0011 353 1 4768660 and request a form.

The Magdalen Restorative Justice ex-gratia scheme established in 2013 remains open.