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Wont be long until ireland is free




Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty has lobbied for money for a loyalist flute band.

He wrote to the Arts Council backing funding for Castlederg Young Loyalist Flute Band.

The band's website includes sections on IRA atrocities, the controversial B Specials and lyrics to songs, including one glorifying UVF terrorist Brian Robinson who murdered a Catholic.

The band is linked to a lodge within the Orange Order.

Tensions
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I am not naïve but this application for new instruments was worth endorsing."

Pat Doherty
Sinn Fein MP
In his letter of support for £5,000, Mr Doherty wrote that the band had reached out to "all sections of the community."

The BBC obtained the letter, written on House of Commons notepaper in June 2011, as part of a Freedom of Information request on political lobbying in support of band funding applications.

He wrote: "I have had quite a bit of inter-action with the band and can unequivocally state they have made a huge contribution in helping to resolve community tensions in Castlederg."

Mr Doherty told the BBC he was not aware of the contents of the band's website, but it was "in transition."

He said: "I am not naïve but this application for new instruments was worth endorsing."

Mr Doherty was asked to write the letter by a third party.

A spokesman for the band said they were "a bit taken aback" to learn the Sinn Fein MP had lobbied for money for them.

Denied
He said: "We are not ashamed of who we are. Four of our members were murdered by the IRA."

But, like Mr Doherty, the spokesman pointed out that the band had participated in cross-border, folk and traditional music events, including those organised under the banner of European peace funding.

The application that Mr Doherty supported was turned down.

But it has just been awarded a £4,800 grant following a separate application, which the Arts Council said was successful as the band had signed up to community relations criteria.

The documentation released to the BBC also revealed a Sinn Fein councillor's backing for funding for another band from the "pro-Unionist marching" tradition.

Cookstown councillor Ciaran McElhone wrote to the Arts Council last October after Drumnacross flute band was denied funding.

According to his correspondence, the band's name had been used on a BEBO site whose content was deemed offensive.

But Cllr McElhone said the band neither commissioned nor condoned the site and the use of its name had been unauthorised.

He said he wanted the Arts Council to reconsider, saying also that the band was "uncontroversial among the Nationalist community."

[Lies]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17152390

The father of a schoolboy killed when he triggered a bomb in Londonderry in 1973 has said he is glad republicans have admitted full responsibility.
Gordon Gallagher, 9, died when the device exploded in his Creggan garden.
His parents called on deputy first minister Martin McGuinness to get to the truth about what happened.

In a statement, republicans accepted full responsibility. Gordon's father said he was glad they accepted that they, not the Army, were to blame.
The statement, released through the campaign group, the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry said: "Republicans fully accept their responsibility for the death of Gordon and apologise to the parents and family of Gordon Gallagher for the pain and grief caused.
"Republicans remain truly remorseful and profoundly sorry for the circumstances that led to Gordon's death."

Billy Gallagher said: "I accept the IRA's responsibility for the murder of Gordon - even though it came through a third party and they didn't speak to me directly.
"This has opened the door for further investigation - I want to know who did it and why. I am glad they take full responsibility and accept that they were to blame and no one else was (the Army).
"This will help to make sure that everyone else knows the IRA were to blame for Gordon's death, even though I always knew that."

Lies
Gordon Gallagher had been playing 'Cowboys and Indians' in the garden with his younger brother when he tripped on the bomb which had been left there.
He died in hospital from his injuries.
At the time, the IRA admitted to the family that a device had been left in the garden. However, it claimed the detonator was added by soldiers.

Mr Gallagher said IRA members came to his home to admit leaving the bomb in his garden.
"Two boys came and lied about it at the start. They told me their unit put the bomb there, but no detonator, that the Army must have come back and put a detonator - it's ridiculous.
"Shock or no shock, I never believed that for a second. One of the men who came to tell me the lies, about two or three weeks after it, his wife arrived at my door and she apologised.
"She said: 'We're sorry about your son but these things happen in war.'
"I said: 'Sure my son wasn't at war, he was only nine years of age.'
"I chased them from my door."

