Léargas

                                                                                       Moore St Stop the Demolition of Moore St The threat of demolition to parts of the Moore St Terrace - that played a central role in the Easter Rising - has increased significantly. Last month the Executive of Dublin City Council rejected a motion by Councillors that Number 18 Moore St should be designated a Protected Structure. The Councillors had previously passed a motion in support of this. In a report to Councillors the Executive concluded that 18 Moore St. is not part of the 1916 terrace. This decision stands in stark contrast to the available evidence, including confirmation rooted in Council and governmental reports. The Executive’s rep...

  At St Comgall's, Eileen's shining vision becomes a reality St. Comgall’s/Ionad Eileen Howell in Divis St. will be formally opened next week on Thursday the 22 June. In honour and memory of Eileen the refurbished building is being named after her.   The multi-million pound project has been 21 years in the making. The transformation of what was for many years a derelict building has been amazing. All of those who have contributed in any way to its successful renovation should be very proud of their efforts. Just over 20 years ago St. Comgall’s, which stands in the shadow of Divis Tower, had fallen into a scandalous state of disrepair. It was regularly targeted by anti-social elements and the building was a blight on the local community and environment.  As the MP for west Belfast I spoke to Eileen Howell in the Falls Community Council about the possibility of turning St. Comgall’s into a community enterprise – similar to Conway Mill – that could be a resource for th...

  ON YOUR BIKE. I have given my good bike away. This marks a defining moment in my life. My good bike sat in the backyard for almost a year. That ’ s the last time I was out on it. A year ago. It was dawning on me that my cycling days were over except for occasional sorties on a Greenway in some secluded place. But I was reluctant to face up to that. It seemed to me that as long as I held on to my good bike I held on to the possibility of venturing forth on it. Once  it was gone that possibility was gone also. So I hung on. And on. And on.  Then it struck me that someone else could be getting pleasure from my good bike. So this week I gave it to Anrai Óg, a  fine cyclist, on condition that he is kind to it and that he wears a helmet. I got my good bike in Dundalk about fifteen years ago. It was great for scooting about Dublin when I was a TD. Richard would be stuck in traffic as I whizzed pas sed  him. It was dangerous...

Remembering Fr. Matt Wallace – He never stopped giving Today marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Father Matt Wallace. Fr. Matt was from Templetown in Co Wexford. He was ordained in 1970 and spent most of his life as a priest working in West Belfast. At the time of his death Matt was parish priest of Holy Trinity which covered the Turf Lodge area. His funeral was attended by four bishops, over 40 priests and colleagues and by over a thousand mourners. His family travelled up from Wexford to be present. This is a column I wrote at that time about the Wexford priest who won the hearts of the people of west Belfast.   FATHER MATT I slipped up the side of Holy Trinity church and joined the people standing at the front door. Matt's clann were standing across from us in a line talking quietly. I noticed how well the church grounds looked. The crowd at the gate thickened. More people joined us. Turf Lodge was hushed. The sun shone. The birds sang. It all seemed surre...