Back to the fray, then.
I thought a colleague put it well yesterday when she said "the waters are closing back over" in relation to the powers-that-be in the North.
After the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and during the two years to the end of 2002 when Sinn Féin was a junior partner in government, change was possible.
The old guard could no longer hold back the tide and change in policies, and in mindsets, did take place.
Since the collapse of Stormont, the backroom boys have been consolidating and conspiring, trying to undo the progress made in the wake of the Agreement.
They've played a stormer. Daily Ireland is only one example of that. But they have managed to block as well any progress on the renewal of Conway Mill, an enormously powerful symbol of neglect by officialdom as for ten years and more to 1995, it was subject to a British Government economic boycottt.
And then there's this nonsense about pretending that nationalist areas don't need the same level of support as unionist areas because Catholics, being used to poverty, can make their shillings stretch further. Thus the emphasis now on pumping funds into mural projects in unionist areas.
There can only be one message to the old guard: we won't let you kill the promise of change in the Good Friday Agreement. Here we come again.
Response to comment: I will publish everything, no matter how critical, as long as it avoids libel and gratuitous abuse. There have been more critical posts published on this blog than the one I was accused of censoring. But I was in Dundalk today working on another newspaper project and my crackberry doesn't work when I order it to publish comments. I had therefore to wait until I got back to Belfast and my trusty laptop.
Thanks to all the others who told me to keep the head up, intend doing just that.
Do you believe Jeffrey?
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Níor dhruid Dia doras ariamh nár oscail sé ceann....Daily Ireland closes chapter
In all the excitement and madness of the day that's in it, I forgot about my blog: unforgiveable.
This is what we released to the press about the demise of Daily Ireland. It was a fantastic effort by truly a truly talented team (present company excepted) and I'm proud of what we achieved over the past 20 months.
I have some lovely calls, texts and emails today, our last day of publication. So thanks for that, we gave it a lash and sure the next time we'll try to go one better. My thoughts are with the 15 staff who lost their jobs but they're talented people and I'm confident they will be out of work for only a very short period. Statement below:
Daily Ireland bows out
Daily Ireland will not publish from Friday 8 September.
Announcing that Daily Ireland will no longer publish from Friday, September 8, Máirtin O Muilleoir of the Andersonstown News Group paid tribute to staff, supporters and readers who had backed the pro-nationalist paper during its 20 months in business. He said the British government's refusal to allow Daily Ireland to tender for ads on the basis of its strong group sales was "a bridge too far".
"Daily Ireland played a vital role in promoting the nationalist case at a time when McCarthyism and anti-nationalist voices were in the ascendancy. We are very proud of the achievements of the Daily Ireland team over the past 20 months. We hope we have inspired others to take up where we have left off and that this is more a time-out than an ending," said Mr O
Muilleoir.
"When Daily Ireland launched on 1 February 2005, we had a realistic expectation that we would receive Invest NI start-up assistance. This was refused. We also expected to receive government advertisements on the same basis as the other local dailies. Instead, we were told we would have to receive an ABC certificate of distribution – a stipulation which never applied to any of the existing newspapers which were the beneficiaries for many years of huge amounts of government ad money. Nevertheless, we complied. However, when we duly received our first – and very encouraging – ABC certificate in July 2005 the government then announced a review of its ad spending which was to last nine months. During this crucial period in
Daily Ireland's development, we were the only local daily denied job advertisements. When the review was completed it was announced that government advertisements would be put out to tender for the first time ever, but we were told we could not tender on the basis of our group distribution figure. We have examined the implications of that decision and have concluded that it means it will be impossible for us to cover our costs going forward and so we have reluctantly decided to cease publishing from Friday. We will leave it to others to decide for themselves why the first-ever root-and-branch reform of the British government's multi-million annual advertising spend in the North coincided with the arrival of Daily Ireland on the market.
