Irish Echo Feb 2017

IRISH FILM

BREXIT LOOMS

PAGE 4

PAGES 8-9

Mardi Gras Film Festival To Showcase Irish Movies

Wins And Losses For Ireland As Britain Sharpens EU Exit Strategy

For breaking news visit www.irishecho.com.au

AUST RALI A’ S I RI S H N E WS PA P E R February 9 - 21, 2017 | Volume 30 – Number 1

AUS $5.95 (incl GST) Laura Corrigan from Cavan is part of the Melbourne Demons squad for the new women’s AFL competition. Will she be the first of many Irish women to sign up?

Picture: Melbourne FC

She’s A Demon Cavan Woman Kicks Off AFL Career SEE PAGE 25

EMPLOYERS MAY FIND IT TOUGHER TO SPONSOR FOREIGN WORKERS

Pollies take aim at 457 visas on notice to expect tougher visa rules under a Labor government to spur the use of local workers while signalling his ambition to increase investment in vocational education to reverse years of neglect.

Mr Shorten named “jobs, jobs, jobs” as his dominant policy agenda this year, including a push against the use of the 457 skilled foreign worker visas to undercut Australian jobs.

“This nation will pay the price in the future for simply the shor t-term importing of skills, rather than training

our own,” he told the National Press Club. “Labor has never said you shouldn’t have guest workers where there is genuine vacancies, but do we really need to import early childhood educators? Do we really need not to be training up our own diesel mechanics and motor mechanics and fitters and turners? Do we really need not to be training our own electricians for the future? So there is a problem with exploitation and that’s real.”

Asked if the application fee for 457 visas could be raised to spend more on

TAFE, the Opposition Leader signalled his support for the idea. “In terms of the application fee for 457 visas, I do think that is an issue. If it becomes too easy and too cheap to import someone rather than train someone, inevitably, like water flows to the lowest level, people will go to where the opportunity is,” he said.

Employers pay $420 and workers pay $1060 for the visas under existing rules. Fees are expected to increase this year.

However, Prime Minister Malcolm

Irish Echo Australia | 1300 555 995 | newsdesk@irishecho.com.au | (Admin): mail@irishecho.com.au | PO Box 256, Balmain, NSW 2041 I Print Post No 100007285

Turnbull also expressed concern about the number of 457 visas being offered to foreign workers.

“If Bill Shorten’s going to talk about 457 visas, he should turn up in sack cloth and ashes as a penitent confessing to his sins,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Nobody issued more 457 visas than Bill Shor ten. He is the Olympic champion of 457 visas.”

Print Post No 100007285

BOTH the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition have signalled their desire to make it tougher for Australian employers to sponsor workers on the popular 457 visas.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has backed the idea of making employers pay more to hire skilled foreign workers as he seeks to tap into voter anxiety about lost job opportunities, ­warning Australia will “pay the price” for making it too easy to ­import labour.

The Opposition Leader put industry

2

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

FIND A WAY TO STAY

Lic 2TA00839

There are more than 140 different types of Australian visas

Blacktown

To find out which one best suits you

CALL JOHN MC QUAID

For a professional assessment of your options

02 9369 2400 Specialising in visas for: Employer sponsorship and skilled workers Partners and Families Student Visas with work rights

L YOUR FOR ALL NEEDS TRAVE EAKAWAY R CALL B AVEL! R T

SUPER SUMMER DEALS.

SUPER AIRFARES NOW AVAILABLE - CALL NOEL TODAY!

(02) 9622 7799

For your temporary or permanent residence strategy Call John or Narelle on 02 93692400 Email us on info@arriveaustralia.com.au Visit our website www.arriveaustralia.com.au Westfield Tower Bondi Junction MARN 0324918

FOR THE BEST FARES TO IRELAND CALL US NOW !!! * PRESENT THIS AD WHEN BOOKING AND RECEIVE $50.00 DISCOUNT ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE. *FAMILY POLICY CONDITIONS APPLY. Division of Rotonda World Travel ACN 001 448 835

94 Main St Blacktown 2148 - Telephone (02) 9622 7799 Email: blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au

MOVING OVERSEAS? Working with the Irish community since 1970!

Specialist international mover Door to door service High quality packing Cars & Motorbikes Secure Storage Trust our 40 years experience

Call for an obligation free quote

1300 789 322 info ossworldwide.com @

www.ossworldwidemovers.com

3

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

news IRISH SAILOR VOWS TO COMPLETE ROUND-THE-WORLD CHALLENGE

‘Completing this trip will be the ultimate for me’ Ed Carty AN Irish sailor forced out of a solo round-the-world race has vowed to complete the epic challenge.

Enda O’Coineen was towed to safety from the Southern Ocean, hundreds of miles from New Zealand, after the mast on his 60ft racing yacht snapped in a squall on New Year’s Day. The 60-year-old entrepreneur from Galway spent the month of January mulling over his ambition to complete the Vendee Globe race route and is considering a restart at the same spot and a year to the day when disaster struck.

Although he is officially out of the race, it would be the first single-handed circumnavigation by an Irish sailor.

“It’s a personal goal and I would never live with myself for not at least trying to complete it,” O’Coineen said.

His racing yacht Kilcullen Voyager was battered by 35 knot winds on January 1, snapping the mast in two.

Out of helicopter range and 180 miles from the nearest fishing vessel, O’Coineen was forced to cut the huge mast off the deck to stop it putting a hole in the boat.

He was picked up about five days later by the Lady Dorothy fishing trawler from Dunedin on New Zealand’s south island and towed to safety.

“Having now got over the initial devastation of losing the mast and having to retire from the race I’m actually getting excited about what lies ahead,” O’Coineen said.

“From an early age I’ve been drawn to adventure and completing this trip will be the ultimate for me.

“They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and following what I’ve just been through I can confirm they weren’t lying. I can’t wait to get back to Ireland in the coming weeks to see friends and family and my first granddaughter.”

O’Coineen revealed his plan as he set off from Otago, near Dunedin, after a temporary mast was fitted to allow him to sail 800 miles to Auckland.

The yacht will be docked there while a new, bigger racing mast and rig is made to order and fitted.

He is now planning to use his restart to continue to encourage school children to take an interest in sailing and follow his journey and to promote the Atlantic Youth Trust Charity, which aims to build a tall ship for Ireland.

O’Coineen set off from Les Sablesd’Olonne in France on November 6 as one of the oldest sailors at the helm of one of 29 boats in the Vendee Globe.

In 62 days he completed 13,151 nautical miles, including one 24-hour stretch when he sailed a remarkable 395 nautical miles.

HE WON’T BE BEATEN: Enda O’Coineen gets a session going in Dunedin before sailing to Auckland aboard Kilcullen Voyager (inset). The Irish sailor who was forced out of a solo round-the-world race has sworn to complete the epic challenge. Picture: Gregor Richardson/Otago Daily Times/PA Wire

BLIND CORK RUNNER MAKES HISTORY

Sinéad’s marathon feat ends in Sydney CORK woman Sinéad Kane has become the first visually impaired woman to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

The 35-year-old completed her mammoth task, along with her guide runner John O’Regan, in Sydney.

The duo completed their first marathon at Union Glacier, Antarctica on January 23, before running in Punta Arenas (Chile), Miami (US), Madrid (Spain), Marrakech (Morocco) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

Kane came joint-first in her marathon in Asia and finished sixth in her last in Australia.

“I am trying to take in what I have just achieved over the past week. The last seven days have been a character building experience for me. It’s been a huge adventure,” Kane said afterwards.

“I am sad that this experience has come to an end, in a way I am in auto pilot mode, I keep thinking I need to run another marathon tomorrow. “[In Australia] I kept thinking that I just couldn’t do it, that I just didn’t have it in me to complete the final leg of the World Marathon Challenge. I have had high moments and low moments on this trip over the last week, so thanks for all of the belief and support in me.”

During the week-long event, competitors flew by charter plane and ran standar d 42.2km marathon distances.

Having started running five years ago after completing the 2012 Mini Marathon, Kane has been training for the World Marathon Challenge since last year.

“I’ve had this challenge on my mind since about January 2016 so it’s not

NEWS IN BRIEF

Irish woman in Queensland plane crash AN Irish woman faces a long road to recovery after a a light plane crash in Queensland in which a British woman was killed.

The women were among four people on the aircraft when it came down on Middle Island near Agnes Water, local police said.

The 21-year-old Irish woman was flown to Rockhampton Hospital. She was later transported to Brisbane for treatment of a head injury.

Queensland Police said a 29-year-old British woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The pilot, who is in his 60s, was airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital.

A 13-year-old boy was transported to Rockhampton Base Hospital with minor injuries. Those involved are believed to have been tourists taking a day trip to the island.

Fourfold rise in Irish-Australians THE number of Irish nationals becoming Australian citizens each year has almost quadrupled since 2012. In 2016, 3,943 Irish became Australian citizens, up from 1,145 in 2012. The number has been rising steadily with 1,796 becoming citizens in 2013; 2,843 in 2014 and 3,092 in 2015. More than 600 Irish pledged their alliegiance to “Australia and its people” on Australia Day, January 26, this year.

Australian firms ponder Irish move

WONDER RUNNER: Sinéad O’Kane, who has only 5 per cent vision, ran seven marathons in seven continents over seven days.

something that’s just developed over night,” Kane said before the challenge began..

“I suppose it shows that, with any goals, there has to be preparation and you have to be willing to put in the hard work and, of course, having to raise the money.

“But I think that might make it a bit more rewarding, that I’ve put in the hard work. That said, there’s definitely been times over the last year that I’ve wanted to give up, to walk away.”

The Youghal woman has made sporting histor y before. Two years ago, she became the first visually-

impaired Irish person to run an ultramarathon in Ireland.

Kane also qualified as Ireland’s first legally blind solicitor in 2009.

Kane, who is writing a PhD on bullying, talked about her experiences of discrimination.

“When I was in primary school I was ver y badly bullied, it was a lot of physical bullying,” she said. “Because I can only see maybe three feet in front of me, they’d put my schoolbag maybe five feet in front of me and I wouldn’t be able to see it was there, or they’d tell me they’d hid it or they’d hide books on me.”

THE IDA has received significant interest from companies in Australia who are considering Ireland as an entry point into Europe following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, The Irish Times reports.

At the inaugural Australia Day lunch, hosted in Croke Park by the local chapter of the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce, IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan noted that 45 Australian companies had already invested in Ireland, creating a combined 3,000-plus jobs.

Three investments were announced last year: SiteMinder, which announced 100 jobs for Galway; Nexvet in Tullamore; and CXC Global setting up its European headquarters in Dublin.

Mr Shanahan said a key objective of the IDA is to grow investment from the Asia-Pacific. “Within that, Australia is performing and that’s why we’ve increased our presence down there,” he said.

Labour hire firm fined after ‘scalping’ A LABOUR hire company has been fined $60,000 after an Irish backpacker was scalped by a conveyor belt in a pear packing shed at Shepparton in Victoria’s north.

WorkSafe Victoria said Annie Dunne was scrubbing the underside of a conveyor belt in the packing shed run by Kalafatis Packing when her hair got tangled in a rotating drive shaft on November 7, 2015. Her scalp was torn from her head and one of her ears was ripped off.

T&R Contracting Shepparton Pty Ltd, which specialises in finding backpackers to pack fruit, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment by not providing instruction and training, WorkSafe Victoria said.

A crowdfunding campaign to help Ms Dunne with her recovery has raised more than $35,500. Kalafatis Packing and the manager of the packing shed, Dimitrios Vagelatos, are also facing charges over the incident.

4

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

local CINEMA :: IRISH DRAMAS TO BOOKEND MARDI GRAS FILM FESTIVAL IN SYDNEY

Irish films get top festival billing Aoife-Grace Moore

TWO award-winning Irish films will book end this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Film Festival.

The festival, which runs for two weeks, opens on March 15 with the Australian premiere of A Date for Mad Mary.

The r omantic comedy set in Drogheda recently won Best Irish Film at the Dublin Film Critics Awards 2016, and stars Can’t Cope Won’t Cope actress Seána Kerslake.

Kerslake stars as Mary, who has just been released from juvenile detention when she begins her desperate hunt for a plus one for her best friend’s wedding.

The 25 year-old, from Tallaght in Dublin, says the film is her first LGBTQ role and she found the experience extremely positive.

“What I like about the film is that although Mary’s sexuality it is a focal point of the story it doesn’t depend on that or take advantage of the situation.

It shows a very human side to someone finding their sexuality.

“I think it’s hugely important to represent all people in film. It’s crucial to show people out there who may be struggling with who they are.

“I think a lot of people will see aspects of themselves in Mary, in her loneliness and her search for where she fits in the world.”

The film opened to rave reviews in Ireland last year, winning Best Irish Feature Film at the Galway Film Fleadh 2016, while Seána took the Bingham Ray New Talent Award and the Breakthrough Award at the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2016.

The director, Darren Thornton, won the First Feature Award at the London Film Festival 2016.

Seána says she wasn’t surprised by the warm reception by Irish audiences and is says she is honoured to have been a part of the film.

“Ireland was the first country to vote for mar riage equality by public referendum, which is something I feel we are very proud of. It’s received an extremely warm reception at home.”

Closing the 24th annual Film Festival

Mardi Gras Film Festival The Mardi Gras Film Festival runs from February 15 to March 2. Films will be screened at venues in Sydney, Canberra and in regional NSW. Both Irish films will be shown at George Street Cinema in Sydney. For more information, visit queerscreen.org.au

is Handsome Devil, set in an all-boys boarding school outside Dublin, where Ned (Fionn O’Shea) faces a life of bullying and constant digs about his sexuality, he endeavours to survive in a place where rugby is worshipped beyond all else.

Festival director Paul Struthers says he hopes the film will highlight an impor tant issue being debated in Australia.

“Handsome Devil picks up an impor tant issue that comes up throughout a number of the films in this year’s programme: the importance of safe schools programmes around the world.

“So often, LGBTIQ pupils are let down by staff and classmates, and not given the support they need. We hope that it will make people in Australia reflect on the situation for young people at home.”

Butler added that the decision to bookend the festival with two Irish films was not intentional but because of the high standard of films Ireland has produced lately.

“Every year we think very carefully about which films will open and close the festival – they have to be accessible, enjoyable, and high quality.

“It’s just the case that Irish filmmakers are producing some really excellent cinema this year.

“The history makes Ireland a good setting for the kind of intrigues and conflicts that these films present.”

The closing night screening will be followed by a very special party hosted

by Irish ‘royalty’ – the Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss who is also performing at the Enmore Theatre on March 1 as part of her national tour.

Seána Kerslak (right) stars in A Date for Mad Mary, and Fionn O’Shea takes the lead role in Handsome Devil.

ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST WILL ‘MAINTAIN OUTRAGE’ ABOUT IMPRISONMENT

Relief for campaign as release date looms for Manning Becky Barnes

AN Australian-born anti-war activist, who has served time in a US prison, says that while he is relieved Chelsea Manning’s sentence has been commuted he will “maintain outrage” she was jailed in the first place.

Ciaron O’Reilly, an Aussie who lives in Dublin, has campaigned alongside Ms Manning’s family for six years since he heard the former intelligence analyst, then known as Bradley, had been arrested in Baghdad.

Mr O’Reilly, 56, who was jailed for 13 months in 1991 after disarming a bomber plane heading for Iraq on the eve of the Gulf War, said: “I have been quite distressed about the suicide attempts. It is a relief to know an end is in sight while I maintain outrage for her ever being in jail.”

Mr O’Reilly, a member of the Catholic Worker Movement, spent time in prisons in Oklahoma and Louisiana after being ar rested at Griffiss Air Force Base in New York, where the group he was part of put the aircraft out of action for three months.

Although Mr O’Reilly was in federal prisons and county jails while Ms

Manning is in a militar y prison, he empathises with her suffering, which included two suicide attempts last year, according to her lawyers.

“I know the physical and mental health problems associated with being in jail,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“The whole system is designed to frighten and break you and to make you feel like you will be forgotten.

“It was very crowded. There were 24 of us in a cage. I was the only white guy in prison which made it culturally interesting. But it [anti-war activism] felt like the right thing to do and what I went through was so much less than people in Iraq who have lost their children.”

Mr O’Reilly also faced three trials before being acquitted for disarming a US navy warplane at Shannon Airport in Ireland in 2003.

He has since met Ms Manning’s family at events in their home town of Haverfordwest in Wales, and at events in Dublin.

“They are from a pretty small town so it was quite a shock to have the FBI turn up at Chelsea’s mother’s house,” Mr O’Reilly said. “They are quite shy, reserved people.”

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

Australian-born Dublin-based activist Ciaron O’Reilly and (inset) Bradley/ Chelsea Manning whose sententence has been commuted.

Services

5

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

Scones and tea like nana used to make, tucked away at 33 George street in Sydney’s Historical Rocks.

