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Laoislad and POG were complaing on another thread about not getting decent pratties.  I am lucky that we get good spuds were I am fresh from the local vegetable man.  We also get fresh veg off him and you can tell the difference in the taste.

Anyway, favourite spuds and how do you cook them?  You can get lovely ballycotton spuds and they are really nice done in the steamer, not having the shite boiled put of them till they are mush.   Nice and flowery lovely with a nice wad of butter salt and white pepper.

No, not Keane, but the great Roy of the Rovers

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1164599/Hero-Roy-makes-Rovers-return-Raceys-coming-retirement-special-Melchester-mission.html

Hero Roy makes a Rovers return: Racey's coming out of
retirement for special
Melchester mission


Forget The Damned United. There's another fictional account of a famous football manager's life about to jostle for position in the nation's consciousness once more and you can guarantee this particular hero's family are not about to cry foul over his depiction.

In fact, for many thirtysomethings and above, the life and times of Brian Clough pale into insignificance when compared to those of a man whose footballing c.v. includes winning every honour in the game - on several occasions - surviving a 1981 assassination attempt, seeing six team-mates murdered in a bus attack by 'Basranian terrorists' in 1986 and even the loss of his left foot in 1993 - a travesty after which even he was forced to hang up his boots.

But then Roy Race, aka Roy of the Rovers, who first appeared in the Tiger comic in 1954, is for so many the ultimate footballing icon. Or at least that's how copyright holders Egmont Publishing are hoping he is still seen as they prepare to launch him back on to the nation's newsstands for the first time in 14 years.
rovers.jpg


A 64-page special edition comic, comprising strips of Roy and other characters from the Eighties, will grace the shelves of WH Smith for a 12-week period from April Fool's Day. But for Egmont, it will be no joking matter.

They are using the print run as an acid test of just how much 'Racey' and other two-dimensional heroes such as Billy 'Billy's Boots' Dane, Tommy 'Tommy's Troubles' Barnes and Kevin 'Mighty Mouse' Mouse, are still loved by their former readers and their children.

'We keep our classic characters under review all the time, to see what scope there is for their development,' explained Egmont's Melanie Leggett.

'Roy is without doubt one of the most, if not the most, popular, so it's exciting for us to see how well this goes.

'We've been very careful to stay as close to the original as possible and are even putting it out on specially produced tactile paper, just to ensure the reader is propelled straight back into his - or her - own childhood.'


And it is difficult not to be. A flick through an advanced copy and the memories come flooding back. The classic red-and-yellow Melchester Rovers strips (Race and Co seemed to change them even more than England back in the day), the classic, last-minute, left-foot finishes (into the top corner, naturally) and teammates such as Blackie Gray, Vic Guthrie and Paco Diaz (always a rich mix of nationalities) were just the start of it.

There is even a cartoon of a youthful-looking Gary Lineker, drawn for his 'Go For Goal with Gary Lineker' quiz page. Unfortunately there is no sign of fellow 'real' personalities Bob Wilson and Emlyn Hughes (brought out of retirement to play for Melchester in 1985), Geoff Boycott (long-time Melchester chairman) and Sir Alf Ramsey (caretaker Melchester manager while Roy was in his coma). And as for the storyline which saw Spandau Ballet duo Martin Kemp and Steve Norman don the famous redand- yellow strip, well, perhaps that is best forgotten, after all.

But did the players of the day appreciate Roy grabbing all the, at least fictional, glory? 'Roy of the Rovers is a national treasure, which I remember reading in the Eighties, so I am delighted to see it being bought back to newsstands,' said Chris Waddle. 'Roy was a great player who kids and adults will enjoy reading about again . I'll definitely be grabbing a copy.'

As, no doubt, will the fans, caught up in the current thirst for Seventies and Eighties nostalgia, who have helped revive demand for all things Melchester over the past few years.

A few minutes' surfing the web offers the chance to buy various replica Rovers shirts, a Melchester Subbuteo team (£21.39 on eBay last night, plus shipping from the USA - yes, the USA!) and The Bumper Book of Roy of the Rovers, published last autumn, which sold a healthy 7,000 copies.

