Irish Echo November 2017

CORONAS

IRISH RUGBY TOUR 2018

INTERVIEW :: PAGE 4

PAGE 23

Much-Loved Dublin Pop Outfit Return To Australia

Tests Confirmed For Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in June

For breaking news visit www.irishecho.com.au

AUST RALI A’ S I RI S H N E WS PA P E R November, 2017 | Volume 30 – Number 11

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Journey of rediscovery President Higgins’ State Visit adds new momentum to Irish-Australian relationship.

Pages 3,10-11

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President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at the Monument to the Great Irish Famine at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney. Picture: Brook Mitchell

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state visit to australia by president michael d higgins PRESIDENT CONCLUDES AUSTRALIAN VISIT BY RETRACING FAMILY FOOTSTEPS IN QUEENSLAND

Emotional tribute to the family links that were lost to history PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins concluded his state visit to Australia at an emotional gathering in the Queensland town of Warwick.

It was to the Darling Downs town that President Higgins’ ancestors travelled in the 1860s to escape post-Famine Ireland and, like so many other Irish, to seek a better life in the new world.

He used the opportunity to draw the strands of emigration and dislocation together from 230 years of European settlement in Australia.

He also tearfully apologised for the letters home that were never answered and for the family links between the countries that were lost to the tyranny of distance.

Mr Higgins met scores of distant cousins, descendants of his grand father’s brother Patrick and sister Mary Ann who emigrated to Queensland from Co Clare in 1862.

Mr Higgins included the town on his itinerary not just to meet his relatives but because it had been “neglected as a location for Irish emigration, particularly in the post-Famine period”.

About 25,000 Irish, many from Co Clare, arrived in Warwick between 1860 and 1863. By 1891, 32 per cent of the town’s population were born in Ireland, he said.

In his research on Irish emigration to Australia, Mr Higgins said he found the most moving part was finding fewer letters sent between the countries over the years, unlike correspondence between Ireland and the United States.

He offered a practical reason: “Letters were expensive to send, took as long as eight months to arrive and people did not want share the bad news about deaths in their families.

“So it is incredibly important [on] this visit of an Irish President to be able to say that I am sorry for that broken connection with all those families,” Mr Higgins said, choking up.

“Equally in Ireland, I know from personal experience and from talking to families who would often wonder what happenened to their families away in Australia.

“I am so pleased to have been able, on this visit, to meet people who are Australian, but always Irish as well.

THE HIGGINS CLAN: President Higgins with his distant relatives in Warwick, Queensland. (from left) John Higgins, Diane Mc Donald, Denise Cox, Peter Higgins, Helen Byrne, Tom Higgins, Trish Higgins, Sandra Brooks, Margaret Smith, Tom Eastwell and Peter English. Picture: Maxells “Meeting them in Melbourne, and Perth, and Canberra, and Hobart and Sydney, and now here in Warwick.

“This visit is about the rebonding of Irishness,” the President said.

“There’s nothing we can do about the letters that did not come, but there’s an awful lot we can do about building our relationship which is full of opportunity for the future.”

The President traced the history of Irish emigration from the convict days to the recent wave of graduates, contruction workers nurses and others who had been drawn to Australia.

“Many of them have come back to Ireland. They never say that they didn’t like Australia. It might have been in relation to their mother or father that they returned or because they now had children of their own and they wanted a particular kind of education. But they will say: ‘It was great in Australia but I felt I had to come home’.”

Before leaving for New Zealand, the President addressed his future in an interview with RTÉ.

He said he would have a “very clear view” on his plans by May of next year, after he had completed a number of European trips and a possible state visit to Canada.

Mr Higgins said he would be taking everything into account in reaching a decision.

He said there was nothing in his presidency that he had not been able to meet in terms of challenges and stressed that he felt he owed it to Ireland and to the Irish people to fulfill commitments he had made regarding his term of office.

Saying he would make up his mind in the fullness of time, Mr Higgins also emphasised that nothing in his decisionmaking process was an obstacle to anyone else who wanted to throw their hat in the ring for the presidency.

President Higgins meets a distant relative, Sister Gabrielle Ryan, at a reception in Warwick Australia. Picture: Maxwells

COMMENT :: A STATE VISIT LIKE NO OTHER

Higgins hails ‘rebonding of Irishness’ Billy Cantwell

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins’ long overdue state visit to Australia was one like no other.

Hastily arranged and coming almost six years into his presidency, the visit once again shone a light on the tremendous goodwill and shared histor y between the two countries.

The President’s robust intellectual curiosity, combined with his personal family connections, no doubt enhanced his understanding of the Irish Australian experience.

The bilateral relationship had been allowed to wither by both sides in recent years but the state visit caps a year in which there has been a welcome flurr y of Irish-Australian government-to-government interaction.

President Higgins’ visit will, we hope, further boost Irish Australian relations. Before his arrival in Perth last month, it had been a full decade since a prime minister, governor general or head of state had visited either country.

Enda Kenny’s tenure as Taoiseach

came and went without a visit to Australia, as did Kevin Rudd’s, Julia Gillard’s and Tony Abbott’s.

Malcolm Turnbull is unlikely to visit any time soon. But so far this year, two senior Australian ministers and the Governor General have visited Ireland.

Brexit, ironically, has served to remind the Aussies that they have another close cultural friend in Europe.

Economic and political realities have refocused attention on this country’s significant Irish connections.

During his visit President Higgins, unlike his predecessors Mar y Robinson and Mary McAleese, sought not to trumpet Irish achievement in Australia or to over-sentimentalise the Irish experience. In fact, he sought to actively challenge the orthodox narrative of Irish Australia.

The conventional telling of Irish Australian history, which tends to focus on the Irish as either convicts who broke free of their shackles to make a contribution to the new countr y, or comprising a Catholic underclass that suffered sectarian discrimination, or as dashing bushrangers with social justice preoccupations.

In his speech to the University of New South Wales (pictured above), President Higgins went as far as d escribing this “historiography” as “tendentious”. President Higgins went further, tying the Irish experience in 18th- and 19th-centur y Australia as being closer to that of colonist, than of the colonised.

“It would be insufficient for me to simply reiterate a historiography of the Irish contribution to Australia. Instead, I wish to advance here the case for an ethic of remembrance,” he said.

Nor did he focus, as others have in the past, on the significant chapter of

Irish-Australian history that is tethered to the Catholic Church. That there were no events or photo opportunities with priests, bishops or archbishops pointed to Ireland’s new secularism.

To those of us who call both Ireland and Australia home, President Higgins’ visit offers both encouragement and challenges. Some painful realities of our own story have been washed away in the tears that are shed every time someone sings The Fields Of Athenry.

And yet Irish history in Australia is a distinct and separate story to that of the British.

Many Irish came here in colonial times either in chains – in which case their story is one of survival – or in search of a better life. In this context, Aboriginal dispossession, as fundamentally important as it is, should not be the primary prism through which we can or should view Irish-Australian history. Many Irish Australians – some of them Aboriginal-Irish – have been at the forefront of the ongoing battle for a fair go for Australia’s first peoples.

This may have nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that they claim a connection to Ireland but that is, to use

President Higgins term, tendentious.

The President waited until the very end of his visit to address the unique tyranny of distance that continues to dif ferentiate the Irish Australian experience from that of other corners of the Diaspora.

His visit to Warwick in Queensland, to which his great uncle and great aunt emigrated in the 1860s, clearly had an emotional impact on him as he spoke about his ancestors and many others much have been thinking and feeling about being away from home.

“They must have really felt, ‘What is happening back in Ireland? Have we lost connection?’

“Equally in Ireland I do know from personal experience and talking to families that they often wondered to what happened to their families away in Australia.”

This speech, during which he apologised, for the “broken connections” of the past, also struck a very positive note for the future.

The President said he hoped that his visit would help the “rebonding of Irishness” in Australia. It would be a noble legacy of a unique visit.

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news CORONAS RETURN FOR WHISTLE-STOP TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

Popular four-piece fired up for tour David Hennessy

The Coronas, one of Ireland’s most popular live bands over the past 10 years, return to Australia this month.

WITH their new album Trust the Wire only just released and char ting at number one in Ireland, The Coronas will make the trip to Australia for the first time in two years.

Since establishing themselves in 2003, The Coronas have built up a loyal fanbase in Ireland, taking industr y awards from bands as big as U2 and Snow Patrol and even having the honour of playing for American President Barack Obama on his Irish visit. This will be their first Australian trip since they played in 2015 and front-man Danny O’Reilly said the band is very excited about playing their new album to their Australian fans.

“We can’t wait,” O’Reilly told the Irish Echo. “We’ve played there a couple of times before and it’s a great place to tour and we’re really excited about it. We’ve got America on the horizon before that as well so we’ll be well rehearsed and ready for the Australian tour. It’s short enough, only the four dates but really excited about it. We’ve had some amazing gigs there before and amazing crowds and we hear the gigs are selling well and all that stuff.

It’s going to be great.”

The singer/guitarist says the growth of their crowds is noticeable each time.

“It seems to be ever y time we’ve gone back, we’ve got a little bit more local radio and the last time we had some TV appearances and stuff. It’s nice to see more Aussies coming as well, obviously there’s a huge expat community there and it’s great to see all them, it’s like a home away from home, it’s cool but it’s cool to see more Australians coming down as well.

“It’s cool to have the Irish there. I think the further you go away from Ireland, the more Irish they seem.

They miss home so much that they’ll be the first ones out with the Irish flags and singing ‘ole, ole’ and asking for our songs in Irish which we do sometimes.

“We look forward to that and it’s nice to get a piece of home. It seems to matter a lot to people that you’ve gone all that way. Some people come to the shows that wouldn’t even be huge

Coronas fans would say to me after the show, ‘I had to come, you came all the way to Sydney’. It’s cool that people support the Irish and you have that family away from home.”

Trust the Wire is The Coronas’ fifth studio album and one that has received positive reviews thanks to singles like We Couldn’t Fake It. “We’ve been on the road for the last month playing the new songs and they’ve been going down amazingly to be honest. We’re really happy with the reaction the new album has gotten and the new singles and stuff so we’re really excited about playing those tunes and we’re enjoying being on the road.”

Danny, the son of singing legend Mary Black, says he thinks the new collection is the band’s best work.

“At the moment we like it more than any of the other ones. It’s the newest and we’re really, really proud of it.

“From the point of view of the songs and the production, I definitely think it’s our best album. I think people will have their favourites from different albums and that’s cool but I think it was just the album we wanted to make.

“It felt right and we didn’t force it.

We went in and made the album we wanted to make and we’re really happy with how it turned out.”

It is 10 years since the band announced themselves with songs like San Diego Song, a tune about drinking all night and sleeping all day and the band’s sound has matured just as they have. Was there more freedom to experiment on this one?

“I think we put a little bit less pressure on ourselves to make it try and sound anyway in particular. With the last album, The Long Way, we wrote that in London in a busy rehearsal studio and we were signed to a major label and we were sort of thinking ‘we need a few singles’.

“We approached the last album that way whereas with this one, we said, ‘you know what? Let’s just do this ourselves, just do it for the love of it and let’s write the type of songs we wanna hear and what we enjoy’.

“Thankfully we ended up with a few singles as well. We wrote it in Dingle,

Co Kerr y as well, locked ourselves away so it was very different to the album before in that we were in a very quiet space where we just chilled and there was a nice atmosphere there. It was very different to writing the bulk of the one before in London and I think that made a difference to the sound even subconsciously.”

Of course Danny was born in the music industry. Apart from mum Mary, his sister is a successful solo performer under the moniker Roisin O, as is his cousin Aoife Scott. All three combined on a special song and performance for last year’s centenary on 1916 events.

Mary Black played what is expected to be her final Australian tour last year as she takes a step back.

“She’s been doing it for a long time and she’s a legend and it’s great that she’s gotten to the stage now where she can pick and choose the odd gig.

She doesn’t have to go off on tour and promote an album, she can decide what nice gigs she wants to do.

“My brother has two kids now so she’s a granny and she’s very happy with that and she’s loving that role. She can enjoy life and come to more of our shows now.”

His fans may not realise that Danny is useful on the GAA pitch. He played for Dublin minors and still plays when he gets time.

“My dad is the coach so whenever I have time off from the band, I’m at home and I’m dragged to training but I love it, I love exercise and I love sport.

I love watching football, rugby, golf, whatever. we all do as a band so when we’re on the road, it’s a cool way to get away from gigging. If there’s a GAA match on at home, we’ll put it on. If there’s a soccer match, we’ll watch that.

He describes Dublin’s three-in-a-row All-Ireland football win in September as “simply amazing”. “I was at it. I’ve been at the last two finals. I’ve a couple of friends who play for Dublin at the moment, they have an amazing team.”

The Coronas play Finn McCool’s in Brisbane on Wednesday 22 November, Manning Bar in Sydney in Friday 24 November, Metropolis in Perth on Saturday 25 November and The Corner in Melbourne on Sunday 26 November.

FIANCEE ACCUSED OF MURDER ‘COMPLETELY ALONE’, LAWYER TELLS COURT

Stabbed man was under AVO and had violent history THE Wexford man allegedly killed by his Irish fiancee in Sydney in February was accused of glassing someone in a pub hours before he was fatally stabbed, according to reports.

Carpenter David ‘Daithi’ Walsh, 29, was in breach of an apprehended violence order by being drunk around his fiancee Tina Cahill, 25, when he got into a physical fight with her and her friend at their southwest Sydney home in the early hours of February 18.

It is understood Mr Walsh was on top of a male visitor, punching him, when Cahill intervened. In the tussle Walsh was fatally stabbed in the neck.

Cahill, also from Wexford, is set to face a NSW Supreme Court trial for Walsh’s murder next year.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that on the night of Walsh’s death, police were looking for him after he allegedly glassed someone at the Coach and Horses Hotel in Randwick.

