The Irish Post - April 15, 2023

President Higgins commends Pope’s stand on colonialism

BY FIONA AUDLEY

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins wrote to Pope Francis last week to commend him for rejecting a 15th century doctrine which fuelled colonialism across the globe.

On March 30 the Pope issued a joint statement on behalf of the Catholic Church which formally repudiated the so-called Doctrine of Discovery.

The statement confirmed: “The ‘doctrine of discovery’ is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church.

“Historical research clearly demonstrates that the papal documents in question, written in a specific historical period and linked to political questions, have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith.

“At the same time, the Church acknowledges that these papal bulls did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of indigenous peoples.”

The statement adds: “The Church is also aware that the contents of these documents were manipulated for political purposes by competing colonial powers in order to justify immoral acts against indigenous peoples that

were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesiastical authorities.

“It is only just to recognize these errors, acknowledge the terrible effects of the assimilation policies and the pain experienced by indigenous peoples, and ask for pardon.

“Furthermore, Pope Francis has urged: “Never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others, or that it is legitimate to employ ways of coercing others.”

Pope Francis has issued a join statement on the Doctrine of Discovery

This week President Higgins congratulated the Pope on the move by the Church, stating in his letter “allow me to commend you most warmly on the recent Joint Statement in which on behalf of the Catholic Church you confirm formally the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery”.

He added: “Confirming the renunciation of this 15th century concept will be welcomed by so many given that it has been used as defence of the most outrageous abuses and manipulated for political purposes by competing colonial powers, in order to justify

immoral acts against indigenous peoples by European Christian colonialists. Such immorality included seizure of Indigenous peoples’ lands in Africa and the Americas.”

The President explained: “Your strong condemnation of such acts of violence, oppression, social injustice and slavery, particularly those committed against indigenous peoples, is another powerful intervention on your behalf, one that promotes universal solidarity and respect of the dignity of every human being.”

The President went on to congratulate the Pope once more before ending his letter, stating: “May I congratulate you once more for this important contribution, demonstrating, as it does, such strong solidarity with indigenous people, and makes, equally strong affirmation for the principles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as calling for their implementation.”

He then closed his typed letter with an Irish phrase, which he then translated in his own hand, to read: “My congratulations and gratitude on behalf of the people of Ireland.”

Pope Francis has repudiated a historic Church document that defended colonialism across the globe and confirms that it is not part of Catholic teaching or belief

BY GERARD DONAGHY

A WOMAN who died in a horseriding incident in Co. Galway is to be laid to rest in Britain.

Heather Hewitt died following the incident at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre on Thursday last.

According to RTÉ News, it is understood the incident was a tragic accident that occurred while a horse was being mounted.

It is believed that Ireland’s

Health and safety Authority visited the scene and will be drawing up a full report of the incident.

Ms Hewitt, of Williamstown, Co. Galway, was originally from Crowborough in East Sussex, England. A death notice for Ms Hewitt confirmed that her funeral will take place in Britain at a later date.

Tributes have since poured in for Ms Hewitt, who was the treasurer of Glenway Riding Club in Co. Galway.

Postponing its show planned the Easter weekend, the Burren Riding Club in Co. Clare said its ‘thoughts and prayers’ were with Ms Hewitt’s family.

“The news of the passing of Heather Hewitt of the Glenway Riding Club has shocked and deeply saddened AIRC members and clubs throughout the west,” read a post on Burren RC’s Facebook account.

“Our hearts break for you all.”

Meanwhile, the western

region of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) offered its support to Ms Hewitt’s family.

The Galway West Riding Club also expressed its shock at Ms Hewitt’s passing.

“We’d like to offer our sympathies and thoughts to the family members, club members and friends of Glenway Riding Club member Heather Hewitt,” read a statement. We are all shocked and saddened to hear of her untimely passing. May she rest in peace.”

Ms Hewitt is survived by her husband Kieran, daughter Beth, parents Clive and Tracy, sister Andrea, stepchildren Conor, Jack and Millie and extended family and friends.

Anniversary of Easter Rising marked in Dublin

Woman killed in Galway horse-riding incident to be buried in Britain Commemoration led by President Higgins outside GPO on O’Connell Street

BY GERARD DONAGHY

A CEREMONY took place in Dublin on Easter Sunday to mark the 107th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

The commemoration was led by President Michael D. Higgins, who was joined by Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin and Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and Vice-President Michelle O’Neill were also in attendance at the event, which

THIS WEEK they said...

“Confirming the renunciation of this 15th century concept will be welcomed by so many given that it has been used as defence of the most outrageous abuses and manipulated for political purposes by competing colonial powers, in order to justify immoral acts against indigenous peoples by European Christian colonialists. Such immorality included seizure of Indigenous peoples’ lands in Africa and the Americas.”

President Michael D. Higgins commends Pope Francis for renouncing a historic papal edict that helped fuel colonialism across the globe.

“[The closure marks] the end of an era for many of the Irish in Britain and we are mindful of the role that RTÉ plays in keeping Irish people in Britain and beyond informed and connected with home. Our priority now will be to work with our partners across the network to support those who have relied on the service to access digital alternatives.”

Brian Dalton, CEO of the Irish in Britain (IIB), on the closure of RTÉ’s long wave service.

“We’ve called on the Tánaiste here today for the Irish government to put a public marker down to signal to the UK government that if they force the Bill through to law, that they will take an inter-state case.”

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UK’s Northern Ireland deputy director, called for Ireland to take an inter-state challenge to the European Court of Human Rights if the British government’s ‘legacy bill’ becomes law.

“Ireland’s commitment to a rules-based international order with the UN Charter at its heart, and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality. The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will allow for an open and informed discussion on the issues involved.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, confirming that Ireland’s neutrality is currently being re-appraised.

“This is not only an exiting new route, it is also a hugely important link for businesses. Everyone from tourists to commercial enterprises will benefit from this new service.”

Andy Rogers, Chair of Sligo Business Network based in London, speaking about the new Aer Lingus Heathrow to Knock route.

read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on the steps outside.

At noon last Sunday, the Irish flag atop the GPO was lowered and the Proclamation was read aloud by Captain Austin Doyle of the Irish Defence Forces.

President Higgins then laid a wreath to commemorate those

who died in 1916, after which a minute’s silence was observed.

Also taking part in the ceremony were Defence Forces Personnel including a brass band, a pipe band and representatives of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.

The commemoration concluded with an Air Corps fly-by.

“I’m thrilled to be the host . . . and to be working on home ground for the first time in many, many years. I’m so proud of our comedy culture and it’s wonderful to have a platform to showcase Irish talent to a global audience.”

Graham Norton on the announcement that he will host Prime Video’s new comedy series LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland

HONOURING THE 1916 HEROES: President Higgins reviews the troops at the Easter Rising commemoration and, left, Captain Austin Doyle holds the Proclamation of Independence Pictures: RollingNews.ie

Enquiries ongoing in “Kerry Babies” case

Gardaí continue cold case review into discovery of a baby’s body 39 years ago, as DPP considers the next legal steps

Drugs found in Republic en route from Britain

FIONA AUDLEY

KERRY politician Danny Healy-Rae has said the couple arrested on suspicion of the murder of Baby John in Kerry in 1984 are “presumed innocent – unless proven otherwise”.

The body of the child, subsequently named John, was found on a beach with 28 stab wounds.

The arrests, in connection with what became known as the “Kerry Babies” case were the results of a cold case review launched in 2018 with Superintendent Flor Murphy the lead investigator. The case involved the

discovery of the remains of another baby which were subsequently recovered, but which, it later emerged, had a known explanation.

The two people arrested on suspicion of murder in March, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, were initially detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

They were subsequently released, and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions who will decide if any charges are brought.

According to the Irish Mirror, It is

understood the couple were arrested after a relative was one of a number of people who provided DNA voluntarily to gardaí in the Kerry area in recent years over the Baby John cold case review.

Gardaí conducting the initial investigation into baby John’s death in 1984 drew up a list of pregnant women who had either left the county or had not appeared to have a new-born infant.

Ms Hayes, an unmarried woman from nearby Abbeydorney, who was known to have been pregnant,

was identified and arrested.

Ms Hayes had told gardaí she had given birth to a child, Shane, who was stillborn or died shortly after birth. He had been buried on the family farm around the same time as the body was found on the beach. Shane’s remains were subsequently located.

Gardaí were forced to drop the charges four years later and a tribunal of inquiry, the “Kerry Babies Tribunal”, was launched.

The report, critical of the police conduct of the investigations, concluded that Ms Hayes had precipitated the death of her baby –not “Baby John”. A suspicion that Ms Hayes had given birth to twins was subsequently found to be false. The tribunal said the gardaí were guilty of “resorting to unlikely, far-fetched and self-contradictory theories that Joanne Hayes had given birth to twins in an attempt to link her with the Cahirciveen baby”.

In 2020, the Irish State formally apologised after 36 years to Joanne Hayes for wrongly accusing her of the murder and for the “appalling hurt and distress caused.”

She was awarded a settlement of €2.5million.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Mr Healy-Rae said the couple who were arrested in March are totally innocent.

Following the couple’s release, lawyer Padraig O’Connell said: “There is no case to meet. “ He previously told the Irish Mirror that the couple are “totally traumatised” following their arrest and subsequent release. They have not returned to their home.

Shock over mismanagement of investigation into Michaela McAreavey’s killing

BY GERARD DONAGHY

A JOURNALIST working on the BBC documentary about the murder of Co. Tyrone woman Michaela McAreavey has said he was shocked by the ‘catalogue of police investigative failings’.

Darragh MacIntyre and fellow journalist Allison Morris travelled to Mauritius to gain a fresh insight to the tragic unsolved murder for the three-part series, Murder in Paradise

The programme examines the circumstances of Mrs McAreavey’s 2011 killing in Grand Gaube, its aftermath and the ongoing investigation into what happened.

“It was a total eye-opener,” said MacIntryre as the series became available on the BBC.

“I thought, like many people I suspect, I

knew the story of Michaela’s killing and of her family’s efforts to get justice. I was wrong.

“The catalogue of police investigative failings was the most striking example of the difficulties the family faced. There were many others.”

The daughter of Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, Mrs McAreavey was found strangled in her hotel bathroom just days into her honeymoon.

Two former workers at the resort where she had been staying were acquitted after a high-profile trial in the summer of 2012.

To date, no one has been convicted of the murder.

The programme will see MacIntyre and Morris speak with the defendants from the 2012 trial after defence lawyers alleged failings in police investigations.

One of the defendants, Avinash Treebhowoon, claimed he only confessed and implicated co-defendant Sandip Mooneea after being beaten while in police custody.

They will also speak to a Detective Inspector who investigated the murder, as well as a former Prime Minister of Mauritius.

The series will include interviews with Mrs McAreavey’s widow, John, and her brother, Mark, as they share their memories of the 27-year-old and the devastating impact her murder had on them.

With access to original case files, MacIntyre and Morris attempt to piece together what’s known about the case and assess whether the authorities are any closer to delivering justice.

CANNABIS worth €188,000 was found in a lorry intercepted in Dublin on route from Britain.

Revenue officers seized 9.4kgs of herbal cannabis at Dublin Port on April 4 as a result of routine operations, they confirmed this week.

The drugs, which were sniffed out with the assistance of detector dog Robbie, were discovered concealed in the cab of a truck that had arrived from the UK.

The driver, a man in his 30s, was arrested by gardaí and detained in a local station in Dublin.

Elsewhere that same day Revenue officers seized 12,000 of unstamped cigarettes following a search, under warrant, of a home in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.

The unstamped cigarettes, branded ‘Marlboro Touch XL’ have a combined retail value of €9,480, which “represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €7,400”, Revenue confirms.

Two men and a woman –all in their 30s, have been questioned in relation to this seizure.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.

“These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling, shadow economy activity and the supply of illegal tobacco products,” a Revenue spokesperson said.

Murder In Paradise is available on the BBC iPlayer WEDDING PHOTO: John and Michaela McAreavey

Solicitors Patrick Mann and Bernadette Cronin in 2020 as they made a statement following the issue of an apology and compensation from the State to Joanne Hayes (right) for her treatment during the Kerry Babies investigation

MALACHIO’DOHERTY How Irish am I?

I would have liked to introduce Congressman Neal to my friend Davy Adams, who has never thought of himself as anything other than Irish.

Davy was one of the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement.

He wasn’t the only Adams there, of course. The other one was Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Féin, representing the interests of the Provisional IRA. Davy was a loyalist speaking for the Ulster Democratic Party, which was aligned to the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association.

But Davy has a story to tell.

He says he was aware that, in his family, there was an understanding that you didn’t ask too many questions about Grandda Jack.

And when he looked into the family DNA he discovered that his grandda was half Indian.

That opened up a channel of research which led to the discovery that Davy’s great grandfather, John Adams, had fathered two children in India by an Indian wife, while he was serving with the British army in the years after the Sepoy uprising of 1857.

Davy has now written Mixed Roots, a book about this great grandfather and the children who were smuggled into England as, effectively, illegal immigrants.

John Adams had left the family home in Co. Down in the dire years after the Famine and walked to Newry from Annahilt to join the British army.

He served in the trenches in the Crimea, spent time in Corfu, presumably to recover, then went to India where he met Sarah, an Indian Christian.

MY name O’Doherty labels me as a Gael, a descendant of a Donegal tribe. But that only says that my father’s father and the forefathers before them had that name. Go back to the time when there was such a tribe in Donegal and the top row of ancestors in my family tree could have God knows how

many names on it. (And that’s without at all considering my female ancestry.)

Actually, in 17th century Inishowen the range might have been limited to Gallaghers, Campbells and McDaids and that shower the O’Donnells, but as we come down, row by row to more recent

centuries the scope widens. And what of all those Dohertys before the plantation? How pure were their lineages when Normans and Vikings and roving mendicants and returned soldiers and missionaries and their sprogs were taken into account?

One of the recent mysteries of

archaeology in Ireland was the discovery of the Irish Bog Psalter, evidence of a link between Celtic Christianity and the Coptic churches. That suggests a bit of toing and froing that surely contributed something to the Irish gene pool.

Last year, US congressman Richard Neal blundered into our sectarian sensitivities here when he claimed credit for his country in helping to bring together ‘Planter and Gael’ through the Good Friday Agreement.

Actually, a lot of us quite like the idea that we are Gaels, remnants of an ancient order that preceded the Brits. Even so, that story isn’t so pure either. Hugh O’Neill was part of the court of Queen Elizabeth before he went to war and lost.

Protestants were less flattered by the term ‘Planter’, a word which suggested that they didn’t really belong in Ireland, had only just arrived.

And what failed in both labels was that they sought to encapsulate whole chunks of the population as homogenous groups whose politics were determined by their genes. There’s not much of a compliment for anybody in that.

But what of all the intermarriage? And what of the right of any individual to decide without reference to lineage or baptismal lines to vote according to conscience?

The Indian families of British soldiers in India were camp followers. When a regiment was marched to another location the women and children picked up their belongings and walked alongside or behind the tramping soldiers.

But Sarah died of cholera and John seemed on the brink of death himself. To save the children from being left to beg or starve, an army colleague smuggled them to England and housed them with his family in Somerset. They were raised with the family name, Pope.