It’s a hidden gem. Our quaint Tea Room serving delicious scones baked fresh on premises all day.

theteacosy.com.au

IMMIGRATION LAWYER Tel: 02 9389 2290

www.australianvisas.com.au

e perienc x e l a g s le 25 year ATE, R S S E UCC HIGH S ABLE FEES. N REASO

www.workpermitsandvisas.com.au An agent, not an agency – for personal & professional service.

enda o callaghan (llb)(ba)(dip) registered migration agent

Work, Study & Travel Visas

D

suite 2201, level 22, tower 2 westfield, 101 grafton st, bondi junction, nsw 2022, australia.

(02) 8095 6406

enda@workpermitsandvisas.com.au

FIND IRISH STAFF Email ads@irishecho.com.au

Call 1300 555 995

marn 1383553

Email: andrew@australianvisas.com.au

Andrew Hackworthy BComm LLB (UNSW) Solicitor and Attorney MARN: 9790738 Eastern Suburbs Sydney

The Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme 2017 Applications The Irish Government, through the Emigrant Support Programme, provides funding to non-profit organisations which support and connect the Irish community in Australia/ New Zealand. The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible expression of the Irish Government’s support of, commitment to, and interest in, the global Irish community.

Our vision is a vibrant, diverse global Irish community, connected to Ireland and to each other.

Applications for the 2017 grant round are open from 11th January 2017.

The Emigrant Support Programme funds projects that will: • Celebrate, maintain and strengthen the links between Ireland and our community in Australia/ New Zealand; • Address the diverse and evolving needs of Irish emigrants in Australia/ New Zealand, especially the elderly, disadvantaged and vulnerable; • Facilitate access to statutory and voluntary services in Australia/ New Zealand for vulnerable Irish emigrants; • Foster a more vibrant sense of community and of Irish identity based on sporting, cultural and community networking; • Further the outcomes of the Global Irish Economic Forum; • Research and define the emerging needs of Irish communities abroad; • Support development of new ways to communicate and connect with the increasingly diverse Global Irish, including business networks, non-traditional diasporas and alumni groups; • Improve awareness and understanding of the emigrant and diaspora experience; • Support business networks to connect Irish people to each other at home and abroad.

Applications are particularly welcome from organisations that have not applied before and/or new projects in geographic areas not previously assisted.

Further information about the Emigrant Support Programme and how to apply for funding is available on the Embassy/ Consulate of Ireland website or by logging on directly to www.irishabroadgrants.ie Applications must be made online. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

The closing time and date for applications is 5.30pm Wednesday 15th February 2017.

www.irishabroadgrants.ie

6

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

news BREXIT, EURO 2016 ADDS TO DEMAND; CANBERRA IS SECOND BUSIEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Demand for Irish passports soars Ed Carty

DEMAND for Irish identity papers hit new heights last year when 733,060 passports were issued.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said there were a number of reasons behind the surge but that in the months after the Brexit vote there was a 41 per cent increase in the number of applications from Britain and a 27 per cent increase from Northern Ireland.

The European Championships in France, more Irish holidaymakers going abroad and high levels of renewals from a historical spike in 2006 also played a part in the record year.

Mr Flanagan said he expects the

growth in demand for Irish passports to continue. A breakdown of applications showed 461,911 passports were issued to adults. Outside Dublin, the biggest demand was at the New York consulate, from where 7,205 passpor ts were issued. The next busiest wer e the consulates in Canberra, San Francisco and Sydney.

Mr Flanagan said Canberra was the busiest embassy with regard to passport applications for infants, with more than 490 such applications, and that this was possibly because of the high number of young adults who had emigrated to Australia in recent years.

“Abu Dhabi was also a popular choice for the Irish under-threes, with more than 300 applicants,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs repor ted 67,972 applications from people in Northern Ireland and another 64,996 from people of Irish heritage in Great Britain.

“The department has worked hard in recent years to ensure we provide a modern, secure and quick passport service,” the minister said.

“However, it remains very important that prospective travellers check the validity of their passpor t before booking a trip overseas and apply for their passport in plenty of time. Delays are often caused by incomplete applications so it’s important to ensure applications are correct and complete before submission.”

The passport office’s figures for

2016 showed that May was the busiest month, when almost 100,000 applications were lodged. There were also surges in August, October and November.

Anyone born on the island of Ireland, or whose parents are Irish, automatically qualifies for citizenship.

In some cases, those who have an Irish grandparent can also apply. This is sometimes called the Cascarino effect, after the British born soccer player Tony Cascarino got Irish citizenship through a grandfather, qualifying him to play for the Republic of Ireland team.

Diplomatic staff in Dublin issued an appeal for calm when post offices ran out of application forms after the Brexit vote in June last year.

WANTED: Demand for Irish passports is at an all-time high.

IRELAND’S REACTION TO THE FIRST WEEKS OF DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY

Taoiseach orders review of Irish-US travel agreement Brian Hutton

UNITED WE STAND: Members of the campaign group United Against Racism protesting outside the American Embassy in Dublin against President Trump’s travel ban. (Inset) U2’s Adam Clayton.

Obama planning a visit to ‘homeland’ FORMER US president Barack Obama will return to Ireland as early as this year, Washington’s ambassador in Dublin has said.

Kevin O’Malley said Mr Obama had asked him to tell the people of Ireland he would return to the country after he had left office. Like millions of Americans, Mr Obama has Irish roots – something he celebrated on a visit in 2011 when he supped a pint of Guinness at a pub in his ancestral homeland Moneygall.

Mr Obama’s great-great-great-greatgrandfather was a shoemaker in the rural village and his son, Falmouth Kearney, left for New York in 1850.

Mr O’Malley, whose tenure as ambassador has also come to an end, said Mr Obama told him he would be coming back to Ireland – possibly later this year.

“The last sentence that the president said to me on Wednesday of this week when we were saying goodbye was: ‘Please tell them I’m coming’,” he told RTÉ Radio 1. “So I think that’s [Obamas’] way of saying informally that you will probably see him again and my guess is in the coming year or so.”

The ambassador refused to be drawn on reports that the then president-elect, Donald Trumo, planned to appoint his friend, businessman Brian Burns, to the Dublin post.

“I read the same reports that you read,” Mr O’Malley said on the Marian Finucane Show before Mr Trump’s inauguration.

“The president-elect hasn’t consulted me on this issue, nor probably should he. All I would say is that there are always a lot of names floating around.

This is a very sought-after post. People, especially Irish-Americans, are thrilled to come here.”

Meanwhile, U2 bassist Adam Clayton has questioned Mr Trump’s integrity.

As the band announced a world tour of their 30-year-old album The Joshua Tree, they drew comparisons between the politics of the mid-1980s and now.

“I think it’s fair to say the process of democracy that has brought Donald Trump to the presidency seems flawed,” Clayton said.

He raised concerns about Trump’s attitude towards the media during the election campaign and lingering questions about his tax returns.

“All these things added up to a situation where you question is he really the right person to lead the country and whether he actually represents the constituency he claims to represent, because he doesn’t have a history of philanthropy,” he said.

“He definitely won it [the election] fair and square. The question is his integrity.”

Speaking from his home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, where The Joshua Tree was recorded, Clayton told RTÉ Radio that it was unlikely U2 would forge close relations with the new White House administration.

“It’s dangerous when you have a president, or incoming president, that effects where businesses set up their factories by tweeting about it in the early hours of the morning.

“That does not seem to be part of the democratic process,” Clayton said.

U2 plan to play the Joshua Tree in its entirety in the tour beginning in May in Vancouver and covering 16 US cities before moving to Europe.

There are no plans to bring the show to Australia as yet. U2 will play in Croke Park in Dublin on July 22.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has ordered a “complete review” of a special agr eement with the US for air passengers leaving Ireland amid claims Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban could be illegal.

Dublin and Shannon airports are among the few in the world that offer pre-clearance by US immigration officials, under a deal struck between the two countries in 2008.

Before the latest legal challenges to the Trump executive order, airport authorities confirmed the US president’s travel ban on citizens from seven mainly-Muslim countries – Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – was being implemented by US officials in Ireland.

Mr Kenny said he does not agree with the ban and has ordered a review of the agreement.

“In respect of the policy introduced by the American gover nment, I disagree with it,” he told a press conference at Dublin’s Government Buildings.

“I will obviously say that to the [US] president and vice-president when I meet them.”

“I have asked for a complete review now of the pre-clearance facilities here in Ireland, in respect of the three departments dealing with this, so we can be absolutely clear about the importance of it,” Mr Kenny said.

The Taoiseach’s announcement follows war nings by one of his ministers that implementing the travel ban at Irish airports could be illegal.

Katherine Zappone, Ir eland’s children’s minister, wrote to Mr Kenny seeking an investigation into its operation. She suggested it “may be unlawful” because the US-Ireland pre-clearance agreement upholds the rights of people under Irish law.

It is understood Ms Zappone is concerned that the implementation of the ban on Irish soil could amount to discrimination on the basis of nationality and religion.

She also said Ireland has a moral obligation to “stand with our fellow human beings against discrimination of this kind”.

Meanwhile, Mr Kenny is facing calls to snub Mr Trump’s invitation to the White House because of the travel ban.

Two party leaders are urging the Taoiseach to boycott the traditional gifting of a bowl of shamrock to the US president on St Patrick’s Day amid a

growing global backlash over the immigration crackdown.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin said a visit this year would be humiliating and depict Ireland as a weak supporter of Mr Trump.

“President Trump does not share our values,” he said.

“Indeed, he is openly hostile to them.

He and his team have made clear that he is unwilling to hear or even listen to discordant voices. In that context, the only thing a visit by the Taoiseach to the White House could achieve would be to present Ireland as a supine supporter of Trumpism.

“Such a presentation would be humiliating to the vast majority of Irish people who stand opposed to the policies being implemented by President Trump.”

Mr Howlin called on Mr Kenny to confir m he would not travel to Washington on March 17.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also urged the Taoiseach to postpone his visit to the White House.

“We respect the US political system and value our historic connections, but we cannot in all honesty hand over that bowl of shamrock in these circumstances,” he said.

“It is time for our Taoiseach to represent our country and what we stand for in the world. We should do so in a civil and diplomatic manner, but proceeding as if everything is normal is not an option.”

Mr Trump confirmed last week that his St Patrick’s Day invitation to Mr Kenny, originally extended in a 10-minute telephone call in November, still stands. Mr Kenny said he will travel to Washington because it is “more important now than ever before to speak face-to-face to the American president”.

The Taoiseach said he would be putting Ireland’s case to the president on a number of issues, including his disapproval of the travel ban.

7

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

news TOP FIGURES ATTEND FUNERAL MASS FOR ‘ARCHITECT OF MODERN IRELAND’ TK WHITAKER

Tributes for man of ‘wit, warmth and generosity’ Brian Hutton TK Whitaker, dubbed the architect of modern Ireland, wanted to be remembered simply as a civil servant who did his best.

Eminent figures from the worlds of politics, justice and finance were among hundreds who thronged the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, Dublin, to pay their last respects. The late economist, credited with designing the blueprint of Ireland’s economic success, attended Mass every day in the same church for decades, celebrant Father Loman MacAodha told mourners.

“Asked how he’d like to be remembered, he replied: ‘As a civil servant who did his best’,” Fr MacAodha recalled.

The Fransiscan friar said his friend was truly civil and was a true servant.

“He came to serve, not to be served”.

He also remembered Mr Whitaker being asked, at the age of 80, to respond to a series of essays written up by scholars to honour his many public service achievements.

“He replied, typically pithily: ‘I thank

God for having so far given me an interesting, fulfilling and happy life. I look forward to it continuing that way for a while longer’,” said Fr MacAodha.

Thomas Kenneth Whitaker died on January 9 at the age of 100.

Born in 1916 in Rostrevor, Co Down, he developed a cornerstone policy in the 1950s that helped end Ireland’s economic protectionism and led to greater participation in world trade with the aid of foreign investment.

He was one of the youngest secretaries of Ireland’s Finance Department when appointed to the post at the age of 39. He later became governor general of Ireland’s Central Bank and a member of the Seanad.

Mr Whitaker’s son, also known as Ken, noted his father is celebrated as a great patriot and a man of the 20th century.

“He was to us, just our dad. He was the most wonderful father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather.

It was a great privilege for us, his children, and our families to be part of his life, and to have experienced first hand his warmth, wisdom, generosity and charm.”

ECONOMIC GENIUS: The funeral of TK Whitaker took place in Donnybrook, Dublin after his death on January 9.

‘Ken’ Whitaker was accredited with policies that set the framework for modern Ireland. Picture: Niall Carson

DÁIL BACKS BAN ON INVESTING PUBLIC MONEY IN FOSSIL FUELS

World first for Dáil after fossil fuel vote Ed Carty

THE Dáil has become the first parliament in the world to back a ban on investing public money in fossil fuels. The move is the first step towards a ground-breaking law which would end the practice of finance chiefs pumping pension cash and other funds into oil and gas companies.

The initiative secured cross-party support, dealing Ireland’s minority government a damaging blow.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who introduced the bill in the Dáil, said the legislation would allow Ireland to make a powerful statement on the world stage.

“This principle of ethical financing is a symbol to these global corporations that their continual manipulation of climate science, denial of the existence

of climate change and their controversial lobbying practices of politicians around the world is no longer tolerated,” he said.

“We cannot accept their actions while millions of poor people in underdeveloped nations bear the brunt of climate change forces as they experience famine, mass emigration and civil unrest as a result.”

It will be several months at least before the proposed legislation could become law.

If enacted it would force the €8 billion Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, part of the Republic’s National Treasury Management Agency, to sell its investments in fossil fuel industries over five years. It would also ban it from making new investments in the sector.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan accepted there is no guarantee the

landmark proposal will become law, but he said: “The maths is beyond doubt.

It is based on simple and clear physics.

“We have to leave four-fifths of known fossil fuel reser ves in the ground. That is what we are ... legislating for here.”

Eamonn Meehan, executive director of development agency Trocaire which launched a social media blitz on the proposal, said: “With a climate sceptic recently inaugurated into the White House, this move by elected representatives in Ireland will send out a powerful message.”

Similar initiatives are taking place in Norway, where the state pension fund is considering divesting from high carbon emission companies, and in New Zealand, where a target is expected to be set in June to seek greener investments.

Tel: (02) 8243 2600 Fax: (02) 8243 2611 Email: georgina@celtictravel.com.au

SUITE 502, LEVEL 5, 4 BRIDGE ST, SYDNEY 2000 Licence No. 2TA003945

IRISH PROPERTY MARKET

Strong price growth in ‘16 Michael McHugh

HOUSE prices rose by an average of 8 per cent in the Republic last year.

They increased sharply in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities, according to property website Daft.ie.

The Irish national average asking price in the final quarter of 2016 was €220,500, compared to €204,000 a year ago and €164,000 at its lowest point.

In Dublin, prices have risen by an average of €102,000 (or 46.2 per cent ) from their lowest point in mid-2012.

Outside the capital, the average increase has been €48,000, or 36 per cent, since the end of 2013.

Ronan L yons, an economist at Trinity College Dublin and author of the Daft.ie Report, said: “Overall, the market continues to be characterised by strong demand, albeit limited by Central Bank rules, coupled with very weak supply both of new and secondhand homes.

“This year has seen a number of measures that will serve to stimulate demand in the years ahead. Hopefully next year, the focus will be on supply.”

Official government figures have

cor roborated the strength of the housing market. House prices are continuing to rise at a rate of almost 9 per cent a year, latest official figures show.

The cost of buying a home is increasing more outside Dublin than in the capital with the biggest rise in the west.

Overall, house prices rose nationally by 8.6 per cent in the year to November, the Central Statistics Of fice has reported. Outside Dublin there were increases of almost 13 per cent, rising to almost 17 per cent in the west.

In Dublin, the cost of buying a home rose by nearly 6 per cent over the same period, with house prices in south Dublin rising at a more than 8 per cent.

The figures show prices throughout Ireland are more than 30 per cent lower than at the peak of the property market boom and more than 50 per cent higher than at their lowest ebb.

Meanwhile, Real Estate Alliance, a representative body for 55 property agents in Ireland, has reported a sharp increase in the number of inquiries from Australia, mainly from expats planning to return home.

AT LAST! ONE HOP WITH ONE STOP - TO IRELAND Call and let us show you how!

8

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

ireland - brexit MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN THE WORKS

Dublin’s office space ‘windfall’ Michael McHugh

IRELAND is set for an office-building boom to host financial services firms relocating because of Brexit.

Almost 4.5 million square feet of commercial space is under construction or refurbishment and a further five million square feet of accommodation with full planning permission is available in the Dublin area, a report by the Department of Finance said.

The Central Bank has confirmed an increased interest in firms assessing Ireland as a location for financial services.

“While firms are making, and will continue to make, relocation and investment decisions in the short term, the implementation of those decisions will take longer. In that regard, Ireland is well-positioned to address any additional domestic and commercial property demand that may arise,” the Finance Department said.