It is then alleged he sent threatening text messages to Cahill, including photographs of knives. He then went back to their Padstow home, where he allegedly broke in and passed out.

Cahill, two female friends and a male friend returned home and found Walsh

asleep. It is understood he woke up and started fighting with the male friend, during which Cahill intervened.

Prosecutors will allege she was pushed away and then grabbed a knife and fatally stabbed him in the neck.

Walsh was a father of three children from a previous relationship. He moved to Australia in 2013.

Hundreds of people attended his funeral in his home town. After his death one family member told the Irish Mirror: “Everyone loved him. Anyone who was going over to Australia, he would help them get on their feet.”

Walsh left Ireland with several charges of assault against him. These included assaulting the mother of his three children.

Walsh and Cahill became engaged five weeks before his death.

Cahill remains in custody. Her lawyer James Trevallion told Burwood Local Court during a recent mention of her case that she was eager to stand trial as soon as possible because, “she has no family in this country, she has ver y few friends and is completely alone”.

The case returns to cour t next month.

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

Tina Cahill, who remains in custody in Sydney, is accused of murdering her fiance David Walsh in February. Picture: Facebook

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news IMPEACHED PRESIDENT OF STUDENTS’ UNION SUBJECT OF ‘WITCH HUNT’, SUPPORTERS SAY

UCD students oust pro-life leader Deborah McAleese

IMPEACHED: Students’ union president Katie Ascough says she acted on abortion information because it could have had legal consequences.

TOURISM BOOST

GOT a gem for tourist numbers

SUPPOR TERS of the impeached president of UCD students’ union have claimed she has been the subject of a “witch hunt”.

Katie Ascough was voted out as president of the students’ union. A referendum was called after Ms Ascough stopped the union from publishing information on abortion in a publication aimed at first-year students.

Out of the 6611 students who voted, 69 per cent voted in favour of impeachment, while 31 per cent voted against.

After the vote was announced Ms Ascough said: “This is a sad day for me, but it is also a sad day for our university.”

The University Observer quoted her as saying: “Universities should be a place of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of association, fairness, respect for those who do not wish to break the law and respect for

others with different beliefs.” In an open letter on her Fight4Katie campaign page on Thursday, Ms Ascough claimed she was being bullied out of her post.

During and after the referendum she was the subject of abuse on social media. Her supporters have rallied to defend her.

Fintan Burns tweeted: “#katieAscough. A brave woman who is impeached for bravely carrying out the campus rules. Bullied out by the tolerant brigade”.

Kayleigh O’Sullivan tweeted: “We have different views but I feel so sorry for Katie Ascough. This witch hunt is an embarrassment to Choice.”

Also defending Ms Ascough, Ray Kinsella wrote on Twitter: “Can’t help thinking @ucddublin needs Katie Ascough and others like her(rare!) much more than she needs UCD...”

Ben Conroy said “Katie Ascough and her supporters are the only people to

come out of this with a shred of their dignity intact.”

Impeachment proceedings were triggered after Ms Ascough ordered the reprinting of copies of a freshers’ week student guide, because it contained information including the cost of abor tion in other countries and information on abor tion pills. Ms Ascough said she ordered the reprint because going ahead with distribution would have been illegal and could have exposed the union and her personally to a criminal record and a fine.

She claimed “a group of bullies” were behind the impeachment.

Following the result of the vote Amy Crean, of the impeachment campaign, told the University Obser ver the campaign was run “on democracy and student engagement.”

“What I would like people to take from this result is that it’s about democracy, that we voted for representation and transparency.”

DUBLIN CELEBRATES 350TH ANNIVERSARY OF BELOVED AUTHOR’S BIRTH

Deborah McAleese

HIT fantasy drama Game Of Thrones has helped place Northern Ireland on course for its busiest tourist year ever.

Tourists spent more than £400 million in the first six months of the year, new statistics show.

This is 16 per cent greater than during the same period in 2016, Tourism NI says.

The number of tourists visiting the region has also risen.

Figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show that tourism generated 7.6 million nights, an increase of 18 per cent, from January to June.

Tourism NI believes attractions like Game Of Thrones, Seamus Heaney, the Titanic and the Causeway helped generate more visitors from the Republic of Ireland, other parts of Europe and North America.

Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said the region is on course for its busiest year and to reach an annual revenue of £1 billion by the end of the decade.

“Some £2.3 million was spent by those taking over night trips in Northern Ireland every day during the first six months of 2017,” Mr McGrillen said. “In addition to the domestic and Republic of Ireland markets, growth is apparent across Europe, Nor th America and further afield, with a 15 per cent increase in visitors from overseas availing of the increased air capacity into Northern Ireland, driving both business and holiday trips.”

Mr McGrillen said the positive growth was supported by “an intensive burst of partnership marketing initiatives in the Republic of Ireland highlighting both well-established and new tourism offerings from Titanic and the Causeway to Seamus Heaney HomePlace and the Game Of Thrones tapestr y (in the Ulster Museum), alongside high-impact campaigns in key markets across the globe by Tourism Ireland.

“Tourism NI’s industry barometer indicates positive sentiment for the remainder of the year,” he added.

SWIFT WORK: St Patrick’s Cathedral choristers hover over a copy of The Reluctant Rebel for the launch of the Jonathan Swift Festival, marking the 350th birthday of Ireland’s literary giant. Swift was Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral from 1713 until his death in 1745. Picture: Brian Lawless

IRELAND RUGBY STARS TO STAND TRIAL ON RAPE CHARGES

Jackson, Olding accused of raping the same woman Deborah McAleese TWO Ireland and Ulster rugby stars are to stand trial on charges of rape, a court has ruled.

Paddy Jackson, 25, and Stuart Olding, 24, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court last month for a preliminary investigation into the accusations against them.

It was the first time the pair were required to attend court proceedings since being charged.

After considering legal arguments from prosecution and defence barristers, District Judge George Conner

ruled there was enough evidence to return the pair for Crown Court trial.

They were required to stand in the body of the court, alongside another two co-accused, while the charges against them were read.

Both men are accused of raping the same woman at a property in south Belfast in June last year. Olding, of Ardenlee Street, Belfast, is charged with two counts of rape.

Jackson, from Oakleigh Park, Belfast, is accused of one count of rape and one of sexual assault.

Fly-half Jackson has been capped for Ireland 25 times and centre Olding has

played four times. They are established stars for Ulster Rugby. The Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby have said they will not play again until court proceedings conclude.

Two other men were also returned for trial on charges connected with the incident. Blane McIlroy, 25, from Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, is accused of one count of exposure.

Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, Belfast, is charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information. All men were released on their own bail of £500. The date of the trial has yet to be fixed.

Irish rugby international Paddy Jackson outside court.

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news WILD HONEY INN JOINS LIST OF MICHELIN-STARRED IRISH RESTAURANTS

New star emerges as tasty list is uncorked Deborah McAleese A 19TH-CENTURY inn has become the latest Irish restaurant to be added to the prestigious Michelin star list.

The Wild Honey Inn in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, has been awarded a Michelin Star in the most recent edition.

Owned and run by prominent chef Aidan McGrath and his partner Kate Sweeney, the Wild Honey Inn – a Michelin Bib Gourmand holder since 2010 – is the only newcomer to join an 11-strong list of Michelin Star restaurants in the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland has retained its two Michelin stars.

The Wild Honey Inn, which dates from 1860, was refurbished in 2009. Other restaurants in the Republic of Ireland to hold their Michelin Star are the two-star Patrick Guilbaud and the one-star Chapter One, L’Ecrivain and The Greenhouse in Dublin City, and Heron & Grey in Blackrock. In Galway city, the Aniar and Loam has retained its one star.

The Mount Juliet Hotel in Kilkenny and House Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Waterford, have also kept stars.

In Belfast two restaurants – Eipic and Ox – retained their Michelin star status.

Noble in Holywood Co Down was awarded a Bib Gourmand – a separate award for less expensive restaurants.

Belfast restaurants Deanes at Queen’s, Bar and Grill at James Street South and Home have all kept their Bib Gourmands, as have Fontance in Holywood, the Old Schoolhouse Inn in Comber and Wine & Brine in Moira.

Seven newcomers have joined the list of 20 Bib Gourmand recipients in the Republic of Ireland. The new awards were dished out to Bastible in Dublin, Richmond in Portobello, Forest & Marcy in Ranelagh, Craft in Terenure, Morrissey’s in Doonbeg, Kai in Galway and TwoCooks in Sallins.

Others to retain Bib Gourmand status from earlier years are 1826 Adare in Adare, Aldridge Lodge in Duncannon, Bastion in Kinsale, Chart House in Dingle, Copper Hen in Tramore, The Courthouse in Carrickmacross, ShaRoe Bistro in Clonegal and Giovannelli in Killorglin.

In Dublin city, Delahunt, Etto, Pichet, Pigeon House and Pig’s Ear retained their Bib Gourmand status.

CATCH A FALLING STAR: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud remains Ireland’s only eatery with two Michelin stars, while the Wild Honey Inn at Lisdoonvarna has been honoured with its first star.

REBOUNDING ECONOMY A BOOST FOR NAMA

‘Bad bank’ to clear €30bn debt early Ed Carty

THE so-called bad bank set up in Ireland to clear toxic property loans from five banks is to wipe out its €30 billion debt three years ahead of schedule.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said it was a remarkable achievement and a landmark day in the turnaround in the Irish economy since the international bailout in 2010.

The creation of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) was announced in 2009 with tens of billions of euros set aside to buy property linked loan books from the five main Irish lenders at a massive discount.

Many iconic sites and buildings such as Battersea power station in London were linked to its work.

“This is a remarkable achievement

and a landmark day in Ireland’s recover y from the financial crisis, which every day we leave further behind,” Mr Donohoe said.

“Nama’s performance has always, to some degree, been linked to Ireland’s recovery,” the minister said.

Nama is forecasting that it will have €3 billion when it is fully wound down.

Nama chairman Frank Daly said the redemption of debt was something some people thought could not be done when it was set up.

“This reflects the enormous progress that Nama has made since its first loan acquisition over seven years ago,” he said.

“Since inception, the Nama board, mindful of the wider impact on the financial standing of Ireland, has unwaveringly focused on eliminating this senior debt. Nevertheless, this does

not mean that Nama’s work is completed.”

Nama still has a portfolio of about €4 billion on its books, including assets in the Dublin Docklands.

The agency has not been without its critics. One of its biggest sales, known as Project Eagle, was a €1.1 billion deal with US investment fund Cerberus for almost 1,000 properties in Northern Ireland. The UK’s National Crime Agency and US authorities launched investigations into allegations of corruption and financial irregularities behind the deal.

A disputed report by Ireland’s Public Accounts Committee criticised thenfinance minister Michael Noonan for meeting senior Cerberus representatives the day before the Project Eagle bid closing date and described the deal as “seriously deficient”.

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Sean Hughes dead at 51 Lucy Mapstone

IRISH stand-up comedian and actor Sean Hughes has died aged 51.

Hughes’s final tweet was shared on Sunday October 8, in which he said he was “in hospital”.

Born John Hughes in London, his family moved to Firhouse in Dublin when he was six and Hughes used to talk about how sounding like a cockney in an Irish school was not easy. He later quipped that he spent “most of my childhood in a headlock”.

Hughes became a sensation when at the age of 24 he won the prestigious Perrier Prize (now the Edinburgh Comedy Awards) at the Edinburgh Festival in 1990.

Hughes first made his mark on Irish television during the 1980s in longforgotten RTÉ youth offerings such as TV Gaga and Megamix.

He moved to London soon afterwards, and was quickly elevated from open-mic slot status to headlining large venues such as the Comedy Store in London’s West End. Hughes was best known for being a panellist on longrunning BBC Two panel show Never

Mind The Buzzcocks and for starring in his own sitcom Sean’s Show for Channel Four in the early 1990s.

He also appeared on TV programmes including Coronation Street and The Last Detective.

Of the many tributes to his groundbreaking work, the best came from his good friend and fellow comedian Al Murray (aka The Pub Landlord).

“Sean won the Perrier the summer I decided to try being a comic. He was being daft, meta, ironic and Byronic all at once; stand-up had reinvented itself.

He made stand-up look fun, glamorous and above all a creative place where you could play.”

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

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

ireland :: brexit TAOISEACH ‘VERY CONFIDENT’ THAT A HARD BREXIT WILL BE AVOIDED

EU ‘understanding’ on Irish case Ed Carty

British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the EU Summit in Brussels.

NICOLA STURGEON

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said he believes there will not be a hard Brexit.

At the close of the European Council summit in Br ussels, Mr Varadkar voiced frustration at the lack of progress on the divorce bill Theresa May’s government will have to foot.

And he also raised concerns there has been little movement on how the Irish border will look when the UK splits from the EU. “I’m very much of the view that a hard Brexit can be avoided, that we will certainly have a transition period.

“I’m ver y confident that can be achieved,” the Taoiseach said.

Mr Varadkar had revealed that the PM told EU leaders that she would not accept a physical border on the island of Ireland.

On her departure from Brussels, Mrs May said Europe was agreed that there should be no physical infrastruc-

ture “at the border”. The Taoiseach said there was widespread support from leaders at the summit over the Irish question.

“There’s a real understanding I have to say around the table... that Ireland is unique, it is a very difficult situation and that this is not a problem of our creation,” he said. “I do think there will be flexibility for us.”

The Taoiseach praised Mrs May’s interventions at the summit on the issue of a global regime for taxing digital companies and on issues of trade.

“I’m really going to regret, really going to miss the UK around the table,” Mr Varadkar said.

The Taoiseach said the issue of trade between Britain and Ireland remains unanswered but he cautioned that the proposal of a two-year period for bedding in Brexit would give people time to come to ter ms with any new arrangements.

He said the Government would

continue to work on contingency plans.

“There’s plenty of time in a transition period to make adjustments, to make preparations that are needed,” he said.