John, back in India, recovered from cholera and when he finished his service in the army went to Somerset to bring his children home to Ireland but they were comfortable where they were. They would come to Ireland later and settle near the family home.

I look at Davy Adams now, with his dark hair and his slightly swarthy complexion and there is only the smallest hint there that he is one eighth Indian.

I remember a boy in my class at school who was darker than the rest of us. We assumed, or had heard somewhere, that he had Spanish blood from the soldiers on the Armada, and now I doubt that very much.

Mixed Roots by David Adams is available on Amazon

n Malachi O’Doherty is one of Ireland’s leading political commentators and author of 11 books on the North of Ireland.

The Irish have long been a homogenous grouping, but there has always been a significant influence from many outside sources – from Vikings to, very possibly, Copts from north Africa

PLANTATION REMINDER Part of a stained glass window in Derry’s Guild Hall. The pane depicts the 17th century arrival of four citizens from London who gave the city its baleful prefix Picture: Andreas Franz Borchert via WIkimedia Commons

Radio silence as Long Wave service closes

Closure of RTÉ’s Long Wave service will have a significant impact on older members of the Irish in Britain community

BY FIONA AUDLEY

THE closure of RTÉ radio’s long wave 252 service marks the “end of an era” for older Irish people in Britain, a community leader has said.

Brian Dalton, CEO of the Irish in Britain (IIB) organisation, claims the “short window” given by the Irish broadcaster, who announced the closure of the service this month, will have a “significant” impact on isolated members of the Irish community living in Britain.

“The news that RTÉ will cease LW 252 for Radio 1 next month will have a particular resonance for those elder Irish in Britain who have a long attachment to the platform,” he said this week.

“Though we recognise that the transition from analogue to digital is in many ways inevitable, the notice window is short,” he added. “The impact of the closure on isolated listeners, particularly those who have specific health needs such as dementia, is significant.”

Research previously undertaken by IIB, an umbrella organisation representing more than 100 Irish organisations and individuals across Britain, showed the majority of users of the service in Britain “were over 60 and used the service daily”, Mr Dalton said.

Much campaigning over the years has seen the service receive a stay of execution, however, RTÉ confirmed last week that the closure of the service would now go ahead on April 14.

Bishops’ move

BY GERARD CASSINI

THE Bishops Conference of Scotland is to relocate all its agencies, the Scottish Catholic Archives and the Scottish Catholic Museum to a new single location in Glasgow.

For the first time ever, the Bishops’ Conference and all its employees will have a single base in Orr St, Glasgow.

the transmitter to broadcast RTÉ Radio 1 on Long Wave 252, we can no longer justify this investment.

“Not only is RTÉ Radio 1 widely available in the UK across television and online services, including apps and smart speakers, the energy costs involved along with the cost of replacing the transmitter mean that, in line with the recommendation of the Future of Media Commission Report, the time has come to bring the Long Wave service to a close.

“While this may be disappointing to some listeners, RTÉ must continue to invest in critical projects underpinning our production, distribution and business activities, as well as digital projects which are essential to ensure we continue to deliver value to our audiences.”

The Irish broadcaster added that fans of the service can continue listening to RTÉ Radio 1 on Freesat (channel 750), Sky (channel 0137) and Virgin Media (channel 917*), and on the RTÉ Radio Player and Irish Radioplayer apps.

Evaluating the outcome for the Irish community in Britain, Mr Dalton stated that much work would now need to be done to ensure those reliant on RTÉ’s Radio 1 service can access it via the alternative platforms.

“There is now a shared responsibility to support those who rely on the service to access alternative platforms and we will work with our member organisations, many of who support the elder Irish community here in Britain in that task,” he said.

The property which has previously served many roles, including a social work office, a parish/dance hall and a school will bring all the branches of the Conference together and promote the identity of the Bishops’ Conference and the presence of the Catholic Church in Scotland at a national level.

Commenting on the decision, Bishop Joseph Toal, who has responsibility for Catholic Heritage and Culture said:

“It is good that the Bishops have taken the decision to bring together the Offices of the Bishops, the Catholic Archives and Museum. In the chosen location we wish to identify with plans to regenerate the area around St Mary’s, Abercromby Street, which itself has such strong historical and cultural links with the development of the Catholic Church in Scotland through the last two centuries.”

The building was previously the school of St Mary’s parish, which once served as the pro-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Glasgow in the mid-19th century and was home to many immigrant Catholics. The monument to those who suffered from famine in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland in the 19th century is located on this site.

The closure was one of the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission Report which was published by the Irish government in July 2022.

Confirming the decision, RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes said: “While RTÉ has invested considerably in prolonging the life of

The only alcohol-free

“[The closure] will mark the end of an era for many of the Irish in Britain and we are mindful of the role that RTÉ plays in keeping Irish people in Britain and beyond informed and connected with home,” he added.

“Our priority now will be to work with our partners across the network to support those who have relied on the service to access digital alternatives.”

The presence of the archives and museum in Glasgow is designed to give greater accessibility to the historical records and artefacts of the history of the Catholic Church in Scotland- pre-Reformation, the Penal Laws when Catholicism was banned in Scotland, and the Emancipation of Catholics in 1829 up until the present day.

Bishop Joseph Toal was born in in Inverness in 1956. He was the eldest child of Patrick and Mary Toal, and has five brothers and three sisters.

Dublin closes Airport game of drones

THE Virgin Mary, the only alcohol-free bar in Dublin, has closed down.

The bar opened on Capel Street in the capital in May 2019. On Newstalk’s The Hard Shoulder the owners told presenter Josh Crosbie that their time at 54 Capel Street “has come to a close”.

But they said the bar, which specialised in alcohol-free cocktails, will be going on the road. There will be pop-up alcohol-free bars across Ireland.

“This marks an exciting new chapter for us … The Virgin Mary Bar is going mobile! As part of the wide franchise operation, we are thrilled to be bringing our new TVM On The

Road concept to events, festivals, pop-up venues and much more around the island of Ireland.”

Co-owner Vaughan Yates told Newstalk: “Business actually wasn’t too bad. It was just it hadn’t picked up to the same levels that it was pre-pandemic, pre-Brexit – pre everything that cracked off increases in prices, etc.

“We think there still is a demand for people drinking non-alcohol drinks. We think that we’re still at the beginning of this growth in this category.

“I do think if people can’t come to us, then we need to come to the people – that’s the approach we’re going to take.”

ANTI-drone technology, is still not operational at Dublin Airport. It had been hoped by many airlines that the technology would be deployed over the Easter period, but in the event it did not happen. The technology has not been certified for use by the Irish Aviation

Authority and the communications regulator ComReg has yet to be fully appraised of its use.

Early summer now seems the likeliest start date for the implementation of the technology.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority said that the

implications of using it still had to be fully resolved.

In a statement to RTÉ, the Department of Transport said that the DAA had placed an order for anti-drone technology with an international supplier and in the meantime has taken delivery of temporary equipment and is training its staff on its use.

There remain some issues about whether the use anti-drone instruments could affect other navigational aids, either on board aircraft or in air traffic control centres. The spokesperson said that the DAA still had to go through the regulatory process to ensure there were no unintended consequences of the use of the technology.

Earlier this year there were several occurrences of illegal drone activity near Dublin Airport, resulting in the closure of the airport on six occasions — with consequent disruption and delay to passengers. Just under half a million passed through Dublin Airport over the Easter period. Estimates are that around 40 per cent of the passengers were en route to or from Britain.

bar in

DRONE DISRUPTION: Dublin Airport Picture: Courtesy of DAA

DEFUNCT: RTE Long Wave broadcasts will cease

minutes

with...

ORIGINALLY from Belleek in County Fermanagh, singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist Fil Campbell was brought up on the folk songs and music from the townlands of Fermanagh and Donegal. Since the 1990s Fil and her husband Tom McFarland, from Belfast, have been performing as a musical duo. Their unique combination of blending vocals, guitar, and percussion plus the ability to mix their original compositions with traditional and contemporary songs can be heard on their latest CD Shoreline

FIL CAMPBELL & TOM MCFARLAND

What are you up to?

Travelling around folk clubs in the North of England and Scotland and heading home to launch our new album Shoreline

Which piece of music always sends a shiver down your spine?

Fil: Carmina Burana (the Old Spice advert)

Tom: Fool on the Hill

Which musician has most influenced you?

Fil: Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, Mary Black

Tom: David Bowie, The Beatles, Colum Sands

How did you get started in music?

Fil: I’ve been singing since I was a child and all through school. It was a natural progression to move into performing full time.

Tom: In school a group of us were a band in our heads, playing in the living room. Went on to study drums at the Belfast School of Music.

Where are you from in Ireland, and what are your roots?

Fil: I’m from Belleek on the Fermanagh/ Donegal border, home of Belleek china. There were musicians in both sides of the family – my mum’s cousins had a ceilidh band in London during the ’50s and ’60s, my dad’s brother was one of the original organisers of the New York Feis. My mother sang a lot as we were growing up - all the old cum all ye’s- songs we all learned by osmosis.

Tom: I’m from Belfast - there was music all around - my mother and father both sang, my uncle was a jazz clarinet player and my cousin played piano. We gathered in my granny’s parlour and sang lots – the popular songs of the day.

What’s on your smartphone playlist at the minute?

We tend to listen mostly to radio and especially chat radio when we’re travelling.

What is your favourite place in Ireland?

Fil: West Cork, closely followed by Whitepark Bay In Antrim.

Tom: Hard question - I love many places equally - the north Antrim Coast, West Cork, Donegal and of course Rostrevor.

Mozart or Martin Hayes?

Fil: Mozart

Tom: Martin Hayes

What would be your motto?

Fil: Follow your heart

Tom: We’ll get there when we get there and that will be that!!

Artistic stamp of approval

Which living person do you most admire?

Fil: The Dalai Lama

Tom: David Attenborough

Bowie or Beyoncé?

Bowie

If you weren’t a musician, what other job would you be really good at?

Fil: Event promoter

Tom: Handyman

Have you a favourite line from a song?

Tom: “How old would you be if you didn’t know the day you were born.”

In terms of inanimate objects, what is your most precious possession?

Fil: My Avalon guitar

Tom: My recording equipment

What’s the best thing about where you live?

Fil: Rostrevor is beautiful- on the coast, at the foot of the mountains - I love it.

Tom: it’s beautiful, it’s idyllic, it’s all the things you dream of. ...and the worst?

Fil: it’s too comfortable – you feel like you’re on holidays all the time.

Tom: You don’t want to leave.

What’s the greatest lesson life has taught you?

Fil: If you do something only for money, it’ll end up costing you. There has to be some other pay off that comes first.

Tom: Only do things if it’s what you really want to do.

What gives you the greatest laugh?

Fil: Good storytelling.

Tom: Stupid jokes.

What do you believe in?

Fil: We’re all part of one consciousness.

Tom: The universal consciousness .

SEAN O’Casey’s ‘three Dublin plays’ – The Shadow of a Gunman (1923), Juno and the Paycock (1924) and The Plough and the Stars (1926) are celebrated on three new stamps from An Post, issued to mark the centenary of the first production of The Shadow of a Gunman at the Abbey in 1923.

Designed by Oonagh Young of Design HQ in Dublin, the designs are inspired by the playbills of the era.

An Post is also keeping it country with the release of their first collection of country music stamps featuring five of Ireland’s best known country music stars – Daniel O’Donnell, Philomena Begley, Cliona Hagan, Nathan Carter, and the late Big Tom.

Speaking about being featured in the Keeping It Country stamps, Daniel O’Donnell said: “When I was on a concert tour of North America last year and sending out some letters, I was using stamps with Elvis on them. I never imagined my face being on a postage stamp in Ireland. It’s beyond comprehension that this has also happened for me. I congratulate all the other stars featured on the stamps and also express my gratitude to An Post for honouring Irish country music in this way.”

Announcing the new stamps, Aileen Mooney of An Post’s Irish Stamps Manager commented: “We’re proud to

celebrate the best of Irish culture and talent, and country music is the perfect example of a music genre loved by all ages that brings communities together. We hope this collection will serve as a lasting reminder of Ireland’s rich musical heritage and inspire future generations of country music artists and fans at home and abroad.”

The stamp designs, by Detail design studio are based on classic country music print posters and billboards, a familiar sight to fans attending local concerts and dances over the years.

Big Tom’s daughter Aishling McBride-Duffy said it was lovely that people cared about their late dad so much as to have his face on a stamp. “It is an amazing achievement and we are all chuffed to bits about this. It’s a complete honour and adds to his legacy”, she added.

Nathan Carter expressed his delight at the honour of being on the An Post stamp.

“My emigrant Irish

great-grandparents, Winnie and Jimmy O’Neill, would be shocked beyond belief at this. I feel very honoured to be part of such an illustrious line-up as well.

“It also goes to show the popularity of the genre that is Irish country music all over Ireland and abroad. God only knows where my face is going to end up now on letters – it could be in Australia or America or Japan – who knows?” Nathan said.

The Queen of Country in Ireland, Philomena Begley laughed when told she was going to be on a stamp. “I thought only national heroes, world leaders, famous film stars, inventors, and others of importance such as politicians or kings and queens ended up on stamps. I wouldn’t have imagined the likes of me being on a stamp with all those famous people. But then I suppose maybe a Country Queen is no exception either!”

 All stamps are available at anpost.com/shop

Stamps celebrating a range of Irish artistic endeavour are now available to buy online

Nathan Carter, Cliona Hagan, Philomena Begley, Daniel O’Donell Picture: Courtesy of An Post

Tom McFarland and Fil Campbell Picture: Bobby Hanvey

Ireland’s neutrality up for discussion during forum

situation

BY FIONA AUDLEY

IRELAND’S military neutrality will be among the topics up for discussion in a new forum announced by the Irish government.

Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, has confirmed plans for a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy which will take place this summer.

The event will “build a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy” it was confirmed on April 5.

The forum will focus on issues including “Ireland’s efforts to protect the rules-based international order, through peacekeeping and crisis management, disarmament and non-proliferation, international humanitarian law, and conflict prevention & peacebuilding as well as allowing for a discussion on Ireland’s policy of military neutrality”, Mr Martin’s department

explained.

The Forum will also provide “an opportunity to examine the experiences and policy choices of other partners in responding to the new security environment in

Europe” they state. Announcing the plans, Mr Martin said: “The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year.

“We have seen blatant and brutal

disregard by Russia of international law and Europe’s collective security architecture, bringing war to the European continent.

“Ireland’s commitment to a rulesbased international order with the UN Charter at its heart, and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality.

“The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will allow for an open and informed discussion on the issues involved”.

He added: “The Consultative Forum will provide a unique opportunity to bring together a wide range of stakeholders from the foreign policy, and security and defence community, as well as civil society, political representatives, academics and other relevant bodies, as well as members of the broader public.

“We need to have a serious, and an honest conversation, about the international security policy options available to the State and the implications of each of these, as well as examining ways in which we can work with, and learn, from

other European and international partners”.

The Forum will have one overall Chair who will be tasked with directing and overseeing the discussions.

The Tánaiste has confirmed that Louise Richardson DBE, President of the Carnegie Corporation and former vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, has “agreed to take on the important role”.

“I am confident that Ms Richardson, who is a native of county Waterford, and a distinguished political scientist with a strong expertise in security policy in her own right, will play a hugely positive role in chairing the discussions,” he added.