"Daily Ireland is challenging the refusal of Invest NI to provide start-up grants and the refusal of OFMDFM to provide job advertisements. These cases are being assisted by the Equality Commission. It is woth noting, however, that this £3million investment in Daily Ireland had one clear winner: the British Government which received £300,000 in tax revenue from the project.
"Despite being discriminated against, we have built up a solid readership, impacted on the media landscape and delivered a unique, pro-United Ireland take on the news agenda. We will use the lessons learnt from this experience to continue to drive the Andersonstown News titles forward as the most progressive newspaper group on this island."
A web presence will continue at www.dailyireland.com
This is what we released to the press about the demise of Daily Ireland. It was a fantastic effort by truly a truly talented team (present company excepted) and I'm proud of what we achieved over the past 20 months.
I have some lovely calls, texts and emails today, our last day of publication. So thanks for that, we gave it a lash and sure the next time we'll try to go one better. My thoughts are with the 15 staff who lost their jobs but they're talented people and I'm confident they will be out of work for only a very short period. Statement below:
Daily Ireland bows out
Daily Ireland will not publish from Friday 8 September.
Announcing that Daily Ireland will no longer publish from Friday, September 8, Máirtin O Muilleoir of the Andersonstown News Group paid tribute to staff, supporters and readers who had backed the pro-nationalist paper during its 20 months in business. He said the British government's refusal to allow Daily Ireland to tender for ads on the basis of its strong group sales was "a bridge too far".
"Daily Ireland played a vital role in promoting the nationalist case at a time when McCarthyism and anti-nationalist voices were in the ascendancy. We are very proud of the achievements of the Daily Ireland team over the past 20 months. We hope we have inspired others to take up where we have left off and that this is more a time-out than an ending," said Mr O
Muilleoir.
"When Daily Ireland launched on 1 February 2005, we had a realistic expectation that we would receive Invest NI start-up assistance. This was refused. We also expected to receive government advertisements on the same basis as the other local dailies. Instead, we were told we would have to receive an ABC certificate of distribution – a stipulation which never applied to any of the existing newspapers which were the beneficiaries for many years of huge amounts of government ad money. Nevertheless, we complied. However, when we duly received our first – and very encouraging – ABC certificate in July 2005 the government then announced a review of its ad spending which was to last nine months. During this crucial period in
Daily Ireland's development, we were the only local daily denied job advertisements. When the review was completed it was announced that government advertisements would be put out to tender for the first time ever, but we were told we could not tender on the basis of our group distribution figure. We have examined the implications of that decision and have concluded that it means it will be impossible for us to cover our costs going forward and so we have reluctantly decided to cease publishing from Friday. We will leave it to others to decide for themselves why the first-ever root-and-branch reform of the British government's multi-million annual advertising spend in the North coincided with the arrival of Daily Ireland on the market.
"Daily Ireland is challenging the refusal of Invest NI to provide start-up grants and the refusal of OFMDFM to provide job advertisements. These cases are being assisted by the Equality Commission. It is woth noting, however, that this £3million investment in Daily Ireland had one clear winner: the British Government which received £300,000 in tax revenue from the project.
"Despite being discriminated against, we have built up a solid readership, impacted on the media landscape and delivered a unique, pro-United Ireland take on the news agenda. We will use the lessons learnt from this experience to continue to drive the Andersonstown News titles forward as the most progressive newspaper group on this island."
A web presence will continue at www.dailyireland.com
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Costly business this peacemaking
Comment posting response: I have nothing against cricket and, in fact, I'm one of the few people who know that next St Patrick's Day in Jamaica, Ireland will face off against Pakistan at the World Cup — both play in green. Unfortunately, we've lost our greatest player, a young man by the name of Joyce, who has opted to play for the ould enemy England where he now plies his trade as a professional.
Hilarious to see SDLP, UUP and DUP claim they don't want to go to Scotland to take part in intensive peace talks because of the cost. Bit late now for our prolifrigate politicos to moan about wasting money when they are quite happy to spend it on pampering themselves. Will the Scottish think-in do any good? I don't know but what we do know is that the DUP is busting a gut to be in power and if that means shaking hands with Sinn Féin, they'll do that.