So what next for the ultimate comic book footballing hero? A big-money film offer, perhaps? Michael Sheen, take off that baggy green jumper . . .

Great to see, and maybe our own Billys Boots will come out of retirement

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7856036.stm

There will be no multi-sports stadium built on the site of the Maze prison in Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.

The BBC has learned that Sports Minister Gregory Campbell has ruled out the controversial plan for the site.

He is opting instead to explore alternatives with the soccer, rugby and GAA authorities.

Money will be given to Linfield and the IFA for an upgrade to Windsor Park so internationals can be played there until a permanent solution is found.

The proposed Maze stadium has divided political and sporting opinion like few others.

Now it appears to be finally dead.

In his paper to executive colleagues, Sports Minister Gregory Campbell said the plan did not enjoy sufficient political consensus, and he said a net loss to the economy of between £156m and £193m did not compensate for the non-monetary benefits which may flow from a shared stadium.

Mr Campbell said he now intended to help the three sports to develop solutions to their stadia needs.

One possibility would be the upgrading of existing stadia, but he would also be prepared to consider making money available for the construction of a new stadium on a single sport or shared sport basis.

He also wants to review the work being undertaken by Belfast City Council which says it wants to build its own stadium in the city.

In the meantime, Mr Campbell has told officials to work with Linfield Football Club and the IFA to carry out a limited remedial programme at Windsor Park so that international football can be played there until a permanent solution is agreed.

He said he recognised the need to deal even-handedly with all three sports.

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said abandoning the Maze project would be unforgivable.

"If we lose the greatest of projects for the pettiest of reasons, no-one will forgive them and no one should," he said.

"The Department of Finance is itself in possession of reports indicating that it has the potential to generate thousands of jobs and possibly 10,000."

Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff said sports in Northern Ireland would be the loser.

"There will be far reaching implications for all of our sporting bodies and particularly the GAA, IFA and IRFU," he said.

"We will also lose out on major opportunities and potential windfall associated with grand scale sporting events such as the 2012 Olympics in London.

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said: "The primary concern which unionists across the province have always had about the Maze was the potential it had to become a shrine to republican terror.

"Any announcement to scrap the proposed stadium, therefore, does not address the core issue."

The computer multi-national, Dell, has announced that its cutting the workforce at its plant in Limerick by 1,900 in the next 12 months.

The announcement comes as employees are attending a series of meetings at the plant to be told details of the redundancies.

Video links were set up at the plant, indicating that Chief Executive Michael Dell may address staff from the US.


The 3,000 Dell workers were called to the meetings which were to begin at 9am.

Space was set aside at two separate locations at the facility to brief two sets of shift workers involved in manufacturing.

IT, legal and marketing staff will meet separately at 10am.

Dell has been involved in a global review of its operations for several months, in an effort to cut $3bn a year off its costs by 2011.

It is estimated that another 10,000 jobs in sub-supply companies rely on Dell business and a large-scale withdrawal will affect jobs in the wider industrial community in the midwest.

Sad day for the South west in particular, but also for Ireland as a whole. 

Lads and lassies, I am trying to get information from a multi column document into a single column format.  Can anyone suggest how it can be done?   Merging cells does not work so don't bother suggesting that

From http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardai-probe__-8364100000-hole-in-gaa-fund-1391907.html

Friday May 30 2008

GARDAI are investigating the alleged misappropriation of €100,000 from a rural GAA club.

The money has gone missing from the accounts of Blackrock GAA club in south Limerick, which is now left with a debt of €50,000.

It was only discovered recently by club officials that the large figure could not be accounted for and gardai were contacted. Blackrock GAA club was founded in 1972 and is comprised of members from the county parishes of Kilfinane and Ardpatrick.

The missing €100,000 was to be used for new club facilities including a second field, covered stand and dugouts.

Last month, gardai in Waterford were called in to investigate the alleged misappropriation of €142,000 from the Waterford GAA county board.

