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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0412/breaking19.htm
Sun, Apr 12, 2009
A Sinn Féin constituency office in Northern Ireland has been attacked by dissident republican arsonists, it was revealed today.
Smoke and electrical damage was caused after petrol was poured through the front door in Londonderry and set alight, a party spokesman said.
The Real IRA is due to hold a ceremony in the city tomorrow claiming responsibility for murdering Sinn Fein former Stormont administration head and British spy Denis Donaldson in 2006.
The west Belfast man was shot dead in a remote Co Donegal cottage.
The arson incident happened overnight at the unit at Rathmore shopping centre in the Creggan after the vandals cut through metal shutters.
Derry Sinn Féin chairperson Paul Fleming said: “If those who carried out this attack think they were striking a blow for Irish freedom then they are deluding themselves."
He said they destroyed pictures of former hunger striker Bobby Sands’ election victory announcement, portraits of other hunger strikers and republican memorabilia.
Mr Donaldson, former head of Sinn Fein’s administration at Stormont, was murdered at a remote Glenties, Co Donegal, cottage three years ago.
The Real IRA is due to claim the killing at a 32 County Sovereignty Movement Easter commemoration in Londonderry tomorrow.
Sinn Féin deputy first minister Martin McGuinness branded the dissidents traitors after they killed two soldiers last month at Massereene army barracks in Antrim.
A Real IRA Easter statement carried in today’s Sunday Tribune said: “A former comrade, (Martin McGuinness), has come full circle and with a knight of the British realm (Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Hugh Orde) at his shoulder he has labelled our gallant volunteers as traitors to justify his Redmondite (anti-violent republicanism) stance and home rule politics.
“Let us remind our former comrade of the nature and actions of a traitor. Treachery is collaborating with the enemy, treachery is betraying your country.”
Mr McGuinness’ criticism, which included the killing of a policeman in Craigavon by the Continuity IRA, helped persuade colleagues in the powersharing government of Sinn Féin’s commitment to non-violence.
The Real IRA statement added: “Let us give our one-time comrade an example. Denis Donaldson was a traitor and the leadership of the Provisional movement, under guidance from the British government, made provision for Donaldson to escape republican justice.
“It fell to the volunteers of Oglaigh na hÉireann to carry out the sentence and punishment demanded in our army orders and by the wider republican family.
“No traitor will escape justice regardless of time, rank, past actions. The republican movement has a long memory.”
The Real IRA spokesman claimed two Real IRA members armed with a sledgehammer and a shotgun broke down the door of Donaldson’s cottage.
“He just ran into the back room. There was a struggle and he ended up on the ground.
“He didn’t cry out or plead for mercy. He remained silent all the time.”
The spokesman claimed the two weapons used to kill the soldiers at Massereene army barracks, hadn’t been found.
Security experts were surprised the Massereene getaway car had not been burned out.
But the Real IRA said it had been doused in petrol and was ablaze.
“Because a window hadn’t been left open the fire burned itself out,” he added.
He threatened policemen.
“Any young person fool enough to join the colonial police in the belief that the leadership of the Provisional movement will protect them or give them cover is sadly mistaken.”
PA
© 2009 irishtimes.com
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7995834.stm
Arson attack at Sinn Fein office
An office used by Sinn Fein in Londonderry has been damaged in an arson attack.
Sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning a flammable liquid was poured into the office at Rathmore shopping centre and set alight.
There was smoke damage throughout as well as extensive damage to a corridor.
"If those who carried out this attack think they were striking a blow for Irish freedom then they are deluding themselves," SF's Paul Fleming said.
The party's chairman in Derry continued: "The only thing that they succeeded in destroying last night was iconic pictures of Bobby Sands' election victory announcement, portraits of the hunger strikers and other republican memorabilia.
"It is no coincidence that this attack was carried out on Easter Saturday night with the hope that it would disrupt Sunday's commemoration of the sacrifice paid by our patriot dead."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7cseWGI0agG0RPjh5CBHQbWOyTAD97GSNLO0
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK – 4 hours ago
DUBLIN (AP) — Irish Republican Army dissidents on Sunday threatened to kill top Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness and resume attacks in England as part of their efforts to wreck the IRA cease-fire and Northern Ireland power-sharing.
An Easter statement from the outlawed Real IRA distributed to Irish media branded McGuinness a traitor because he holds the top Irish Catholic post in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government with British Protestants.
