BY MARK MOLONEY

FROM 6pm onwards a steady stream of people began to arrive at the Pillar Room in Dublin's Rotunda on Saturday night for the official launch of Martin McGuinness's Presidential Campaign.

While supporters and well-wishers enjoyed tea and coffee inside, the media braved the elements at the entrance hoping to catch Martin on his way in. As the rain turned... Free article

THE Presidential election is taking place at a time of major challenges for Ireland and its people.
The economic and fiscal crisis caused by disastrous Government policies has resulted in huge hardship for so many citizens. Many are in despair and are losing hope. Tens of thousands of our young people are leaving our shores.
Citizens are angry that sovereignty is being handed over... Free article

A New Beginning – Tús Nua

A Chara,

Throughout my involvement in political life, all I have ever wanted to do was make a contribution – to make a difference – to empower people and unite them.
I have never sought financial gain or privilege from my involvement in politics and I never will. I still live in the same community where I was born and raised.
I feel a deep bond with... Free article

Fintan O’Toole - A man of high principles and quick exits

» BY JUDE COLLINS

SINCE Martin McGuinness has announced his candidacy for the post of Irish President, I’ve lost count of the number of programmes and newspaper articles that have focused almost exclusively on his past in the IRA. It happened again today, Wednesday 23rd September.
I was on BBC Radio Ulster/Raidio Uladh’s ... Free article

Gusty Spence dies

BY PEADAR WHELAN

IN A LETTER written in Long Kesh in 1981, former UVF leader Gusty Spence, who died on Sunday 25th September aged 78, reflected on his reasons for helping re-form the UVF in the mid-1960s.
“I can’t possibly say that I knew the ins and outs of the political machinations in the background because I didn’t. I was approached to join the UVF. The... Free article

BY MARK MOLONEY

» BY MARK MOLONEY

ONE of the cornerstones of democratic socialism is the idea that means of production, that the infrastructural capital and the natural resources of a state should be state owned or commonly controlled.
In government in the South we have the right-wing Fine Gael party and the self-proclaimed ‘democratic socialists’ of Labour. The sell-off of key... Free article

SINN FÉIN TD Seán Crowe was the speaker at three events in the USA to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Hunger Strikes of 1980 and 1981, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 15th, 16th and 17th September.
The Dublin South-West TD was head of ‘Youth Against H-Block’ in 1981.
Starting in Portland, Oregon, Seán travelled to Seattle in Washington State and then to San Francisco in... Free article

JobBridge to Nowhere

» BY MARK MOLONEY

WHEN the National Internship Scheme, also known as “JobBridge”, was announced in June by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD, she promised it would offer unemployed people a real chance to gain valuable experience and get a foot on the employment ladder after training, apprenticeship or graduation.
JobBridge allows companies... Free article

OCTOBER

THE 1981 Hunger Strike came to an end after 217 days on the 3rd October. The momentum of the Hunger Strike had been slowed as a number of men either reulctantly left the strike or were taken off by their families. In the last week of September 1981, Bernard Fox and Liam McCloskey ended their fast.
Following these events, the republican prisoners issued a statement in... Free article

Gátar nó Fás: léiríonn an Íoslainn go bhfuil slí eile ann

LE MAIRTÍN Mac EOIN

NÍ LÉIR CATHAIN a loicfidh nó a mhainneóidh an Ghréig ar a chuid fiacha, ach tá’s ag saol Fódla go loicfidh lá éicínt. Tá na fiacha ró-mhor is an t-ualach ar eacnamaíocht na Gréige ró-throm.
Is léir freisin go bhfuil forsaí airgeadais is polaitíochta na hEorpa ag troid go géar faoin scéal seo mar go... Free article