British Chancellor Philip Hammond

has said protecting financial services is a priority for Brexit negotiations amid warnings of job losses in the City.

Ireland has successfully attracted foreign direct investment using a low corporate tax rate, which companies like Apple have taken advantage of.

Ireland’s junior finance minister, Eoghan Murphy, has already predicted that a wave of UK-based financial ser vices companies will announce, within months, full or partial relocations to the Irish capital.

An IFS 2020 action plan for 2017 published last week aims to attract thousands of new jobs to Dublin.

“Since the UK EU referendum result, there has been an enhanced focus on inter national financial ser vices across Gover nment departments and agencies,” the IFS said.

“There will be some opportunities with Brexit. The Government is keen to maximise those where possible.”

Barclays is one of the businesses

considering expanding its Dublin offices after Britain leaves the EU. Dublin is one of a number of EU cities the lender is eyeing as part of contingency plans, although it is not clear whether London-based jobs would be moved or if new staff would be hired.

Barclays already has a subsidiary and banking licence in Dublin, where about 100 staff are employed, giving it access to the single market after Brexit. The lender has operations in other cities EU cities including Frankfurt, Madrid and Paris.

“We have made clear repeatedly that we will plan for a range of Brexit contingencies, including building greater capacity into our existing operations in Dublin,” a Barclays spokesman said.

“Identifying available office space is a necessary and predictable part of that contingency planning process.”

US bank Citigroup also plans to shift some jobs out of London to a rival

European financial centre and will make a final decision soon.

Citigroup’s chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), James Cowles, said the company was looking to set up a new broker-dealer outside London by establishing a new EU entity, or by bulking up one of its existing locations in the EU. Speaking to the European Financial Forum in Dublin, he said the bank was evaluating the possibility of moving staff to either Ireland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany or the Netherlands after speaking to government officials and regulators.

“We will be making a decision in the first half of this year. It’s a decision that every bank has to make in the first six months of this year,” he said.

“Our issue is with our broker-dealer, which is located in the UK, and will lose, presumably, passporting rights.

So what we’re doing now is looking across Europe and we’re saying:

Where do we want to establish a new br oker-dealer? We’ve talked to regulators and people in government across many countries in Europe, including Ireland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands and we’re in the process of evaluating each one of them.”

The New York lender set up its European retail and commercial banking headquarters in Dublin last year, where it employs about 2,500 staff.

Meanwhile, one of Nor ther n Ireland’s most successful companies has announced it is opening a new plant in the Republic of Ireland, creating 100 jobs, to maintain EU access after Brexit. Pharmaceutical firm Almac Group, which has its headquarters in Craigavon, Co Armagh, said it was making a multimillion-pound investment in its new facility at Dundalk, Co Louth.

The move will create up to 100 jobs within the first two years.

POLITICS :: ANGL0-IRISH RELATIONS IN SPOTLIGHT AS LEADERS MEET

May pledges to prioritise Irish links Shaun Connolly

KEEPING the common travel area between Britain and Ireland will be a priority in EU divorce talks, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

Mrs May used a keynote address on Britain’s Brexit strategy to stress that any deal on the sensitive border issue would have to respect the “integrity” of the UK’s immigration system.

“We cannot forget that, as we leave, the United Kingdom will share a land border with the EU, and maintaining that common travel area with the Republic of Ireland will be an important priority for the UK in the talks ahead,” the Prime Minister said.

“There has been a common travel area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland for many years.

“Indeed, it was formed before either of our two countries were members of the European Union. And the family ties and bonds of affection that unite our two countries mean that there will always be a special relationship between us. So we will work to deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the common travel area with the Republic, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.

“Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past, so we will make it a priority to deliver a practical solution as soon as we can.”

Responding to the speech, the Irish government said its key objectives were securing trade and preserving the peace process.

“For Ireland, the priorities for the negotiation process that lies ahead are unchanged: our economic and trading arrangements, the Northern Ireland peace process, including border issues, the common travel area, and the future of the European Union.

“The Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy [and] is under no illusion about the nature and scale of the Brexit challenge. But it is ready,” the Irish gover nment said in a statement.

AFTER YOU ... Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British PM Theresa May at a joint press conference in Dublin. Picture: Niall Carson

We will work with UK for better Brexit deal, Kenny Arj Singh IRELAND has backed British Prime Minister Theresa May’s goal of securing a “friction-free” trading relationship with the European Union after Brexit comes into effect.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said helping the British Prime Minister to achieve deal to keep UK-EU trade as close as possible would be an “absolute priority” for Ireland in the Brexit negotiations.

Setting out her strategy earlier this month, Mrs May strongly hinted that Britain could leave the European customs union (CU), stating she wanted “frictionless” cross-border trade, but that she had an “open mind” on whether it should be done through associate membership or a new agreement.

Speaking after talks with the PM in Dublin, Mr Kenny echoed her language, suggesting he would support the strategy during divorce talks.

“Our two governments are agreed that a close and friction-free economic and trading relationship between the

Untied Kingdom and the European Union, including Ireland, is in our very best interests,” he said.

“And as the UK prepares for its formal notification under Article 50, we want to see that these deep trading ties between our two countries are recognised and facilitated.

That will continue to be an absolute priority for my government, not just in our discussions with the British Government, but also with our EU partners as we prepare for the negotiation process.”

Mr Kenny and Mrs May have insisted they do not want to see a return to the “border of the past” between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

There have been suggestions that leaving the tariff-free customs union could imperil the soft border and mean the reintroduction of customs checks and controls unless an agreement can be reached.

Mrs May said that staying fully in the Customs Union would leave the UK unable to agree free-trade deals with

other countries, which she is aiming to do.

However, she said she was working towards maintaining existing border rules and stressed that Britain and Ireland had open borders “long before either of us were members of the European Union”.

“We have of course said we do not want to see a return to the border of the past.

“That isn’t just a phrase; actually it symbolises the sort of seamless, frictionless border that we want to see in the future,” the PM said.

“Of course there are elements of full membership of the Customs Union that would restrict our ability to trade and do trade agreements with other parts of the world.

“But I believe, and this is what we are working on, that we need to find a solution which enables us to have as seamless and frictionless a border as possible between Northern Ireland and Ireland so that we can continue to see the trade, the everyday

movements, that we have seen up to now. And, of course, we also want to ensure that we carry on with the Common Travel Area, which was in existence long before either of us were members of the European Union or its predecessors,”Mrs May said.

Despite the bonhomie between the two leaders, Mrs May declined an invitation to make a historic address to the Dáil.

Mr Kenny had asked Mrs May to give a speech in the Dáil during her one-day official visit to Ireland.

She would have been the first Tory leader, and only the second British prime minister – after Tony Blair in 1998 – to address the Dáil.

But Mr Kenny indicated that Mrs May has turned down the offer.

“My understanding is that the Prime Minister’s schedule will not allow that to happen and I am not in control of that schedule,” Mr Kenny told the Dáil.

“My understanding is that the visit was to come to have a Taoiseach-toPrime Minister discussion.”

9

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

brexit - ireland ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL BE ‘SEVERE’

40,000 jobs to go, warns economist Brian Hutton

ABOUT 40,000 people will lose their jobs in Ireland if there’s a hard Brexit, the Irish government’s chief economist has warned.

Exports to the UK are set to nosedive by nearly a third and €20 billion will be heaped onto Ireland’s national debt over the next decade, it is also predicted.

John McCarthy, chief economist at Dublin’s Department of Finance, said much of the pain will be front-loaded over the next five years but the fallout would continue afterwards.

The senior Government official said the dire forecast was based on extensive economic modelling carried out by his depar tment and the Economic and Social Resear ch Institute, a leading think tank.

“There is a health warning to all models but I think the figures are reasonable,” he said.

Mr McCarthy, giving evidence to a parliamentary committee in Dublin, said officials had been working on predictions for the financial fallout from Brexit for some time.

They had drawn up forecasts for three dif ferent scenarios: a soft, medium and hard Brexit.

“We know now that most likely scenario is a hard exit,” he said. “That would lead us to believe that the impact will be more severe.”

Worst hit will likely be those working in the food and drink industries, as well as others whose business relies heavily on exports to the UK which could be slapped with punitive trade tariffs.

Exports to the UK are expected to drop by 30 per cent, which would be the same as an overall 4 per cent dip in all Ireland’s overseas exports.

It is estimated that the Irish economy – based on the value of all goods and services in the country known as gross domestic product (GDP) – will plunge 3.5 per cent over the coming five years.

It will dip further but less sharply in the following few years as a direct result of the planned hard Brexit, according to the official forecast.

The Central Bank has also blamed Brexit for increased uncertainty about Ireland’s economic outlook. The UK’s decision to leave the EU will have a negative impact in both the short-term and longer-term, it said.

Central Bank chief economist Gabriel Fagan said “while the prospects for sustained growth remain positive, external factors, particularly in relation to Brexit, pose risks to the outlook.”

NORTH SECURITY CHIEF WARNS OF BORDER DANGERS

Opposition to Brexit is well entrenched along the border. Picture: Niall Carson

‘Hard’ border poses major security risks Deborah McAleese A BREXIT hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic would place police officers “in the terrorist firing line”, it has been warned.

The head of the Northern Ireland Police Federation, Mark Lindsay, said physical border posts would make officers easy targets for paramilitaries and harm police/community relations.

“By definition, hard Brexit is physical barriers or boundaries.

“No matter who is resourcing them,

whether Customs and Excise, the Border Agency, there’s always going to be some element of security threat around it given the nature of the areas that we will see those put up in,” Mr Lindsay said.

“That will then become incumbent on the police to provide that protection for those agencies,” said Mr Lindsay.

“That puts our officers into the firing line. It makes them a very predictable target for anybody who wants to attack them from a terrorist point of view. That is our main concern,” he added.

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland there were military checkpoints on main border crossings and security forces made the remaining crossings impassable. By 2005, these controls were completely removed.

Mr Lindsay said it would be very difficult to go back to the hard border of the Troubles in a peaceful society.

“I can’t see it happening again. A lot of communities straddle the border and to start blocking their roads again would come up against real problems,” the police chief said.

SINN FÉIN PESSIMISTIC

Brexit will destroy Good Friday accord – Adams Michael McHugh

TAKING Northern Ireland out of the EU will “destroy” the Good Friday Agreement peace deal, Gerry Adams has said.

The Sinn Féin president (pictured) claimed fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1998 accord to end violence could be undermined. The top legal adviser to Stormont ministers has said not one word in the Agreement would be affected.

Mr Adams said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status within the union of 27 states after Brexit and claimed that would not af fect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of the UK. “Taking the North out of the EU will destroy the Good Friday Agreement,” Mr Adams said.

The TD was addressing a conference inDublin on achieving a united Ireland.

“The British government’s intention to take the North out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action,” the TD said..

“Not just because of the implications of a hard border on this island but also because of its negative impact on the Good Friday Agreement.

“The British Prime Minister repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court.

“Along with her commitment to remove Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement.”

Emerald Travel

For the best deals and service when travelling to Ireland and beyond!

Seamus and Christina Moloughney at Emerald Travel continuing a family tradition of professional travel service.

He claimed ending partition between Northern Ireland and the Republic had taken on a new importance.

“As the dire economic implications of Brexit take shape there is an opportunity to promote a new agreed Ireland,” he declared.

Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU referendum by a majority of 56 per cent to 44 per cent.

“The speech by Theresa May [on the Brexit process] will have reinforced this,” he said.

“The dangers of a hard Brexit are now more obvious than before.

“The Nor th needs a special designated status within the EU. “The Irish government needs to adopt this as a strategic objective in its negotiations within the EU 27 as they negotiate with the British Prime Minister.”

“The British position also fails to take account of the fact that citizens in the North, under the Agreement, have a right to Irish citizenship and therefore EU citizenship,” Mr Adams said.

We are moving!

From 13 February you can find us at our new location at 339 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne.

Our new number: (03) 9690 2123 Emerald Travel 1a, 339 Ferrars Street SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205 t: (03) 9690 2123 w: www.emeraldtravel.com.au e: info@emeraldtravel.com.au Licence Number: 32507

10

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

news Jobless rate falls to lowest since 2008 THE unemployment rate fell to 7.2

per cent at the end of last year.

Official figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that 157,700 people were out of work in December, down by 35,500 over the course of 2016.

The report also showed that the unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 24 was 14.5 per cent The CSO figures revealed that the number of people out of work is now at its lowest level since the country was in the grip of economic crisis in 2008. The rate came down steadily in the second half of last year and compares to 8.9 per cent in December 2015 and 8.4 per cent in April 2016 and a peak of more than 15 per cent in early 2012.

Diageo launches new Irish whiskey brand DRINKS giant Diageo is to launch

a new Irish whiskey to tap into the booming popularity of the tipple.

The owner of Guinness, Captain Morgan rum and Johnnie Walker Scotch said that it will pump €25 million into a start-up premium blend.

The whiskey will be dubbed Roe & Co, after 19th-century whiskey maker George Roe, with the investment to be made in the former Power Station at St James’s Gate in Dublin, formerly a Guinness factory.

The popularity of Irish whiskey has soared to become the fastest growing spirit drink in the world, according to the Irish Whiskey Association.

Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed hailed the investment, adding that global Irish whiskey sales have increased by more than 300 per cent in the past 10 years, with record exports of over €400 million.

Former independent joins Fianna Fáil FORMER Independent and Social

Democrat Stephen Donnelly has joined Fianna Fáil.

The vocal Government critic and former management consultant is expected to get a frontbench role in the party, dealing with Brexit issues.

Mr Donnelly, who was a founder of the Social Democrats before leaving the party last year, said Micheál Martin’s party had developed “a suite of constructive, progressive policies that have emphasised fairness and investment in public services” in recent years.

Mr Donnelly was a scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked for consultancy firm McKinsey before entering politics in 2011 and has held a Dáil seat for Wicklow/East Carlow since then.

Virgin Media jobs boost for Limerick MORE than 100 jobs are being created by one of the country’s biggest telecoms and TV companies.

Virgin Media is to take on staff in billing, sales and other back office roles at its call centre in Roxboro in Limerick. The company said it was also expanding its broadband network in the region connecting another 10,000 homes to its network. The 120 new jobs will take the company’s workforce in Limerick to 400.

BAN ON USING RELIGION TO DENY SCHOOL PLACE AMONG OPTIONS FOR REFORM

‘Baptism bar’ under review FOUR options have been unveiled by the Education Minister, Richard Bruton, to tackle the so-called baptism barrier which allows publicly funded schools to refuse places to children based on religion.

Mr Bruton said it was unfair for children to be denied entry because they are not subscribed to a particular faith, or for parents to feel pressured into baptising a child to get a place.

One of the four options is to impose an outright ban on schools using religion as a factor in admissions.

But that r ule would also allow religious schools to require parents or pupils to indicate support or respect for its ethos.

Some 96 per cent of the primar y schools in Ireland have a Christian religious patronage and nine out of 10 have a Catholic ethos.

Mr Bruton said the public could also

have their say on thr ee other admissions options. One is a catchment area approach. Religious schools will be stopped from giving preference to children of a certain religion who do not live locally.

Another is to introduce a “nearest school rule” with religious schools allowed to give preference to a child of a particular religion only if it is the nearest school of that par ticular religion. The final option is a quota. A religious school could give preference to children of its own religion for a proportion of its places. The remaining places would be allocated based on other criteria such as proximity to the school, or via a lottery.

Mr Bruton said significantly less than 90 per cent of young families in Ireland were religious.

“I believe it is unfair that, under the current system, a non-religious child can be refused entry to the local school because preference is given to a

PREGNANCY

CHINESE TYCOON SPLASHES OUT ON IRISH THOROUGHBREDS

Ed Carty

religious child living some distance away,” he said.

“I believe it is unfair that, under the current system, some parents who might not otherwise do so feel pressure to baptise their children because they feel it gives them more chance of getting into their local school.”

Mr Bruton warned that there was no easy fix and that there was a risk of unintended consequences if admission policies were reformed.

“We should live and let live, and aim for the greatest good for the greatest number,” he said.

Mr Bruton said minority religions could be af fected, including the Protestant, Jewish, Islamic and other communities, who might wish to run schools in accordance with their ethos and admit childr en fr om their communities.

Michael Barron, the director of Equate, a group campaigning for equal access to publicly funded schools, said:

“Families should not have to fear having a non-baptised child in order to gain entry, nor should they have to sign up to a belief system that is not theirs.”

Paul Rowe, the chief executive of Educate Together, which r uns 90 schools, said there is ver y real discrimination in the education system.

“Children of all religious, cultural and social backgrounds should be able to access all state-funded education on an equal basis - and we are delighted that the Government has come around to accepting this position,” he said.

The general secretary of the Catholic Primar y Schools Management Association, Seamus Mulconry, said: “This issue is being misleadingly referred to as the baptism bar.