“The whole point of a transition period is to give ever yone, not just member states, but businesses and citizens time to prepare to make any permanent changes that have to be made.”

The Taoiseach also said he does not expect Brexit to have any impact on the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland.

He also gave an optimistic view on the prospect of talks progressing in December.

“What we are not really looking to do as a Government is design a border, whether flexible or imaginative or anything else,” the Taoiseach said.

“I have always said this is more of a political question than a technical one, and that’s ver y much what we’re working towards,” the Taoiseach said.

VARADKAR STRIKES UP FRIENDSHIP WITH PRESIDENT MACRON

‘You have an ally in Scotland’ Ed Carty

NICOLA Sturgeon has declared Ireland and Scotland allies in the Brexit negotiations.

The Scottish First Minister told an audience of business leaders in Dublin that she will argue for the Irish border to remain open after the UK’s split from Europe.

She also said the Republic and Scotland are united on virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit.

After talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms Sturgeon told an audience of about 1,500 business figures that staying in the European single market and the customs union is the obvious answer to the negotiations.

“The fact that the UK Government is committed to leaving the EU means that Scotland – like Ireland, and like Northern Ireland – now faces a dilemma which is not of our choosing.

We want to remain a full member of the EU but face being taken out against our will. We deeply regret that.

“However, we believe that if the UK is determined to leave the European Union, it should remain a member of the single market and the customs union. In my view, that is the obvious compromise. It’s democratically justified – the vote to leave was a very narrow one across the UK and two of the four nations of the UK chose to remain.”

Ms Sturgeon said leaving the single market will be deeply damaging for Scotland’s businesses, universities, trade and jobs.

“On virtually ever y issue of substance relating to Brexit, the Irish Government – and the Irish business community as a whole – has an ally in Scotland,” the First Minister said.

“Like you, we didn’t want Brexit.

Like you, we support single market and customs union membership. And, like you, we know that Ireland’s circumstances require particular attention and we will argue strongly for an open border. We believe that those positions are in the best interests … of everybody on these islands.”

THE BLUES BROTHERS: French President Emmanuelle Macron and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Bonhomie evident as new leaders meet in Paris

LEO Varadkar has his first visit to Paris as Taoiseach to highlight the importance of Ireland’s relationship with France after Brexit.

Following talks with President Emmanuel Macron in the Elysee Palace, Mr Varadkar stressed how supportive France had been in backing Ireland’s position in the negotiations.

“I leave Paris feeling very strongly that, while we may not agree on everything, we do have a very strong ally in France,” he said. “After the UK leaves the EU, the nearest EU country to

Ireland will be France, so this is going to be a really important relationship into the future.”

Keeping with the mood of strengthening links post-Brexit, the discussions included the planned Celtic energy interconnector between the two countries.

Issues where opinions diverge were also addressed, such as tax policy in relation to multinational internet companies. Mr Varadkar said the issue should be tackled on a worldwide level, by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), while he

said France favoured a more European approach. The Fine Gael leader said he did not want to see a new tax on internet companies that would ultimately benefit non-EU states.

“We obviously have a difference of opinion on digital taxation,” he said.

“We agree that internet companies should pay their fair share of tax, but it is our strong view that global companies that operate on the World Wide Web need a worldwide solution to taxation, and we’d like to see that through the OECD process rather than

through the European Commission.” Mr Varadkar and Mr Macron are the two youngest EU leaders and appeared to make a strong connection.

“His English is much better than my French”, said Mr Varadkar, before adding he only has “Leaving Cert French which I hope will get a lot better”.

“With Leo I have a partner, an ally, a European decisionmaker who wants to go forward, to give more ambition to Europe,” Macron said.

The French President said he will visit Dublin next year.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

news

VISA-BILITY Apple’s Irish tax bill Your visa case heads for court questions IRELAND FACES EU COURT SHOWDOWN

Ben Woods

IRELAND faces legal action for failing to recover €13 billion in tax from US tech giant Apple after European competition authorities blasted the country over a sweetheart deal.

The European Commission (EC) said Ireland had not recouped any of the money despite a year passing since it ruled that the iPad and iPhone maker had gained an illegal advantage over other businesses by paying significantly less tax.

While the competition watchdog slapped the country with a deadline of January 3 this year, Ireland is no closer to raking in the funds and is only expected to have pinpointed the exact amount of aid it dished out to Apple by March 2018.

It comes as the Commission took a double swipe at US tech industry by landing Amazon with a bill of about €250 million in back taxes after stating that the firm’s sweetheart tax deal with Luxembourg broke state aid rules.

Margrethe Vestager, Europe’s competition commissioner, said: “Ireland has to recover up to €13 billion in illegal state aid from Apple.

“However, more than one year after the commission adopted this decision, Ireland has still not recovered the money, also not in part.

“We of course understand that recovery in certain cases may be more

complex than in others, and we are always ready to assist.

“But member states need to make sufficient progress to restore competition. That is why we have today decided to refer Ireland to the EU Court for failing to implement our decision.”

The landmark ruling followed a three-year investigation in which the Commission discovered that Apple had paid just 1 per cent tax on its European profits in 2003 and 0.005 per cent in 2014. The Brussels competition referee found the arrangements dating back to the early 1990s were illegal under state aid rules and gave Apple favourable treatment over other businesses. It revealed that Apple was paying €50 in tax on every €1 million of profit it made in 2014.

The Government reacted angrily to the decision, saying it was disappointed with the EC’s action.

It described it as “wholly unneces-

sary” and said it has never accepted the Commission’s analysis of Apple’s tax arrangements.

“We have always been clear that the Government is fully committed to ensuring that recovery of the alleged Apple state aid takes place without delay and has committed significant resources to ensuring this is achieved,” the Depar tment of Finance said.

“Ireland fully respects the rule of law in the European Union.”

In a statement the department said government officials have been working intensively to abide by recovery obligations as soon as possible.

“It is extremely regrettable that the Commission has taken this action, especially in relation to a case with such a large scale recovery amount,” the department said.

“Ireland has made significant progress on this complex issue and is close to the establishment of an escrow fund, in compliance with all relevant Irish constitutional and European Union law.”

In response to the announcement, Apple reissued a statement from July, saying: “The European Commission’s case against Ireland has never been about how much Apple pays in taxes, it’s about which government gets the money. The United States government, the Irish government and Apple all agree we’ve paid our taxes according to the law.”

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answered

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

Dear John, I became a permanent resident of Australia in 2016. I was preparing to apply for citizenship this year, then was told in April that the laws had changed and I had to wait another three years to be eligible.

Now I’m hearing the laws didn’t change or haven’t changed yet – its all-very confusing. Can I apply now or do I have to wait to 2020.

I was thinking to go home for a year or so and don’t want to wait three years to get citizenship. PB DEAR PB, ON April 20, 2017 the government announced it was making changes to the citizenship rules. One major change was the need to be a permanent resident for four years.

At that time, even though the new laws hadn’t passed through parliament, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) stopped accepting or processing citizenship applications that didn’t meet the new proposed rules.

Now the proposed changes have failed to be passed into law.

Last week, the government announced that the old citizenship eligibility rules still apply and will be applied to any application received before July 1, 2018.

It seems the government is going to try to get some changes through by this new deadline.

There is a great opportunity for many people to apply between now and July 1, 2018.

The current rules are now as they were before April 20.

Under the migrant stream, you need to be a permanent resident for at least 12 months and have been living in Australia on a valid visa for at least four years immediately before applying. Time spent here on temporary visas will count towards the four years.

You must not have been outside Australia for more than one year in total in the four-year period, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying. It’s important to check all the dates you have been in and out of the country on all visas.

For example, a person here for three years on a temporary visa and then 12 months or more on a permanent resident visa could be eligible to apply for citizenship. Once you meet the residence period you can start to prepare an application There is a good residence calculator tool on the DIBP’s website: www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi/Appl/Citizenship-wizard It is very important to note the process of applying for citizenship requires you to confirm your intention to continue to live in Australia.

Applicants who state an intention to return to their home country can be refused citizenship.

Taking a citizenship test is part of the process. It is advisable to do some homework beforehand. Get the test resource book at www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi/Lear/Citizenship-test Immigration asks for police records. Health and character questions need to be answered accurately and honestly, giving a misleading or false answer is considered fraud.

After you lodge the application, DIBP sends you an appointment date to sit the citizenship test. You then have to wait for the results.

When your application is approved, you will be able to complete the process by attending a citizenship ceremony.

Ceremonies are held periodically in local council areas and at special events such as Australia Day celebration venues.

The application fee is $285; the entire process typically takes about 12 months. As a citizen you can then apply for an Australian passport.

Consider asking a registered migration agent for help with assessment of your eligibility.

Find a registered migration agent at mia.org.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.

Send your immigration questions to John at

visability@irishecho.com.au

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

president higgins’ state visit to australia PRESIDENT HIGGINS UNVEILS NEW MEMORIAL TO THE IRISH FAMINE IN SUBIACO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA “I HAVE no doubt that this will become an iconic landmark for Perth and for its Irish community.

“I must ... acknowledge the sculptors, Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith. You have accomplished a most beautiful and moving depiction of the desolation that unfolded during and following those apocalyptic Famine years in the 1840s.

“A mother, bent low by the crushing loss of her children. A people, hollowed out by starvation and forced exile.

Caoineadh – keening, from the Irish word for weeping, so clearly and sensitively presented is a metaphor perhaps for the collective trauma that the Famine undoubtedly was for the Irish people, and the long shadow that it cast on successive generations scattered throughout the globe.

“An Gorta Mór, the Great Famine, is the source of so much of the Irish Diaspora, and was a catalyst for further emigration right up to present times.

“Today, Ireland and Australia are wealthy countries, full of opportunity and promise for our upcoming generations.

“In the very different context of the terrible post-Famine years, those who arrived in their new destinations often found their Irishness to be a source of marginalisation, of stereotypical presentation of their cultural status as inferior, be it in terms of language or behaviour.”

President Higgins and his wife Sabina met (from left) Donna Marwick O’Brien, great-great-grandaughter of Famine refugee Mary Ann Taylor, and on her right, her daughter Bethany O’Brien alongside the new Famine monument in Subiaco.

IRISH WELFARE AGENCIES

GAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

President Higgins and his wife Sabina with (on left) Nollag Trevarthen, her sister Blanthaid Napier (right) and her 16-month-old twins Dara and Cody at the The Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia (GAAWA) Tom Bateman complex during the Australasian Championships Finals.

President Higgins and his wife Sabina (above) visit the Irish Support Agency in Bondi. where he met volunteers and elderly members of the community. (Below) President Higgins at the Irish Australian Support and Resource Bureau in Melbourne with Phillis Mc Grath, originally from Drogheda, who arrived in 1971 and started the organisation in Melbourne in the 1980s. Pictures: Maxwells

LANSDOWNE CLUB/AUSTRALIAN RUGBY

President Higgins, his wife Sabina with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald, and (centre) Philip Cronin, chairman of the Lansdowne Club and (right) Mr Cameron Clyne, chairman of the Australian Rugby Union at a lunch in Sydney where it was officially announced that Ireland would play a three-Test series against the Wallabies next year. A number of former Wallabies attended the function including Owen Finegan, who played for Leinster in the latter years of his career.

Finegan’s parents emigrated from Ireland in the 1970s.

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

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president higgins’ state visit to australia MELBOURNE :: PRESIDENT HONOURS JIM STYNES

SYDNEY :: TOURISM IRELAND EVENT

President Higgins and his wife Sabina at a Tourism Ireland event in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney with Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald (right) and Mayo GAA player Cora Staunton who has just signed a contract to play Aussie Rules with the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

CANBERRA

President Higgins and his wife Sabina with (from left) Noel White charge d’affaires, Embassy of Ireland; Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland; Stephen Smith, president of Melbourne Cricket Club, and Irish Olympia, Sonia O’ Sullivan, beside the statue of Dublin-born AFL legend, the late Jim Stynes.

The President of Ireland visited Canberra during which he held brief meetings with Australian Labor Party leader Bill Shorten (above) and National Party leader Barnaby Joyce. He also met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE :: PRESIDENT RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE “Victoria has absorbed the full spectrum of Irish society in its different manifestations of migration, voluntary and involuntary, and presentations of itself in the modern period.

“In the earliest years of European colonisation, Port Philip society was marked by the presence of what were representatives of an Anglo-Irish aristocracy on the move, as it were, often referred to as the ‘Irish cousinage’ who sought to import their self-perceived social standing, wealth, and at times their vanities pursuing an inclination to recreate a mythic lifestyle and mores of the Irish 18th-century Protestant Ascendancy.

“The discovery of gold in the later 19th century brought with it not only a rush of immigrants but within it a new middle-class Irish element. Overwhelmingly Anglican and predominantly educated at Trinity College, Dublin, these lawyers, doctors, merchants and engineers felt that they could, in this new world, create the liberal – though not necessarily democratic – polity denied to them in Ireland.

“It was in the second part of the 19th century, however, that the operation of the Land and Emigration Commissioners and assisted migration brought the largest element of the Irish population – farmers, agrarian labourers, and tradespeople, most often followers of the Catholic faith – to this city and to Geelong, Ballarat or Bendigo.”

President Higgins after he received an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Melbourne.

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news BUDGET BOOSTS WORKING FAMILIES AND WELFARE PAYMENTS

External risks to the fore Ed Carty

IRELAND’S hard-pressed working families and people on welfare are set to gain €5 a week or more in a budget of modest payback.

But while the Republic lurches from one set of record homelessness figures to another, the minority Government took a hammering from opponents who accused ministers of repeating commitments on social housing.

And with farmers and food businesses reeling from the unknowns of Brexit, €300 million of low-cost loans are to be directed at firms suffering from cash flow crises.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar set the scene for €1.2 billion package of tax and spending by heralding it as a chance to give back something to the Republic’s two million workers.

He said average families will benefit by between €500 and €600 a year.