The statement warned McGuinness — a former IRA commander — that "no traitor will escape justice regardless of time, rank or past actions. The republican movement has a long memory."
McGuinness offered no immediate response. He previously has appealed to the public to tell police about dissident IRA activities and says extremist threats won't deflect him from cooperating with Protestant past enemies.
The Real IRA also claimed responsibility Sunday for a long-disputed killing of a Sinn Fein official who was exposed in 2006 as a British spy. Denis Donaldson, Sinn Fein's former chief legislative official inside the power-sharing government, was shot to death at his rural hideaway in northwest Ireland four months after he confessed his duplicity at a Sinn Fein news conference.
An Irish weekly newspaper, the Sunday Tribune, published an interview with an unidentified Real IRA spokesman in which the official warned that the group intends to resume attacks in London. The group has in the past issued statements via the Sunday Tribune.
The Real IRA last launched attacks in the British capital in 2000, when it struck the headquarters of the MI6 spy agency with a rocket and detonated a car bomb outside a British Broadcasting Corp. office.
The Real IRA killed two unarmed British soldiers March 7 as they collected pizzas outside a Northern Ireland army base. They were the first killings of troops in the British territory since the IRA's 1997 cease-fire. Another splinter group, the Continuity IRA, killed a policeman March 9 in what was the first killing of a police officer since 1998, the year of Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord.
The dissidents oppose the IRA's 2005 decisions to renounce violence and disarm, and remain committed to the belief that Northern Ireland must be forced out into the Irish Republic. The Good Friday pact reinforced the right of Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom as long as most of its residents prefer this.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7995649.stm
There has been an arson attack at Braniel Primary School in east Belfast.
A bin was set alight and the fire spread to a fence and an outbuilding at the Ravenswood Park school.
The incident was reported at about 2130 BST on Saturday.
Police in Castlereagh have appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact them.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0412/breaking10.htm
Sun, Apr 12, 2009
MICHAEL O'REGAN
An estimated 2,000 people gathered outside Dublin’s GPO yesterday to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Eibhlin Byrne were among the participants in the event.
Two large video screens, on either side of the GPO, relayed the ceremony, which included an Army pipers’ lament and Air Corps fly past, was closely followed by the attendance.
Many of those present waited to observe the dignitaries depart, following a post-ceremony reception, hosted by Mr O’Dea, in the GPO.
The only political figure to receive a round of applause on arrival was Mrs McAleese.
As the ceremony got underway at noon, the national flag was lowered and Army chaplain Monsignor Eoin Thynne read a prayer of remembrance.
“We recall with affection all who gave their lives for the cause of peace during the struggle for independence,’’ he said.
“Guide our nation in the way of justice and truth, and establish among us that peace which is the fruit of righteousness.’’
Monsignor Thynne said that as people came to pray for those who had suffered and died for freedom, they knew that one day they would join them among the dead generations.
“May the hope and vision that were the inspiration of those we remember today, encourage us to look forward with optimism to the future and build a nation without violence, a nation that loves life and grows in justice and solidarity,’’ he added.
As the 1916 Proclamation was read by Naval officer Lieut Erika Downing, the nearby Luas trams, made their way up and down Abbey Street, provided a backdrop of the modern Ireland to the historic words.
At the Taoiseach’s invitation, President McAleese laid a wreath to commemorate the dead of 1916. A minute’s silence was observed.
The last post was sounded, and the national flag was restored to full mast before the playing of the national anthem.
© 2009 irishtimes.com
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0412/breaking21.htm
PAUL CULLEN, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Sun, Apr 12, 2009
Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, has lifted most of the delivery restrictions it previously applied to shoppers in Ireland.
Since last week, the company is shipping electronics and a wide variety of other goods to Irish customers for the first time in three years.
This follows a company decision to implement the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive on waste recycling of electronics products by collecting the levy due to the Government here.
An Amazon spokesman confirmed to The Irish Times that the company had decided to comply with the directive so as to make its products available to the widest range of customers.
The company says it will now take back old electrical equipment on a like-for-like basis, free of charge. Irish customers are being advised to bring such used products to one of four recycling centres in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny.
The lifting of restrictions applies to goods sold by amazon.co.uk directly but not to third party resellers who use the Amazon website. Previously, amazon.co.uk’s customers in Ireland could purchase only books, music, DVDs and computer games.
However, a restriction on delivery of heavy goods weighing over 30 kg remains in place, and orders for mobile phones and light-bulbs will not be taken from Irish customers either.
