How timely of the SAS/MRF etc etc to be reintroduced to our drama as we approach the tenth anniversary of the murder by those same forces of civil rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson.
The Brehon Law Society will hold ceremonies across the US next week to match similar event in Ireland and London to mourn Rosemary's passing and to call on those who plotted her murder and oversaw its execution through their hapless agents to come clean.
This is the statement that will be read out at those ceremonies:
We mourn again on this day our murdered colleague, Rosemary Nelson. It has been ten years since this courageous woman paid the ultimate price for her efforts to defend her clients, and more significantly, to infuse justice into the rule of law in her community.
We know now so much better than we realized before her death the
enormity of the challenges she faced, and the dogged courage with which she faced those challenges. Courageous defense counsel insure the integrity and vitality of any system of justice, without which neither peace nor progress can be achieved.
Some, inspired by her sacrifice, have pursued the same ideals. Because of their efforts, we are gaining awareness of the extent of the collusion between those appointed to safeguard citizens and those given license to murder citizens.
Rosemary witnessed the perversion of justice by those charged with its enforcement. She became a victim of men who chose to make no distinction between defense counsel and persons in need of representation.
Rosemary Nelson confronted the corruption that she encountered. Her example continues to inspire us. Let us construct in Rosemary's memory a most fitting memorial; namely, forging real reform in policing and the administration of the law so that counsel shall never again lose their lives in Northern Ireland for simply doing what any just society demands of them.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Bear in mind these dead
I see Patricia MacBride, Victims' Commissioner and nationalist, is being taken to task by UUP MEP Jim Nicholson, (Jim Who? I hear you ask) for writing about the extra-judicial execution of her brother Antoine by the SAS.
One would have thought she would be commended for bringing this subject to light at the very time when those who are working for peace have expressed outrage at the thought of these killer gangs in green wandering our streets and fields again.
One would have thought she would be commended for bringing this subject to light at the very time when those who are working for peace have expressed outrage at the thought of these killer gangs in green wandering our streets and fields again.
Past present?
It's hard to believe that the British who control security matters in these parts (sometimes quaintly known as the justice portfolio) could be stupid enough to think it's a good idea to bring the blackguards of the SAS.
Anyone who read Fr Raymond Murray's masterful work on the SAS in Ireland can have no doubt but that they are a recipe for disaster.
Or is that a lighted match to a tinderbox?
The last thing we need is a band of ruthless cut-throats roaming the byways and highways looking to put another notch on their rifle butts.
A kick in the butt back to Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever else they waterboard handcuffed prisoners or assassinate goatherds.
Anyone who read Fr Raymond Murray's masterful work on the SAS in Ireland can have no doubt but that they are a recipe for disaster.
Or is that a lighted match to a tinderbox?
The last thing we need is a band of ruthless cut-throats roaming the byways and highways looking to put another notch on their rifle butts.
A kick in the butt back to Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever else they waterboard handcuffed prisoners or assassinate goatherds.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
How do you explain this to foreign investors?
You can read the full story of how a battling West Belfast solicitor blew the whistle on the health service golden circle — which benefited crooked lawyer George Brangam to the tune of £27m — on belfastmedia.com this morning.
While the Public Accounts Committee focused on the £200,000 or so he actually stole from the Health Service, the reality is that the real thieving was done in the construction of a procurement system which gave Brangam a monopoly. The Public Accounts Committee, unfortunately, didn't fully understand that was the real problem. However, they made some scathing remarks about the set-up and will now hopefully haul back in some of the people behind this scandal for a grilling.
Michael Flanigan blew the whistle on this "debacle" (the Committee's word) in 1998 but was ignored. How many other Brangams are living it high on the hog and how many other Michael Flanigans are being ignored by the powers-that-be?
The excrement will really hit the fan when foreign investors learn of this banana-republic-style corruption, making it all the more difficult to rebuild our shattered economy. Unless, of course, they can show heads have rolled...which hasn't happened yet.
While the Public Accounts Committee focused on the £200,000 or so he actually stole from the Health Service, the reality is that the real thieving was done in the construction of a procurement system which gave Brangam a monopoly. The Public Accounts Committee, unfortunately, didn't fully understand that was the real problem. However, they made some scathing remarks about the set-up and will now hopefully haul back in some of the people behind this scandal for a grilling.