But within hours of the pronouncement the government’s PR spend came under fire as it emerged a new strategic communications unit, billed earlier this year as cost neutral, is set to be fi-

nanced with €5 million next year.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told the Dáil the budget aimed to guard against three main threats to Ireland: Brexit, the potential impact of US trade tariffs and various geopolitical threats.

“It will help reduce the chances that future crises are homegrown and will mean that our economy and public finances are in a better position to weather crises stemming from external factors beyond our control,” Mr Donohoe said. “The list of potential external risks is lengthy.”

On Brexit-proofing, the initiatives were limited to business loans, funding for farmers, hiring more enterprise experts and expanding Ireland’s diplomatic footprint in North and South America, India and Japan.

Unveiling a war chest funding package, one big ticket item is a move targeting commercial property deals with a tripling of stamp duty to bring in €400 million. That will help cover the cost of €5 a week increases to most welfare payments, including the dole and state pensions, but people will have to wait until the end of March 2018 to

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe with his 2018 Budget

reap any benefits. Some of the money coming in will pay for modest changes to income tax, including the deeply unpopular Universal Social Charge (USC) that was created at the height of the recession.

Mr Donohoe said the top marginal rate of tax on income up to €70,044 will come down to 48.75 per cent as a result of the changes.

The threshold for the higher rate of income tax is being raised by €750 to €34,550 while a new 2 per cent USC

rate will kick in at €19,372, up from €18,772, so minimum wage workers will not pay the upper rates and a second USC rate will drop to 4.75 per cent.

But by far the biggest challenge for the minority Government – in power with the support of the main opposition party Fianna Fail and Independents - is to solve the crisis of more than 8,000 homeless people and families in emergency accommodation and more than 90,000 people on waiting lists.

Other key measures include: :: VAT on sunbed services is to soar from 13.5 to 23 per cent. :: A sugar tax on sweetened drinks, due next April, with 30 cents a litre put on those with more than eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. :: €750 million is to be paid into the new Home Building Finance Ireland scheme to lend to house builders while a levy on vacant development sites will more than double from 3 per cent to 7 per cent if the land is held untouched for a second year. :: The pupil teacher ratio in primary schools will fall to 26:1.

IRELAND COUNTING THE COST OF DAMAGE FROM OPHELIA

‘Ban paedophiles from travelling’ A FOUR-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has called on developed countries to ban paedophiles and suspected sex offenders from foreign travel in the same way as suspected terrorists.

Fr Shay Cullen, (right) a missionary who has been rescuing street children in the Philippines since 1974, said hundreds of thousands of sex tourists travel to the country from Europe, including the UK and Ireland, the US and Australia.

“The whole moral fabric of society and protection of human rights and the dignity of women and children is breaking down,” Fr Cullen said.

“One thing right now I would say to any government is to pass a law that would ban all convicted sex offenders from travelling abroad.

That would be a very good thing they could do. Why not? The international and Irish sex tourists, why are they coming here raping our children?”

“It’s dire. It’s very sad. We have thousands, hundreds of thousands of sex tourists coming here to abuse women and children,” Fr Cullen said.

National anthem’s copyright anomaly IRELAND’S national anthem has been left “exposed” to inappropriate use, a senator has said.

Copyright of Amhrán na bhFíann ran out in 2012 and rules and guidelines should be introduced to protect it, Senator Mark Daly said.

“The lack of strict copyright in place for the national anthem has left this important State symbol exposed. Our national anthem should be respected and used appropriately.

It is used right across the State, and abroad, to signify and commemorate important events and occasions.

“It’s only right that we have clear guidelines in place and it’s equally right that the Irish people are involved in designing those same guidelines.”

The copyright expired 70 years after the death of the Soldier’s Song’s author, Peadar Kearney.

It had been held by the State before December 2012.

Ryanair settles case for copycat website STORM TROOPER: A man tries to take a selfie at Lahinch Co Clare as Hurricane Orphelia hit Ireland during the month.

Worst Irish storm in a generation leaves three dead

Risk-takers at Salthill in Galway during Hurricane Ophelia.

HURRICANE Ophelia, one of the most powerful storms to hit Ireland, caused havoc across the country last month.

Three people died in the storm.

Fintan Goss, a 33-year-old father-oftwo, was killed when a car he was in was struck by a tree.

Michael Pyke, 31, died in a chainsaw accident when he was trying to clear a tree downed by the wind.

A nurse, Clare O’Neill, 58, died when a tree fell on her car in severe wind.

Her elderly mother, who was travelling with her, was injured.

At the peak of the storm more than 385,000 homes and businesses were without power in the Republic of Ireland.

In Northern Ireland the maximum number of people without power at any one time was 20,000, the power company, NIE, said.

The strongest gusts of the day were recorded as 119mph at Fastnet

Lighthouse off the south-west coast of Ireland. The storm first hit counties Kerry and Cork. Schools and other public buildings were closed until the storm blew over.

Less than a week after Ophelia, Storm Brian caused some flooding and travel disruption, with gusts of more than 60mph.

Limerick city appeared to be one of the areas worst-hit, with the River Shannon having overflowed.

Flooding in Limerick later receded as water levels in the Shannon fell after the morning high tide.

In Galway city, temporary flood defences erected close to the Spanish Arch landmark proved effective, though the waters came close to reaching some properties.

Many popular visitor locations, such as the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare, were closed to the public.

Meanwhile, sea swimmers who take

to the waters during red storm alerts could potentially face fines in the future, the Taoiseach has warned. Making such exploits a criminal offence “merits consideration”, Leo Varadkar said.

Mr Varadkar’s comments came after a number of incidents during Storm Ophelia when people went swimming in the sea.

“I think it is something that merits consideration,” Mr Varadkar replied when asked about the potential of prosecuting rogue storm swimmers.

“People who disobeyed the red alert and travel warnings yesterday didn’t just put themselves at risk, they also put at risk the lives of other people particularly our emergency services.”

“I never rush into creating a new crime. It is something we would have to consider.”

Mr Varadkar said he would like the issue to be examined on an all party basis in the Dáil.

RYANAIR has reached a legal settlement with Google and a travel website it accused of conning its passengers.

The Dublin-based carrier claimed eDreams was misleading customers into mistakenly believing they were booking flights direct with the carrier.

The airline said searches for Ryanair on Google could result in a paid advert for eDreams at the top of the page, which it described as a link to a “copycat website”.

The three sides have reached a confidential resolution.

Justice seen to be done live on web COURT proceedings have been broadcast in Ireland for the first time.

Two judgments handed down by the country’s Supreme Court in Dublin have been aired in a pilot project. RTE filmed the two judgments, which lasted around 20 minutes, using robotic cameras inside the court room. It was screened live on RTÉ’s online player.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

ireland IRELAND ‘WOULD HAVE ILLEGAL ABORTION EPIDEMIC WITHOUT ACCESS TO UK TERMINATIONS’

Harsh truths at abortion hearings Deborah McAleese

IRELAND would have an “epidemic of illegal abor tions” and a “massive increase” in maternal mor tality” if women were unable to access abortion in the UK, a senior doctor has warned.

Dr Peter Boylan, of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said it is well-documented that in countries where abortion is banned, the rate of women dying “remains high”.

Giving evidence to the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment, Dr Boylan said about 70,000 women die each year from complications relating to unsafe abortion.

“It is equally well-documented that countries with liberal laws, and easy access to contraception, have lower rates of abor tion than those with restrictive laws.

“Women in Ireland with financial resources have access to termination of pregnancy, primarily in the UK,” Dr

Dr Peter Boylan: “Without access to abortion in the UK ... Ireland would have an epidemic of illegal abortions”

Boylan said. “However, women who are poor, in the care of the State, or refugees for example, do not have such access.

“Without access to abortion in the UK it is inevitable that Ireland would

have an epidemic of illegal abortions and a massive increase in maternal mortality.”

The availability of abortion-inducing drugs online means that “the genie is out of the bottle”, Dr Boylan said.

He warned that the grave concern for doctors is the potential for harm caused by the use of unregulated medication by Irish women and girls.

“If Ireland were to enact legislation in line with EU consensus, including termination without restriction up to 10 weeks, our law would be among the most conservative in Europe but would deal with the vast majority of circumstances in which women currently access ser vices outside the State,” added Dr Boylan.

Making abortion illegal only serves to promote illegal abor tions, a Professor of Obstetrics and G y n a e c o l o g y, S a b a r a t n a m Arulkumaran, told the committee.

Prof Arulkumaran, who wrote the

report examining the death of Savita Halappanavar, said abortions can be life-saving in certain conditions.

Ms Halappanavar, 31, died on October 28, 2012, at University Hospital Galway, one week after she presented with back pain and was found to be miscarrying a 17-week pregnancy.

Although the pregnancy was not viable, her requests for a termination were refused because there was a foetal heartbeat. She contracted sepsis and died of multiple organ failure and septic shock.

“If abortion is not made legal it will promote illegal abortion. Those women with influence and financial resources will get it performed in a safe environment. Those who are poor with less influence will resort to unsafe methods,” Dr Arulkumaran said.

“Ireland can and should provide first-class sexual and reproductive health based on rights and public health perspectives. There are minimal

ill effects to health with a well-informed safe abortion. Health advantages of avoiding or not having unwanted pregnancy need to be considered in addition to specific socio-cultural issues faced by the women.”

Earlier, Independent Senator Rónán Mullen provoked an angr y outcr y when he suggested that Ms Halappanavar would not have been in hospital at the time of her death if abortion was legal in Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show, the Senator was asked whether Ms Halappanavar would still be alive if she had been given a termination when she asked for one while a patient at the hospital.

“If there was abortion on demand she wouldn’t have been in the hospital because she wouldn’t have been pregnant and she wouldn’t have been having a miscarriage,” the Senator replied. His remarks were widely criticised.

IRISHMAN FREED FROM EGYPTIAN JAIL VOWS TO HELP OTHER PRISONERS OVERSEAS

Australian journalist’s joy for friend AUSTRALIAN journalist Peter Greste, who spent time in the same Egyptian prison as Ibrahim Halawa, said he was absolutely overjoyed to hear of his release.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Greste said he got to know Mr Halawa well during the five or six months he was his cellmate.

“I spent five or six months with Ibrahim in prison so I got to know him very well and recognised then there was nothing in the charges.

“Like us he was very much a victim of a political system and he deserved to be out as quickly as possible.”

“It has taken far, far too long. So to know a guy I came to know so well in prison is at last released, is making me Mr Greste also outlined the challenges that Mr Halawa can expect to face after prison as “life can never go back to what it was”.

“You have to accept you and the world are both very different places to the one before. There can be a desire to put the clock back but I think that is a mistake.”

He also said Mr Halawa has to understand for now he will be a public figure.

“He will draw a lot of comments and remarks and a lot of discussion about his situation. He needs to recognise that is the reality,” Mr Greste said.

He also said the public needs to give him space and let him talk when he is “good and ready”.

Mr Halawa said that he had “left a lot of cellmates behind.

“There’s a lot of innocent people behind bars around the world, not just in Egypt.”

He added that his experience of incarceration abroad has made him want to work for Irish prisoners overseas and the homeless.

“Even if they are criminals or if they have been convicted, I’m going to be asking for them to come back to do their time in Ireland,” he said. “I felt how it is to be away from home.

“I was always hoping that the least I could get would be prison at home so at least I could see my family,” Mr Halawa added.

PRECIOUS FREEDOM: Ibrahim Halawa, 21, celebrates his safe arrival home in Ireland after being released from an Egyptian prison.

After four years in a Cairo jail, Halawa comes home Ed Carty DRAPED in an Irish Tricolour, Ibrahim Halawa said he wanted to send a message to “the haters”.

“I’m Irish,” the 21-year-old declared.

Mr Halawa spent close to half-an-hour embracing and thanking about 150 family, friends and campaigners who stood by him over the last four years.

And he tackled head-on the criticism he has faced from some quarters after being arrested in Cairo at 17 while attending Muslim Brotherhood rallies over the ousting of democraticallyelected president Mohammed Morsi.

“I really want to thank the haters,” Mr Halawa said. “They made me stronger, to come out and be ready for everything. Like they say, sticks and stones will break my bones ...”

Mr Halawa travelled home to Ireland with the ambassador to Egypt, Sean O’Regan, and his sister Nasaybi.

On arrival at Dublin the family was given close to an hour to reunite in private before being brought to the basement of the arrivals hall for celebra-

tions. Among the relatives in the private room was Mr Halawa’s mother Amima, who is ill and underwent surgery in September. She had not seen her son for a year and was in a wheelchair as she met her son again as a free man for the first time since he was a teenager.

“It was depressing for me,” Mr Halawa said.

Mr Halawa’s sister Somaia, one of the most vocal and persistent campaigners over the last four years, tried to contain herself as she watched the outpouring of emotions.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be any more happier than I am now ... I don’t think when I got married I was that happy, I don’t think when I get kids I’ll be that happy either,” she said. “I just don’t think any single thing in life will make me so happy as this moment.”

She explained the impact the homecoming was having on her mother.

“For her to see Ibrahim today was something I can’t express,” she said.

Among the scores of offers of support to have flooded to the family in recent days, the simplest of messages

came from the likes of Pete Moloney, an old friend from Rockbrook Park Secondary School in Dublin.

“He has a lot to catch up on, with family first of all, spending time with them,” he said. “He’ll be a busy man.”

The two school friends had been in touch via social media since Mr Halawa’s release last week.

“I won’t be pitching to get more time with him just yet but when he needs me I’ll be there,” Mr Moloney said.

Ramadan Duadu, who studied the Leaving Certificate with Mr Halawa at the Institute of Education in Dublin’s Leeson Street, added: “He’s going to be thrown into a high-pressure environment now.

“The plan is not to overwhelm him.

Let him have a smooth transition back to life here and ultimately to show him as normal a life as possible.”

