The Poetry Corner
The Irish Examiner USA
1040 Jackson Avenue, Third Floor
Long Island City
NY 11101
or, preferably, you can email it direct to
ronniemcginn@eircom.net.
If possible keep your poem to 20 lines. You may choose any subject you like, in any form you like as long as it's original. We look forward to hearing from you.
New England native, Bradley Strahan is a member of the Mallow Poetry Group, and I have a signed copy of his masterful book "This Art of Losing". His poetry is magnetic. Searching for words to give his writing a worthy description, on the back cover I found these comments from Susanna Roxman, author of "Broken Angels" and "Imagining Seals."
"Bradley Strahan is a poet whose work unites what you may term American energy - including a keen curiosity about the world-and a certain quiet European sensitivity. He has an unerring knack of describing townscapes, seashores, and other places so that you feel you have visited them yourself. He loves words and handles them with great awareness of their magic. And he possesses an artist's eye for the telling of detail as well as a profound understanding of the symbolic importance of color. In some ways the verbal equivalent of an Impressionist. Strahan always avoids the superficial, the obvious moral to draw. Instead, he hints at hidden depths of powerful emotions. His is a wise and at the same time passionate voice, one which you re not likely to forget."
In a room where all the corners shrink
into spreading shadows,
a child's toys lie
scattered on the tiles.
as a tired moon peers
through rain streaked panes
growing dimmer every hour.
On the last fretful edges of sleep
your fingers creep across the sheets
searching for a brightness
that filled your life
like sun on blue waters.
Outside your window
the first ripples of light
float in on children's laughter.
© Bradley R. Strahan]]>
"Hugh and Josie O'Hara did so much to keep the Irish tradition alive in their community - Smithwick's is proud to honor their legacy."
The award recognizes and celebrates outstanding Irish American individuals who have contributed to preserving and strengthening Irish heritage in their local community.
The O'Haras helped create a home for the Irish American community in Chicago for nearly 40 years by leading countless community organizations and being the founding visionaries of what is now the Irish American Heritage Center - one of the leading centers of Irish culture in the United States and where the 2013 IAHOF Awards Gala took place.
The Irish American Heritage Center provides people an Irish library, historical archives, a museum, art gallery, Irish dance and music academies, and genealogy research.
The late couple also shaped Chicago's Irish Community by providing strong leadership of the Shamrock American Club organizing dances, benefits, concerts and gatherings for local Irish Chicagoans.
Accepting the award on their behalf were their lifelong friends, Mary and Tom McNamara.
"As a brewery operating in Ireland for more than three centuries, Smithwick's is deeply rooted in Irish heritage," said Doug Campbell, Smithwick's Brand Director, DIAGEO.
"Hugh and Josie O'Hara did so much to keep the Irish tradition alive in their community - Smithwick's is proud to honor their legacy."
Founded in 2010, the IAHOF just celebrated its third induction class of nationally distinguished individuals who are recognized for influence in the areas of arts & humanities, business & industry, public service, sports, religion, education and science.
The 2013 Irish American Hall of Fame Inductees included:
For more information, visit www.iahof.org or call the Irish American Heritage Center at 773-282-7035.]]>
General Brendan Donovan (Donal Logue), Detective Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones), and Captain Sullivan (Ron White) © BBC AMERICA/Cineflix (Copper 2) Inc./Steve Wilkie
By Gwen Orel
"No Irish Need Apply."
The cartoons of Thomas Nast depicting the Irish as the missing link between ape and human.
There wasn't much of that ugliness in the last year's debut season of BBC America's "Copper." The Irish and Irish-American detectives were handsome, and there was authentic Irish music from Joanie Madden and John Whelan, all put together by Brian Keane, but the degree of anti-Irish bigotry in 1864, not even 20 years after the Famine, was profound.
We'll see more of the Irish experience this year, thanks in large part to Executive Producer Thomas Kelly, and to actor Kevin Ryan.
The Civil War-era drama set in the Five Points began its second season on Sunday, June 23. Once again, the show will center on detective Tom Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones), in the violent area of Five Points, NYC, during the Civil War era. Now it's 1865, and the war is on its last legs. Last season, Corcoran sought to find his missing wife Ellen (Alex Paxton-Beesley), while going after criminals, always accompanied by his pal, Detective Francis Maguire (Kevin Ryan). In the final episode of the series, we learned that Ellen was not dead, but in an asylum, and that she had betrayed him with Maguire.
We'll deal with the fall-out from those events this season, and also with a the political intrigues of Tammany Hall, with Ward Leader, General Brendan Donovan (Donal Logue). We'll also continue to see the African-American Dr. Matthew Freeman (Ato Essandoh), who is an excellent forensic scientist (think "Quincy Adams, M.D., Civil War era") and his wife Sara (Tess Thompson), and follow the life of Elizabeth Haverford (Anstasia Griffith), an English widow who was involved with Corcoran before letting him down. New this year will be Hattie Lemaster, a character played by award-winning actress Alfre Woodard (Steel Magnolias), playing Sara's mother, and Eamonn Walker as the abolitionist leader Frederick Douglas.
Kelly, who has written for "Blue Bloods," and whose 2005 novel "Empire Rising," about the construction of the Empire State Building, was not only a New York Times notable book but was also a finalist for the IMPAC Dublin literary award, brings some of his own and his family history to the show. His family hails from Cavan and Cork, he said.
Before he became a writer, Kelly worked in construction. He was a "sandhog," one of the guys that dig the tunnels, he said, part of a big Irish union.
"I came from a blue collar family, but I always loved to read," Kelly said. While he thought he might want to write a book one day, this was "nothing you could say out loud, because somebody would hit you."
AMERICAN DREAM
His father died when Kelly was only 20, and told him, "Don't be like me, get an education." He studied economics and received a master's in public administration, because, he said, "You didn't go to college but to get a better job." But after graduation, he began writing his book. He fell into television, he said, when a book that had been optioned by ABC had the screenwriter turn in an "abysmal" script.
"I decided to write my own version. I called a buddy who had a screenwriting program, and 48 hours later I turned in my script, and that's how I got into television," Kelly said.
You can see that enterprising spirit in the Irish characters on "Copper." Kelly said that when he watched the show last season, he thought that the show had a missed opportunity in portraying the Irish history. "I told Tom [Fontana], who's Sicilian, 'You missed the Irish side of things. I really wanted to tell thst story of being the other, immigrant, and Catholic, which was so reviled at the time. For the Irish, who'd escaped the horrors of the Famine, Five Points was a bastard creation of the potato famine. That was never alluded to in the first season. I said, 'Tom, I'm going to bring that flavor in.'"
Kevin Ryan, who plays Maguire, said, "During the Famine, it was advertised that America is a sweeter country, a better place, there's farming, land, culture, everything. I can see it today in the present times." That bit of hope was what brought him to America, he said. The Dubliner had been a breakdancer in Ireland, and voted one of Ireland's Sexiest Men, after working as a stonecutter in the family business.
"In the economic state of Ireland, there are a lot of people going through the school system that can't get jobs," Ryan said. "People have law degrees from Trinity College, and you see them working at 7-11. They go to the states.
"They are looking for a better life." In the time when "Copper" was set, the stakes were higher: "It was survival. There wasn't enough food to feed the family. You've got to get out of Ireland, or else you'd die."
Kelly said, "For me, it is a more global American story. This is 75 years after 'All men are created equal,' this great revolutionary idea, democracy, was still in its infancy as a human condition. By 1865, the practical limitations of this idea were literally being fought on the streets of New York City.
"Corcoran came as a boy. His whole thing is, he wants to be American. It's the beginning of the idea of the whole American dream. This year we overlaid the story of the Democratic party in Tammany, and how they made a deal with the Irish, 'If you vote for us on this day, we'll help you get jobs.'"
Co-creator and Executive Producer Tom Fontana stated in press notes that adding in a Boss Tweed-like character in General Brendan Donovan will "reveal a highly volatile faction of old New York City, Tammany Hall, and sink our characters into storylines including, counterfeiting, illegal Union Army recruitment, the 13th Amendment and its ratifications for 'freed' slaves, public health hazards and more."
IRISH HISTORY
It was important to ground the characters in their history, Kelly said. The decisions the characters make all have a correlation to their past.
In the first episode, Maguire is on death row for three murders. Ryan said he lost 26 pounds for the role, because in prison a person would be malnourished. "I wanted him very lean," Ryan said. The character has a "feral quality" to Ryan.
Kelly described a scene between Maguire and Detective Andrew O'Brien, a "narrowback," who was born here. Maguire, Kelly said, tried to leave during the famine but was turned away, and his sister died in his mother's arms. But Kelly wanted to show the other side too, the people over here who had to clean the "coffin ships."
O'Brien tells a story of how, when he was a boy, his father pointed to a clump of dead Irish people and said, "That's what the English did to our people."
Ryan said that he read a lot about the American Civil War, and visited tenement buildings, to become acquainted with the period, although, he said, "For me it's a present-day character because I'm in that role. You can never play a period or a time frame. You can only play your objective. Acting is bad acting. Living is great acting."
As the only actor from Ireland in the cast, Ryan said that he is "always" called upon as the resident expert in Irishness. One suggestion that he made was to have some of the Irish language in the script. "Myself and Donal Logue drop a few lines of Gaelic," Ryan said. "Initially it wasn't in the script, but we figured we'd communicate in Gaelic. We shot it both ways, and worked out that Gaelic at the end of the scene. It was kind of like the way Italians would communicate. It's just a wonderful moment. They have their own community."
In the time period, many of the Irish would have been native speakers, Kelly said.
