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
Issues
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
Sister Artists
Those who love art and are visiting the South of Ireland might consider stopping in at a new gallery that has opened in Mullinahorna Ring, Co. Waterford. The gallery is owned by Joan Clancy and the first Exhibition "Spring Sky" featured works by her daughters, Blawnin Clancy and Rayleen Clancy who have been gaining fine reputations as artists over the past few years. The … [Read more...] about Sister Artists
The Irish Blood Scandal
Haemophilia sufferers across Ireland are awaiting the outcome of the Lindsay Tribunal, which was set up to investigate how blood products were contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis C. But while Judge Alison Lindsay deliberates on one of the greatest scandals in Irish life, a deal has finally been hammered out to compensate the victims of the HIV blood scandal, 64 of whom have … [Read more...] about The Irish Blood Scandal