The Consultative Forum will take place in three different locations this summer – on June 22 at University College Cork, on June 23 at the University of Galway, and on June 26-27 at Dublin Castle.

The Forum will also be open to the general public, with opportunities to attend in-person or virtually and to make written submissions.

Three men in court over Sheldon Flanighan death Action urged over legacy bill

BY GERARD DONAGHY

TRIBUTES have been paid to an off-duty ambulance worker who was killed after being struck by a van.

Sheldon Flanighan, 55, from Northumberland, England, was fatally injured following the incident outside the Bay Horse pub in Cramlington at around 10pm on Saturday, April 1.

Mr Flanighan died at the scene while a second man, understood to be a friend of the deceased, remains in a stable condition in hospital.

The van was driven away from the scene, But three men have now been charged with Mr Flanighan’s murder and the attempted murder of the second man.

Paying tribute to Mr Flanighan, his employers at the North East Ambulance Service said the news of his death was ‘a great shock’.

“We are incredibly saddened to confirm that a much-loved NEAS colleague, Sheldon Flanighan, died at the scene of an incident in Cramlington whilst off duty on Saturday, April 1,” read the statement.

“Sheldon was an ambulance care assistant, who had been based at Ashington and Blucher stations throughout his 29-year career in the ambulance service.

“This news has come as a great shock to us all, and our thoughts are with Sheldon’s family, friends, colleagues at this incredibly sad time.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the professionalism and the compassionate care that the attending crews showed at this incident.

“This type of incident is never easy to deal with, but even more so when it involves a colleague.”

The statement said that the service was unable to comment

further due to the police investigation

Toby Kelly, 37, of Wansbeck Avenue in Blyth, David Fairclough, 32, of Emerson Road, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Shannon Wooden, 27, of Blyth have been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Kelly has also been charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

The three appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via video-link on Wednesday where they spoke only to confirm their names.

A plea hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday, May 2.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Dave Johnson of Northumbria Police said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the families of everyone affected by this tragic incident and we ask that their privacy is respected while they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

“We have now charged three people with murder and attempted murder and are working hard to establish exactly what happened in the moments before and after this incident.”

THE Irish government has been urged by Amnesty International “to put a public marker down” over the British government’s handling of the legacy of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

Amnesty International is an international, global non-governmental organisation focused on human rights.

The Press Association reports that the Tánaiste Micheál Martin met with a delegation from Amnesty who voiced concerns to him over the controversial British parliamentary bill.

The legislation, which has garnered no support from either side of the religious-political divide in the North — in itself something of a unique record — proposes offering immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles. This would be on condition that they co-operate with a new truth recovery body. Such a move would then curtail further legal action against those prepared to cooperate with the body.

The bill, currently going through parliament, is officially known as the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. Its preamble states that the aim of the legislation is “to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles and promote reconciliation by establishing an Independent

Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, limiting criminal investigations, legal proceedings, inquests and police complaints, extending the prisoner release scheme in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, and providing for experiences to be recorded and preserved and for events to be studied and memorialised”.

The bill is currently at the report stage in the House of Lords, and has some way to go before it can be legally enacted.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UK’s Northern Ireland deputy director, called for Ireland to take an inter-state challenge to the European Court of Human Rights if the Bill becomes law.

The Press Association quotes Ms Teggart saying: “We’ve called on the Tánaiste here today for the Irish Government to put a public marker down to signal to the UK Government that if they force the Bill through to law, that they will take an inter-state case,” she said.“We understand from the meeting here today that this is something that is being actively considered and that the Tánaiste is continuing to engage with the Prime Minister around negotiations in regards to dealing with the past and a way forward.”

ON MANOEUVRES: Soldiers from the 98th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army training in the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow, 2022 Picture: RollingNews.ie

Ireland, along with four other EU countries, is militarily neutral. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has radically changed the mindset of neutral or non-aligned countries. Finland, one of the EU’s neutral states, has now joined NATO, one of the factors leading to a re-appraisal of Ireland’s

Coventry Galway Association

PICTURES: COURTESY OF COVENTRY GALWAY ASSOCIATION

ESTABLISHED in 1966 with the support of a local parish priest and Galwayman, Father Lyons, the Coventry Galway Association recently held their annual gala dinner and dance.

Michael Cunningham with special guests The Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr Kevin Maton, Lady Mayoress Angela Maton, Sarah Gormally, Maeve Flanagan, Claire Dunleavy and Cathaoirleach Michael, Moegie, Maher, and others

John and Jackie Fallon

David Cunningham, Charlotte Gower, Imelda Cunningham, Josh Hewitson and Damien Cunningham

Fiadh Ryan and Michael Cunningham

Dancers from Turley Duggan Academy, right, entertained the guests

Irish pub in Bradford finally gets planning permission granted

AFTER a year long planning wrangle that included several applications The Dubliner pub in the historic area of Ivegate has won planning permission to remain open for business. The pub, in a conservation area of Bradford, submitted a retrospective planning application which has finally been granted. But the leprechauns will have to go – or at least be toned down.

The West Yorkshire based Telegraph and Argus reports that according to the planners, the “harmful” frontage must be replaced to fulfil the terms of the granting of the application.

The display at the front of the pub originally included Irish tricolours, shamrocks, Dublin GAA flags, and a couple of leprechauns. These were mounted on a wooden frontage, none of which was in keeping – according to the planning department of the council – with the historic appearance of the street.

The planning officers stated that the premises that the pub occupies had previously been a charity shop –and no change of use had ever been applied for or granted.

According to the Telegraph and Argus, the owners of the pub Hosted Development Ltd have now been granted planning permission through the retrospective planning application.

Birmingham independent bar Nortons continues its support of women’s rugby

BIRMINGHAM independent bar and live music venue Nortons Digbeth in the Irish Quarter of Birmingham has pledged more support for women’s rugby and extended its sponsorship of the Moseley Women’s Rugby team by another 12 months.

Ian Ward, board member of Moseley Rugby club and leader of Labour-run Birmingham City Council, joined members of the women’s first team for an official kit exchange at Norton’s, swapping a full signed kit in exchange for Norton’s rugby shirt signed by staff members.

Peter Connolly, owner of Nortons Digbeth, said: “This is the third year we’ve supported Moseley Rugby – part of our commitment to supporting grassroots sport in the city, including women’s and men›s teams across Irish and English sports.

“We view women’s sport equally as important as the men’s, which is also why we’re screening the Women’s Six Nations games throughout the venue with commentary.

“The bar was absolutely packed out for all the men’s Six Nations games this year, and it’s great to have another month of rugby to look forward to.

“It’s important to us to get behind local

causes and organisations so Norton’s staff were delighted to meet with the team and swap shirts, joined by Ian Ward who we know is a great fan of Rugby and a proud supporter of Moseley Rugby.”

New Aer Lingus service from Heathrow to Knock

The new service was officially celebrated at a recent reception at the Irish Embassy in London

AT the beginning of April Aer Lingus began a new service connecting the west coast of Ireland to London Heathrow. This important link was celebrated at the Irish Embassy. Ambassador Martin Fraser welcomed representatives from Knock Airport, Aer Lingus and Tourism Ireland. Also in attendance were business people and local politicians from the west and northwest of Ireland.

Our new Knock-Heathrow service is an exciting new route for Aer Lingus and the region

Andy Rogers, Chair of Sligo Business Network based in London, told The Irish Post: “This is not only an exiting new route, it is also a hugely important link for businesses. Everyone from tourists to commercial enterprises will benefit from this new service.”

The inaugural Aer Lingus flight EI916, operated by an Airbus A320, departed from Ireland West Airport

at Knock bound for Heathrow.

Given the close proximity of Knock to the Wild Atlantic Way and the huge spotlight on the west of Ireland following the box-office hit The Banshees of Inisherin, the new route is expected to connect British visitors to one of Ireland’s most popular destinations.

Tourism Ireland figures indicate that the majority of visitors to Ireland are from Britain (42 per cent),

followed by the US (15per cent)

The Tourism Ireland figures “validate the new Aer Lingus route and highlights the importance of connectivity between Ireland and Britain” according to Aer Lingus.

According to Tourism Ireland, 4.78 million people from Britain visited the Island of Ireland in 2019, generating €1.4 billion in revenue

For residents of the west of Ireland, who can avail of Aer Lingus’ 16 direct

Guinness podcast launched

Aer Lingus North American routes from Dublin and Shannon airports this summer, the London Heathrow service will also enable them to connect to destinations right across the globe via the UK’s largest and busiest airport.

Lynne Embleton, Aer Lingus CEO, said: “The west of Ireland has much to offer as a tourist destination with the world renowned Wild Atlantic Way on its doorstep. Our new KnockHeathrow service is an exciting new route for Aer Lingus and the region, bringing travellers from Britain right to the heart of the action. Equally, customers from the west of Ireland will now fly into London Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport, and have the opportunity to travel onwards to cities all over the world.”

Welcoming the news, Arthur French, Chairman, Ireland West Airport said: “This is another proud day for the airport and the entire Western region. The hub status of Heathrow for business and leisure passengers to connect with the global marketplace is a major boost for this region with this new daily service opening up key onward connectivity, through one of Europe’s biggest hubs, to over 80 destinations worldwide. I have no doubt this new service will attract strong support from the region and overseas and we thank Aer Lingus for their continued commitment to the airport and West of Ireland region.”

A DIVE into the Guinness archives by historian Turtle Bunbury has resulted in a podcast about Ireland’s national drink.

Hosted by Irish historian, Turtle Bunbury, the series features interviews with various experts in the brewing trade. In effect the 8-episode podcast is an audio journey into the heart of Guinness, located at Saint James’s Gate in the Liberties, Dublin

The show, which launched this month, delves into the Guinness Storehouse’s stories of the past and the present, and the importance of both to culture in the Liberties in Dublin.

Listeners hear about the legendary heritage of Guinness, and its connections to Dublin and modern Irish culture.

TOASTING THE NEW ROUTE: Brigid Rogers, Andy Rogers (Chair, Sligo Business Network), Jonathan Gordon-Dark, Carmel Gordon-Dark (Rathlee)

SHOW OF SUPPORT: Moseley Rugby board member Ian Ward, Nortons Digbeth owner Peter Connolly and the Moseley Rugby women’s team Picture: Chris Egan STOUT FELLOWS:

Primary school threats over GAA event slammed

POLITICIANS have criticised those behind ‘intimidatory comments’ sent to a Belfast primary school after it was used for a children’s GAA event.

Strandtown Primary School hosted a taster event for children to try out Gaelic games.

But according to Belfast Live, the school said it was unable to hold similar events in future after receiving ‘intimidatory’ emails and social media comments.

The school said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ at having to make the decision.

East Belfast GAA has now released a statement thanking the school, while politicians have condemned those behind the messages.

BELFAST

Sharing news of the comments, Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie tweeted: “Grim and depressing. I’m genuinely lost for words.” Meanwhile, his Alliance counterpart Naomi Long slammed those behind the ‘thuggery and intimidation’.

Deep water shark washes up in Wexford

“Shame on those who would threaten a primary school for any reason, let alone them allowing children to experience a sport,” tweeted the East Belfast MLA.

“East Belfast GAA and Strandtown Primary deserve better than this thuggery and intimidation.”

Belfast City councillors also criticised the culprits.

East Belfast GAA was founded in 2020 by former London and Kingdom Kerry Gaels footballer Dave McGreevy.

Man asleep in bin accidentally emptied into bin lorry

A CORK man was ‘severely injured’ and taken to hospital after being lifted into a bin lorry. The man was asleep in the bin when it was lifted and emptied into the lorry – operatives were unaware of his presence in the bin, but were quickly alerted to his presence.

The Irish Mirror

confirmed that the incident occurred on Main Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry during an early morning bin collection. Sources told the paper that the man had been socialising in Killarney overnight.

Gardaí confirmed to the paper that the man had been taken to hospital.

The Mirror also spoke to the local county council in Kerry. A spokesperson confirmed it was also aware of the incident, but stressed the bin lorry was from a private company and not from the council.

Anti-social acts at NFL games cause concern

THE remains of a huge smalltooth sand tiger shark, which measured 4.3m (14ft) in length, were discovered washed up on a Wexford beach – a first for the island of Ireland and possibly only the second recorded instance of this species turning up at such a northerly latitude.

WEXFORD

The discovery was initially made by Swiss tourists staying in the seaside village. Having searched the web they came across the contact details of Assistant Professor Nicholas Payne from Trinity College in Dublin. He confirmed that it was a smalltooth tiger shark.

He told the Wexford People: “Previous records only show sharks like this turning up around the Bay of Biscay area. But then in the space of two weeks, we’ve seen two instances of them turning up much further north in England and in Kilmore Quay. It’s really unusual to see them turn up in an area they’ve never been seen before, so we’re keen to find out what happened.”

The smalltooth sand tiger shark is considered a deep water species and is generally discovered in tropical and warm temperate waters.

THE chairman of the Mayo GAA Board is ‘deeply concerned’ about a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour at recent National Football League matches in Castlebar.

Mayo News reports that Seamus Tuohy said the decision to allow children under the age of 16 to attend Mayo’s home league matches free of charge will have to be reviewed.

Sixteen different people spoke on the subject at the monthly meeting of the County Board, reporting that ‘large gangs of teenagers’ and ‘unaccompanied minors’ had attended recent NFL games at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park before ‘roaming around causing trouble’.

Among the issues raised were: stewards being verbally abused by teenagers and adults; over €1,000 worth of footballs being stolen; €1,000 worth of jerseys, that were being worn by Mayo players, being ‘destroyed’ by children writing on them with permanent markers after games; and some ‘irreparable damage being done to the MacHale Park pitch surface by the thousands of children gathering on it after matches.

Seamus Tuohy also explained that there had been an incident at a recent match between Mayo and Monaghan in Castlebar where ‘some gates were locked when patrons were trying to leave the ground’.

MAYO

COMMENT&OPINION

MALROGERS Hard news the easy way

Lowdown on the star of County Down

Commissioners for Irish Lights gave Brendan Behan the job of painting it. Now this is painting in the sense of painting the structure black and white, and not, for instance, doing a study in oils. Brendan, it would be fair to say, wasn’t a natural 9-5 worker.

APART FROM MATTERS NAUTICAL, ANYTHING ELSE TO SEE IN THE TOWN?

Well, aside from the very impressive 19th century castellated folly on top of an ancient mound, there is the famous Grace Neill’s Inn in High Street. There’s a persistent claim that Peter the Great stayed here during his tour of Ireland, a visit undertaken to learn and take back the secrets of shipbuilding and linen-making to Russia.

The saints go marching out

THE Rev. Richard Coles was disappointed to leave his weekend Radio 4 programme Saturday Live after 12 years, he told The Guardian. His departure was caused by the BBC’s decision to relocate the programme – which he co-hosted with broadcaster Nikki Bedi – from London to Cardiff.

So at the end of last month the reverend broadcast his final programme.

Richard Keith Robert Coles was the vicar of Finedon in Northamptonshire from 2011 to 2022.

DONAGHADEE has just been adjudged the Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. This column investigates the claims

LOCATION:

A dozen or so miles northeast of Belfast, and of course, six miles from Bangor as per the song, “Tooraloo, tooralay, and it’s six miles from Bangor to Donaghadee.” So, well within commuting distance.

