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The case that put a major spoke in the wheel of the planned early retirement of 120 older teachers in their late 50s to be replaced by 120 younger unemployed teachers has begun today.  It's hard not to have sympathy for such an experienced and enthusiastic teacher who has not managed to gain full-time employment in teaching when it is planned that those with less experience and a lower salary cost will be given preference.



http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/scheme-to-get-jobs-for-up-to-120-new-teachers-in-northern-ireland-discriminatory-court-hears-35677136.html

On this day, 3 May 1921, the Government of Ireland Act 1920 partitioned of Ireland into two distinct jurisdictions, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.

The Act of 1920 was intended to create two self-governing territories within Ireland, with both remaining within the United Kingdom. It also contained provisions for co-operation between the two territories and for the eventual reunification of Ireland. However, in 1922, following the War of Independence and the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the southern part became independent as the Irish Free State, while Northern Ireland exercised its option to remain in the United Kingdom.

"while Northern Ireland exercised its option to remain in the United Kingdom" doesn't give the full story.
Many people disagreed

That's copy and paste for you

Yep.  No point about here in sticking your own neck out to frame any facts. 

BTW, whether many disagreed or not makes no difference to the fact that N.Ireland decided to stay in the UK.  Just as 48% of the votes in the UK EU referendum were against the exit of the UK from the EU does not change the fact that the UK is exercising its option to leave the EU.

On this day, 3rd May 1997, Mo Mowlam became the Secretary of State for N.Ireland.

On this day, 3 May 1921, the Government of Ireland Act 1920 partitioned of Ireland into two distinct jurisdictions, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.

The Act of 1920 was intended to create two self-governing territories within Ireland, with both remaining within the United Kingdom. It also contained provisions for co-operation between the two territories and for the eventual reunification of Ireland. However, in 1922, following the War of Independence and the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the southern part became independent as the Irish Free State, while Northern Ireland exercised its option to remain in the United Kingdom.

The latest:

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/lifestyle/thank-you-gooch-youre-an-inspiration-35653676.html

Statement from Andy Mallon:

http://armaghgaa.net/football/andy-mallon-retires/

Gerry kelly stepping aside for john finucane. Might make thinks a bit closer esp if sdlp picked someone other than mallon. Would be good to see dodds go

It's a pity Finucane did not come forward as an independent willing to take his seat.  It would be something to have a Finucane putting it up to the Tory government at PMQ or any other occasion.

As an independent, the SDLP would have had to stand aside and Dodds could be taken down.

Shame they didnt get the antibrexit pact going in a few constituencies and even given the greens a free run somewhere like upper bann or east derry to give them an outside chance. Anyhow nevermind the big thing here is finucane is young and intelligent something that all parties are struggling to attract and could go far in SF so quite an asset to the party rather than going it alone as an independent

The trouble is he will standout in SF like a sore thumb, so far ahead of the veteran SF politicos and the current leadership and this will not rest easy with many of them.  He has the background of the conflict in the loss of his father but with none of the connection to the actions of the IRA.

Article from Tony Ward:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/tony-ward-jonno-gibbes-arrival-cant-come-quickly-enough-why-its-gone-grim-for-ulsters-underachievers-35671788.html

Gerry kelly stepping aside for john finucane. Might make thinks a bit closer esp if sdlp picked someone other than mallon. Would be good to see dodds go

It's a pity Finucane did not come forward as an independent willing to take his seat.  It would be something to have a Finucane putting it up to the Tory government at PMQ or any other occasion.

As an independent, the SDLP would have had to stand aside and Dodds could be taken down.

[Also I think someone said it was mad for decisions to be made on the word of an official. Unbelievable]

These posts are almost satirical. Between this forum and one other I've 'heard' four different accounts of what McGeeney is 'rumoured' to have said to the linesman and/or the referee. That's a lot of misinformation. Yet the people questioning the details of this issue are the 'muppets' who should 'take a hard look at themselves'.

Your point is articulate and well made, but unfortunately you're wasting your time. What you're dealing with here are bitter, small minded individuals who cannot debate these things in a reasonable manner without that bitterness coming through. Reasoned debate - as your post alluded to - is all but impossible.

