Yearly Archives: 2013

the-thinker
Hmm. Intriguing.

Steven Lydon of Change.org is currently petitioning Education Minister Ruari Quinn s to expand the curriculum by introducing philosophy as a full subject.

The President supports it.

600 people have already signed up.

Steven sez:

In February 2012, the Royal Irish Academy for Philosophy and Ethics submitted a curriculum for a Leaving Certificate philosophy course to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Despite these encouraging initial steps, the Department of Education halted this process last year.
As Budget 2014 approaches, it should once again be emphasised that Irish citizens require a philosophical education to engage enthusiastically, critically, and independently with society. Because these educational goals are rights rather than commodities, they should not depend upon budgetary restrictions.

Vote here.

(Thanks Steve)

Quinns

Quinn2In 1980, four Tyrone brothers, Sean, Brian, Frank and Mick Quinn, became the first four brothers in the world to run a marathon together when they took part in the New York Marathon, top.

It was a story which gained the attention of the New York Times, ABC, CBS and NBC at the time.

Now, 33 years later, the four brothers, above, are preparing to redo the feat but this time they’ll be running the Dublin Marathon on Monday, October 28.

All in aid of MS Ireland.

Mick writes:

“Ireland Inc. is in a ditch. It’s important to help each other along the journey. No matter what walk of life we come from, if we don’t work together, we won’t get very far.”

“33 years later we’re doing it again. While we’re a bit more rotund now, let’s say, and we may not do it in the same time as before, our intention is the same – to raise funds for a very worthy cause like MS Ireland.”

You can sponsor the brothers here

Quinn Brothers Run Dublin City Marathon For MS Ireland (MS Society)

556837_476698115762153_851223331_n1277619_474066212692010_593310204_oMore than a cup of Joe.

Coffee Culture in association with Mental Health Ireland have launched the Me Time campaign to mark World Mental Health Week and raise awareness of maintaining good mental health.

There may be a Me Time coffee morning near you.

Coffee Culture (Facebook)

903168879031674790316741 90316885 903168889031689090316893The junior doctors protest today in Dublin at the Mater, St James’s and Temple Street hospitals..

From top: Dr. Fred English outside St James’s Hospital; Dr Rishi Watson outside the Mater Hospital; Outside the Mater; Dr. Darren Lillis and Dr. Caroine Larkin outside St James’s hospital; the exterior of St James’s; Jake McNamara and his father Cedric and junior doctors outside Temple Street; Outside Temple Street;

Earlier: Meanwhile At The Mater

(Mark Stedman and Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Molloy15 Molloy12

Molloy14 Molloy16 Molloy17 Molloy18Around 60 to 70 people attended last night’s public meeting in Castlecoote Parish Hall, Co. Roscommon, regarding the unsolved murder of Fr Niall Molloy at the home of Richard and Therese Flynn, Kilcoursey House, in Clara, Co. Offaly in 1985.

Gemma O’Doherty, who was recently sacked from the Irish Independent addressed the meeting. Her work on the murder case led to the Gardaí reopening the case in 2010. The DPP recently decided not to pursue it any further.

During the meeting, Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden told the meeting the late Brian Lenihan Snr and his wife Anne were not at the home of Richard and Therese Flynn on the night Fr Niall Molloy was murdered.

It also heard Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan tell members of the Molloy family that he would speak to Justice Minister Alan Shatter about the case.

(From top: Gemma O’Doherty addresses the meeting; Eamon Touhey, Fine Gael Roscommon County Councillor Dominic Connolly and Brian Sheridan; Seán O’Brien, John Wilson, Gemma O’Doherty, Fr. Arthur O’Neill and Senator John Kelly; Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden; Kate, Barry and Liz Molloy; and Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan with Kate, Barry and Liz Molloy.)

Previously: Fr Niall Molloy on Broadsheet

Pics: Andrew Fox

 

denisBaloon

The current edition of The Phoenix magazine reports that the launch of a €40million rights issue, which will lead to banks writing off €141million in loans to Independent News and Media, may see Denis O’Brien’s shareholding in INM rise from 30% to 60%.

It’s believed Mr O’Brien spent €600m building up his 30% shareholding in the company, which owns, amongst other media outlets, the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, The Herald, Sunday World, The Star, and 13 regional weekly titles.

Mr O’Brien’s Communicorp Groups owns Newstalk, Today FM, 98FM, Spin 1038, Spin South West and Highland Radio.

Meanwhile, Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is scheduled to pose for photographers with Denis O’Brien tomorrow, at the opening of an international human rights conference, called Dublin Platform, organised by Front Line Defenders, which is chaired by Mr O’Brien.

Previously: A €140m Write-Off From Bank Of Ireland And AIB 

So, You Know That Denis O’Brien Story…

Denis O’Brien: Dividends, Debt And Paying Back Anglo 

 (Photocall Ireland)