Irish recruits to British army increasing
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008The number of recruits from the Republic of Ireland joining the British army has doubled in the last year, according to the Belfast Newsletter. The paper says that Irish citizens now make up 10.5% of recruits.
The paper features a 23-year-old Kilkenny carpenter who said that he had been getting restless. Although he had been in the Irish reserves, he felt “the English Army has a lot more to offer – I can go on to further education maybe after a few years and there are plenty of options for combat tours, going to Iraq, Afghanistan or other areas like that.”
The paper quotes Lieutenant Colonel Dick Rafferty, head of Army recruitment in Northern Ireland, who said:
“Historically, there is nothing new in young men and women from the south joining the Army.
“But it’s fair to say that for many years the numbers were in decline.
“However, from 2003 onwards we have seen real growth in those joining.”
Lt-Col Rafferty put the reasons for this growth down to a change in Irish attitudes to the British Army, economic conditions and word-of-mouth from the many Irish soldiers in the Army.
“Similarly, given the current strong and vibrant political relations between North and South, there is less of a stigma in telling your friends and family that you’ve joined,” he said.
See the article on the Belfast Newsletter website.
Irish World Heritage Centre: 27 September 2008
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008Out of the Archives
The Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester has announced its annual One Day Conference will take place at the Irish World Heritage Centre on Saturday the 27th of September.
Organisers say:
The theme of the conference this year is ‘Out of the Archives’ and we plan to take a look at key events and key figures in Irish history, with a view to reassessing long-held historical interpretations of past events. The day will consist of four lectures on this topic. All of the speakers will have an interest in disseminating information gathered from first hand accounts of historical events, previously unpublished historical documents or newly presented information.
The ways in which researchers disseminate information varies and these processes will be examined in the course of the day. For example, Annie Ryan, author of ‘Witnesses – Inside the Easter Rising’ will speak about her work on the collection of first hand accounts of the Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence, which are held in the Irish Military Archives, and the work involved in preparing this information to be published in book form.
Sinéad McCoole is a historian, author, broadcaster, script-writer and exhibition curator. In May 2005 the most impressive private library of Irish material anywhere in the world was discovered in Mayo.
The remarkable discovery instigated by the library division of Mayo County Council is a milestone in Irish cultural history. The Jackie Clarke Library and Archives will is a vast collection of items dating from 1617-2000. Remarkable not least because it is one man’s collection, Jackie Clarke (1928-2000) collect this material over his lifetime, starting in his youth and continuing until the year of his death in 2000.
In her talk Sinéad will explore the ideals of the man behind the collection. As always, there will also a bookstall and exhibition on display at the conference.
We will send out programmes and booking forms closer to the date but if you are interested in attending, please let us know by contacting Margot Ryan on 0161 202 1200 or e-mail: mryan@iwhc.com
Milwaukee Irish Fest: August 14-17
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008The Milwaukee Irish Fest, the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture, takes place this month. The festival is taking place from August 14 to 17, and over those four days more than 100 acts will take to the 16 stages.
This year’s theme is Galway, and many Galway musicians, including the Saw Doctors, will be in attendance. The massive festival also includes a Gaeltacht, currach races, a dance tent, hurling, tug-of-war, and a hedge school. Exhibitions will focus on topics as diverse as the heritage of the Ulster-Scots, traditional music, historic and pre-historic landscapes, and the Galway Arts Festival. There will also be a Belleek pottery road show, a music shop selling instruments and music, a literary corner, an interactive exhibit on St Patrick, and much more.
A summer school in the week leading up to the festival includes courses for adults on traditional basket weaving, aran knitting, wood carving, Irish language, step dancing, and a host of music courses. There are also a variety of classes for children.
See the website at Irishfest.org.
Priest who forged emigrant links dies
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008Canon Stephen Ludden, a Castlebar priest who worked to forge strong links between the town and its emigrants, has died at the age of 80.
The Mayo News reports that Fr Ludden cultivated links between the Castlebar Associations in London, Birmingham and elsewhere. Johnny Mee, a friend and Castlebar Labour councillor said, “He was a great man for the Irish Apostolate in London and a regular visitor to their annual get-together”.
Read the whole story in the Mayo News.
REad the
Laid-back New Zealand inspires Irish woman to stay
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008An article on immigrants to New Zealand features the experience of Sam Hill, an Irish woman who says she fell in love with the people and country of New Zealand after travelling there on a whim with a friend. After three months, she realised she had fallen in love with the people and the country and decided to stay for another year, then another, until she ultimately decided to apply for permanent residence.
The article highlights her difficulties in making it through the immigration process, which she described as ‘a waiting game’, fraught with potential barriers. “But if you want the lifestyle, it’s worth it”, Ms Hill told The Aucklander.
Ms Hill is so far reluctant to take up citizenship in her new home:
‘I need to see what the benefits are and whether I can keep my passport,’ she says. ‘I can already vote, so I don’t know whether it’s worth it. And I want to keep my Irish passport. It brings home that I am Irish, and I always will be.’
Read the entire article on The Aucklander website.
TV service to Britain to cost €3 million a year
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008RTE’s new television service for the Irish community in Britain, RTE International, will cost €3 million a year, according to an article in the Sunday Business Post. The money will come out of existing TV resources.
The newspaper reports that the national broadcaster fears that it will only break even this year, after a surplus of €26.4 million for 2007, mostly due to slowing growth in commercial revenue. RTE took in €195.7 million in television licence fees, and €245.5 million in commercial income.
The channel, which was originally due to launch on St Patrick’s Day 2009, is now expected to launch as early as the end of this year. Its content will include current affairs, news, lifestyle and Irish-made drama. It will be aimed at older Irish emigrants and will be operated as a public service; reportedly, there will be no advertising. It will be available on Freesat, a free-to-air satellite service; viewers will need to purchase a receiver for their television sets, but will not need to pay a subscription.
Legislation was passed in 2007 to require RTE to broadcast both sound and television to Irish communities abroad.
See recent articles in the Sunday Business Post:
RTE feels the squeeze (3 Aug 08)
RTE to launch British channel by year-end (20 Jul 08)