Following the family's appeal to Martin McGuinness earlier this week, republicans released a statement via the Pat Finucane centre.

"Because of the potential danger to the community the IRA made the decision to notify the RUC/British Army through an anonymous phone call - this clearly indicated the location at the rear gardens behind Melmore/Leenan gardens," the statement said.
"Following the phone call the immediate district was then saturated by British troops. The IRA, believing that the British Army had discovered the device during the course of their search, withdrew from the area believing the British Army would have cleared the area and rendered the device safe.
"The IRA felt that if they had moved back to retrieve the device given that the British Army now heavily saturated the area they would be captured or shot. The following morning young Gordon went out to play in his garden and accidentally triggered the explosive device."

Rors is "humbled" by getting an MBE, excellent recognition for his performances this year.

An investigation by the PSNI Historical Enquiries Team (HET) has found the SAS was within its rights to shoot dead eight IRA men during an attack on a County Armagh police station.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the report has concluded the IRA unit opened fire first in the incident at Loughgall RUC station in 1987.
A civilian, Anthony Hughes, was also killed during the incident.
It had previously been believed that the SAS had fired first.
The shootings at Loughgall RUC station were among the most controversial of the Troubles.
Eight members of the IRA's so-called 'East Tyrone brigade' were shot dead by the SAS in a fierce gun battle at Loughgall on 8 May 1987.
They were killed as they approached the station with a 200lb bomb, its fuse lit, in the bucket of a hijacked digger.
The IRA men who died were the East Tyrone IRA 'Commander' Patrick Kelly, 32; Declan Arthurs, 21; Seamus Donnelly, 19; Michael Gormley, 25; Eugene Kelly, 25; James Lynagh, 31, Patrick McKearney, 32 and Gerard O'Callaghan, 29.
A civilian, Anthony Hughes, 36, was killed and his brother badly wounded when they were caught up in the crossfire.
The brother-in-law of Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff wife was one of those killed.
"I'm not going to disown Patrick Kelly or any of the other people killed at Loughall," he said.
"If it was a war then the British government are wrong - they have said all along it wasn't a war.
"They were bound by the laws of democracy, law enforcement and all of that, and if that's the case then they should have attempted to arrest them."
Accuracy questioned
Mairead Kelly said she accepted "fully" that her brother Patrick and the other "IRA men that night were armed".
However, she questioned the accuracy of the information given on Friday.
"The families are the point of contact with the HET regarding this review," she said.
"At no stage have the families been told that a report has been completed. As a matter of fact, I have been given assurances that this report is not completed and I have no hint about what is in the report."
Previously it was reported that the soldiers fired more than 600 bullets with the IRA men firing 70 shots.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the HET has found that members of the IRA unit opened fire as they approached the police station.
The HET have refused to comment on the story.
Investigators are believed to have concluded that the IRA members could not have been arrested safely.
It is understood the full findings of the report are due to be released within weeks.
In 2001, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the British government should pay £10,000 compensation to each of the families of the IRA members killed in the Loughgall incident.

I was searching for a topic about the uprising in Syria and the butchery of the regime. Couldn't find one. Allegedly more than a thousand people have died at the hands of the government.

Jade's an angel

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3530103/The-death-of-Jade-Goody-revealed-that-huge-numbers-of-converts-believe-in-angels.html

By EMMA LITTLE

THE death of Jade Goody revealed that huge numbers of "converts" believe in angels, a study says.
Thousands who wrote on tribute websites were certain she had gone to an afterlife.
But instead of the traditional view of a soul going to heaven, they thought reality TV star Jade, 27, had become an angel, circling Earth to watch over loved ones.
Prof Tony Walter, of the University of Bath, spent two years studying reactions to the mum of two's death from cervical cancer in 2009.
The sociologist says millions who claim to be non-religious may actually have Christian beliefs.

Prof Walter said: "Hope of the deceased being with angels may have a resonance for many.
"Souls are stuck in heaven. Angels have the advantage of caring for those left behind."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3529693/Brian-McFadden-hits-the-town-with-womaniser-Calum-Best.html


Newly-single BRIAN McFADDEN gets over his split from DELTA GOODREM by hitting the town with super shagger CALUM BEST.
If the former WESTLIFE wally needed any help getting back in the game, he picked the perfect partner in crime.
Calum - son of Manchester United legend GEORGE - is well known for his womanising ways, romancing a string of beauties including LINDSAY LOHAN and SARAH HARDING in the past.