“There is no requirement for parents to have their children baptised in order to gain admission to a Catholic school.

Reforms to admissions policies will do nothing to alleviate the shortage of school places.,”

Pregnant Irish women most likely to drink IRELAND has the world’s highest rate of women drinking alcohol while pregnant, even though public health campaigns warn repeatedly of the risk to the baby.

The research shows that 60.4 per cent of Irish women continue to drink when they are expecting a baby, amounting to six times the global average of one in 10.

The next highest rate of drinking after Ireland was to be found in Belarus, where 46.6 per cent of women admitted drinking. Denmark came third with 45.8 per cent of pregnant women opting for alcohol. The UK was the fourth worst offender on 41.3 per cent ahead of Russia, where 36.5 per cent of women admitted to drinking.

Health guidelines advise women to avoid alcohol completely while pregnant, as it can cause neurological damage to a baby’s developing brain, leading to behavioural, social, learning, and attention difficulties in childhood, adolescence, and in later life.

According to Alcohol Action Ireland, drinking more than three drinks a day increases the risk of miscarriage and more than 12 drinks a week increases the risk of premature birth.

The study, conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada, looked at research from 50 countries. It found that one in every 67 women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy would deliver a child with foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which amounts to about 119,000 children born with FAS annually worldwide. FAS can affect a child’s facial features and height, as well as their central nervous system.

A separate study of women who attended the Coombe Women’s Hospital found that almost 63 per cent of the 43,318 women surveyed said they drank alcohol during their pregnancy.

HEAD FOR HEIGHTS: Handlers load one of 76 Irish thoroughbred horses aboard flights to China as part of a major investment by a Chinese businessman. The horses have been bought to race.

Chinese equine deal a sino the times David Young SEVENTY-SIX thoroughbred horses have been flown to Beijing in the largest single export of Irish racing bloodstock to China.

The animals transported in the €3 million airlift have all been bought by Chinese businessman Zhang Yuesheng.

The transaction has been hailed as a major leap into the lucrative Chinese market. To date, more than 90 per cent of thoroughbreds imported into China are sourced from Australia and New Zealand. The horses were bought from Irish breeders on behalf of Mr Yuesheng

by Kildare-based bloodstock agency BBA Ireland.

They were flown in a Boeing 747 cargo plane from Shannon airport. They travelled with a team of professional flying grooms and a vet, with 30 handlers on the ground involved in

the three-hour process of loading the animals at Shannon. On arrival the horses were transported to stables where they will go into training in China before debuting in Chinese races.

BBA Ireland worked in conjunction with the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), the not-for-profit, governmentbacked company that promotes Ireland as a leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide.

“This is really good business for the Irish equine industry, not least for small breeders from whom most of these horses were purchased," the managing director at BBA Ireland, Declan Murray, said.

“Many of these horses might not have met the high standards of the Irish and European market but they are still of a higher standard than the average horse currently racing in China.

“So Irish breeders get a good price for horses they might not otherwise have got, the industry here further develops the emerging Chinese market and China gets a higher quality race horse. Everyone wins with this.”

Andrew Murphy , the chief commercial officer for Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Airport, said: “We are well used to ‘firsts’ at Shannon but having a record airlift of Irish horses to China from here was very exciting for all concerned.

“BBA Ireland are experts in this market and we are delighted to be working with them.

“We also have considerable experience and expertise over the years in handling this type of precious cargo through sizeable equine lifts for some of the Irish larger stud farms that have horses going to the United States, Middle East and on to Australia.

11

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

OFFICIAL ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY ROME PILGRIMAGES

A Rome Pilgrimage

WITH

MIKE AND HELENA BAILEY

TOUR INCLUDES:

ACCOMMODATION AT THE HIGHLY RATED DOMUS AUSTRALIA

Breakfasts daily | 3 evening meals | All tips and admissions per the itinerary | Basilica of St Peter | Basilica of Mary Major | Basilica of St John in Lateran | Basilica of St Paul Outside the Wall | Holy Stairs | ancient Catacombs | Roman Forum | Colosseum | Vatican Gardens bus tour | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel | Night Walking Tour of Rome (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona) | Castel Gandolfo Papal apartments and gardens | Papal Audience or Sunday Angelus (depending on Pope Francis’ availability)

OUR CATHOLIC ROME 7-NIGHT PILGRIMAGE from $1,790 pp twin share (airfares excluded)

11-18 May 2017 from only $1790

This is a unique opportunity to join Mike and Helena Bailey on a 7-night pilgrimage to Rome.

Take in the city’s most popular tourist attractions and the Catholic Church’s holiest sites.

per person twin share (Airfares excluded. Add single supplement if applicable)

A SPECIAL 7-NIGHT ITINERARY FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN TO ROME BEFORE from $2,290 pp twin share (airfares excluded)

DEPARTURE DATES*

DEPARTURE DATES*

FEATURED TOURS

FEATURED TOURS

• St Peter’s Basilica • Basilica of Mary Major • Basilica of St John in Lateran • Holy Stairs • Roman Forum • Basilica of St Paul Outside the Wall • Catacombs and Appian Way • Colosseum • Vatican Gardens bus tour • Night walking tour of Rome including: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona • Castel Gandolfo train day tour including: Papal Apartments and gardens bus tour • Vatican Museums • Sistine Chapel • Papal Audience or Sunday Angelus depending on the availability of the Holy Father

• Scavi Tour including Tomb of St Peter • Mamertine Prison (of Sts Peter and Paul) • St Peter in Chains Church • Vatican Carriage Museum • Vatican Gardens • Castel Gandolfo train day tour • Villa Borghese Gallery and Gardens tour • Castel Sant’Angelo museum • Walking tour of Trastevere including Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere • Pantheon, Churches of the Gesu and St Ignatius of Loyola • Night walking tour of Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona • PLUS Seasonal offerings depending on availability, e.g.

Vatican Museums After Hours or Colosseum by Night

STAYING AT DOMUS AUSTRALIA

STAYING AT DOMUS AUSTRALIA STANDARD INCLUSIONS

Starts and finishes in Rome. Prices quoted are on a twin share basis. Single Supplement of $770 for 7 nights to be added to the tour price if applicable. Accommodation is at Domus Australia and includes daily breakfasts and 3 evening meals. *Phone us for 2017 departure dates.

Phone 1800 753 959 | www.romepilgrimages.com SPECIAL OFFER $100 DISCOUNT VOUCHER

Phone or email for our FREE PILGRIMAGE KIT including a DVD and a mouse pad and receive a special $100 discount voucher for bookings made before 1 April 2017. Departures throughout 2017. Email pilgrimage@sydneycatholic.org

12

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

northern ireland Arrests of ex-British soldiers ‘immoral’, A Tory former defence minister

has said historic investigations into British soldiers in Northern Ireland are “absolutely immoral”, as he backed a time limit for bringing prosecutions.

Gerald Howarth said it was unacceptable that veterans who fought in the “filthy war” in Northern Ireland faced being dragged from their beds in dawn raids for questioning.

Mr Howarth said: “I think it is absolutely immoral that those men who fought in that filthy war, wearing the Queen’s uniform, facing an enemy wearing civilian clothes, lurking in the shadows amongst a civilian population, having done their best for their country are now being dragged from their beds... in dawn raids and being dragged off to Northern Ireland.”

Alleged ex-IRA boss loses court appeal ALLEGED former IRA leader Thomas “Slab” Murphy’s appeal against being jailed for tax evasion has been dismissed.

The prominent republican, 67, (above) was found guilty of nine charges at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin last year and imprisoned for 18 months. In November, he launched a three-day bid to overturn the verdict in the Court of Appeal.

In a 94-page ruling, Mr Justice Ryan said the accused could be in no doubt as to the reasons that led the Special Criminal Court to its conclusions. The Court of Appeal had no difficulty with the reasoning of the ruling, which, he said, reflected the fundamental simplicity of the issue on the “counts in the indictment, the strength of the prosecution case and the essentially hypothetical nature of the defence.”

“The court accordingly dismisses the appeal against conviction,” the judge concluded.

Doctors ‘afraid’ to sanction abortions A SHARP increase in prosecutions for abortion in Northern Ireland has deterred doctors from recommending the procedure, campaigners have claimed.

The number of terminations performed hit a record low of 16 for the 2015-16 financial year. The total has more than halved over the past five years, with 43 carried out in 2010-11.

Northern Ireland’s strict law only allows abortion where a woman’s life is in danger or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health.

“It is no coincidence that the number of terminations performed in Northern Ireland has plummeted at the same time as we have seen a sharp increase in criminal prosecutions for violations of the abortion law,” the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said in a statement.

In the past year, three women have been taken through the courts, with one given a three-month suspended prison sentence.

THERESA MAY AND ENDA KENNY IN CALL FOR ‘RESPECTFUL’ ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Stormont poll set for March THERESA May and Enda Kenny have urged a “respectful” election campaign in Northern Ireland after a snap poll was triggered by the collapse of the power-sharing executive.

British Secretar y of State James Brokenshire confirmed the region will go to the ballot box on March 2 amid a deepening political crisis.

The Taoiseach’s spokesman said he and the British PM discussed the bitter fall-out and regretted that the DUP and Sinn Féin had been unable to reach agreement.

“They both expressed the hope that the election campaign would be respectful, noting that following the election the Northern Ireland parties would once again have to engage on the various challenges they face,” he said.

“The Taoiseach and Prime Minister repeated their desire to see the

institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement operating effectively, and in particular to have a fully-functioning Executive in place as soon as possible.”

Speculation has been mounting of a rancorous election campaign in the weeks ahead given the widening divergence between the two main parties at Stormont.

If a new power-sharing administration cannot be formed after the March elections, the region faces the prospect of yet another election or even direct r ule being reimposed from Westminster.

The SDLP has called for joint London and Dublin rule if an administration in Belfast cannot be formed after the March 2 elections.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood told the House of Commons if the parties in the assembly fail to piece together a devolved administration, there could be no return to direct rule with London-

SOLDIER GUILTY

O’NEILL TAKES OVER AS MCGUINNESS STEPS DOWN

Brian Hutton

Marine made bombs ‘for terror attack’

based ministers in charge of the region.

Meanwhile, Nor ther n Ireland minister Andrew Dunlop ruled out any possibility of joint London-Dublin governance if attempts to establish devolution fail Speaking in the House of Lords, Mr Dunlop said the Government is “fully committed to the Belfast Agreement, including the principle of consent gover ning Nor ther n Ireland’s constitutional position”.

“It is on that basis that Northern Ireland is and remains a full part of the UK, and clearly any form of joint authority would be incompatible with the consent principle,” Mr Dunlop said.

The election comes after Martin McGuinness resigned as Deputy First Minister in protest at the DUP’s handling of an ‘eco-grant’ scheme.

Sinn Féin’s refusal to nominate a replacement for Mr McGuinness, essentially ensured a snap election.

What happens next?

If, as predicted, the preeminent parties of unionism and nationalism retain their right to lead a powersharing government, they will need to nominate a First Mininter and Deputy First Minister within a week of the poll. A new executive needs to be in place a further two weeks on from that. If the leading parties decline to nominate within that time-frame, legislation dictates that another election is called.

Alternatively, the Britsih government would need to pass emergency legislation at Westminster so that devolution would be suspended and Northern Ireland would return to direct rule by London for the first time in 10 years.

Emily Pennink and David Young A ROYAL Marine with alleged links to dissident republicanism has admitted hoarding explosives and making bombs for a terror attack.

Ciaran Maxwell, 31, of Exminster, Devon, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to preparation of terrorist acts between January 2011 and August 2016.

The serviceman, who is originally from Co Antrim, admitted stashing explosives in purpose-built hides in England and Northern Ireland.

He compiled a library of terrorism documents, including instructions on how to make explosives and tactics used by paramilitary organisations.

He also had maps, plans and lists of potential targets for a terrorist attack and images of an adapted Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) pass card and a PSNI uniform. He bought chemicals and components and went on to manufacture explosives and devices, the court heard.

There remain doubts whether Maxwell himself was a member of a dissident republican organisation, with security sources instead describing him as exhibiting “elements of lone wolf behaviour”.

Maxwell, originally from Larne, was arrested in a pre-planned operation believed to have been linked to the discovery of two dissident arsenals in woodland on the outskirts of the Co Antrim town in 2016.

Since his arrest it emerged that at the age of 16, Maxwell was the victim of a savage sectarian beating in his home town.

He suffered a fractured skull and multiple other injuries when a gang of loyalists attacked him with iron bars and golf clubs. During his recovery he recounted the incident to republican newspaper An Phoblacht in an article that was accompanied by a picture showing the extent of his injuries.

New Sinn Féin leader in Stormont Michelle O’Neill takes a selfie with the man she replaces, veteran Republican Martin McGuinness who is retiring from representative politics. Liam McBurney

‘Biggest honour of my life’ – O’Neill David Young, Michael McHugh and Shaun Connolly SINN Féin’s Michelle O’Neill has described her appointment as the party’s new Stormont leader as the biggest honour and privilege of her life.

The Mid Ulster Assembly member told party faithful that by succeeding Martin McGuinness she was following in the footsteps of a “political giant”.

“No one can replace Martin but what I can do is to continue his good work to unite our people and to unite our country,” she said.

The 40-year-old mother-of-two, from Clonoe, Co Tyrone, takes over as Sinn Féin’s figurehead north of the Irish border weeks before a snap Assembly election.

Mr McGuinness’s resignation as deputy first minister in protest at the Democratic Unionists’ handling of a botched green energy scheme triggered the collapse of the powersharing administration.

The Sinn Féin veteran later announced that he would not seek re-election due to his ongoing battle against a serious illness.

Mr McGuinness was joined by party

president Gerry Adams and vicepresident Mary Lou McDonald at an event at Parliament Buildings, Belfast, to confirm the appointment of the hotlytipped Ms O’Neill, Sinn Féin’s current health minister at Stormont.

“For me to be selected to lead our party in the north is truly the biggest honour and privilege of my life,” she said, as her son Ryan, daughter Saoirse and mother Kathleen looked on.

“I feel an enormous responsibility on my shoulders and, while I don’t underestimate my task given the changing political world – locally, nationally and internationally – I will not let you down.”

Ms O’Neill represented a “new generation” for the party, Mr Adams said. “As a united all-Ireland team, we will give her the space and support to find her own voice and continue the good work Martin pioneered.”

Mr McGuinness delivered his own take on a familiar republican slogan, which Mr Adams once used in reference to the IRA, to insist he would still be involved in the party.

“I haven’t gone away, you know,” he said, to cheers and applause from supporters gathered in the Long Gallery of the historic building.

The former deputy first minister hailed his successor as a “people’s politician”.

“Change happens and we are now witnessing big change today,” he said.

Mr McGuinness said she had proved her fortitude and credentials when facing down anti-peace process elements within republicanism.

“She refused to be intimated and continued to build support for Sinn Féin,” he said. “I knew she was made of strong stuff ... and as a woman, even in the very early days, of great ability.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May has called the new leader to congratulate her.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Michelle O’Neill to congratulate her on her new appointment as leader of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland.

“The Prime Minister said she looked forward to working with her and that she hoped that following the elections all parties would be able to come together to find a way forward.

“She added that the UK Government remained committed to ensuring “a strong, stable devolved government that works for everyone.”

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

13

Daniel O’Donnell WITH SPECIAL GUEST

Mary Duff

Newcastle 11 March • Entertainment Centre Melbourne 13 & 14 March • Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Tweed Heads 16 & 17 March • Twin Towns Services Club Brisbane 18 March • Convention Centre Canberra 20 March • Royal Theatre Sydney 21 March • State Theatre Adelaide 23 March • Festival Theatre Perth 25 March • Riverside Theatre BOOK AT USUAL OUTLETS danielodonnell.org

DARA O BRIAIN ADRIAN BOHM & OFF THE KERB PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

LIVE!

"HIS SET IS A MASTERCLASS IN INTELLIGENT, NO-FRILLS STAND-UP" - THE GUARDIAN

SYDNEY 2 + 3 APRIL • SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

MELBOURNE 4 APRIL •HAMER HALL PERTH 8 APRIL • RIVERSIDE THEATRE

B O O K N OW AT A B P R ES E N TS . C O M . A U DARAOBRIAIN.COM

OFFTHEKERB.CO.UK

14

time out

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

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

100 years and still going strong THE Clarke family from Loughrea in Co Galway has been awarded a Guinness World Record for having achieved the remarkable record of six centenarians in one family. This follows a previous Guinness World Record in 2014 for having the most family members to reach 100 years of age.

The Connacht Tribune reports that the latest member of the centenarian club is Sheila Burns (née Clarke) who celebrated her 100th birthday at the beginning of January. Sheila is the ‘baby’ of the family – the youngest of a family of thirteen. She has lived in Portumna Retirement Village for the last eight years.

Sheila’s brother Joe Clarke was the first to reach the 100 year mark in 2001. He was followed over the next decade by brothers Charlie, Pat and Jimmy and sister Madge who turned 100 in 2014.