A senior official in the county resigned his position following an internal GAA investigation, after money was found to be missing from ticket sales from last year's All-Ireland senior hurling championship campaign.

It is understood that gardai in Limerick are focusing their investigation on a former Blackrock club member who is no longer an active member of the GAA. A spokesperson for the club said they were not making any comment on the matter at this time.

According to one source, because of the alleged misappropriation, Blackrock have been forced to embark on an extra fund-raising drive and feel the necessity to explain their need for revenue to their supporters and members.

The club explanation came by way of a letter circulated throughout Kilfinane and Ardpatrick as the club attempts to collect more funds to stave off the crippling debt.

"At a recent club meeting, having explored other avenues and after much discussion, it was decided reluctantly to approach club members, players, supporters and parishioners to seek your help," the letter read. "The club has launched a fund raising drive in a bid to bolster its financial reserves".

"As you may be aware, Blackrock GAA club has run into serious financial difficulties, which could not be deemed to be of its own making. ... financial irregularities within the club have left the club €50,000 in debt," the letter continued.

The profit from their weekly lotto is now needed to service an overdraft, while contributions from the Limerick Development Draw goes directly to their Bord na nOg to help run the juvenile club.

After the situation is Waterford, this is another serious blow to the Association.  This is worrying and I would wonder is it happening elsewhere?  For a small rural club to be stung this badly will really do damage which will be seen for a number of years unless the have a generous benefactor to help them out.

I do not have any involvement in the Commitee side of things but surely there has to be some way of detecting this?

May 15th 2008

TV3 ANNOUNCES GAA LINE UP FOR THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

TV3 NEWS RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Thursday 15th May 2008

TV3 ANNOUNCES GAA LINE UP FOR THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON


Matt Cooper to Present live matches & new midweek GAA magazine show


All-Ireland winners Peter Canavan, Jamesie O'Connor and Joe Kernan part of analysis team


TV3 to broadcast 10 live matches from June 1 including 3 provincial finals


TV3 launch midweek magazine show "Championship Throw In"


TV3 today announced its GAA line up for the forthcoming season. All live matches will be hosted by Matt Cooper. Matt will be joined in studio by three expert panellists for each match including Peter Canavan, Eugene McGee, Senan Connell, Paul Earley, Daithí Regan, Joe Kernan, David Brady, Liam Hayes, Jamesie O'Connor, Nicky English and Liam Griffin.

TV3's championship team will include, commentators Mike Finnerty and Trevor Welch, while TV3's Gaelic Games correspondent Kieran McSweeney and TV3's sports reporter Sinead Kissane, will be transmitting the atmosphere of the occasion and getting the views from the players and the fans.

In addition to the live coverage, TV3 will broadcast a new Thursday prime time magazine show "Championship Throw In" from May 29th. The weekly show will provide the first word on the weekend's Championship action.

Championship Live begins on TV3 at 1pm on June 1st with the opening round of the Munster Hurling Championship as Clare and Waterford go head to head in Limerick.

Commenting at the launch today David McRedmond, TV3 CEO said:

"Today marks a coming of age for TV3 in its 10th year to become a broadcast partner of the GAA. Showing the national game is essential for a national broadcaster and we are immensely grateful to all at the GAA for making this happen."

Commenting on TV3's live matches, Nickey Brennan, GAA President said:

"We are delighted to have TV3 on board as a broadcast partner and look forward to working with them. I wish all those involved in the match productions all the very best for the Championship season. The 2008 Championship season offers plenty of opportunities, surprises and perhaps for some, heart break."

On their production for TV3's live matches, Ciarán Ó hEadhra, Series Producer said:

"We've assembled a first class team of experts, a brilliant production team and there are some very exciting games ahead of us this summer. We're particularly happy to have three Provincial Finals in July and we know that with the passion the fans and the players have for Gaelic Games this will make for a very entertaining first season of GAA on TV3."

TV3 Championship Live Presenter Matt Cooper said:

"I am thrilled to have the chance to present Championship Live on TV3 and to represent hundreds and thousands of fans across the country by getting the views and the opinions of people who are not just fans, but know what is going on because they have done it themselves at the highest levels. When they talk, people will listen and it will add to everyone's enjoyment of the games."