The pair flashed cheeky grins as they made their way to a bar launch in Dublin.
Inside Calum introduced Brian to a bevvie of women, including former Miss World ROSANNA DAVISON and Irish glamour girl GEORGIA SALPA.
Noticeably Brian was wearing a ring on his wedding finger.

The 30-year-old, and singer Delta, 26, were engaged for four years before splitting up at the start of the month.

They had "grown apart" after postponing their wedding.

A statement said: "They leave the partnership with respect for one another."
Shortly after announcing the split, the chart-topper tweeted:"I love Delta and always will.
"She's one of God's living angels.
"I thank her for giving me the best years of my life."
He met the former Neighbours star in 2004 when she was recovering from cancer.
His 2007 hit Like Only a Woman Can was written about Aussie Delta changing his life.
In February, Brian insisted they were still planning their wedding. But they had lived apart for months after selling their Sydney home.
After several years living in Australia, Brian is now planning to spend more time with his children Molly, 10, and Lilly Sue, 8, from his marriage to KERRY KATONA.

Good luck today Rory.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/record-numbers-of-irish-recruits-join-british-army-2597027.html


RECORD numbers of Irish people are joining the British armed forces, with the levels increasing by upwards of 10pc each year for the past six years.
It is now estimated that 4,000 Irish citizens are in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or the British army.
Separately, figures obtained by the Irish Independent show the Irish Defence Forces received 79 applications for every officer cadetship position on offer this year.
A total of 2,365 people applied for just 30 officer cadetship places, a similar scenario to last year when 2,553 people applied for 32 places.
The 30 new cadets will get 15 months training before becoming officers, or "decision- makers", within the army. The numbers applying for positions in the Defence Forces has soared in the past two years, with 1,000 applications received in one week alone last year.
With a starting salary of €30,000, the positions within the air corps, army and navy are coveted as job availability falls off elsewhere.
Recruitment

But with just 30 places on offer this year, many are turning to the British army.
Last year, Irish and Commonwealth nationals formed 5pc of Britain's entire overall recruitment.
Precise numbers are not available for the total number of people joining from the Republic each year -- but it is estimated that upwards of 4,000 Irish citizens are now in the British armed forces.
One British army source said that recruits from the Republic were especially prized because most boast a decent education and all want to make the military their career.
"It is no surprise that a significant number of non-commissioned officers are from Ireland," he said.
In 2006 -- 12 months after British troops largely withdrew from patrolling the streets of Northern Ireland -- people from the Republic already made up 4pc of recruitment in the province.
In 2008, recruitment figures for Northern Ireland showed that 16pc of those joining the British defence forces had addresses in the Republic.
Each year from 2005 to today, the numbers joining the British army from the Republic have increased.
Initial indications are that the recruitment number will increase again this year.
- Ralph Riegel and Edel Kennedy

How has this clown lasted as long?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12861336