With more than 600 years between them, the Clarke family has witnessed a huge swathe of Irish history. Charlie, who died in 2001, was captured by the Black and Tans in 1921 and interned in the Curragh.

Subsequently he helped set up An Garda Síochána in 1922. Sheila, the latest member of the centenarians was born in 1917 the same year that Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated his throne; the British royal family officially changed their name to “Windsor”; and the famous courtesan Mata Hari was executed as a German spy.

Joe Clarke, the first centenarian, took over the family farm in 1935; four other sons – Pat, Darby, Frank and Barney – also became farmers, settling in Mullagh, where Pat was one of the first people in the parish to have a car for hire. Two more sons, James and Hubert, emigrated to America in the 1920s and settled in New York.

DERRY

marking Holocaust Memorial Day. Ms Haining’s nieces said their aunt was “courageous, very determined, considerate and kind”.

“It was a very moving day and a great honour to be here amongst people who have tremendous stories of courage and resilience,” Ms McIvor said.

As with so many of the millions who died in the concentration camps, the exact cause of Ms Haining’s death is unknown.

It is estimated that some 1.1million people died at Auschwitz. Those not killed in the gas chambers died of starvation, forced labor, infectious diseases, individual executions, and medical experiments.

Ms Haining was posthumously named as Righteous Among the Nations in Jerusalem’s sacred Yad Vashem in 1997 and awarded a Hero of the Holocaust medal by the UK Government in 2010.

DERRY

Trainspotting in Derry EVER since its world premier in Derry in 1996, the film Trainspotting has gone on to achieve iconic status.

The Derry Journal reports that director Danny Boyle confirmed Derry played host to the first public viewing of Trainspotting in the world 20 years ago.

It’s taken 20 years to make the sequel but the wait was over when T2 Trainspotting was released at the end of January 2017.

“I was in Derry almost 20 years go for what was the first public screening of Trainspotting in the world,” Danny Boyle told the Journal.

“I have always had a good relationship with Derry, Belfast and Armagh,” Boyle said.

“My family are all Irish originally so I had no hesitation in coming back to Derry when the opportunity presented itself.”

BELFAST

Derry women proud of aunt who was Holocaust victim

Belfast bonfire collections start too early – UUP

DETAILS about a ring that belonged to a Scottish woman who died in Auschwitz concentration camp was revealed on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow programme.

The Derry Journal reports that the ring and various other artefacts had been kept in a Church of Scotland storeroom in Edinburgh and came to light last year. The church authorities contacted Jane Haining’s two nieces in Derry – Deirdre McDowell and Jane McIvor – the daughters of Ms Haining’s half-sister, Agnes O’Brien.

Msss Haining died in Poland in 1944, aged 47.

Her ‘crime’ had been caring for Jewish schoolgirls, many of who were orphans, at a church-run school in Budapest, Hungary.

Jane Haining’s jewellery was analysed by expert John Benjamin for a special episode of the programme

BONFIRE preparations for Eleventh Night, which precedes the July Twelfth marches in the North, have already begun. Bonfire makers across the North can get up to £1,5000 in funding from the council through their bonfire management programme. But the collecting of wooden pallets etc is restricted to one month before the Eleventh.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that two large piles of wood have appeared in east Belfast UUP councillor Jim Rogers told the BBC Nolan show said that a “heavy hand” response from authorities would make the situation worse.

However he called for the materials to be removed and stored.

“It has happened before.

Community workers are talking to people who have been involved, pointing out that it’s much too early.”

CHINESE NEW YEAR: Opera Singer Neria Wang poses with a Unicorn Dancer as she takes part in the launch of Dublin’s Chinese New Year celebration festival at Dublin Castle. Niall Carson/PA Wire LIMERICK

Court hears details of fist fight next to Limerick woman’s body A JUDGE has expressed her disgust after being told a fight erupted next to the body of a young woman within minutes of her death.

Details of the unsavoury incident emerged during criminal proceedings at Limerick District Court.

The Limerick Leader reports that the two men and a woman were prosecuted for assault as a result of the bust-up which happened at a homeless shelter in the city almost two years ago.

Garda Conor O’Brien said the incident happened soon after he and a colleague were alerted to a sudden death at the shelter.

Ambulance personnel were attending to the 29-year-old when gardaí arrived but she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Garda O’Brien said while speaking with the manager of the shelter, he was alerted to a commotion in the deceased woman’s room. Several were people in the small room and Garda Síochána O’Brien told the court that two relatives of the woman were “grappling” next to her corpse.

“Emotions were very high, there was a lot of screaming and shouting,” he said.

Judge Marian O’Leary was told there is a “complicated family tree” and that several members of the woman’s extended family “don’t see eye to eye”.

Following discussions between the parties, the charges against the woman were withdrawn by the State and the case of the two men adjourned to July to allow for “a period of reflection”.

Judge O’Leary commented she had never heard anything so disrespectful.

“It’s just so sad,” she said.

CORK

Woman hit by €1 coin sues council THE Irish Examiner reports that a mother of nine has unsuccessfully sued Cork City Council after being struck by a €1 coin that flew up from a local authority lawnmower.

Valerie Purcell (39) was sitting on a bench in her local park on the north side of Cork City.

Mrs Purcell told the court that a council lawnmower came within a metre of the park bench, sending a €1 coin flying through the air.

After striking her on the leg she felt terrible pain that went from her right calf, where she was struck, and into her thigh.

The shape of the coin imprinted itself on her calf, she said.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said he wondered whether the mark of the coin on her flesh at that time represented €1 in currency, as in the historical case of the cheque famously written on the back of a cow.

Mrs Purcell made no comment on this but went on to testify that the injury had given her leg pain and a back injury that lasted six months.

After hearing from the council worker and lawnmower driver Liam Nugent, who told the court that he had not mowed any closer than five to six metres of Mrs Purcell, Judge Ó Donnabháin suggested that the council might consider getting a goat to graze on the park instead of using a drive-on lawnmower. He then concluded by saying: “I think this is a fanciful case. I am not convinced she had any significant injury referable to the accident. “I dismiss the case with costs.”

Judge Ó Donnabháin’s reference to the cheque on the back of a cow is based on a fictional case that graduated to urban legend. The myth grew out of The Case of The Negotiable Cow, as referred to in the Board of Inland Revenue v Haddock a fictitious legal case written by the humourist A. P. Herbert for Punch.

The case revolved round a Mr Haddock so incensed by the Inland Revenue’s demands that he literally wrote the cheque on the cow hide.

The fable quickly grew a life of its own, and has appeared in many countries under various guises. And occasionally in Cork courts.

CORK

Two Cork mums fight while on the school run TWO mothers on the school run ended up scrapping with each other on the ground outside the school, a court has heard.

The Irish Examiner reports that a District Judge Marie Keane admonished two former friends because they “had no regard for other children or parents arriving there that morning”.

“This was a most appalling incident. That it happened outside a school I regard as a highly aggravating factor,” Judge Keane said.

“They were friends in the past, they had a falling out. I do not accept that outside the school was the appropriate forum to discuss their differences.”

Skye Moran (24) denied assaulting Joy O’Leary while Joy O’Leary (37) denied assaulting Skye Moran.

Judge Keane said she found that the State had proved the facts against both women.

“They were pushing and shoving each other and both parties fell to the ground,” the judge said.

Noting that she had previous

convictions, including two for assault, the judge said Moran, whom she regarded as the protagonist, could do 120 hours of community service instead of three months in prison.

O’Leary had no previous convictions and her assault was dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act. She was bound to the peace for 12 months.

The court heard that O’Leary had told Insp Finbarr O’Sullivan that, on the morning of April 12 last year she was dropping a child to Scoil Oilibhéir when Moran said from behind her, “You’re late again and you’re only living up the road” and hit her from behind.

She said she went to the principal’s office and that Moran barged in after her.

O’Leary said Moran waited outside the school and gave her a few digs in the back of the head and pulled her jacket by the hood. She added she pulled Moran by the hair but only in self-defence.

In defence Moran told the judge that she heard O’Leary telling the principal she had been assaulted so she went in and told her to stop lying.

Moran said before they fell out she loved O’Leary who had been a good friend. However, she said that was now very different since the falling out.

“I am friends with the woman years but she is an evil person.”

DERRY

Northern Ireland community rallies round Polish family A FAMILY friend of a Polish family whose house was substantially damaged by fire has set up a fundraising page for the couple and their young son.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Ulster Unionist councillor William McCandless praised the community in a Co Derry town for reaching out to the Polish family.

“I am delighted to see local residents come together and support this family. I am hoping to speak to some other people in the coming days who can help out,” he said.

“I think it is wonderful to see the community rally around their neighbours. The Polish community contributes so much to our society, so I hope there is nothing sinister behind the fire,” Mr McCandless said.

“Sadly, this family is still without a home after this incident, but we will work hard to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

The couple, Marcin and Martyna Obuchowicz, expressed their thanks to the people who helped, including those who donated clothes.

Chief Inspector Mark McClarence of the PSNI said: “The cause of the fire has yet to be established.”

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

time out

15

16

time out

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

in Co Roscommon on July 19. It was Ireland’s 17th warmest year since 1900, based on the records from five long-term stations.

Anyway, like Darwin’s meteorologists, Met Eireann do not have to change the forecast very often. As one wag observed, Ireland’s weather is like Iraq, a little bit Sunni but mainly Shi-ite.

They said it...

“I am sorry to learn that Martin McGuinness has decided not to contest the forthcoming election due to his poor health. While Martin and I may not always have seen eye-to-eye on every issue, I readily acknowledge the remarkable political journey that he has undertaken. He was one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement, and a tireless and committed champion of the Peace Process.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the news that Martin McGuinness was stepping down as Deputy First Minister.

Header... Anthony Stokes

All shook up ANTHONY Stokes can hit an Elvis impersonator but he can’t seem to hit the back of the net these days.

The former Celtic (Arsenal, Falkirk (loan), Sunderland, Sheffield United (loan), Crystal Palace (loan), Hibernian and now Blackburn Rovers striker tried to knock the block off one Anthony Bradley, 53, a former car park attendant and Elvis impersonator.

It seems that Stokes was hanging out at the VIP section of what was then Buck Whaleys nightclub on Leeson Street in Dublin on June 8 2013. Apparently, Stokes and his mates were a bit Franz Liszt and one of them twice spilled drink over Mr Bradley at about 3am in the morning.

Mr Bradley, who had only arrived two hours earlier and only had one pint in the club, spoke to the friend in a “friendly manner” about the spillage. Within three or four seconds, Stokes, who clearly wanted a Little Less Conversation, had intervened and headbutted him, the court was told.

Bradley suffered a deviated septum and two front teeth were broken, in what was described as a “nasty, cowardly attack”.

His medical bills have cost €13,500 over the last three-and-ahalf years, the court heard.

Judge Patricia Ryan decided to spare Stokes any Jailhouse Rock time and gave him a good behaviour bond. Stokes clearly could be using his head to better effect for Blackburn Rovers who are

“No doubt he was a hard man, if 10 per cent of the stories are true, but as a negotiator he believed in his cause. But he was also courteous, you could have some fun with him.”

languishing at the bottom of The Championship table.

Stokes has scored all three of their goals so far this season.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the news that Martin McGuinness was stepping down as Deputy First Minister.

Wet Eireann SPARE a thought for the good people of Wet, eh, Met Eireann who are encharged with breaking bad news to the rain-sodden people of Ireland on a daily basis.

If messengers were in fact shot, Met Eireann’s HR department would be flat out, you’d think.

Anyway, some poor schmuck in there has the job of finding the dullest place in Ireland.

That’s right. Ireland’s crack team of meteorologists record ‘dullness’ across their weather stations over the year.

They’ve just released their findings for last year and (drum roll) the dullest place in Ireland last year was Knock Airport in Co Mayo.

In case you’re interested, Knock Airport had 123 dull days last year.

A dull day, for all you pedants out there, is a day where a place gets less than half an hour of sunshine.

So Knock had less than a half an hour of sunshine for more than a third of the year. That’s pretty dull.

On the bright side, Malin Head in Co Donegal had the best day on June 2 when it was bathed in 15.8 hours of unbroken sunshine.

Dublin Airport was the least dull part of the country, with “just” 78 dull days last year.

The highest temperature recorded was 30.4C (86.7F) at Mount Dillon

Quiz

1. This Hollywood film star’s first name is taken from a Longford saint; his middle two names are Columcille Gerard. Who is he?

2. Which river flows through Corofin, Ennis and Clarecastle?

3. In the 1957 British FA Cup Final, after Newryborn international Peter McParland scored the first of his two goals the opposing goalkeeper Ray Wood had to leave the field due to injury.

McParland’s fellow Northern Irish international Jackie Blanchflower took over in goals. Which two teams were involved?

4. The land rail, a bird, is today confined to the Shannon Callows, Mayo and west Connacht, and north Donegal. How is the bird more commonly known?

5. Martin Ruane was born in London to Co. Mayo parents. He died in 1998. What was his professional name in sport?

6. President Obama has intimated that he’d like to return to Ireland one day and bring his two daughters. What are they called?

7. Who was the last British monarch who could, reputedly, speak Irish fluently?

8. In which county did the Land League begin?

9. Which Irish writer — on tour in America — did Henry James describe as “a fatuous fool, a tenth-rate cad, and an unclean beast”?

10. What was W.B. Yeats’s artist brother called?

“We wish Martin McGuinness well and hope that those assuming leadership roles in Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland will learn from his example over the last 10 years and renew the commitment to making these institutions work.”

Slumber party THINGS have changed in the north of Ireland. Police in the Six Counties are not accustomed to receiving calls from citizens concerned about strange men in pyjamas walking the streets. Berets and dark glasses?

Sure, but jammies?

Well, the filming of a much-talked about party election broadcast that featured a disorientated man in his PJs drew the attention of concerned police last month.

It has emerged that officers called at the Ulster Unionist Party headquarters in Belfast after receiving a report from a worried onlooker about the welfare of the bleary-eyed man.

He was actually an actor who took the lead role in the UUP’s pre-poll film.

The premise of the broadcast was the dressing gown-clad man had just woken from a 15-year plus sleep and stumbled into UUP HQ at the junction of the Holywood Road and Belmont Road in east Belfast to be informed how the political landscape had changed while he was unconscious.

Apparently, the ad has achieved a rare consensus in the north.

Everyone thinks its shite.

Micheál Martin, Fianna Fáil leader, speaking about Martin McGuinness.

“I will keep plugging away at church reform and trying to change things, because the Church is I desperate need of changing. It’s losing the people at such a rate and it doesn’t need to be.”

Fr Tony Flannery, the outspoken Redemptorist priest who was disciplined and banned from public ministry by the Vatican. He has recently defied the Church and said Mass in public.

“The British position also fails to take account of the fact that citizens in the North, under the agreement, have a right Irish citizenship and therefore EU citizenship.”

Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin, claiming that Brexit will destroy the Good Friday Agreement.

“This is an aggressive move by the UK, showing little regard for our trading relationship and for relations with other EU member states.”

Danny McCoy, chief executive of Ibec, the largest business representation organisation in Ireland, responding to Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on trade and tariffs.

“There could be two lanes for vehicles: a green one where you are only occasionally stopped and a red lane if you carry goods above the threshold. Such a system can be established between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”

Michael Lux, former head of the European Commission’s customs procedures, speaking about the reintroduction of border controls in Ireland after Brexit.

Crossword Clues across: 1. A prickly subject for an Irish album (3,6,4) 8. Swift invention is a rough being now involved in searching (5) 9. Orange man? Bobby developer and MP for Cashel (4) 12. Greater preference to be an Irish mourner (6) 13. Obese lot haphazardly beyond sell-by-date (8) 15. Beast of burden in Annagassan (3) 16. Law man? (6) 18. Actor, everything terrific Sarah (7) 19. Table for the masses? (5) 20. Mr O’Keefe zealously guards his hat (3) 23. How the French might refer, the definite article, weight of taoiseach (6) 24, 32 across: Measure of spirits — drunkenly it be thy flask o’ woe (1,6,2,7) 26. Anno Domino, yet curiously BC, in the morning man (4) 28. Tricky presence hides World War 1 battle site (5) 31. A really long age in Clonderalaw (3) 32. see 24 across 33. A short father divided by six in Rome for biblical figure (5)

Clues down: 1. Reverse to Scottish river to find Irish potato crisp (5) 2. Beth O’Sullivan hides a belief and aspiration (5) 3. Nothing squared becomes cubed (3) 4. Remove something from hope; leaves you with the makings of ale (3) 5. Dublin babbler (5) 6. A man, we hear, who according to Wilde, should make it a priority to be of intense conviction (7) 7. An actor, but also studied, in the Ritz, dry algebra oddly enough (5,10) 10. Mere lad is green, but a gem (8) 11. A mistaken Yankee might lose African state (5) 14. A graph one rearranges to find an institution for young people (9) 16. My! A clue, confused but leading to Irish family name (7) 17. Ideal wood for making containers (3) 21. Country in Rathcusack (1,1,1) 22. Puzzle buried in sod. OK, under sod (6) 24. Morning part gives range (5) 25. Collection of playing cards carried on flat receptacle, we hear? (5) 27. Soft sort of county? (4) 29. Legume found in Tobernapeastia (3) 30. The old one means home turf (3)

1

2

3

4

8

9

5

7

10

11 13

6

12

14 15

16

17 18

19

20 21

22

23

24 26

28

29

30

25

27 31

32 33

LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS: Clues across: 1. Bloom (Leopold).