Images taken at the launch are available courtesy of Sportsfile at +353 1 454 7400 or info@sportsfile.com <mailto:info@sportsfile.com>.

Ends.

For further information:

TV3 PRESS OFFICE TV3 GAA TEAM CONTACT

+ 353 1 419 3430 / 26 / 36 Kieran Holden

Maureen Catterson +353 87 7800737 +353 87 2977406

publicity@tv3.ie <mailto:publicity@tv3.ie> kieran.holden@tv3.ie <mailto:kieran.holden@tv3.ie>



Notes to the Editor:

TV3 GAA Fixtures

Date Match Competition

1/6/2008 Clare v Waterford MSHC R1

8/6/2008 Dublin v Louth LSFC R1

22/6/2008 Kildare/Wicklow/Laois v Meath/Carlow/Wexford LSFC S/F

29/6/2008 Offaly/Longford/Westmeath v Dublin/Louth LSFC S/F

6/7/2008 Leinster Hurling Final LSHC

13/7/2008 Connacht Football Final CSFC

19/7/2008 Round 1 Qualifiers AIFC

20/7/2008 Ulster Football Final USFC

26/7/2008 Round 2 Qualifiers AIFC

2/8/2008 Round 3 Qualifiers AIFC

Motive Television

The work of Motive Television will be familiar to GAA fans, the company having produced a large number of GAA related programmes, including BREAKING BALL, BBX, PARK LIVE, THE SOUND OF SUNDAY, and MAROONED. The company is currently in production on a 4-hour history of the GAA entitled PART OF WHAT WE ARE.

Matt Cooper (Presenter)

Live match presenter Matt Cooper's regular day job is as presenter of The Last Word radio programme on Today FM each weekday between 4.30pm and 7pm. It was the top-rated programme in its time slot in 2007 and includes substantial sports sections on Monday and Friday that include extensive GAA coverage with a panel of football and hurling experts. Matt's interest in GAA goes back to his childhood, as a footballer and hurler with the Bishopstown club in Cork up to and including minor level. He was schooled at Cork's famous hurling academy, the North Mon. He is an experienced TV sports presenter and a former newspaper editor. He will also host TV3's weekly magazine programme "Championship Throw In" each Thursday evening.

Mike Finnerty (Commentator)

Mike Finnerty, a native of Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, has worked as a GAA commentator with Mid West Radio since 1993 and has been their Chief GAA commentator since 1998. He has worked as a Gaelic football commentator with Setanta Sports since June 2004 and has been their primary commentator on live GAA since January 2007. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from NUI, Galway in 1998, has worked with The Mayo News in Westport since 1999 and has been Sports Editor there since May, 2004.

Trevor Welch (Commentator)

Trevor Welch is a familiar face to TV3 viewers and a widely respected Sports journalist and broadcaster. Trevor presents the nightly Sports Tonight programme on TV3. He joined TV3 having spent ten years with Irish Multi-Channel TV where he presented and edited the channel's hugely popular "Sportsnight" show. Trevor is a veteran commentator on national league matches and County championships. He also played hurling for St. Finbars in Cork.

Peter Canavan (Panellist)

Peter Canavan played for Tyrone for sixteen years winning two All-Irelands and six All Stars. Affectionately known as Peter the Great he has been one of the foremost personalities of recent GAA history. A teacher by profession, Canavan regularly contributes columns to Newspapers and has contributed to Newstalk's 'Off the Ball' and 'The Last Word' on Today FM.

Eugene McGee (Panellist)

A journalist by profession, Eugene McGee has managed both Offaly and Cavan at Inter-County level leading the former to All-Ireland glory when they denied Kerry the five in a row in 1982. A columnist with the Irish Independent and a regular contributor to 'The Last Word' on Today FM and 'Off the Ball' on Newstalk he has also worked as an analyst on Setanta Sports National league coverage.

