Court strikes out appeal by Tory hotel company

(This piece was originally published in the Tirconaill Tribune November 24th 2016)

The Supreme Court has struck out an appeal taken by the company that formerly owned Tory Island’s hotel against a High Court judgment. At a hearing on Tuesday it ordered that Co Down film-maker Neville Presho be immediately paid €46,000 in damages, which had already been lodged with the Court as a condition of permitting the appeal. The judges have also ordered the company’s former owner, Tory islander Patrick Doohan, to lodge an affidavit explaining how a judgment mortgage in favour of Presho was cancelled from a folio in land registry, without Presho or his legal team being told: why the Court was not told the company was dissolved: and why Presho’s legal team, and not Doohan, brought this to the Court’s attention.

The High Court awarded the damages in 2009, when it found Ostán Thoraigh Teoranta and Doohan were responsible for demolishing Presho’s house on Tory Island because it blocked the hotel’s view of the sea. First, the house was damaged by an unexplained fire. Then the walls were flattened by machinery. That Court heard dramatic evidence from Presho that he returned from New Zealand in 1993 and, as he approached Tory by ferry, saw that his house had disappeared to be replaced by a hotel car park. Two psychiatrists gave evidence this precipitated his decline into severe mental illness. At the time, the case attracted international publicity.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to an application from Presho’s barrister, Cormac Ó Dúlacháin, instructed by solicitor Michael Gillespie, that the appeal by Ostán Thoraigh be struck out. “The Company does not exit and is not in a position to proceed with the appeal,” Judge Frank Clarke said, speaking on behalf of the three judges.

Ó Dúlacháin made the application at the start of the hearing. He told the Court the company Ostán Thoraigh had been dissolved on April 6^th. Its principal asset, the hotel on Tory Island, had been sold in December last. As a result of the High Court award, his client had registered a mortgage against the hotel. However, on the current folio in Land Registry “our judgement appears as cancelled.” He told the Court his client had received no notification the company was dissolved.

Séamas Ó Tuathail, barrister for Doohan, said this information came as a surprise to him. “Mr Doohan wants to go ahead to clear his name,” he said. He initially said the company still owned the property, but accepted it did not when Ó Dúlacháin interjected and offered to show him the documentation.

The three judges adjourned the hearing for 30 minutes. On their return, Judge Clarke instructed that the €46,000 be paid to Presho, with his legal costs. He also expressed concern at the way the company had been dissolved.

“The Court is concerned at the information brought to its attention today regarding the judgment mortgage obtained by Mr Presho,” the Judge said. There were three matters. The company ceased to own the hotel. A charge in favour of Ulster Bank on the folio was cancelled. On the same date “a judgment mortgage in favour of Mr Presho was cancelled. The Court has been informed by counsel for Mr Presho that no notice was given to his side.”

The Court ordered that, in order to proceed with his appeal, Doohan would have to file the affidavit

by December 16^th.

'Lend a listening ear' mourners told

(A slightly edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday Life of December 4th)

A priest has told over 1,000 mourners at the funeral of tragic Omagh teen and Gaelic footballer Clare McSorley to listen out for one another. Monsignor Joseph Donnelly told the packed congregation in the town’s Sacred Heart Church “if there is a problem, lend a listening ear.”

In his sermon, Monsignor Donnelly said the sadness of the day was in contact to the personality of Clare. “She was respectful of all who knew her,” he said. “She blossomed as a skilled player on the GAA field, playing for her club. For all her achievements, she had a care and attention for the younger members.”

He spoke of how the Lord’s presence can be felt in many ways,  such as when he was attending the memorial ceremony for Clare at Drumragh GAA Club’s clubhouse on Wednesday last. “There were many seats, and I thought if we fill that we’ve done well,” he said. “They only held a fraction of those who were there. The people were lining both sides of the hall. It was a message of support for Clare and her family.”

He then touched on the tragedy which had brought the congregation together. “There are questions as to why the tragedy had happened,” Monsignor Donnelly said. He quoted from Clare’s father, Tommy’, message on Facebook: “‘Please, please don't suffer in silence and let someone know how you feel - there are so many ways to communicate with each other these days but yet there are those out there who feel they can't’.

“For young people I say particularly, listen out for one another. If there is a problem, lend a listening ear.

Monsignor Donnelly quoted an old Celtic prayer: “Be not disturbed/ Be gentle with the one who walks with grief/ If it is you, be gentle with yourself/ Swiftly forgive, walk slowly,/ Pause often, /Take time /Be gentle as you walk with grief.”

Then family and friends brought up offertory gifts, among them a Drumragh football jersey.

Throughout the Mass, a group of Clare’s friends sang and played guitars and a fiddle. Towards end of the service, they played Kodaline’s “All I want”. As the last line ‘I’ll find somebody’ died away the congregation burst into spontaneous applause.

At the end of the Mass, Monsignor Donnelly spoke briefly again, thanking all who had come. “It is a great reflection of the esteem in which Clare was held in the community,” he said.

As the congregation left the church, many younger mourners were crying. Outside, a school friend and his mother had been unable to get into the crowded church. Both were sobbing uncontrollably.

Then her father and other family members carried the white coffin out of the church, followed by her two sisters, both sobbing. Schoolmates from Drumragh Integrated College formed a guard of honour at the church door as she was carried out. On the road, the street was flanked by players of all ages from Drumragh GAA Club, wearing club tops, as the cortege moved slowly off to the cemetery.

Joe Law - Shankill Road communist and trade unionist

(A slightly edited version of this obituary was published in the Irish Times of November 26th 2016)

Joe Law born October 27^th 1946 – died September 28^th 2016

Joe Law, who has died suddenly in his native Belfast, made a major contribution to dealing with sectarianism in workplaces in the North, through his role delivering anti-sectarian training with the trade-union backed Trademark organisation. He was a self-taught working-class intellectual from Belfast’s Shankill Road, an active trade unionist, a stalwart of the Communist Party of Ireland, and committed to keeping alive the memory of those from Ireland who joined the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.

For many years he was an Amalgamated Transport and General Workers shop steward in the Shorts aircraft factory in Belfast. Because of his stance against the flying of Loyalist flags, he was threatened and had bullets left in his locker.

Law’s socialism and trade unionism flowed from life experience. James Kennedy Law – always known as Joe - was born off Belfast’s Shankill Road in October 1946, one of a family of two girls and two boys to George Law, a clerk in a mill, and his wife Susie (née Kennedy). He was educated at Hemsworth Square School, known as ‘The Henhouse’.

Leaving school, he completed an apprenticeship as a joiner, and worked in several factories. Already conscious of injustice, he felt he was employed because he was Protestant.

Seeking wider horizons, he emigrated to England. His experience in the British merchant navy made him socialist. Ships he served on called into ports in South Africa, then suffering under apartheid. A black man came onto the ship, and called Law ‘master’. Law replied: “Don’t call me master. I’m from the Shankill, mate.”

Returning home, he joined the Communist Party and became an active trade unionist. He saw himself as a Republican, not in the sense of armed struggle but of the United Irishmen.

He believed that workers’ unity was possible in the North. He joked that he came from a Stalinist tradition, and his wife Brenda from the Trotskyist tradition. If they could get on, anyone could.

Joe Law is survived by his wife, Brenda.