Michael Flanigan blew the whistle on this "debacle" (the Committee's word) in 1998 but was ignored. How many other Brangams are living it high on the hog and how many other Michael Flanigans are being ignored by the powers-that-be?
The excrement will really hit the fan when foreign investors learn of this banana-republic-style corruption, making it all the more difficult to rebuild our shattered economy. Unless, of course, they can show heads have rolled...which hasn't happened yet.
Unionist Golden Circle is exposed through Brangam
Today's editorial in the Andersonstown News:
Last week’s report by the Public Accounts Committee in Stormont hit
the bull’s eye in its excoriating review of the charmed relationship
between unionist lawyer George Brangam and the health service... and
just perhaps may help us expose the many other George Brangams out
there benefiting from no-contest government contracts.
The Brangam “debacle” (the Committee’s word, not ours) came to
light when it emerged that the crooked lawyer, not satisfied with a
contractual relationship with the Health Service which gave him a
monopoly on its legal work, started to thieve from his generous
benefactor.
Brangam’s pilfering left him several hundred thousand pounds better
off, but that was but a drop in the ocean when compared to the £27m
his firm earned in Health Service contracts over a ten-year period.
And indeed, it’s the firm view of the Public Accounts Committee that
his exclusive access to Health Service work facilitated his
fraudulent behaviour.
This procurement process, says the Committee, was “one of the worst
examples of bad procurement practice that this Committee has ever
seen.” It adds: “It is unbelievable that the select list for legal
services lasted for 12 years, preventing other firms from entering
this market.”
In short, a system devised to create a level playing field for all
and deliver value for money was corrupted by an “astounding”
procurement practice which effectively gifted George Brangam millions
of pounds.
This paper has argued for many years against discriminatory practice
in employment and in procurement. We have also contended that the old
school tie network of yesteryear remains entrenched in many areas of
society — not least in the Civil Service.
The Brangam affair further confirms us in that view.
The question now is, can politicians of goodwill flush out this
cancer of nepotism and bigotry which, in placing contracts on the
basis of religion and politics rather than merit, hinders economic
growth and rewards ineptitude and graft? In short, the
discriminatory practices on which much of our procurement system
still thrives are condemning us to live in an economic backwater.
The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Paul Maskey, has made a
good start with the no-holds-barred indictment of the civil servants
involved in the Brangam “debacle”.
However, if no disciplinary action is taken against those who created
this sordid system, if no heads are to roll, then the rotten
practices of the past will continue.
Plaudits to courageous Falls Road solicitor Michael Flanigan for
fighting a lonely battle against this invidious discrimination.
Now the task facing everyone who believes in equality of opportunity
is to ensure that the next whistleblower isn’t met with an eleven-
year delay in finding his or her protests vindicated.
The corollary of that, of course, is that it also doesn’t take the
government 11 years to nail the bad guys.
Last week’s report by the Public Accounts Committee in Stormont hit
the bull’s eye in its excoriating review of the charmed relationship
between unionist lawyer George Brangam and the health service... and
just perhaps may help us expose the many other George Brangams out
there benefiting from no-contest government contracts.
The Brangam “debacle” (the Committee’s word, not ours) came to
light when it emerged that the crooked lawyer, not satisfied with a
contractual relationship with the Health Service which gave him a
monopoly on its legal work, started to thieve from his generous
benefactor.
Brangam’s pilfering left him several hundred thousand pounds better
off, but that was but a drop in the ocean when compared to the £27m
his firm earned in Health Service contracts over a ten-year period.
And indeed, it’s the firm view of the Public Accounts Committee that
his exclusive access to Health Service work facilitated his
fraudulent behaviour.
This procurement process, says the Committee, was “one of the worst
examples of bad procurement practice that this Committee has ever
seen.” It adds: “It is unbelievable that the select list for legal
services lasted for 12 years, preventing other firms from entering
this market.”
In short, a system devised to create a level playing field for all
and deliver value for money was corrupted by an “astounding”
procurement practice which effectively gifted George Brangam millions
of pounds.
This paper has argued for many years against discriminatory practice
in employment and in procurement. We have also contended that the old
school tie network of yesteryear remains entrenched in many areas of
society — not least in the Civil Service.
The Brangam affair further confirms us in that view.
The question now is, can politicians of goodwill flush out this
cancer of nepotism and bigotry which, in placing contracts on the
basis of religion and politics rather than merit, hinders economic
growth and rewards ineptitude and graft? In short, the
discriminatory practices on which much of our procurement system
still thrives are condemning us to live in an economic backwater.