Senan Connell (Panellist)

Senan retired from Inter County football in 2006 having secured his third Leinster title with Dublin, the Grand prize of Sam Maguire having eluded him. A teacher in St. Declans school in Cabra, he has become a recognised figure in media circles because of his tactical and technical expertise. Recently he has worked as an analyst on Setanta Sports Allianz League and O'Byrne Cup broadcasts.

David Brady (Panellist)

David has just retired in the last few weeks after 14 years as an Inter-County player with Mayo. He has won a National League Medal with Mayo and a club All-Ireland with Ballina and has long been recognised as one of the most articulate and outspoken personalities in the GAA. A former Youth Rugby International he has played under some of the best Managers in Gaelic Football.

Liam Hayes (Panellist)

Liam won two All-Ireland medals as a player with Meath and later served as manager to Carlow. A journalist/Publisher by profession Liam has started and sold titles such as The Title and Ireland On Sunday. Liam now owns The Gazette Group of local newspapers. He writes a weekly football column for the Sunday Tribune.

Jamesie O'Connor (Panellist)

Jamesie O'Connor was scorer in chief for the Clare team of the late 90s and early part of the new millennium. His accuracy helped propel the banner county from Munster also rans to double All-Ireland winners. Having retired in 2005 he now combines his position as a teacher at his Alma Mater the famed St. Flannans hurling nursery with print, radio and television work.

Nicky English (Panellist)

Nicky English was one of the most accomplished hurlers of his era winning two Liam McCarthy Cups with Tipperary in 1989 and 1991. In fourteen years playing with the county he scored 20 goals and 117 points in Championship hurling. In 1999 he took over as manager of the Tipp Senior team and led them to their last All-Ireland title in 2001. A respected commentator on the game he has made numerous contributions to Television and Radio programmes. He is Chief Manager of Marketing and Sales with AIB Finance.

Joe Kernan (Panellist)

Joe was established as one of the greatest Armagh players ever when he had his first spell in charge of Armagh as a manager, he did not have a great deal of success and returned to Crossmaglen as club manager. Since taking over the Rangers he has had unprecedented success leading the club to All Ireland's and then Armagh to the Sam Maguire in 2002. He led Armagh to Ulster Final Success in recent years and stood down as manager last year.

Liam Griffin (Panellist)

One of the most articulate, outspoken, hurling analysts of the last decade. Best known as the man who led Wexford out of the wilderness in 1996 when they won their only All Ireland of the last 40 years. A successful hotelier by profession he writes a weekly column for The Sunday Tribune and is a regular on 'The Right Hook' on Newstalk.

Daithí Regan (Panellist)

Daithí Regan won two All-Ireland medals with Offaly in 1994 and 1998 when they pulled off two of the biggest upsets in hurling history. Since retiring he has become a regular contributor to local and national newspapers and his contributions to Newstalk's "Off the Ball" programme have become a must for all hurling fans.

Paul Earley (Panellist)

Paul Earley is a former Roscommon Footballer who won Connacht Championships in 1990 and 1991 as well as an All Star at full forward in 1985. One of the first Irish players to be recruited to Australian Rules he made one appearance with Melbourne in the AFL before returning home for family reasons. A respected pundit, Paul has made regular contributions to Setanta Sports live GAA output and weekly preview show. He is currently manager of Celbridge in the Kildare Senior Football Championship.

I like the look of some of the panellists, Big Joe, Jamsie, Liam Grffin, Eugene McGee and Canavan,  Liam Hayes can maybe be put on the spot to actually make a logical explanation of some of the tripe he spouts in the paper, not sure about Matt Cooper after his rugby WC performance, but I am looking forward to Sinead Kissane's interview will Pillar Caffrey after they are beaten out the gate by some team

By Liam Mackey
MARTIN O'NEILL believes that a united Ireland football team would be "a phenomenal step" for the game on the island.


The Aston Villa manager and former Northern Ireland international was speaking before a lunch in Dublin yesterday to honour the All-Ireland Shamrock Rovers XI which played the then world champions Brazil in a famous exhibition game at Lansdowne Road in October 1973.