A decision by the Education Minister not to fund a £15m new school for Loreto Grammar in Omagh was "an abuse of power", the High Court has ruled.
Mr Justice McCloskey held that an unjustifiable breach of trust had occurred in the case involving the school's bid for a new building on its existing site.
A new premises was promised by a previous education minister in 2004.
However, this decision was reversed by Catriona Ruane.
The minister said the school would instead be re-built as part of a multi-school complex at Omagh's former Lisanelly Army camp.
Justice McCloskey delivered his assessment on Friday as Loreto Grammar won its judicial review over the alleged reneging by Ms Ruane and her department officials on a commitment for funding.
He said: "In my view, the unfairness to the governors and those whom they represent is profound and palpable."
The case centred on £14.6m of investment the school believed it was promised in 2004 through a public private partnership (PPP) for a new build.
It was announced by the then direct-rule minister Barry Gardiner as part of a major expansion plan for schools across Northern Ireland.
Since then, however, proposals have been advanced for a shared education campus on the site of the old Lisanelly military barracks.
'Frustrated'
Last summer, Loreto was included in eight schools rejected for new building plans for non-compliance with policy.
Lawyers for the department argued in court that no final decision had been taken on the proposed construction.
But Justice McCloskey concluded that the conduct, delay and inactivity of the minister and department officials frustrated the legitimate expectation of the governors that a new Loreto Grammar School, financed by public funding, would be built on the existing site by 2010 at the latest.
"An unjustifiable breach of trust has occurred," the judge said.
He further found that no proper consideration was given to the governors' expectations when the relevant ministerial decisions were made.
The judge said: "I consider that the careful, thoughtful and conscientious consideration which was required of the minister and departmental officials concerned was manifestly absent and has not been demonstrated."
He also indicated his intention to quash a decision that Loreto's proposed building project was non-compliant with the Sustainable Schools Policy criteria.
Outside the court Grainne O'Hanlon, principal of Loreto Grammar, said the school's trustees and board of governors were relieved that the case was over.
"This has been carried out in an exhaustive, comprehensive and fair manner to their satisfaction," she added.
A Department of Education spokesperson said: "The minister is aware of the judgement delivered on this matter. She will be studying it closely with her officials."
A further hearing to decide costs and how to finalise the terms of his ruling will take place next month.

 

Cheryl Cole broke down during a television interview as she lifted the lid on her failed marriage and battle with malaria.

The pop star told Piers Morgan that her split from England footballer Ashley Cole had left her heartbroken.

X Factor judge Cole has so far kept a dignified silence regarding her marriage.

But the 27-year-old told Morgan's ITV1 show Life Stories last night that she was at a loss to explain why the relationship had collapsed.

She explained:"Looking back on it, I feel numb. We had a great marriage and a fantastic wedding day but I don't know where it went wrong.

"To this day I still question that."

The marriage ran into trouble following a string of lurid allegations surrounding Chelsea defender Cole.

The couple were officially divorced last month.

Earlier this year the singer was struck down with potentially deadly malaria.

She contracted the mosquito-borne infection during a trip to Tanzania.

Her illness forced her to pull out of some X Factor judging duties.

Cole was reported to have collapsed during a photoshoot for her album on July 3 and was initially diagnosed with exhaustion.

She was taken to hospital the next day after her symptoms, including a soaring fever, worsened.

Her treatment included a spell in intensive care at University College London Hospital, home to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Cole told the show that she felt so ill as a result of the disease that she thought she was going to die.

She said:"It was touch and go for 24 hours. It was serious.

"I actually thought I was going to die.

"All I thought was that if I was going to die, please let it be soon."

The Life Stories show will be aired on October 23.

I would say she got this job on merit .


By NIAMH HORAN Entertainment News Reporter Exclusive
Sunday Sep 19 2010

THE eldest daughter of legendary broadcaster Gerry Ryan is to follow in her father's footsteps by hosting a new TV show.

The Sunday Independent can exclusively reveal that Lottie Ryan, 24, has done a deal with RTE bosses that is set to make her one of the station's biggest names.

The Ryan family was celebrating this weekend after the bright young star learned that she would be given a slot on the afternoon schedules. Sources close to the Ryan family revealed that they were "over the moon" at Lottie's appointment to the national airwaves.

One said: "We're delighted. Gerry would have been so proud. It's a great day for all of them.

"She's going in on a trial basis. She had a dry run in the studio and they were very happy with her.

"She's got the flair like her dad, she's a real natural. We all think she has a bright future in RTE."

The news comes after the pretty brunette was approached by a number of Irish radio stations in recent months to go on air as a DJ. These include new Dublin rock station Radio Nova 100.3fm. At the time, Nova CEO David Tighe said: "I saw a picture of Lottie in the paper rocking out with a guitar and, given her background, I'd say she would be a natural on the radio."

But the media graduate, who worked as an intern last year in the American network CBS for four months, is said to have long harboured a keen interest in television.

As a source close to the budding star revealed: "Everyone has great belief in Lottie. She's got natural flair and talent."