The Gaels of Lewis would dump Trump

(An edited version of this was published on Tuairisc.ie on November 21st 2016)

Ba chainteoir dúchais Gaeilge na hAlban í máthair Donald Trump. Rugadh Mary Anne Nic Leòid i dTunga ar Eilean Leòdhas an 10 Bealtaine 1912. B’iad Calum Mac Leòid, iascaire agus croitéar, agus a bhean Màiri (Nic a’ Ghobhainn faoin a h-ainm féin) na tuismitheoirí, Mary Anne ar an duine ab óige de 10 clainne.

Ba cheantar láidir ag an teanga é. De réir daonáirimh 1901, bhí Gaeilge na hAlban ag 91.2% sa cheantar. Ní raibh Béarla ach ag 17.2%. D’imigh Mary Anne go Meiriceá i 1929. De réir an daonáirimh dhá bhliain dar gcionn, bhí Gaeilge na hAlban ag 85.5% sa pharóiste.

Tá Tunga trí mile go leith amach as Steòrnabhaigh, príomh-bhaile an oileáin, mar a raib riamh an lámh in uachtar ag an Bhéarla.

Mar sin féin, tá Gaeilge na hAlban beo beathach ann ar fad i dTunga. De réir daonáirimh 2011, bhí Gaeilge ag 51% den phobal in Aird Thunga. Is í an Ghaeilge teanga an tí ag 36% acu. Bunaíodh Aonad Gàidhlig sa bhunscoil i mbliana. Tá Còisir Ghàidhlig Thunga ann, páirt mhór aige i saol an phobail.

Tá dúchas saibhir ann, dúchas nár léirigh Trump riamh suim sa. Thug sé cúpla cuairt, nár mhair go rò-fhada.

Ní raibh Leòdhasaigh ar bith sásta labhairt ar an taifead faoi Trumpa, ach b’é an port céanna a bhí aci. Tá náire ar bhunadh an oileáin go raibh baint ar bith aige leis.

Ainneoin na maoine atá aige, ní dhearna sé infheistíocht ar bith san áit. Dar leofa siúd a labhair liom gur a mhalairt de dhuine ar fad í a dheirfiúr Maryanne. Nuair a d’iarr an t-oispís i Steòrnabhaigh airgead ar mhuintir Trump, thug sise suim suntasach. Níor thug seisean pingin rua.

Locht eile a luaitear ná gur tiarna talún a athair. Is fuath le Leòdhasigh iad seo, de bharr Fuadach nan Gàidheal sna 18ú agus 19ú Céid, nuair a díbríodh pobail ina n-iomláine.

Leis, muna bhfuil Leòdhas chomh cráifeach agus a bhí, ach an tEaglais Shaor láidir ann. Tá áiteanna ar fad atá chomh Sabóideach sin nach gcuireann daoine a gcuid níochán amach Dé Domhnaigh. Cuireann saol pearsanta agus iompar Trump an-olc ar na pobail sin.

Tá dhá leathanach Facebook ann, a léiríonn meoin an phobail. Tá ‘Isle of Lewis does not support Trump for President’ ann, 785 ‘likes’ aige. Bhí ‘Isle of Lewis supports Trump for President’ ann ar dtús, gan ach 151 ‘likes’ aige sin.

Spanish fascists attack memorial to Tyrone poet

(A slighly edited version of this piece was published in The Sunday World of November 20th 2016)

Spanish fascists have attacked a monument to Dungannon poet Charlie Donnelly, who was killed fighting Fascism in the Spanish Civil War. The memorial is in  Rivas-Vaciamadrid, on the outskirts of Madrid. The fascists threw blue paint over it. In Spain, the colour blue is associated with the far-right.

The City Council immediately repaired the monument. Eddie O’Neill, of the Irish International Brigade Memorial Trust, said local people are very supportive of the monument. “They have a great gratitude to the foreign volunteers like Donnelly who came to Spain to fight Fascism,” he said. “The monument contains a stone from every county in Ireland, and the main stone comes from Dungannon, near Charlie Donnelly’s home. The City Council gave the ground.” He said that, unfortunately, there was still an element in Spain who targeted memorials to anti-Fascist martyrs.

Charlie Donnelly was a major Irish poet of the 1930s, killed before he could fulfil his potential. He was born in Killybrackey, just outside Dungannon, in July 1914. The family moved, first to Dundalk then to Dublin. He studied briefly at University College, Dublin. He was expelled from the University, and twice jailed for left-wing activities. He was both writing poems and very involved in socialist movements. At 20 he was on the executive of short-lived left-wing organisation Republican Congress.

When a section of the army, with support from Nazi Germany, rebelled against the democratic government in Spain, he joined the  International Brigades. After short training, he was promoted to Company Commander. His unit was sent into the Battle of Jarama, where it prevented the fascists winning a decisive victory.  On 27 February 1937 he and his fellow-volunteers were taking cover among olive trees from heavy fire .  He picked up a handful of olives and said: “Even the olives are bleeding.” He never spoke again, because within minutes he was killed.

There will be a commemoration in Dungannon in February next to mark the 80^th anniversary of his death.

Arranmore writer learnt from storytelling tradition 

(a slightly edited version of this piece was published in 'An tUltach' September 2016)

Nuair a bhuail mé le Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird in ostán i Leitir Ceanainn, bhí cuma air ón dtaobh eile den seomra go raibh sé ar a chompórd leis féin. Is mar sin atá fear seo Árainn Mhóir – múinteoir, úrscéalaí, file, drámadóir, duine den bhuíon maith scríobhneoir Conallach atá anois ann.

Ní i dtreo na scríobhneoireachta a spreagadh i dtús báire é, ach i dtreo na scéalaíochta é ó bhí sé ina leanbh – nó bhí sé sa dúchas aige, ar an dá thaobh. “Bhí an t-ádh orm nuair a bhí mé ag fás aníos, nó an bheirt athair mór a bhí agam, ar thaobh m’athara bhí Franc Neilí Eoin, agus bhí Joe Mhicí Ned ar thaobh mo mháthara, agus an bheirt acu bhí siad iontach maith ag insint scéalta,” ar seisean. “Nuair a bhí mise óg, nuair a bhí mé i mo thachrán ag fás aníos, bheinn ag fanacht leofa go minic i rith an tsamhraidh agus mar sin, agus ba ghnáth leo teacht isteach agus scéalta a insint dom nuair a bhí mé ag dul a luí. Franc, bhí cuid mhór scéalta aige, agus chuir mé suim iontu is dócha, agus blianta ina dhiaidh sin tháinig mé ar na scéalta céanna i mbailiúchán, bailiúchán béaloideasa, agus ní raibh fhios agam a dhath ar bith fá dtaobh dó, ach caithfidh gur sean-sean scéalta a bhí aige sin. Agus an fear eile, Joe Mhicí Ned, ní raibh a dhath ar bith nach bhfaca sé, chonaic sé tomhais, chonaic sé an Mhaighdean Mhara, na Mic Ua Gorra ag teacht isteach, síóga, achan rud a thiocfadh leatsa smaointiú air, bhí sé feicthe aige. Ba ghnáth leisean na scéalta sin a insint domsa. So, ó bhí mé iontach iontach óg, bhí scéalta thart timpeall orm an t-am uilig.”