The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Paul Maskey, has made a
good start with the no-holds-barred indictment of the civil servants
involved in the Brangam “debacle”.
However, if no disciplinary action is taken against those who created
this sordid system, if no heads are to roll, then the rotten
practices of the past will continue.
Plaudits to courageous Falls Road solicitor Michael Flanigan for
fighting a lonely battle against this invidious discrimination.
Now the task facing everyone who believes in equality of opportunity
is to ensure that the next whistleblower isn’t met with an eleven-
year delay in finding his or her protests vindicated.
The corollary of that, of course, is that it also doesn’t take the
government 11 years to nail the bad guys.
Liam and Tara lead off Seattle parade
Good for Liam and Tara O'Boyle who will lead off the St Patrick's Day parade in Seattle.
In this pic, Liam's wearing his Naomh Pól CLG polo top.
Two worthy recipients of this great honor.
In this pic, Liam's wearing his Naomh Pól CLG polo top.
Two worthy recipients of this great honor.
St Pat's for all
I suspect not as many people know about the Brendan Fay-organised St Pat's For All Parade in New York as know about its bigger cousin which will march down Fifth Avenue next week.
However, St Pat's For All is a response to the continued block on gay groups taking place with their banners in the main celebration.
Leading off the inclusive parade last Saturday were Terry George, Speaker Christine Quinn, Comptroller William Thompson and actress Susan McKeown from Dublin. Brendan Fay tells us it was a great occasion with a letter from President McAleese read out.
Which reminds me that with Ted Kennedy now being made Sir Ted Kennedy (please!!), it's high time the Irish Government got its act together to create some type of honor which, of course, would go to those who pay for them.
In the meantime, rather than look to beleaguered big brother, why don't our own First Ministers create an honour which they can bestow on deserving individuals?
Though it's unlikely Peter would sign up since he's a CBE/OBE and general alphabet soup guy. Which reminds me, and From The Balcony on the subject of monoculturalism, why does the BBC NI website insist on covering only the progress of the Northern Ireland soccer team when half its customers support the Republic of Ireland side. Sounds like a matter for Paul Butler who this week scored success in his campaign to have young people from the North play for the Republic of Ireland if they wish.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Mac Uí Fhloinn agus an Banana úd
Bhí lón agam inniu leis an té atá i mbun na Rúnaíochta Breatanaigh-Éireannaigh i mBéal Feirste, Colm Ó Floinn.
Ar ndóigh, ardfhear atá ann, taidhleoir den scoth agus corp an duine uasail agus é mar chomharba ar ár seanchara Gary Ansbro.
Ach tá eolas ag léitheoirí Ón Bhlacóin ar a athair, Críostóir Ó Floinn.
Chaith muid go leor ama ag caint ar Chríostóir cóir agus tá áthas orm cloisteáil go bhfuil sé ag déanamh go maith i gcónaí. Chonaic mé gnéchlár ar Chríostóir a rinne TG4 agus shíl mé go raibh sé ar fheabhas. Thug sé chun solais an chinsireacht a rinneadh ar Chríostóir nuair a d'fhoilsigh sé Maraíodh Seán Sabhat Aréir ach fosta thaispeáin sé dúinn fear ardhmheanmach dochloíte...agus nuair a chríochnaigh sé le Críostóir ag seinm ar an sacsafón, bhí a fhios againn gurb é Críostóir an fear é.
I ndiaidh an chláir sin, chuaigh mé sa tóir ar Banana, cnuasach clúiteach dánta Chríostóir a thosaíonn le dán a spreag banana as Ecuador. Dán cumhachtach Críostúil a bhí ag machnamh ar ainstaid an Tríú Domhain agus ár gcaidreamh leis nuair nach raibh iomrá ar a leithéid. Aimseoidh mé amárach daoibh é...i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge.
Ar ndóigh, ardfhear atá ann, taidhleoir den scoth agus corp an duine uasail agus é mar chomharba ar ár seanchara Gary Ansbro.
Ach tá eolas ag léitheoirí Ón Bhlacóin ar a athair, Críostóir Ó Floinn.