"Gerry would have loved to see Lottie follow in his footsteps, and there's no better woman to carry the torch.

"We all think she'll go down a storm with the public. There's a great likeability factor to her. And there's a bold streak of her father that runs through her character.

"Listening to Lottie, it'll feel like we have a little part of him back.

"She has the best qualities of both parents, she is chatty like her dad was and she is quirky like her mom. She is a great kid with a strong personality."

Speaking earlier this year about the prospect of following in her dad's footsteps she said: "Obviously, I know my way around a radio studio but it's not where my personal passion is. Those shoes are too big to fill. Television is where my passion lies."

Lottie recently accepted an award on behalf of her father when he was posthumously honoured for his unique contribution to Irish radio over 30 years at a star-studded People of the Year ceremony, which was hosted by Grainne Seoige.

The legendary Ryan, who died suddenly in April, was honoured for his "unrivalled broadcasting skills which ranged effortlessly from the utterly sensitive and intimate to the fantastically flamboyant and theatrical".

- NIAMH HORAN Entertainment News Reporter Exclusive

Sunday Independent

George Michael has been given an eight-week sentence for crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
The 47-year-old singer was arrested in July in Hampstead, north London after driving his Range Rover into a shop.
Last month he was handed a six-month interim driving ban after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis.
The pop star was greeted by a horde of photographers as he arrived at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court earlier.
The singer was told last month that his offences were "a serious matter" and that he could face imprisonment.
Michael will serve four weeks in prison, with the rest of his sentence spent under the supervision of the probation service.
In May 2007 he admitted another charge of driving while unfit through use of drugs at Brent Magistrates Court in London.
Michael was found slumped at the wheel of his car in the early hours of 4 July having crashed it into a branch of photographic store Snappy Snaps.
He was arrested and taken to Hampstead police station, where he was found to be carrying cannabis cigarettes.
The singer shot to fame as part of pop duo Wham! before embarking on a successful career as a solo artist.

Would love to see those bazookas again in the jungle. What yis think? Andre is a bit of a tit though.





ABOVE: Jordan could be reunited with Peter Andre on the show that brought them together
14th September 2010By Nigel Pauley
KATIE Price could be reunited with former husband Peter Andre in the jungle for an I'm A Celebrity special.

ITV want the pair to make a sensational return to the place their romance began for an "Ultimate" version of the show, following the success of Ultimate Big Brother.

Producers reckon inviting former model Katie Price, 32, and singer Peter Andre, 37, back to the jungle for the programme's 10th anniversary will spark the same fireworks.


ITV chiefs have been impressed by Ultimate Big Brother, won on Friday by Brian Dowling, 32, when the flagging show's ratings leapt back over three million.

It was given a huge boost by the reignited romance between divorced pair Chantelle Houghton, 27, and Preston, 28.

The "Ultimate" I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! could also feature favourites like Kerry Katona, 30, and Dean Gaffney, 32.

But producers of the show, hosted by Ant and Dec, will be trying hardest to reunite Kate and Peter, whose love blossomed in the jungle in 2004. An ITV source said: "Producers want something really special for the 10th anniversary in 2012.

"One idea is to take some of the favourite contestants back to battle it out. It is a guaranteed ratings winner."

This year's show kicks off in November with fallen ex-Blue Peter host John Leslie, 45, among those tipped to take part.

# Stand for the anthem

# A goal equals three points. Over the bar is one point.


Please feel free to add to this.

I am here to help.

Feels weird. Usually the third Sunday I September you can look forward to the two best teams in the land battling for Sam. I just feel that Down are not even in the top five teams in Ireland at present and their presence is devaluing the final somewhat. Don't get me wrong I would love to see them beating the Rebels but when I think of All Ireland winning teams, well Down don't fit the bill for me. Cork have also been a shadow of what they are capable of this year. The argument that Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh are better teams than Down actually stands up to fairly robust scrutiny.

Good luck to both teams on Sunday anyway but this will be a handy All Ireland for whoever wins.

BIG Brother presenter Davina McCall told her young daughter Holly that heroin was "fantastic".