The prices on the amazon.co.uk site list British Vat at 15 per cent but Irish customers get charged the Irish rate of 21.5 per cent at checkout.
Amazon stopped delivering electrical goods to Ireland in 2006 after a row over the implementation of the WEEE directive. The company claimed it was being asked to pay WEEE waste tariffs for goods on which the producers had already paid equivalent tariffs.
Some other leading online retailers placed similar restrictions on Irish customers while others freely delivered all products to the Republic. Amazon’s change of heart is likely to prove a major boost for online commerce here, even if its dominance of the market is less marked than before.
© 2009 irishtimes.com
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/EasterSat.html
by Bridget Haggerty
Pity the poor butchers in old Ireland during the Lenten season. Not one good Christian soul would buy their beef, or any other kind of meat. The main source of protein for the long days of fasting was herring, because it was cheap and plentiful. But, after eating it so often, people were delighted to see the back of it. So much so, they celebrated with a mock funeral on Easter Saturday.
In towns and villages all over Ireland, it was primarily the butchers who planned what was called the Herring Procession. In Dundalk, Co. Louth, a herring was hung on a long stick; then, it was paraded through the town. Following behind were all of the people who had suffered economic loss - the butchers, the workers in the slaughterhouses, the porters and the errand boys.
Each of them carried a stick and beat on the herring until by the time they reached a place called the Big Bridge, there was almost nothing left of it. What little remained was then hurled with insults into Castletown River. In its place on the stick, was positioned a quarter of lamb, festooned with flowers and ribbons.
The procession then triumphantly returned through the streets to the market place, accompanied by musicians and cheers from the spectators along the route.
In Drogheda, Co. Louth, the custom was called “Whipping the Herring.” Here, it was the butcher boys who assembled and tied dozens of herrings to a long rope. One of the boys would throw the rope over his shoulder and run, dragging the line of fish behind him. In hot pursuit, the other boys would follow with whips and sticks, constantly flailing at the fish until not even a fin was left.
In Cork, it was a single herring that was carried aloft by the butchers and, as they paraded through the streets, the crowd would jeer and throw insults. Similar parades were held in Dublin on Easter Monday - often with the participants dressing in fantastic garments. There, a donkey formed part of the procession, its back covered by a cloth decorated with a cross.
Many of these Herring Processions were organized to raise contributions for the participants to help compensate for Lenten losses. And certainly, the spectators, who had grown weary of their tedious Lenten diet, were more than happy to show their appreciation for the return of meat to their tables. But, it wasn’t only the butchers who put together a funeral for a fish.
In Carickmacross, County Monaghan, for example, these Last Rites of Lent took place right after the late Mass on Easter Sunday. Dressed in their Easter finery, the young people formed a procession. At the head was a young man or woman who carried a long pole from which dangled a herring. Accompanied by fiddlers, the gathering then marched to a lake just outside of town and, with laughter and cheers, they removed the herring from the pole and threw it into the water.
Besides ‘drowning the herring’, the Irish also observed another important Holy Saturday custom. In the Roman Catholic Church, water is blessed on Holy Saturday for use in special rituals. It was popular belief in the old days that this ‘Easter Water’ had the power to prevent illness and guard against danger, so one member of every household would be sure to bring some home.
Every person in a family drank three sips of the water in the name of the Blessed Trinity. It was also sprinkled on the house, its occupants, the outbuildings, livestock and growing crops. The rest of the Easter Water was safely stored away for future use, and, according to tradition, it would remain fresh for ever.
A turf cinder from the Paschal or Easter Fire was also believed to bring prosperity and to protect against the danger of fire if it was brought to the church and blessed.
Have you ever seen the sun dance? I explain this Easter Sunday morning miracle in The dance of the Sun at dawn and a cake dance in the afternoon.
With all this talk about fish, keep in mind that a trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7961564.stm
By Freya McClements
BBC News
In 1832, 57 emigrants from Donegal, Derry and the surrounding counties set sail for a new life in America.
They found work on the railroads, but within weeks they were all dead, struck down by cholera - or possibly even murdered by locals who believed the immigrants had brought the disease with them.
The men were buried where they had died, in a mass unmarked grave along 'Duffy's Cut', the section of the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad they helped to build.
For the last five years, Dr Frank Watson, his brother William, and a team from Immaculata University in Pennsylvania have been searching for the men's remains - and on Friday, they made the breakthrough they were waiting for.