Agus é thart ar 18 nó 19, shíl sé gur mhaith an rud cuid de na scéalta a scríobh síos. “Déarfainn, an céad rud a tháinig chugam ná scéalaíocht agus suim sa bhéaloideas,” arsa Mac a’ Bhaird. “Agus, nuair a bhí mé ar an Choláiste ansin, rinne mé tráchtas ar an bhéaloideas agus béaloideas Árainn Mhóir. So bhí an tráchtas seo scríofa agam, agus lá amháin bhí mé ag caint le Pádraig Ó Snodaigh i gClub an Chonartha i mBaile Átha Cliath, agus bhíomar go díreach ag an bhéar agus bhí muid ag ól pionta, agus d’iarr sé orm an tráchtas a thabhairt dó, agus chuir sé amach mar leabhar é. Níor shíl mé a dhath de bheith ag scríobh leabhair an t-am údaí.”

Bhí an tráchtas bunaithe ar ábhar a bailíodh faoi Scéim na Scol i 1937-8. Thosaigh an leabhar ar an scríobhneoireacht é.

Mhair an dúil a bhí aige sa bhéaloideas, agus thug sé leis cuid de na scéalta a chuala sé ina óige, gur bhain úsáid as gnéithe díobh ina dhiaidh sin agus é ag scríobh scéalta do pháistí.

Thóg sé, leis, óna bheirt athair mhór tuiscint ar an dóigh le scéal a aithris. Ní raibh a fhios aige agus é óg go raibh sé ag foghlaim scileanna a bheadh úsáideacha níos faide anonn, ach bhí. “Má tá tú ag scríobh, ba mhaith leat é a scríobh ar dhóigh a thuigfeá féin é, nó go mbainfeá féin sult as, nó rud mar sin,” ar seisean.

Ar ndóigh, tá Mac a’ Bhaird ag foghlaim i dtólamh. In amannaí bíonn air taighde a dhéanamh leis an ábhar atá idir lámh aige a scríobh mar is ceart, agus “nuair a dhéanann tú an taighde, saibhríonn sé do chuid eolais féin.”

Cibé gné den scríobhneoireacht atá sé ag cleachtadh “níl ach méid áirithe go dtig leat a chur síos ar an pháipéar, ach tarraingíonn tú as achan áit, agus ansin piocann tú cad iad na rudaí is suimiúla, nó na rudaí a rachas leis an scéal.”

Tá éagsúlacht sna gnéithe den scríobhneoireacht a chleachtaíonn Mac a’ Bhaird. “Is maith liom an drámaíocht mar is rud é a bhaineann leis an chluas,” ar seisean. “Achan rud a bhaineann leis an drama, íomh agus cluas agus mar sin de atá ann. Is maith liom bheith ag éisteacht le daoine. Nuair atá mé sa bhaile agus a deir seanduine, nó duine ar bith, focal atá coimthíoch nó nár mhothaigh mé roimhe, bíonn mo chluas i gcónaí ar bior agus mé ag iarraidh – cad é an focal sin? – an dóigh a bhfuil sé dá úsáid agus mar sin. Is maith liom bheith ag éisteacht, so taitníonn an drama liom nó tá tú ag obair le glórthaí.”

Tá difear leis an phrós. “Nuair atá mise ag scríobh próis, chomh fada agus a thig liom, is maith liomsa é a bheith, ní simplí ach so-thuigthe. An meoin atá agam, an cinéal pros a chleachtaim, ní prós liteartha é, ní James Joyce nó Máirtín Ó Cadhain. Is maith liom leabhair gur mhaith liom féin a phiocadh suas agus a léamh, ar an trá nó ar eitleán nó ar an bhus. Bíonn sin chun tosaigh i m’intinn i gcónaí nuair atá mé ag scríobh próis. Bím ag smaointiú – an bhfuil mé ag éirí ró-domhain don léitheoir anseo? Má cheannaíonn tú mo leabharsa, ba mhaith liom go mbainfeá sult as.” Is fearr leis gan an scéal a bheith casta, agus luas a bheith leis.”

Is ceird difriúil arís scríobh na filíochta. “Uaireanta, glacann sé níos mó ama dán deich líne a scríobh ná mar a ghlacfadh sé trí caibideal d’úrscéal a scríobh,” ar seisean. “Is san fhilíocht a bhím cinéal ag súgradh leis an teanga. B’fhéidir ag cur síneadh leis an teanga agus ag lúbadh na teanga. Ag éirí scéalta a insint, ach ar bhealach níos ealaíonta, b’fhéidir.”

Thosaigh sé ar an scríobhneoireacht mar is ceart i ndiaidh an chéid leabhair. Dhá bhliain ina dhiaidh sin, foilsíodh an céad úrscéal uaidh. Ba “caitheamh aimsire” aige an scríobhneoireacht, nó tá sé iontach deacair do bheatha a thabhairt i dtír mar scríobhneoir Gaeilge.

Is “caitheamh aimsire” é go gcuireann sé dua leis. Tógann sé suas le ceithre nó cúig bliain air creatlach dáin nó úrscéala a chur lena chéile. Cuireann sé ansin sprioc-am roimhe, go dtugann faoi.

“Ba mhaith leat bheith chomh maith agus a thig leat nuair a bhíonn tú ag cur rud amach,” ar seisean. “Tá cuid mhór, mhór rudaí a scríobhaim nach bhfeiceann solas an lae choíche.” Agus é níos óige, ní raibh sé chomh cúramach. Bhí deifir air, b’fhéidir ag éirí barraíocht a dhéanamh ró-ghasta. Anois, tugann sé am don snas agus don phrofléitheoireacht, agus cuireann roimhe caighdeán ard a bhaint amach.

Tá saol gnóthach ag Mac a’ Bhaird. I mbliana, nuair a chríochnaigh an coláiste Gaeilge in Árann Mór ag deireadh Mhí Iúil, shocraigh sé “níl mé ag dul a dhath ar bith eile a dhéanamh ach a bheith ag scríobh. Agus sin a rinne mé Mí Lúnasa ar fad.”

Caitheann sé go leoir dá chuid ama in Árann Mór. Is teanga pobail, ní teanga cúise, an Ghaeilge ann. Achan Aoine, imríonn sé ‘25’ le naonúr nó deichniúr eile “agus is i nGaeilge a bhíonn an cluiche. Níl duine ar bith ag suí síos agus ag rá ‘beidh fiche’s a cúig trí mheán na Gaeilge againn’. Ní cúis atá ann. Táimid ag labhairt Gaeilge mar gur sin an teanga ab fhusa le cumarsáid a dhéanamh.”  

Bubbly, caring and loved woman died sad death

(A slightly edited version of this was published in the 'Ulster Herald' October 27th 2016)

The Coroner has told an inquest into a Fintona woman’s death that it was sad a woman with such a loving family died as she did. Sixty-two year old Betty Quinn was found dead in her home at McCaughey Terrace on December 8th last year.

A family member told the inquest in Enniskillen that Ms Quinn had been in the South West Hospital for 10 days less than a month before she died. Coroner Joseph McCrisken said this was outside the scope of the inquest, and the family could pursue it elsewhere if they wished.

Coroner Joseph McCrisken found Ms Quinn died of complications from diabetes and from coronary heart disease. Bleeding from wounds to the scalp were a secondary cause. Police had initially been called to the scene, because of bloodstains throughout the house. However, they decisively ruled out foul play.

Forensic pathologist Dr Parsons said the complications of diabetes led to “incidents of confusion, dizziness, and could act as a cause of this lady falling.” He also found severe narrowing of one artery leading to the heart.

