The Cloyne Report has been released in Ireland - another report about the human rights abuse perpetuated in the Catholic Church in Ireland. While I haven't yet read the report, I have to stand and applaud Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) for his speech slamming the church and the pope.

The link goes to Pharyngula and there are some ( Read more... )

Happy St Patrick's Day ( Read more... )

Yes, I'm once again years behind everyone else and the Ashes to Ashes Series finale screened tonight in Oz ( Read more... )

On the news this morning was a report on the EU Court of Human Rights ordering Ireland to change its antiquated abortion laws.

A swift Google and the most informative news article (to date) is from the NY TimesHowever, all that's really accomplished is the EU ordering Ireland to tidy up its legislation. Since 2002, Ireland has technically ( Read more... )

News today. Remember the lunatic a few weeks back who said the BVM (that's Blessed Virgin Mary to you non-Irish) would appear at a shrine in Knock in the west of Ireland? And thousands turned up and stared at the sun and then said they saw the BVM dancing in a sunbeam?

The ridiculousness of it all makes me cackle manically.

However, today, an ( Read more... )

I did the Newry run yesterday. 40 minutes hammering up the M1 to Sainsburys over the border in Northern Ireland, and I save a fortune on groceries, and particularly wine and spirits. The Irish government is whining about how doing this is unpatriotic. I've got news for you, BIFFO*, I don't give a rat's arse. You taxed the hell out of everything ( Read more... )

From venom69

List 7 songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words or even if they're not any good but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LJ along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to in absolute random order.1. Amy Winehouse - Rehab ( ( Read more... )

This news story broke after we left Ireland ( Read more... )

Our local paper, the esteemed Drogheda Independent had this little gem tucked away in its pages this week ( Read more... )

Headlines here... Iraqi elections blahblah.... Bush reluctantly has to ban torture blahblah... 6500 chickens escape from an overturned lorry in Co. Cavan, N55 closed, locals in egg heaven. Guess which of the three got the most airtime on the RTE news?