"We discovered the first two skulls," said Dr Watson.
"I myself was able to pull out of the first grave the skull of a man who we believe was called John Ruddy, an 18-year-old who came over as a labourer from Donegal to work on the railroad.
The story of Duffy's Cut
- June 1832: Irish immigrants arrive in the US
- August 1832: 57 men die along the railroad and are buried in an unmarked mass grave
- 2002: Researchers at Immaculata University begin searching for the men's bodies
- 2009: Bones discovered at the Duffy's Cut site
"We also found the skull of an adult man and some leg and toe bones, and a good bit of one of their skeletons."
For Dr Watson and the rest of his team, it was an emotional moment.
"It was almost like a dream.
"There was excitement mixed with sadness that these poor men ended up in such an ignominious site, dumped alongside a hillside at Duffy's Cut.
"But it was also joyous, because we'll now be able to commemorate these men and remember them.
"What we would hope to do is to return some of the bones of these Irishmen back to their native land," said Dr Watson.
Brian Hegarty's great-great-uncle Bernard left Derry in 1832 to work on the railroad.
They may never know for certain, but the Hegarty family believes he may have been one of the men who died at Duffy's Cut.
"Our family got a letter from him just after he arrived in America to say that he'd found work on the railroad, and that was it.
"They never ever heard from him again.
"Whether he did die there or not, it's a fantastic breakthrough, absolutely remarkable.
"With the advances in DNA testing they might be able to identify them and to even trace relatives, and we might find that there are still relatives alive here in Ireland.
"It would be incredible if some of the bodies could now be brought home and reinterred on consecrated ground," said Mr Hegarty.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7961564.stm
Published: 2009/03/24 16:04:49 GMT
© BBC MMIX
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7984512.stm
A new hotel opens in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter on Monday which will create 60 jobs.
The 169-bedroom Ramada Encore is part of the redevelopment of the St Anne's Square area.
The external facade of the hotel has been designed to reflect the traditional feel and architecture of the area.
Social Development Minister Margaret Ricthie said such developments were continuing to revitalise the area.
"It is a wonderfully historic area of the city and it is heart-warming to see that developments such as St Anne's continue to further revitalise this lively area," she said.
"The regeneration of our city continues to move forward and despite the economic difficulties we face today, this development will attract greater visitors to the area and help stimulate the evening economy in our city."
Alan Clarke, chief executive of the NI Tourist Board said: "The opening of the Ramada Encore Hotel marks a very exciting time for the Cathedral Quarter as well as the city of Belfast.
"Not only are we delighted to see the creation of 60 new jobs but we will be welcoming leisure and business tourists from around the world."
A report last year showed a decline in hotel trade in Northern Ireland, but businesses said they were still confident of filling rooms, with tourists attracted by a favourable euro/sterling exchange rate.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7984512.stm
Published: 2009/04/06 06:12:19 GMT
© BBC MMIX
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7987806.stm
By Nuala McCann
BBC News
It was a small brass trinket box that held safe its secret link to the Titanic across the years and thousands of miles.
The box was picked up by an Irishman at a flea market in New York.
He brought it home across the Atlantic - across the site where in 1912 more than 1,500 people perished in the icy waters of the ocean.
The man brought the box back to Belfast. It was bought by Kavanagh jewellers.
The Kavanagh catchphrase was: "I buy anything" and this time, the jeweller bought a small piece of history.
The brass box carries an inscription to Margaret Brown on her safe return.
"God has spared you, so our love shall prevail," it reads.
It is inscribed with the initials J J and the year 1912.
It was a gift from JJ Brown to his wife, better known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, after she had survived the Titanic disaster and lived to make enough of a name for herself to inspire a Broadway musical.
The trinket box features in a new exhibition at Belfast's Linenhall Library as the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's launch looms.
The ship was built by Harland and Wolff and set sail out of Belfast on 2 April, 1912 only to sink on its maiden voyage.
Deborah Douglas from the Linenhall said it was the first time that the trinket box had been given on loan for an exhibition.
"Molly Brown's husband made it rich in the gold rush in Colorado. She used her fame because of her survival to set up the Juvenile Court in America and campaign for the suffragette movement there," she said.
"They even wrote a broadway musical for her."
Molly Brown's ancestors were Irish, but she came from Missouri. She was on lifeboat 6 and argued with Robert Hichens because she wanted to pick up more people from the water.
She tried to grab the tiller and urged the other ladies to row back. There was a fierce argument in which Hichens famously swore at her.