After seeing his mother Amima in a wheelchair, Mr Halawa said his priority was to spend time at home with her.

“I’m going to take some time off, my mom is sick, so I’ll be taking some time by her side,” he said.

Mr Halawa issued passionate messages of thanks to the Irish Government, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, President Michael D Higgins and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney among others.

And while being swamped by wellwishers, Mr Halawa revealed what was going through his head.

“It still feels like a dream,” he said.

“This is a moment I’ve waited for for four years – a free man, acquired after four years.”

Mr Halawa said he had written a large section of a book and wanted to complete it and get his “life straight”.

He said that he was looking forward to a plate of fish and chips.

Mr Halawa was jailed after being arrested in a mosque amid protests over the removal of the then Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi. He was one of almost 500 people in a protracted mass trial.

Three of his sisters, Somaia, Fatima and Omaima, were also arrested during the crackdown on the 2013 protest but were later released on bail and returned to Dublin.

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

ireland BILL CLINTON: IMPACT OF BREXIT RESULT ONLY NOW DAWNING ON VOTERS

Clinton accepts Dublin honour for peace role Ed Carty BILL Clinton has warned that some Brexit voters may only now be realising the impact of their decision.

The former US president said the choice between community and tribe will determine how the world meets the threat posed by climate change, inequality and other great challenges.

After being honoured by Dublin City University for his work on peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, Mr Clinton said he used the example of the Good Friday Agreement shamelessly around the world. But he warned that the Brexit vote was about people thinking differences are more important that what they have in common.

“Given the economic inequalities and the rapid pace of social change and all the upheaval that’s going on .... people are reassessing whether what we have in common is more important than our differences. A lot of people begged to differ. That’s really what the Brexit vote is all about,” he said.

Mr Clinton was awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy, DCU’s highest honour, at the ceremony.

Che Guevara on new An Post €1 stamp AN POST has issued a €1 stamp featuring the face of Che Guevara, a leading figure in the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s and 1960s.

The stamp, which features a famous image of Guevara by Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the revolutionary’s death on October 9, 1967. Born in Argentina, Guevara helped Fidel Castro overthrow the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. His father was Ernesto Guevara Lynch, a civil engineer of Irish descent.

Travellers’ survey reveals concerns MORE than 40 per cent of Travellers feel life has become worse for them in recent years, a survey has found.

Accommodation, mental health and unemployment were singled out as areas where their negative experiences had increased. However educational attainment had risen strongly since 2000, the survey said.

Of those questioned for the national survey of Travellers, 60 per cent said they were unemployed.

Figures show 16 per cent of Travellers now complete their Leaving Certificate, compared with just 2 per cent in 2000.

Scientists uncover the power of tears SCIENTISTS at the University of Limerick have discovered a method of producing electricity from tears.

Pressure is used to create energy from protein crystals found in the saliva, milk and tears of mammals as well as the egg whites of birds.

The discovery may have widereaching applications and could lead to further research into energy harvesting and flexible electronics for biomedical devices. Future applications of the discovery may include controlling the release of drugs in the body by using lysozyme as a pump that scavenges energy from its surroundings, the report authors added.

He reflected on his own legacy with the Good Friday Agreement, signed in Belfast in 1998, mid-way through his two terms in the White House. Ultimately the accord was brokered after he took a more hands-on approach to US diplomacy on the island of Ireland at the height of the Troubles.

Mr Clinton described the Good Friday Agreement as a “wonderful blinding moment of bigness”.

“The children of God and humans chose community,” he said. “Nobody abandoned their tribe, they just lived in the same neighbourhood.

“We must make that choice again.

How we think will determine what we do with every other challenge facing us. It is the most important thing.”

In a citation for Mr Clinton, Professor Gary Murphy, of DCU’s School of Law and Government, said: “Peace-making is always difficult, but there can be little doubt that the conflict in Northern Ireland was ultimately resolved because that great beacon of liberty, the USA, decided that it could use its influence to make the vital difference. That fateful decision was taken in the Oval Office by President Bill Clinton.”

Former US President Bill Clinton at Dublin City University where he accepted an honorary doctorate.

FORMER TAOISEACH ‘LEFT IRELAND A BETTER PLACE’, MOURNERS TOLD

Liam Cosgrave, dead at 97 Michael McHugh and Ed Carty

FORMER Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave left Ireland a better place, one of his closest friends told his funeral.

Mr Cosgrave led the Government during some of the most turbulent years of the Northern Ireland conflict and has been described as a courageous voice against terrorism.

In his public life, the late statesman was a figure of great integrity and a true patriot, Monsignor John Wilson told mourners.

“Liam left our country a better place as a result of his life and his life’s work,” he said.

Mr Cosgrave died on Wednesday, October 4 aged 97.

His son Liam said: “Affection, kindness, love and loyalty dad gave to us in abundance.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his predecessors Enda Kenny, Ber tie Ahern, Brian Cowen and John Bruton were among those who attended the simple service at the Church of the Annunciation in Rathfarnham.

Ten military policemen carried his remains into the church in the suburb near where he built his political power

The late Liam Cosgrave, pictured in 2007 with a bust of himself.

base as part of a dynasty stretching back to the state’s foundation.

Born in 1920, the Dubliner had a 40-year political career and was part of the government under which Ireland becoae a republic in 1949.

He also oversaw Ireland joining the United Nations, addressed the US Congress in 1976 and signed the Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland that led to a short-lived powersharing executive in Belfast in 1972.

Mourners represented the worlds of politics, the judiciar y and security

forces, befitting of a man dubbed the law and order Taoiseach.

His son said: “I would like to acknowledge the great support given by members of An Garda Siochana down the years to the Cosgrave family and to dad in particular.

“He was a great supporter of theirs, and they returned it tenfold.

“My father had a great affinity for the Army and it is great to see them here with him to the very end.”

It was a relatively low-key and private funeral, with few of the trappings as-

sociated with similar state occasions.

The hearse carried no flowers, and there was little sign of public grief.

Mr Cosgrave said his father eschewed eulogies and he would not do anything to upset him. He took great interest in the welfare of his grandchildren Barry and William.

“One of the last things to bring a smile to his lips was being told last Monday that William had passed his driving test at the first attempt, albeit by a short head.”

Mr Cosgrave was a devout Catholic, and a family friend of 50 years, Monsignor Wilson, presided over the service.

“Liam Cosgrave loved his family, he loved his country, he loved his faith.

He was a patriot in the very best sense of that term,” he said.

Cosgrove had great humility, the monsignor said. “Integrity was the hallmark of his private life and his public life.”

Mr Cosgrave was buried in Goldenbridge Cemeter y, Inchicore, beside his father WT Cosgrave, a key figure in the foundation of the Irish Free State and an officer in the 1916 Rising. His wife Vera died last year.

NUMBER OF CATHOLICS LIVING IN IRELAND FALLING, CENSUS DATA REVEALS

Losing our religion, ‘godless’ numbers more than double Deborah McAleese

THE number of Catholics living in Ireland is decreasing, the latest Census figures show.

More than 3.7 million Catholics made up just over 78.3 per cent of the population in April 2016, compared to 84.2 per cent in 2011 – a drop of 132,220.

Meanwhile the number of people to declare no religion, including atheists/ agnostics, increased by more than 140 per cent over the same five-year period.

According to Census 2016 data, 481,388 people stated they had no religion – compared to 204,151 in 2011.

This group made up 10.1 per cent of the population, compared with 6 per cent five years previously.

Other changes in the religious make-up of the country included a 28.9 per cent increase in the number of Muslim residents.

The statistics showed there were 63,443 Muslims in Ireland in April 2016, up from 49,204 in 2011.

Almost half were living in Dublin city

and suburbs. There was also an increase in the numbers of Orthodox Christians and the Apostolic and Pentecostal population.

The number of members of the Church of Ireland decreased slightly as did the number of Presbyterians.

The data also showed that the Irish Traveller population had grown by just over 5 per cent from 29,495 in 2011 to 30,987 last year.

Almost 60 per cent of Travellers were aged under 25, compared with just 33.4 per cent of the general popula-

tion. More than 30 per cent of Travellers aged 15 to 29 were married, compared with 5.8 per cent of the general population.

The report finds that educational attainment among Travellers continues to lag significantly behind that of the general population – a perennial problem. Also, a majority – 80.2 per cent – were unemployed.

In terms of ethnic composition White Irish remains the largest group, accounting for more than 80 per cent of residents.

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A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

ireland BISHOP WHO WARNED CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE COULD LEAD TO PROMISCUITY APOLOGISES

Bishop rethinks vaccine opposition Ed Carty

A CATHOLIC bishop has apologised after warning that a cervical cancer vaccine could lead to promiscuity.

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Phonsie Cullinan previously hit out at efforts to prevent the human papilloma virus (HPV) among women by saying “we have to do better than to give our boys condoms and our girls injections at the age of 12”.

After being roundly criticised by the country’s Health Minister and medical chiefs, the senior cleric issued a statement accepting that he had not been fully informed.

“I wish to apologise for contributing to any misinformation, or indeed for causing upset to anyone, concerning use of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines,” he said.

Bishop Cullinan said he initially spoke out after parents had raised concerns with him about the HPV

DRUG WAR: The vaccine Gardasil has reduced the risk of cervical cancer. Bishop Phonsie Cullinan says he now accepts the efficacy of the drug, having earlier claimed that it promoted promiscuity.

vaccine. My intention was solely motivated to protect people from the HPV,” he said. “I was not fully informed about the vaccination programme and I can see now how HPV vaccines can contribute greatly to lowering the rate of

cervical cancer. As I have learnt, possession of full information is paramount on this vital health issue.”

Health Minister Simon Harris had described the bishop’s initial remarks as “ignorant”.

The countr y’s Health Ser vice Executive, which has previously warned parents about conflicting and misleading information, said his criticism of the vaccination programme could endanger women’s lives.

The HPV vaccine used in Ireland is Gardasil. The drug, which was developed in Australia, protects against two high risk types of the virus, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It prevents HPV 16 and 18, which cause 90 per cent of genital warts, and is used in more than 25 European countries, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Vaccinations against the HPV virus fell by half last year in Ireland amid scares over side-effects but the uptake has since stabilised.

Since 2010 more than 230,000 girls have been vaccinated, with about 1,000 reporting adverse reactions.

Ireland has one of the highest cervical cancer rates in Europe with more than 90 women dying from the disease every year and more than 280 others needing surgery, chemotherapy and/ or radiotherapy.

In Australia, teenage boys are also given the HPV vaccine.

FORMER IRISH TIMES SPORTS REPORTER TOM HUMPHRIES JAILED FOR ABUSING UNDER-AGE GIRL

Friends and supporters take stock of sentence David Young

A FORMER champion hurler who provided a character reference for Tom Humphries has resigned from his roles as a county coach and a board member of a national sporting body.

Donal Og Cusack has already apologised for penning the court reference for sex offender Humphries, describing it as a “lack of judgment”.

Hours after Humphries was sentenced, Mr Og Cusack announced that he would be stepping down as coach for Co Clare hurlers and from his role on the Sport Ireland board.

The former Cork goalkeeper said he had informed Sports minister Shane Ross of his decision to leave Sport Ireland.

“I do not wish any controversy to detract from the important work of the board,” he said in statement posted on his official Twitter account. “It was an honour to serve and I wish all involved in Sport Ireland continued success.”

Meanwhile, acclaimed sports writer David Walsh, who faced criticism for writing a court character reference for Humphries, has said he unequivocally condemns the “terrible wrong” his friend committed.

Sunday Times reporter Mr Walsh, famed for the role he played exposing the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, also said he apologised unreservedly for “insensitive and ill-judged” comments he made about the Humphries case in a 2012 radio interview.

Mr Walsh insisted however he would remain Humphries’ friend.

“As justice has now run its course I want to say that I unequivocally condemn what Tom Humphries did and have every sympathy for the victim in the case,” he said.

“I have been a friend of his for 30 years and since his arrest in 2011 I continued to be his friend because I believe a friend is there through thick and thin,” Mr Walsh said.

“Tom did a terrible wrong for which he has now been given a custodial term.”

JAILED: Former Irish Times sports journalist has been jailed for two and half years for abusing a teenage girl in 2010 and 2011.

Dramatic fall from grace for former top journalist David Young A FORMER leading Irish sports journalist has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for child sex offences.

Former Irish Times reporter Tom Humphries, 54, had admitted abusing a girl under the age of 17.

Judge Karen O’Connor passed sentence on counts of exploitation and defilement in a packed courtroom at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

“It is a truism that the larger the profile or success of a member of society, the greater the fall,” the judge said.

Humphries, who was a volunteer coach of youth Gaelic games teams, was one of the most well-known sports journalists in Ireland at the time he was committing the offences. He was renowned for forthright opinion pieces across a range of sports.

His abuse was uncovered by chance,

when a family member found incriminating images on an old mobile phone. His family confronted him and called in the Garda.

Humphries, from Sutton, north Dublin, sat in the dock on Tuesday dressed in a blue jumper with his hand on his face as the judge delivered her sentence.

He had voluntarily asked to be remanded in custody ahead of the sentence hearing.

Humphries exchanged thousands of text messages with the youngster as part of a grooming process.

The girl, whom he knew through sporting circles, was 14 when he first contacted her in December 2008.

Many of the messages were sexually explicit and contained graphic images.

A snapshot of analysed messages showed that more than 16,000 texts were exchanged over one three-month

period. When the girl was 16, Humphries took her to his Dublin apartment, where they engaged in sexual activity.

He was then 47.

He admitted charges comprising two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin between December 5, 2010 and February 19 2011, and four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011.

He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for defilement and two years for exploitation. The terms are to run concurrently.

Judge O’Connor said the age and status disparity between Humphries and his victim were aggravating factors.

“This was a schoolgirl compared to an eminent, highly respected sports journalist,” she said.

But she said the most important

aggravating feature was the impact the abuse had on the girl.