4, 8 across: Captain Macmorris. 10. Laois. 11. Yule (Joe Yule = Mickey Rooney). 13. Adare. 15. Rob Kearney. 16. Shee (Irish earth-god). 10. Cycle.

21. Oireachtas. 22. Flan. 23. Engineers. 27. Romeo. 28. Hedonistic. 29. Bud. Clues down: 2. Leary. 3. Moore. 4. Corsairs. 5. Aileen. 6. Neolithic. 7.

Discovered. 9. Statesmanship. 12. Luke. 14. Dromore. 17. Brigade. 18. Ache.

20 & 26 down: Yellow Ford. 24. None. 25. Erse. 26. see 20 across

Answers: 1. Mel Gibson; 2. The River Fergus; 3. Manchester United and Aston Villa; 4. The corncrake; 5. Giant Haystacks; 6. Sasha and Malia; 7. Queen Elizabeth I; 8. Mayo; 9. Oscar Wilde; 10. Jack B. Yeats.

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

time out

17

18

review

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

Raising for the Rising

BY RIGHT this should be the bannercarrier for the O’Brien Press 16 Lives series. It is, after all, the biography of the best known of the 1916 leaders and the man who after his execution was put on a nationalist pedestal only to be knocked off unceremoniously by the revisionism of the final third of the last century.

Since it is written by a professional historian, I imagine that the book will stand as the standard text for who did what and when in the years, and then the months and finally the days, before Easter 100 ago in Dublin. Certainly, those elements are covered in great detail, with everyone named at each stage of the on-again, off-again, on-again final days of Holy Week.

But surely, Pearse was more than just a driven zealot. We are given no insight into his emotional life, for example, and surely there are hints of that in his writings.

And talking about those, it would be nice to read some analysis of his poetry and plays in the context of the early century.

Likewise, his ideas on education deserved some treatment.

I should mention the following sentence which I found early in the book: “In November 1904, An Claidheamh Soluis carried an article by Pearse about his recent visit to Ballyvourney Co Donegal.”

I was prepared to pass this off as a misprint or a slip by a sleepy editor, until I read two sentences later that “Pearse cycled to Donegal from Cork city via Macroom …” I assure any reader that the lovely village which the natives know by its Irish name Baile Mhuirne lies between Macroom and what the locals in those parts call The County Bounds, the county in question being Kerry, not Donegal.

“

WHERE did they get the money? I realise that it may seem a frivolous – even impertinent – question but where would a few poets, a corner tobaconnist and a trade union organiser get the finance to dare an empire in arms?

Dublin in 1916 was one of the poorest cities in Europe, teeming tenements of poverty and disease, a city still struggling with the effects of the recent labour lockout. The rest of the country was not much better, a population barely subsisting on small farms and casual trade. Yet, on Easter Monday, men were in neat uniforms, they were carrying arms, they had ammunition, there was organisation and printed materials.

So we are entitled to ask where the funds came from. This book and the research behind it go a long way to answering that question.

It is the work of the United Irish Counties Association of New York who organised a group of citizen journalists and historians to research and record the role played by the Irish in the north-eastern cities of America in the lead-up to the Easter Rising.

The Irish Famine of the midcentury and the subsequent land clearances created what one writer here calls “an unforgiving generation” of Irish emigrants in America. And they were prepared to back their feelings with money.

In the longest chapter in the

We are entitled to ask where the funds came from.

BOOKS

I trust that the author’s detailed account of the parts played by the many participants in the Rising is more accurate than his geography. Patrick Pearse was an educationalist and a writer as well as a revolutionary; it is a pity that only the final one of those aspects is dealt with here.

”

16 LIVES: PATRICK PEARSE

By Ruán O’Donnell O’Brien Press 336 pp €14.99

C THE 1916 EASTER RISING: New York and Beyond.

UICA New York Inc. 186 pp US$33 incl postage from unitedirishcounties@gmail.com

CCCCC Frank O’Shea book, historian John Ridge points out that there was a strong body of support for Home Rule and a thriving membership of respectable organisations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Individual county groups like those from Wexford, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Cavan and Roscommon were strongly Redmondite; others like Armagh and even Cork – rebel Cork – had divided loyalties.

But there was also Clan na Gael, the American version of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Led by John Devoy, it included diehard republicans like O’Donovan Rossa, Tom Clarke, Joseph McGarrity and Patrick McCartan, all US citizens.

They were singleminded in their determination on an armed insurrection and had strong support from county associations like those from Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Leitrim, Mayo, Dublin and not surprisingly Tyrone, the birthplace of Clarke, McGarrity and McCartan.

To return to the question of funds.

Ridge’s paper details the efforts of the different county associations to collect money for Ireland. At dances and sports days and lunches, the amounts varied from $100 to $250, with some larger sums resulting from bigger functions.

Elsewhere we read of amounts in the region of $50,000 being sent to Sean MacDermott in Dublin by John Devoy. Writing afterwards about this transfer of funds, Devoy says that he used a merchant seaman named Tommy O’Connor.

“On each trip that O’Connor went from Liverpool to Dublin, he delivered the money to Sean McDermott. Sean would make a note of the amount, without a signature, and this would be handed to me as a receipt during O’Connor’s next trip to New York.”

And to put all those numbers in context, $50,000 would be the equivalent of about $1.25 million today. So we know where the bulk of the money came from.

The book has individual chapters on the parts played by AmericanIrish participants like O’Donovan Rossa and Patrick McCartan as well as three who were in the GPO: Diarmuid Lynch, Sam O’Reilly and John Kilgallon. There is also an individual section on each of the Irish rebels who lived in, or visited, New York in the lead-up to the

Rising: Clarke, MacDermott, Pearse, Plunkett, MacBride, Casement, Thomas Kent and James Connolly.

The flow of funds did not stop with 1916. After the Rising, reports in the US media were highly slanted in favour of the British position, with Irish rebels receiving negative press. This, together with American involvement in the Great War, caused a fall-off in funds being collected for Ireland and it was only after the end of that conflict that financial support began to flow again.

This is an outstanding example of citizen journalism at its very best. It is worth reading alone for a short, three-page introductory chapter explaining the background to the Rising. Titled “Revolutionary Plans on Both Sides of the Atlantic” it covers the political, social and cultural context of the Rising, the kind of summary that will explain to anyone with an interest in the subject, even someone who knows little about Ireland, why Easter 1916 happened.

Books such as this, produced by committee, can often be poorly produced or badly edited. There can be no such criticism here. This is a thoroughly professional job that brings credit to the organisers and the writers. It is a book that deserves to be widely read.

THE TOP 10 BOOK CHARTS FROM IRELAND BESTSELLERS 1

Holding

2

When Breath Becomes Air

3

The Midnight Gang

4

My Life Goals Journal

5

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down

6

Lean in 15: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts...

7

Girl on the Train

8

Lying in Wait

9

A Secret Family

ORIGINAL FICTION Graham Norton

1

Holding

3

The Foster

4

Of Mice and Men (Penguin Modern Classic)

5 6 7

Apple Tree Yard

8

The Great Gatsby: Wordsworth Classics

9

Pippa O’Conner

A Secret Family

Josephine Cox

2

Pippa: Simple Tips to Live Beautifully

3

Her Every Fear

Peter Swanson

3

The Secret

Andrea Hayes

4

Days Without End

Sebastion Barry

4

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family....

Jeff Kinney

5

The Wedding Promise

Emma Hannigan

5

Deliciously Ella with Friends

Ella Woodward

Robert Harris

6

The World of the Happy Pear

David Flynn & Stephen Flynn

Lee Child

7

Born to Run

Ali Land

8

Tom Kerridge’s Dopamine Diet

Tom Kerridge

Anthony Horowitz

9

Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to live....

Meik Wiking

Joe Wicks

6

Conclave

Paula Hawkins

7

Night School: Jack Reacher

Liz Nugent

8

Good Me Bad Me

Josephine Cox

9

Magpie Murders

PAPERBACK NON-FICTION

Lying in Wait

Paul O’Connell

2

MASS MARKET FICTION The Girl on the Train (Film Tie In)

The Battle

Paul Kalanithi

10 Ninth Grave,The:A Fabian Risk Thriller

2

1

David Walliams

10 Commit!: Make Your Mind and Body Stronger .. Enda McNulty

1

HARDBACK NON-FICTION Graham Norton

Stefan Ahnhem

10 Happy Pear: Healthy, Easy...

Rhonda Byrne

Bruce Springsteen

David Flynn & Stephen Flynn

CHILDREN’S

Paula Hawkins

1

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi

1

The Midnight Gang

Liz Nugent

2

My Life Goals Journal

Andrea Hayes

2

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down

Claire Keegan

3

Lean in 15: The Sustain Plan

Joe Wicks

3

Wonder

John Steinbeck

4

Commit!: Make Your Mind and Body Stronger .. Enda McNulty

4

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

Mitch Albom

5

Lean in 15: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts...

I’m Travelling Alone

Samuel Bjork

6

Bikini Body 28-Day Healthy Eating & Lifestyle...

Louise Doughty

7 The Money Doctor: 50 Top Tax Tips 2017

J D Vance

Jeff Kinney R. J. Palacio J. K. Rowling

Joe Wicks

5

Demon Dentist

David Walliams

Kayla Itsines

6

Gangsta Granny

David Walliams

John Lowe

7

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

J. K. Rowling

Joe Wicks

8

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

J. K. Rowling

Talking to Strangers And Other Ways of ...

Michael Harding

9

Billionaire Boy

David Walliams

10 Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That....

Tim Marshall

10 The Boy in the Dress

David Walliams

Scott F Fitzgerald

8

Lean in 15: the Shape Plan

Asking for it

Louise O’Neill

9

10 Lie with Me

Sabine Durrant

David Walliams

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR FIXTURES AND WHERE TO WATCH!

SIX GREAT BRISBANE VENUES RIVERSIDE QUEEN STREET MALL INDOOROOPILLY

BRUNSWICK STREET KING GEORGE SQUARE WEST END

PIGNWHISTLE.COM.AU

time out

19

20

time out

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

Sydney St Patrick’s Day Organisation Update Welcome to our regular update. In this column, the Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Organisation will be telling you about some of the activities in store at The Green Gathering on Sunday, 19 March. We are really excited to be returning to Prince Alfred Park, the home of Sydney St. Patrick’s Day up until 1998.

Our events team have been busy organising a fantastic day of culture that will appeal to all the ages. Some of the highlights include a children’s parade, family fun day, Irish story-telling, trad sessions and Irish dancing. For those of you who have frequented Sydney St. Patrick’s Day in the past, expect to see some of the old favourites; entertainment on the main stage and food and merchandise stalls.

With two months to go and a target of $200,000 to be reached, the local Irish bars have organised some great fundraisers to support the main event in March. A ‘Stars in their Eyes’ competition will be held at The Grand Hotel - Cock ‘N Bull on 17 February. P.J. O’Brien’s is hosting our Fundraising Jersey Raffle on 24 February where you can win your county GAA jersey signed by the team. Our committee are selling raffle tickets now so don’t miss out! P.J’s is also hosting a Golf Day on 26 February - email fergal@pjobriens.com.au to secure a spot. And last but not least, The Australian Youth Hotel is hosting a Poker Classic on 3 March with $1,000 for first prize. Thanks to all for your continued support!

Businesses have the opportunity to get involved in The Green Gathering with our Corporate Sponsorship Programme. Details are available through the website or please email me.

Keep up to date by visiting our website www.sydneystpatricksday.com.au or our Facebook page ‘Sydney St. Patrick’s Day’.

We are really excited to see you all there!

Many thanks.

1 P.J. O’BRIEN’S, SYDNEY 2 DURTY NELLY’S, PERTH 3 SCRUFFY MURPHY’S, SYDNEY 4 JB O’REILLY’S, PERTH 5 P.J. O’BRIEN’S, MELBOURNE 6 COCK ‘N BULL, SYDNEY 7 WENTWORTH PLAZA, PERTH 8 THE QUIET MAN, MELBOURNE 9 MERCANTILE HOTEL, SYDNEY 10 O’MALLEY’S, BRISBANE 1 P.J. O’BRIEN’S 2 SCRUFFY MURPHY’S 3 COCK ‘N BULL 4 MERCANTILE HOTEL 5 FORTUNE OF WAR 6 MALONEY’S HOTEL 7 KING O’MALLEY’S, CANBERRA 8 THE PORTERHOUSE 9 PENRITH GAELS 10 CARRINGTON HOTEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Robert Kineavy

Email: RobertK@sydneystpatricksday.com.au

O’MALLEY’S IRISH MURPHY’S FINN MCCOOL’S IRISH CLUB, TOOWOOMBA MCGINTY’S BAR, CAIRNS P.J. O’BRIEN’S, CAIRNS FIDDLERS GREEN, SURFERS PARADISE PIG & WHISTLE PADDY’S, PORT DOUGLAS WAXY’S, SURFERS PARADISE

1 P.J. O’BRIEN’S 2 THE QUIET MAN 3 THE IRISH TIMES 4 THE DRUNKEN POET 5 P.J. O’BRIEN’S, MELBOURNE AIRPORT 6 BRIDIE O’REILLY’S 7 SEAMUS O’TOOLE 8 THE CELTIC CLUB 9 IRISH MURPHY’S, GEELONG 10 THE SNUG 1 DURTY NELLY’S 2 JB O’REILLY’S 3 WENTWORTH PLAZA 4 CROWN 5 MURPHY’S 6 JOONDALUP RESORT 7 FEINIANSÍ 8 BAILEY BAR & BISTRO 9 ROSE AND CROWN 10 PADDY MALONES

1 2 3 4 5

SHENANNIGAN’S, DARWIN FIDDLER’S GREEN, DARWIN VERVE BAR & KITCHEN, ADELAIDE P.J. O’BRIEN’S, ADELAIDE MICK O’SHEA’S, ADELAIDE

1 2 3 4 5

NEW SYDNEY HOTEL IRISH MURPHY’S MOLLY MALONES PADDY WAGONS HOTEL THE IRISH

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

time out

21

Working by numbers Dear John,

VISA-BILITY YOUR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED...

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

Send your immigration questions to John at

visability@irishecho.com.au

This Migration Column is intended to provide general information on migration issues and does not constitute legal or migration advice. While all care is taken, no responsibility is accepted by the Irish Echo or John McQuaid for the accuracy of material in the column.

People seeking advice on migration law should seek advice from a registered migration agent.

We are over from Ireland on our first working holiday visa and looking to start our regional work to get the second year visa.

We’ve heard that the rules have changed and you can now do work in tourism or hospitality in northern Australia to meet the second year visa. Is this true?

We can’t find any references to this on the government website and want to make sure we do the right type of work in the right area so we don’t miss out on the second visa.

Thanks Danny and Emily.

recruitment

DEAR DANNY AND EMILY, AS IRISH passport holders, you will have been granted a Working Holiday Visa subclass 417.

gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/417-

The Working Holiday Visa 417 should not be confused with the similar Work and Holiday 462 visa.

A 417 visa holder can now apply to work beyond the usual sixmonth limit in certain occupations in northern Australia (above the tropic of Capricorn) including some occupations in tourism and hospitality.

The 417 visa is available to passport holders from 19 countries including Ireland, the UK, Canada, Germany, France and Italy and others.

There are 16 different countries that have the Work and Holiday 462 visa option, including the United States, Chile, Indonesia and China.

The 462 visa is not available to 417 eligible passport holders or vice versa.

The ‘regional areas’ and ‘specific work’ rules for the Working Holiday 417 Visa have not changed, so working in tourism or hospitality, or as an au pair, or in aged and disability care will not meet the requirement to get a second year visa.

For 417 visa holders, the specified work is still only in plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining and construction.

See the full list of specified work and regional areas at www.border.

What has changed for the 417 visa program?

“The 462 visa is not

available to 417 eligible passport holders or vice versa.

”

But, remember, working in these occupations will not count towards getting a second 417 visa.

See the list of occupations here: www.border.gov.au/Trav/ Work/Empl/whm-tourism-andhospitality-occupations

To confuse us all even further, Immigration has set different rules for the 462 visa.