Meanwhile, much to the alleged consternation of Mitchell Reiss, Gerry Adams continues his peace mission to the Middle East. We're told Mitchell says this means Sinn Féin will never, ever fundraise in the US again. The problem with Mitchell's nuclear option is that he's running out of sanctions. He has already banned Gerry Adams from raising funds in the US, for the crime of refusing to back the PSNI, so unless he bans him twice — sort of 1,000 lines rather than 1000 lines — he's a busted flush.
If the day comes when Mitchell Reiss is dictating SF's foreign policy, then we really will be in trouble. But it seems that may be a bit off yet. When Mitchell last buttonholed Gerry at a function in the US, members of Congress kept interrupting to ask to get their picture taken with the West Belfast MP. To his chagrin, Mr Reiss was the one handed the camera to do the needful.
Tá Macallaí na Cásca, leabhrán Thomáis Mhic Shíomóin ar oidhreacht laochra na Cásca maidir leis an Ghaeilge de. Is seoid náisiúnta é Tomás, fiú agus é ina chónaí sa Chatalóin, agus pléisiúr léitheoireachta atá san fhoilseachán. Lena chois cuireann sé eagar ar a chuid argóintí ar dhóigh ealaíonta. Má tá litríocht na Gaeilge i mbaol, ní i ngeall ar Thomás atá sé.
Agus is smaointeoir é ar féidir leis eagar a chur ar a argóintí, ar ndóigh b'fhada é i measc na sóisialaithe sin a raibh sé ar a gcumas léirmheas a dhéanamh ar shocaithe agus ar eagraíochtaí. Nárbh é Mark a chuir an léirmheastóireacht i ndiaidh dinnéir ar aon dul le feirmneoireacht nó obair ceardaíochta. Agus is é tuairim an údáir gur loic rialtaisí, eaglaisí is páirtithe polaitiúla araon ar aisling an Phiarsaigh as siocair go raibh réabhlóid na teanga ró-réabhlóideach acu. Is deacair an bhréag a chur i leith aon fhocal dá bhfuil scríofa anseo ach cad é an bhrí atá leis? Cinnte tá cuid de seanchaite: ag adhradh Memmi (duine de na saoithe a mhol an tsreachailt armtha in aghaidh an chóilíneachais) agus Ó Cadháin agus ní seo an chéad uair ar cuireadh an anailís chéanna chun tosaigh. Ach mar sin féin tá sí láidir mar argóint.
Is saol duairc éadóchasach saol na Gaeilge a bhfuil Mac Síomóin beo ann. Labhraímid Guérla nó Feirstís. Níl díoschúrsa intleachtúil sa Ghaeilge. Tá an chúis caillte sa Ghaeltacht. Díoladh dhá chóip de Cré na Cille le 20 bliain anuas (áibhéal, admháim), tá 70,000 cainteoir Gaeilge fágtha ach gan de phobal léitheoireachta ach 250. Uilig fíor gan amhras. Uilig as siocair an nualiobrálachais (an nualiobrálachas céanna atá ag déanamh tír dhátheangach de SAM!) Ach cad é táimid ag dul a dhéanamh fá dtaobh de? Má tá tú ag lorg freagra na ceiste sin, ní anseo a gheobhaidh tú é.
Dearcann Mac Síomóin siar le míniú cad chuige a bhfuil muid sa drochchaoi ina bhfuilimid ach maidir leis an am atá le theacht agus cad é mar is féidir linn fáil amach as an tsainn ina bhfuilimid: tost. Léarscáil iontach mar sin do dhaoine ar mhaith leo cónaí san am atá thart ach más ag cuartú léirscáilbhóthar don am atá le theacht, beidh do shaothar in aisce anseo agat.