Last season, he even got to do a little jig. This year we can look forward to Maguire singing a few older Irish songs.
But don't be fooled: Maguire is no pussycat. "I like that he has a nasty, bad-ass gangster side, and a very sweet heart," Ryan said. Maguire is someone you can root for, but "he is also a ruthless killer."
In that sense he's not unlike the late James Gandolfini, whose Tony Soprano was not a good person, but who had our sympathy, Ryan said.
CONNECTING TO HISTORY
Along with infusing the episodes with more Irish history, this season also departs from last season's police procedural structure. It's less about finding the clues to a murder, and more about the policemen taking steps to stop the criminals, Kelly said. There are longer story arcs that span several episodes, he said.
"Right now is the golden age of television," Kelly said. "There is a marketplace for scripted dramas." Some of them, like "The Borgias," "Game of Thrones," and even "Mad Men," take place in another place and time.
Five Points during the Civil War era is chaotic, close to uncivilized. What is the appeal? For one thing, Kelly said, we can make these dramas more convincing now, as computer graphics are better.
But more importantly, this is an uncertain time, he said. With the financial crisis, wars, terrorism, and the threat of change, Kelly said, "whenever that stuff is going on in the present, people look to connect in the past.
"It was horrible then, and things got better. It gives people some assurance there's a much bigger story.
"We made it this far."
"Copper" airs on BBC America on Sundays at 9 p.m. For more information, visit bbcamerica.com/copper
Gwen Orel runs the blog and podcast, New York Irish Arts
The stupidity of the Republicans is mind boggling if they actually believe that Hispanics will flock to the party if they pass immigration reform. The only Hispanics that are pushing for these reform measures are the undocumented or those who have family living here illegally. The rest of us want border security first and are already in the conservative base.
Sen. Marco Rubio may well be sincere about trying to reform our immigration laws but if he thinks Democrats are on the same track, he's--dare I say it--stupid. So is Sen. Lindsay Graham, a RINO, who's pushing the immigration bill, because it's "the only way to get back in the good graces with the Hispanic community." Oh, please, what nonsense. I am Hispanic and we Hispanic Americans only belong to the American community and vote for what's best for America and this immigration bill as presented by the Gang of 8 is very bad. Considering the fact that illegal immigrants have been storming our walls for decades why are we now acting like it is the most important legislation that must be passed now?
Apparently our fecundity makes us a powerful voting bloc and the Democrat base of white liberals has aborted its future and by appeasing the Hispanic community they will be able to pad their voting base. But the idea that legal Hispanic Americans or those born here want the amnesty of millions of illegals is insulting. The most important immigration issue for us is securing the border.
The stupidity of the Republicans is mind boggling if they actually believe that Hispanics will flock to the party if they pass immigration reform. The only Hispanics that are pushing for these reform measures are the undocumented or those who have family living here illegally. The rest of us want border security first and are already in the conservative base.
Marco Rubio is under the impression that bringing the illegals out of the shadows will make them taxpayers who will bring in enough revenue to fund increased border security. He obviously has not read of the latest Obama scandal involving the IRS that was reported in Cybercast News Service: The Internal Revenue Service sent 23,994 tax refunds worth a combined $46,378,040 to "unauthorized" alien workers who all used the same address in Atlanta, Ga., in 2011, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. How can this happen? Easy. One enterprising reporter discovered the scam involving illegal immigrants and the IRS. Jeffrey Lord of The Spectator ran this article on June 18th explaining how this scam works:
"The Internal Revenue Service says everyone who is employed in the United States--even those who are working here illegally--must report income and pay taxes. Of course, undocumented workers are not supposed to have a social security number. So for them to pay taxes, the IRS created what's called an ITIN, an individual taxpayer identification number. A 9-digit ITIN number issued by the IRS provides both resident and nonresident aliens with a unique identification number that allows them to file tax returns. While that may have seemed like a good idea, it's now backfiring in a big way. Each spring, at tax preparation offices all across the nation, many illegal immigrants are now eagerly filing tax returns to take advantage of a tax loophole, using their ITIN numbers to get huge refunds from the IRS."
IRS fraud has been rampant forever and could be eliminated with upgraded computer software yet no improvements have been made to this outdated system. If credit card companies can verify information immediately why can't the IRS tell the difference between SS and ITIN numbers?
A reader sent me this note about the issue:
"The immigration controversy reminds me of the story where the border patrol was alerted to look for a guy on a bike who was smuggling thru customs. After repeated stops & frisks of the bike rider, the patrol came up empty because he was taking stolen bikes thru the border & selling them! Similarly, the Senate is going over the minutia & general details of 'securing the border' when the problem is completely independent of that.....EARTH TO SENATE........They're nearly all Democrat voters!...The Democrats want this bill to make sure they have a perpetualized repeat of '12,where Somalian voters were being imported ..specifically into Ohio since '09, by Obama & placed mostly in Columbus................................They were placed on welfare and then, when '12 arrived, were bussed to the polls to 'vote their conscience'. You've heard reports that Democrats never left Ohio after 08--they maintained offices there continually. Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, came out with a video over last weekend, telling us that, in Sec 21 of the immigration bill is a provision that the process of welcoming & supervising the immigrants will be handled by NON-GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, UNACCOUNTABLE TO RULES OF IMPARTIALITY THAT GOVT WORKERS WOULD BE HELD TO.
Hello, Republicans. I have a bridge to sell you. How do you spell...TROJAN HORSE? OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE"
Signed
Al in Lemon Grove
Al is correct and should run for office. Lord knows he has more sense than the RINOs in the Senate. One can only hope that the House has enough tea party members who can put the kibosh to this awful bill.
Here's what no one wants to discuss and that is why border security is so important to our national security. Whenever I've read about the killings and mutilations that are occurring in Mexico by drug cartels, I can't help but notice that they bear a resemblance to the Al Qaeda beheadings of the Middle East. For the past few years there has been growing concern that the Jihadist group has linked up with the Mexican drug cartels.
Only the Republicans in Congress seem to recognize this connection. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R. Texas) was on C-Span in April and said, "We know al Qaeda has camps over with the drug cartels on the other side of the Mexican border. We know that people are now being trained to come in and act like Hispanics when they're radical Islamists. We know these things are happening and... It's just insane not to protect ourselves."
Then there are the Democrats who mouth the same nonsense over border security. Dick Durbin, as all the Democrats on the Hill are, is interested in only one thing, bringing in more Democrat voters even if they are ineligible to vote. Every attempt to make sure that only American citizens can cast votes is shot down by the liberals on the courts. Durbin who obviously lives in a fantasy land where everyone is an open book recently said, during the meeting at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, that no comprehensive immigration bill will allow violent, threatening or dangerous criminals a path to citizenship. Now how would he know who is or isn't a criminal since those violent crimes in Mexico are rarely reported?
One of my Hispanic conservative correspondents is Joanna who is the president of NY ICE, which documents incidents on the immigration issue that are ignored by the press. She sent me this heartbreaking story and picture of a beautiful little girl named Serenity:
"On June 8, 2013, a 9 month old baby named Serenity Reedy in Richland, WA was found killed with severe trauma, cuts, and abrasions to her vaginal area indicating that she had been raped, and an illegal alien from Mexico named Jose Luis Aguilar has been charged. Aguilar was arrested in Barstow, California as he was on his way to his home country of Mexico. ... But, Rubio and Schumer, proponents of the biggest illegal alien amnesty in U.S. history, will never talk about Serenity. Instead, they will make fictitious nods to 'criminal background checks' of illegal aliens which are IMPOSSIBLE since Mexico will NOT release the criminal histories of its citizens living illegally in the U.S. "
The establishment GOP, aka RINOs, think that passing this bill will ingratiate them with the Hispanic community--it won't. This bill is being pushed by militant organizations like La Raza who are sponsored by the unions and belong to the Democrat Party. It will do nothing for the GOP. Immigration reform is overdue but Ron Paul's six point plan was absolutely correct:
Physically secure our borders and coastlines.
Enforce visa rules.
No amnesty.
No welfare for illegal aliens.
End birthright citizenship.
Pass true immigration reform.
Senator Rubio, I know you mean well but don't be stupid. Leave the gang of 8 now.
Alicia Colon resides in New York City and can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com and at www.aliciacolon.com]]>
The Poetry Corner
The Irish Examiner USA
1040 Jackson Avenue, Third Floor
Long Island City
NY 11101
or, preferably, you can email it direct to
ronniemcginn@eircom.net.
If possible keep your poem to 20 lines. You may choose any subject you like, in any form you like as long as it's original. We look forward to hearing from you.
Once again as the fourth of July approaches I am reminded of a poem in the book 'My Road' by Marion Rose Horgan, from Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland. If you haven't already got a copy, email me and I let you know where you can order one. It's a book well worth having and a keepsake you will always treasure.
Marion tells us that her poem 'Independence Day' was written to celebrate the birth of her nephew, David Warren Hughes, on the 4th July 2002. It gives an entire new feeling to the occasion.
Dave Horgan and his wife Trish were expecting their fifth child in 2002. Dave, who has always been a fan of America and all things American, thought that it would be really special if the baby could be born on Independence Day. Trish, who is the epitome of organization, was more interested in getting the baby into the world on the earliest possible date, but being the dutiful and devoted wife she is, she duly obliged and David Warren Hughes was born on Thursday, the fourth of July 2002, weighing in a sturdy 9lbs. Dave's sister Marian Rose was icing a chocolate cake to celebrate the baby's homecoming when these lines came to mind...
An eaglet starts to learn to fly,
Under his mother's watchful eye.
He's looking upwards to the sky
It's Independence Day.
Life is so short, so let it be,
Brimful of opportunity.
I wish you deep serenity,
It's Independence Day.
Pair winds and fortune may you find,
And happiness and peace of mind.
Be ever patient, true and kind.
It's Independence Day
The cord is cut, now you will be
In awe of your great liberty.
May you fulfill your destiny,
It's Independence Day.
© Marian Rose Horgan]]>
We can't put it better than Charley when he asks: "Come on, now: what eleven and fourteen-year-old wouldn't get a thrill out of seeing the Book of Kells?" (Photocall)
By Charley Brady
Snigger ye not, vile cynics! I know that a lot of you out there are having a good laugh at the itinerary for Michelle Obama and the two kids last week during their visit to Ireland. Ah, there's no pleasing some of you. Come on, now: what eleven and fourteen-year-old wouldn't get a thrill out of seeing the Book of Kells?
Personally I thought her visit here was pretty entertaining and Ireland did live up to its reputation as a welcoming place if you are a wealthy, glamorous V.I.P. What were we supposed to do? Turn our backs and pretend that we hadn't noticed her arriving?
However, Grumpy Clare Daly, we'll get to you in a minute.
First off, I want to know who completely screwed up, after all the warnings that were given, by letting President Bono out of his cage. That's not being hospitable, that's just being plain freaking evil. Do you not think that the Obama clan spend enough time hiding from him in the White House, or telling their security guys to pass on the message that they've just left the building? Do you really think that they ever want to run into that boring windbag here as well?
Actually, let's also leave President Bono for a bit. I just can't face it at the moment.
Ah, JFK; He Was a Saint, So He Was!
As you all know by now President Barack Obama was in Ireland for the G8 Summit, supposedly to talk about tax avoidance, climate change and some other...uh, things; but in fact, due to unforeseen circumstances, undoubtedly ended up devoting most of it to the ongoing nightmare in Syria. While he was speechifying in Belfast the First Lady and his two daughters hit the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
When I heard that the RTE Propaganda Station were showing an extra programme to cover part of Michelle's visit to the Gaiety Theatre I trundled over to my local to watch it there. Like certain other activities, watching a political visit is a pastime that is best done in company. And anything to do with politicians in general needs a strong drink in your hand. It's always amusing to hear the comments being directed towards a TV screen when certain people are gracing it.
Since this was a little early in the day there were only a few punters abroad; but I think it's fair to say that fifty years ago that same week, when JFK visited these shores, he was probably heard out with a little more reverence. His image on those old flickering black-and-white screens in 1963 belong to a time when people thought in their innocence that some politicians actually meant what they said. When they could actually move their lips without a lie passing them. When they made promises that they kept.
If you still think like that then you're also probably under the impression that priests make good child-minders.
Anyway, I doubt that the same sarcastic comments were thrown over the counter half a century ago.
As it happened I rather enjoyed listening to Michelle Obama as she directed her words towards an audience of young people. Sure, it all amounted to a lot of hot air in the ears of an adult; but her message was positive. What was she supposed to do? Tell them that in all likelihood they had no hope of getting anywhere unless they had some money behind them to begin with? Tell them that the world is not just waiting to welcome them into its open arms but in fact is just gearing up to give them their first kick in the teeth?
All true, that and more: but they're going to find that out soon enough. I'm not the kind of person who believes in telling a six-year-old kid that there's no Santa Clause or a twelve-year-old that there's no God. Hell, they'll find that out soon enough. Let them have a bit of wide-eyed wonder for as long as they can. So yeah, I liked her speech and I liked her enthusiasm; and do you know what? I thought that she looked as if she was having a good time. With her husband, it's hard to tell. He always looks so damned polished that it's impossible to see what's real and what isn't. But her? Yeah, I'll go out on a limb and say that she was enjoying herself. She also looked pretty damned good for a woman who had been up for all hours and had just come off a reasonably long flight.
A lot has been said about her kids--Malia, 14 and Sasha, 11--looking a bit bored. Well, come on now. Take a look at their ages. Maybe they weren't all that thrilled but it's not as if they came across as sulky brats either, so be fair.
Jeez, instead of laying on a separate show for them with a teen group like One Direction, they had to sit through the two-decade old Riverdance. Now I would have enjoyed that myself---but I'm not fourteen.
Malia, Sasha, listen to me now: at least Michael Flatley wasn't there to pompous the place out. (God, he wasn't, was he? Nah, I would have heard him.) Considering the horror that was still to come for you both, I wouldn't have wished that on you into the bargain. I can just imagine the conversation that went on between the two of you in hushed, petrified, disbelieving tones when you turned up at Finnegan's bar and restaurant looking for some fish and chips, only to realise that you were being hosted by...
--Malia, that couldn't be him, could it?--
--Oh God Sasha, it couldn't be the guy who's always hanging around looking for dad. He lives in Africa, doesn't he? I'm sure I've heard him droning on about it more than once. Maybe it's just someone who looks like him?--
--You mean that there might be TWO white middle-aged guys who think that they look like black rappers when they wear their sunglasses indoors? Malia, I don't think so. I think that it really is...
BONO!
If you are the President of a country--any country, it can be led by a dictator, he's not fussy--then Bono is bound to have you on speed dial. You all know the joke that went round when the Vatican was looking for a new Pope: Bono turned down the job because it would have been a demotion for him. Ha! It's funny because it's true!
Now maybe Michelle was glad to see him; she seems like an easy-going person so maybe... but inflicting him on Sasha and Malia? I mean, grown men have tried to do a Reservoir Dogs on their ears after listening to Bono talk about World Poverty for two minutes; yet WE think that it is Irish hospitality to inflict him on two kids? There's something seriously askew about that. I'm sure that comes under some Cruelty to Children Act.
By the by, Bono also took the great Neil Young there for a pint last week. That doesn't count, though; one is a genius whose music helped to change my life and the other is... well, Bono.
You do have to laugh, though. It's only a couple of weeks ago that the Social Protection Minister Joan Burton was giving out about various corporations and their tax affairs.
[I have pointed out many times that U2 is--first and foremost--a corporation, not a band. When I first started writing along those lines in 2006 that was often greeted by hoots of derision, not to mention tons of hate mail. These days... not so much.]
Discussing methods of tax avoidance Burton said:
"That's not acceptable if a huge amount of personal wealth and corporate profits are diverted in a way in which they make little effective contribution.
"The well-known example, U2, moved quite an element of its activities through the Netherlands because clearly whatever the Netherlands was doing was far more attractive in tax terms for their companies and for their organisations than the quite generous arrangements that Ireland has traditionally had in the area."
Now I've no intention of going back over seven years of bloody U2 cuttings--life is too short--but to the best of my knowledge that makes Joan Burton the first minister to comment on them in such a baldly open manner.
She added that, because she had heard that the G8 summit would be dealing with tax avoidance issues, "...this may inject some fresh thinking into what for citizens in many different countries has become a scandal."
Now surely I can't be the only one who finds it funny that Burton says this and then, possibly at the very same time that Barack Obama is discussing tax avoidance amongst big corporations, his wife is being hosted by Bono! Seriously, who IS this guy? Yeah, yeah, I know: he will say that he did this as a private citizen, but I honestly find this hilarious!
And let me say this again: U2 are doing nothing illegal here. In fact, I don't have a problem with any of the other band members at all. Indeed, another Irish artist--Enya--avails of the same tax scheme and she doesn't get on my nerves the way that Bono does. Is it because none of the rest of them feel free to lecture we little people on how we should be giving more--and more--and more--to Third World Aid? Sorry, Bono; dig a little deeper yourself. These days, for me charity begins very much at home. Jeez, it has to!
At least he took his wife Ali with him. I think that we can all agree that she is OK. AND I enjoyed Obama's speech to the youngsters in Belfast. Again, full of sound bites (and God how I covered my head in embarrassment when he mentioned 'the craic') but all harmless stuff at worst; and at best, then for some kids I'll bet that it was actually inspiring. It's too late for the dinosaurs to change their ways; but we might be able to show a decent path to some of the next generation.
[By the way, I visited Belfast at Christmas for the first time in many years and what a beautiful city it is. As indeed the North is a beautiful country. Just thought I'd mention that.]
Anyway, no real grievances about the visit by the Obama clan; and if I did have then sourpuss TD Clare Daly of the United Left Alliance would have made anything I said redundant. Clare was fierce upset about the family altogether. She wasn't a bit happy "...given the almost unprecedented slobbering over them that the nation has been exposed to over the last number of days". Take it way, Clare:
"And it's really hard to know which is worse: whether it's the outpourings of the Obamas themselves, or the sycophantic fawning over them by sections of the media and the political establishment. We've had separate and special news bulletins by the State Broadcaster to tell us what Michelle Obama and her daughters had for lunch in Dublin, but very little questioning of the fact that she was having lunch with Mister Tax Exile himself."
Ha! I was rolling on the floor when she said that! Bono is Mr. Tax Exile! Funny! It was just spoiled a bit by the fact that her close friend Mick Wallace was sitting in the Dail right in front of her instead of in a jail cell where he belongs. After all, there is a difference between AVIODING tax and just criminally DODGING it.
But don't hold back, Clare. What else did you think?
"We had very little challenging of the fact that she's glad to be 'home'. Home, a country that she's been in less than a week and that her husband has very tenuous links in. And of course the biggest irony of all, the protestations of Obama himself in his speech to the children of Northern Ireland when he said: 'Those who choose the path of peace, I promise you that the United States of America will support you every step of the way. We will be the wind at your back.'"
OK, you old crosspatch, you. I have to admit that I cringed a fair bit myself at that 'wind at the back' malarkey. But Clare, you were only getting warmed up:
"Now I ask you: is this person going for the Hypocrite of the Year Award? Because we have to call things by their right names and the reality is that by any serious examination this man is a war criminal. [*Gulp*] He has just announced his decision to supply arms to the Syrian opposition, fuelling the destabilisation of that region, continuing to undermine secularism and knock back conditions for women...
"You, Taoiseach, turned a blind eye to all this...You showcased us as a nation of pimps--prostituting ourselves in return for a pat on the head."
I'll bet that Clare felt better after getting that off her chest. Even if she DOES seem to be a little confused about the difference between pimps and prostitutes. As for Dame Edna getting pats on the head? Get a grip, woman. He's well used to that after dealing with his boss Angela Merkel. In fact I'm surprised that he doesn't have a little monk-like bald patch on his head at this stage.
And indeed, quite a few people agreed with her. Enda wasn't one of them, though. Perhaps he was still smarting after trying to gatecrash the G8 summit with the Big Boys. It was quite poignant when he took off his tie, just like the Big Boys did; but they still wouldn't let him play because he wasn't invited and because Ireland isn't a rich country and he's just a gombeen that they tolerate when it suits them.
So they were nice to him for a few minutes and then slammed the door in his face and told him to go off and do his interviews in the car park.
We were all so proud.
So you wouldn't blame him for getting fed up with spoilsport Clare Daly. He told her:
"The Northern Ireland Peace Process is very fragile. Far be it for you to criticise someone who wants to support that process."
You tell her, Enda. She's a thundering disgrace, so she is.
Don't mind him, Clare. Don't let him tell you what to say, you get stuck in there girl! Go on ya good thing!
Ah, yes. Two days with the Obama clan talking peace and all war breaks out. As they say in the movie 'Dr. Strangelove': "No fighting in the War Room!"
Come again, any time, Michelle. You're great for the morale of the nation; possibly just not in the way that you intend.
Well, it made me laugh anyway.
You can email abuse to me at chasbrady7@eircom.net or visit my blog on www.charleybrady.com ]]>
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the crowd at Waterfront Hall in Belfast (William Cherry/Presseye)
President Barack Obama wowed the Belfast audience of hundreds of schoolchildren, political and civic leaders with jokes and encouragement to build upon the North's peace process.
Surrounded by teenagers from both Catholic and Protestant schools, the president's message was one of motivation to secure reconciliation within Northern Ireland.
In front of First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, the president spoke of the need for young people to copper-fasten progress already achieved by their politicians.
The Good Friday Agreement, now 15 years old he said, still requires youthful input to make it a success.
"You are the first generation in this land to inherit more than just the hardened attitudes and the bitter prejudices of the past" he told them.
"You're an inheritor of a just and hard-earned peace."
President Obama spoke of the unique example that Belfast has set for those in other war zones around the world.
As assembled Stormont Parliament spin doctors spoke of groups from the Middle East "beating a path to our door for inspiration", Obama backed Northern Ireland as a peacemaking prototype for other conflict environments.
"They're studying what you're doing. And they're wondering, perhaps if Northern Ireland can achieve peace, we can, too. You're their blueprint to follow."
And he implored the gathered youth, who had excitedly started a 'Mexican wave' before his arrival, that "we need you to get this right, and what's more, you set an example for those who seek a peace of their own."
Celebrating the turnaround in how the North's capital is now globally celebrated, President Obama praised the city for its new reputation for being "chic."
"People hoped hoped for a day when the world would think something different when they heard the word 'Belfast.' Because of their effort, because of their courage that day has come" he said.
Obama reminded the audience of the intimate links between Ireland and the US pointing out the first US consulate, under George Washington was opened in Belfast in 1796.
Many familiar Irish names "like Wilson and Kelly, Campbell and O'Neill" are etched on schools, courthouses and war memorials across America, he told the crowd.
And to laughter, Barack Obama revealed that Belfast golf champion Rory McIlroy had offered his assistance to "get my swing sorted" when they met last year.
He revealed that "when I was in Chicago campaigning, people would say: 'oh, there's an O'Bama running in the south side from the homeland.'' In Illinois' famous Windy City "it pays to be Irish" he joked.
Pressure for the North's political leaders to implement the delayed 'Shared Future' policy document and 'United Communities' plan was given a final push from the Oval Office.
Echoing Bill Clinton's words on the same stage in 1998, Obama pledged continuing American political and financial support.
As he departed for the G8 Summit in the rural west of Northern Ireland, President Obama reinforced the promise of American partnership for Irish peace and prosperity.
"I promise you the United States of America will support you every step of the way. We will always be a wind at your back."
Leaving the crowd with an Irish version of the famous Obama creed of "Yes We Can" he promised that "this little island inspires the biggest of things... its best days are yet ahead."]]>
Lions Alex Corbisiero supported by Paul O'Connell, Tom Croft and Sam Warburton (INPHO)
George North and Alex Cuthbert scored a try in each half and Leigh Halfpenny kicked 13 points as the British & Irish Lions made a winning start to the Test series against Australia.
Australian replacement Kurtley Beale missed two penalties in the final five minutes - he slipped during his run-up to a last minute kick - as the Lions held on for a hard-earned first Test success.
The Australian and Lions fans created a superb atmosphere in the opening half at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, and the 52,499 spectators watching Wallaby debutant Israel Folau run in two high quality tries.
In between, George North sailed through for a tremendous individual score which really lifted Warren Gatland's men who had struggled with referee Chris Pollock's interpretation of the breakdown - especially in the first quarter.
James O'Connor, playing at out-half for the Wallabies, missed his first two shots at the posts before converting Folau's 13th-minute try which was inspired by a slick Will Genia counter attack.
The Lions responded with the first of Leigh Halfpenny's three penalties and North's piece of brilliance, coupled with five more points from Halfpenny's boot, had the tourists 13-7 clear.
Folau floated away from three covering Lions to complete his brace, making it 13-12 for the interval, but a series of hampering injuries threaten to derail the Wallabies' challenge.
They lost three backs to injury - debutant Christian Leali'ifano, Berrick Barnes and Leali'ifano's replacement Pat McCabe - all within the first 47 minutes, and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper was also forced off in the closing stages.
McCabe's injury led to flanker Michael Hooper moving to inside centre with Liam Gill, the youngest member of the Australian squad, sent on in the pack.
The disruption was ruthlessly exposed when Jonathan Sexton, aided by a couple of decoy runners, sent Alex Cuthbert hurtling through for the Lions' second converted try of the night.
But the Wallabies showed impressive resilience to stay in the hunt and with the Lions' rising penalty count beginning to hurt them - they leaked 12 penalties to Australia's seven - two three-pointers from O'Connor and Beale closed the gap to 20-18 by the hour mark.
The Lions were unable to push home their advantage in the scrum and in a suffocating final 20 minutes, another Halfpenny kick was cancelled out by Beale who made a slashing beak in the build-up.
Beale took centre stage but fluffed his lines when missing a kickable 75th minute penalty that should have sent the brave Wallabies ahead.
And in a nervy conclusion, the relief for the Lions was palpable as Beale's standing foot gave way and his 80th minute kick was pulled low to the left to confirm a narrow win for Gatland's side.
Reflecting on that breathless finish, Brian O'Driscoll, who made 11 tackles during the game, said: "Hearts were in the mouth at the end, we probably should have lost it. We conceded those two penalties at the end but we didn't deserve to.
"We didn't get much luck - a couple of deflected kicks that went askew seemed to bounce in their arms - so maybe we got our break at the end.
"We felt fairly in control, obviously their (first) try was a counter attack off a quick tap, the second was disappointing, a couple of bad decisions.
"But a couple of times we gave up penalties, we turned ball over. Every time you get down there, you've got to put points on the board.
"I spoke to the lads and said we need to try to finish it next week. We've got to knuckle down, look to where we can improve massively and put in a bigger performance than we did today and hopefully we can be in the mix."
Leali'ifano's Wallaby debut lasted just 54 seconds as he got caught head on when tackling Jonathan Davies and the centre required the stretcher.
The intensity was high right from the off, the Lions controlling possession before Sexton hung up a cross-field kick for Cuthbert near halfway.
The Wallabies defended it well and set up a long range penalty for O'Connor, who did not have the required distance for the fifth minute shot.
O'Driscoll was harshly pinged for the first penalty and he was also singled for the second - Pollock saying he went off his feet before competing for a ruck ball - but O'Connor slid his seventh minute kick to the left and wide.
With reference to the referee's handling of the rucks and tackle area, the Ireland centre said afterwards: "There was big frustration with that. We were just talking on the pitch and in the dressing room. I felt I was the right side of the law with it but he adjudged it differently and he penalised it twice.
"James O'Connor obviously missed twice, but we'll have to work on our interpretation and see if we can get that better for next week."
A penalty-winning scrum gave the momentum to the Lions, drawing huge cheers from the visiting support, and the forwards muscled their way through a series of phases in the 22.
But the tourists lost a penalty advantage before referee Pollock handed the Wallabies a relieving penalty - another questionable call - and Genia needed no second invitation.
The wily scrum half ran from deep and dummied through with the Lions backing off. The supporting Folau then gobbled up Genia's dinked kick to the right for a brilliant breakaway score.
O'Connor's simple conversion made it 7-0 and Genia's influence increased as he offloaded for prop Benn Robinson to stretch his legs, Sexton stemming the tide by holding him up and winning a scrum.
The Australians were strong at the breakdown but an offside decision allowed the Lions to return to the hosts' half and build from a Paul O'Connell-won lineout.
A subsequent penalty, coolly thumped over by Halfpenny amid a chorus of boos, got the Lions off the mark in the 25th minute.
Two minutes later, the Lions had the lead. Berrick Barnes' kick was too loose, North picked it on the 10-metre line and scythed through a gap with the big winger racing away from a third defender and finally Genia to score a smashing solo try.
Halfpenny's sweetly-struck touchline conversion provided a further boost and the Lions soon got on the front foot again with a clever chip and gather from Sexton.
Davies' kick to the left corner sat up nicely for O'Driscoll to hound Genia into touch. The Lions pack stormed through on a lineout maul, the Wallabies were forced to infringe and North was narrowly denied by Folau in the left corner.
Play was called back for the penalty and Halfpenny drilled over from the left to move the Lions six points clear.
Jamie Heaslip and Alex Corbisiero combined to tackle Australian captain James Horwill into touch, but the Wallabies struck for a second try before the break and once more it came from Folau.
Ben Mowen released Folau on the right wing and the covering Sexton sat off before the Waratahs star blitzed inside him, handed off Corbisiero and evaded Halfpenny's last-ditch challenge to run in a classy double.
Both place-kickers had misses on the stroke of half-time with O'Connor off target with the conversion attempt, while Halfpenny was unable to punish the Wallabies for going off their feet.
Full-back Barnes had to be replaced after Folau, pushed by North, collided with him, and a rare kick out on the full from Genia was the first error of an edgy and defence-dominated second half.
Genia's opposite number Mike Phillips failed to release on the deck, allowing the Wallabies to counter and they had a slice of luck when Genia's kick was half-blocked and broke for Michael Hooper.
Openside Hooper had to move to midfield as Australia's injury jinx continued - replacement McCabe becoming the latest Wallaby to be forced off. Flanker Gill took over in the pack.
The Lions wasted little time in exploiting the O'Connor-Hooper channel. From a Heaslip-won lineout, Sexton's flat pass released Cuthbert past O'Connor and the powerful Welsh winger beat two more defenders to race in behind the posts.
Halfpenny converted but the Lions pack infringed from the restart, allowing O'Connor to claw back three points from a penalty on the 22.
Heaslip, rivalling O'Connell in his influence up front, did well again to clear up after another Robinson charge and the Lions almost prospered from going wide, O'Driscoll just knocking on a high pass from Tom Croft.
However, the penalties were beginning to stack up against the Lions - particularly at the breakdown - and replacement Beale whacked over a 46-metre effort for 20-18.
Sexton's intelligent chip over the top and collect - the St. Mary's College clubman used his big frame to reach for it - got the Lions motoring again with O'Connell quickly up in support.
Alun Wyn Jones and Heaslip both carried well before Halfpenny landed a steadying penalty from the right - only for Beale to light up Australia on the restart.
The tricky Melbourne Rebel carved open the Lions midfield and O'Connell had to concede a penalty at a subsequent close-in ruck, allowing Beale to cancel out Halfpenny's latest strike.
Sexton's boot had centre Davies challenging for the ball and with O'Driscoll making a further tackle, Australia were forced into a maul and conceded a scrum near their try-line.
The Wallabies relieved the pressure though as the ball squirted out of a wheeling scrum. Genia swooped on it to kick downfield for Folau to gather possession and set the hosts on the attack again.
The Lions had a let-off when Beale missed a kickable penalty, following a Mako Vunipola ruck offence, and Horwill lost the ball forward in contact as the minutes ebbed away.
The importance of having a reliable goal-kicker - step forward Leigh Halfpenny - was hammered home in the final seconds.
Kicking from outside the 10-metre line after the Lions scrum infringed, Beale had a last-gasp attempt to be the match winner, but the Lions escaped with a nail-biting victory as the tour and Test series moves on to Melbourne next week.]]>
Chairman of The American Ireland Fund Loretta Brennan Glucksman with President Michael D. Higgins, Sabina Higgins with President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds at a reception at Aras an Uachtarain to honour The Worldwide Ireland Funds and to acknowledge its achievements for Ireland since first established in 1976 (Photocall)
Hosting a reception last week at Aras an Uachtarain, President Michael D. Higgins congratulated The Worldwide Ireland Funds on what it has achieved for Ireland since its establishment in 1976.
Its most recent initiative, the Promising Ireland Campaign, had an initial goal to raise $100 million but will in fact achieve $150 million by its close at the end of this year.
The President noted that 1,200 charities across Ireland have benefited from the work of The Ireland Funds.
The 200 guests at the reception included leading donors and philanthropists from many of the 12 countries in which the Funds operate; all attended the Funds' Annual Conference which took place last weekend at the K Club, Co. Kildare.
During the conference they considered next steps in light of the outcome of the Promising Ireland Campaign which, in the last five years, has raised one third of the Funds' total contributions since it was founded 37 years ago.
The delegation was led by outgoing Chairman of The American Ireland Fund, Loretta Brennan Glucksman; Chairman Elect, John Fitzpatrick and the Funds' Founder, Dan Rooney.
Commenting, Kieran McLoughlin, President and CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds, said, "The fact that the Promising Ireland Campaign will exceed its original goal by 50% in such a difficult economic climate is a remarkable testament to the generosity of our donors. "Philanthropy is the use of private wealth to support the public good. "At a time when public funding sources are under such pressure, the role of philanthropy has never been more important."
Founded in the US in 1976 and now operating in 12 countries, The Worldwide Ireland Funds have raised over $450 million since foundation benefitting some 1,200 Irish charities.
The Funds generate private philanthropic donations to support projects in Ireland that promote education, cultural and community development and peace and reconciliation projects across the island of Ireland.
All of the monies The Ireland Funds raise are contributed by private philanthropists at no cost to the taxpayer and represent a net contribution to Irish charities.]]>
By now everyone knows that the Internet has made any personal privacy impossible but many believe that they have nothing to hide so they are unconcerned. They should be concerned; in fact they should be terrified. Even those who do not use the Internet or have a computer are having all their data and information collected by the government as well as political marketers.
By Alicia Colon
Until I began reading Brad Thor's thriller, "Black List", I was undecided about whistleblower Edward Snowden. The plot of this novel is eerily similar to the NSA scandal and involves an IT whiz who discovers that the government is collecting data on American citizens, not terrorists, to control our lives and she steals the proof but is hunted down and killed. Maybe Snowden blew the whistle because the extent of the data collection and how it is being used by this administration terrified him. The irony is that the book was published in 2012 before the IRS and AP scandals.
In the introduction to his novel, author Thor writes: "All of the technology contained in this novel is based on systems currently deployed, or in the final stages of development, by the United States government and its partners."
In, 'Black List', the doomed IT analyst works for a technological company named Adaptive Technology Solutions that is partnered with the NSA and is the villain responsible for the snooping on our lives. In real life, the company is Booz Allen Hamilton and Edward Snowden sought a job there specifically to get surveillance evidence because this private company has access to all the government data. Now how is that even possible? What does the NSA stand for? It certainly isn't guarding our national security. In addition, Judicial Watch has learned that a secretive data collection program run by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau allows private contractors access to millions of Americans' personal financial information. Obama has paid millions to these contractors to snoop on... you.
By now everyone knows that the Internet has made any personal privacy impossible but many believe that they have nothing to hide so they are unconcerned. They should be concerned; in fact they should be terrified. Even those who do not use the Internet or have a computer are having all their data and information collected by the government as well as political marketers. Every swipe of a credit card, supermarket card, library card, debit card, is downloaded to the Net at relatively low cost to the government. GPS in cars and smartphones, Onstar vehicles, can have their locations tracked by the Department of Defense which developed this technology.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can be used to track everything from household products, casino chips, animals and even people who have them inserted under the skin at fancy VIP club to facilitate faster access to club. These RFIDs are in our passports. Authorities can place GPS devices on suspect vehicles without court orders thanks to the Patriot Act. This is not fiction. It is real and it is happening to all of us now.
Google, Facebook and Twitter facilitate the government's access to personal information. Nothing is sacred, nothing is safely encrypted. It is all being stored in that new NSA data warehouse facility out in Bluffdale, Utah. That means that millions of tweets, Facebook entries, emails, E-Z pass toll records, Amazon purchases, cell phone data, texts, GPS information, search engine queries generated each day are in the most sophisticated artificial intelligence system in the world. All that information can be stored and can be retrieved at any future point to conduct retroactive surveillance on any individual. A perfect behavioral profile can be created based on the data and will alert the government of your opposition to administration policies.
This super surveillance is not being used to track terrorist activity; otherwise the Boston Marathon bombing would not have happened. It is being used by this administration for political purposes to destroy opposition to its policies. Thus, it has become dangerous to have an anti-Obama sticker on your car or to post negative comments on the social networks. Anyone can become an enemy of the state and therein lies the real importance of Edward Snowden's whistleblowing. We've all known that we're being monitored but we never suspected that our information could be used or manipulated to make us suspected criminals. A Texas teen, Justin Carter, has been jailed since March for making a violent threat while playing a fantasy video game, even though he ended it with LOL and JK to show that he was joking. Big Brother is not only watching us, he's taking prisoners.
There is another possibility that the government uses all this information to finance its surveillance programs. Insider trading is illegal but imagine being able to listen in to all corporate meetings and examine all the CEO's emails and texts without their knowledge. Potential merger information could lead to profitable investments and no one would be the wiser or subject to SEC regulations. Wonder what Martha Stewart thinks about this.
