One Brave Voice

Reverend Stephen Neill on his blog relays the transcript of Cllr. Michael O’Brien, former Mayor of Clonmel and member of Fianna Fáil, who appeared on Questions & Answers on Monday evening to address the appalling details outlined in the Ryan Report regarding institutional child abuse by the religious orders. His words are almost too much [...]

The Great Betrayal

Image owned by Cafrine
The report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, a 2,600 page tome chronicling some of the most monstrous acts of abuse that plagued institutions across this state for over a generation offers an appalling vista on the Ireland of yesteryear. There are many tragedies emanating from this dark period of [...]

Blogging…

Exams finished, hopefully another degree (LL.B.) to slot beside my name, the time has come perhaps to tap an additional few musings onto this blog. I find regularity is the greatest trouble with blogging, laying down a plan of actually posting a certain number of entries every week, then of course conjuring up something of [...]

The Case for Israel

I have always been a staunch advocate of Israel, a rarity on this isle perhaps, but resolute in my conviction that the rights and liberties of those who reside in what until recently was the only democracy in the Middle East must be defended and vindicated. It is with great interest I have studied and [...]

The Triumph of Tyranny?

The greatest moral failure of our generation is to be found upon the scarred and desecrated landscape of Central Africa.  A continent where many nations have known little else than civil war, constantly embroiled in conflict with governments whose sorrowful attempts of raising some form of democratic and peaceful institution are torn asunder time and [...]

Seasonal Cheer & Charity

A dark sky, pavements glistening in the bone chilling morning air, barren trees and shrubbery with their eerie lifeless branches pointing to the heavens, the sights that greet me as Mother Nature trundles relentlessly onwards into the final month of 2008. December would surely be the most depressing time of year if one did not [...]

A Certain way with Words

An amusing anecdote by Brenda Power in today’s Sunday Times, too good not to share:
Last week Fianna Fáil TD Mattie McGrath was ordered out of Clonmel Circuit Court during his trial on charges of assault – the judge had spotted him chewing gum in court.
This is a breach of etiquette that has a long history [...]

Remembrance Sunday

Regardless of persuasion or background, the 35,000 Irishmen who perished in World War I should be remembered. Almost ninety years to the day, 11th November 1918, when an armistice with Germany was signed, the sacrifice of so many can never be forgotten.
Have a thought, say a prayer, for those who lost their lives in one [...]

A New Era in American Politics

Gideon Rachman at the Financial Times makes a very interesting observation that I had forgotten of late. If, as appears likely at this stage, Barack Obama is elected as President of the United States he will be the first urban liberal Democrat from the Northern states elected since John F. Kennedy in 1960. The tumultuous culture wars which ensued [...]

Blogging Returns…

Having wrapped up my professional law society examinations and embarked on another academic year in both the fields of taxation and postgraduate law I have decided to make another attempt at regular blogging, dumping my outpourings into the grand expanse of the internet. Who knows, I might even have something interesting to say.