Next door neighbour Joanne Gordon found Ms Quinn on December 8th last year. She was concerned the lights were on in the house, but there was no response to knocks. Unusually, the television was not on. Ms Quinn normally went to a club on Tuesdays. “When she didn’t go, we knew something was wrong,” she said.

When she went in, she found the house flooded. Ms Quinn had turned the taps in the bathroom on, but was unable to turn them off. She was lying dead on the settee, in her dressing gown.

GP Dr Maighread McKelvey gave evidence of visiting Ms Quinn at home some time before her death. She had wanted to admit Ms Quinn to hospital but “she didn’t want to go to hospital.”

Ms Quinn’s sister Philomena said she had gone downhill after her partner was admitted to a care home. Ms Quinn had been “very outgoing, very bubbly, very caring, she looked after our own mother.”

However, she increasingly suffered depression, vertigo, and an eating disorder as well as insulin-dependent diabetes. Ms Gordon said Ms Quinn was obsessed with her weight. “There was a pair of navy trousers, and because she couldn’t get into them she lived on cups of soup for four weeks,” Ms Gordon said. This led to Ms Quinn being hospitalised for malnutrition, less than a month before her death.

The Coroner said he could not ascertain the trigger for Ms Quinn’s confusion, but it was a combination of poor control of diabetes and an infection. Due to her heart condition, she could have died at any time. “It’s a terrible situation for a woman that had such a loving family,” he said.

Clannad founder who changed traditional music

(A slighly edited piece was published in the Irish Times of August 20th 2016)

Pádraig Duggan - born 23 January 1949 – died 9 August 2016

Pádraig Duggan, who has died after a long battle with ill-health, was one of a generation of musicians who set new frontiers for Irish traditional song, with harmonies and delicate instrumental accompaniment. With his twin brother, Noel, his niece and his nephews he founded Clannad in the early 1970s. Their innovations found entirely new audiences and new life for ancient songs and melodies.

Duggan achieved an impressive body of work, being one of the founders of the Celtic music genre. In the early 1970s, he wrote ‘Liza’, the first successful pop song in Irish. In it, he took the lesson of the Beatles and brought a new style of music into Irish. The song is still lively and attractive.

Duggan was involved in composing the first Irish-language song to feature in the UK charts, the 1982 theme from ‘Harry’s Game’. This made millions aware that Irish existed, and was vibrant.

He was a great musical talent with an instinctive understanding of harmony. He first learnt the piano, then the guitar, mandolin, flute, harmonica and drums. He grew up surrounded by traditional music. Growing to maturity in the 1960s, he absorbed their musical influences, particularly the Beach Boys and their harmonies. He learnt, too, by being drummer in the danceband led by his brother-in-law, Leo Brennan.

He and his twin brother Noel were born in January 1949, youngest of six children, two girls and four boys, to Aodh ‘Gog’ Duggan, a National Teacher and his wife Máire (née Nic Giolla Easpaic). The family was musical. He was educated at Dore National School, followed by secondary schooling at Ard Scoil Mhuire in Gweedore. After school, he studied to be a marine radio officer, until the call of music became too strong.

When Brennan bought a pub in the area in the late 1960s, he had begun to play there with his twin. Their niece and nephews, little older than they were, sometimes joined them. Initially, they mostly played conventional English-language material.

However, they had a spirit of musical invention. They sang the occasional song in Irish, and found listeners wanted to hear those.

With Noel, he went out and recorded songs all round north-west Donegal. Many were old and almost forgotten. The twins then made their own arrangements of the songs. These found an enthusiastic response, initially among patrons of Leo’s pub, then further afield.

The family group needed a name to enter a folk music competition, and decided to use the name Clannad. The roots of the name have little of its Celtic magic: it was ‘Clann as Dobhair’ or ‘A Family from Dore’.

Duggan was a hard worker. The band had toured and gigged on the folk music scene for almost a dozen years until success came with the theme from Harry’s Game.

As well as playing with Clannad, Duggan had personal projects. He and Noel recorded an album as ‘The Duggans’. They toured Germany as part of the band ‘Norland Wind’.

As a teenager, Duggan began playing music because he enjoyed it. He never lost that enjoyment. Thus, the internationally famous musician was a member of Dore marching band for over 50 years. He last played with it at Easter this year.

His death, so soon after that of his brother-in-law Brennan, marks the end of an era. Ní bheidh a leithéidí arís ann – their likes will not be seen again.

He is survived by his wife, Jan: sister Máire (Baba): and brothers Eoin and Columba. He was predeceased by his sister Bríd.

EU did not bring any great Irish unity

(an edited version of this piece was published in 'Village' July-August 2016)

The spectre of strict Border controls was raised round the UK referendum on membership of the European Union (EU). Certainly, it was part of the ‘Project Fear’ tactic of the Remain campaign.

It has also struck a chord with many in communities round the Border.

However, this ignores the historical fact that controls were at their tightest after 1973 when both states on the island were members of the EU. For a generation most traffic had to pass through round 20 fortified military checkpoints on the Border. Those passing through usually had to produce identification. Long waits were common. Prolonged and unpleasant searches were also common, particularly of young males whose names indicated they were Catholic.

Small roads across the Border were open from 1922, long before either state was in the EU. For a generation after 1973, during EU membership, at least 192 were closed. Farms were divided, with farmers having to do round journeys of up to 30 miles to access fields a hundred yards away. Every single road on the Border between Leitrim and Fermanagh was closed.  Border towns were strangled economically. Kiltyclogher in Leitrim is half a mile from the Border. Historically, it was the market town for a large part of West Fermanagh. The three roads leading into Fermanagh were closed, leaving the nearest legal crossing a dozen miles away. Six of eight pubs have closed. The population has fallen by approximately 50% since the 1960s: it can no longer support a GAA team, or the secondary school it once had.

Clones in Co Monaghan was for a long time the market town for much of South Fermanagh. Much of that trade continued after Partition. For a generation after EU accession in 1973, five of eight roads into the town were either blocked or had permanent military checkpoints. As a result, in 20 years the population fell by over 33%. There are at least a dozen closed businesses on its principal street, Fermanagh Street.

Paradoxically, the pro-Brexit DUP has been strong in saying that free movement of people across the Broder has to continue.

Currency is another area where differences between North and South have developed since EU accession. Before 1979 there was currency union: it was possible to use the same notes and coins from Bushmills to Baltimore. That changed after 1979. In Border area, sterling and euro notes are both accepted, and frequently coins also. That is not the case further away. However, there are great problems with bank payments, with heavy charges levied on cheques.

Another strengthening of division is that since both states joined the EU, there has been a lessening of free movement for students, with fewer Northern students coming South.

TCD historically educated significant number of Northerners, notably sizeable numbers from Protestant backgrounds. Their numbers are greatly reduced. There were only 160 Northerners there in the academic year 2014-5. UCD also used to attract many Northerners. Its numbers have held slightly better, with 229 in 2014-5.

Dundalk IT is approximately four miles from Co Armagh, thus within walking distance for a fit student. On most recent figures, it only had 17 Northern students. Letterkenny IT is only 17 miles from Co Tyrone. It only had eight Northern students, according to the most recent figures.

Thus, on some counts, division cannot be worsened by Brexit.

There has also been an element of moral panic round the whole vote. Certainly, there was a significant right-wing racist element. However, what was most significant was the way in which the political elites are out of touch with those they purport to represent.

