Yearly Archives: 2016

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Pro-choice activists outside Government Buildings in April, calling for a repeal of the eighth amendment, in a protest organised by Amnesty International

It is sad to hear of the recent dissolution of the Amnesty International group in Kells, Co Meath.

For 30 years it has served the worthy objectives of this worldwide organisation – supporting prisoners of conscience, opposing torture, the death penalty and helping refugees.

The decision to end this valuable Irish group took place on a point of moral principle, Amnesty’s recent crusade for abortion rights. This detracts from focusing on the causes for which Amnesty was originally founded.

Moreover, seeking further extensive abortion “rights” certainly would not have been entertained by Amnesty’s founder, Peter Benenson. Perhaps the Kells group’s objection and the consequent ending of its local Amnesty International activities may now be copied elsewhere in Ireland.

Tom Stack,
Milltown,
Dublin 6.

Amnesty And The Eighth Amendment (Irish Times letters)

Previously: It Takes A Vigil

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Peter Flynn tweetz:

Fastnet Rock from an angle you will not often see taken by Youen Jacob.

Baltimore says au revoir to its adopted son at funeral of Youen Jacob (Irish Examiner, May 11, 2016)

Thanks Ken O’Shea

The Broadsheet Book of Unspecified Things That Look Like Ireland, edited by Aidan Coughlan (New Island)

Previously: Humps Back

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‘Sup?

This morning.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness arrive at Dublin Castle for the North South Ministerial Council.

FIGHT!

Taoiseach and NI ministers meet to discuss Brexit (UTV)

Previously: Too Soon?

Please Note Your Nearest Exit

Rollingnews

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University College Cork

Evening Echo reports:

First-year Law students entering UCC this September will undertake a new course on sexual consent and respect.

The students will be the first to take on the pioneering new five-credit module that will be rolled out to all first-year students from next year if it proves to be successful.

Students at UCC to trial sexual respect course (Evening Echo)

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The latest video from Paralympics Ireland.

For their More Than Sport campaign, featuring Paralympic shooter, Seán Baldwin, who says:

“The day that changed everything for me – November 27th, 2003 – was the day that I became an above the knee amputee. I lost my leg while I was serving with the Irish Defence Forces and when I got to hospital after the accident, I remember being told lots of bad news – the first of this was that I only had a few hours to live! Thankfully, I’m still here though.

“Later, after I had woken up from an induced coma, I realised how bad my injuries were – the most obvious of these was that l had lost my right leg from above the knee. When I woke up and realised what had happened to me, I found it very hard to find a bright side, but that didn’t stop me from looking.

“Sport has helped me every step of the way since. It took me two years after the accident to take up shooting, but I set it as one of my goals and I achieved it. If I can inspire a generation – or even just one person – to take up a sport and follow what they love, then I have done my job. That’s more than sport to me.”

The Irish team for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be officially announced tomorrow.

Paralympics Ireland

Previously: Running Down A Dream

maryboyle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtN19gKGY1Y

The full length, independently-made and financed documentary ‘Mary Boyle: The Untold Story’ by Gemma O’Doherty will premiere tonight on You Tube at 9.20pm.

Mary Boyle: The Untold Story investigates Ireland’s longest missing child case and alleges political interference in the original Garda probe.

Previously: Mary’s Untold Story

Mary Boyle on Broadsheet