As I write this, the end of the first year of the new millennium is closing in. It's November 1. Celtic New Year, a day when it was thought by the ancients that the layer between this world and the otherworld diminished and souls passed freely from one to the other. In the Ireland of my childhood on October 31. All Hallow's Eve, the elders left out food for those visiting … [Read more...] about The First Word: The Wealth of Our Heritage
More Millionaire Madness
Millionaire madness has hopped the Atlantic taking firm hold in Ireland with the October debut of the Irish Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Hosted by popular TV personality Gay Byrne, former host of Ireland's Late Late Show. The first show, aired at 7:30 P.M. on October 17, was watched by 74 percent of people watching television at the time, numbering more than 1 million, an RTE … [Read more...] about More Millionaire Madness
Sinn Féin Ordered to Fly Union Jack
By Irish America Staff
December / January 2001
December / January 2001
The British government has announced that it will be assuming powers to order Sinn Féin members of the Northern Ireland Executive to fly the Union Jack over their offices on specified days. A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair told The Irish Times that the Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson would order the Union flag to be flown over headquarters and other official … [Read more...] about Sinn Féin Ordered to Fly Union Jack
Trimble Wins Reprieve And Jeopardizes Good Friday Agreement
By Irish America Staff
December / January 2001
December / January 2001
Another political crisis in Northern Ireland was narrowly avoided and a new one born when at the end of October Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble won his party's confidence vote, defeating a challenge from anti-agreement MP Jeffrey Donaldson for the leadership of the UUP. This was the third challenge Trimble faced in his leadership of the UUP in the past year, and one … [Read more...] about Trimble Wins Reprieve And Jeopardizes Good Friday Agreement
Educating Martin
How Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness is adjusting to his new role as Northern Ireland's Minister for Education. ℘℘℘ Unusually for a politician, Martin McGuinness is early. He arrives at the Irish-speaking primary school in Newry, the Bunscoil an luir, as part of his duties as Minister for Education in the Northern Ireland Executive. The Executive, and McGuinness, are back to … [Read more...] about Educating Martin