Brown was headstrong and vocal. She fought hard for women's and workers' rights and worked to help destitute children.
The exhibition also features an original black and white photograph of the Titanic when it was floated for the first time, in May 1911.
She is pictured minus the trademark funnels which were added after the shipbuilders had ensured she was seaworthy.
The first editions of two books on the Titanic also feature. One was commissioned by the family of shipbuilder Thomas Andrews, who perished.
The other appeared just weeks after the disaster.
Copies of newspapers from Belfast and New York can also be seen.
"We wanted to show something a little different," said Ms Douglas.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7987806.stm
Published: 2009/04/07 12:32:14 GMT
© BBC MMIX
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/major-hollywood-movie-to-be-shot-in-belfast-14266004.html
By Maureen Coleman
Friday, 10 April 2009
A major multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster is to be shot in Northern Ireland this summer, it has been revealed.
Universal, the company behind such movies as the Bourne series, Mamma Mia, Jurassic Park and Atonement, will shoot the new film entirely in the Paint Hall in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
It is expected the movie — entitled Your Highness — will infuse as much as £10m into the economy, employing hundreds of cast, crew and extras from Northern Ireland.
Universal agreed to come to Northern Ireland after a number of high-powered meetings with the First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on their recent trip to the US.
The film’s cast will include James Franco, who starred in the Spiderman series and Milk and Danny McBride, who was in Pineapple Express. McBride also co-wrote the script with Ben Best.
Executive vice-president of Universal Pictures and co-president of Production Jimmy Horowitz said that filming Your Highness in Northern Ireland allowed the US studio to “capture the extraordinary beauty and topography which resemble the medieval European backdrop in which this story takes place”.
He said: “It also makes good financial sense given Northern Ireland's film incentive programme, the favorable exchange rate and a local infrastructure that is well suited for this type of project.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work in Northern Ireland.”
Richard Williams, Northern Ireland Screen chief executive officer, who accompanied the Ministers on their recent meeting with Universal, said he too was delighted with the news.
He said: “We welcome the confirmation that Your Highness is coming to the Paint Hall and are very much looking forward to working with Universal. This means a great deal to Northern Ireland in terms of economic benefit, helping grow the industry here and showing the world that Northern Ireland can pull in another major Hollywood film.”
The film will be directed by David Gordon Green and Scott Stuber is producing, through his company Stuber Productions.
Welcoming news of the announcement Mr McGuinness said: “During our recent visit to the United States the First Minister and I met with representatives of Universal Pictures to discuss this particular venture.
“The enthusiasm that Universal displayed at that meeting for this project has come to fruition following several months of negotiations between the studio and NI Screen and we are pleased to announce that pre-production will commence later this month with principal photography due to start in early July.”
Mr Robinson said: “This is a major boost for not only the local economy, but also for Northern Ireland’s film industry.
“Northern Ireland has beaten off stiff competition from other regions and film commissions to secure this film and I am certain that the commitment displayed by Universal will lead to further investment by other US film/TV production companies.
“Universal is home to successful franchises such as Jurassic Park, Back To The Future and the Bourne series, Oscar-winning films including King Kong and Focus Features’ Atonement and of course, last year’s massive global box office phenomenon, from Universal, Mamma Mia.
“We look forward to seeing Your Highness and know that it will help put Northern Ireland on the map as a major location for the film industry.”
The announcement was also welcomed by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Arts Minister Gregory Campbell.
Last year the Paint Hall was used as a location to shoot the Tom Hanks’ movie City Of Ember, which starred Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan.
The film-makers who chose Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is currently the location of choice for many movie-makers, thanks to its tax relief incentives, funding, scenic backdrops and talented crews.
In recent years a number of major films and television dramas have been shot in Northern Ireland, bringing big name stars like Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Pete Postlethwaite, Sir Richard Attenborough, Heather Graham, Shirley MacLaine, Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt, Sir Ben Kingsley and Saoirse Ronan to the province.
Several of the feature films and dramas shot here have gone on to win awards, including Steve McQueen’s Hunger and Five Minutes of Heaven, which showed on BBC2 earlier this week.
Movies which have have been filmed here recently include:
Small Island
Cherrybomb
Hunger
Shelter
Fifty Dead Men Walking
Pumpgirl
City of Ember
Closing The Ring
Kings
Buy, Borrow, Steal
Freak Dogs
Updated: 10/4/2009
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