The judge said the injured party had required counselling and was plagued by feelings of self-hatred and guilt.

She assured the victim that nothing was her fault. “I’m not of the view that she allowed herself to be manipulated; I’m of the view that she was manipulated,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said it would be difficult not to have “some sympathy” for Humphries, not over what he did but at his dramatic fall from grace.

“Mr Humphries has lost his reputation, his livelihood, and most of his friends,” she told the court.

“He is clearly remorseful and demonstrated that by his guilty pleas.”

The judge gave Humphries some credit when passing sentence for pleading guilty, though she noted that he did not do so at the earliest opportunity.

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AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

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

Anonymity not guaranteed BBC Radio 4 reported on a story from the Donegal Daily. The report in the Donegal newspaper read, verbatim: “There have been numerous complaints received in recent months from the owners of holiday homes around the county.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, is called Tom McEldrew.

He’s angry about construction near his home.”

BELFAST

Catholic woman awarded £20,000 after ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá’ jibe A WOMAN in Belfast has been awarded £20,000 compensation after an employment tribunal found a colleague subjected her to sectarian harassment by shouting “Tiocfaidh ár la” at her while at work.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Helen Scott, 52, brought a case against bathroom suppliers Stevenson & Reid, on the grounds that she was discriminated against, harassed and victimised due to her religious belief or political opinion and constructively unfairly dismissed.

Ms Scott said the company workforce was primarily Protestant and that she was the only Catholic member of staff working at the company’s East Belfast showroom.

She alleges that in July 2015 her line manager became irate and began shouting at her in front of colleagues during which he swore at her and shouted “Tiocfaidh ár lá” in her face.

The phrase, meaning “our day will come”, was associated with Republicanism during the Troubles.

Ms Scott said she felt harassed by the incident, adding that her manager had used the Irish language expression due to her perceived religious and political beliefs.

She went on sick leave but was later dismissed, despite medical records being produced.

Ms Scott then brought a Fair Employment case against the company, backed by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission.

The Tribunal found that she was unfairly dismissed and victimised due to her background, ruling that the use of the phrase had had “a clear sectarian significance”.

KERRY

The Valentia Island ferry online petition garners support THE campaign to save Valentia Island’s car ferry has fixed its focus on gathering public support, with many thousands of people signing a petition calling on Transport Minister Shane Ross to approve the funding needed to secure the service’s

future. The Kerryman reports that Waterville woman Rosemary Hill, an employee of Valentia Island Ferries Limited (VIF), set up the online petition on Change.org.

She has been overwhelmed by the level of support – some 5,000 signatures.

“The comments would suggest we’re getting support from everyone: locals; people formerly of the area who have since moved away; and people who simply empathise and relate with a rural area that is in danger of losing a crucial resource,” she said.

The Marine Survey Office has told Valentia Island Ferry it must replace its 1963-built ferry before the 2018 operating season. Richard Foran of VIF said that purchasing a new boat, valued at €2.8million, has been identified as “the way to go” – but, with €1million raised to date through self-finance and additional borrowing, the group said it has done all it can do to raise funds and needs Government support.

DERRY

Dissonance and trouble in the Air A SPAT has broken out in Derry over the song Danny Boy. The BBC reports that Limavady local council want to mark the town as the home of the song Danny Boy. Bath in England is actually the home of the words of the song, written by Fred Weatherly just over 100 years ago. Weatherly had no Irish connections, and never visited Ireland, but fell in love with the melody. Weatherly’s words became so famous that the term ‘Danny Boy’ is used interchangeably to refer to either song or melody.

In formal music collections it is usually listed as The Londonderry Air – and it indisputably owes much to the Derry area.

The tune was collected by a Limavady schoolteacher, Jane Ross, from an itinerant fiddler – probably Blind Jimmy McCurry. Where he got the melody from, or whether he wrote it himself, is not known. It’s possible that Ross, with her classical training, added the second part, which is, to some extent, atypically Irish.

Unlike most traditional airs, the melody has only one source — Ms Ross herself. It has never been collected or alluded to anywhere else in the tradition, which is very unusual.

Some research has pointed to parts of two ancient melodies having a passing resemblance, but this is by no means conclusive.

The melody’s connection to Limavady, however, is indisputable.

The local council has erected a sign that draws attention to this happy circumstance. It proclaims: “Welcome to Limavady: home of The Londonderry Air and Danny Boy.” Sinn Féin and the SDLP voted against the wording, objecting to Derry’s baleful prefix ‘London’. But Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was unswayed. “The name of the tune in The Londonderry Air, and that’s that,” one councillor said.

The melody was collected in the

Retired Colonel Richard Heaslip (father of Irish Rugby International Jamie Heaslip) stands during a ceremony to honour and commemorate former servicemen and women and their families at Curragh Camp in Kildare.

Photo: Niall Carson /PA Wire 19th century by Dublin musicologist George Petrie who listed it as Air from County Londonderry.

CORK

Accused thanks judge and alludes to their long association A MAN with more than 50 shoplifting convictions thanked a judge for granting him bail and said: “We go back a long way, boy.”

In the dock of Cork District Court was James Ryan, 45, from Cork City.

The Irish Examiner reports that Judge Olann Kelleher laughed at Ryan’s remark, but added that he was very concerned about the amount and variety of goods being stolen by Ryan which included €40 worth of alcohol, €704 worth of cosmetics and €540 worth of Tipperary Crystal. He was obviously a man who liked to do his excessive drinking from the finest of glass while having appropriately made-up his face.

The judge agreed with Ryan that he’d known him a long time – adding that he’d given him many prison sentences too over that time.

In the course of a colourful bail application, Ryan addressed Inspector John Deasy as “prosecutor”. He was also keen to include the judge so he answered a number of questions addressing himself first to “prosecutor” and then turning quickly in the witness box to Judge Kelleher, adding, “your honour”.

By the time bail was granted to Ryan the defendant was addressing the judge as “Mr Kelleher”.

The Examiner reports that he steadily grew in confidence during his time in the dock, and succeeded in getting bail.

Judge Kelleher then adjourned the case. Michael Quinlan, defence solicitor, said there would be a plea of guilty forthcoming to the latest offence on the next occasion.

Ryan asked the judge, “Will you be here yourself?” The judge agreed that he probably would be presiding over the case.

Earlier in the day Ryan appealed against jail sentences for multiple shoplifting offences at Cork Circuit Appeals Court and Judge Gerard O’Brien gave him a total sentence of six months which he suspended.

DONEGAL

Uncle stole from teens’ pen business A SUCCESSFUL business making pens was almost bankrupted by an uncle of the two teenage entrepreneurs.

The Donegal Democrat reports that Brendan Sweeney was charged with stealing €860 from his nephews. He claimed that he was

short of money to pay his car insurance.

Donegal Pens, set up by brothers Conor and Rónán McGarvey in Co. Donegal, has been a huge success in recent years.

The pens, made from reclaimed bog oak and other native woods are used by celebrities around the globe including former US President Barack Obama, Daniel O’Donnell and President Michael D Higgins.

Dungloe District Court heard that the boys’ uncle used a stolen bank card to withdraw cash from their business.

The court heard that the defendant has made no effort to pay the money back to the injured party. However, his solicitor, Cormac Hartnett told the court an overall payment of €1,200 would be made.

Conor McGarvey told the court Sweeney had never apologised for his actions.

Judge Paul Kelly asked what relations are like in the family at the moment.

Conor McGarvey replied: “Not good.”

Judge Kelly then asked: “Have you managed to get over the trauma caused by this particular incident?”

Conor McGarvey indicated he had, and added that the business is “going well”.

Judge Kelly wished him and the business well in the future.

He found Sweeney guilty of theft and ordered him to keep the peace for 12 months on his own bond of €250.

BELFAST

Sinn Féin to close Stormont bar SINN Fein has plans to shut down the members’ bar in Stormont — if an Executive is ever restored.

The Belfast Telegraph say the plan emerged after Gerry Adams raised questions at an Irish parliamentary committee about a ban on alcohol sales in Leinster House while Dáil Éireann is sitting.

In his letter to the Dáil’s Committee on Procedure and Privilege, the Sinn Féin president said he had a “range of concerns” about the sale of alcohol in Leinster House. This included the opening hours of the Dáil bar, the operation of the bar under privilege, the lack of licensing restrictions and the impact of opening hours on staff.

Mr Adams also said it is “unacceptable” that TDs have access to a “bar, in a workplace, where important legislation affecting the lives of citizens is debated”.

Later, Sinn Féin confirmed it also plans to close the members’ bar in Stormont when the Assembly is sitting. Since last year the public has had access to the members’ bar and dining room during Assembly recess periods without the need to be accompanied by authorised users.

KERRY

Kerry losing faith in Catholicism THE Catholic Church in Kerry is facing a crisis as thousands of people abandon the church.

The Kerryman notes that the 2016 Census results show the number of practising Catholics in the county has fallen by 4,123 since 2011.

There are now 123,514 Catholics in Kerry compared with 127,637 in 2011.

The Census results show that since 2011 the number of atheists in Kerry rose by 217, meanwhile the number of Kerry people who stated they had no religion soared by 3,530.

The decline in belief was not solely experienced by the Catholic Church.

The Church of Ireland and wider Protestant congregation declined by 133, to stand at 3,134. The number of people who classed themselves as Christian, without specifying a congregation, also fell sharply dropping from 1,090 in 2011 to just 872 last year.

Since 2011 the number of lapsed Catholics in Kerry also soared going from 34 in 2011 to 201 in 2016.

One Christian branch of religion that did see an increase were the Orthodox orders whose congregations increased by 99 to 741.

TYRONE

£40,000 bill for Council’s Irish welcome signs.

MID-ULSTER Council is to spend £40,000 on new Irish language signs, including at Dungannon Leisure Centre, the Tyrone Courier reports.

Signs at 24 entry points to the council district are to be erected at a cost of about £1,000 per sign.

Another £16,000 is to be spent erecting signs at five leisure facilities throughout the council area.

The signs will be in Irish and English, with the Irish wording coming before the English.

Terms such as opening hours, the name of the leisure centre and each day of the week will be translated into Irish on the signs.

It means residents of Mid-Ulster will be able to visit, among others, Ionad Fóillíochta Dhún Geanainn (Dungannon Leisure Centre) and Ionad Spóirt Lár Uladh (Mid-Ulster Sports Arena).

The council has stated more such signs are to come at various other buildings throughout Mid-Ulster.

The signs are subject to a formal site survey at each location and it likely the signage will require planning permission.

November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

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Slán Seán SAD news this month with the death of the great Seán Hughes (above) at the age of just 51.

To remind everyone of his greatness, here are a selction of his best gags.

“Everyone grows out of their Morrissey phase . . . except for Morrissey.”

“I once overdosed on amphetamines: I was rushed to hospital and made to work the night shift.”

“I saw my brother fight at the National Stadium. It was at a Depeche Mode concert.”

“I’m a proud Irishman. I’d do anything for my country except live there.”

Balls up A BRIEF reflection of light made some players think an Irish lottery winning ball had two different numbers on it, chiefs said.

The National Lottery assured its players of the integrity of the Lotto Plus 1 draw.

“A brief reflection of light during filming caused an illusion and some players to think there were two numbers on ball 38. This was not the case. The weight and size of all Lotto balls, and the numbers, are strictly checked in advance of each draw.

“This process, as well as the draw itself, is independently observed by our auditors KPMG.” Weren’t they the guys who said that the Irish banks were in great shape about 10 years ago?

A picture shared on Facebook appeared to show the number 38 ball also had the number 33 on it when it was drawn.

Beer island EFFORTS to derail negative Irish stereotypes about drink have been thwarted by new evidence about beer consumption.

Beer was ranked alongside bread as the most important dietary staple in early modern Ireland, and some workers were granted a daily allowance of 14 pints of ale.

Dr Susan Flavin, lecturer in Early Modern History at Anglia Ruskin University, examined evidence from household accounts, soldiers’ rations and port books from 16th-century Ireland. She found that ale and beer were viewed as a vital source of calories and nutrition, and were consumed in incredible quantities.

Records from January 1565 show that stonemasons working at a quarry in Clontarf, near Dublin, were

Quiz

1. What links Dargan, Beckett, James Joyce, Rory O’More, Ha’penny, Sean Heuston, Sean Tracy, O’Connell?

2. Where are the only two basilicas in Ireland?

3. Who wrote the song The Minstrel Boy? 4. What had its world premiere at Mr Neale’s

provided with an allowance of 14 pints of ale per day by the proctor of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin.

Documents from Dublin Castle showed that the household staff consumed 264,000 pints of beer in 1590, which averaged up to eight pints each per day.

By examining contemporary accounts, Dr Flavin calculated that 16th-century beer had a high calorific value, providing between 400 and 500 calories a pint.

Beers typically had a high oat content, as barley proved difficult to grow in Ireland’s wet climate, and most would not have been weak.

“People mistakenly think that ‘household’ beer in this period was a weak drink,” said Dr Flavin.

“It has been estimated, however, that most beer at this time would have had an alcohol strength of between 7 and 10 per cent.”

She said women were involved in the process of brewing, and drinking, beer at the time.

“The proctor of Christ Church Cathedral, Peter Lewis, would buy commercially-produced beer when his own beer ran out, and his supplier of good ale was always a woman called Meg Hogg,” she said.

“Domestic brewing was seen as the role of the housewife, and there are also records of women and children joining labourers to drink together at the end of the working day. At Dublin Castle there are even women-only drinkings.”

The first ladies’ nights?

An imported Donald Trump troll for sale at the Balla Bán gallery in Dublin has been causing quite a stir.

Chuck Williams, a 56-yearold US sculptor, created the troll doll after President Trump came to office. The tiny toy also comes with a little Android mobile phone in his hand.