OTHER MUSICAL REFERENCES:

Forty Shades of Green, written and recorded by Johnny Cash, says: “From the fishing boats at Dingle / To the shores of Donaghadee.” Nothing about the Burning Ring of Fire so he evidently didn’t partake of any local takeaways that disagreed with him.

SOME PLUSES ABOUT DONAGHADEE:

The community spirit is absolutely tops. And when they say ‘community spirit’, this isn’t comedian Frankie Boyle’s definition of a community — “A place where there are at least three people you can ring after midnight who would help you to hide a body.” This is proper community — looking out for your neighbour, joining a choir, going jogging with friends. In fact, come to think of it, all the things you wouldn’t really want to do on holiday.

For the best part of three hundred years Donaghadee was only one of the most important ports in Ireland, because it boasted the shortest possible sea journey to Scotland, namely to Portpatrick, some 21 miles away. Even as late as the 20th century you could still get a local fisherman to row you over to Britain for a fiver. And they weren’t even called Ryanboats, or easyDinghy.

SO IT’S A THRIVING PORT, THEN?

Not any more. The commercial days are gone (the Larne-Stranraer route, followed by budget airlines took over) and today Donaghadee is a charming, quiet seaside town, ideal for wandering around and a good centre for exploring the superb beaches of this part of Down. Which is why it made it to the number one spot on the Sunday Times list.

APART FROM THE BEACHES, ANYTHING ELSE WORTH SEEING?

There is, of course, the famous Donaghadee Lifeboat, which in the past has given assistance to everyone from Spanish fisherman to English yachtsmen. To see who has been rescued lately, check on the chalkboard at the RNLI HQ just at the entrance to the harbour. While you’re there, you might as well have a good look at the lighthouse, the work of Sir John Rennie and David Logan (of Eddystone fame). It’s also worthy of a second glance because the

Air attack from an unexpected quarter

WITH Finland joining NATO earlier this month, the whole question of Ireland’s neutrality has come into question (yet again).

Critics say that the country is woefully under-protected, with only around 20 planes available to protect the nation at any given time.

Not only are the aircraft few in number,

Ireland’s Defence Forces apparently rely on Pilatus trainers (not fighters) which can only tool along at 590kph or thereabouts.

A commercial jet like the Boeing 737, the type favoured by Ryanair, can reach speeds of over 900kph.

You know what that means? Never mind the Russians, Ryanair could invade Ireland at any time and take over the country.

AND SURELY THERE’S A JOKE IN THERE SOMEWHERE?

Oh alright then — he was promptly christened the Tsar of the County Down . . .

OK, ANY OTHER IMPORTANT VISITORS?

Believe it or not, legions of ‘em, including Daniel Defoe, Franz Liszt (who, you’d hope, met Brahms in the afore-mentioned Grace Neill’s) and Wordsworth. Keats seems to have had the roughest time. Although he found the town itself charming, he was treated to “ridicule, scorn, and violent abuse by the local people who objected to my mode of dress and thought I was some sort of strange foreigner”.

SO WHAT ON EARTH PERSUADED ALL THESE PEOPLE TO VISIT THIS LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN?

Well, don’t forget its value as a port — what might called a travel hub these days. Had any of them been interested in birdwatching they might also have been lured to the area by the Copeland Islands, a couple of miles off Donaghadee to the northeast. Biggest of the three islands is the excellently named Big Isle. Beyond it is Lighthouse Island, where a rogue lighthouse once burned. This beacon was strongly suspected of having contributed to the many wrecks in these waters. The island is now an RSPB observatory (and definitely not a rogue observatory) and can be visited with National Trust permission. Catch the boat in the harbour.

He first came to prominence as the multiinstrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s pop duo The Communards. They achieved three top ten hits.

Reverend Coles then carved out a very successful broadcasting career frequently appearing on radio and television. From March 2011 until March 2023 he was the co-host of BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live programme.

As if that wasn’t interesting enough for a vicar in the Church of England, the good reverend is also a member of the GAA. He became enthusiastic about Gaelic sports through watching the 2020 TV series Normal People. Family ties in his Irish heritage led to Coles selecting Cork as his county and St Finbarr’s as his club. The club responded by sending him a membership card.

And should you ever want to learn a little more about saints in the Christian Church, you could scarcely do better than Reverend Coles’ 2012 book Lives of Improbable Saints.

From St Fillan of Munster, patron saint of the mentally ill, who read by the light of his miraculously glowing arm, to Santa Lucia, who tore out her eyes to dismiss the lascivious attentions of her would-be husband, here are nearly two hundred classic stories of the saints of Christian legend.

CLAIMS TO FAME:

Rev. Richard Coles Picture: Getty Images

STAR TURN: Donagahdaee Harbour Picture: Tourism Northern Ireland

WATCH: A Pilatus PC12 Picture: Courtesy of Irish Defence Forces

The voice of the Irish in Britain since 1970

Well-earned tribute to playwright and performers

AN POST have commemorated and celebrated two areas of artistic endeavour that are not particularly linked to each other but have strong bonds to our community, the Irish in Britain.

The work of playwright Sean O’Casey and that of Irish country music stars has been highlighted by a range of stamps from An Post.

Seán O’Casey, born in Dublin, a hugely influential writer from a working class background, was a committed socialist. He moved to London relocating in the southwest of England from the 1920s. He made Britain his home until his death in 1964 in Torquay.

Five country music stars have also been honoured by An Post with a range called Keep It Country.

Country music covers a lot of emotional territory. From rumbustious songs about life in the Wild West to finely wrought ballads of heartache and desolation, all human life is here. Traditional music originally arrived in America with Irish, Scottish and English settlers, where in isolated areas such at the Ozarks and the Appalachians, this ‘old music’ was preserved intact. But it soon encountered the other great music traditions of America, and country music emerged.

It then made its way back across the Atlantic and became particularly popular in the midlands of Ireland and in our community, the Irish in Britain. There was something in the range of emotions – from hoedown to heartache – which struck a chord, almost literally ,with our emigrant population

The country stars that An Post have honoured in their latest issues – Daniel O’Donnell, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Cliona Hagan and Nathan Carter — are seemingly far-removed from O’Casey’s output. But Sean O’Casey knew all about the immigrant experience, and particularly his later writing was influenced by it.

An Post has made a wise choice honouring these icons of Irish creativity.

Little compensation for Rory McIlroy

RORY McIlroy declined to speak to the media after his latest exit from the US Masters. His pursuit of the Green Jacket has seemingly become his bête noir.

The Holywood man was backed by many to win this elusive title – the only ‘Major’ missing from his trophy shelf. But sadly McIlroy didn’t even make the cut.

Instead, Spain’s Jon Rahm held off challenges from Koepka and Mickelson to emerge victorious.

But at least there appears to have been some Irish influence in Rahm’s victory. The Basque, who lives in the US, is married to a lady called Kelley Cahill. This possible Irish connection is unlikely to be of any consolation to Rory McIlroy.

Grasping the NATO hot potato

WITH Finland having now joined NATO, and Sweden likely to follow suit, surely it’s time for Ireland to do exactly the same. As per your pages (The Irish Post passim) Ireland is the least protected nation in the EU with woefully small troop numbers. Granted, we don’t have a land border with Russia as Finland has – but we have in effect a sea border that is very vulnerable. Ireland is totally vulnerable on its west coast to any incursions from the Atlantic.

Recent weeks have seen Russian commercial vessels inside Ireland’s exclusion zones. At the beginning of April the air branch of the Irish Defence Forces monitored Russian commercial ships both outside and inside Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Before that Russian warships were spotted off the coast of Ireland, although maintaining position in international waters.

But sadly, that’s about all the Defence Forces can do – monitor and observe. They do not have the troop strength or the kit to turn back any invasion forces. And in case you think I’m being alarmist – nobody thought Russia would invade Ukraine.

An attack on Ireland is, admittedly, very unlikely. But it is feasible. So it’s time that Ireland put its money where its mouth is. It is untenable to be in the EU and not be in NATO. It is time for Ireland to pull its weight in the new, troubled world that we find ourselves in.

Public opinion on joining NATO is mixed – according to some polls conducted last year it is roughly 50:50 in the population of the Republic. But whether Ireland is part of NATO or not is surely not a referendum issue. It is not a social issue. The Irish government should take the decision based solely on expert opinion on the circumstances that have now arisen iin Europe. And the only conclusion they can really come to is that Ireland needs more protection, and that can only come through joining NATO.

Noel Murtagh Bracknell

Cessation of RTÉ long wave

RTÉ and the Irish government know that Christmas and Easter are good times to bury bad news. Doing so is a tactic I would have expected from the UK government. But not Ireland.

The announcement by RTÉ announcing closure within days – not months – and doing it in advance of Easter was appalling.

The Minister for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, should fly over and face us and

explain why this was announced at such short notice, giving the diaspora no time to furnish any objections. He should order RTÉ to stop this unnecessary closure at such short notice immediately.

It is not that long ago RTÉ had an outage due to the mast [responsible for transmitting long wave] being refurbished. And it was then declared good for years of usage.

It is not correct that keeping 252 long wave running will cost more money Conveniently the link referring to the repair of the mast has been removed. Is that not suspicious?

We all at Save 252 LW call for an immediate halt to the closure of the service, so proper civilised debate can be held.

Peter Fawcett PRO Save 252 LW

Long wave a boon for long-distance driver

I WAS appalled to hear that the Irish government is closing down its long wave service.

I know it will hit older, more marginalised people the hardest – those without internet or IT skills – and I feel desperately sorry for them. They are the real losers.

But there are other losers too. I am a long-distance lorry driver, and for many years have had a radio installed in my cab that can tune into long wave services.

Listening to RTÉ helped while away many a long journey.

I hope that this decision to close the service down can be reversed.

Joe Gallagher Shropshire

A gloomy outlook

I THOUGHT Malachi O’Doherty’s view that no settlement in the North was possible without unionist approval was doomed to failure was balanced, thoughtful and ultimately depressing. Sadly, his analysis that the unionists have concluded that if they do nothing, that is the best way ‘forward’ for them is undoubtedly correct. Of course the unionists – or a sizable rump of them – don’t want to go forward as such, but go backwards into the past. It is the very definition of nihilism.

Now with the warning of terrorist attacks being raised to severe – this has happened because of the activities of dissident republicans – the outlook appears to be very gloomy indeed.

It appears that the Northern Secretary is going to try to call the DUP’s bluff by introducing a budget that means if Stormont is not restarted there will be enough to cover the basic running of the Six Counties, but no more.

So perhaps the DUP’s tactic of

doing nothing, or saying ‘no’ to everything might finally backfire on them – but to the detriment of the people living in Northern Ireland.

At this time, when we are marking the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, it is a very sad situation.

B McIlwain London

Poetry and place names

I ENJOYED your article on poetry and Irish locations put forward by Tourism Ireland in their guide.

Ireland is indeed blessed to have such a large number of such gifted wordsmiths

My own favourite poet and songwriter Thomas Moore wasn’t on the list, yet his songs are so evocative of an Ireland that has almost disappeared.

He wrote the beautiful ballad The Last Rose of Summer, probably in Kilkenny. According to local legend he wrote the lyrics when aged only 21. He saw the rose growing in a secluded garden in Jenkinstown, Kilkenny.

I am originally from Kilkenny and heard that story from my grandmother.

As it happens, I now live near where Thomas Moore is buried – in the churchyard of St Nicholas in Bromham, in Wiltshire.

Angela Baird Melksham

TROUBLED WATERS: A Russian ship spotted inside Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone Picture: Courtesy of 105 Squadron Irish Air Corps

Editor reserves the right to edit all letters as applicable. Please keep your letters as brief as possible. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Irish Post.

forum of the Irish in Britain

COMMENT&OPINION

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An unclassy act

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The newspaper seeks to provide the Irish in Britain with comprehensive news coverage of Irish issues from Ireland and Britain, sports news and reviews, a weekly entertainment guide, reader feedback and features of interest to the Irish in Britain.

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ILISTENED to it so that you don’t have to. I was driving peacefully through a small Irish town when it came on the radio.

RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor was interviewing Sarah Ferguson, who was once married to Prince Andrew. I had to pull over. Indeed, in the coming days I listened back to the whole thing again in case I’d somehow just got the wrong end of the stick. But believe me, I listened to it again so that you don’t have to, at all.

It’s hard to know where to begin, but I have to start by saying this is not about Sarah Ferguson herself. In a precursor of today’s social media spite she was right in pointing out how toxic her

JOEHORGAN

individual level. Indeed, I’m not being cruel when I say I have no interest in her whatsoever.

sensitive which is why I’m so creative – I’m independent and rebellious – Prince Andrew has had a rough time – I’ve spent most of my life giving to others out in Poland and everywhere. I am a philanthropist.”

Good God, it was excruciating. But, perhaps, she is not representative. Perhaps, the British upper class is not really like that. Perhaps her ex-husband is more so. Good old Prince Andrew.

And remember his interview? The one where he couldn’t sweat and was fixated on Pizza Express in Woking. The cliché used is a ‘car crash interview’ and I think the cliché came in to being for that very interview.

Arrogant, deluded, and demonstrably dim. Remember that old, silly joke about the cream of society being called so because they are rich and thick?

Or instead take Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. Take for example his most recent appearance in front of a cross party group of MPs. Blustering, arrogant, angry. Using as many words as possible in order to obfuscate the truth. Overwhelmingly pleased with himself.

Indeed, the comparisons between Johnson and Trump are unavoidable, and that is not a compliment to either man. Or how about Johnson’s old Eton school friend Jacob Rees-Mogg. In fact take any occasion in which you have seen Rees-Mogg as an example of how the British ruling classes really should not be allowed out on their own. Jacob Rees-Mogg appears to have created an appearance for himself that is predicated on assuring the observer of Rees-Mogg’s superiority.

treatment by 1980s and 1990s tabloids was and I have no interest in attacking her on an

This is about how the British upper classes look now that they’ve all succumbed to the cult of celebrity and become so keen to let us see them up close. From this side of the Irish Sea I can assure you we have our fair share of fools and absolute eejits. How many of them are convinced of their own superiority by virtue of

breeding, though, I’m not so sure.

This interview portrayed a class, if I can take Ferguson as at least somewhat representative, so lacking in self-awareness as to be beyond parody.

That’s the British upper classes – buckets of self-regard but absolutely no selfawareness.

These are just some of the quotes taken from this interview of someone sitting in the Royal Lodge in Windsor as broadcast on RTÉ Radio One “I’m a single working mum

– I’m very Irish – I’m Irish in all ways – I love to give – You’ve gotta have a craic – I became the Duchess of Cork – I’m very authentic. That’s why I’m such a good mother now – I’m stratospherically

Further, like Johnson, like the Royals, like so many others they have confused the incredible self-assurance given by elite education with intelligence. Unfortunately for them the era of constant, rolling news and endless social media which has seduced them all lets us lfe what this is. It is the emperor’s new clothes.

We are over here in Ireland looking in. We see Britain from a different angle. Maybe it gives us a particular insight. But you know that already don’t you? You’re being taken for a ride by a class of people who are demonstrably ridiculous.