In a bizarre bid to put the eight-year-old off drugs, ex-addict Big Brother presenter Davina McCall told her it gives people such a good feeling they want to take it again and become addicted.

The glamorous mum-of-three said she wanted to have an open, honest relationship with her children about her past.

That means talking frankly about the dangers of drink and drugs.

Davina, 42, whose biological mother was an alcoholic, still attends 12-step fellowship meetings to help with recover from addiction. She told Easy Living magazine: "I have generally found that if you have an open relationship with your children, those really massive conversations, drugs, sex, alcohol, happen naturally.

"Holly, my eldest, has asked me questions about alcoholism.

"I explained it's an addiction, that granny was an alcoholic and it's a very sad thing.

"Recently, because of something on Radio 1, we had to have a drugs conversation. Holly asked me: 'What do they feel like?'

"If I told her that heroin didn't feel nice and then she tried it and it did, she'll think: 'Oh Mum was lying.'

"But if I say: 'Heroin is so fantastic you'll want to take it again, then you'll get addicted, which is horrible,' that's honest and more frightening.

"Wait until they ask and tell them the truth."Asked how she will ensure her children will not have as wild a life as she did, she replied: "Honesty, open-mindedness and knowing I cannot ensure that they don't."

The mum said all she can do is arm them with the self-confidence to make the right decisions.

She added: "You do that by giving them the confidence to refuse, to be the kid who says no to the joint going around. You have to be ballsy."

Davina said she stopped eating for a while when she was younger as she was taking so many drugs.

She added: "There was a moment when I said to myself: 'I can't do this any more. I'm going to stop taking drugs and stop drinking.'"

The future of the ITV1 hit show now looks in real jeopardy after both Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan announced that they may not have time to take part in the talent programme.
Throwing another spanner into the works, Amanda today said: "I don't know if I'll be back. I would like to but I'm happy either way.
She told a newspaper: "For me it comes down to the scheduling of the stuff I have planned and if that fits in with the show then great. But if not, I won't be able to do it."
It was confirmed yesterday that Piers will be taking chat show legend Larry King's primetime slot on CNN next year.
Simon has said that he will definitely not be taking part in the audition rounds on the next series of the talent show and could leave the programme altogether to concentrate on projects such as the American version of The X Factor.

She is lookkn grand after pulling through from a serious illness

SIMON Cowell praised battling pal Cheryl Cole as she divorced cheating hubby Ashley yesterday, saying: "I don't know how she coped."
The X Factor guru believes Cheryl, 27, can now put her troubles behind her and enjoy life again.
Click here to play video (copy and paste the URL you are shown in to the address bar of your browser).

She is now "in a better place" after overcoming malaria and finalising her divorce, says Simon.
The X Factor mogul, 50, believes Cheryl's brush with the potentially deadly disease was "a wake-up call" that changed her outlook on life.
He praised Cheryl for her strength in coping with the strain of her split from Chelsea and England star Ashley - which was finalised in the divorce courts yesterday.
Fellow judge Louis Walsh last night admitted he NEVER thought Cheryl and Ashley would split. But he added: "I wish her all the best. I'm happy for her if she's happy."

Divorce ... Sun's front page
Focused

Simon told The Sun: "My feeling when I spoke to her recently was that she was feeling in a better place mentally.
"No one wants to go through malaria, but she has definitely come out with a different perspective and I think you will see a sharp, focused Cheryl Cole when she returns to X Factor.
"She seems more focused and it was a wake-up call to her. At the end of the day your health is the most important thing."
Simon said he had been in constant touch with the star, who was forced to pull out of the X Factor auditions after contracting malaria during a trip to Tanzania.
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He said: "We have spoken a lot, and now she has got a sense of perspective on life.
"In a weird way this has helped manage her life better. I think she is going to appreciate what she has and enjoy it more.
"I am not even putting the personal stuff into this as well. You have to deal with that and I don't know how she coped with that to be honest."