Chaith muid go leor ama ag caint ar Chríostóir cóir agus tá áthas orm cloisteáil go bhfuil sé ag déanamh go maith i gcónaí. Chonaic mé gnéchlár ar Chríostóir a rinne TG4 agus shíl mé go raibh sé ar fheabhas. Thug sé chun solais an chinsireacht a rinneadh ar Chríostóir nuair a d'fhoilsigh sé Maraíodh Seán Sabhat Aréir ach fosta thaispeáin sé dúinn fear ardhmheanmach dochloíte...agus nuair a chríochnaigh sé le Críostóir ag seinm ar an sacsafón, bhí a fhios againn gurb é Críostóir an fear é.
I ndiaidh an chláir sin, chuaigh mé sa tóir ar Banana, cnuasach clúiteach dánta Chríostóir a thosaíonn le dán a spreag banana as Ecuador. Dán cumhachtach Críostúil a bhí ag machnamh ar ainstaid an Tríú Domhain agus ár gcaidreamh leis nuair nach raibh iomrá ar a leithéid. Aimseoidh mé amárach daoibh é...i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge.
Golden Circles in building sector
I see that it's not only in the health service sector that we have golden circles for unionism.
They're doing quite nicely thank you in the building trade as well where the former head of the UVF in mid-Ulster was raking in £15m in government and PSNI contracts.
Martina Anderson MLA has now raised the issue with the PSNI but how come the Equality Commission allows these things to go on. We consistently told we have the toughest equality legislation in Europe but when it comes to ending discrimination in procurement, it's useless.
They're doing quite nicely thank you in the building trade as well where the former head of the UVF in mid-Ulster was raking in £15m in government and PSNI contracts.
Martina Anderson MLA has now raised the issue with the PSNI but how come the Equality Commission allows these things to go on. We consistently told we have the toughest equality legislation in Europe but when it comes to ending discrimination in procurement, it's useless.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
I have now heard it all
The Newspaper Society which represents the regional press in Britain and you know which part of Ireland has cancelled all its awards events in 2009.
Just when we needed a bit of leadership and inspiration from the leadership of the newspaper sector, they rush for the lifeboats.
You won't be surprised to hear that the Belfast Media Group and Irish Echo has every intention of pushing ahead with all its civic celebrations and awards events in 2009.
In fact, just today we managed to sign up Páidí Ó Lionáird, who was in fine form tonight on TG4's Seacht Lá, for our Top 50 Business as Gaeilge Awards in the Four Seasons Dublin on 22 May (also my mum's 80th birthday as it happens).
We will be operating on reduced budgets, there's less sponsorship about and we need to cut our clothes in these times of economic crisis, but there's even more need now to recognise those who are leading us through these tough waters.
Just when we needed a bit of leadership and inspiration from the leadership of the newspaper sector, they rush for the lifeboats.
You won't be surprised to hear that the Belfast Media Group and Irish Echo has every intention of pushing ahead with all its civic celebrations and awards events in 2009.
In fact, just today we managed to sign up Páidí Ó Lionáird, who was in fine form tonight on TG4's Seacht Lá, for our Top 50 Business as Gaeilge Awards in the Four Seasons Dublin on 22 May (also my mum's 80th birthday as it happens).
We will be operating on reduced budgets, there's less sponsorship about and we need to cut our clothes in these times of economic crisis, but there's even more need now to recognise those who are leading us through these tough waters.
Papers biting the dust
I would have given you dollars to doughnuts that the San Francisco Chronicle would last a million years but that's before I read last week in the Wall Street Journal that they employ 1500 people.
Apparently, things have come to a head with management threatening to shutter the entire operation if unions don't agree to huge job cuts.
Apparently the paper is shipping losses of over $1m a week. Owner Hearst, says the Journal (itself laden with debt) is "impatient with some of the company's struggling businesses, particularly the Chronicle. Hearst also announced in January it will close the Seattle Post-Intelligencer or convert it to an online only publication if a buyer can't be found in two months."
Last time I was in Seattle, they were offering free tours of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's magnificent new offices.
Things also changing dramatically in Philadelphia where I had hoped to meet the new owner, Irish American Brian Tierney during my visit last week. Turns out he was too busy to attend the Chamber luncheon, however, because he has just filed for bankruptcy to (following in the footsteps of the Journal Register in Minneapolis and the Tribune in Chicago and Los Angeles — pictured is the Tribune Tower on the Mag Mile in Chicago where I first met editor Jim O'Shea in 2000) give him space to restructure $500m in debt.