Eton, the Royals, the right wing press, a slew of minor public schoolboys. If you want to go along with it that’s up to you. But you can’t say you weren’t warned. They’re warning you themselves.

n Joe Horgan tweets at @JoeHorganwriter

POMP & PRIVILEGE: Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew at Royal Ascot Picture: Getty Images

That’s the British upper classes – buckets of selfregard, but absolutely no self-awareness.

The gateway to independence

her through Holyhead to the railway station where standards were maintained, and she was placed in a firstclass compartment for the journeypaying six shillings for Poppet’s ticket. Holyhead was one place where this Irish freedom fighter met with some courtesy and respect.

CATHERINE DUIGAN & GARETH HUWS explore the role of Holyhead in the pursuit of Irish independence.

HOLYHEAD has always been a critical travel connection between Britain and Ireland. From packet boats to mail boats, millions of Irish people have travelled through this Welsh port. During the period from the Act of Union to the formation of the Irish Free State, it was used as a meeting place where chance encounters sometimes proved significant. It was also part of critical journeys on the way to Irish independence.

– In July 1914, a secret gun-running expedition was developed to supply Irish nationalists. Erskine Childers, his wife Molly, and a small crew sailed the yacht Asgard from Conwy in north Wales to a rendezvous

point off the Belgian coast. There they loaded over 1000 Mauser rifles and ammunition under very cramped conditions sailed back towards Ireland.

A severe storm forced them to shelter in Holyhead. Questions from the coastguard were successfully deflected and the vessel was not searched. The Asgard crew went ashore, bought a newspaper, had tea in a hotel, and Erskine Childers took the opportunity to have his hair cut. Eventually they successfully delivered their cargo to Howth and the essential arms for the 1916 Easter Rising were in place.

– Countess Constance Markievicz –revolutionary, socialist, suffrage campaigner – also had links to Holyhead, partly arising from her

A date with history

What happened on this day...

Saturday, April 15:

1912 – The Titanic sinks at 2.20 am.

1864 – The first Dublin Horse Show.

1941 – Two hundred bombers of the Luftwaffe attack Belfast. Nearly 1000 people die as a result of the bombing.

Sunday, April 16:

1871 – Birth of playwright John

Millington Synge in Rathfarnham, Dublin.

1939 – Mary Bernadette O’Brien, later to become famous as Dusty Springfield, is born to Irish parents in London.

Monday, April 17:

1875 – Election of Charles Stewart Parnell as MP for Meath.

1915 – Death in Canterbury of Brother Walfrid Kerins, from Ballymote Co. Sligo, a Marist

protests against the possibility of conscription in Ireland during World War I. Consequently, she was arrested for a second time in 1918 and jailed in Holloway Prison. She was the only woman in a party of 46 Sinn Féin prisoners transported on a Royal Navy vessel.

The men were marched off to a transit camp on the outskirts of the town. However, the countess, accompanied by her dog (Poppet), received preferential treatment in the custody of Deputy Chief Constable Protheroe. Following an agreement not to try to abscond, he invited her and her dog to spend the evening with him and his family in their apartment on the upper floor of the police station.

The next morning, he walked with

– Funerals were highly political events, especially when they required the repatriation of the bodies from Britain to Ireland, usually via Holyhead.When John Redmond, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, died suddenly in London his solemn state funeral included the ceremonial transfer of his coffin from the train at Holyhead on to a specially constructed catafalque on the SS Leinster. A very different situation arose when nationalist Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison. To minimise political protest in Ireland, his coffin was forcefully taken from his family by police at Holyhead and placed in the hold of The Rathmore, a chartered vessel, which conveyed it directly to Cork.

– Following Ireland’s War of Independence, the treaty negotiations between the Irish delegates and the British Government generated many journeys between Dublin and London, using the mail-boat across the Irish Sea and the Irish Mail train between Holyhead and Euston.

The journeys gave the Irish delegates time to discuss, plan, and debate developments but must have caused considerable personal exhaustion. They also required a financial budget.In his application for travel expenses Michael Collins stated – “At the moment I have about £3 in my pocket.It would be serious if I could not give a porter a tip at Holyhead.”

By December 1922, the treaty and constitution were in place, triggering perhaps the most intriguing meeting in Holyhead. Ireland was to be not only a ‘Free State’ but also a dominion of the British Empire, with

the Republic of Ireland, and the country’s exit from the British Commonwealth.

Wednesday, April 19:

1366 – The Statutes of Kilkenny passed by parliament.

a Governor General. On Monday, December 4, President-elect W.T. Cosgrave, along with two fellow government ministers Richard Mulcahy and Joseph McGrath, hurried out of Leinster House, Dublin, and made their way to the mail-boat at Dun Laoghaire. They sailed to Holyhead and awaited the arrival of the night Irish Mail train from London and its passenger, Tim Healy, the new GovernorGeneral, who was scheduled to take his oath of office on the 6th of December.

The four men met in Healy’s compartment on the train. The conversation between Healy, Cosgrave and Mulcahy continued on board the mail-boat as she made the return journey to Ireland. McGrath stayed on the train and travelled on to London. We can only surmise why three Cabinet members of the Free State Government, targets of anti-Treaty factions, would risk their lives to surprise the Governor General who was on his way to Dublin anyway. Fledgling international diplomacy by the Irish State started in Holyhead.

– In the same month the Dublin-Holyhead link was the principal route used to evacuate the remaining British troops from the south of Ireland. The Manchester Guardian reported that nine special trains met the British Troops who travelled on four steamers to Holyhead. Over a five-day period, the daily totals of arrivals were 300 officers, 5,000 men, 500 horses, 400 vehicles, and over 800 tons of baggage.

During the critical decade in Irish history, 1912-23, it is evident that a small Welsh port had an important, but perhaps not fully recognised, essential role. After acting as a gateway to Irish independence, Holyhead remains a town between the land and the sea; a border town between Wales and Ireland; and a meeting place of its peoples. The stories we share are part of a richer and deeper heritage.

priest and founding father of Glasgow Celtic football club.

1969 – Bernadette Devlin is elected MP for Mid Ulster, standing as the Independent Unity candidate.

Tuesday, April 18:

1870 – Birth in Dublin of Robert Tressell (born Noonan), author of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (right).

1949 – The formal declaration of

1969 – Fierce rioting breaks out in Derry after the RUC ban a civil rights march from Burntollet Bridge.

Thursday, April 20:

1176 – Strongbow, AngloNorman lord, dies in Dublin. 1608 – The world’s oldest whiskey distillery, Bushmills, is licensed.

1912 – Death of Dublin writer Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula

DESTINATION HOLYHEAD: British cavalry regiment, pictured at North Wall Dublin, leaving Ireland in 1922

Picture: National Library of Ireland, public domain

A distinctive Donegal recital

THE WEATHER’S LOOKING FINE

Belfast music legend Colin Harper looks back over 25 years of music from his band Legends of Tomorrow Page 18

About the Musicians

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh formed

Altan with her husband Frankie Kennedy, a flute player from Belfast, in the late 1980s. They were influenced by traditional Irish language songs from Donegal –another strong strand in the Donegal tradition – and they soon co-opted some of the finest musicians in the locality into their number.

Frankie died in 1994 after suffering from cancer – he was 38. Despite Frankie’s untimely death she has continued fronting the group as singer and exceptional fiddle player. In 1994 she was instrumental in founding the Frankie Kennedy Winter School. Her debut solo album, Imeall, was released in 2009. Her prolific career continued apace and in 2017 she was awarded Gradam Ceoil TG4 award for Traditional Musician of the Year. She also finds time to perform with her family band Na Mooneys and the Donegal women’s fiddler collective, The Sí Fiddlers.

Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, traditional singer, pianist, and composer, performed with both Skara Brae and The Bothy Band. In the late 1970s she moved from Ireland to the USA where she formed Touchstone. When her brother, Mícheál, also emigrated they both enjoyed considerable acclaim with Relativity and Nightnoise. Triona released her solo album, The Key’s Within, in 2010 and received the Composition Award at TG4’s Gradam Cumadóir agus Comharcheoil in 2019.

Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, also a member of Skara Brae, is renowned for her distinctive sean-nós style. Her father and aunt were avid collectors of traditional songs. Besides her numerous collaborations, including those with sister Triona and as a member of Dónal Lunny’s Coolfin, she has released a number of solo albums, including the pivotal No Dowry in 1991. She has recorded and performed with the West Ocean String Quartet.

DONEGAL music often seems markedly different from the main stem of Irish traditional music, and it’s not surprising when you consider the county’s geography. Apart from its proximity to Scotland to the north, it faces the Atlantic to the west, and is pressed against Britain’s once very troubled branch office Northern Ireland on the east.

The county’s only physical

connection to the rest of the Republic is its 10-mile border with County Leitrim to the south. This has created something of a divide.

Donegal has in the past been isolated politically, and in a sense emotionally, as well, and this has given its music a distinct tinge.

Even the pattern of emigration from Donegal, to some degree, was different from the rest of Ireland. Because of its proximity to Scotland, Donegal workers, along

with those from Derry, tended to journey going backwards and forwards to work – unlike the rest of Ireland where people upped sticks and left for good. There was consequently a constant exchange in music –something that is evident throughout the Donegal tradition. The fiddle tradition is energetic and vibrant, with influences from the Scottish bagpipes evident; Scottish tunes such as strathspeys and highlands (similar to highland

flings and hornpipes) are also much more common in Donegal music than elsewhere in Ireland. In summary, it’s a unique, beautiful, vibrant music.

It is from this rich and distinctive musical background that T with the Maggies has emerged.

The band features Triona, Maighread, Mairéad and Moya features Moya Brennan (Clannad), Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Altan), Triona & Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill (The Bothy Band, Skara Brae).

Moya Brennan, singer and harp player, has fronted Clannad since the mid 1970s. With 19 albums, a Grammy and Ivor Novello award the family group pioneered Celtic music and brought the Irish language to a mass audience. Moya’s solo output includes seven albums and she has performed and duetted with a wide range of artists, including Bono, Bruce Hornsby, Michael McDonald, Robert Plant, Paul Brady among others. She received the Lifetime Achievement award from the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards in 2019 and was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Dublin City University in 2022.

TRAD SUPERGROUP: T with the Maggies – (L to R) Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, Moya Brennan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

Donegal supergroup T with the Maggies will be appearing at the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith on April 22 and April 23

Irish radio in your area...

BEDFORDSHIRE

 Jim Carway presents Luton Irish Live on Diverse 102.8FM and online every Tuesday evening 6-8pm. Contact Jim on 07977 063233.

BRADFORD

 Joe Sheeran presents Echoes of Ireland on Bradford Community Broadcasting 106.6FM every Sunday at noon. The programme is repeated on Mondays at 9am and Wednesdays at noon and is online at www.bcbradio.co.uk.

BRIGHTON

 Brighton and Hove weekly Irish radio airs live on Mondays from 8pm on Radio Reverb, 97.2 FM, DAB and online.

COVENTRY

 Hands Across the Waters on Hillz FM. Broadcasting live every Monday and Thursday 1pm-2pm and the best of Irish & Country every Sunday 1pm-2pm. You can tune in locally on 98.6fm or catch us online at www.hillzfm.co.uk

 Join The Four Country Road Show with Colm Nugent and Michael Gallagher every Tuesday 9-10pm and Sunday 2-4pm. Broadcasting live in Coventry from the studios of Radio Plus 101.5fm and online around the world on www.radioplus.org.uk playing the very best in Irish and Country music, news, guests and more.

GLASGOW

 Celtic Music Radio on 1530AM and www.celticmusicradio.net featuring Paddy Callaghan’s Trad with Pad every Tuesday from 6-7pm.

HERTFORDSHIRE

 Radio Verulam 92.6FM and online at www.radioverulam.com

featuring The Emerald Hour with Kathy Weston, Lydia El-Khouri and Shane every Thursday from 7-8pm, and John Devine’s Traditional Irish Music Show, featuring Joe Giltrap, every Monday from 7-9pm (available on the website for seven days after broadcast)

 John Devine, Monday evenings from 7-9pm on Radio Verulam in West Hertfordshire 92.6FM or through the internet at www. radioverulam.com. Facebook www.facebook.com/rvirishmusic.

LONDON/SOUTH-EAST

 Johnny Jameson hosts Ireland’s Eye on Resonance 104.4FM every third Wednesday of every month, 8-9pm and repeated the following morning at 10pm.

 Emily Horgan, Pippa T and Róisín O Rourke broadcasting What’s the Craic? every Tuesday from 7-8pm on West London’s ONFM 101.4.

 Johno’s Irish Hour, ONFM 101.4, every Saturday morning from 10-11am with presenter John O’Sullivan. Anything and everything Irish including traditional Irish music, news and sport.

MANCHESTER

 Out and About in Manchester with Martin Logan, Wednesdays 7-9pm on 96.9FM.

 The Irish Connection Show with John Lowry on Wythenshawe 97.2FM, Saturday from 10am to noon. www.wfmradio.org.

MIDLANDS

 Bob Brolly’s Irish Show, Sundays 4-7pm on BBC Radio WM 95.6FM and DAB Radio.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

 Jim Bennett, Fiona Clelland and Tommy McClements present NE1 Irish from 5-7pm every Wednesday on 102.5FM or www.ne1fm.net. Text NE1 + message to 60300. Contact 0191 261 0384.

OXFORD/BERKSHIRE

 BBC Radio Oxford/BBC Radio Berkshire hosts Henry Wymbs’ Irish Eye, Sundays from 2pm on 95.4FM | 104.1FM.

ONLINE

 Gerry Byrne’s Irish Radio: www.irishradio.org 24/7 non-stop Irish Music. Live weekdays 1-3pm; Saturdays & Sundays 11am-1pm. Podcasts uploaded to website immediately after shows are transmitted. Requests welcome to: gerry@irishradio.org. For music, arts, charity sector, commerce and current affairs interviews search YouTube Irish Radio with Gerry Byrne.

 Mid West Radio, the home of Irish music, chat, news, culture and gossip 24 hours a day! www.midwestradio.ie

 RTÉ Radio operates four primary national stations — RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta — and seven exclusively digital stations — RTÉ Radio 1 Xtra, RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ Chill, RTÉ Gold, RTÉ 2XM and RTÉ Junior, available online.

 Alan O’Leary of Copperplate presents two hours of Irish traditional and folk music every Sunday at 8-9.30pm (repeated Wednesday 8-90pm) on www.liveireland.com — 24/7 live Irish trad and folk. It can also be heard 24/7 on Mixcloud, Soundcloud and Podomatic.

 All Folked Up – a folk show with an Irish influence – is broadcast on the third Thursday of the month on sarumradio.com at 7pm.

 Irish Country Music Radio (Limerick) – Broadcasting live and recorded programmes 24 hours a day covering a broad spectrum of Irish music: www.irishcountrymusicradio.com.

THE IRISH IN THE UK TV SHOW

www.theirishintheuktv.com

Join Martin each week as he meets the community around the UK with an Irish connection

Every Thursday evening at 7.30pm

Repeated Sat at 8.30pm and Tues at 1pm

Sky 186 Freesat 161

Martin Logan 07808 573142 martinloganmanchester@gmail.com

Sponsored by

Thoughts on a British-Irish identity

MARY KENNY is impressed by Kate Kerrigan’s one woman show Am I Irish Yet?

