One of Ireland's top hoteliers, Paddy Fitzpatrick, passed away on August 16. He was 72. Fitzpatrick bought his first hotel, the Killiney Castle Hotel in Dublin, in 1971 and turned it into a success. Four years later, he purchased the Shannon Shamrock in Co. Clare, and took it from a money loser into a profit-making property within one year. The Fitzpatrick family owns the … [Read more...] about Hotelier Paddy Fitzpatrick Passes
News from Ireland
FBI, M15 Ran Secret Informer
The FBI and the British intelligence agency, MI5, operated American spy David Rupert in the Republic of Ireland for four years without telling the Irish authorities. Rupert is the key witness against Michael McKevitt, who will be tried in a Dublin court for directing terrorism. McKevitt is the alleged head of the Real IRA, the Republican splinter group that carried out the … [Read more...] about FBI, M15 Ran Secret Informer
Lawyers on Loyalist Hit List
Loyalist killers planned to assassinate not only human rights lawyer Pat Finucane but also two of his Belfast colleagues, a senior British police officer has discovered. Belfast lawyers Oliver Kelly and p.J. McGrory were on a Loyalist hit list compiled with the help of RUC Special Branch officers and British military intelligence agents. The Finucane murder is currently the … [Read more...] about Lawyers on Loyalist Hit List
Nice Referendum
Set for Autumn
Once again, Irish people are heading to the polls to vote on the Nice Treaty.
They will be asked this autumn to vote in favor of the Treaty which will bring in EU enlargement, having already said No to Nice just a year ago.
There is growing pessimism in government circles that the people could reject the Treaty again. The way the government has handled the debate has also … [Read more...] about Nice Referendum
Set for Autumn
Irish Soccer Stand-off Continues
You may have thought that the World Cup and the Roy Keane saga was over, but a series of new books on Ireland's soccer greats threatens to reopen the wounds and will undoubtedly lead to new conflict between the warring factions in Irish soccer. Four explosive tell-all books are due for release in the coming weeks, starting with a Roy Keane biography penned by controversial … [Read more...] about Irish Soccer Stand-off Continues