Léargas

April 28th 09 TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME IN POLITICS. President Obama is one hundred days in the White House. Early days indeed but already the record of his administration is being scrutinised by the media and by political commentators. Things on this little island move much more slowly. Next month will mark two years since the establishment of the power sharing government involving Sinn Féin and the DUP and the other parties. That’s the longest period that the political institutions have been functioning since the old Stormont regime was stood down in 1972. The deal which led to this development between Sinn Féin and the DUP, at that time led by Ian Paisley, was recognised as a historic step forward. And it was. Even if I say so myself. Few thought it possible and many thought, and some hoped, that it would not last. But it has. Of course working with the DUP is not easy. Remember this is a party established 40 years ago to oppose Civil Rights; a party which set its face against power...

25 Aibrean 2009 THE TALE OF THE DOG Osgur relaxing In a previous life as an occasional columnist, it has been my experience that mention of dogs, cats or horses sparks off a warm and broadly positive response from readers. It is taken as a given that such initial mention is also positive and warm. It is safe to presume that negative or critical mention would produce a reply in similar vein. Anyway it is worth recording that blogs produce the same effect. Since my mention of Osgur and Snowie I have been overwhelmed by a variety of warm comments and some negative comment, amounting to a challenge of sorts. This challenges took two forms. 1. Did you admit to having a poodle? 2. Snowie is a Bisson Freize. He is not a poodle. The first point ignores the fact that I made it clear that Snowie is not my madadh. This is not to concede that a poodle is any lesser a dog. In fact readers of the blog in question will have noted that I find Snowie to be an admirable mutt with all the finer quali...

19 Aibrean 2009 The Green, green grass of home I am resisting the temptation to write about the Middle East two blogs in a row though I must confess my recent visit there is the filter through which I have viewed everything since my return. The stunningly sad vista there makes you appreciate what we have going for ourselves in this part of the world and especially on this little isle. Ok, so we are in grip of the worst economic recession in Irish history and most of our greater difficulties are entirely self afflicted! But this too will pass. This blog does not minimise our economic difficulties. On the contrary I believe that these can be cured. Easier said than done I know. The necessary realignment of Irish society to accomplish this is a mighty task. But not impossible. On the contrary it is very do-able. But I am resolved not to ponder on these matters this morning. I declare this space a politics free zone. For a wee while anyway. Everything is politics, you may respond in a ...

Speaking at the Republican Plot Miltown Cemetery Organise for Freedom This Easter I had the honour of giving the Easter Speech at the Republican Plot in Milltown Cemetery. Below is the text of my remarks and a few photos. This is my second blog today. For regular readers and the curious and irregular the blog after this on Gaza should be read also. GerryA Full Text of Easter speech: A chairde, tá mé lán sásta seasamh anseo libh inniu ar Domhnach na Cásca seo le smaoineadh ar ár gcomrádaithe a chuaigh romhainn agus a caint faoi an todhcaí. Is cuimhin linn an méid a thug ár laochrai cróga ar son saoirse na tire seo, an méid a chaill siad. Cuidíonn seo linn nuair a bhíonn fadhbanna againn nó nuair a bhíonn muid traochta. I just returned last night from the Middle East. I will not dwell at length on that issue today but I will be presenting a full report of the Sinn Féin delegations views of the situation there, particularly in the Palestinian Territories. I will ma...

At the American International School which was destroyed in Israeli bombs: Sharhabeel Al Zaeem the Director Eyeless in Gaza Nothing prepares you for the scene of destruction in Gaza. Even when you read before hand that 3500 homes were destroyed and 28,000 damaged. Even when you know all the statistics. 800 industries damaged. 10 schools destroyed, 204 damaged. 14 mosques destroyed, 38 damaged. The list goes on and on. But it makes you word blind. 431 children and 114 women killed. 1400 dead bodies in total. And 5303, including 1606 children and 828 women injured. Intellectually it may be possible to absorb some of this but it’s only when you are there that the impact of it all hits you. I had to fight back tears a few time. Particularly at the first stop on our schedule. A woman was sitting before an open fire in what was once her house. She was cooking. Girders and huge slabs of concrete formed a cave like structure above and around her. Her husband was dead. She was living on han...

April 7th 09 BITS AND PIECES This blog is airborne. I’m tapping away at the laptop on route to the Middle East and reflecting on Sundays Family Day at the Visteon factory in Belfast where sacked workers are occupying the site. They are campaigning for their rights. The Family Day was a huge success. Many thanks to Féile an Phobal and all the performers who helped make this a very enjoyable act of solidarity with the work force and their families. And congratulations to all the families who turned up. Children and grand children as well as spouses and grand parents enjoyed the days craic and the real sense of community which underpinned the occasion. All eyes are now on Wednesday meeting in New York between senior union officials and the Vesteon’s senior management. ********************************************************************************* Before that the Fianna Fáil/ Greens Coalition government will have revealed yet another budget. Tuesday is D Day and punters are anxious...

This photo was taken in September 06 at the 600 kilometre Wall the Israeli government has built in contravention of a 2004 judgment by the International Court of Justice April 1st 2009 Next Week I will Visit the Middle East This blog is an internationalist. I have long been concerned about the plight of people throughout the globe. The conflict in the Middle East has been a long and enduring one. In my time I have raised the situation in that region, and particularly the need for a negotiated peace settlement, with US President Clinton and President Bush as well British PM Tony Blair. In September 2006 I spent a brief 40 hours in Israel and the Palestinian territory on the west Bank. It was a very informative, exhausting and emotional journey. I met with Palestinian and Israeli NGOs. I also received a detailed briefing from the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO on the 600 kilometre Wall that the Israeli government has built in contravention of a 2004 judgment by the Interna...