Noisy, garrulous, roving about in large groups and sometimes a bit comical to look at – I wasn’t in Galway last week so I don’t know how the students behaved during Rag Week. The city is still standing so they can’t have been too bad. As for their feathered equivalents – starlings (sturnus vulgaris, druid as Gaeilge) – one can forgive them a lot given their beautiful plumage. This one was one of a group mooching for food beside the lobster pots on the pier in the Claddagh on Saturday... Similar posts

I’ll keep it short and sweet. If you know of any family-friendly comedians or mind-trick guys who would be able to perform on March 26th in Bandon, can you get in touch with me and I’ll pass it on to the Rosmini Centre people? They do have some budget for it, so pro or semi-pro is fine. Also the dog owned by one of the kids who was going to perform has gone missing. Please keep an eye out for a sheepdog in the Crossbarry area. If the same happens to you, I encourage you to post it on LostandFound.ie.... Similar posts

Seachtain na Gaeilge is taking place in Ireland this week as part of the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. According to its website, “Seachtain na Gaeilge is a non-profit organisation, which promotes the use of Irish language and culture both at home and abroad within a two-week festival held in March every year”. The literal translation of “Seachtain na Gaeilge” is “Irish Week” but in Ireland the concept of time is quite fluid and arbitrary. This year’s celebration of Irish culture began on the 5th of March and will finish on Paddy’s Day. Now, your definition of what constitutes Irish culture depends upon whether you consider yourself to be Irish or not and also upon where you call home. For example, many people who’ve... Similar posts

Deputy Richard Bruton, Finance spokesperson and Deputy leader of Fine Gael joined me on my radio show this week. Deputy Bruton talks about why he believes why you don’t have to be qualifed in your brief to be a Minister, why the civil service industrial action may be eventually futile and why Fine Gael is the... Similar posts

The pro-choice/pro-abortion movement often couch their arguments in the language of "human rights", but not only do they ignore the right of a defenceless unborn child not to be killed, they deprive it of any humanity by replacing the reality of life at its most fragile with dismissive rhetoric. That a radical feminist or embittered liberal would regard the unborn child as a parasite or tumour should (sadly) come as no surprise.Youth Defence member Kate Cullen has done great work in attending a recent pro-abortion conference and exposing these wonderful humanitarians who act as apologists for the most brutal of profiteering industries. Her report follows.YD SPY-FOR-LIFE: Pro-abort conference likens unborn child to tumourMar. 12, 2010YD member Kate Cullen went undercover to a "Choice... Similar posts

I’ve been keeping an eye on the price of the Sony Reader Touch and see that D.I.D. Electrical are offering it for €249.95 in store this weekend. Oddly, if you buy it direct on the website it will set you back €278.95. The Power City price has been pegged at  €249.95 for a couple of months now. Today I noticed that it’s now selling for €232.45, presumably in reaction to the D.I.D. offer. If you’ve been thinking about investing in an electronic reader I don’t think you can go wrong with the Sony offering. At this price, I think I may upgrade my old PRS-505. Any articles/blog posts/photos/stuff of interest I could blog about here ? Send the link direct to my iPhone now... Similar posts

(Left: a headshop near UCC, catering to the ample number of stoner losers among the student population.)The rapid spread of so-called headshops in Ireland has been getting media coverage in the last few months. Headshops sell drug paraphernalia, and in Ireland they often also sell "legal highs" that simulate the effects of harder drugs that are illegal. Many communities in which these shops have opened are concerned about them and their selling of dangerous substances to young people under the benign neglect of the law. There have even been attacks on headshops around the country - mostly fires, but also a pipe-bomb - although it does not seem to be yet clear who is behind these.One bit of encouraging news is that the public outcry over these seedy establishments has forced politicians to... Similar posts

It’s been fucking hijacked. St. Patrick’s Day. And not just destructively hijacked and ploughed into something, but worse. Constructively hijacked by the Patty’s Day Brigade and made bigger; an inflated leprechaun that’s been force fed stereotypes and then ignited. And as we totter backwards on our bar stools, luminous green leprechaun entrails raining down upon is, all we can ask is why the shit did they dye their river green? Ireland is green, fucking awesome, but not to the point of grabbing Mother Nature and pissing on her face, “MAKE SHIT MORE GREEN, LIKE IRELAND!” they presumably say from their brown suburbs and when she inevitably chokes from shock, they resort to human measures and start spraying E-numbered colouring around like children with not nearly enough good... Similar posts

The cat and the moon……., originally uploaded by magnum_lady(slow internet). Another old photo but because the cats get a mention today I thought I use this photo. I have to say how overwhelmed I have been by the kind words and support about my blog from the people on tripadvisor Today Lucy has had her friends over so they’ve been in and out most of the day. Andy, Jono and I managed to get out for a short walk. Andy is still recovering from the mountain walk I made him take last week! It’s Mothers Day here tomorrow, so mum is coming over for dinner. I made a black forest gateau today (first time I’ve made one), it’s a bit messy but it’ll do. I’ll post a photo tomorrow. I didn’t have a very good evening tonight. Somehow I managed... Similar posts