In the North, the majority voted Remain. However, being the North, there was a sectarian element to it – as there is to most elements of society.

Forty-four point two percent voted to leave the EU. That indicates that a majority of Unionist voters followed the DUP’s lead to do so. Seven of the North’s 18 constituencies voted for Brexit, all majority Protestant. However, North Down, the second most Protestant of the North’s 18 constituencies, voted Remain. So did the majority Protestant constituencies of North Belfast and East Derry.

There were divisions, however. The majority of the Ulster Unionist Party was pro-Remain. The two People Before Profit Assembly members called for a leave vote, from a left-wing perspective and thus on a different basis to the two Leave campaigns. The annual Conference of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), the largest public-sector union, also voted in support of withdrawal.

There was a significant ‘leave’ vote from the Catholic community. Many were embarrassed to come out publicly on this, given its perceived connections to right-wing Unionism: in private conversation, quite a number admitted as to how they voted.

While the Sinn Féin leadership was enthusiastic, the party base was much less so. This was another u-turn, the Party having opposed membership and opposed every previous referendum in the South. Significantly, the electoral machine did not swing into action to mobilise Remain support.

In West Belfast, the need to vote is part of the culture. This time, it had the lowest turnout in the UK, at 48.9%. The constituency is 80% perceived Catholic, and 25% voted leave.

From a constitutional point of view, the vote will not have an immediate effect on the North. However, in the long-term it will. It has strengthened calls for Scottish independence.

Scotland is a significant part of Unionist-Loyalist identity. Not only did many come from Scotland during the Plantations, but there has been movement before and since. Presbyterianism is the largest Protestant denomination. Scottish flags used be common round the 12^th. There has been a growing interest in Ulster-Scots culture.

On a day-to-day basis, Glasgow Rangers Football Club was a major part of identity for many young people. Before its implosion, and removal from the Premiership, buses left every sizeable town for games every Saturday.

It now seems the momentum towards Scottish independence will be unstoppable. The UK state will be at an end. The effects on Northern Unionist-Loyalist identity are as yet unclear. It will certainly be changed.

Meanwhile, the result is throwing up paradoxes. Ian Paisley Junior, known to Loyalists as ‘Baby Doc’, has tweeted encouraging Northerners to apply for Irish passports to keep EU citizenship: “My advice is if you are entitled to a second passport then take one.”

New book examines Maamtrasna murders - how a community turned on itself

Céad tríocha’s a dó bliain ó shoin, réab fiántas trí gleann 

iargúlta ar an teorainn idir Gallimh agus Muigh Eo, ar 

bhruacha Locha Measca. Dúmaraíodh cúigear as an

aon teaghlach amháin: athair, máthair, iníon, mac

agus seanmháthair. Thug triúr ón bpobal fianaise

bréige, mar go raibh naimheas idir iad agus comharsan.

Díoladh suimeanna suntasacha airgid leo. Gabhadh deichniúr 

de bharr an fhianaise. Ar an deichniúr sin, thiontaigh beirt ina 

n- ollbhrathadóir: crochadh triúr: agus gearradh príosún saoil 

ar chúigear. Fuair beirt den chúigear sin bás agus iad faoi ghlas.

Ar an triúr a crochadh, bhí Maolrua Seoighe iomlán 

neamchiontach. Ba i mBéarla a cuireadh cúirt airsean, 

agus ar an seachtar eile, i gcúirt mar nach raibh Gaeilge 

ag breitheamh, dlíodóirí – idir cúisithe agus cosanta: 

cainteoir Gaeilge a bhí ann, gan focal Béarla aige.

Bhí Mám Trasna i mbéal an phobail ar feadh na mblianta, 

gur chuir an dóigh gur cuireadh Mhaolrua Seoighe chun

 báis alltacht ar dhaoine. Pléadh i bpairlimint Westminster é.