Picture: Niall Carson

Clues across:

Clues down:

1. Irish babbler approaches carrier (6)

2 Navan man of scale (8)

4. Mickey, an ordinary guy comes just before Christmas actor (3,4)

2. Ovine suffered injury, wandered (7) 3. Conflict recorded in Boherawarraga (3)

Irish person to achieve which honour?

11. Cascade on Belfast road? (5)

6. What is the fastest land mammal in Ireland?

12. Initially a gas writer from Belfast with element becomes Russian leader (4)

6. Animal detected in Cloonatumpher (4)

Michael; Rushen; Middle?

8. Samuel Beckett worked with a French resistance force named after scrubland — what was it known as?

9. He had Derry roots, called himself “an Irishman born in London”, and was Britain’s shortest serving prime minister (less than two years). Who was he?

10. What links Sir Christopher Wren, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, Henry Purcell and Sir John Gielgud?

“Nothing in the Government’s case relating to the court action dissuades us from concluding that the DUP agreement is corrupt and very simply unlawful.”

David Greene, a partner at London law firm Edwin Coe, which is representing Tyrone Green Party politician Ciaran McClean, who launched a legal challenge in the High Court contesting the British government’s controversial parliamentary deal with the DUP. The court dismissed his case.

“Sometimes we underplay the extent of agreement that exists across our traditions on key doctrinal issues, including the core issue of justification which triggered so much of the polemic and mutual condemnations of the Reformation period.”

Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eamon Martin, speaking in Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh at a service to mark the 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses which ultimately split Christianity into the Catholic and Protestant churches.

Crossword

5. A sharp cry in the Shetland Islands (4)

the following areas: Ayre; Glenfaba; Garff;

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Lord Kilclooney, former Ulster Unionist Party MP.

9. Monaghan town produces perfect replicas (6)

7. Which island in the Irish Sea is divided into

“Ireland benefitted from this single-minded determination during the Second World War, as de Valera affirmed our independence, and pursued a neutral course even in the face of considerable hardships and threats.

That was probably his finest hour, building on some of his political successes in the 1930s.”

“If Ireland was reunited by a narrow margin in a border poll, then it would spark a civil war. You cannot force Northern Ireland out of the UK by a 1 per cent majority. Can you imagine the loyalists in Belfast taking it quietly? I couldn’t.”

Bernard Glazer of Belfast, became the first

5. An actor of Hungarian Jewish extraction,

President Michael D Higgins in an emotional speech in Australia.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland.

4. God from affirmative German north to America (5)

Dublin in 1742?

“So it is incredibly important [on] this visit of an Irish President to be able to say that I am sorry for that broken connection with all those families.

They must have really felt: ‘What is happening back in Ireland? Have we lost connection?’ Equally in Ireland I do know from personal experience and talking to families that they often wondered to what happened to their families away in Australia.”

“On virtually every issue of substance relating to Brexit, the Irish government – and the Irish business community as a whole – has an ally in Scotland. Like you, we didn’t want Brexit. Like you, we support a single market and customs union membership. And, like you, we know that Ireland’s circumstances require particular attention and we will argue strongly for an open border.”

8. Astronaut hides charm strongly here (9)

Great Musick Hall, in Fishamble Street,

They said it...

14. Dog a leftwing crossword compiler (3,6)

8A & 15 down: A Scot bested her anew when played Highland sport (6,3,5) 17. Brief illuminating comments make an ace spur (7) 19. Vibrate with broth in turmoil (5)

19. Anti-war song: it rang true, her 20. Weaving a tale? (4) trickery in confusion (3,5,7) 21. Are the sultanas hiding an 22. Judge musical instrument (8) Irishman? (5) 26. A lawn her confused sea 23. Strange drink? (3) mammal (8) 24. Female animal found east west 27. Match commentator (4,3)

3

4

5

6

8

8A 9

11

10

12 13

14 15 16

17

18

9. Tears caused by shout (3) 10. Spanish bravo plus the Queen flowers (8)

18. Henceforward a rare place in Donegal remains hidden (7)

2

7

7. Rarest tuna prepared here (10)

13. Former leader to finish article (4)

16. Grazing land is a purest mix (7)

1

east (3) 25. Man in Scottish mountains (3)

19

22

20

23

21

24

25

26 27

LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS: Clues across: 1. Avignon. 5 & 21 across: Emerald Isle. 11. Odium. 9. Preview. 13. Shallot. 14. Unknot. 18. Serf.

19. Ballinasloe. 21. see 5 across 22. Thurles. 24. End. 27. Island Records.

30. Scots pine. 31. Brexit. Clues down: 2. Virginia. 3. Govern. 4, 6 & 7 down: New Model Army. 8. Dangerfield. 10. East. 12. Ratass. 15. Oriel. 16. Oersted.

17. Down. 19. Beth. 20. Louis. 23. Edna. 25. Drowsy. 26. Grace 27. Ivor, 28. Leix. 29. Pen.

Answers: 1. The Liffey — they are the names of bridges that cross Dublin’s main river; 2. Knock Shrine and Lough Derg; 3. Thomas Moore; 4. Handel’s Messiah; 5. The first to win an Oscar; 6. The hare; 7. The Isle of Man; 8. The Maquis; 9. George Canning; 10. They all attended the same school, Westminster School.

November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

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Come meet and mingle with players and management of the Irish squad The Irish Australian Association (Adelaide) with the Gaelic football and Hurling Association of South Australia (GFHASA) Presents

The Irish International Rules Team Reception.

Adelaide Irish Club 13-15 Carrington Street, Adelaide

Thursday, November 9th

DOORS OPEN AT 7PM. Bar will be open with live entertainment on the night Raffle on the night.

2 International Rules Jerseys, Tickets to the game plus more to be won ADELAIDE IRISH CLUB WEEKEND BAR OPENING TIMES. Friday the 10th 7pm -­Late with Live Music Saturday the 11th 7pm - Late with Live Music Sunday the 12th 11am -­3pm with March from the Club on Carrington street to Adelaide Oval

www.irishclub.org.au www.gaelicfootballsa.com

Watch the Irish Team Train before the Reception Laura Ave, St Marys, Thursday November 9 at 4pm

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review

November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

Thriller ticks all the boxes FOR those who have followed the career of DI Sean Duffy, there has always been the fear that he might self-destruct. Two packs of cigarettes a day, vodka gimlets in a pint glass – easy on the lime juice – a hidden bottle of poitín and a stash of Moroccan blue in his garage. Not to mention that as a Catholic in a sectarian police force at the height of the Ulster troubles his chances of reaching a genteel old age were slim, even on the good days.

In his latest adventure he is told by the police doctor that cutting down to half a pack of Marlboro a day does not really constitute meaningful progress, and warns him that if his current drug numbers are repeated in his next blood test, he will be on permanent desk duty. He has finally found a woman able to put up with him; they have a daughter not quite a year old on whom he dotes and, as the story opens, they are in Donegal with his family. He is saved from having to do the three-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg by a murder at his station in Carrickfergus, the first in a year.

The action is set in 1988 and, unlike most of his other work, the two warring factions of the time – the UDA/UVF on one side and the IRA on the other – are involved in the story. The action takes place against a background of the killing of three IRA volunteers in Gibraltar and the troubles at their funerals.

It is a credit to the author that he manages to write a story with such a backdrop without straying into the politics of the time. At one stage in Derry, he is being interrogated by a man with a high-pitched accent who is called ****** **********. Count those asterisks and ask yourself if they may represent a Derry IRA leader of the time.

The writing is crisp and the treatment of routine police work is as good as you will find anywhere with plenty of light touches. When he returns to Carrickfergus, he finds the murder scene in complete disarray, just a dead body in front of a house and not a peeler in sight. “I could almost smell the stench of cheap ciggies, unwashed armpits, solvents, lighter fluid and Special Brew. They were mostly unemployed young men who had been drawn away from wanking over page three by a murder on their doorsteps.”

In the same chapter, Duffy and his sergeant, the dour but dependable McCrabban interview the wife of the murder victim who was from Bulgaria.

“Crabbie and I tried a few questions but she appeared to have only a few stock phrases in English. ‘You fucking shit … Six pack of beer …

Move your arse, grandma … Your clothes shite’ which were probably enough to get you through six months of life in Northern Ireland but wouldn’t really do in a murder inquiry.” Brilliant.

The book takes its title, as McKinty’s other books do, from a song by Tom Waits, which is particularly apt here, because the problems that Duffy has with authority are again a feature of the story. At the end, he decides to sell his house in the UDA-controlled estate where he has an uneasy relationship with the paramilitaries and he may be moving to Scotland for his future adventures.

This is a completely satisfying read, in my view the author’s best.

Whether you want a standard police procedural or a story of a man trying to turn his life around as he moves into middle age, it ticks all

BOOKS Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly

By Adrian McKinty Serpent’s Tail 339 pp $29.99

CCCC Lady of the Dance

“This is a completely

By Marie Duffy with Eddie Rowley O’Brien Press.

272 pp 19.99 euro

satisfying read, in my view the author’s best.

CC

”

Frank O’Shea the boxes. And running through it all there is the difficulty of leading a normal life in an inward-looking society like Norn Iron 30 years ago.

MARIE Duffy grew up in Crumlin, the youngest by nine years in a family that contained seven boys. There were three girls also, but she was the only one who survived. Perhaps because she was the only girl and so much younger than her siblings, she was cossetted by her nervous mother in an upbringing that was sheltered and lonely. Almost the only activity where she could mix with children her own age was at Irish dancing classes.

At that time, the world of Irish dance was small and run on a shoestring, mostly by volunteers.

The rigid formalism of the moves and costumes meant that it was at variance with the youth culture of

the day. There were dance teachers who prepared kids for competitions and feiseanna, but only a small number were successful enough to make a living out of the activity. Duffy was lucky to work with one of those, first on a volunteer basis and later as an employee.

Then came the final of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in the Point Theatre in Dublin. It was won for the sixth time by Ireland, still a record; the winning song was “Rock ‘n Roll Kids” sung by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan.

Neither the winning song nor the singers nor any of the other contestants are remembered; one thing that is recalled is the interval act, the first time that the wider world realised that Irish dancing could have a mass audience. It was Riverdance.

Suddenly Irish dancing was sexy, and although the leader, Chicagoborn Michael Flatley, left the group soon afterwards, he quickly set up Lord of the Dance, which has gone on to become a world property. He chose Duffy, some of whose dancers were in the original

Riverdance group, as his principal teacher and choreographer.

Between them they brought Irish dancing to the world.

This book is Duffy’s life story.

Written in the first person, she comes across as a highly successful teacher who demanded high standards of her troupe.

At one stage, there were six troupes performing in six cities around the world, each of them originally selected by her from the hundreds that turned up for audition. Flatley danced only rarely and his final performances were in 2015.

The book would have been much better if it had been written in the third person.

Duffy’s story is an interesting one which should have been more gripping. She did not marry until her forties and remarried after the death of her first husband.

The account of those two marriages make for dull reading and because the writer tends to downplay her own role in the success of the Flatley companies, the finished product is dreary and pedestrian.

THE TOP 10 BOOK CHARTS FROM IRELAND BESTSELLERS 1

Origin: Robert Langdon

2

The Choice

ORIGINAL FICTION Dan Brown

1

Origin: Robert Langdon

Dan Brown

1

The Choice

Niall Kelly & Philly McMahon

2

Oh My God What a Complete Aisling Sarah Breen/Emer McLysaght

2

Gooch – The Autobiography

3

Gooch – The Autobiography

Colm Cooper

3

The Break

4

Oh My God What a Complete Aisling Sarah Breen/Emer McLysaght

4

Operation Trumpsformation

5

The Break

6

Operation Trumpsformation

7

The Couple Next Door

Marian Keyes

5

Munich

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly

6

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Shari Lapena

7

Mrs Osmond

8 La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One Philip Pullman

8

Lincoln in the Bardo

9

9

Guinness World Records 2018

10 The Snowman: Harry Hole 7

Guinness World Records Jo Nesbo

MASS MARKET FICTION 1

The Couple Next Door

2

The Snowman: Harry Hole 7

3

The Whistler

4

Mending Lace

5

The Mistress

6

The Handmaid’s Tale

7

Cross The Line: Alex Cross

8 9

HARDBACK NON-FICTION Niall Kelly & Philly McMahon Colm Cooper

Marian Keyes

3

Guinness World Records 2018

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly

4

What Happened

Robert Harris

5

5 Ingredients – Quick & Easy Food

Jamie Oliver

Gail Honeyman

6

The Warrior’s Code: My Autobiography

Jackie Tyrell

Guinness World Records Hillary Rodham Clinton

John Banville

7

Francis Brennan’s Book of Household Management F. Brennan

George Saunders

8

On Tuesdays I’m a Buddhist

IT

Stephen King

9

Shay: Any Given Saturday: The Autobiography

10 Smile

Roddy Doyle

10 The Francis Street Photographer

Michael Harding Shay Given Suzanne Behan

PAPERBACK NON-FICTION

CHILDREN’S

Shari Lapena

1

Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family Kathy McKeon

1 La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One Philip Pullman

Colm Keane

Jo Nesbo

2

Padre Pio – Irish Encounters with the Saint

2

Turtles All the Way Down

John Grisham

3

The Choice

Edeth Eger

3

Beyond the Sky: You and the Universe

John Green Dara O’ Briain

Sheila Forsey

4

Why Can’t Everything Just Stay the Same? Stefanie Preissner

4

Tom Gates: Epic Adventure (kind of)

Danielle Steele

5

The Sun and Her Flowers

Rupi Kaur

5

Moone Boy 3: The Notion Potion

Margaret Atwood

6

A Time to Risk All: Untold story of Mary Elmes

Clodagh Finn

6

The World’s Worst Children 2

James Patterson

7

Wounds: A Memoir of War and Love

Fergal Keane

7

Pigin of Howth:Book and CD Edition

Behind Her Eyes

Sarah Pinborough

8

Brexit and Ireland: The Inside Story

Tony Connelly

8

Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead (Book 3) Rick Riordan

The Good Mother

Sinead Moriarty

9

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari

9

Gangsta Granny

Graham Norton

10 I Found My Tribe

10 Holding

Ruth Fitzmaurice

10 Dog Man 3: A Tale of Two Kitties

Liz Pichon Nick Vincent Murphy David Walliams Kathleen Watkins David Walliams Dav Pilkey

time out

November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

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PIE-FECT EVERYTIME

SLOW BRAISED STEAK & GUINNESS PIE

SEVEN GREAT BRISBANE VENUES RIVERSIDE QUEEN STREET MALL INDOOROOPILLY BRUNSWICK STREET

KING GEORGE SQUARE WEST END REDBANK PLAINS PIGNWHISTLE.COM.AU

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November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

AUST R ALIA’S IR ISH NE WSPAP E R

sports KATIE TAYLOR WINS FIRST PROFESSIONAL WORLD TITLE BY BEATING ANAHI SANCHEZ

Taylor on top of the world after impressive victory Declan Warrington KATIE Taylor has won her first professional world title after stopping Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez to become the WBA lightweight champion.

