With a record number of people trying to reach the summit of Mount Everest 50 years after it was first scaled, two Irish climbers, Cork man Mick Murphy and Ger McDonnell from Limerick reached the summit on May 23, six days before the anniversary of Sir Edmund Hilary's first ascent. The two Irish climbers overcame hurricanes and blizzards to reach the summit. They became … [Read more...] about Irish Climbers Reach the Summit of Mount Everest
Issues
Controversy Courts Collins
In the last issue we printed the extraordinary speech that Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins of the Royal Irish Regiment gave to his men before they went into battle in Iraq. Since then, the Belfast native has been the subject of war crimes allegations made by one U.S. Army major Re Biastre, which Collins is adamantly combating. Biastre accused Collins of pistol-whipping an Iraqi … [Read more...] about Controversy Courts Collins
Playing Hardball with
Chris Matthews
In his new book The Clinton Wars, Sidney Blumenthal, former Clinton aide, takes aim at Chris Matthews, the host of Hardball on MSNBC. Blumenthal writes that Matthews wanted a job in the administration and "lobbied the White House" to succeed Dee Dee Myers as press secretary but the job went to Michael McCurry.
Blumenthal goes on to say that Matthews then "turned into a … [Read more...] about Playing Hardball with
Chris Matthews
Kabul Pub Is No More
In the last issue we wrote about Kabul's new Irish pub. Well, it seems that the publicity did not do the pub, frequented by off-duty aid workers and American Embassy personnel, any good. Under warnings of bomb threats, the Irish owners decided to close down. Alcohol is banned in Afghanistan, but the pub had been operating under a special dispensation from a local mullah. ♦ … [Read more...] about Kabul Pub Is No More
Women of Concern Lunch
The inaugural Women of Concern luncheon was held at 200 Fifth Avenue Club, Manhattan on May 15. The purpose of the event was to honor and acknowledge women of accomplishment and to show solidarity with women of the developing world. Paula Zahn of CNN was the master of ceremonies and Kathleen Naughton, president of Time Inc., was honored. Naughton, whose parents are Irish-born, … [Read more...] about Women of Concern Lunch