Anois,tá leabhar amuigh ar an chás, ‘Éagóir’ le

Seán Ó Cuirreáin, Iar-Choimisinéar teangan agus Conallach atá ag cur faoi i gConamara. Dúirt Seán go bhfuil sé ag cur suime sa scéal “nuair a thug mé faidir go raibh grúpa thall sa Bhreatain i mbun feachtais le iarracht a dhéanamh go bhfógródh rialtas na Breatine gur iomrall ceartais nó miscarriage of justice a bhí i gceist sa chás sin. Agus na daoine a bhí i gceist beirt bhall de Theach na dTiarnaí, Lord Avebury agus Lord Alton. Anois, Lord Alton, is de bhunadh na Gaeltachta Gaillimh-Muigh Eo é.” Chaitheadh Alton an samhradh i gcónaí i Muigheo, gur chuala scéal Mhám Trasna cloiste aige. “Nuair a bhí deis aige, shíl sé brú a chur ar rialtas na Breataine pardún iar-bháis a fháil do na daoine sin,” arsa Seán. “Bhí mise ag plé le cúrsaí cearta teangan ag an am sin, mar Chomisinéar Teangan, agus d’eagraigh muid ocáid i nGallimh, le béim a chur ar an cheart atá ar fáil anois Gaeilge a úsáid sna cúirteanna.... “D’úsáid muid cás Mám Trasna mar shampla, mar ní raibh ceart dá laghad ag na fir bhochta, cainteoirí aonteangacha Gaeilge a bhí ina bhformhór,” ar seisean. “Cuid acu, ní raibh focal ar bith Béarla acu. Cuireadh ar triail iad trí córas a bhí rite go hiomlán trí Béarla. Níor thuig siad cad é bhí ag dul ar aghaidh formhór an ama.” Ba cheist cearta teangan a tharraing aird Sheáin ar an scéal i dtús báire, ach de réir mar ar chuir sé suim ann, rinne sé taighde.... “Duine ar bith a dhéanas taighde faoi scéal den chinéal sin, nó go deimhin duine ar bith a léas an leabhar seo, caithfidh sé dul i bhfeidhm orthu muna bhfuil croí acu atá déanta de cloch. Scéal truamhéileach an dóigh gur réabadh trí pobal beag daoine, Scrios an méid a tharla an pobal sin, gur dúnmaraíodh teaghlach bocht... Ina dhiaidh sin gur tháinig daoine áitiúla chun cinn sa phobal le fianaise a thabhairt, fianaise mar a tharla a bhí bréagach, ansin gur cionntaíodh ochtar as an phobal sin as an dúnmharú, gur crochadh triúr acu agus gur cuireadh cúigear acu i bpríosún ar feadh a saol... agus go bhfuair beirt acu bás sa phríosún, duine amháin i ndiaidh trí bliana déag, an duine eile i ndiaidh ocht mbliana déag. Agus an triúr deireannach, níor scaoileadh as an phríosún iad go dtí go raibh fiche bliain déanta acu, agus nuair a scaoileadh as an phríosún iad, cuireadh abhaile ar an traen iad, agus shiúil siad an t-ocht mile déag deireannach ó stáisiún na traenach trasna an chnoic san oíche agus sa dorchadas agis sa bhaisteach go dtí a n-áit dúchas... Is scéal fíor-brónach go deo é, ach is scéal fíor é. “Sa léargas a thug mé den scéal, tá mé iomlán dílís don fhírínne. Chuaigh mé siar go dtí na bun-cáipéisí atá ar fáil ins na cartlanna anseo in Éirinn agus sa Bhreatain, go dtí na tuairiscí nuachtán, taifead na gcúirteanna, agus tá taifead iomlán ar an chás cúirte ar fáil ins an Chartlann Náisiúnta i mBaile Átha Cliath. ...  “Sin rud amháin, nuair a bhí réimeas na Breataine i gceannas ar an tír seo, bhí siad iontach maith ag rud amháin, ag coinneáil taifead ar rudaí, agus tá na cáipéisí coinnithe go hiontach ar fad. Mar shampla, tá chuile focal a labhraíodh sa chúirt ó thús an chéid trialach go dtí an ceann deireannach, tá sé ar fad ann. Chomh maith le sin, tá go leoir leoir ábhar eile i gcartlanna sa Bhreatain. Tá go leoir altanna sna nuachtáin. Mar shampla, fuair mé dhá mhíle sé céad alt i nuachtáin na Breataine amháin faoi chás Mám Trasna idir ocht gcéad ochtó’s a dó agus ocht gcéad ochtó’s a cúig. “An chúis go bhfuil an taighde níos simplí anois, tá go leoir den ábhar seo ar fáil go digiteach anois, ar líne. Mar shampla, pléadh cás Mám Trasna go minic i bPairlimint Westminster. Agus má tá tú ag éirí aon rud a léamh faoin bplé a tharla i Westminster faoi, níl le déanamh ach dul go dtí an suíomh idirlíon in a bhfuil taifead iomlán ar dhíospóireachtaí Westminster, Hansard mar a tugtar air. Téann tú go dtí Hansard, cuireann tú isteach an focal ‘Mám Trasna’, cuireann tú isteach na focail b’fhéidir ‘Myles Joyce’, agus gheobhaidh tú na h-altanna ar fad, na h-óráidí ar fad, na ceisteanna pairliminte ar fad.” Tá lorg na n-eachtraí ar an áit i gcónaí “nó bhí na daoine uilig ansin gaolta le céile, cairdiúil le céile, mór le céile. Mhair an t-aighneas agus an choimhlint agus an scoilt sin i measc an phobail ní ar feadh na mblianta ach ar feadh na nglúnta, agus maireann riain dhe go fóill. Nílimid ach ag caint ar trí glúin siar, céad tríocha bliain ó shoin nó mar sin. ... Tuigeann daoin cén taobh go raibh said ceangailte leis, ar thaobh an teaghlaigh a dúnmaraíodh, ar thaobh na daoine a thug fianaise bréige, an raibh siad i measc na daoine a crochadh go héagórach nó a cuireadh i bpríosún go héagórach, nó an raibh siad i measc an dream a rinne an coir millteanach seo agus nár cúisíodh riamh iad. Tá sé seo fágtha i measc an phobail fós, a thionchar agus a lorg, agus is dócha go mbeidh ar feadh i bhfad.” Faoi chionn trí bliana, b’eol an fear a rinne na dúnmharuithe a phleanáil. Ainneoin gur mharaigh sé ar a laghad duine amháin de na mairbh é féin, níor cúisíodh riamh é. Labhair duine de na brathadóirí amach i detach an phobail, agus Ard-Easpag Thuama i láthair, gur ainmnigh an fear a bhí ciontach. Mhair Rialtas na Breataine bodhar ar achainí, nó “b’ionann é agus a rá go raibh siad iomlán mí-cheart sa rud a rinne siad go dtí sin.” ‘Appalling vista’ a bheadh ann, i bhfocail an Tiarna Denning faoi seisear Birmingham. Tá brú anois ar rialtas na Breataine admháil oifigiúil a dhéanamh, gur iomrall ceartais a tharla. Leis, tá fad-scannán fáisnéise le déanamh, bunaithe ar an leabhar, agus maoiniú ceadaithe. Tá súil ag Seán go spreagfaidh seo ar fad plé.” Éagóir le Seán Ó Cuirreáin. Cois Life €15

Father Ted - now as Gaeilge!

(A slightly edited version of this was published in An tUltach, Samhradh 2016)

Tá sprid Gaelach trí Father Ted. Anois, tá Father Ted as Gaeilge againn.

B’iad Aisteoirí na hÓmaí a chuir ar an stáitse é. Tá achan duine ann, ina measc an tAthair Jack ina chathaoir rotha agus an tEaspag Brennan – a fulaingíonn an cic cáiliúil sa tóin ag deireadh.

B’é an t-aisteoir aitheanta Bean McCaugherty a scríobh an scriopt, fear a feictear go measartha minic ar TG4. Is eisean an tAthair Ted é féin, riain maith den Dermot Morgan ann – ach é ag cur a lorg féin ar an charactar chomh maith.

Tá aisteoireacht mhaith sa phíosa. Chomh maith le Bean, caithfear Mary Cahill a lua. Cuireann sise cuid geaitsí Mrs Doyle uirthi go huile is go hiomlán.

Go dtí seo, ní raibh an leagan seo le feiceáil ach i Lár-Ionad Ealaíne na Sruthaíle ar an Ómaith don aon oíche amháin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ar an stáitse arís.

Protests at closure of care home

(An edited version of this was published in the Sunday World June 12th)

Over 60 people protested on Thursday outside the offices of Apex Housing in Derry on Thursday, in protest at Apex’s decision to close Bell Gray House in Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The UNISON trade union organised the demonstration, attended by relatives, staff, members of the public and Assembly members.

Apex plans to move Bell Gray’s 23 elderly residents 10 miles away, to another care home it owns in Castlederg.

Eddie Donnell from Newtownstewart  fears the move will kill his 99 year old mother, who lives in Bell Gray. “She is very, very happy here,” Donnell said. “It’s very easy for family and friends to call in.” As a retired nurse, Donnell knows how important that contact is.

Donnell is also concerned for the staff. “Several of them in her can walk in in the mornings, they can’t drive, it’s a non starterfor them to move to Castlederg.”

Janet Cooper’s mother also lives in Bell Gray. She accused Apex of not  caring about the effect on residents. “The care here is excellent,” she said.  Her mother became ill very suddenly, and had been in a couple of other facilities before Bell Gray. “Since she came here, she’s improved,” Ms Cooper said. “Her social skills is improved, she’s interacting well with other residents. The social worker, the doctor, have said how much she improved.

“It’s down to the staff, the environment. It’s stimulating, it’s homely. It’s a small house, they can do that. Apex should have a duty of care.”

A resident in his late 80s said: “We shall not be moved. Money, money, that’s what this is all about.”  He said residents were not consulted. They just got an announcement. “We’re only a broken stick, we’re not big enough for that crowd,” he said. “The staff is first class. You couldn’t get better in the world. I know all of them by their name. It’s more like a part of a family.”

Another residents in his 80s said he was disgusted at how they were being treated. “They’re going to chuck us out now, from one place to the other,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing.”

Staff members are being offered redeployment to Castlderg – but for some it’s not possible. They will be losing their jobs. Jackie Donnell is one. “I don’t drive and I’ll have to give up my job,” she said. “There is no public transport. I’d have to to on the bus to Strabane, and another to Castlderg. That’s not on for a half seven shift.”

Niall McCarroll from UNISON said he questioned why Apex was closing the home. “The reasons that they are giving for closing the place down are false,” he said. “They’re trying to use the RQIA (Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority) and the state of the building,” he said. “But the last RQIA report gave it a well-run home.”