In mid-November 2016, Immigration made the following changes to the Work and Holiday

462 visas. So only if you have the Work and Holiday 462 visa, do you now have the opportunity to get a second 12-month visa. This applies if you work for three months in the tourism and hospitality or agriculture, forestry and fishing industries in northern Australia while on your first visa. This new option is to encourage Work and Holiday visa holders to spend time living and working in Australia’s north.

The change will only apply to specified work undertaken from November 19, 2016 in northern Australia, which broadly includes all of the Northern Territory and those parts of Western Australia and Queensland above the Tropic of Capricorn. All specified work has to be paid work in accordance with Australia’s workplace laws. If you’re considering applying, you’ll need to provide evidence of this payment.

For the detailed list of work and regional areas see www.border. gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/462If in doubt about your visa options, seek detailed advice from a registered migration agent.

Find an agent at mia.org.au

to advertise call (02) 9555 9199 or email ads@irishecho.com.au

22

to advertise call (02) 9555 9199 or email ads@irishecho.com.au

recruitment

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

WANTED ASAP

TRUCK & DOG DRIVER (Experienced)

• IRISH BASED COMPANY IN SYDNEY • 6 DAYS A WEEK • PLENTY OF OVER-TIME AVAILABLE • NSW HC LICENSE REQUIRED • START ASAP CONTACT JERRY ON 0416 433 686 or email kingdomhaulage@hotmail.com

KINGDOM HAULAGE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Excavator Operators Macarthur NSW

Expanding Irish pipeline company requires experienced and semi experienced operators for backfilling sewer trenches.

Good rates, sponsorship opportunities, tools and transport available for suitable candidates.

Please apply in writing with your contact number to reddypipelaying@gmail.com

Project Engineer/Manager Required Well established formwork/concrete structure subcontractor seeks Project Engineer.

Due to projected increase in upcoming projects we require a Project Engineer to assist with: • Tendering, estimation and pre-contract award duties • Contract admin during projects incl management of SWMS etc • Contract variations • Procurement and pre-planning in relation to materials and subcontractors CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: • Min 2 years similar role with exposure to RMS requirements & B80 Specifications • Experience with concrete structure construction and Formwork • Provide technical and administration support to site staff • Team player with strong communication skills • Ability to maintain and develop relationships with clients, site supervisors and tradesmen On offer is a package negotiable on experience and the opportunity to grow with a well established and respected Sydney based company specialising in complex concrete structures who have a well established client base and are known for producing reliable and quality structures for our clients.

This role could potentially suit someone wanting to step back from major contractor role and a flexible working arrangement could be negiotiated.

Written applications including current resume should be sent to: gwconstructions@outlook.com

Established in 2004, RSG operates from Mackay, Queensland with branch offices in Moranbah and Clermont Qld and Darwin NT to support our expanding operations in Queensland, Northern Territory and NSW. Our customers are typically large public companies or government bodies, these include Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Santos, Murphy Pipe & Civil, Leighton’s, SunWater and Local Government.

CURRENTLY SEEKING • CIVIL ENGINEERS (x2) • ESTIMATOR PIPELINE/CIVIL EXPERIENCE (x2) • PIPELAYERS • OPERATORS • POLY WELDERS • TRUCK DRIVERS GOOD CONDITIONS AND TOP PAY RATES

Contact Brendan Lenihan on 0418 728 525 or send CV to: blenihan@reaygroup.com.au

Dunmain is a medium sized civil trenching and cable laying contractor established in 1989. It is currently providing contracting services for the Sydney Light Rail and North West Rail Projects, as well as undertaking projects on behalf of Transport NSW, Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy.

Dunmain is now looking to employ suitably qualified and experienced people to work on these infrastructure projects.

We have vacancies for:

• FOREMEN • LEADING HANDS • LABOURERS • TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS • TRUCK DRIVERS (HV LICENCE HOLDERS PREFERRED), • EXCAVATOR & VACUUM TRUCK OPERATORS.

WHS&E CO-­ORDINATOR We currently have a position for an WHS&E co-­ordinator to be based at our office in Belfield. This role requires someone to assist in the management of Dunmain’s WHS&E policies and systems to ensure continual compliance with the Standards and Codes of Practice that regulate the Construction Industry. This a very busy and varied role and would suit someone that currently works within the construction industry but is looking for a more challenging role.

If you think you could contribute and become part of an established and well respected team then we would love to hear from you. Please send your resume to: accounts@dunmain.com.au. Once we have reviewed your resume we will contact you if we want to discuss your application further.

www.dunmain.com.au

to advertise call (02) 9555 9199 or email ads@irishecho.com.au February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

recruitment

KILLARD EXCAVATION IS SEEKING EMPLOYEES FOR THE FOLLOWING ROLES:

• Project Manager • Project Engineer • Plant Manager & Fitter • Site Manager • Pipe Layers • Skilled Excavator Operators • Labourers We are looking for experienced, reliable and hardworking employees to join the Killard Excavation team with IMMEDIATE START. LOCATIONS: Sydney Metro, Northern Beaches, North & South West Sydney APPLICANTS MUST HAVE: • 3 year’s experience operating excavators ranging in size up to 5-35 tonne machines • Experience working with pipe laying crews • Experience in trenching / final trim works • Experience in rock hammering trenches

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TICKETS: • White card • Excavator Statement of Attainment or Workcover ticket • Excavator VOC (Verification of Competency) • Overhead Awareness (5009) • Drivers Licence / Own Transport (truck licence an advantage)

WE WILL ALSO OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATES.

To apply or for further details, please call Jerry on 0417 267 147 or email: jerry.daly@killard.com.au

23

24

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

sports CYCLING :: THREE PODIUM PLACES FOR NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, AQUA BLUE SPORT

New Irish pro team enjoys Aussie success

IRISH team Aqua Blue Sport have secured three podium places and a combativity prize at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Victoria The final stage was over a tough and uncompromising loop around hilly Kinglake. The plan from the outset by Aqua Blue Sport was to continue with their strategy of attacking the race.

Sunday was no different as in-form Kiwi and Olympic medallist Aaron Gate and US teammate Larry Warbasse found themselves in a group of big hitters.

There were four laps and Gate joined a large group of buccaneers who set off away from the peloton on the first lap of four. They worked well together and succeeded in staying clear to the end. Gate used his power to devastate the rest of the break but was unable to overhaul Sky’s Ian Stannard. Taco van der Hoorn of Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij was third.

The general classification time was taken with three kilometres to go due to an oil spill in the final few kilometres of the stage. Australian Damien Howson, riding for Orica Scott, defended his overall lead and won the yellow jersey.

For Gate, the podium is a sign that he is in good form and he believes that it is a good sign for the coming season.

“It was another fast start to the stage today with plenty of attacks and we knew we had to be represented in the break again in case it could go to the line today. I managed to get into the initial move that stuck before Larry was also able to bridge across to us.

“The fireworks started the second to last time up the climb with Larry throwing in a handy attack to shake things up.

“The break continued to splinter from

MILESTONE: Conor Dunne, riding for the new Irish pro team, Aqua Blue Sport, finishes second in the second stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. there, and as much as I tried to sneak away the final time up the climb there was still a decent group of us.

“A well-timed attack from Stannard bagged him a deserved win, and I had to settle for second place even though I was coming at him with everything I

had left in the tank right up to the line,” Gate said.

It has been quite a first week of action for Aqua Blue Sport. Achieving multiple top 10 finishes at the Dubai Tour and three podium places at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and the

MCDOWELL WANTS TO GET BACK TO THE TOP

G-Mac’s comeback Phil Casey

FORMER US Open champion Graeme McDowell concedes he faces a long road back to the top of the game.

McDowell was ranked as high as fourth in the world in 2011 and 53rd shor tly after his last tour nament victory in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November 2015.

But the Ryder Cup star slipped back down the rankings last year after missing 13 cuts and was ranked 91st at the start of the year.

McDowell admits he has been distracted by starting a family in recent years, but the 37-year-old from Portrush insists he is motivated to recapture the form which produced 10 European Tour titles and three Ryder Cup victories.

“It has not been the kind of few years that I expect from myself,” McDowell told a pre-tournament press conference.

“There’s no doubt that there have been some factors outside of golf which have definitely been distracting and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Having a family is something I’ve always wanted.

“Coming to the start of the next few

Portrush golfer Graeme McDowell is keen to rediscover the form that won him the US Open in 2011.

years, I’ve tried to view it as a long road back toward the top of the game.

“That’s where I want to be again, give myself chances to win major championships again. I know I’ve got a lot of things to work on.

“I’ve just been rededicating myself the last six or eight months and mentally I think it’s really, really

important that I stay super-patient with it. It may not happen this week and it may not happen next week. But if I keep doing the things that I know that are going to make me the best I can be, eventually it will come.”

Missing out on a fifth straight Ryder Cup appearance at Hazeltine has given McDowell extra motivation, especially with the 2018 contest taking place at Le Golf National in Paris, where he has won the French Open twice.

“I think my focus had come back a long time before that Ryder Cup,” the Northern Irishman added. “But I think n o t b e i n g o n th a t te a m w a s a reinforcement to me that I’m not doing what I want to do in the game.

“And I’m still very, very motivated and that I still want it badly enough to go out there and do whatever it takes.

I guess that’s the key.

“I’m ready to really kind of get the head down for the next five years of my career and see what I can do.”

• McDowell per formed well in Dubai’s Deser t Classic over the weekend. Two rounds of 68 and two of 72 meant McDowell fininshed in joint 13th position, 11 shots behind eventual winner Sergio Garcia.

climbers’ jersey at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race. “It is great to get things off the ground and get the team out racing,” Aqua Blue Sport general manager Stephen Moore said. “The way they have performed here and in Australia, the way the riders animated

the race and the great morale, it just shows how we have a great year ahead of us.”

Next stop for Aqua Blue Sport is the Italian one-day race Trofeo Laigueglia on February 12 and then on to the Hilly Tour of Oman on February 14.

RUGBY

D’arcy backs Best for 2019 Nick Purewal

FORMER Ireland centre D’Arcy believes boss Joe Schmidt will want Rory Best to captain the side at the 2019 tournament, even though the hooker will be 37 by then.

Prop John Hayes extended his Ireland career to the age of 37, but 34-year-old Best has so far refused to look beyond 2018 when his current contract expires.

Jamie Heaslip continues as vice captain for the Six Nations, with halfbacks Conor Mur ray and Johnny Sexton retaining a strong influence.

“I would be ver y surprised if Joe hasn’t thought about who he would like to be captaining in the future,” D’Arcy said before last weekend’s opening fixtures. “The way Rory has conducted himself as captain, how he’s led the team and how he’s playing personally, I’m sure he would be delighted if Rory gets to the World Cup. “But I’m sure he will have two or three contingencies in mind.

“There probably isn’t a standout yet, but I would be confident we’ll start seeing some potential candidates coming through in the Six Nations.”

D’Arcy believes Ireland head coach Schmidt will also be looking to boost

Eighty-two cap veteran Gordon D’Arcy has backed Rory Best to lead Ireland all the way to 2019.

his own captaincy resources. Back-row duo CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony boast captaincy experience with Munster, but former British and Irish Lions centre D’Arcy expects a few dark horses to start stating their leadership credentials.

“For captaincy, your age is irrelevant: if you’re the right guy, you’re the right guy,” said D’Arcy.

“But I think Ireland will probably be in a position to draw up a shortlist by the end of the Six Nations.

“Leadership can’t be taught, it has to be learned.”

25

February 9 – 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

sports FORMER HEROIN ADDICT SETS RECORD AS FASTEST SOLO ROWER

Galwayman makes history in ‘toughest row’ Ryan Hooper

Gavan Hennigan celebrates after becoming the fastest solo competitor to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

A FORMER heroin addict who fought back from the brink of suicide to become an endurance athlete has rowed his way into the record books.

Clean-living endurance athlete Gavan Hennigan, 35, has become the fastest solo competitor in the history of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, dubbed the world’s toughest row.

He pulled into Antigua’s English Harbour after a punishing 3,000-mile journey across the ocean in 49 days, 11 hours and 37 minutes.

It meant he also smashed the record for the quickest Atlantic

crossing by an Irish rower, beating the previous best by Sean McGowan by 69 days.

Mr Hennigan, from Galway, fought mental and physical challenges during the crossing, which began on December 14 in the Canary Islands, to come in third ahead of a fleet of two-, three- and four-person teams.

Speaking as he arrived to a hero’s welcome in the Caribbean, Mr Hennigan said: “It was pretty tough those last few days holding off the team behind me. I was rowing nonstop, but I was determined to finish third. Coming into the finish line was just an incredible atmosphere.

“It was an epic adventure, and

I’d absolutely want to do it again,” Hennigan said.

The 35-year-old was used to the isolation, having been a saturation diver on oil rigs for the last decade.

And the mental challenge was an altogether different battle to the anguish he suffered while addicted to hard drugs in a bedsit in London in the early 2000s.

Mr Hennigan said he turned to heroin after struggling to admit he was gay.

But after fighting back from the brink of suicide, the Irishman channelled his energies into clean living and doing endurance challenges all over the world.

Praising Mr Hennigan, Carsten Heron Olsen of race organiser Atlantic Campaigns said: “We’re thrilled to see Gavan in safe and sound following a record-breaking row. He’s a fantastic example of someone who has used difficult moments from his past to motivate himself to achieve great feats and inspire others.”

His crossing makes Hennigan the fastest solo racer in the three-decade history of the competition. He raised money for Jigsaw Galway and Cancer Care West along the w a y. M c G o w a n , t h e o n l y Irishman to have previously completed the challenge, did so in 118 days.

CAVAN MIDFIELDER LAURA MAKES AFL HISTORY

Laura kicks through glass ceiling Aoife-Grace Moore

CAVAN native Laura Corrigan has made Aussie Rules history as the first Irish player to take par t in the newly for med professional women’s Australian Football League.

The 33 year-old from Miltown near Belturbet, joined Melbourne Football Club as a free agent in November.

A talented GAA midfielder, Corrigan played county football for Cavan before moving to St Kilda nine years ago.

“I came out to Australia on my own for a bit of travel and life experience, visited Cairns and Sydney and ended up driving to Melbourne in the back of a car with a load of Cavan people I knew who were doing the Great Ocean Road.”

“It was all by chance – but as soon as I got here, I loved it and decided to stay. I joined a GAA team and after one of the training sessions an Australian girl approached me and said she thought I’d make a good AFL player. It went from there.”

At almost six feet tall, Corrigan was a natural at the game and started in Australian Football career with the University of Melbourne before joining premier V ictorian Women’s Football League (VWFL) side Diamond Creek.

Corrigan, who has played in seven grand slam finals credits playing GAA as a youngster in Cavan with a team of boys for “toughening her up”: “The biggest thing I noticed after star ting AFL was the br uises and the amount of contact. I felt like I’d been hit by a car after the first few sessions, but like everything else your body gets used to it.”

After failing to make the official draft last November with 14 of her Diamond teammates, newly-wed Corrigan, determined not to take no for an answer, started calling clubs herself after hearing the franchises would be allowed three “free picks”.

“They were impressed that I’d picked up the phone and put myself forward. They wanted some tapes of me sent to our coaches then it was a waiting game to hear back.

Laura Duryea, nee Corrigan, has become the first female Irish AFL professional player. She will wear the No 11 jumper of Melbourne Demons legend Jim Stynes.

“I was hopeful, but I’d missed out on some training because of my wedding and dif ferent things so I was trying to stay positive but realistic, when they phoned and offered me a place I couldn’t believe it.”

Although from a well-known footballing family, (Corrigan’s uncle Aidan Corrigan played on the Cavan side that won The All Ireland in 1952) Corrigan says her parents underestimated the achievement: “I don’t think my parents really understood how big a deal it was. It wasn’t until the media attention started rolling in and they were seeing photos and footage online that it hit home to them but they’re delighted.”

Af fectionately known as

“Irish” to her team mates, she wears the number 11 jersey as a tribute to compatriot and Melbourne Demons legend, the late great Jim Stynes.

Stynes, a Dubliner who also played for Melbourne, won the coveted Brownlow medal and served as club chairman before his premature death in 2012.

Corrigan says the comparisons serve as a great honour and remind her that expectations are high.

“It’s been a big build up and there’s obviously some pressure but I can only do what I can do – if I go out and do my best and do Ireland proud that’s the main thing.

“So many people, die-hard Melbourne fans, have come to me and said ‘Jim would be so

proud that’s there is an Irish girl in the team’ wishing me all the best and it’s lovely.”

“

“It’s been a big build up and there’s obviously some pressure but I can only do what I can do – if I go out and do my best and do Ireland proud that’s the main thing.

”

Deter mined to give this opportunity her all, Corrigan has left her teaching post at a primar y school on the Mornington Peninsula.

“All my students and teacher friends just went back to school today, and it really hit it home

that I’d left and I’m a footballer now. It’s unreal.”

Training three times a week, Corrigan said she was grateful she’d just returned from the GAA State Games in Brisbane just weeks before she started her professional career.

