In our dreams we take out Spain, beat England on penalties and Jason McAteer scores the winning goal against Brazil in the World Cup Final. The Carlsberg beer ad which is running in Ireland at the moment may only be wishful thinking, but as the nation gears up for the greatest sporting occasion of the year, there is growing optimism that Mick McCarthy and the lads will do us … [Read more...] about World Cup Fever
2002
Voters Head to the Polls
Will Bertie be back, will there be a Quinn tide, or will Sinn Féin's day finally come? These are the questions facing the Irish people as they head to the polls on May 17. It has been the longest campaign and the most polled contest in the history of Irish elections, even though the actual date for the contest was only announced towards the end of April. All the main … [Read more...] about Voters Head to the Polls
The Catholic Church in Crisis
As in the U.S., the Church in Ireland is in crisis over continuing allegations of clerical child abuse. The scandal has taken its first scalp with the forced resignation of the Bishop of Ferns, Dr. Brendan Comiskey, for his mishandling of child abuse cases in his diocese. But there is ongoing pressure on some of the church's most senior clergymen, particularly Cardinal Desmond … [Read more...] about The Catholic Church in Crisis
George Mitchell on the Middle East & Northern Ireland
CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN MAKING COMPARISONS BETWEEN AREAS AS COMPLICATED AND DIVERGENT AS NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE MIDDLE EAST. BUT AS THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST INTENSIFIED, DIPLOMATS AND PEACE-MAKERS STRAIN TO FIND A WAY FORWARD BY EXAMINING THE DYNAMICS THAT SOLIDIFIED NEW POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND BROUGHT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT THE … [Read more...] about George Mitchell on the Middle East & Northern Ireland
The Green and the Gold
February's Winter Olympic Games were memorable for more than just the judging controversy in me pairs figure skating final. As host country, the United States won its highest ever number of medals, including gold medals for Irish-Americans Jim Shea, Sarah Hughes and Kelly Clark. Shea, a resident of Lake Placid, New York, won the skeleton competition, which involves racing a … [Read more...] about The Green and the Gold