Coiscéim €5. 2006
Hilarious to see SDLP, UUP and DUP claim they don't want to go to Scotland to take part in intensive peace talks because of the cost. Bit late now for our prolifrigate politicos to moan about wasting money when they are quite happy to spend it on pampering themselves. Will the Scottish think-in do any good? I don't know but what we do know is that the DUP is busting a gut to be in power and if that means shaking hands with Sinn Féin, they'll do that.
Meanwhile, much to the alleged consternation of Mitchell Reiss, Gerry Adams continues his peace mission to the Middle East. We're told Mitchell says this means Sinn Féin will never, ever fundraise in the US again. The problem with Mitchell's nuclear option is that he's running out of sanctions. He has already banned Gerry Adams from raising funds in the US, for the crime of refusing to back the PSNI, so unless he bans him twice — sort of 1,000 lines rather than 1000 lines — he's a busted flush.
If the day comes when Mitchell Reiss is dictating SF's foreign policy, then we really will be in trouble. But it seems that may be a bit off yet. When Mitchell last buttonholed Gerry at a function in the US, members of Congress kept interrupting to ask to get their picture taken with the West Belfast MP. To his chagrin, Mr Reiss was the one handed the camera to do the needful.
Tá Macallaí na Cásca, leabhrán Thomáis Mhic Shíomóin ar oidhreacht laochra na Cásca maidir leis an Ghaeilge de. Is seoid náisiúnta é Tomás, fiú agus é ina chónaí sa Chatalóin, agus pléisiúr léitheoireachta atá san fhoilseachán. Lena chois cuireann sé eagar ar a chuid argóintí ar dhóigh ealaíonta. Má tá litríocht na Gaeilge i mbaol, ní i ngeall ar Thomás atá sé.
Agus is smaointeoir é ar féidir leis eagar a chur ar a argóintí, ar ndóigh b'fhada é i measc na sóisialaithe sin a raibh sé ar a gcumas léirmheas a dhéanamh ar shocaithe agus ar eagraíochtaí. Nárbh é Mark a chuir an léirmheastóireacht i ndiaidh dinnéir ar aon dul le feirmneoireacht nó obair ceardaíochta. Agus is é tuairim an údáir gur loic rialtaisí, eaglaisí is páirtithe polaitiúla araon ar aisling an Phiarsaigh as siocair go raibh réabhlóid na teanga ró-réabhlóideach acu. Is deacair an bhréag a chur i leith aon fhocal dá bhfuil scríofa anseo ach cad é an bhrí atá leis? Cinnte tá cuid de seanchaite: ag adhradh Memmi (duine de na saoithe a mhol an tsreachailt armtha in aghaidh an chóilíneachais) agus Ó Cadháin agus ní seo an chéad uair ar cuireadh an anailís chéanna chun tosaigh. Ach mar sin féin tá sí láidir mar argóint.
Is saol duairc éadóchasach saol na Gaeilge a bhfuil Mac Síomóin beo ann. Labhraímid Guérla nó Feirstís. Níl díoschúrsa intleachtúil sa Ghaeilge. Tá an chúis caillte sa Ghaeltacht. Díoladh dhá chóip de Cré na Cille le 20 bliain anuas (áibhéal, admháim), tá 70,000 cainteoir Gaeilge fágtha ach gan de phobal léitheoireachta ach 250. Uilig fíor gan amhras. Uilig as siocair an nualiobrálachais (an nualiobrálachas céanna atá ag déanamh tír dhátheangach de SAM!) Ach cad é táimid ag dul a dhéanamh fá dtaobh de? Má tá tú ag lorg freagra na ceiste sin, ní anseo a gheobhaidh tú é.
Dearcann Mac Síomóin siar le míniú cad chuige a bhfuil muid sa drochchaoi ina bhfuilimid ach maidir leis an am atá le theacht agus cad é mar is féidir linn fáil amach as an tsainn ina bhfuilimid: tost. Léarscáil iontach mar sin do dhaoine ar mhaith leo cónaí san am atá thart ach más ag cuartú léirscáilbhóthar don am atá le theacht, beidh do shaothar in aisce anseo agat.