Although the starting 11 that day included the likes of Pat Jennings, Bryan Hamilton and O'Neill himself from the north and John Giles, Don Givens and Paddy Mulligan from the south, the fixture was cold-shouldered by the IFA in Belfast. And the late Derek Dougan, the legendary Wolves striker whose brainchild the game was, paid for his bold initiative by never again being picked to play for the North.


"Derek sacrificed a lot," Martin O'Neill recalled yesterday. "He knew what he was taking on, with the game being played against the particular political/ religious backdrop of the time, and his own Northern Ireland career suffered as a consequence. Even then we realised that it was very historic but you would never have known at that stage what the future held."

Thirty five years on, O'Neill isn't convinced that an All-Ireland team is necessarily imminent, despite the extraordinary political changes on the island in recent years. But it's a development he would dearly love to see.

"The political climate has changed a great deal since then and you might think that in this particular climate it is a possibility," he mused. "But I really don't know. I don't know even at this stage if everyone would want it to happen.

"From the playing viewpoint, you can imagine the possibilities. For instance, Northern Ireland went on to the 1982 World Cup and we actually played in the quarter-finals. And can you imagine what our side would have been like then if it had included Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady? We would have been phenomenal. We had a great old spirit among ourselves at that time but you can imagine what it would have like to add one or two of those players. And I'm sure there was a stage in later years when the Republic might have thought they could have done with one or two extra players — like, if Pat Jennings had been around."

Jennings, by common consent one of the world's greatest ever goalkeepers, also recalled that officialdom north of the border was also out of step with the players back in 1973.

"The Doog has gone into print as saying that he didn't get a great hearing when he went with the idea to the Irish FA and the fact that none of them turned up on the night, and we had to go under the banner of Shamrock Rovers, it's obvious that everybody wasn't giving it their backing. But from the players' point of view it was just a great occasion to play football against Brazil. We all understood what the occasion was and what the possibilities were — but then it's never been a players' problem, has it?"

Jennings too, while paying tribute to the successes on the pitch of both Northern Ireland and the Republic in the years since, believes that a combined team could only do even better, especially at a time when, as he notes, the influx of foreign players in English football means that young players from Ireland "aren't getting blooded any more at the top level."

The Newry man also gave his backing to the topical concept of an All-Ireland League.

"It has to improve players to play against better individuals week in and week out and it would create more interest as well. Supporters aren't frightened of travelling any more and I think it would be great for the game to have a united Ireland situation where they're playing each other North and South. The Setanta Cup has been good for the game and I'm sure the players would look forward to a full-time league."

Martin O'Neill recalled with wonder some of the memories he had of playing against Brazil as a 21-year-old midfielder with Nottingham Forest.

"There was the thrill of playing with Johnny Giles, a wonder player, in midfield. And I remember lining up for the game and looking at some of the Brazilian players who played in the 1970 World Cup — which might still be considered the finest international side that ever played. To be playing against some of them — Clodoaldo, whose shirt I got, Rivelino, Jairzinho — made it a phenomenal day."

Yesterday's event was organised by Lucozade Sport and the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland as part of their ongoing series of Sport Legends lunches.

...with Bertie looking like a boxer on the ropes, and Gerry being obvious in his abscence over recent months(which to my mind is the follow on from the poor showing at last years election and his balls up in the TV debate) is it possible that all the main movers in the peace process could be out of the picture by the summer or the end of the year perhaps?

While I don't think Adams will not be the leader of SF I think it will become more of an honourary position and the more astute thinkers in all the parties, ie Brown, Cowen,Robinson and McGuinness will be at the forefront of driving the whole thing forward.  Of the 4 of these the common factor in 3 is that they are or have been Finance Ministers before moving to the top. 

Will this perhaps have a bearing on how the future of Ireland as a whole turns out?
 
Will they push on for more economic co-operation over the border?  I certainly hope so.

Chavez dating supermodel Campbell?







Supermodel Naomi Campbell is dating Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, according to odd newspaper reports in the South American country.