As details of the NSA spying emerge, Democrats in Congress and liberals in the media are quick to suggest that this kind of surveillance has been around for decades and that Bush was responsible for the passage of the Patriot Act which legalizes it. There is an enormous difference which these sycophants ignore. The data gathered in the previous administration was targeting foreign terrorists not Americans in this country. It certainly did not target political opponents or Democrats would never have been able to gain so much power in 2007 when they took over Congress.
Was the surveillance and data gathering responsible for the dismantling of Republican campaigns? How come Herman Cain's campaign ground to a halt because of scurrilous unfounded charges that erupted mid-campaign? Mitt Romney's donors were easily identified and had the IRS to deal with and this harassment possibly affected the campaign's funding. What made it so easy for the IRS to target conservatives? It couldn't have just been the name of the organization but rather the data compiled on it by the surveillance machine. Did the data uncover the Petraeus adultery that made him ineffective in Benghazi? Remember Congressman Mark Foley whose embarrassing emails to a page destroyed his career in 2006? This snooping, however, never seems to turn up radical Islamists in the Muslim community or sleeper cells here.
The bigger question is what are we going to do about this information considering that the chief law enforcement official, Attorney General, Eric Holder, has not had the country's best interest at heart? In spite of the ongoing scandals, no upper level officials have been charged or even fired. The administration has been claiming that these data collection programs have been responsible for thwarting terrorist attacks. That is a lie. Local law enforcement has played a bigger role in halting these attacks. Just check out the NYPD reports.
So is Edward Snowden a traitor or a hero? What I do know is that he's smart and the fact that he's been able to stay off this massive electronic grid is testament to that. Much debate has arisen as to why the government hasn't been able to catch him and I believe the answer to that is that the administration doesn't want him here. He has too much dirt on its activities. Maybe he even has the president's sealed academic records-jk.
Whatever Snowden's motives were in undertaking this undercover mission, he has certainly opened our eyes. I have a better understanding of those Americans who have opted out of the electronic era. I'm not quite ready to head for the hills like those recent survivalists but whenever I see an ad from a telecommunication giant touting how we can share our information with family and friends, I will be grateful to Snowden for letting us know who else is listening.
I'm not sure if Edward Snowden is a traitor but it's pretty clear that many in this administration deserve that description.
Alicia Colon resides in New York City and can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com and at www.aliciacolon.com ]]>
Charley's right... you can put a pig in a suit, but it is still a pig...
"All the criminals in their coats and their ties/Are free to sip Martinis and watch the sun rise."
"Yea, from the table of my memory/ I'll wipe away all trivial fond records..."
By Charley Brady
- Bob Dylan, 'Hurricane'.
- Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5.
Perhaps that's what our wretched, corrupt bankers should have done. Their sins and their thievery may not have been trivial, but perhaps they should have listened to the words of the Bard anyway. Perhaps they should have made sure that there was no evidence left; that it was all swept from the table of memory. After all, our ex-Taoiseach, the disgraced buffoon Brian Cowen seems to have kept no notes whatsoever on that fateful night of September 30th, 2008; that night on which the Government guaranteed the whole of the liabilities for the Irish banks. Well, guaranteed on the unwitting behalf of the saps of taxpayers.
It was a crisis and it all had to be done fast and we kept nothing on record, Your Honours; it was all just a touch of the verbals and a shake of the hand between gentlemen.
Gentlemen. They were some gentlemen, just the same. On the now-notorious Anglo Tapes that were released by the Irish Independent last week, these fine gentlemen spray the F-word around so much that it actually ceases to have any meaning whilst it operates as noun, verb, adjective and whatever you're having yourself; and all the while these fine, fine gentlemen aren't averse to throwing in the much harsher C-word as well. If you were ever one of those sad sacks--and there were plenty around--who thought that a well-cut pinstripe loaned to the wearer a little class, then you found out how wrong you were, once and for all.
You are all no doubt familiar with what was said at this stage, so I'll confine myself to one comment from the charming David Drumm:
"Yeah, and we'll be saying: 'Yeah because a stress, because HBOS were f****** sold and Lehman's were bust and f****** Bank of America took over Merrill's and other f****** non-normal things happened, you c***."
"All the criminals in their coats and their ties are free to sip martinis..." Something tells me that it's far from martinis that these boys were reared. If the Anglo Tapes, in which the likes of David Drumm (Anglo Chief Executive) and John Bowe ( Head of Capital Markets and Acting Director of Treasury) are heard mocking, ridiculing and sneering at both the Irish and the Germans, are anything to go by then our heads of banking were no more than bowzies and corner boys. You can put a pig in a suit but it will still be a pig
And I'll immediately withdraw that remark on the grounds that pigs are actually clean and useful animals. They would in no way wish their names to be tainted by association with Drumm and Bowe.
So yes, they should have made sure that there were no tapes left lying around with a police force that has become increasingly angry about the position that they have found themselves in, whereby they have not been allowed to make any headway in bringing these sods and the many others like them to justice, as much as I know that many want to. Considering that the Anglo Boys thought it was funny to contemptuously sing the Nazi-era national anthem I wonder if the irony has struck them yet that the Nazis also suffered from that sin of hubris that had them document and keep everything... something that they too came to regret.
So now the wailing and the gnashing of teeth has begun. Now up go the cries of anger that it could have come to this. How, cry the bar stool philosophers, how did they ever get so out-of-control?
And my answer is always the same: it came to this because we LET it come to this. It came to this because historically the Irish actually LIKE to be told what to do by people that they perceive to be their betters. For years it was the Church, until they blew that one. And then there were the politicians. You knew that they were 'pulling strokes' and you actually admired them for it--well, until it hit YOU in the pocket and then you changed your tune. You have always enjoyed doffing the cap to someone. The bankers? Well, look at the high-level job they have. They must be fierce intelligent altogether.
Now comes the regret that we have been embarrassed and shown up for what we are on the world stage. And isn't the timing just perfect: after years in a tea chest somewhere the Anglo Irish Bank Tapes are sent anonymously to Paul Williams of the Irish Independent--just as Dame Edna Kenny and Ireland finish their run with the Presidency of the EU. How upsetting for him. He spends time and throws away his dignity in order to suck up to Angela Merkel; then out of the blue, up reach the bony fingers of the past to upset her and make her wag her not-so-bony finger at us. Of course, some of you might call it unfortunate timing; me, I don't believe in coincidence.
I feel for people like my friend Paula, one of the many who work so enthusiastically in the Tourist Industry in order to keep visitors coming to this country. Yet whilst I do feel bad for her--and God knows she is beyond anger herself at this--I cannot in all honesty feel anything but absolute delight at the events of this week.
Do you think that makes me a lousy, vindictive person? Well, maybe it does. Winning popularity contests has never been all that high on my list of New Year resolutions. However, save your ire for the sniggering Ghouls in Pinstripes, the Demons in Neckties. They are the ones who are heard on tape showing us exactly what they think of us.
And if they were simply foul-mouthed, incompetent fools (which they surely are) then maybe--just maybe--we could laugh it off, say that we've been taken for a ride again and try to move on.
But it's not that simple: the ordinary Irish punter will be paying this off for decades. And these guffawing vermin have not only made us a laughing stock but have real blood on their hands.
People have died because of the behaviour of these unrepentant bastards, who are still out there living lives of luxury instead of slopping out in a jail cell. Real people--not sums in cyberspace that are so enormous that most of us can't get our heads around them--have seen their dreams crushed and their lives shattered. Real people have been driven to that most final and awful of solutions--suicide--because of the greed and venality of these bankers, mixed with the complicity and cowardice of our politicians. And now all that Enda Kenny and Fine Gael want to do is use it for point scoring against Fianna Fail.
Yes, you can be damned well sure that I am happy that we have been splashed over the newspapers on a global scale. Because you can be certain that if it was only upsetting the Irish peasants then even with THIS disgrace nothing would be done. We don't count, not in the slightest. This has upset the Germans though, so perhaps Kenny and Company might just have to be seen to do something now. And not the cursed 'parliamentary inquiry' that Kenny is hinting about. Jeez, 'Who Watches the Watchmen?' Is he having a laugh? Have this investigated by politicians that I wouldn't trust to locate their own enormous backsides in the dark? We need to bring in someone from outside for this one.
Personally I enjoy irony so I'd like to see Angela Merkel with the boots on and a scrotum-cruncher in hand whilst a naked David Drumm whimpers in the corner. Hell, let's be honest: I'm past expecting Justice; I just want Vengeance and Payback. And blood on the floor. Lots and lots of blood.
In fact I'm in solidarity with the German journalist who said that the bankers and selective politicians should be put in a sack and beaten until their screams can no longer be heard. That sounds good to me.
In the Beginning. Lest We Forget...
With all the emphasis on Drumm and his thug mates this week, I want to make sure that Sean FitzPatrick, that still-arrogant, still-preening, still-vulgar little slime ball who once was chairman of the bailed out Anglo Irish Bank, is not forgotten in all of this. Because he is still swanning back and forward to Marbella, Spain and is still living off the fat of his ill-gotten gains. I have been asking for five years now why no one is doing time for what they have done, starting with him.
At the beginning of January of 2009 I wrote a piece for the Irish Examiner USA entitled: DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE DISGRACED IRISH BANK CHIEF? I think that it's worth remembering the partial origins of this whole sorry affair so I'll repeat part of it here:
The old jokes have been refined:
Q: How do you save a bank senior executive from drowning?
A: Take your foot off his head.
Q: When you see a bank chairman coming towards you with half his head blown off, what do you do?
A: Reload.