Coiscéim €5. 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Alternative to Bertie doesn't bear thinking about
Bertie Ahern was in top form this morning, speaking on RTÉ radio from the Fianna Fáil think-in in Co Mayo.
The choice, he told the listening public, is who do you want to be Taoiseach next year, me or Enda Kenny?
Put in such stark terms, there's no doubt that northern nationalists want Bertie to be in post for a while yet. Or at least, they don't want Enda's royal blues to be calling the shots.
Those of us who remember John Bruton's execrable coalition putting a spanner in the peace process works in the 90s after Albert Reynolds fell from grace, know that a government in Dublin which has a visceral empathy for unionism is not good for the cause of freedom.
In Mayo, Bertie said:
He added: "I appreciate that the talks have continued over
the summer. They are making better progress. I have to be
frank and say that 'better progress' means they are now
talking to each other and being polite to each other rather
than agreeing things. We now need to get the institutions
up and running. Obviously we've had discussions about
alternatives, but I really don't see alternatives as a
success. If we have to have alternatives, we'll have
alternatives."
At least part of that statement is nonsense. The DUP aren't speaking to Sinn Féin, that childish game of not-speaking-to-you continues unabated at Stormont. It also ignores the block in the process as being the sole, repeat sole, responsibility of the DUP.
However, as Fianna Fáil moves into a general election, it has to continue to blame Sinn Féin for holding up progress, though it knows that isn't the case. Republicans have delivered as never before over the past 18 months and Bertie knows that.
So there's the dilemma for nationalists. We need Bertie to be returned as Taoiseach even in the knowledge that he is playing both sides of the park. He abandons northern nationalists when it suits. While posing as the defender of beleaguered nationalism he will simultaneously stick the boot into the majority nationalist party in the North, Sinn Féin.
The stars therefore are not in alignment. How we make them so is the challenge for those who believe in a United Ireland. Does Bertie Ahern wish to see a United Ireland. Yes. If he thought it would come at the price of losing three votes in Terenure, would he still back it. Probably not.
Sinn Féin and Bertie are locked in a battle for votes. Until Sinn Féin can best Bertie in that battle, while dealing with all the flak being directed at them by the government party, they can expect no quarter to be given. Ultimately, it's all down to how many seats SF can win next year.
There's an argument that Bertie would like to see the November 24 deadline for the reinstitution of the Good Friday Agreement structures to be missed as he realises Sinn Féin ministers in power in the North would boost the party's standing nationally in the run-in to an election. On the other hand, if the deal comes off, Bertie can claim responsibility and enjoy the resultant kudos.
In the meantime, it was fun on the BBC last night to see the documentary about the Battle of the Bogside and then Taoiseach Jack Lynch sending field hospitals to the border when guns and troops were hoped for. Have things changed in 37 years?
The choice, he told the listening public, is who do you want to be Taoiseach next year, me or Enda Kenny?
Put in such stark terms, there's no doubt that northern nationalists want Bertie to be in post for a while yet. Or at least, they don't want Enda's royal blues to be calling the shots.
Those of us who remember John Bruton's execrable coalition putting a spanner in the peace process works in the 90s after Albert Reynolds fell from grace, know that a government in Dublin which has a visceral empathy for unionism is not good for the cause of freedom.
In Mayo, Bertie said:
He added: "I appreciate that the talks have continued over
the summer. They are making better progress. I have to be
frank and say that 'better progress' means they are now
talking to each other and being polite to each other rather
than agreeing things. We now need to get the institutions
up and running. Obviously we've had discussions about
alternatives, but I really don't see alternatives as a
success. If we have to have alternatives, we'll have
alternatives."
At least part of that statement is nonsense. The DUP aren't speaking to Sinn Féin, that childish game of not-speaking-to-you continues unabated at Stormont. It also ignores the block in the process as being the sole, repeat sole, responsibility of the DUP.
However, as Fianna Fáil moves into a general election, it has to continue to blame Sinn Féin for holding up progress, though it knows that isn't the case. Republicans have delivered as never before over the past 18 months and Bertie knows that.
So there's the dilemma for nationalists. We need Bertie to be returned as Taoiseach even in the knowledge that he is playing both sides of the park. He abandons northern nationalists when it suits. While posing as the defender of beleaguered nationalism he will simultaneously stick the boot into the majority nationalist party in the North, Sinn Féin.
The stars therefore are not in alignment. How we make them so is the challenge for those who believe in a United Ireland. Does Bertie Ahern wish to see a United Ireland. Yes. If he thought it would come at the price of losing three votes in Terenure, would he still back it. Probably not.
Sinn Féin and Bertie are locked in a battle for votes. Until Sinn Féin can best Bertie in that battle, while dealing with all the flak being directed at them by the government party, they can expect no quarter to be given. Ultimately, it's all down to how many seats SF can win next year.
There's an argument that Bertie would like to see the November 24 deadline for the reinstitution of the Good Friday Agreement structures to be missed as he realises Sinn Féin ministers in power in the North would boost the party's standing nationally in the run-in to an election. On the other hand, if the deal comes off, Bertie can claim responsibility and enjoy the resultant kudos.
In the meantime, it was fun on the BBC last night to see the documentary about the Battle of the Bogside and then Taoiseach Jack Lynch sending field hospitals to the border when guns and troops were hoped for. Have things changed in 37 years?
Monday, September 04, 2006
The customer is king and the internet will make him emperor
So what does Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.com) say in his new opus Small is the New Big?
There's 300-odd pages and 183 sections if you want to read it yourself but, to summarise, he believes the customer is king, that poor service will put businesses to the wall because the internet gives consumers greater choice, and that the web is going to change how we do everything from here on in. The web will make customers emperors.
He has a five-pointer questionnaire to check if you are net-savvy. If you are part of the digerati, you
Use Firefox (failed on that one)
Know who Doc Sears is (failed on that one, though know now)
Uses RSS reader (apparently a software device which allows me to tell you when this blog updates, with your permission. Didn't know about that but intend introducing it immediately)
Has a blog (bingo)
Reads Boing Boing or Slashdot (got me again though I've checked boing boing out)
Bored with Flickr (this is a photo website similar to myspace but solely for putting up pics, just checked it out, didn't know about it)
Gets news from Google (two out of seven ain't bad but hardly brilliant for a guy who thought he was riding the internet wave).
The bad news for me is that Seth, author of a series of books including All Marketers are Liars, believes newspapers, in print form, are going out of business.
Still, he combines frustration at crap service with the belief that the internet will empower the consumer. He's right, part of the time but what do you do when a company like Aer Lingus gouges you with additional charges. Click onto their website to fly to the US and you'll get one price pop up for your flight but when you hit continue, a raft of additional prices appear. One is a petrol surcharge for transAtlantic flights (for all I know they had hedged their petrol prices and are putting this bogus payment direct to the bottom line). Incredibly there's also a post-9.11 security charge of around $3. ("Prices exclude $2.50 September 11th security fee for flights departing USA." What is that about?)
And they're not finished yet. If you opt to pay in sterling or any other currency except euro, they will charge you a three per cent fee to convert your credit card payment into euro. They claim this is normal in banks. It may be but it's also daylight robbery. There should be no charge for coverting into euro.
It works like this: I just selected a 10 September flight to Boston at €313. Click continue and next page tells you flight is actually €309 but to add €59.71 in taxes as well as €40 fuel supplement and €6 "handling fee". Where do they get off. That brings the price to €414.71 before their security surcharge and their coversion fee. Yes, there are all sorts of notes down the page informing you about the taxes but just give us the bottom line figure once we select the flight.
That's a clear instance of a marketer lying. On expedia.co.uk they tell you the price, up front, including taxes and all other devious money-making supplements added in. Aer Lingus should do the same. You really shouldn't have to click through five pages to find out how much you're being overcharged.
Will this get worse or better when Aer Lingus privatises? It can't get any worse, can it?
Finally, Kilkenny had the beating of Cork from the off yesterday in a rip-roaring game which did its magnificent stadium venue, in front of 82,500 people, proud. However, somebody needs to give some thought to crowd control at the end. I saw one steward getting chinned by a Kilkenny supporter who had run onto the pitch, despite repeated announcements over the PA system for fans to stay in their seats after the final whistle. It doesn't help that the stewards jackets are sponsored by building company Sisk which makes them look like some brand of hud-carrier earning a few pound extra on a Sunday. Not the thing to inspire authority. The Rebel County will come again.
There's 300-odd pages and 183 sections if you want to read it yourself but, to summarise, he believes the customer is king, that poor service will put businesses to the wall because the internet gives consumers greater choice, and that the web is going to change how we do everything from here on in. The web will make customers emperors.
He has a five-pointer questionnaire to check if you are net-savvy. If you are part of the digerati, you
Use Firefox (failed on that one)
Know who Doc Sears is (failed on that one, though know now)
Uses RSS reader (apparently a software device which allows me to tell you when this blog updates, with your permission. Didn't know about that but intend introducing it immediately)
Has a blog (bingo)
Reads Boing Boing or Slashdot (got me again though I've checked boing boing out)
Bored with Flickr (this is a photo website similar to myspace but solely for putting up pics, just checked it out, didn't know about it)
Gets news from Google (two out of seven ain't bad but hardly brilliant for a guy who thought he was riding the internet wave).
The bad news for me is that Seth, author of a series of books including All Marketers are Liars, believes newspapers, in print form, are going out of business.
Still, he combines frustration at crap service with the belief that the internet will empower the consumer. He's right, part of the time but what do you do when a company like Aer Lingus gouges you with additional charges. Click onto their website to fly to the US and you'll get one price pop up for your flight but when you hit continue, a raft of additional prices appear. One is a petrol surcharge for transAtlantic flights (for all I know they had hedged their petrol prices and are putting this bogus payment direct to the bottom line). Incredibly there's also a post-9.11 security charge of around $3. ("Prices exclude $2.50 September 11th security fee for flights departing USA." What is that about?)
And they're not finished yet. If you opt to pay in sterling or any other currency except euro, they will charge you a three per cent fee to convert your credit card payment into euro. They claim this is normal in banks. It may be but it's also daylight robbery. There should be no charge for coverting into euro.
It works like this: I just selected a 10 September flight to Boston at €313. Click continue and next page tells you flight is actually €309 but to add €59.71 in taxes as well as €40 fuel supplement and €6 "handling fee". Where do they get off. That brings the price to €414.71 before their security surcharge and their coversion fee. Yes, there are all sorts of notes down the page informing you about the taxes but just give us the bottom line figure once we select the flight.
That's a clear instance of a marketer lying. On expedia.co.uk they tell you the price, up front, including taxes and all other devious money-making supplements added in. Aer Lingus should do the same. You really shouldn't have to click through five pages to find out how much you're being overcharged.
Will this get worse or better when Aer Lingus privatises? It can't get any worse, can it?
Finally, Kilkenny had the beating of Cork from the off yesterday in a rip-roaring game which did its magnificent stadium venue, in front of 82,500 people, proud. However, somebody needs to give some thought to crowd control at the end. I saw one steward getting chinned by a Kilkenny supporter who had run onto the pitch, despite repeated announcements over the PA system for fans to stay in their seats after the final whistle. It doesn't help that the stewards jackets are sponsored by building company Sisk which makes them look like some brand of hud-carrier earning a few pound extra on a Sunday. Not the thing to inspire authority. The Rebel County will come again.
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