Strangely, we're the only business cutting our own throat by giving away content for free. On the other hand, newspapers want to stay relevant and attract eyeballs and to do we have to let readers who are using the web to get the news as they want it. For example, around 1400 people have now registered online to read the North Belfast News in pageturning digital form, about half that number from Belfast. Should we block access to the digital edition? The stats show that only five per cent of that number will pay for access so we would be losing many readers, though undoubtedly picking up more readers. The solution? We're not sure but from this week, the digital edition of the North Belfast News won't go up until Saturday morning.
In the meantime, if anyone gets a better model for a profitable online presence, let me know.
Nail on the head?
Can't believe Van the Man isn't bringing his Astral Weeks tour to Ireland.
Though hard to disagree with this quote from his website:
"The only thing I love is the music. The rest of it is pure shit." - Van Morrison, Village Voice.
The only consolation is that the greatest record ever cut is now available in the live version from the Hollywood Bowl concert last year.
Wow! Have just seen on the website that only tickets left for Van in London are £200 and £110.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Congressman didn't miss and hit wall
I presented Congressman Mike McMahon who delivered the main address at our 40 Under 40 in Manhattan with a copy of the new Irish American Chronicle, an amazing, highly readable and encyclopedic work on Irish America. He made some well-crafted comments about the Good Friday Agreement and how it ended (or was supposed to) an era when nationalists were supposed to travel on the back of the bus. No doubt men of good conscience like him would be shocked to hear of the health service procurement scandal already publicised From The Balcony.
I take great solace from Rudy Lombard's comments at the civil rights meeting last week that the election of Obama was "a start". I take the same attitude to the election of Martin McGuinness as one of our First Ministers.
In the Chronicle, Maureen O'Hara writes a powerful preface and Peter Quinn proffers as succint a piece of writing about what it means to be Irish American as I've ever seen.
I see he references the trial for witchcraft of Ann Glover who was hanged for conducting her defence in Irish, bad enough to be a Catholic but speaking in tongues was altogether too much for the citizens of Boston, Salem and environs.
You can read Peter's wonderful introduction here and while the Chronicle is available on amazon.com for $30, I'm told it costs less in American bookstores.
"Unbelievable" and "one of worst examples"
A friend who challenged the golden circle procurement policies of the health boards tells me the Assembly Committee were ploughing in the right direction but didn't get to the bottom of the field.
However, the language is truly shocking in its description of the Brangam golden circle fraud.
From the report: "This is one of the worst examples of bad procurement practice that this Committee has ever seen. It is unbelievable that the Select List for legal services lasted for 12 years, preventing other firms from entering this market. However, the fact that Brangam and Bagnall received 70 per cent of the work put out to the private sector market over 10 years is astounding. The lack of clear direction has resulted in an open market not developing for legal services and doubts over whether value for money was ever achieved during this period. Furthermore, the Committee considers that the ineffective management of this procurement process helped create the favourable conditions that allowed Brangam to perpetrate these frauds against the health service."
God knows what the Yanks who are being asked to invest here make of it all.
However, the language is truly shocking in its description of the Brangam golden circle fraud.
From the report: "This is one of the worst examples of bad procurement practice that this Committee has ever seen. It is unbelievable that the Select List for legal services lasted for 12 years, preventing other firms from entering this market. However, the fact that Brangam and Bagnall received 70 per cent of the work put out to the private sector market over 10 years is astounding. The lack of clear direction has resulted in an open market not developing for legal services and doubts over whether value for money was ever achieved during this period. Furthermore, the Committee considers that the ineffective management of this procurement process helped create the favourable conditions that allowed Brangam to perpetrate these frauds against the health service."
God knows what the Yanks who are being asked to invest here make of it all.
Catching up
I know I should have my finger on the pulse but just got to enjoy Gerry Adams ard fheis presidential address last Saturday and regard it as a tour de force.
Here's part one, you can dig out the rest on youtube.
The only problem is that there are six parts. Shut off the TV, pull out the phone cables and settle down for an hour or two.
Here's part one, you can dig out the rest on youtube.
The only problem is that there are six parts. Shut off the TV, pull out the phone cables and settle down for an hour or two.
Golden Circle Inc.
