"This year, the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike, is not just about remembering and commemorating the ten men who died it is about celebrating their lives. "They were brave men whose courage and sacrifice should be celebrated in a positive way. Their bravery should be seen as something inspirational, especially in this new phase of struggle when we need to build on our continuing political progress." Free article

One of the major news stories of 2005 was the struggle of people in Mayo against oil giant Shell's plans to build a dangerous pipeline through their lands. Mícheál Ó Seighin, Willie Corduff, Brendan Philbin and brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, who became known as the Rossport 5 brought this battle to the public's attention when they refused to obey an injunction awarded to Shell entitling it to build where it wanted in Mayo. The men were sent to Cloverhill jail in Dublin for 94 days and outrage grew as sordid details of government interference in the planning system to accommodate Shell came to light. Free article

The recent developments at Irish Ferries should act as a wake up call to all workers about the importance of joining a trade union. Our present weakness lies in our lack of solidarity as workers. Free article

I suppose the highlight of the year had to be Dublin winning the All-Ireland Junior Camogie title. That, or the Minor Hurlers winning Leinster. Or perhaps the Senior footballers capturing our 45th Leinster. So much to choose from. Free article

A few years ago a woman of my acquaintance asked me about Roy Keane. What kind of man was he? She had little knowledge of or affection for association football. However, in the run up to the 2002 World Cup she couldn't escape the hype. She wanted to know about our country's best player. Free article

As a child Johnston Brown would, like the rest of his family, suffer regular beatings from his father. He always had a great admiration for the police officers who were called to the house, and he was determined that when he grew up he would become a policeman himself to protect the weak against the bullies. And so it came to pass that on the fateful day of 30 January 1972, Bloody Sunday, Johnston Brown joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Free article

On 3 January 1905, 101 years ago, the Irish Independent was launched by William Martin Murphy. James Larkin once referred to Murphy as the "most foul and vicious blackguard that ever polluted any country... a capitalistic vampire". Free article

An Phoblacht's famous weekly satirical column. Free article

The week in quotes. Free article

Agus an diabhal Nollaig thart, Buíochas le Dia nach bhfuil ann, Agus mo bholg I ndiaidh méadú go mór ó 460 cannaí Dutch Gold thíos cois canáil agus 27 bhoscaí ó Mister Kipling agus déistean orm ag seasamh ar an scála meá. Free article