The British stunner recently travelled to Caracas to interview Chavez for British magazine GQ - and reporters there claim the pair are smitten with each other and have been courting for two months.

Respected 'El Universal' journalist Nelson Bocaranda claims 53-year-old Chavez fell "head-over-heels" in love with Campbell after their interview, in which he flirted and invited the 37-year-old to "touch my muscles".

The catwalk queen is quoted in 'El Universal', describing Chavez as "not a gorilla, he is more a bull".

Chavez has four children from two failed marriages. Campbell, who counts Robert De Niro and U2's Adam Clayton among her exes, has never married.

The shocking news of the coupling comes on the same day as the marriage of French leader Nicolas Sarkozy and former supermodel Carla Bruni.

Donagh would be disgusted that the hero of the working class revolution is in bed with a spoilt capitalist bitch!!!!!

Go on Hugo!

Instead of marching down O'Connell Street maybe Willie should head over Mullaghbawn direction and meet up with our GAA President Elect Jarlath to make his point.


Team appointed to deal to help the North deal with the past
22/06/2007 - 07:09:10

A former Church of Ireland primate and a one time Catholic priest were today appointed by the government to draw up proposals about how the North should come to terms with its bloody past.

Lord Eames, who retired as Archbishop of Armagh six months ago, and Denis Bradley, the former priest and community mediator who was the first vice-chairman of the Policing Board, will decide if a Truth Commission similar to that set up in South Africa should be established or whether some other route to dealing with the hurt should be used.

They have been appointed to co-chair a small independent consultative group by Northern Secretary Peter Hain who said he had appointed the two men after consultation with First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Mr Hain said the group would consult widely and "suggest how the North might approach its past in a way that heals rather than poisons." It would not be an easy task , he said.

Lord Eames said: "How Northern Ireland deals with its collective memory will have a tremendous influence on the Northern Ireland of the future, because it is sapping away at many, many reasonable initiatives.

"It is sapping away at ordinary people's lives."

He said they would consult widely across the province on what was the way forward. "There are a lot of people out there hurting, there are a lot of victims, there are a lot of people who have a story they feel they have not told."

Lord Eames said they had sought and been given a guarantee of total independence and among the things they would do would be to review much of the work from the past carried out by government and non government groups.

"We are a listening group, a questioning group and I thing we will be a hard working group."

They have been asked to report back to the Government in the summer of next year. Lord Eames said: "Will it be the final piece of the jigsaw – who knows?

"It could be one of the final pieces if we do our job properly, but it is by no means the end of the story."

Mr Bradley added: "This is a consultation, people might think it is the Truth and Reconciliation South Africa model – this is not what we are about.

"We may recommend that at the end of the day, people may convince us that is the way to go, but we may not make that recommendation."



He added: "We start with a clean sheet, I would be very surprised if at the end of the year that there will be one single answer – but there might be one."

Mr Hain said how to proceed was very much something people from the North had to decide.

"The Government cannot tell the people how they should deal with the past - only the people themselves can try to answer that question.

"This consultative group provides for people to express their own views of how to address the violent legacy of the Troubles which impacted on so many across all sections of society."

He said he knew it was not an easy task and he understood that many did not wish to discuss the past because it was too painful and personal.

But he said: "I believe that with the historic political agreement that was implemented only last month, it is time to pause and ask how a society that went thorough a violent and long conflict wants to deal with its past.

"The question is how Northern Ireland might approach its past in a way that heals rather than poisons, that enables everyone to focus on building a shared future, not looking constantly over shoulders to a divided past.

Lord Eames and Mr Bradley will work with a team of six and two international advisors.

The six are:
:: Jarleth Burns former GAA captain of Armagh.
:: The Rev Lesley Carroll, a Presbyterian Minister in North Belfast.
:: Willie John McBride, former captain of the British and Irish Lions rugby team.
:: James Mackey, a former lecturer in philosophy at Queen's University Belfast and visiting professor at Trinity College, Dublin.
:: Elaine Moore, alcohol and drugs counsellor at Magilligan Prison in Derry.
:: David Porter, director of the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland.