Flags, Parades, fuel Unionist Protests –
It all began last December following a vote by the Belfast City Council to limit the days that the British Union flag would fly over Belfast City Hall.
For the previous 106 years, Britain’s flag had flown every day over the ornate city hall; it would now be flown but 18 days a year. A vote, perhaps, for “parity of esteem.” The unionist/Protestant community was shocked and took to the streets of Northen Ireland to vent their anger and frustration. The weeks of violence that ensued were the most expansive, and most violent since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Serious stuff, indeed.

As 2013 moved on toward summer and the unionists’ July marching period, there was growing unease among the political leadership and cries for a calm approach to tamp down the more divisive aspects of the marches. And many middle-class Catholics in Belfast planned holidays to be away from the city during the marches. But the Orange Order had a different idea: They would march the Queen’s Highway. The bile that had erupted following the flag council vote was now directed toward the rulings of the Parade Commission that said no to Unionist marchers confronting nationalist homeowners. The commission guidelines erred, if they did, on the side of limiting confrontation and potential violence. Yet, the Queen’s Highway beckoned.
In short order the unionist community in Belfast, led by the Orangemen, targeted the Parade Commission as the enemy. Reflecting a feeling that unionism was being forced to take a back seat to the nationalists, the desperately inadequate political leadership, many unionist newspapers ,and a confused and troubled unionist constituency, once again took to the streets. Scores of police were injured as hundreds of police from across the United Kingdom were rushed into Belfast to quell what had become a full-fledged street war in east and northern Belfast. Derry’s marches, meanwhile, were peaceful and as the mayor noted, driven by “cool heads and respect.”
All the parties made the obligatory nod to non-violence, but Peter Robinson, the North’s First Minister, in his statement also said, “While there is justifiable anger and frustration at the Parades Commission, who bear much responsibility for the situation in Belfast...” This was swiftly followed by a statement of support for the unionist rioters by Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson, who blamed the Parade Commission and the Belfast police. The Belfast newspaper the Newsletter published an unsigned editorial that said, “The unionist rage yesterday was entirely justified, entirely understandable, and entirely appropriate.”
The United States has tasked former NI special envoy Richard Haass with trying to rein in the violence and get both unionists and nationalists talking. The damage to the small businesses in and around Belfast is severe, and the horrific vignettes of Belfast angry and in flames is hardly likely to attract investors or new foreign companies to the North. But what is clearly evident and sadly long range is the incalculable damage to a fragile peace.
Waterford’s Retired Workers Fight Clock On Pensions – When the Waterford Crystal factory closed down four years ago it left many elderly and ailing former workers with reduced pensions. That’s the bad news; worse yet is the fact that it could take years for the retirees to receive those earned pension entitlements. When the company went under in 2009, there were some 1,500 employees who were told that because of huge deficits in the company pension fund, most would receive only between 18 percent and 38 percent of their full pension.
The Waterford workers took their case to the European Court. Despite the Irish government’s argument there that the country’s economic situation was a factor in denying full benefits, the court ruled that Ireland was in breach of EU law and the court would decide what the state would have to cover eventually. The workers are arguing that if the state appeals the court decision on the level of pension payments, that action would likely add at least three years to a final determination and a just pension entitlement. Most of the plaintiffs are aged and many believe that a final court decision and upgraded pension payments will not be forthcoming while they are still alive.
Irish Army Stands Tall – Once again Irish troops are heading to trouble spots far from home to serve as peacekeepers, this time to the disputed Golan Heights in Syria. The 114- member Irish contingent will be on line by early September. The United Nations has specifically requested the participation of the Irish troops because of their track record in the Middle East, where they were regarded by all parties as “acting in good faith.”
The long and proud record of the Irish Army, much of it in the volatile Middle East, has earned acclaim from the UN’s peacekeeping operation. It is not widely known but any deployment of Irish Army peacekeepers is part of a “triple lock” mechanism that mandates approval by the UN, the Irish government, and Dail.
Whitey Bulger’s Life A Testament To Deceit – The trial of James “Whitey” Bulger is ongoing as I write this, and while the government may not be able to prove every last crime they have charged the former thug with, there are some immutable facts that are in sharp contrast to the image that Whitey has worked so hard to maintain.
He wanted us – his silent public – to believe three things about him that were patently untrue. It was important to Whitey that despite his evil career, he wanted desperately to portray himself in the following way: The three Big Lies of Whitey Bulger:
• He was not an informant.
• He did not murder women.
• He never dealt drugs in South Boston.
Each of those fantasies has been shown for what they are – lies manufactured by an insecure mobster more concerned with image then the murderous life he lived, a make-believe man with a comforting patina of lies that he hoped to sell to a gullible public.
And finally, Whitey cost his brother Bill his UMass President’s job, cost brother Jack his court pension, dragged the respectable, hard-working Bulger family name through the mud, and helped kill his neighbor’s kids with his drugs. What a legacy!
Thank Reagan For Advancing Gay Rights – After Lewis Powell resigned from the Supreme Court in 1987, President Reagan nominated Robert Bork, a brilliant lawyer and right-wing ideologue to replace himl. The Senate, led by Joe Biden in the Judiciary Committee, failed to confirm Bork by 58 to 42. Reagan, chastened by the rebuke of Bork and encouraged by chief of staff Howard Baker, an astute observer of the political winds, to pick a moderate for the Court, selected Anthony Kennedy.
There have been three major decisions that have advanced gay rights since Justice Kennedy was appointed. They were in 1996, in 2003, and just recently in the ruling strikimng down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In all three cases vindicating the rights of gay Americans, Justice Kennedy, Reagan’s compromise second choice to replace Bork, voted in the majority and wrote all three opinions.
Tribal Oyster Feast Brings Families Home – On Sept. 29, as part of the Gathering and the annual Oyster Festival held in Galway, there will be a reunion of the Tribes of Galway.
The sponsors are reaching out to the tribal families and their relatives to join the party in late September for the Oyster Olympics, to be a part of the famed Oyster Festival parade and enjoy meeting with other descendants of the original historic families.
Members of the Galway Tribal families or their relatives would include anyone with the following names or their descendants: Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D’Arcy, Deane, Ffont, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris or Skerritt. All are invited to attend and to compete, free of charge for non-Irish residents over 18. For more details or to register, contact by e-mail info@galwayoysterfest.com
NOTABLE QUOTE- “There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happened to me – at least before I was a senator.
There are very few African-Americans who haven’t had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.”
President Barack Obama speaking unscripted following the Zimmerman verdict, July 19, 2013
Ireland’s Prescriptions Are Over The Top – A recent research project conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, and published in part in the Irish Times, has made the case in spades that the Republic of Ireland charges too much – way too much – for commonly used scripts. For instance, Ireland had the highest prices for 9 of 13 popular generic medicines compared to other European countries. People in Dundalk are routinely charged 300 percent more than people buying the same medicines over the border in Newry.
The ESRI Findings clearly illustrate the chronic higher prices people in the Republic pay in contrast to pharmacies in the North for the same medicine. A customer of a Northern pharmacy was able to save $1,700 a year on the cost of four generic drugs by traveling a few miles out of Ireland. Another patient saved $650 a year by buying drugs for high blood pressure and reflux
in Newry in the North instead of in Dublin, despite the fact the drugs were manufactured in Cork.
The largest price gap between expensive Ireland and cut rate Northern Ireland and many European pharmacies is found in the pricing of generics. There has been little light shed on this disparity but drug-pricing legislation is on the way. That should answer some questions and make Ireland – a home to many big pharma companies – a more consumer-friendly locale.
Irish News Plays ‘President’ With King – The Irish News is the favored paper of nationalists living in the North and in border counties. It generally gets the news early and gets it right.
Having said that, I must confess that I had difficulty keeping a straight face when the News carried some remarks from US Congressman Peter King (admittedly not a favorite here) about his stealth campaign for president of the United States. You haven’t heard?
After outlining King’s Irish bona-fides, his friendship with Gerry Adams, his regular visits to Ireland, and his “high profile...and being well known in media circles” status, the News got into the business of King being a serious Republican candidate, or any kind of candidate for president next year.
The News and Rep. King continue: “Mr. King last night confirmed he is not ruling out a run for the White House. “ ”It’s a great honor. I’m looking at it. I’m not ruling it out,” said King. “I will be listening to people and it’s certainly an opportunity to speak out on different things”
The News piece closed out with this editorial comment on King’s chances: “As well as an appeal to Irish Americans, his staunch profile and right wing views could also win him support in traditionally conservative southern states.” Tell that to fellow New Yorker Rudy Giuliani, who tried the same losing strategy in Florida in his inept, failed presidential campaign a few years ago.
What’s The Matter With Derry – Recent figures demanded of the Stormont government by the SDLP MLA representing Derry disclosed a sorry picture of the scant visits to Derry by international investors, as compared to foreign business people who regularly visit Belfast. The North’s Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, admitted that Belfast was the focus of most of the visits to look at local opportunities. During the 2012-13 period, Belfast hosted 171 international investor visits, yet only four (yes!) investor delegations during the same period were hosted by the city of Derry. That’s about a seven to one ratio. Surely Ms. Foster and her department can do better for the people of Derry. Let’s get on that, Martin.
This is Derry’s “City of Culture” high-profile time, but the city, as I well remember from my Boston Ireland Ventures days, is a vibrant, can-do city and county and has the entrepreneurial skills and talent to be attracting potential investors and corporations to that historic region. It would seem that next year Derry should focus on drawing in more economic visits along with the culture.
Bon Voyage, and a hearty ‘well done’ to departing Irish Consul General Michael Lonergan. His four, fruitful years here in Boston have seemed to fly by far too quickly. The Limerick-born Lonergan has served his country and his post with distinction. He will be missed, but for the consul general there is a world of opportunity, adventure, and service beyond Boston, and we wish him well in all his endeavors and future postings.
RANDOM CLIPPINGS
Vans operating in London are announcing in the areas that attract illegal immigrants, “Go home or face arrest” There are no cuffs, apparently, if you self deport. … More than a half of Ireland’s honeybee population has been wiped out since winter; an utter meltdown keepers are saying. … Although most of the assaults and damage during the Belfast riots are unionist-inspired, there are still nationalist blockheads who love to paint or torch Orange Halls. … Belfast Harbor is looking to become a cruise facility welcoming ships that can carry 4,500 passengers. … Fox News Czar Rupert Murdoch had a lot of unkind things to say about the investigations of his phone tapping. Well covered by the media but nothing from his employees at Fox. Typical. … They are running free concerts at the Kennedy Greenway every Friday at North End Park at 6 p.m.
Inishbofin Island, about 7 miles off Galway, had a dig going from Notre Dame in the states. The diggers found a lost village, vacated years ago…. Ireland was voted the country with the “highest client satisfaction” in a survey done by US tourist agencies. … Last month Dublin became the first Euro country to offer electric taxis, with charging stations in the capital city. … Riverdance had some fun a couple of weeks ago when almost 1,700 dancers from 40 countries, led by the super Jean Butler, set a record for the longest Riverdance line. … World Cup’s Real Madrid is Forbes’s most valuable sports team. The Pats are sixth, the Red Sox 11th. … Rhode Island’s CVS Caremark is hiring help at their new Information Systems Center in Belfast, NI. … Season Four of HBO’s Game of Thrones (filmed in NI) is coming to a TV set near you. … Belfast’s new Lord Mayor, Martin O Mmuilleoir, is talking with the Brits about Remembrance Day events and his office will have a copy of the 1916 proclamation alongside photos of Queen Liz and the Duke. … Michael McLaughlin, former high priest of the Chelsea Housing Authority, got three ears in the crossbar Hotel for misusing $700,000 in authority funds for his R & R and falsifying his pay to increase his pension by another $700,000. Just three years? … Aer Lingus wants someone to watch over slick Ryanair when A/L shares go on the market. Aer Lingus says ABO’L. … The best news out of the Vatican since Benedict and his red shoes sashayed off center stage: Pope John XXIII will be elevated to sainthood along with John Paul II later this year. Yes, a deal, but John is long overdue.
Speaking of the Church, New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan could become the face on the milk carton if the files from his time in Wisconsin are as harmful as most observers believe. I won’t miss him. … Massachusetts, and especially Rhode Island, are looking to revenue from new casinos to slice the deficits. Latest reports out of Connecticut show sharp declines in income for both Foxwood and Mohegan Sun. Maybe the naifs are getting smart and spending their money not tossing it into a deep hole. And while I’m at it, what happened to the sucker play scratch tickets? Worst bet yet, except possibly Peter King for the 2014 GOP nomination. …
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Finally, the Gathering may be a trifle juiced up and oversold, but Ireland never is. Visit the folks back home – and give the economy a jolt.