I’ve been waiting all year to post this. One of my favourite ever bits from Late Night With Conan O’Brien. I promise, this is my last Conan-related clip for at least six months. Oh go on then sure, I suppose, one more won’t...... Similar posts

Islamophobes of every hue continually cast Muslim concerns as a 'figment of our collective imaginations', this report says otherwise. Though coming from the major sponsor of terrorism and occupation of Muslim lands, it is regrettably a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Related posts:Religious Discrimination Black Spots in Europe: A Mask Removed Europe’s multiculturalism test Niqab Ban Breaches Privacy: EU Rights...... Similar posts

Just a quick post as I’ve gotten several e-mails asking for my WordCamp Ireland slides. The slides can be downloaded here: http://www.slideshare.net/martharotter/free-tools-for-wordpress-users-from-microsoft My talk was “Free Tools for WordPress Sites”, and I covered several free tools people can download to help improve their blogs and websites. A fantastic suggestion by my colleague Josh Holmes, who came down to Kilkenny after a staggering 16-day tour of Europe talking to developers, was to do short video clips of each tool.  I realized that the audience was quite broad so not everyone has the same background, and some of the tools are more complex than others. I will try to come back to this, but as I’m in Las Vegas this week with not much free time, it may take me a... Similar posts

Even before any day in court the media had painted them as ‘al Qaeda’ extremists, and most disappointingly Muslims jumped on the bandwagon. Related posts:Are You a Stranger? Should Muslims Aid the Police? Why does Islam forbid lesbianism and...... Similar posts

Bull Island is a new world, less than 200 years old. Grown from a mere sandback after Captain William Bligh (of the Bounty) made his 1801 proposal to stop the silting of the Liffey by constructing of the Bull Wall, the island is today a UNESCO biosphere reserve - a protected area that by definition is supposed to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature. I've been developing an ambitious project that questions the precarious balance between use and misuse of Bull Island. Brent geese migrate there from the Arctic; golfers, walkers, kitesurfers and boyracers arrive from the surrounding city. However, the very currents that bring the sand also washes ashore human detritus; and humans appear to transport other unwanted items to bull island in the backs of cars... Similar posts

It's strange how strands of seemingly unrelated stories can connect with each other. First, from the ongoing Jihad Jane/Swedish cartoonist Irish connection case --The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous sources familiar with the case, reported on its Web site that Paulin-Ramirez was being held in the alleged plot.Her stepfather, George Mott, said the FBI seized a desktop computer in late September but did not tell the family what they found.The Motts said they're concerned for the welfare of their grandson, who has been placed in the custody of Ireland's foster care system.And as for Ireland's foster care system, well it is currently under intense scrutiny since it's not clear who's actually looking out for the interests of the children in it.Indeed, the arrangements by which the... Similar posts

CORK South Central TD Michael McGrath has warmly welcomed the news that the NRA has given its approval for the planned interchanges at the Bandon road and Sarsfield road roundabouts to move to tender stage. “The NRA has given its approval for the tender process to proceed for these two strategically important interchanges on the N25 South Ring Road network. I understand the plan is to have contracts in place later this year, with construction on the interchanges starting next year. This is tremendous news for Cork City and County. “The completion of the Kinsale road interchange in 2006 had a hugely positive impact on the South Ring road network. The real benefits of that investment, however, were never going to be realised until the interchanges at the Bandon road and Sarsfield road... Similar posts

Deirdre Clune ONE day after Brian Cowen launched the Innovation Taskforce report without, Engineers Ireland has put action into words by offering free maths grinds. Fine Gael Innovation Spokesperson called on the Taoiseach to follow this example and set out a clear timetable for implementing the Innovation Taskforce report. “Engineers Ireland has been vocal in calling on the Government to reform the teaching of science and maths. This weekend the organisation will match its words with real actions by providing free maths grinds to higher level leaving cert students. “Brian Cowen’s Innovation Taskforce report also called bonus points for maths. This recommendation has been made on numerous occasions by both Engineers Ireland, and the National Competitiveness Council, as a key... Similar posts

John Paul O'Shea INDEPENDENT county councillor John Paul O’Shea this week welcomed the allocation of €8,116,492 to Cork County Council for the 2010 Housing Adaptation Grants Scheme. The scheme assists older people, people with mobility problems and people with a disability to make the necessary adaptations to their homes so they can continue to live independently in their own community. Cllr O’Shea said, “This allocation which represents and increase of over €1.8m compare to 2009 is indeed very welcome in such difficult financial times. Assisting older people, people with mobility problems and people with disabilities to continue to live in their own homes and communities has been one of my top priorities as a public representative. It is crucial that the most in need of this... Similar posts

Kenneth O'Flynn COUNCILLOR Kenneth O’Flynn has welcomed the news that €10 million will be spent in the Glen in the next two years. This will include the demolishment of the Errigal Heights flats as well as the as the building of 58 new housing units. Cllr O’Flynn said, “I am delighted with this news and think it is very good news for The Glen and the north side as a whole. Under the housing scheme, 43 three-bed units will be built, 12 two-bed units and three one-bedroom units. “This will help revitalise the area and bring new people and families into the Glen community. I am particularly glad that work on the demolition will be carried out. “The flats in their current states have acted as a haven for anti-social behaviour and caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for local... Similar posts