For those of you who want to find out how an egregious fraud could be carried out courtesy of procurement laws which favour the unionist golden circle, please read pages Page 3 para 12 and 13, Page 5 and 6 para 15 – 19 from the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee's Report on Brangam, Bagnall & Co: Legal Practicioner Fraud Perpetrated Against the Health and Personal Social Services.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Mar atá agus mar a bhí
Páistí na bunscoile ar Bhóthar Seoighe an chéad lá a thosaigh siad i 1971 agus mar tá siad an lá inniu.
Sa tseanphictiúr eilís, adam, nuala, siubhán, caitlín, brídín agus colm sa phic a glacadh oíche Shathairn sa bhunscoil mar chuid de chlár atá a dhéanamh ag an Beeb ar an tseachtar, tá Colm Mac Aindreasa, Conall Ó Coisneacháin, Adam Mac Giolla Chathain, (chun tosaigh) Deirdre Nic Sheáin, Nuala Nic Sheáin, Caitlín Nic Aindreasa agus Áine Ní Mhonacháin.
Ceannródaithe, go maire siad.
Ar ndóigh, tá se 25 bliain anois ó d'fhág siad an bhunscoil.
Uasdatail: Deirtear liom nach iad na páistí sa chéad phic na daoine fásta sa dara pic. Sa chéad phic tá Brídín Nic Giolla Chathain, Siubhán cé, Eilís cé?
Bill Tatum dies
Bill Tatum, former publisher of the Amsterdam News and a giant of the African-American community in New York, has died on a trip to Montenegro.
Bill is the father of Elinor who is now publisher and editor-in-chief of the Harlem newspaper which celebrates its centenary this year.
Mayor Bloomberg noted that he often disagreed with Tatum, but praised him as a "real character in the nicest sense of the word .... He had a real feel for people and really tried to make our city better."
Mr Tatum had been confined to a wheelchair since a freak fall in a New York restaurant. His chair broke and he cracked his head on a table on the way down, severing his spine.
Bill is the father of Elinor who is now publisher and editor-in-chief of the Harlem newspaper which celebrates its centenary this year.
Mayor Bloomberg noted that he often disagreed with Tatum, but praised him as a "real character in the nicest sense of the word .... He had a real feel for people and really tried to make our city better."
Mr Tatum had been confined to a wheelchair since a freak fall in a New York restaurant. His chair broke and he cracked his head on a table on the way down, severing his spine.
Howard he do that?
How'd he get the chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board from a DUP Minister is the question being asked by quango watchers in this part of the world.
On merit of course.
At any rate, Howard Hastings is now chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board which bodes well for those who believe it's about time the Board put some real resources into west and north Belfast.
Interestingly, the Tourist Board, which previously disowned responsibility for tourist 'product' wet itself over the prospect of a Titanic signature project. And indeed, it has come to pass with work on the Titanic flagship project starting in January.
A similar push behind projects for west and north — perhaps the Museum of the City of Belfast in Crumlin Road Jail and a Peace Art Museum in St Comgall's School — would right the balance.
Hopefully, Mr Hastings, who heads up the Hastings Hotels empire and is also a fan of Danny Meyer, will accept that the customers of tourism are not just the visitors but the communities who wish to benefit from the economic uplift of tourism. In that case, more attention should go to the previously neglected tourism gems of west and north Belfast.
I was heartened to hear that the Assembly's Education Committe had met in St Mary's University College in West Belfast while deliberating on education policy. No doubt, the tourist board would be equally welcome in West Belfast.
Anyhow, what could the Lord Mayor of Belfast Tom Hartley be saying to Howard Hastings, a prize for the funniest caption.
On merit of course.
At any rate, Howard Hastings is now chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board which bodes well for those who believe it's about time the Board put some real resources into west and north Belfast.
Interestingly, the Tourist Board, which previously disowned responsibility for tourist 'product' wet itself over the prospect of a Titanic signature project. And indeed, it has come to pass with work on the Titanic flagship project starting in January.
A similar push behind projects for west and north — perhaps the Museum of the City of Belfast in Crumlin Road Jail and a Peace Art Museum in St Comgall's School — would right the balance.
Hopefully, Mr Hastings, who heads up the Hastings Hotels empire and is also a fan of Danny Meyer, will accept that the customers of tourism are not just the visitors but the communities who wish to benefit from the economic uplift of tourism. In that case, more attention should go to the previously neglected tourism gems of west and north Belfast.