Simon - speaking shortly before the divorce was granted in the High Court yesterday - told of his fondness for the nation's new sweetheart and said she was a dead cert to land a job on the US X Factor, due to kick off this time next year.
He also revealed he had tried to get her to cut down her workload, saying: "I told her I understand the pressure - you want to be successful, you want to carry on doing what you are doing.
"But there is a massive amount of pressure that you are going to feel.
"She was thrown right into the middle of this.
"She was in a group, she is a solo artist, she is a star on the X Factor, she does all these campaigns.
"At some point I think you start to feel guilty about letting people down.
"And my advice to her was - 'You don't have to feel guilt, you have a choice now to choose what you want to do. And it's for you and not the people around you'.
"We used to talk a lot and we still do have these conversations."
Simon admitted Cheryl's malaria diagnosis came as a huge shock to him and his fellow judges, who had at first joked with Cheryl assuming she had a hangover.
Cheryl collapsed during the X Factor's Cardiff auditions, just two days after celebrating her birthday with a boozy party.
Simon said: "We didn't know what was going on. I remember saying funnily enough that she had gone to Africa for a trip and had come back for filming and I thought she was a bit off-colour, but more personality than physically.
"And then the day it kicked off we actually thought she had a hangover, so we were winding her up all day, and she was sleeping it off or whatever.

"And then of course we realised that it was serious a couple of days later. I got the call from her manager who told me just how serious this really was.
"In that situation you are not even thinking about the show at that point. You are just thinking, 'I hope she is going to be OK'.
"I didn't know much about it, but apparently it was a serious strain. We were very, very worried about her, she was seriously ill.
"When I knew she was on the mend, we got all the doctors' reports, she was kind of back to normal.
"And then I think within about a week she started getting in contact asking us when she was going to the home visit shows or something.
"She was ill, went home, got grumpy, got bored, and then wants to come back to work."
Simon said Cheryl is champing at the bit to get back on the show, and will film her judge's houses round later this month.
He said: "She can't wait to do it. She made a decision what she wanted to do, what she didn't want to do, because obviously under doctor's orders that was the case anyway."
Cheryl will whittle down the X Factor's girls category after Louis landed the over-28s, Simon took the groups and Dannii Minogue the boys.
Simon, who got Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger to stand in for Cheryl, admitted she may have been given an "easy ride" with the girls.

Meanwhile Louis said he was convinced that Cheryl would get back with cheating Ashley, 29.
He added: "I wish her all the best but honestly I never thought they would break up. I still thought she might have taken him back.
"But I'm happy for her if she's happy and I can't wait for the live shows to start. She always gives it 100 per cent. She's so vibrant and I hope she's happy, I really do."
Cheryl recently told how she can't wait to return to the X Factor.
She said: "I'm absolutely gutted I missed the last audition and the boot camp stage.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0903/1224278127235.html?via=mr


THE TRUCK driver who has put his house on the market and is willing to consider any offers over €1 says he has been inundated with inquiries, some from as far as Australia and Nigeria.

Galway man Michael Dempsey said he had to take the day off work to deal with the avalanche of interest – although more from the media than buyers at this stage.

But several dozen people have declared an interest in making a bid for the property at Gatestown, between Moylough and Mountbellew in north Co Galway.

"It seems to have struck a chord with people but it is too early yet to see if a deal can be struck," Mr Dempsey said.

He put a four-bedroom bungalow on the market "willing to consider any offers of over €1" after spending two years trying to sell the house, worth €320,000 at the height of the boom.

"It's a liability to me at this stage. I have to insure it, maintain it, pay €200 each year in property tax to the county council and spend other money on it and may have to consider boarding it up, which would be a shame as it is a lovely house," said Mr Dempsey (48), a single man who lives nearby.

He built the house partly to provide retirement income, but the downturn destroyed that plan.

His unique sales pitch created a media storm and from early yesterday morning, he was fielding inquiries. He was even the subject of a mobile phone hacker who left a message on his phone saying that the house had been sold, but that problem was rectified yesterday afternoon.

"I promised I would consider all offers and I will look at all genuine offers," Mr Dempsey said. He can be contacted by writing to him at Gatestown, Moylough, Co Galway.

The inquirers included an Australian woman with Galway links and a Nigerian doctor living in Dublin.