IT was a full house recently at London’s Irish Centre in Camden when Kate Kerrigan gave her onewoman performance show Am I Irish Yet? You could feel the swell of recognition and empathy as Kate – the nom de plume of novelist Morag Prunty – delivered her hilarious personal narrative of growing up in London with a London voice and accent, but “feeling” so strongly Irish.

Kate’s parents, like so many in times gone by, had migrated to Britain and she grew up formed by both British and Irish culture.

But when she returned to Ireland, first to work and later to live near Ballina – her mother’s home town in Co. Mayo – she sometimes found herself stigmatised with the “Plastic Paddy” label.

The “Plastic Paddy” is a somewhat derogatory expression alluding to “the cultural appropriation evidenced by unconvincing non-native Irishness”, according to the dictionary definition: in other words, those who fake being Irish for reasons either of sentimentality, or of fashion.

OUT AND ABOUT MANCHESTER

RADIO SHOW

96.9 ALL FM Wednesday, 7-9PM with MARTIN LOGAN

T: 0161 248 6767 | M: 07706 682622

E: outandaboutmanchesterradio@yahoo.co.uk

As Kate riffs during her show: “everyone loves being Irish now” – with associations from U2 to Ulysses. Yet, for those of genuine Irish heritage brought up in Britain, often they’re not accepted as being “real” Irish, and that can be hurtful.

Kate recounts her family and personal experiences with a light-hearted, comedic touch. She was born in Scotland, but grew up in north London, imbued with a sense of Irishness by her parents Tom and Moira Prunty. They would have been strong republicans and

observant Irish Catholics –Tom was actually a gifted head teacher of a London primary school which, as it happens, my eldest son attended as a young boy. “We were the educated Irish,” Kate emphasises, half in self-deprecation, but also in rebuttal of the disparaging stereotypes sometimes then invoked of the “thick Paddy”. (The Pruntys claimed, with some justification, kinship to the celebrated, literary Brontë family – and indeed Patrick Brontë was originally a Prunty from the Irish Midlands.)

Provo bombs in England didn’t, as Kate tells it, make life easier for the Irish community, though her dad – now dead – would have had historical sympathies with the “’Ra”. But then she found herself in close proximity when the Harrods bomb exploded just before Christmas 1983, and that was a kind of reality check.

She had trained as a hairdresser – working in posh

Knightsbridge – but she broke into magazine journalism when she was still a teenager and made her way through the world of the media. She also began writing romantic novels.

But there was always this quest to be Irish and in 1991 she was appointed as editor of the glossy Irish Tatler magazine in Dublin. However, she discovered that there could be many different class layers to Irishness, and the smart, even pretentious, Dublin media world wasn’t to her taste – even though she was successful at it. “Dublin isn’t Ireland” – no, and never has been!

Moreover, back in Ireland, she met with mockery with a “Plastic Paddy” theme – how could she be Irish if she spoke like a Londoner?

Although Kate carries off her narrative in an entertaining way, there’s a serious point at the heart of the story – we all want to establish our identity, and our roots. When she performs the

show, people tell her “this is my life story” and she feels she is “giving voice to so many people – about something that hasn’t always been voiced before.”

Perhaps, too, she has brought more understanding to Irish-British relations. When she has done the show in Ireland, individuals have confessed to her that, yes, they do “belittle the English, now that you’ve pointed it out”.

She has come to feel that, subconsciously, some people in Ireland may nurse a sense of guilt because so many Irish people emigrated to Britain back in the 1950s – nearly half a million over the decade – and the emigrants were often abandoned by those who stayed at home. (Indeed, it wasn’t until 1980 that the Irish state even acknowledged the welfare of Irish emigrants.)

Kate, now 59, is the author of ten successful novels – her Recipes for a Perfect Marriage was shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year – and her Ellis Island trilogy, focusing on emigration, was on the New York Times bestseller list for many weeks. But it was during lockdown that she conceived the idea of her one-woman performance (which will premier in Scotland at Glasgow’s Óran Mór on 29 April – and there will be more performances in England during the year.)

She’s been married to an Irishman for many years, has two Irish-born sons, and her home overlooks the beautiful Killala Bay in Co. Mayo. But she still asks herself “Am I Irish Yet?” and, in doing so, speaks to so many people who can wholly identify with that British-Irish duality.

IN FULL FLOW: Kate Kerrigan performs Am I Irish Yet?

Saluting a literary icon

Centenary of Nobel Prize award to WB Yeats marked in London by the Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation

THE centenary of poet and playwright William Butler Yeats winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 and World Poetry Day 2023 were both marked by The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation at the British Library.

Ambassador Martin Fraser officially got the evening underway. He said: “I thank the Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation and Shevaun [the producer] and her wonderful reader... We’re marking two important occasions, the first is the 100th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Prize for literature to William Butler Yeats, a quintessential Irish person, I would say, and, yet, an Anglo-Irish figure, a Protestant, a nationalist. A great writer in the English language, a man who lived and worked in Ireland, and in England, and someone whose work is treasured all over the world… a perfect person to celebrate on World Poetry Day which is about shared values, and things we all love, the values of peace, and respect, and tolerance that we treasure so much.”

The readers included Shevaun Wilder, the producer of the event; Gavin Drea the Dublin actor; Bob Geldof a self-confessed Yeats fanatic. Broadcaster and journalist Mariella Frostrup, who was brought up in Co. Wicklow, read Josephine Hart’s Introductions to the Life and Works of WB Yeats.

During the course of the evening Yeats’ contribution to English literature was teased out. In 1923, accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature, Yeats chose as his subject not poetry, but the Irish dramatic movement. ‘I would not be here were I not the symbol of that movement. When we thought of the plays we would like to perform we thought of what was romantic and poetical, for the nationalism we had called up – like that every generation had called up in moments of discouragement – was romantic and poetical.’

Lord Maurice Saatchi set up The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation to carry on the work of his late wife, the Mullingarborn novelist, publisher and poetry evangelist Josephine Hart.

The Artistic Director of the foundation is Shevan Wilder who began her career as an actress at the Abbey Theatre in her native Dublin, before reading English Literature at Cambridge University. She went on to produce and direct galas, classic and new plays at various theatres and festivals.

HONOURED: William Butler Yeats

Picture: George Charles Beresford (public domain)

Ambassador Martin Fraser, Mrs Deirdre Fraser and Deputy Ambassador Fiona Flood join the cast of readers: Gavin Drea, Shevaun Wilder (also the producer) and Bob Geldof

Mariella Frostrup

A multi-tasking genius

BELFAST-born Colin Harper has had a varied career. After university – he graduated from Queen’s University in modern history – he became a regular writer of liner notes for compilations of folk, acoustic and prog-rock artists. He appeared on several record labels including Windsong, Demon, Castle, Hux and Snapper.

Then another twist to his career. His long-time admiration of Scottish folk legend Bert Jansch led to his biography of the guitarist, Dazzling Stranger

So, no wonder when it came to getting a band together – a quarter of a century ago – dozens of musicians/ recording artists from Northern Ireland’s rock, blues, folk, punk, jazz and traditional music communities and guests

from further afield contributed to the project.

This latest anthology features 50 of these collaborators.

Of the 20 tracks, 18 are Harper compositions and the others are by 1960s British folk enigma Anne Briggs and 1970s Australian rock god Billy Thorpe. There are two 2023 remixes of 1997 tracks, one previously unreleased track and two new tracks: Better Weather, featuring rising Yorkshire folk sensation Katie Spencer (vocals) plus jazz stars Linley Hamilton (flugelhorn) and Scott Flanigan (piano); and All We Need is Love, featuring soulful Americana recording artist Janet Henry (vocals) in her first new collaboration with Colin in 15 years, plus Belfast guitar hero Norman Boyd (Stonefish/Protex) and, on BVs, Alison O’Donnell (Mellow Candle) and Joby Fox (Bankrobbers/Energy Orchard).

The anthology majors on the ‘classic rock’ aspect of the Legends’ canon and features 14 lead vocalists, including Dave McLarnon (Shock Treatment), Tíona McSherry (Tamalin), Mickey Rafferty (the Minnows), Rick Monro (Sweet Mary Jane), Alison O’Donnell (Mellow Candle), Ciaran Gribbin (INXS) and Lyndsay Crothers (Wookalily). The 32-page booklet includes Harper’s telling of the secret history of the ensemble and a ‘reunion photo session’

bringing together almost all of the featured vocalists along with Harper and his key collaborators over the past 25 years: Ali Mackenzie (bass), Cormac O’Kane (keys, production) and Mark Case (graphic design/promo videos).

Belfast-born Colin Harper is an established music historian – author of six books including acclaimed biographies of Bert Jansch and John McLaughlin and a history of uillean piping, and curator of increasingly colossal box sets for various labels on the likes of Ian Carr’s Nucleus, Pentangle, The Pretty Things, Horslips and Lindisfarne.

The Wheels of The World: 300 Years of Irish Uilleann Pipers (Jawbone Press, 2015) is a 250,000-word history of the Irish pipes told through detailed chapters on some of its greatest player, going back to the early 1700s. It was written in collaboration with international recording artist/piper John McSherry.

In the 1990s, Colin was a full-time writer for Q, Mojo, The Independent, The Irish Times and others, and chronicler of the vibrant Northern Irish live scene for The Irish News Discreetly, he began a parallel path as a recording artist and songwriter.

In 1997, the first Legends album –featuring 33 musicians – was ‘released’ in a run of 200 cassettes. Most further works were similarly low-run affairs – but demand for Sunset Cavaliers (2016) and Titanium Flag: Expanded Edition (2017) (both released nationally under his own name but effectively Legends projects) convinced him there was no longer anything to be coy about.

“It started as just scratching a creative itch,’ says Harper, ‘and it became a festival of friends over the next 25 years, appearing and disappearing like the Cheshire Cat. It spans generations – Mia O’Donnell (21) to Alison O’Donnell (69, no relation) on this album – and it ignores status. I’ve had the likes of Jan Akkerman, Chris Spedding, Martin Hayes and Duffy Power on previous releases – but I’m just as honoured to work with unsung heroes and rising stars. There’s a line in Be the One (1997): ‘I met my heroes then / I made them all my friends’ – and by and large I did. These days, we huddle together for warmth – creating music ‘because it’s there’. Too late to stop now!”

The Weather at World’s End: 1997–2022 is an anthology of twenty songs from 25 years of Colin Harper’s ‘studio band’ the Legends of Tomorrow. MAL ROGERS casts his eye over the project

Colin Harper with Bert Jansch in 2006

Left to Right – Dave McLarnon (Shock Treatment), Norman Boyd (Protex), Janet Henry (solo artist), Louise Potter (Wookalily), Colin Harper (Legend-in-chief)

Warwick echoes to traditional sounds

THE annual Comhaltas in Britain convention took place recently in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The event featured a youth workshop with renowned artist Rebecca McCarthy-Kent, a visit from the Wexford All-Ireland Fleadh 2024 committee, awards and medals for stalwarts and youth of Comhaltas in Britain, and a lively seisún. A highlight of the evening saw members and youth that have dedicated their time as volunteers to Comhaltas in Britain awarded with medals to thank them for their service. Medals were awarded to Jarlath Mulhern and Mick Nixon (Coventry), and Patrick Gallagher (Manchester) took home the title of Duine Óg na Bliana 2023, with five other young people from across Britain receiving certificates following nominations from their branches and regions.

Comhaltas in Britain were joined by members of the Wexford All-Ireland

2024 committee.

As part of convention, members discussed topics ranging from plans for the upcoming All-Britain Fleadh in Stirling, the availability of funding for education projects, and how to better members living with dementia, with a workshop organised by John Goulding (London Region).

Fleadh

Pictures by Chris Egan

The Committee and staff members of Comhaltas in Britain

Members of the Wexford All-Ireland Fleadh 2024 committee joined Comhaltas in Britain Cathaoirleach Theresa Gallagher for a photograph

Winner of the Duine Óg na Bliana 2023 award, Patrick Gallagher (centre)

Youth from across Britain gathered to showcase what they had learned in their workshop with Rebecca McCarthy-Kent

A lively session

John Lydon’s wife dies

JOHN LYDON’S wife has died after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

The former Sex Pistols frontman, who went by the stage name Johnny Rotten, had become Nora’s full time carer in recent years, colleagues at his Public Image Ltd (PIL) firm confirmed via social media last week.

In a statement made on Twitter, they said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster –John Lydon’s wife of nearly five decades – has passed away.

“Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. In which time John had become her full time carer.”

They added: “Please respect John’s grief and allow him space.

“Rest in Peace Nora. Heart felt condolences to John from Rambo and all at PiL Official.”

Nora Forster was 80.

Lydon, 67, a punk icon who found fame with the Sex Pistols in the 1970s, was born in London to working class Irish immigrants Eileen Mary (née Barry) from Carrigrohane in Co. Cork, and John Christopher Lydon (died 2008).

In his autobiography,

Rotten – No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, Lydon wrote of being from an Irish background in

London in the 1960s: “Londoners had no choice but to accept the Irish because

CROSSWORD

No.

there were so many of us....“

They lived in the Holloway Road area of north London. In February he and his current Public Image Ltd band lost out in their bid to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

The band’s song Hawaii – a love letter to wife, Nora –finished fourth out of the six acts that performed on a special Eurosong 2023 edition of The late Late Show

Four-piece Dublin band Wild Youth won the right to represent Ireland in Liverpool in May with their song, We Are One. Speaking to Late Late host Ryan Tubridy ahead of the band’s performance on the night, Lydon explained the sentiments behind the song for his wife.

“She unfortunately got Alzheimer’s and so this song –from an idea from the fabulous Lu [Edmonds, guitarist] here –we pieced to together to try and tell the story as genuinely and real as we possibly could, without breaking down in tears,” said Lydon. “It’s going to be a difficult one for me tonight.”

Fiona Audley

Clues Across

1. An explosive sound from Dad. (3)

3. Time of the year when journalists fill the papers with ‘human interest’ stories. (5,6)

8 & 6d. This tree makes a country dapper, it seems. (6,6)

9. One may experience a ban round this town in Donegal. (8)

10. Has a glance. (5)

11. How Da cut up the old coin. (5)

13. Bird you would expect to cower. (5)

15. Health-related. (7)

16. Such correspondence is stamped ‘Par Avion’. (7)

20. Slightly inebriated. (5)

21. Tests. (5)

23 & 24. Monastery where the moment-rule lay in tatters. (5,8)

25. Scoreless result. (3,3)

26. Electoral justification cited by a double-jobbing politician. (4,7)

27. English river that is vexed at heart. (3)

Sudoku requires no calculation or arithmetic skills. It is a game of placing numbers in squares using very simple rules of logic and deduction. It can be played by children and adults. Simply fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. However each number can appear only once on each row, column and 3x3 box. Answer next week.

Graham Norton to host new Irish-based comedy series

PRIME Video has announced that it will launch its first Irish Original series, LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland, which will be hosted by Graham Norton.

The series will be filmed entirely in Ireland and will be available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide in 2024.

Norton will oversee 10 of Ireland’s most sought-after comedy stars, brought together to make each other laugh “by using every comedic tool in the box … without cracking a smile themselves” according to Amazon.

As the clock counts down and the tension rises, whoever can outlast their competitors will be crowned the first winner of LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland.

Graham Norton said: “I’m thrilled to be the host . . . and to be working on home ground for the first time in many, many years. I’m so proud of our comedy culture and it’s wonderful to have a platform to showcase Irish talent to a global audience. I can’t wait to see what our comedy masterminds do to get the laughter going.”

“Graham Norton and Last One Laughing is a match made in heaven,” said Dan Grabiner, head of Originals for UK & Northern Europe, Amazon Studios. “Ireland is home to world-class comedy and a booming television scene; we can’t wait to celebrate and be part of that with our first Irish Original production.”

Graham Norton was born in Dublin, and brought up in Bandon Co. Cork.

Grainne Conroy

Clues Down

1. Second last. (11)

2. Exonerated. (8)

3. Shows impatience with the photographs. (5)

4. Uninhibited use of Braille. (7)

5. Terminated. (5)

6. See 8 across.

7. Member of a religious order. (3)

12. Might a tall gate lie over this type of pasta dish? (11)

13. Two pints. (5)

14. It is not the clergy who come from Italy. (5)

17. Precise. (8)

18. Sprinkled. (7)

19. Aid Hal in finding a flower. (6)

22. Water vapour. (5)

23. How might I name an American state? (5)

24. Wet soil. (3)

No.

The former Sex Pistols singer, aka Johnny Rotten, had become a full-time carer to Nora, his wife of 44 years

HAPPIER TIMES: John Lydon and his wife Nora Forster at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2011 in London Picture: Getty Images

Graham Norton Picture: Getty Images

Tending livestock in bygone days

THE work of charmers in Ireland was sometime used in the care of animals in Ireland in former. Charmers used elements of magic, superstition and sometimes religion, to effect a cure. If an animal were suffering a bleed, for example after dehorning, a farmer would call on a person with a charm for bleeding to assist. Depending on the person with the charm, some could work at distance and be contacted by telephone or telegram with a description of the animal, the breed, the colour and location.

In Co. Tyrone it is reported that many times a vet was called too and could arrive to find the bleeding had already been stopped.

In Co. Donegal there was a condition found in lambs grazing the summer meadows, in which their ears would crumple and redden in the sunlight. Their sore ears would eventually swell and shrink like a cat’s and so this condition was termed- the disease of the cat. This problem was seen when the lambs were grazing in the summer meadows and had eaten the yellow flowers of St John’s Wart: this would make their skin sensitive to the sun. Treatment, back then, involved making small incisions along the swollen ears to help reduce the swelling. This was in the days before

Some of the early interventions were quite frankly bizarre. One in particular, was the feeding of a live eel to a beast with a suspected intestinal obstruction in the hope that the squirming and wriggling creature would relieve the blockage

farmers discovered keeping the affected animals out of the sun was even more effective.

passed by the first person that noticed the animal unwell. This person was not to tell others of this. There were many household remedies used around Ireland also. When it comes to a beast suffering a bleed form a horn, where there was

no

vet or charm, it was common practice for a farmer to gather a handful of cobwebs from the rooves of farm buildings and apply these over the horn to help stop the bleed.

AUSTIN DONNELLY, vet and author, is passionate about animals and nature. He has a particular fondness for the stories and characters, both human and animal, that he encounters in his work. Here he shares with us a series on old Irish animal cures particular, was the feeding

considered a remedy

Strong, cooled black tea had a range of purposes as this was fed to calves with diarrhoea and was also considered a remedy for red water.

animals to treat ringworm or itchy mange mite infestations. Thanks to the arrival of penicillin antibiotics, vaccinations and parasiticidal drugs from the 1960’s onwards many of these old treatments were no longer needed and have been consigned to history.

the squirming and wriggling crea-

Some of the early interventions were quite frankly bizarre. One in particular, was the feeding of a live eel to a beast with a suspected intestinal obstruction in the hope that the squirming and wriggling creature would relieve the blockage.

The blood of eels was also used to treat warts in animals and in humans and as part of that ritual the eel’s head was buried afterwards. There was a cure reportedly used in the west to rid an animal of red water. This involved sticking a pin in the ground as near as possible to the place where the red water was

Other treatments for red water included giving the cattle drenches with treacle or the feeding of a bucket of milk in which a red-hot poker had been placed and allowed to cool. A calf suffering with an upset stomach was given bread soda and similarly weaker calves were fed tonics of brown sugar and eggs.

bucket of milk in which a red-hot poker had allowed to cool. A calf with stomach was given colic were offered forge water to drink. Mixtures of blue stone and tar were applied to cases of foot rot.

Adult cattle and horses suffering from gripe or colic were offered forge water to drink. Mixtures of blue stone and tar were wrapped as a poultice and applied to cases of foot rot. Linseed oil was fed to cure coughing in calves. Wood ash and wood oil were once used to kill lice on the coats of cattle whilst burnt engine oil was applied to

A gentleman in Co. Antrim wrote to me about a very unique term he had heard for a female calf. He suspected this term would not be heard on the farms 10 miles from his farm. The term was ‘quy’ as in, “Did the cow have a bull or quy calf?’ I have since found fellow vets on the Inishowen peninsula of Donegal who hear this term regularly. The word comes from the Scots and it can also be spelt quay or qey.

As for the term ‘laired’ for a tractor bogged down in a wet field... I think this might be truly unique to Co. Antrim.

Thanks to all the farmers and vets who contributed to this article. Please always consult your vet for animal treatment.

 Austin Donnelly is the author of a memoir on his international work as a veterinarian, Whiskers, Feathers & Fur: Veterinary Tales All details of how to get a copy are available here (https://austin donnellywrites.wordpress.com/ whiskers-feathers-and-fur-veterinary-tales/ on Austin’s blog.

PAST TIMES: A farmer in Monaghan

TRAVEL

Edited by Mal Rogers

A majestic bolthole in Enniskerry

lounge acted as a very decent substitute.

Spa/Leisure

very few people here, so it almost felt that the areas were yours. Two words? Loved it.

Things To Do/See

First Impressions

Inevitably, for a 5-star destination that resides on about 1,000 acres and is surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains (the pointy Sugarloaf can be seen looking at you from various viewpoints in the hotel), this place is as swanky and luxurious as you can imagine. The entrance is through a gate just about wide enough for a car (no coaches here!) and as you drive down to the hotel car parking area, you can’t but be impressed by the lush landscaped green areas. Immediately after you enter via the revolving doors you arrive at a smart check-in area that opens onto a broad swathe of a lobby that promptly seduces you for the duration of your stay. Pop out into the hotel’s garden area, swoon at the Palladian-style architecture, and play a game of chess with humansize pieces.

Rooms

There are almost 200 rooms, and to say that even the smallest is generously proportioned is an understatement. We had booked a classic deluxe king room but as we checked in we received an upgrade to a classic king suite. Aside from the obvious extra level of ridiculous luxury that an upgrade gives you, we like it when any hotel does this. The upgrade may have been caused by our mid-week booking – weekends tend to be much busier – but it’s a no-brainer marketing strategy, it quickly generates goodwill from the

customer, it enhances the value-formoney aesthetic, and it makes you think positively about re-booking. The room? Divine, darling, simply divine.

Food/Drink

The lounge/bar area is an airy, bright space for an afternoon cocktail or glass of wine. Breakfast is in the gorgeous Sika Restaurant, the hotel’s premier dining spot with great views of the mountains. We decided,

however, to book dinner on one of our two nights in the hotel’s newly-opened Sally Gap Restaurant. The difference in prices between this lovely spot and Sika is significant, however, for those on a less-than-spendthrift budget. For the second night, we booked dinner in nearby Johnny Fox’s Pub, which is something of an institution (and a must-visit if you’re not familiar with it). At the time of staying at Powerscourt, its on-site pub, McGill’s, was being completely refurbished, so the

I’m lucky to say that through the years I have been to more than several 5-star (and some superb 4-star) hotels in Ireland, and the spa/ leisure areas in Powerscourt are the best I’ve experienced. I booked a massage (for a troublesome tendon issue) and walked away feeling lighter than a proverbial feather; I stepped into the pool/spa experience areas and drifted between the gently rippling jacuzzi, the sweat-inducing sauna and the (literally) breathtaking steam room. Again, because it was mid-week there were

Very decent options for activities include the stunning on-site golf course (of which I didn’t partake – I can barely hit the air with my fist, let alone a golf ball with a piece of metal), the splendid Powerscourt House and Gardens, the nearby Powerscourt Waterfall and river walk, and cycling. The best bet for whiling away an hour or two indoors if the weather is cold and/or wet? Take a tour and/or tasting experience of Powerscourt Distillery (which recently nabbed a Best Visitor Attraction award) and learn all about how their Fercullen malt and pot still whiskeys are made. What’s that smell and who is it for? It’s nectar and it’s for the Gods!

Overall

Look, the only thing you have to be concerned about is your bank balance. I can speak only for myself, of course, but Powerscourt Hotel isn’t the type of place that I could afford to stay in on a regular basis. And yet you pay your money and you take your choice, don’t you, so if you want to cut corners here and there then booking a room (even for mid-week, when the prices aren’t as gasp-inducing) isn’t outside the realms of possibility. And why ever not? This posh gaff is something of a stunner. Treat yourself. Spoil yourself. Bring a friend.

 Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. www.powerscourthotel.com

TONY CLAYTON-LEA checks in, and checks out, one of Ireland’s top hotels – Powerscourt in Co. Wicklow

HOTEL HEAVEN: A view from the gardens

FRONT OF HOUSE: Powerscourt’s main lobby

A long way from Tipperary

James McManus from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary is attempting to conquer one of the most dangerous peaks in the world – Dhaulagiri, in the Himalayas. NICK BRAMHILL reports

AN elite climber from Tipperary has set off on a gruelling expedition to become the first person from Ireland to reach the summit of Dhaulagiri, a Himalayan peak widely regarded as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world.

Extreme mountaineer James McManus arrived in Nepal at the beginning of April ahead of the two-month challenge to conquer the treacherous peak.

Despite falling nearly 700m short of Mt Everest, avalanche-prone Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh highest mountain at 8,167m, has a far higher fatality rate than the planet’s tallest peak.

The deadly ascent of the remote, windswept mountain has claimed at least 70 lives out of hundreds of attempts, with a fatality-to-summit rate of over 16 per cent – which means that for every six people that reached the top, one perished.

seasoned climber McManus, from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, has

described the gruelling challenge to become the first-ever Irish person to scale the soaring peak as his most difficult yet.

adventurer will attempt the history-making climb without using supplementary oxygen, just as he did a year ago when bad weather thwarted his final push to the top of Everest.

[Dhaulagiri] is so remote that even getting to base camp is difficult.  Like any peak that’s over 8,000 metres, it demands complete respect

Accompanied by a Sherpa, McManus – who runs Dublin-based adventure company Earth’s Edge –will spend the next few weeks acclimatising to conditions ahead of making a push for the summit as early as the first week of May. He said: “Everest was disappointing last year. We were a day away from making it to the top, but had to call it off due to the weather. But I learned a lot from that expe-

tain is so remote that even getting to base camp is difficult. Like any peak that’s over 8,000 metres, it demands complete respect. It’s certainly a huge challenge, and will certainly be one of the hardest things I’ve ever undertaken, not least because I’ll be doing this without supplementary oxygen, which will test my mind and body to the absolute

First successfully climbed in May

1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepalese team, many more have since paid the ultimate price on the unforgiving peak, which experiences regular windfalls and winds of over 60mph.

The isolated mountain, in western Nepal, is also unique amongst the towering Himalayan peaks for its relentlessly steep incline, stretching from lower terrain right up to the summit.

McManus also said he’ll be using the expedition to raise publicity for the Sherpa mountain guides and other low-paid workers in the Nepalese tourism industry, who he feels are exploited.

He added: “I know this is going to

be extremely challenging, and the risk of an avalanche, which Dhaulagiri is very prone to, is probably the biggest danger we face.”

Earth’s Edge

Earth’s Edge offers high altitude trekking, mountaineering, and tri-adventure expeditions across the globe. These include trekking to the Everest base camp, the Annapurna base camp, and climbing Kilimanjaro. earths-edge.com

INTREPID: James McManus on Mount Everest, above; Left – James in training with his father George, Tipperary 2023

James McManus guiding on Aconcagua South America’s highest mountain

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Fifth Anniversary of John Joseph Regan

Fifteenth Anniversary

In Loving Memory of

Patrick (Packie) McGettigan)

Of Yate, Bristol and formerly of Lettermacaward, Co. Donegal, who passed away on 12 April 2008 RIP

Deep in our hearts your memory is kept, to love, to cherish and never forget.

Of Birmingham, and formerly of Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.Who passed away on 7th April, 2018. May the Winds of Love Blow Gently, Whispering for You to Hear, How Much We Love and Miss You, As it Claims this Fifth Year.

All Our Love – Margaret, Anna & Martha, John, Niamh, Finn, Owen & Iris

2nd Anniversary MARY LYNCH

In loving memory of We miss you each and every day, Your loving smile and gentle heart, We lost a mother with a heart of gold, How much we miss you can never be told. God bless you, mum you were the best. Always loved and remembered by your loving sons Jimmy, John and Michael; daughters Margaret, Marie and Joan; sons- and daughters-in-law Andrew, Tony, John, Geraldine and Sue; grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Of Great Barr, Birmingham and formerly of Glenagore, Athea, Co Limerick — Died on 6th April, 2021

Loved and missed always Dad, by your Children, Christopher,  Fiona & Kieron, Daughter’s in Law, Claire and Claire; Grandchildren, Hannah, Declan, Shea, Sonny, Reuben, Polly, Margaret and Patrick xx

Until we meet again, Rest in Peace x Also remembering your beloved Father, Patrick McGettigan Snr who passed away on 8 April 2006, RIP

They say there is no reason, They say that time will heal, But neither time nor reason, Will cahnge the way we feel. For no one knows the heartache, That lies behind our smiles,

No one knows how many times, We’ve broken down and cried. We want to tell you something, So there won’t be any doubt, You’re so wonderful to think of, But so hard to do without.

Second Anniversary MICHAEL HIPKISS

In fond memory of Michael ‘Mick’ Hipkiss from Co. Cork, who died on April 16th, 2021 – just six months a er his wife of 63 years, Eileen Hipkiss.

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He is much missed by all of his family and numerous friends.

Michael was the lead vocalist with popular folk group Drowsy Maggie, and a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for many years. He was also the winner of many awards, including the All-Ireland ballad singing championships of 1966 and 1974.

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Ireland show fight in historic return to Test cricket

Ireland cricket team makes progress despite seven-wicket defeat to Bangladesh – one of the powers in world cricket

BY MALHAR HATHI

IRELAND’S long-awaited return to Test cricket after a four-year hiatus ended with a seven-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Dhaka last week.

While the result was not entirely surprising, that Ireland managed to set a three-figure total for the hosts to chase in the fourth innings seemed improbable after staring at the prospect of an innings defeat on Day 3.

Reduced to 13-4 in the second innings trailing by 142 runs, Ireland were running the risk of being bowled out cheaply had it not been for debutant Harry Tector’s half-century, followed by fellow debutant Lorcan Tucker’s come-from-behind 108 off 162 balls, only the second-ever Test hundred by an Irishman, and Andy McBrine’s rearguard 72.

With lack of first-class domestic cricket in place and as many as seven new caps handed prior to the Test, Ireland were relatively thin on experience in the format

as compared to Bangladesh, whose players had a combined tally of 442 Test appearances.

Other debutants for Ireland included Munster Reds captain and former Zimbabwe wicketkeeperbatter Peter Moor, who coincidentally played the last of his previous eight Tests at the same venue, and Northern Knights leg-spinner Ben White.

Despite the odds stacked against them, Ireland did enjoy their moments in the sun.

Having opted to bat, the visitors were bowled out on the first day for 214 with Tector top-scoring with 50 and becoming the first Irish batter to score a half-century in his maiden Test innings.

In response, Bangladesh rode on Mushfiqur Rahim’s 10th Test century – 126 off 166 balls –and captain Shakib Al Hasan’s 87 to post 369 and gain a commanding lead of 155.

Donemana off-spinner

Andy McBrine picked up six wickets for 118 to register

We all just enjoyed playing Test cricket again – the ebbs and flows of the game

the best figures by an Ireland bowler in the format eclipsing Tim Murtagh’s 5-13 on the first morning at Lord’s in 2019.

McIlroy fades away as Rahm wins Masters

BY MALHAR HATHI

PRE-TOURNAMENT favourite

Rory McIlroy’s wait for his first Masters win and a fifth major title continues to elude him after failing to make the cut at Augusta last week.

Meanwhile, Jon Rahm staved off competition from Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson to card a three-under 69 in the final

round and finish on 12-under to claim the coveted Green Jacket.

The win also saw the Spaniard return to the world number one ranking.

With thunderstorms interrupting the play, the fourth day also accommodated the third round with Koepka leading on 12-under. But wayward drives meant that the American player, now associated with the

Any hopes of staging a comeback seemed remote after the visitors lost four wickets within seven overs but Tector, Tucker and McBrine batted proactively, sweeping and using their feet effectively against the spinners. The batters resisted and strung along partnerships with Tucker and McBrine sharing a 111-run stand before being bowled out for 292.

Set 138 to win, a modest

Saudi-backed LIV, lost his top spot to Rahm and spent the final round playing catch-up to eventually finish on eight-under.

With as many as three PGA Tour wins this year, Rahm posted scores of 69, 73 and 69 after registering an opening round of 65 to deliver on his good form.

McIlroy, 33, was culpable for his own loss. The Northern Irishman opened the second round with four bogeys in his first seven holes as two birdies on par-five 13th and 15th did little to offset three further bogeys on 11th, 16th and 18th hole to sign a card of 77. His overall score of +5, two shots over the cut, spelt his premature exit. McIlroy’s refusal to talk to

total on a pitch that had eased out for batting, Rahim struck an unbeaten 51 to complete the chase for the hosts shortly after lunch on the fourth day.

“We all just enjoyed playing Test cricket again – the ebbs and flows of the game,” said Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie.

“One minute you’re up, one minute you’re down and you have to show a lot of fight, which we did. But in the end we didn’t show enough and

reporters was a glimpse of his disappointment.

In the lead up to the tournament, McIlroy was also backed by Tiger Woods, who made the cut but was forced to withdraw from the final day due to his recurring foot injury, to “definitely” win the Masters and complete his career Grand Slam at some point in his career.

Shane Lowry, who was the only other Irishman alongside Seamus Power to make the cut, finished joint-16th with an overall two-under-par, and backed McIlroy to recover from his latest failure.

“To be honest I felt like he was going to have a good week,” Lowry said after his third round.

unfortunately were on the wrong side.”

“It’s a learning curve for us, understanding that when you win the toss and bat in these conditions, you have to score more runs and bat much longer periods of time, as we did in the second innings,” he said.

Ireland are still in pursuit of their first Test win and will take on Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in Galle starting April 16.

“I spent a lot of time with him over the last couple of weeks but that’s golf. A lot of times you don’t get what you deserve. It’s obviously been very tough for him. I’ll catch up with him next week. I’m sure he’ll get over it.”

Lowry took home $234,000 (€215,180), and Power, despite a tied-46th finish, bagged $54,000 (€49,504).

The tournament also saw the Scottish 65-year-old two-time major winner Sandy Lyle bring the curtain down on a career that saw him compete in 42 Masters and win the 1988 edition.

Lowry and McIlroy are currently in action at the RBC Heritage event in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

‘LEARNING CURVE’: Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine during the Ireland v Bangladesh match Picture: Courtesy of Bangladesh Cricket Board

GAA SPORT

Connacht Senior Football Championship, Quarter-final

SLIGO 2-20  (26) LONDON      0-12  (12)

BY ANTHONY MCLAUGHLIN

LONDON’S wait for a victory in 2023 will continue into May after Sligo knocked Michael Maher’s side out of this year’s Connacht Football Championship.

Having already lost to Sligo in the Allianz National Football League back in February, last Saturday’s fourteen-point defeat to the Yeats County means London will head back into the revamped Tailteann Cup that will see four groups of four teams battle it out for the knock-out stages (the top

two from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals).

Yet on what is traditionally the biggest day of the GAA calendar this side of the Irish Sea, it was Sligo who left McGovern Park the happier as they completed a memorable week that also saw them lift the National League Division Four title six days prior. Tony McEntee’s side will now take on New York – who dramatically defeated Leitrim on penalties in the Bronx last weekend for their first ever Connacht Championship victory – for a place in the Connacht Final and qualification into the business end of the All-Ireland, avoiding the Tailteann Cup altogether.

For London, after a winless National League campaign,

Sunday’s reversal saw them eight points behind by half-time before goals from Sean Carrabine and Pat Spillane stretched the visitor’s advantage. Early scores from Chris Farley (free) and Conal Gallagher kept London in touch within the opening phases of the match but once Sligo found their stride they pulled away with points from Cian Lally, Spillane and Niall Murphy. London tested Sligo goalkeeper Daniel Lyons but could only manage two more scores before the interval from Aidan McLoughlin and Farley (free).

Two more Murphy scores (one free) resumed Sligo’s upward momentum before a hammer blow to London finished by half-forward Carrabine to the net,

leaving London eleven points adrift with some twenty minutes remaining on the clock. Three scores in succession from Enda Lynn, Chris Duggan and Farley (free) tried to galvanise a response for London but any chance of making inroads on the score were extinguished by Spillane, Sligo’s second goal capping their victory and sending them through to the semi-finals.

In the end, a pretty comprehensive victory for Sligo at McGovern Park and a seventh successive defeat in all competitions for London. The new format of the Tailteann Cup does mean that London are ensured at least one more home match at McGovern Park but for now Maher’s men will have to wait and see how the Provincial Championships play out before they know their three opponents in the group stages of the Tailteann Cup.

Teams:  SLIGO: D Lyons; N Mullen (0-1), E McGuinness, E Lyons; L Towey (0-1), B Cox, P McNamara (0-1); P Kilcoyne (0-1), C Lally (0-3); K Cawley, S Carrabine (1-1, 1f), F Cawley; P Spillane (1-4), P O’Connor (0-3), N Murphy (0-3, 1f).

Subs: A Reilly (0-1, 1f, for Murphy 47); M Gordon (for F Cawley 51); D Conlon (0-1, for O’Connor 56); G O’Kelly-Lynch (for K Cawley 63); D Phillips (for E Lyons 65).

LONDON: N Maher; E Flanagan, M Clarke, N McElwaine; E Walsh, C Gallagher (0-1), A McLoughlin (0-2); D Clarke, L Gavaghan (0-1); C Duggan (0-1), E Lynn (0-1), S Dornan; C Farley (0-6, 6f), J Gallagher, L Gallagher.

Subs: R Sloan (for McElwaine 35); R McCarthy (for Dornan 46); J Obahor (for Clarke 46); N O’Leary (for Flanagan 57); R Tohill (for Farley 65).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)

Tailteann Cup awaits for winless London LONDON AND WARKS MAKE ALL-IRELAND IMPRESSION

All-Britain Junior Football Championship, Group A

LONDON     2-12  (18)

SCOTLAND     1-04  (7)

WARWICKSHIRE  2-12  (18)

LANCASHIRE       0-07  (7)

BY ANTHONY MCLAUGHLIN AT

PÁIRC NA HÉIREANN

DEFENDING champions London will resume their rivalry with Warwickshire in just over a week’s time as the All-Britain Junior Football Championship ramps up over the next few weeks.

Last year’s two finalists will meet once again in Watford on Saturday 22nd April (throw-in set for 2pm in a double-header of football at Radlett Road as Hertfordshire take on Gloucestershire on the same pitch later that afternoon at 4pm) off the back of opening day victories in Group A. For Stephen Lynch’s London Juniors, after a fairly even opening half at McGovern Park last Saturday they pressed ahead with an early second-half goal from Tighe Barry to lead by six before scores from Conor Spinks and Shay Rafter, the former rounding things off just before full-time with London’s second goal from play.

The following day in Birmingham saw Warwickshire host Lancashire at Páirc na hÉireann, with a similar story to the one that played out in Ruislip as the home side took control of matters in the second-half to score 2-12 with Lancashire reduced to fourteen with the dismissal of Caoimhin O’Donnell-Quinn on forty minutes.

Playing against a strong breeze in the firsthalf, the home team took the game to their opponents with 1-02 in quick succession rubberstamped by Conal Dowling’s opening

goal from ten metres out after some neat approach play released the Sean McDermott’s full-forward on the right to strike home beyond Wolfe Tones’ goalkeeper Jack McGovern. Lancashire were struggling to find their shooting range early on but they soon settled to the task with Kiefer Morgan’s free followed up by two Callum Gribben scores – the latter narrowly rising above James Connolly’s crossbar as the St. Brendan’s half-back raced through the middle of the Warwickshire defence.

A neat give and go between Joel Powney and Conal Dowling nearly produced a second Warwickshire goal, the former pulling his shot narrowly wide of the far post. Yet Lancashire would draw themselves level with an O’Donnell-Quinn score from a mark and a

second Morgan free, Powney restoring a slender Warwickshire advantage with his second free conversion just before the interval. The second-half was a different contest, Warwickshire making hay off frees and the boot of Powney to forge a useful lead while O’Donnell-Quinn picked up two yellows in quick succession. Six frees in a row from Powney took the game away from Lancashire before a fine score by Jack Keogh and a closerange goal finished by Michael McGettrick sealed the points, Mikey McAleer rounding off the scoring off the bench.

For Lancashire, who were missing a number of key players that didn’t make the trip to Birmingham, attentions now turn to this Sunday’s clash with Scotland on neutral territory in York (throw-in set for 1pm). With

three out of four teams qualifying for the semi-finals from Group A, this could well be a must-win encounter for both sides to foster any ambitions of making the business end of this year’s All-Britain. This Sunday also sees Group B get underway with Gloucestershire hosting Yorkshire in Bristol at 2pm, in a threeteam group that contains Hertfordshire only the top placed county will qualify as the fourth semi-finalist.

Meanwhile, Championship attentions turn to the hurlers this weekend as the Christy Ring and Lory Meagher Cups get underway. It’s yet another clash with Sligo for London this Sunday, Kevin McMullan’s team travel to Markievicz Park to take on the team they edged in a National League relegation play-off in March. Meanwhile Lancashire will play their home Meagher Cup matches in Birmingham, starting on Saturday at 4pm against Longford before Warwickshire host Cavan the following afternoon also at Páirc na hÉireann.

Warwickshire v Lancashire, Teams and Scorers:

WARWICKSHIRE: J Connolly; C Maguire, D O’Brien, J Chapman; L Gilbride, M Mannion, S Doyle; N Gilbride, S Dirrane; J Ferron, J Keogh (0-2), M McGettrick (1-0); L Towey, C Dowling (1-0), J Powney (0-9, 9f).

Subs: M McAleer (0-1, for Towey 47); P Kilkenny (for L Gilbride 54); R Smith (for Dowling 56); B Rushe (for Dirrane 58); N McGovern (for Maguire 58).

LANCASHIRE: J McGovern; P Fox, N Murray, B McGilligan; S McColgan, C Gribben (0-2), O McGee; K Jackson, J Flanagan (0-1); S Cadden, K Morgan (0-3, 3f), J Dobbin; A McCarthy, C Ryan, C O’Donnell-Quinn (0-1). Subs: S Neil (for McColgan 45); J Riordan (For Cadden 56).  Referee: F Dillon (Hertfordshire)

Niall Gilbride comes under pressure from Lancashire

SPIRITED TEST RETURN FOR IRELAND’S CRICKETERS

Leicester sack Brendan Rodgers

BY CONOR O’DONOGHUE

STRUGGLING Premier League side

Leicester City sacked manager Brendan Rodgers after four years in charge.

Co. Antrim man Rodgers, 50, led the club to their first FA Cup success in the 2020/21 season and achieved two consecutive fifthplace finishes.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager also guided the Foxes to a Europa Conference League semi-final last season.

However, Rodgers departed the King Power Stadium with Leicester in the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

In a club statement, chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said Rodgers had secured his place in Leicester City history but added that he had failed to build upon his previous success.

“His place in Leicester City history is assured,” said Srivaddhanaprabha.

“However, performances and results during the current season have been below our shared expectations. It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management.

“Regrettably, the desired improvement has not been forthcoming and, with 10 games of the season remaining, the Board is compelled to take alternative action to protect our Premier League status.”

Rodgers, who also managed Watford, Reading and Swansea, took charge of Leicester in March 2019 following Claude Puel’s sacking with the club 12th in the table.

After leading the Foxes to five wins in their remaining 10 games, the Carnlough native helped them to a ninth-place finish. He led Leicester to consecutive fifth-place finishes in the following two campaigns, the highest they have finished since their unlikely Premier League success in 2015/16.

After guiding the Foxes to FA Cup glory with a 1-0 win over Chelsea in 2020/21, Rodgers added the Community Shield at the start of the following season.

They also reached the last four of that season’s Europa Conference League, going out 2-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Roma.

However, an eighth-place finish in the league meant the Foxes missed out on securing a third consecutive season of European football.

Rodgers’ cause this season was not helped by the sale of defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea for a reported £70m late in the summer transfer window.

It allowed him little time to replace the key player, with the arrival of Wout Faes on transfer deadline day 24 hours later being the Foxes’ only significant signing of the window.

Leicester failed to win any of their opening seven league games, entering September’s international break rooted to the bottom of the table on one point.

Boxing clever in the Midlands

BY CHRIS EGAN

CANNOCK-BASED promoter Scott Murray is no stranger to boxing fans in the Midlands. The former amateur boxing heavyweight has been promoting and hosting “An Evening With. . .” shows, and Q& A sessions with the likes of Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury for the past 40 years.

More recently, Murray received his professional boxing promoter’s licence and established The Excelsior Sporting Club which is set to host professional boxing events regulated by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The inaugural Black Tie Dinner boxing show, held at Murray’s Premiere Suite club in Cannock saw popular Birmingham lightweight Niall Farrell make his professional boxing debut against the experienced Simas Volosinas.

Farrell whose family’s roots lie in Dublin, won the six-round bout in style to get his professional boxing career off to the best start.

Headlining the boxing show was former IBO super welterweight Sam Eggington, who made light work of Liverpool’s James McCarty, stopping him in the fourth round.

Sam Eggington boxes James McCarthy into a corner

Niall Farrell lands an uppercut on Simas Volosinas

The perfect start to his professional career for Nialll Farrell

WORDS AND PHOTOS