I was heartened to hear that the Assembly's Education Committe had met in St Mary's University College in West Belfast while deliberating on education policy. No doubt, the tourist board would be equally welcome in West Belfast.
Anyhow, what could the Lord Mayor of Belfast Tom Hartley be saying to Howard Hastings, a prize for the funniest caption.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Go Aontroim
Well done to the hurlers of Antrim who came back from a four goal deficit and a goalkeeping howler in the first few minutes to best Wexford in Casement Park.
A good run for Antrim in hurling (more likely) or football (in your dreams) really lifts Belfast and though the attendance was poor-middling, you could feel the energy throbbing through Casement when Antrim moved clear of the boys of Wexford.
There's been a stop-go effort in recent years to change the previous comedy club approach of the Antrim backroom operation and it's good to see Club Aontroma sticking at it. A few wins, heads up and perhaps the behind-the-scenes backbiting and amateur hour histrionics which so disappointed in the past will be replaced with the type of community and business sector support the Saffron colours deserve. Certainly, the injection of funding promised by St Gregory Campbell would be a big help in transforming Casement Park where already I see spanking new TV and press facilities going up.
Finally, a lesson in customer care for all you budding entrepreneurs: I popped into a shop in the city centre yesterday to buy a shirt. I asked the owner-manager who I had spied in his shop window earlier gazing out at the passing traffic — obviously because he had no customers — where the shirts were. "All over the place" was his dismissive and unhelpful response. I took it he didn't care whether he had our custom or not and decided to pass. Which is just as well since some of the shirts were retailing at £230 — is anyone paying £230 for a shirt in Belfast? Even at a third off which was the sale price? Not a shop where, to paraphrase Danny Meyer, the staff aren't on the side of the customer.
A good run for Antrim in hurling (more likely) or football (in your dreams) really lifts Belfast and though the attendance was poor-middling, you could feel the energy throbbing through Casement when Antrim moved clear of the boys of Wexford.
There's been a stop-go effort in recent years to change the previous comedy club approach of the Antrim backroom operation and it's good to see Club Aontroma sticking at it. A few wins, heads up and perhaps the behind-the-scenes backbiting and amateur hour histrionics which so disappointed in the past will be replaced with the type of community and business sector support the Saffron colours deserve. Certainly, the injection of funding promised by St Gregory Campbell would be a big help in transforming Casement Park where already I see spanking new TV and press facilities going up.
Finally, a lesson in customer care for all you budding entrepreneurs: I popped into a shop in the city centre yesterday to buy a shirt. I asked the owner-manager who I had spied in his shop window earlier gazing out at the passing traffic — obviously because he had no customers — where the shirts were. "All over the place" was his dismissive and unhelpful response. I took it he didn't care whether he had our custom or not and decided to pass. Which is just as well since some of the shirts were retailing at £230 — is anyone paying £230 for a shirt in Belfast? Even at a third off which was the sale price? Not a shop where, to paraphrase Danny Meyer, the staff aren't on the side of the customer.
On the run
I'm impressed, and then some, with the Between the Bridges run, brainchild of Dougie Admas, which will officially open the £100m Westlink extension in Belfast next Sunday.
Over 3,000 people (including me) have now registered and while online registrations are now closed, it's expected up to another thousand will register in person in the Park Centre, West Belfast, between Thursday and Saturday of this week.
I can't remember the last time (Belfast marathon excluded) that 3,000 people registered for any type of event so well done to the organising committee which includes Jacqueline O'Donnell of the Belfast Media Group.
All proceeds of the run and fun walk go to the NI Hospice.
Over 3,000 people (including me) have now registered and while online registrations are now closed, it's expected up to another thousand will register in person in the Park Centre, West Belfast, between Thursday and Saturday of this week.
I can't remember the last time (Belfast marathon excluded) that 3,000 people registered for any type of event so well done to the organising committee which includes Jacqueline O'Donnell of the Belfast Media Group.
All proceeds of the run and fun walk go to the NI Hospice.
Am I missing something?
Am I missing something or is it acceptable that the invite to the annual party run by the Joint British-Irish Secretariat should be in English only?
Irish is full working language of the EU, the first official language of the Irish Republic, protected by the Charter on Lesser-Used Languages within the Six Counties and probably more widely spoken in Belfast than Blackrock.
So how come the invite's monolingual?
Off to see Loch Garman thrash Aontroim.
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