 3,000 signed have already signed a petition calling for Bell Gray to be kept open. There has been a packed meeting in Newtownstewart. The campaign has got support from MLAs and councillors of all parties, and from West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty

According to the latest set of accounts, Apex Housing had an operating surplus of £7.5million last year ending 31^st March last year.

A spokesman for Apex said the closure was necessary due to high staff turnover, and the condition of Bell Gray House. “Apex employed technical consultants to assess both the physical fabric of the building and its mechanical and electrical components,” the spokesman said. “Their report showed a requirement to spend over £300,000 plus vat (which is not reclaimable) on the property which would only increase the number of available beds marginally. Considerably more investment would be required to increase occupancy to a more viable level however the number of vacancies arising over the last number of years indicates that there is insufficient demand within the local area.”

McCarroll said the campaign is continuing. Campaigners have asked to speak to the next meeting of the Western Trust on June 9^th.

by Anton McCabe

Fermanagh woman burned Republican wreaths

A police witness has told Omagh Magistrates Court tensions are high in the Netownbutler area of Fermanagh after wreaths on Republican graves were burnt last weekend. The witness was opposing a bail application from Donna Bradley. Bradley was charged with burning the wreaths, belonging to the National Graves Association. She was also charged with three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one of common assault. When police charged Bradley, she said: “That’s lies. I was burning my black wreath.”

Judge Bernie Kelly asked Bradley why she had been shouting when held in cells below the court. “I was afraid them boys from Newtownbutler were going to get me,” Bradley told the judge. “They’re all in the IRA you know.” After listening to defence submissions, Judge Kelly granted bail to 44 year old Bradley, of Galloon Gardens, Newtownbutler, and remanded her to Enniskillen Magistrates Court on July 4^th.

Is Irish becoming a girls' language in schools?

by

Anton McCabe 

(an edited version of this piece was published in An tUltach, May 2016)

Tá athrú suntasach agus tobann ann ó thús an chéid mar a bhaineann le Gaeilge sna scoileanna ó Thuaidh. Is cailíní níos mó agus níos mó atá ag tabhairt faoi.

Tá sin le feiceáil sna staitisticí.

I 2002, rinne 2771 Gaeilge ag GCSE. Bhí sé beagnach chomh cothrom agus is féidir a bheith. Bhí 1359 gasúr agus 1412 cailín ann. Sna scoileanna ‘Neamh-Gramadaigh’ (na sean-scoileanna idirmheánacha don chuid ba mhó) bhí rud beag nìos mó gasúr ann, 682 malairt 659 cailín.

I 2015, rinne 1,830 Gaeilge ag GCSE. Bhí 1,136 cailín ann, agus gan ach 694 buachall. Taobh amuigh de na scoileanna gramadaigh, ba cailíní beagnach 75% a thug faoi.

Is tuar dóchais nach amháin go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag coinneáil ag A Léibhéal, ach go bhfuil méadú ann. Is a mhalairt atá ag tarlú do theangacha eile. Rinne 253 an A Léibhéal i 2002. Bhí 160 cailín ann, malairt 93 buachall. Ba laghdú sin ó 329 trí bliana roimhe.

I 2015 rinne 330 A Léibhéal Gaeilge. Tá an feabhas sin maith, ach go gcaithfear bheith cúramach leis. Ba cailíní go huile is go hiomlán a spreag an méadú. Bhí 239 acu ann, malairt 91 buachall. Taobh amuigh de na scoileanna gramadaigh, ba cailíní 81.5% orthu siúd a chuaigh faoin scrúdú.

Cinnte, cúis atá leis ná go bhfuil athrú ar oideachas. Tá níos mó ábhar ar fáil, roghanna nach raibh ann san am a chuaigh thart. Chríochnaigh mise an A Léibhéal i 1971, i Scoil Gramadach na mBráithre ar an Ómaigh. Ba scoil measartha mór é. Bhí ocht n-ábhar ar fáil ag A Léibhéal, agus trí cinn déag ag O-Léibhéal (GCSE anois). Tá anois dualgas ar scoileanna 27 ábhar a chur ar fail ag GCSE, agus 24 ag A Léibhéal.

Is comhartha arathruithe go bhfuil laghdú ar Ghaeilge i roinnt de na scoileanna gramadaigh a bhíodh láidre. Nuair a bhí mé ar an scoil, bhí tréan scoláire ó na scoileanna sin go raibh Gaeilge acu.  Cuid acu, is ar éigean más ann don Gaeilge iontu ag A Léibhéal anois.

Aithníonn múinteoirí gur labhair mé leo go bhfuil fadhb ann ó thaobh buachaillí agus Gaeilge. Tá claonadh ag gasúir dul le hábhair atá praicticiúla, nó bainte le spórt. Bíonn cailíní níos tugtha d’ábhair acadúla i gcoitinne. D’inis múinteoir amháin dom go raibh sí ag teagasc i scoil a bhí láidir ó thaobh na Gaeilge. Dá mbeadh 15 i rang Gaeilge, bheadh beirt nó triúr gasúr ar a mhéid. Ag an tríú léibhéal, is maith más é an ceathrú cuid den rang a bhíonn i gceist.

Baineann seo, chomh maith, leis an ísliú céime a fuair teangacha i gcoitinne sa chóras oideachais. Nìl nua-theanga riachtanach ag GCSE ó 2004 i leith. Ba rialtas Tony Blair a ghlac an cinneadh. Dá mba rialtas de chuid an Lucht Oibre é, bhí fealsúnacht ‘Little England’ Thatcher agus na dTóraithe go smior iontu.

Táimid faoi thionchar na fealsúnachta sin, faraor. Sampla den toradh atá air ná go bhfuil deireadh le teagasc na Gearmáiníse in Ollscoil na Ríona, agus deireadh dá chur leis in Ollscoil Uladh go luath.

Cinnte, tá scoláirí an lae inniu faoi bhrú le torthaí maithe a fháil. Sa chomhthéacs ain, tá tuilleadh brú ar theangacha. Tá sé amuigh ar theangacha go bhfuil sé deacra. Tá cuid den fhírínne ansin, go háirithe sa Tuaisceart, ó tugadh isteach ‘controlled assessment’ tamall de bhlianta ó shoin.

Caithfear a rá, mar sin féin, go bhfuil rian maith den scéal gan bhunús ar an ‘deacracht le teangacha’ i scrúdaithe. I Sasana agus an Bhreatain Beag anuraidh ag GCSE, fuair 74% d’iarrthóirí C nó níos fear sa Gearmáinís, 71% sin sa bhFraincís, agus gan ach 63% sa Mhatamatic. Seans, b’fhéidir, go raibh na daoine a rinne teangacha níos tiománta, ach an míniú iomlán sin?

Cinnte, tá impleachtaí don Ghaeilge sa neamhaird ar theangacha. Tá toradh air sa Bhreatain, agus is cuid den stát céanna sin. Dúirt An British Academy go bhfuil an stat sin sáinnithe i ‘a vicious circle of monolingualism’. Níl 85% de phobal na Breataine ábalta comhrá a dhéanamh i dteanga eile, seachas an Béarla. Rinneadh suirbhé i 14 tír de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh: bhí na scileanna teangan ba mheasa ag scoláirí na Breataine.

Tá rudaí ag dul in olcas. Le 10 bliain anus i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, tá laghdú 50% ar an lion atá ag gabháil don Gearmáinís, agus laghdú 40% ar an lion ag gabháil don bhFraincís. Tá impleachtaí tromcúiseacha ann d’achan gné den saol.