I mean--seriously--when it comes to a toss-up between the likes of the head of Anglo Irish Bank Sean FitzPatrick, any of the other heads of banks and their close cousins the corrupt politicians, would you buy a used car from any of them? Would you even bother to spit on them if they were burning to death? I know I wouldn't. The ones that have been caught so far have lived with their loathsome snouts in the trough for years now and we're the dopes who are paying the penance for it. With glasses of champagne in hand and superior smirks on their loathsome, socialite faces they have consistently and as a matter of course looked down on the ordinary person. They have stolen from us and many of the smaller shareholders have been financially ruined because of what they have done. Along with them and our witless government they have ruined the economy. And don't give me any of that old get-out-of-jail-card-free claptrap about it being world-wide. I'm living HERE and they are two of the groups responsible for the down turn. Pensioners who were counting on their investment to ease their latter years now find themselves bewildered and confused at seeing the money that they had given in good faith being suddenly taken from them.
FitzPatrick is only one of many but for simplicity's sake let's stick with him for the moment. He grew from being an accountant to managing the small Anglo Irish in 1985 and then onto heading that same bank, which was by now worth 13 billion Euros. Amazingly, 80 per cent of his loans went to his cronies, the major property developers who at that time ran this corrupt little nation.
How many of these upstanding Captains of Industry benefited from that eighty per cent?
Twenty of them.
Bloody twenty! Think about that for a minute. Roll those figures around your head. His enormous property portfolio ultimately included five star hotels (but of course), medical software firms and an oil well in Nigeria. An oil well, for crying out loud! And that is to name only a very, very small amount of what he and another executive of the bank--Lar Bradshaw--had shares in or owned, some of them admittedly highly imaginative.
All of which allowed him, along with his cigar-smoking, top-of-the range car driving, Kristal-sipping buddies to swan around Dublin and the world.
Ah, lads! You and I don't know how to live at all, at all!
But wait! There was something rotten going on under the civilized façade of Anglo Irish Bank. You see, it turns out that old Seanie-Boy's bank and foreign properties and Las Vegas Irish bar and all the rest of them were built on a foundation of sand.
The shareholders didn't know, of course. Why would they? They were only the saps who were financing the luxury that these boyos enjoyed. But FitzPatrick had borrowed 84 million Euros from the lender and used it to buy shares in Anglo Irish. In fact altogether he got 129 million Euros. Give the man his due though: he did disclose a whole 7 million of that to his hapless shareholders. He then managed to scrape up 45 million to at least pay off some of what he owed. Is your head spinning with incredulity yet? Well, between the jigs and the reels he ended up owing the aforementioned 84 million which was, as in some modern-day Grimm's fairy tale, never seen again. How did he get away with it, I hear you ask?
Simple. Every time an audit was about to be done he just up and transferred (as you do) his millions--well, technically his banks' millions, but don't confuse the issue--into another bank, Irish Nationwide. He was helped in this by the aptly named Michael "Fingers" Fingleton, another God to the bankers of Ireland. Genius, really.
Mind you, it says a lot for the auditors that this went on for YEARS without them saying "Hey, guys wait a minute. Look at this..."
This happy and heart-warming tale of simple Irish millionaires who only wanted their time in the sun and never mind that it involved risking the money of ordinary shareholders, had to come to end. And for a few at least, it has.
As the famous Celtic Tiger lay gasping its last breath and its cubs began to run for cover and FitzPatrick and his developer friends, who now owed the bank 70 billion watched in horror as their properties plummeted into oblivion, the game was up.
Which is why the astonishing decision was taken last week by our leaders Brian Cowan and Brian Lenihan, on behalf of the Fianna Failures, to nationalise the bank. Ah, well. I guess the taxpayer, who sees more of his jobs go now on a daily basis, gets to be "patriotic" once again on behalf of the super- rich.
This is the kind of shady skullduggery that the Celtic Tiger was whelped on. Screw the small guy and bail out the Players.
Hell, at the very moment that the government was trying to think of a way to bail out the banks--all the banks--Sean FitzPatrick was shamelessly buying up 290,000 more shares and making a cool 12 million out of it.
You know, I always refer to that great scene in Roman Polanski's sublime piece of cinema "Chinatown", where Jack Nicholson's private detective asks the venal creature played by John Huston when enough is enough. "How many houses can you live in?" he wonders. "How many lobster dinners can you eat?"
Ah, but FitzPatrick and the rest of them are going to jail, I hear you say. Sorry, friends. You're confusing America with the banana republic that I live in. Forget about the small shareholder who has lost all of his money and is now ruined.
Nobody will be going to jail. Nobody.
And you wonder why they hold us in total contempt.
Back to the Present
That was written over four-and-a-half years ago; and week after week I continued to ask when we were going to see somebody in jail. And week after week I had the Usual Suspects castigate me for going "over the top". (I doubt that will happen this time around.) On one memorable occasion a certain banker, during a heated argument in Dublin, told me that I was "ignorant, venomous and uneducated". Well, I will certainly put my hands up to the middle charge but as to uneducated? If these guys were educated then they didn't really put their education to much use, now did they?
And now we're supposed to believe that no one knew about the tapes. Pull the other leg; it's got Alan Shatter on the end of it. Our intrepid Minister for Justice is one of the majority who knew nothing. The same fella who knows what motoring penalty points are being dished out countrywide knew nothing about these tapes. In fact he's "nauseated". If it weren't so serious it would almost be funny.
I am way over time this week and there is so much more to say. However, I'm pretty sure that this one won't be going anywhere so we'll probably be taking it up next week. I haven't even had a chance to touch on my old nemesis Michael Lowry.
It shouldn't be long now until we get some interesting tapes from the OTHER banks involved. And I don't doubt that there are some highly embarrassing--oh please yes!yes!yes! I'm having an orgasm--tapes that will show our beloved elected representatives in a... unusual and compromised light.
Oh and by the way, the Director of Public Prosecutions has cautioned the Irish Independent newspaper and 'suggested' that it scale back on its coverage of the Tapes. That sounds about right: give them enough time and they'll somehow manage to pin this mess on troublemaking Irish journalists. It wasn't the fault of the bankers or politicians at all. Shoot the messenger.
You can email me at chasbrady7@eircom.net or check out my blog on www.charleybrady.com ]]>
Australia's Adam Ashley-Cooper scores the winning try (INPHO)
Christian Leali'ifano coolly converted Adam Ashley-Cooper's late try as Australia struck back to level the series in a nail-biting second Test against the British & Irish Lions.
The Wallabies bossed an attritional second half during which the Lions lost captain Sam Warburton to a hamstring injury, as the tourists tried desperately to hold onto a narrow six-point lead.
Ireland's Conor Murray and Sean O'Brien were both brought on from the bench with the Lions 15-9 to the good thanks to five Leigh Halfpenny penalties from six attempts.
Halfpenny's opening effort of the night came back off the crossbar and that was to prove a crucial miss in the end as Australia conjured up the match-winning try and conversion.
Adam Ashley-Cooper slipped through Jonathan Davies' tackle to touch down out wide in the 75th minute, and his centre partner Christian Leali'ifano - in only his second Test appearance - curled over the all-important conversion to make it one-all in the Test series.
The Wallabies did have to endure a nervy finish as Halfpenny tried his luck from a monster 53-metre penalty, but the Welsh kicking star's attempt fell short to leave a final showdown in Sydney to decide the series winners.
It was a gritty and deserved victory for Robbie Deans' side as the Lions were disappointing overall and never looked like scoring a try, with Halfpenny's right boot proving to be their only real weapon.
The Lions probed in the opening two minutes, Brian O'Driscoll using turnover ball to dink a kick towards the right corner and hooker Tom Youngs tried a one-two at a lineout.
Kurtley Beale, the man who missed the two late penalties in the first Test, rose well to claim a high ball but a tigerish tackle from O'Driscoll on Ashley-Cooper and pressure from Warburton on Michael Hooper yielded a kickable penalty.
Halfpenny's well-struck kick from just inside the Australian pack came back off the crossbar, but the Wallabies soon leaked a third penalty as the Lions powered through from a muscular lineout maul.
The penalty kick was turned down in favour of another maul drive and after the Australians infringed once more, Halfpenny was called upon to open the scoring from 30 metres out.
The hosts enjoyed a good spell of continuity in response, Beale hanging up a cross-field kick for Israel Folau to gather over George North with the Lions scrambling to defend.
Ben Alexander won a scrum decision over Mako Vunipola, allowing Leali'ifano to slot over a levelling 28-metre kick, as the Australian pack gained some early confidence in the set piece.
A couple of errors from the Lions, with Jonathan Sexton failing to find touch from a penalty, invited the Wallabies forward again and they won a second scrum penalty from Vunipola.
Leali'ifano nailed the 43-metre effort from the right to make it 6-3, but Australia collapsed the very next scrum as the Lions forwards got back on track.
The resulting kick from almost 50 metres out was thumped through the uprights by Halfpenny and although Joe Tomane was whistled up for obstructing the onrushing Tommy Bowe, the Lions blundered at the ensuing lineout.
Seven minutes before the break, the Lions got another scrum decision as they drove the Wallabies backwards and Halfpenny mopped up with the three points in typical style.
Leali'ifano, showing plenty of composure from the kicking tee, then equalised with the boot after Dan Lydiate shot out of the defensive line too quickly.
Australia ended the first half with 63% possession, but the Lions - with North reaching an up-and-under from Halfpenny at the second attempt - had the final say before the interval.
Jamie Heaslip, who had a big presence around the pitch, carried well into the 22 and a penalty was forced at the ruck which saw Halfpenny edge the tourists back in front at 12-9.
It was a cagey start to the second period before Australia tapped a penalty and unleashed Leali'ifano on the left, with Lions skipper Warburton doing well to bring down the big centre.
