Features

While the lack of hospital beds and proper investment are significant problems in the Irish health system, among the biggest problems it faces is the lack of qualified personnel. As a wealthy OECD country, there shouldn't be any problem in training the doctors and nurses needed, but this has been blocked by vested interests in the medical profession and an outdated government decision taken in 1978.

Pisreoga Iascaireachta

Fishing seems to be a pastime for many folk, but for the fisherman that depends upon his catch, there are a number of superstitions to be adhered to.

A tale of two festivals

Sinn Féin Director of European Affairs, Eoin O Broin reports from Venezuela and the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students, while Damien Daly of Ogra Shinn Féin, who also attended the festival, gives his fist hand impressions of the Venezuelan Revolution.

Photo: Irish activists at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Caracas Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

The term 'Bolivarian' comes from the great South American liberator Simon Bolivar, who attained the independence of a number of South American countries from Spanish colonial rule.

Photo: World youth gather in caracas Venezuela

Ag Tógáil Éire Nua

The revival of Irish is a prominent aspect of Sinn Féin's vision of a united Ireland based on equality, justice and peace. Here Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh and Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin highlight the importance of language to republican objectives. They also set out radical and practical ways of re-focusing all republican activists on the need to elevate cultural revival to the centre of our struggle.

Photo: Stádas campaign - succeeded in having Gaeilge recognised as an official European working language

The Hunger Strike - 25 years on

I came across this letter a few years back; in fact, some time after my mother Rosaleen had died. Written on prison issue toilet paper and smuggled from the H-Blocks in the summer of 1978, she had kept it in a family photo album. A cherished memento of the Blanket Protest in which her son and my brother, Paul had participated.

Photo: Paul McVeigh's letter to his mother smuggled from the H-Blocks

Thoughtful and informative discussions

The 17th Desmond Greaves Summer School takes place this weekend in the Irish Labour History Museum in Beggars Bush. Greaves is well known to republicans as the author of two of the classic studies of Irish political history, The Life and Times of James Connolly and Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution, the latter recently republished by An Glór Gafa.

Photo: Desmond Greaves - the late republican historian

Léirmheas Leabhair

The Missing Piece in the Peace Process by Ken Keable - Connolly Association (2nd edition) 2004

Fifth Column

The republican funny page

Photo: John Minihan and Mary Harney splitting apart?

Remembering the Past - The Lockout

In 1913, the conditions of Dublin workers were appalling. Nearly 40% of the population lived in tenement slums. The slums were the worst of any city in Europe and 20,108 families were recorded as living in a single room. Infant mortality was the highest in Europe and thousands worked a 70-hour week, for as little as 70p. Women's wages could be as low as 25p.

Photo: Workers attacked by police during the 1913 Lockout

Re-birth of Galway hurling

Last year I cut a lonely figure in Matt the Miller's pub in Kilkenny City. Proudly wearing the maroon and white of my native Galway in a city of black and amber I watched with growing horror as Galway went down to a 19-point hammering at the hands of Kilkenny in Thurles.

Notes from abroad

As you read this I am in the South of France probably still trying to find out what happened in the matches last weekend. I did my best to persuade Ciara that a trip to Kilkenny to see the Dublin Minor Hurlers in the All-Ireland Semi-Final would be an even better holiday but she is becoming too wise for me.

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