Monthly Archives: September 2011

A strange proposal has been made by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to lift statutory protection from archaeological and historical sites that post-date 1700, including the Vinegar Hill windmill in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford (above).

Prompting the following from Irish Archeology:

“The AD 1700 date, although used as a cut-off point, has no basis in legislation in defining whether a monument is or is not archaeological. By stating that all pre-AD 1700 monuments are archaeological, it does not preclude monuments of post-AD 1700 as being defined as archaeological; ‘date is not in itself a determinant of archaeological significance or interest. Any material remains which can contribute to understanding past societies may be considered to have an element of archaeological significance.’ Frameworks and Principles for the Protection of Archaeological Heritage (Dúchas 1999).

 

British National Party leader Nick Griffin (above) has been invited to speak at Trinity College Dublin.

A university spokeswoman confirmed that the British National Party leader is set to appear at a Philosophical Society meeting on October 20.

According to a post on the personal blog of the party’s media officer Simon Darby, Griffin was invited along with a “BNP delegation” for a debate titled: “This House Believes Immigration Has Gone Too Far”.

The university did not confirm if there would be any other outside guests at the event.

Mr Darby said: “Let’s all hope the students in Dublin hold their nerve against the inevitable, liberal fascist onslaught against free speech.”

BNP leader Nick Griffin given debate platform at Trinity College Dublin (jewish Chronicle)

You’d Never Guess Who’s Coming To Trinity College (Come Here To Me)

Thanks Donal Fallon

A Tipperary woman has travelled to Dublin on horseback to highlight the difficulties faced by people who owe a lot of money to banks.

Margaret Hanrahan said she left home on Saturday at 3pm and arrived at the gates of Leinster House at 6am, using three different horses.

She said she owed €1.2 million to ACC Bank and claimed the bank had sought to repossess parcels of her land at Burncourt near Cahir, Co Tipperary.
Ms Hanrahan admitted she had borrowed during the boom years to extend an equestrian centre but ran into financial difficulties.
Ms Hanrahan accepted she owed the money and had no problem repaying it back but was protesting at the timescale suggested by the bank.
“My thing is about the fastness and the swiftness of the receiver coming into me,” she said. “They have ploughed 30 acres and 85 acres to leave me with not one ounce of grass. It’s like leaving a baby without milk, because I’ve 28 horses of my own.”

Asked if she could sell the horses, she said there was no market for them now. “It’s like asking me to give away my child.”

 

Woman Makes Horseback Protest (Mary Minihan, Irish Times)

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)