Search Results for 'House of Commons'

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Machinations of Brexit persist as former President of Ireland to publish a memoir

The things we want to talk about this week are mostly the same as those of last week, because they keep re-occurring and they keep being interesting and demanding attention and discussion.

‘It is rather the want of the middle class…’

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For any visitor to Dublin in the early 19th century, to miss seeing the great Daniel O’Connell would have made their visit almost worthless. William Makepeace Thackeray, on the threshold of becoming one of the greatest writers of the English language, spent three months touring Ireland in 1842 collecting his impressions of the ‘manners and the scenery’ of the country and its people, for his successful Irish Sketch Book published some years later. Back in Dublin at the conclusion of his tour he lost no time heading to the Mansion House to see the Liberator in person.*

‘Ireland will be poor no longer’

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From the comforts of Ballynahinch, such as they were at the time, William Makepeace Thackeray continues his exploration of the surrounding countryside as he gathered information for his successful Irish Sketch Book published some years after his tour in 1842.

‘It is not our mistress we have lost, but our mother.’

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When Mitchell Henry entered Westminster parliament in 1871 he went with hope in his heart and a mission to tell the British people the circumstances of the Irish tenant farmer. He reminds me of the Frank Cappa film Mr Smith Goes to Washington where a naive, idealistic young man has plans to change America.* Mitchell Henry, a liberal, kindly man, had however, walked into a political cauldron, waiting to explode.

Neil Delemare - End Of Watch

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NEIL DELAMERE makes his annual New Year pilgrimage to Galway to performs his new show, End Of Watch, in the Town Hall Theatre on Thursday January 16 at 8pm.

Athlone rugby duo depart for World Cup as Boris touches down

There is so much to talk about that I would need five columns to fit it all in, and sometimes I feel like that when I am facing a lot of writing to do. But I must compress it and try to do the best with the space I have.

Great drama on and off the pitch

We had marvellous hurling matches on Saturday and Sunday and it was great. They were on RTÉ both days which meant I didn’t have to go out to visit to see either of them, but could sit in my chair in my own home and revel in the sport of it.

Hanley says Westminster marriage equality vote a 'massive step forward for LGBT+ rights'

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Westminster MPS voting to extend marriage equality to Northern Ireland, to bring the region into line with the rest of the UK, and also the Republic of Ireland, is "a massive forward step of progress for LGBT+ rights on this island".

British Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott to speak in Galway

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Diane Abbott, the British Labour MP and the Shadow Home Secretary, will be in Galway this weekend to give the keynote address at the 25th Annual Tom Johnson Summer School in NUI Galway, organised by Labour Youth.

A time for personal memories as provincial rugby teams all achieve victories

Well, what do we make of the weather? Last week it was completely spring-like, mild temperatures, lots of sunshine, and one would really think that spring had arrived. In contrast, this week started off with cold, showery, shivery type of weather and low temperatures. So it is the old story; we think spring has come but really it hasn’t. And yet, the daffodils are out, not quite in abundance yet but they are out with their yellow blooms. In my back garden I have a small magnolia tree. Now, it is called a dwarf magnolia, but because of political correctness you are not allowed any more to say that word with regard to anything, and so it is a small magnolia. The buds are already on all of the branches of that magnolia tree, which would indicate that it is soon going to flower. But somehow I don’t think so if this weather continues. Be that as it may, well at least so far we’ve been spared the snow and wild winds which were very much the climate of 12 months ago. So let’s hope the benign days continue – and more daffodils please, and more buds turning to flower please, in everyone’s garden!

 

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