You should appeal for calm on the armagh gaa forum. Some disgraceful comments and very few reasoned ones. Completely lost the run of ourselves if that is representative

I think most of it is in jest. As you say no one knows the truth. In the heat of the moment I would doubt even the 2 involved hand on heart could be sure what was said.

When people say the linesman deserved the threat to be carried out or that he has never ever been impartial - is that humour?

There were a few references to the Davy Fitz punishment. It has zero relevance. Geezer got the minimum punishment. He could not have got less. Someone else getting a different punishment for a different offence with a different punishment scale is of no relevance.

Also I think someone said it was mad for decisions to be made on the word of an official. Unbelievable

"In the heat of the moment " doesn't work either. I wasn't close enough to hear what was said. No fan was but what is the evidence that the linesman was hot and bothered?

It's the rule that the word of a referee in his report cannot be contradicted.

Of course the officials were 'hot and bothered'. The alleged incident occurred at the end of a game when an experienced referee had lost control, had doled out three red cards and, according to reports, the discipline of the Antrim players had broken down. 

In addition, McGeeney is being treated differently because of the behaviour of Davy Fitz and the uproar it caused in the media.  As set out by Colm O'Rourke, common sense was not being used, and officials on a committee decided to use the report on McGeeney to send out a warning to other managers.  It is just like how the cards are used hot and heavy in the first few weeks of the championship and by the end there is hardly a card issued. 

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/colm-orourke-why-losing-the-head-never-works-out-35666459.html

BTW I can hardly imagine that McGeeney was as hands on as Davy given the TV and photo evidence.......

Just finished watching Department Q shown on BBC4 and should be available on the iPlayer.  It is a set of three feature length films.  It is a Danish production with subtitles, a crime drama.

It was excellent, a very good scandi noir, stands easily alongside The Killing and The Bridge.

On this day, 1st May 1997, the Labour Party led by Tony Blair gained its greatest number of seats, 418, leaving a Conservative rump of just 165 but with Liberals with 46.

In every election since, in 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, Labour has lost seats.

The Labour campaign song was Things Can Only Get Better, this has turned out to be over optimistic.

https://youtu.be/gi5j7jjhm4M

1997 has turned out to be peak Labour.

On this day 30th April 1975 the US lost the Vietnam War with the fall of Saigon.

The Fall of Saigon, or the Liberation of Saigon, depending on context, was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (also known as the Việt Cộng) on April 30, 1975. The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period to the formal reunification of Vietnam under the Socialist Republic.

So McGeeney did/said nothing.
Joe McQuillan told the ref to make a false report.
Seems refs in club games in Armagh submit false reports all the time.

Funny oul world up North.

Who said this?

+1

At last Ospreys put Ulster out of their misery for this year.  A poor display with so many basic error has been the misery of watching Ulster this year.

Looking at the squad while it is behind those of Leinster and Munster to a lesser extent it is by far not the worst in the Pro 12 but the results are so inconsistent over the season.  The brilliance of the game against Clermont in Belfast was eclipsed by the flakiness of closing out games against much poorer opposition.  The additions to the 2016-17 squad have done little to improve the fortunes.  Rodney Ah You is a liability when he comes on and leaks penalties along with a journey man attitude. Marcell Coetzee has been unfortunate.  Stockdale has been good but his inexperience was shown by playing him out of position as full back against Munster for far too long.  Injuries have been an issue with Payne out for so long, McCluskey injured and then Olding with a serious injury after a couple of minutes of coming on.  There is no clear replacement for Jackson capable of playing the position.  Tommy Bowe has been wrecked by injuries and him and Trimble are in the twilight of their careers when injuries take a greater toll.

Hopefully the new coaches replacing the Ulster old boys will bring a step up but there are questions about Les Kiss.  The loss of Ruan Pienaar will be catastrophic, the team deflated when he went off on Saturday and Marshall is no replacement and the new No.9 from Connacht will take time to develop.  There is a feeling not enough effort was made to keep Pienaar to work alongside the Irish No.9 to develop a Murray understudy.  Similarly, would Kiss be at Ulster if not for the financial power of IRFU to impose its will on the provincial sides with the aim of developing the players for the national side?

With just a scrum half from Connacht and another backrow from South Africa to supplement the squad so far the outlook is far from satisfactory yet the faithful have bought out all of the Grandstand season tickets and a relatively small number are available for other parts of the ground.