“As I’d just come back from state and star ted the programme, I didn’t have a chance to get unfit.

“Don’t get me wrong, I was dying in the heat, and the work rate is so high, but it didn’t take me long to get into it, so I have the GAA to thank for that.”

The GAA may lose other talented women’s footballers to the oval ball game if the competition turns out to be successful.

Women’s football operations

manager Debbie Lee said Cor rigan is a welcome experienced recruit. “ ‘Irish’ is a really good addition to the team. She brings experience, given that we’ve got 10 players under 20 years of age. She’s a really tough, competitive player and also brings height to the team, so we see her as a tall defender and a second ruck option.”

Corrigan is keeping a cool head as the season gets under way: “It’s been a dream come true. They’re such a good group of girls, the coaches and support staff are amazing – we’re all working towards the same thing. It’s been such a positive experience and a real once in a life time opportunity so I’m just going to make the most of it.”

26 sports

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

RUGBY :: CHAMPIONS CUP :: TWO PROVINCES MAKE PLAY-OFFS

Irish provinces earn home advantage LEINSTER and Munster will both host Champions Cup quarter finals after topping their respective pools.

Munster have rediscovered the spirit of old as the province continues to recover from the sudden death of coach Anthony Foley.

The Reds won five of their six Champions League fixtures and will face Toulouse in Thomond Park in the knock-out quarter final.

Munster will also play their semi-final at home should they defeat Toulouse.

Leinster also topped their pool but missed out on the top seeding in the finals after a disappointing draw against Castres. The Blues now host Wasps but they will have to travel to France for the semi-final which will be against Clermont or Toulon.

Statistically, home advantage is crucial in European rugby.

“I just think it’s home comforts for players, it does matter,” said head Leinster coach Leo Cullen. “It’s hard to exactly determine on any given week the difference it makes.

“But, playing in front of [a home crowd matters], especially for a team like Leinster where so many of the players have grown up reasonably close to the ground or in the province.

“Having that sense of support from family and friends as well, that sense of responsibility is a big thing.”

Meanwhile, European Champions Cup holders Saracens will host Glasgow Warriors in their quarter-final.

Saracens, who beat Racing 92 21-9 in the Lyon final last season, will continue on the road to Edinburgh at Allianz Park. In the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, Bath face Brive while Gloucester will play Cardiff. Ospreys play Stade Francais and Edinburgh welcome La Rochelle.

European Champions Cup quarterfinal draw: Clermont Auvergne v Toulon, Leinster v Wasps, Saracens v Glasgow Warriors, Munster v Toulouse.

Challenge Cup quarter-final draw: Bath v Brive, Gloucester v Cardiff, Edinburgh v La Rochelle, Ospreys v Stade Francais.

EYE ON THE BALL: Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip is tackled by Montpellier’s Joseph Tomane during the European Champions Cup, Pool Four match at the RDS Arena, Leinster. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

FOOTBALL

FAI chief supports 48-team World Cup Ed Carty

FOOTBALL boss John Delaney has backed a 48 team World Cup. The chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) claimed he was behind a previous idea to expand the European Championships from 16 teams to 24 – a move that he said had not affected quality.

“Any opportunity that gets Ireland a greater opportunity to get to a World Cup in theory and principle I would support,” he said.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was behind the controversial proposal to expand the World Cup finals from 32 to 48 teams. Only 13 European teams qualify and there is speculation that a bigger tournament would have room for another three European countries.

Mr Delaney, appearing before an Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, was quizzed by TDs and senators about a range of governance issues. He was also asked about a €5 million pay-off arranged with former Fifa boss Sepp Blatter over a

FAI chief John Delaney.

Thierry Henry handball which cost the Republic a World Cup place in 2010.

“The committee decided that it would not be discussed in this house,” the FAI boss said. “All that money was properly accounted for and signed off by our auditors.”

The FAI is not regulated by the state but it does receive some public funding and a decision was taken in 2015 that questions about the Fifa money may be outside the remit of the Oireachtas.

The heads of the Irish Rugby

Football Union (IRFU) and the GAA were also questioned on a range of issues including gender quotas, ticket touting and concussion.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said the proposal for sports bodies to appoint women to a third of board positions was a concern.

“There is no evidence to suggest that not having women in the IRFU has actually held back the women’s game at all,” he said.

Paraic Duffy, GAA chief executive, said the organisation did not have responsibility for camogie or ladies football.

“I think it would be better if it [gender quotas] was not done through enforcement,” Mr Duffy said.

Mr Delaney defended the FAI’s work in recent years on the women’s game and said the “chairperson” of a women’s committee in the FAI would be appointed to the board this year.

It is understood that of the 50 places filled by the executive committees and boards of the FAI, IRFU and GAA only one was filled by a woman.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Brady back in top flight with Burnley BURNLEY broke their transfer record to recruit Robbie Brady from Norwich on deadline day.

The Republic of Ireland international signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor for an undisclosed fee.

But the Clarets confirmed the sum eclipsed the £10.5 million they paid Derby for compatriot Jeff Hendrick last summer.

Brady spent 18 months at Norwich, having joined from Hull for £7 million, and was part of the team relegated from the Premier League last season.

He was the second new arrival at Burnley on Tuesday with Sean Dyche

also signing Ashley Westwood from Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, the signing of Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini by Southampton from Napoli on a fourand-a-half-year contract is being interpreted as bad news for Ireland’s Shane Long. The transfer of the 25-year-old forward for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be approximately £15 million (€17.5 million) plus potential add-ons, was announced only an hour before the deadline.

Long scored the late winner for Southhampton in the FA Cup clash against Norwich.

Robbie Brady made his debut for Burnley last weekend.

GOLF

McIlroy ‘resents’ Olympics after pulling out of Rio RORY McIlroy has revealed how he “resents” the Olympics because of the way he was left feeling when he pulled out of representing Ireland in Rio. The world number two was one of a host of the sport’s biggest names not to compete at the first Olympic golf event since 1904, with Justin Rose eventually taking the gold medal.

McIlroy, born in Co Down, initially opted to represent Ireland rather than Great Britain before taking the decision not to participate at all.

Now the 27-year-old says he has plenty of ill-feeling towards the Olympics as a result.

“I started to resent it,” he told the Irish Independent. “And I do. I resent the Olympic Games because of the position it put me in. That’s my feeling towards it, and whether that’s right or wrong, it’s how I feel.

“When it was announced in 2009 or whatever, all of a sudden it put me in a position where I had to question who I am. Who am I? Where am I from?

Where do my loyalties lie? Who am I going to play for? Who do I not want to p*** off the most?”

McIlroy said he sent Rose a text after his victor y but still did not feel as though he had made a mistake by deciding against competing.

With four majors to his name, McIlroy now resides in Florida, where he plays a lot of golf with former world number one Tiger Woods.

Woods, arguably golf’s most famous face, has 14 major wins to his name, but McIlroy insists he would not trade his own level of anonymity in the United States for Woods’ trophy haul.

“I’ve seen what his life is like in Florida. I’ve played golf with him and said: ‘What are you doing tonight? Do you want to come and have dinner with us?’ And he can’t.

“For me that’s unfathomable. I could not live like that. If someone was to say, ‘You can have 14 Majors and 70 wins but have to deal with that, or nine Majors and 40 wins and stay somewhat the same as you are’, I’d take the second option any day.”

McIlroy does not expect to be back in action from a rib injury until the

Rory McIlroy will not return to action until March.

WGC-Mexico Championship in March only a month before the Masters.

He missed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic because of his injury.

Speaking to The Clubhouse Pod with FOX Sports, the 27-year-old said: “I am trying to get back for Mexico, that’s my timetable for return.

“I could maybe get back before that, but if I were to play Honda [Classic in Florida] and then go straight to Mexico, that would be playing two weeks in a row. I would like to ease my way in gently.”

Despite being in pain, McIlroy had competed in the 2017 BMW SA Open, where he finished runner-up after losing a play-off to England’s Graeme Storm. The Johannesburg event, which ran from January 12 to 15, was his only action since wrapping up last season with top-10 finishes at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Following tests after the end of the tournament, it was confirmed McIlroy had suffered a stress fracture of a rib and was advised to rest.

27

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

six nations - rugby - sports SLUGGISH START COULD COST IRELAND THE SIX NATIONS TITLE - JOE SCHMIDT

Frustrated coach rues team’s sluggish start Nick Purewal

Joe Schmidt has admitted that the Six Nations title will be tough to win now.

JOE Schmidt insists the “sluggish” start in Scotland that could blow Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations championship hopes was not down to complacency.

Ireland were 15 minutes late arriving at Murrayfield on Saturday, then Schmidt admitted his side failed to turn up in the first-half in Edinburgh.

Head coach Schmidt branded Ireland’s second-half fightback too little too late, admitting the defeat represents a huge dent to any title chances.

“We arrived about 15 minutes late to the stadium and we were late for most things all first-half,” said Schmidt.

“We were sluggish. We got some really good field position in the first half and didn’t convert. That was frustrating.

“They got too much room to move. We were sluggish to close that space down and missed a few tackles.

“We were on time leaving the hotel. It just took a long time to get to the ground.

“Those things happen. It’s not an excuse for being late for things in the first-half, it’s probably a reflection of the way the start of the day went for us.

“Our recovery was 40 minutes too late but there were solutions that were demonstrated. But the key is we’ve got to start better.

“One of the things that’s a danger is that when you consistently deliver something you tend to just have an expectation it’s going to happen.

“We have tended to start well in recent Test matches, so for us not to start well, there was certainly a sluggishness of

thought and movement in the first-half.

“I think the solutions are there but we’re going to have to make sure we start better than that in Rome next week.

“The slow start definitely wasn’t down to complacency.

“Sometimes you can have an expectation that things will unfold but when they don’t you have to take account of that and make sure they unfold by getting done what you need to get done.

And we didn’t really.

“The start was a real problem today, and it is unusual.

“It’s only happened a couple of times in the last few years, and we’ve paid dearly for it.

“We fought our way right back into the game but once you’ve done that you’ve got to be able to go on and win those

moments there that we didn’t quite win.”

Admitting the loss dents Ireland’s title chances, Schmidt said: “It’s obviously far from ideal. The defeat is pretty tough to take. But it was always potentially a reality coming here.

“We knew these guys had improved.

[Scottish head coach] Vern Cotter has done a great job with them. We fed their self-belief which was dangerous to do.

“They were more encouraged because they felt they could open up and play against us and they did it well.

“We have to take it on the chin and it looks like a very tough championship to win. But we know we’re not out of it, we did pick up that bonus point.

“We’ve got to go to Italy now and make sure we get five or six points from these first two games.”

IRELAND DOMINATE POSSESSION AND TERRITORY BUT LOSE IN EDINBURGH

Scottish joy as Irish blow it Andy Newport and Nick Purewal

SCOTLAND full-back Stuar t Hogg did no harm to his British and Irish Lions selection hopes with two stunning tries that left Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign in tatters.

Hogg lacerated Ireland’s woeful first half defence as Scotland triumphed 27-22 at Murrayfield, to make good on all their pre-tournament hype.

The Scots had pr oudly declared the 2017 vintage ready to blossom into their best Test team in a generation, and here Vern Cotter’s side started that process in fine style.

Paddy Jackson’s converted try saw Ireland rally from 21-5 down to lead 22-21, only for Greig Laidlaw to slot two late penalties and secure a fine victory.

Ireland appeared a shadow of the side that toppled back-toback world champions New Zealand 40-29 in Chicago in November, with Joe Schmidt’s men desperately craving a cutting edge.

Many Six Nations predictions had neutrals breezily dreaming of a Grand Slam decider when Ireland host England in Dublin on March 18.

Scotland spoiled Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day weekend party planning in spectacular fashion though, blowing the competition wide open in the process.

Scotland made a mockery of any Ireland pretensions to this year’s title in a first-half dismantling of boss Schmidt’s much-vaunted game plan.

Defence coach Andy Farrell must have been tearing his hair out in the stands as Ireland’s rearguard action fell far too short of expected standards.

The visitors battered Scotland at the scrum, only to waste three fine try-scoring platforms from botched penalty lineouts.

Scotland were clinical in the extreme in contrast, peerless full-back Hogg ghosting home for the opener after Gar r y Ringrose stepped out of the line poorly in misreading Finn Russell’s pass.

Any claims from Ringrose that he could have pulled off an intercept must have fallen on

ROG AND ROLL

Scotland 27 Ireland 22

deaf ears, because the Leinster centre simply dropped a defensive clanger to g i f t Scotland their first score.

Scotland and Hogg then doubled their tr y tally at the close of the first quarter, with Ireland again guilty of lax defending.

A worr ying misalignment between Rob Kear ney and Keith Earls let Hogg stroll home again, while Munster wing Earls was left in no man’s land as the Scots cemented their dominance. Ireland appeared bereft of ideas, but somehow conjured a try for Earls after Tommy Seymour failed to intercept Simon Zebo’s floated scoring pass.

Scotland str uck again h o w e v e r, p u l l i n g o f f a n ingenious lineout r use for centre Alex Dunbar’s try.

Ireland totally failed to notice the Glasgow midfielder lurking in the middle of a five-metre lineout, and Ross Ford’s short throw created the all-too easy score.

Cotter’s men turned around with a commanding 21-8 lead then, but Ireland hit back with Iain Henderson’s score straight after the break.

Conor Mur ray bur rowed close after a series of tight drives, before Ulster lock Henderson finished off Ireland’s obdurate move.

Ireland botched a fine scoring chance when Murray blocked Russell’s grubber to race clear.

Murray fed Jamie Heaslip but the Leinster loose forward was unable to find Robbie Henshaw, with Sean Maitland intercepting to extinguish the danger.

Ireland went close again as Rob Kearney bumped off Huw Jones only to be dragged into touch at the last by Maitland.

Ireland totally bossed the third quarter and finally claimed their third score when Jackson forced a clean break to dot down at full extension.

Dunbar and Huw Jones could only watch on as the Ulster pivot scythed through, then posting the conversion to wrestle Ireland a one-point advantage.

O’Gara’s TV jibe sparks Twitter row

Paddy Jackson breaks the line to score his second half try to give Ireland the lead. But the Scots hit back with two late penalties to win by two points.

Jackson was pinged for refusing to roll away at ruck however, allowing Laidlaw to slot the penalty and push Scotland back into a 24-22 lead.

Scotland had seven minutes to keep the ball to rebuf f Ireland’s second-half fightback, a job which was boosted considerably by Tommy Bowe’s high tackle on Dunbar.

Laidlaw coolly posted the penalty, then banged over another to seal the deal.

Captain Greig Laidlaw said he Scotland have finally shaken off their ‘plucky losers’ tag after the Murrayfield success.

Asked if the win showed a change in mentality, Laidlaw said: “Yeah there is, definitely.

“We know what plays to go to when we’re in tight games.

“It’s the way we’re coached during the week through Vern and the other coaches. We know

“

Scotland spoiled Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day weekend party planning in spectacular fashion, blowing the competition wide open in the process.

”

how to build pressure on teams, gather field position and that’s why we won.

“It was so pleasing to come back and close it out. Just to grab it back was so pleasing.

“It was a great team effort and one we’re delighted to start

the championship with. We just don’t want to be getting beaten anymore, so it was so pleasing to get this over the line.

“The message was ‘hold onto the ball’, and it worked very well overall.”

Scotland’s first victory since 2013 over Ireland means they start the Six Nations with a win for the first time since beating France back in 2006.

“We knew at half-time these guys would come back much stronger, and they did,” Cotter said. “We defended well for long periods.

“I’m really happy for the players that put in so much work. It validates that work.

“It cer tainly changes the dynamic, to start the Six Nations with a win.

THE bad blood between Scotland and Ireland spilled beyond Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash as Gregor Townsend (above) took a Twitter dig at Ronan O’Gara.

Scotland toppled Ireland 27-22 at Murrayfield to make good on entering the tournament with high hopes, then Glasgow boss Townsend stoked the fires with former Munster fly-half O’Gara.

Former Ireland star O’Gara told RTÉ before kick-off in Edinburgh: “I hope Ireland hammer Scotland today for the way they behaved in the week. Too mouthy, they can’t back it up. I was brought up with a mentality that you work hard and talk about it afterwards.”

But after Scotland’s impressive victory Townsend retweeted a video of O’Gara’s comments in a clear riposte at the implied criticism of Vern Cotter’s side talking up their Six Nations chances.

Munster were incensed

by Townsend’s Glasgow side’s tactics in targeting scrum-half Conor Murray when the Thomond Park province won 14-12 in Scotland in Champions Cup action last month.

Murray even admitted he was “properly p***** off” with the treatment he felt was a series of cheap shots targeting his standing leg when he went to kick.

While Murray endured a frustrating afternoon in Ireland’s defeat he did not suffer any particular roughhousing this time around.

But that did not stop Townsend adding another layer of niggle to the frosty relations between provinces and now national sides.

28

February 9 - 22, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R