Warburton came up with a vital turnover and a breathless spell, sparked by a loose O'Driscoll pass, saw the Wallabies look dangerous from deep with Folau and Ashley-Cooper threatening.
Murray, sprung from the bench for Ben Youngs, made an immediate impression as he got over a ruck ball to win a relieving penalty as Australia were unable to turn pressure into points.
Murray was then first to a loose ball to hack downfield and give his forwards a precious break in the suffocating atmosphere, and the stunning sight of North lifting Folau off his feet as he powered into contact provided one of the iconic images of the 2013 tour.
The match ebbed back in the Lions' favour just past the hour mark when replacements Dan Cole and Richard Hibbard reignited the scrum and with Sekope Kepu infringing, Halfpenny stepped up to brilliantly hammer home his fifth successful penalty.
It set up a riveting conclusion and there was a sense that the next score could decide the series with Warren Gatland's men six points clear and Australia needing a converted try to overhaul them.
The sides played out an attritional final quarter during which Warburton had to be helped off. The influence of Heaslip, who was replaced by O'Brien, and the injured Paul O'Connell was really needed as the Wallabies forced the Lions' tackle count into three figures.
The Lions were unable to build many phases when they got their hands on the ball either, coughing up soft penalties as they were isolated on the deck by Hooper and company.
It ruined some good work from the likes of Bowe who did well to retrieve a high ball from Sexton, and the fit-again Ulster winger had to make an important tackle on Tomane after Beale had hung up a cross-field kick.
The hosts got the powerful Folau on the ball, trying to catapult him through gaps as they pressed the Lions defence again and again.
The defensive workload was beginning to hurt the Lions and Australian captain James Horwill went for the jugular when turning down a kickable penalty with less than 10 minutes to go.
It proved to be the correct decision as Australia maintained their presence in the Lions' 22 and passed to the left where James O'Connor sent Ashley-Cooper crashing over past Davies for the only try of a very tense affair.
Leali'ifano delighted the home support by adding the extras to send the Wallabies in front for the first time since the 24 minutes.
But Will Genia erred as he passed the ball back into the 22 from the restart, with O'Connor kicking straight into touch to hand the Lions a lineout in an advanced position with pnly two minutes left.
Crucially, the Lions could not win Hibbard's throw with replacement Liam Gill gobbling it up on the ground just as Sexton licked his lips at the prospect of a drop goal attempt.
The Australian forwards controlled possession as they wound down the clock, although a late penalty allowed Murray to run from deep and O'Driscoll to get his legs pumping as the Lions scrambled to get back into kicking range.
They did get one last opportunity. Australia offered up a long range penalty but Halfpenny's strike, amid huge drama, did not have the legs and the Lions' hunt for a first Test series win in 16 years moves on to Sydney.
Giving his reaction to the defeat afterwards, Brian O'Driscoll said: "Very disappointed, we weren't in control of the game but we were six points clear, that's a horrible margin as after a converted try you're behind.
"I had one loose kick that gave them a counter-attack option, but we weren't able to close it out. But it's not over, we've got a massive week to get ourselves ready for Sydney next Saturday. The momentum is with them, but we won't let that faze us. We've beaten them once."
Head coach Warren Gatland admitted: "It's just about game management. That's what Test match rugby is about - a couple of crucial lineouts, a couple of crucial turnovers and even when they made mistakes and the ref said, 'Advantage over', we haven't made the most if it.
"We were pretty comfortable at half-time but Australia never give up and it went their way. We weren't smart enough and didn't look after the ball well enough."]]>
The Poetry Corner
The Irish Examiner USA
1040 Jackson Avenue, Third Floor
Long Island City
NY 11101
or, preferably, you can email it direct to
ronniemcginn@eircom.net.
If possible keep your poem to 20 lines. You may choose any subject you like, in any form you like as long as it's original. We look forward to hearing from you.
Once again as the fourth of July approaches I am reminded of a poem in the book 'My Road' by Marion Rose Horgan, from Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland. If you haven't already got a copy, email me and I let you know where you can order one. It's a book well worth having and a keepsake you will always treasure.
Billy McCarthy a founder member of the Douglas Writers Group in Cork , who's first book "Barnetstown to Ballinglanna", a selection of short stories and poems taken from his earliest experiences in life to the present day, rekindled many a fond thought and lost memory in every reader, is the author of this week's poem.
Billy is a great exponent of traditional style writing and some of his poems have been set to music. In this poem he takes us back to Cork in the sunny long ago when St. Patrick Street in Cork City was the most romantic place in Ireland.
Scarce a word between us was uttered; sure it wasn't a time for small talk
We just window-shopped along Pana, on this beautiful night for a walk.
When the length of the street we had covered, as we crossed to the opposite side
With my arm round her waist for protection as the street was so terribly wide.
We continued our promenade northward at a pace so romantically slow,
Sure this was the way we did Pana in those carefree days long ago.
Then a stop at The Old Bridge was standard, for a mug of tea and a bun.
And many a friendship was made here and many a romance begun.
Up one side and down by the other was the custom we knew at the time,
As our parents had done so before us, and for them just like us 'twas sublime.
We were hardly aware of the traffic, or others who passed by the way,
For we only had eyes for each other, and we kept thoughts of others at bay.
Then 'twas great as we passed the Lee corner and the fellas would stand and they'd stare,
I could see they were all green with envy, while me, sure I hadn't a care,
As I knew we were only repeating what others enacted before,
And I couldn't care less so I said to herself "let's go 'round and do Pana once more".
Yes, that was the custom in those days; entertainment being scarce at the time,
And a walk in the moonlight was heaven for us in the peak of our prime.
Though you'd see older folk promenading, her arm linked in his as they strolled,
And you'd think to yourself sure when all's said and done it's not really so bad being old.
Now time is a great educator, so enjoy what you're handed in life,
Yes, the girl that I met at The Statue became my adorable wife.
As we bring up four children together without any bother or fuss,
We hope that they'll follow tradition and continue doing Pana like us.
Well, we still like to stroll out together, around by The Lough is our beat,
And sometimes we'd do The Marina, such a colourful, peaceful retreat.
Then often she'd make a suggestion to visit another terrain,
And we'd take the bus into The Statue, and go back doing Pana again.
© Billy McCarthy]]>
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, launched the new Enterprise Ireland €375K Competitive Feasibility Fund on Monday, aimed at stimulating new start-ups, or expansion of existing business activity in the aviation sector.
This fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per project, is now open for applications, and will remain open until Monday 16 September 2013.
The announcement marks the delivery of a key measure under the Government's Action Plan for Jobs, and is aimed at meeting the needs of the aviation industry and supporting the growth of international aviation companies in Ireland.
This initiative also follows on the Government's publication of the 'Shannon Aviation Business Development Task Force Final Report' which is focussed on building an environment which will encourage and support entrepreneurship and business expansion in the aviation sector.
The Competitive Feasibility Fund will support new start up companies or individual entrepreneurs to investigate the viability of a new significant growth oriented business or proposition in the aviation sector. It will also support established companies or groups of businesses to examine the potential for expansion, diversification or spinning out of a new enterprise in the industry.
The funding will enable the promoters to reach firm conclusions regarding the project's viability and strategies for developing and commercialising the innovative product or service on international markets.
The fund is open to applications from the Aviation Sector including financial services associated with the sector, Aircraft and Engine leasing, Aviation software and IT, Training, Travel related software and related services, Small Aircraft Assembly, Aircraft Dismantle, Maintenance Repair Operations Airframe and Components, Composite Repair, Parts Manufacture, Aviation Services, and other engineering and technical activities.
Making the announcement, Minister Bruton said: "A key part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is targeting specific sectors where we have established strengths, and supporting growth and expansion in those areas in order to create jobs.
"Aviation is one such sector - we already have in place a world-class aviation ecosystem, which offers tremendous potential for new and exciting businesses to carve out opportunities for innovative products and services.
In particular, as part of our plans for the Shannon region, we are targeting the establishment of an international aviation centre of excellence to support growth and jobs in the region.
"Today's announcement of a new €375,000 Enterprise Ireland Competitive Feasibility Fund is a part of this plan, and will help provide support to innovative companies seeking to grow and create jobs in the sector".]]>
Christoph Mueller, Chief Executive, Aer Lingus, said: "Our transatlantic business goes from strength to strength." (Photocall)
Aer Lingus have announced a significant expansion to its transatlantic route offering for 2014.
In addition to existing services to Boston, Chicago, New York and Orlando, Aer Lingus will commence a year-round direct service between Dublin and San Francisco from March 2014, with five services per week being operated by Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.
Aer Lingus will also commence a direct year-round service to Canada.
A daily direct Boeing 757 service between Dublin and Toronto will operate during the summer season, with up to four weekly services operating during the Winter.
A further two Boeing 757 aircraft will be based in Shannon and will be used to deliver increased frequency on existing services to Boston and New York.
Year-round connections from Shannon to the East Coast of the United States will be introduced.
This expansion is being facilitated through the damp lease of three Boeing 757 aircraft from ASL Aviation Group. An A330 aircraft currently based in Shannon will be redeployed to operate the new Dublin to San Francisco service.
Christoph Mueller, Chief Executive, Aer Lingus, said: "Our transatlantic business goes from strength to strength. This expansion is extremely positive news for Aer Lingus and for the broader economy in terms of business, tourism and employment.
"Our transatlantic capacity will increase by 24% in 2014, following on from the 13% additional capacity in our 2013 transatlantic schedule. Very importantly, this expansion will directly support more than 200 new jobs within Aer Lingus and our partner airline ASL Aviation Group".]]>