The 31-year-old from Bray, a decorated amateur who won an Olympic gold medal to complement five World Championship and six European Championship golds, also did so in only her seventh professional fight.

Sanchez, who had forfeited her title after twice failing to make weight, was unlike Taylor – therefore ineligible to win the title at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium regardless of the fight’s outcome.

Following an early knockdown Sanchez impressively recovered to force Taylor into her hardest fight, but could not prevent three scores of 99-90 in a unanimous decision by the judges.

What had threatened to be an onesided contest after the early knockdown had become competitive in the final stages of the 10 two-minute round contest, but as both tired, Taylor’s superior ability continued to show and her victory was confirmed.

“Words can’t express how I feel,” said Taylor. “I’m just delighted to be world champion.”

Taylor manager Brian Peters claimed after the fight that the new champion is likely to defend her world title in Dublin next year.

TAKE THAT: Katie Taylor catches Anahi Sanchez of Srgentina with a left on her way to her first pro world title in the WBA lightweight division. Picture: PA

DENNIS ‘HURRICANE’ HOGAN HAS WON 26 OF HIS 27 FIGHTS.

Hogan sets sights on world title

David Hennessy

THE weekend before Hur ricane Ophelia ripped through Ireland doing untold damage, Kildare boxer Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan continued his path of destruction, dispatching his latest challenger.

When he defeated Yuki Nonaka of Japan with a commanding performance at Brisbane’s Convention Centre on October 14, Brisbane-based Hogan should have ensured a world number two ranking and lined himself up for a shot at the WBO Light Middleweight title.

Months after his stablemate Jeff Horn brought a massive occasion and a prestigious belt to Brisbane with his victory over Manny Pacquiao, Hogan is looking for more of the same and hopes to also have his moment of glory in the Australian city he has called home for nearly seven years.

“We do want to get it here. It’s not the be all and end all if we don’t but we are aiming for that and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen,” Hogan told The Irish Echo following his latest victory, the 26th of his career.

Hogan was blown away by his support and the incredible atmosphere on the night. Catching up at Finn McCool’s in Fortitude Valley bar days after the bout, Hogan remembers: “I got to the venue and I went to walk out

Brisbane-based Irish fighter Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan is closing in on a world title shot after defeating Yuki Nonaka of Japan at Brisbane Convention Centre. Picture: Katherine O’Malley

just to get a feel, I didn’t even make it out. There was so many Irish people there coming up saying hello. From a distance, I could hear the crowd singing ‘ole, ole, ole’. By the time I came out, you could feel the vibrations when the crowd started to chant.

“That’s phenomenal. That’s what we need. That’s what we want.”

Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico holds the world title and is expected to beat Saddam Ali on December 2 before he vacates. This should leave Hogan in

mandatory position to fight the winner of Liam Smith and Liam Williams who fight on November 11.

But who he fights is of no concern to Hogan: “I don’t care, not in the slightest. All I want is the winner. It doesn’t matter what way this fight plays out. It’s a 50/50 fight to be honest so I don’t care.”

It will be Glenn Rushton, the trainer who took Jeff Horn to glory, who will come up with the game plan for either Liam. “In Glenn we trust,” Dennis says

of the trainer who is turning Stretton Boxing Club into a “conveyor belt of champions”.

Had things worked dif ferently, Hogan could have been on the undercard for the big Brisbane fight in July but seeing his friend beat one of the world’s best inspired him to do something just as extraordinary.

“It gave me a lot of motivation in terms of saying, ‘right we need to do things ourselves’. We organised a big fight, I won it and It all worked out for the best.”

“It was great to be involved in Jeff’s training, doing a bit of sparring. It certainly gave me a feeling, ‘It’s my time now’. We’re pushing hard now for that. To get something like that again in Brisbane would be phenomenal.”

Hogan has already had one title fight and his fight against Jack Culcay-Keith in Germany in 2015 remains his solitary defeat on an otherwise unblemished record: “That for me was a massive learning curve. I had gone 24 fights undefeated until that one. They say you learn more from a loss, that is completely true. I did a lot of soul searching after that, made some dramatic changes I needed to make in myself, in my mindset.”

Having long had the support of the I ri s h a n d w i d e r c o m m u n i t y i n Queensland, Hogan has recently started to get coverage in Ireland. One who sent a supportive message was

Conor McGregor’s trainer John Kavanagh. Hogan met Kavanagh when he was an Australian trip earlier this year. Like McGregor, Hogan has recently become a father and it seems to have helped his motivation.

“Believe it or not, I didn’t believe it could be [extra motivation]. I said to myself, I can’t get any more motivation.

I’m motivated by a million things and I’m very self-motivated anyway.

“When my daughter came along and I held her in my arms before I went training, something happened me up there and it’s not something that you’re conscious of. I just seemed to have more energy, don’t ask me what it is.”

It will be seven years in Januar y since Hogan came to Australia. With Ireland in recession, he was like many young Irish who made the move Down Under in search of opportunities.

“I left there because there was nothing happening. I really did only plan on being here a year and moving on. I made some great connections, sponsors that are like family now.

“It’s a beautiful place to live: great people, beautiful weather.

“Everything just clicked and I can’t stay away from it now.

“I’ve been in New York for fights, Miami for training camps but it’s always great to get back to Brisbane.

It’s my home now.

“My heart lies in Ireland but this is where I live. I love it.”

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November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

A U S TRA L IA’S IRIS H N EWS PAPER

sports RUGBY :: 2018 IRISH TOUR OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED

Tests for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

Ireland’s Simon Zebo and Australia’s Henry Speight (right) in action during the most recent clash between the two sides in Dublin last November. Ireland won the match 27-24.

THE Australian Rugby Union has confirmed the news that the Irish Echo broke in June, that Ireland will play an historic three-Test series against the Wallabies next year.

Australia will host the Irish in the Super Rugby break in 2018, with Tests in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

With no June Series in Rugby World Cup years and the introduction of a global rugby calendar in 2020, next year’s will be the final mid-year series in its current format.

This series will be the first three-Test series between the two nations, though Ireland has had four two-Test tours to Australia – 1979, 1994, 1999 and 2003.

That 1979 tour was the last time Ireland tasted victory on Australian soil.

President Michael D Higgins was on hand for the announcement, joining ARU CEO Bill Pulver in Sydney.

Mr Pulver said the series would be a hotly-contested one, with the two nations having leapfrogged each other in the rankings in recent months.

“The rivalry between the two nations has grown enormously in recent years with some memorable encounters,” he said in a statement. “With a huge number of Irish expats living in Australia, Ireland will enjoy strong support when they are here for matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.”

IRFU CEO Philip Browne said he expected plenty of Irish green to appear in the crowds.

“The IRFU are delighted to tour Australia in June 2018,” he said. “Games involving Ireland and Australia are always great occasions and this is will be an exciting tour.

The Irish diaspora are renowned for sup-

porting the Irish team when they visit their new homes so we know there will be a party atmosphere to match the world class rugby.”

The matches will kick off in Brisbane on June 9, followed by Melbourne a week later and then Sydney on June 23.

The Irish have not faced the Wallabies in Sydney since 1994 when Michael Bradley captained the team. That tour, which also included a test at Ballymore in Brisbane, went to the hosts, two-nil.

World No 4-ranked Ireland have beaten the Wallabies by three points in their last two Test encounters in 2014 and 2016 in Dublin, but have not played in Australia since 2010.

Australia have won 21 and drawn one of their 33 tests against Ireland, and haven’t lost to the Irish in Australia since 1979.

INTERNATIONAL RULES RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA

Mayo star to lead Irish side David Hennessy

AIDAN O’Shea will lead an Irish team into battle against their AFL counterparts this month.

However, Ireland will be without the ser vices of any Dublin players, the team who lifted Sam Maguire in September for the third time in a row.

There is also disappointment for Conor McKenna who hoped to make his international debut on the back of a breakout season for Essendon. The Tyrone back has to sit it out due to injury, making Pearce Hanley and Zach Tuohy the only AFL representatives from Ireland’s side.

The Irish face the Aussies in the opening Test in Adelaide on November 12 before the second Test six days later in Perth.

In all, 14 counties are represented in the Ireland squad.

Dublin’s Bernard Brogan led the Irish team as captain when they beat Australia by four points to win a single Test contest two years ago but the combination of a long season, injuries and the ongoing Dublin championship made it difficult for players from Dublin to take part in the tests.

Chris Barrett (Mayo), Killian Clarke (Cavan), Kevin Feeley (Kildare), Paul Geaney (Kerry), Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Niall Murphy (Sligo), Paul Murphy (Ker r y), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Conor Sweeney (Tipperary) and Shane Walsh (Galway) will all make their international debuts.

This will be Mayo for ward Aidan O’Shea’s four th time facing the Aussies but his first with the extra responsiblity of being captain. He will hope for some silver ware to come his way after again tasting heartbreak at the hands of Dublin in the All-Ireland final.

Ankle injury means Tyrone’s Conor McKenna will play no part in the series, especially disappointing after his impressive season landed him a new deal with Essendon.

Last month, Ireland manager Joe Kernan said that McKenna would be named in his squad but the Tyrone man’s ankle liga-

AFL, HERE WE COME: Vice-captain Conor McManus, manager Joe Kernan and skipper Aidan O’Shea with the Cormac McAnallen Trophy at Croke Park before the team’s departure to Australia.

ment damage has ruled him out of the defence of the Cormac McAnallen Cup. Cork’s Sean Powter and Armagh’s Niall Grimley have since been upgraded from the standby list.

Vice-captain is Conor McManus of Monaghan who played so well in the series four years ago, he almost joined the AFL. McManus told RTÉ Sport: “Essendon got on to me back in 2013, after the first time I played International Rules.

“They were looking for me to come out for two or three weeks but I’m not sure they knew that I was 24 or 25 at that time!

Nothing really came of it.”

Ireland manager Joe Kernan will try to get quick ball in to the

forwards and the two-time All Star should be one of his main target men.

Geelong-bound Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett is one of nine debutants in Australia’s 17-man squad.

Geelong coach Chris Scott is in charge of the Australian side, with support from his brother Brad Scott and Fremantle’s Ross Lyon.

Docker Nathan Fyfe, Demon Michael Hibberd, Adelaide’s Ror y Laird and Ror y Sloane, Bomber Zach Merrett, Por t Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder and Brisbane Lion Dayne Zorko are the other first-time squad members. Toby Greene was among these until a toe injury forced him to pull out.

Ireland 2017 International Rules Squad: Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Chris Barrett (Mayo), Gary Brennan (Clare), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Killian Clarke (Cavan), Peter Crowley (Kerry), Kevin Feely (Kildare), Paul Geaney (Kerry), Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast/ Mayo), Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Conor Mc Manus (Monaghan), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Niall Murphy (Sligo), Paul Murphy (Kerry), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Enda Smith (Roscommon), Conor Sweeney (Tipperary), Zach Tuohy (Geelong/ Laois), Shane Walsh (Galway), Niall Grimley (Armagh), Sean Powter (Cork). Stand-by Players: Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Connaire Harrison (Down), Caolan Mooney (Down), Sean Murphy (Carlow), Brendan Murphy (Carlow).

Australian 2017 International Rules Squad: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast), Eddie Betts (Adelaide), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle), Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Michael Hibberd (Melbourne), Rory Laird (Adelaide), Zac Merrett (Essendon), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Rory Sloane (Adelaide), Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions).

HURLING

Top-level hurling coming to Australia THE Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will send two senior inter-county hurling teams to Australia to compete in an official fixture in November 2018.

The Irish Echo understands that one of the teams will be All Ireland Senior Hurling champions, Galway, and the other will be the 2018 National Hurling League champions. The venue has not yet been confirmed.

A Melbourne-based events company has entered into a joint venture with the GAA to manage and promote the event.

In a press release issues to the tourism trade, GAA Commercial Director Peter McKenna said “This is a first for hurling and a wonderful chance to promote and expand the game on an international stage.”

Paul Sergeant of Paul Sergeant Events (PSE), the locally appointed partner, said “The GAA is one of the oldest and most recognisable governing bodies in world sport. We are privileged and honoured to have entered into this partnership, PSE’s first since the business was launched earlier this month,” he wrote in a release.

Mr Sergeant is a former CEO at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne so it is likely that the game will be played in Victoria. The revelation will provide an additional incentive for counties competing in Division One of the National Hurling League next season.

President Michael D Higgins announced the challenge match during his state visit last week.

The last three winners of the National League have come from Division 1B, with Galway comprehensively beating Tipperary in last spring’s decider. It is not known what will occur if Galway retain the League title next year.

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November, 2017 I www.irishecho.com.au

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BOXING TRIUMPH

Katie Taylor Now A World Champ PAGE 22

No Quarter Given International Rules battle resumes.

Page 23

Ireland’s International Rules captain, Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea.

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