Agus sin mar chúlra, tá ag éirí go maith leis an Ghaeilge.

Tá níos mó suime sa Ghaeilge sa Tuaisceart ná mar a bhí riamh. Cinnte, is mionlach iad an mhuintir a chuireann suim ann. Níl siad teoranta don phobal Caitliceach nó náisiúnach. Tá buaine leis an athbheochan atá anois ann. Cinnte, bhí Conradh na Gaeilge ann ag tús an Chéid seo caite, sularbh ann don stát ó thuaidh. Ba thonn é a tháinig go tobann – agus a thráigh chomh tobann céanna. Cinnte, bhí níos mó páirteach. Ba bheag go maith an rian a d’fhág sé. Cinnte, tá cuid mhór den locht ar an chorraíl idir 1912 go 1923. Sciob sin a lán den obair chun siúil.

Tá impleachtaí ag a bhfuil ag tarlú sa chóras oideachais ó thuaidh don chóras oideachais ó dheas. Is léir don uile duine gur praiseach atá sa Ghaeilge éigeantach mar atá anois. Cinnte, dá gcuirfí deireadh leis, mhairfeadh an Ghaeilge mar ábhar scoile. Mhairfeadh tréan scoláire ag gabháil dó.

Ach tá fianaise ann go mbeadh na laigí céanna ag baint leis agus atá ag baint leis sa Tuaisceart. Is ésin, gur ábhar ag cailíní a bheadh ann.

Tá sé riachtanach go bhfanfadh Gaeilge ar churaclam na scoileanna ó Dheas, go mbeadh sé éigeantach, le go mbeadh tuiscint ag scoláirí ar chultúr agus dúchas s’acu. Leis, tá sé riachtanach go mbeadh bealach ann le buachaillí a spreagadh chun tabhairt faoin Ghaeilge, agus ní cailíní amháin. Nach don uile duine an Ghaeilge?

Wind Farm Expansion turned down

by Anton McCabe

(an edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World May 30th 2016)

The Planning Appeals Commission has refused permission for taller replacement turbines at one of Northern Ireland’s most visible wind farms, Bessy Bell One, near Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The Commission ruled: “The adverse impacts on visual amenity, landscape character, the historic (Baronscourt) demesne and listed buildings within it as well as the risks to public safety and protected species are unacceptable.”

The wind farm is on the side of Bessy Bell Mountain, and can be seen from much of West Tyrone. Wind Farm company SSE had applied to replace the 10 existing turbines. They are 56.5 metres (185 feet) high. Six of the proposed new turbines were to be 126.5 metres (415 feet) high, and the other four 115 metres (377 feet) high. The wind farm was to cover a bigger area: six of the turbines were to be to the south-west of the current site.

Replacing the turbines was going to mean large-scale building work on the site. It would also have meant works on the road from Derry port, to allow the turbines to be transported.

In its ruling, the Commissioner said it had examined the proposed farm from several viewpoints. “The magnitude of change would have an adverse impact on landscape character and visual amenity,” it ruled. This was particularly from the west and south.

It was also scathing of the expanded wind farm’s impact on Baronscourt House and Demesne, one of Northern Ireland’s most important listed buildings. “The introduction of these incongruous features into the planned historic view outwards from the House would cause harm to its setting from the view southwards,” it ruled.

The Commission also rejected the wind farm because it could pose a small but real danger to public safety. Part of the Ulster Way long-distance walk goes through the new site. There is no proposal to re-route it. “Whilst there is no evidence that this would be a significant risk, public safety is a consideration where it is appropriate to adopt a precautionary approach,” it ruled.  The wind farm would damage habitats for badgers and red squirrels.

Campaigners against wind farms welcomed the decision. Owen McMullan of West Tyrone Against Wind Turbines said there are already too many wind farms in the area. “I am delighted to see the planners seeing sense,” he said.

According to SSE, the proposed upgraded wind farm would produce four times more electricity than at present. A spokesman for the company said: "We are disappointed with the decision of the Planning Appeals Commission and will take time to consider the Commissioner's report. SSE remains committed to developing green energy through our wind farm projects, bringing with those projects local jobs, economic contribution and significant community benefit for the region, not only during construction but through the operational lifetime of each of our wind farms."

Last month, the Commission also rejected another wind farm at Cloghinarney, outside Ballymena, because of “a very considerable adverse impact on the landscape character of the area.”

Dungannon man charged with Peatlands Rape

by Anton McCabe

(A slighly edited version of this was published on the Ulster Herald May 2nd 2016)

A police witness has given Omagh Magistrates Court graphic details of a rape and sexual attack on a woman in Peatlands Park, Dungannon, on Wednesday of last week. She gave the evidence during the appearance of James Wright at a special sitting of the court on Monday.

The police witness said the victim had been walking her dog in the park. A man passed her several times on a mountain bike. “She noticed a male coming close,” the witness said. “He grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth.” The woman did not resist, as she realised she was on her own.

Wright pulled her to the ground, removed all her clothing, and his trousers and shoes. The witness then gave graphic details of the assault. During it, Wright is alleged to have put his fingers in the victim's mouth. This caused her to choke.

“She believed from his behaviour that he had a learning difficulty of some sort,” the witness said. The victim asked him who he was. He replied “I can't tell you as you will tell someone and I would be in trouble.” She described the man as about 6ft tall, of stocky build with drooping eyebrows.

The victim reported the attack to police. From a description she gave, police arrested Wright at his home in the early hours of Friday morning last. During a search they recovered a black and silver mountain bike, and a high-visibility jacket with the letters 'RSA' on it. Both matched descriptions the victim gave. A third item – a cycle helmet – remains unaccounted. Police believe this may contain further forensic evidence. If Wright is given bail, he may find and destroy it.

During interview Wright refused to give intimate evidential samples, on the advice of his solicitor. When asked if he raped the woman he replied: “I don’t want to answer that question.” This was on his solicitor's advice.

The police witness stenuously opposed bail. “Whilst it is accepted the defendant has no previous we believe he poses a serious risk to the public,” she said. “Police fear this was a random, impulsive and sexually motivated ambush and the victim was chosen because she was alone.” She also feared for Wright's safety were he released.

The witness and the defence solicitor agreed Wright suffers severe learning disabilities. He was accompanied in the dock by a named individual. At times during the hearing, she appeared to explain to him what was happening.

A defence soclitor criticised the length of time taken to have his client brought to court. “Irreparable damage may have been done and could continue if a remand in custody is ordered,” he said. “He has never been known to police in the past.”

The police witness said Wright was medically examined by two forensic medical officers, and found to be fit for both detention and charge. She pointed out Wright had been known to police, but never as a suspect. He had applied for a firearms licence in 2009, which was refused.

The defence solicitor said: “My client is an extremely vulnerable gentleman who is in the care of the Health Trust. I believe he should be treated as a juvenile.” The defence applied to have Wright’s name and address banned from being reported. The police witness said he had already been named on social media. District Judge Peter King refused the application.

Judge King also refused a bail application. “These are very serious allegations,” he said. “I am particularly concerned about the ambush-style of the attack and the motive of the attacker. There is also the matter of the missing cycling helmet. I do not take decisions to remand in custody lightly but I believe at present it is both proportionate and reasonable.”

He remanded 23 year old Wright, of Derrylee Road, Dungannon, in custody to appear by video-link at Dungannon Magistrates Court on May 18th.