Vatican reaction: ‘Defeat for humanity’

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press
June 4, 2015

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s secretary of state has called the Irish vote to legalize gay marriage a “defeat for humanity,” evidence of the soul-searching going on in Catholic circles after the predominantly Roman Catholic country overwhelmingly rejected traditional church teaching on marriage.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin said he was saddened by the landslide decision, in which more than 62 percent of Irish voters said “yes,” despite church teaching that marriage is only between a man and woman.

Gay marriage vote means ‘new normal’ for many in Ireland

By Shawn Pogatchnik,  Associated Press
June 4, 2015

Shawn Pogatchnik,  Associated Press

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton celebrate at Dublin castle, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015, on news that Ireland had voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue. AP Photo/Peter Morrison
DUBLIN – The gay couples of Ireland woke up on Sun., May 24, in what felt like a nation reborn, and some of them had dreams of wedding plans dancing in their heads.

Many weren’t rising too early, however, after celebrating the history-making outcome of Ireland’s referendum enshrining gay marriage in the constitution. The festivities began when the final result – 62 percent approval – was announced the previous night, and ran until sunrise in some corners of Dublin, with tens of thousands of revelers of all sexual identities pouring onto the streets.

A royal return to Sligo recalls a lord’s murder

By Shawn Pogatchnik,  Associated Press
April 30, 2015

Shawn Pogatchnik,  Associated Press

Classiebawn, the home of Lord Mountbatten in Mullaghmore, County Sigo, was built in the 1860’s by twice Prime Minister of England, Lord Palmerston. Prince Charles will be visiting Sligo this month where Lord Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979.

DUBLIN – Prince Charles is expected to visit the scene of the Irish Republican Army’s most high-profile assassination – the 1979 slaying of Charles’s great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten – during an official visit to Ireland this month to Ireland.

The British and Irish governments said that details are still being confirmed for Charles’s tour involving Co. Sligo in western Ireland, where Mountbatten lived without security in a castle residence for many years despite the IRA threat.

More are finding Ireland is made for walking

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
April 30, 2015

By Judy Enright
Special to the BIR

Healthy and active vacations are very much the focus for visitors to Ireland these days.

Walking/cycling trails abound for those energetic souls who want to get out and go, but there are also options for the traveler who just wants to take a slow amble through the countryside or a gentle bike ride. Of course, there are many other forms of exercise for visitors and residents such as the more than 300 golf courses in the North and in the Republic as well as almost any sport and adventure on land and sea that you can imagine.

Murphy finds satisfaction in his post-Nightingale life

By Sean Smith
April 30, 2015

Sean Smith

He may not have intended it that way, but the title for New England folk musician Keith Murphy’s fine recent solo album seems a little autobiographical.

“Suffer No Loss” is a refrain from one of the album’s songs, a dialogue between a couple on the pros and cons of relocating from Vermont to the Wisconsin wilderness. And while his circumstances may not have been as dramatic or compelling as those faced by the couple in question, Murphy can relate to the challenge of letting go of the familiar.

Call David Doocey happy with his career path in music

By Sean Smith
April 30, 2015

Sean Smith

You have to feel pretty good about your direction in life when you land a job in your desired field and the ink on your college diploma is barely dry.

So it was with Worcester native David Doocey, who on the day he graduated from the National University of Ireland-Galway got an invitation to join the band Gráda. In the seven years since then, Doocey has built on his successful beginnings – which included All-Ireland titles in fiddle and concertina and the first-ever World Fleadh fiddle championship – and ensconced himself firmly in the Irish music scene.

World premiere at New Rep for Noone’s bawdy comedy

By R.J. Donovan
April 30, 2015

R.J. Donovan

What private thoughts and information are we obligated to share with friends, family, and spouses? A nd how does loyalty and transparency enter into the equation?

Those questions and more are raised in Ronan Noone’s “Scenes from an Adultery,” the final production of New Repertory Theatre’s 30th anniversary season, playing through May 17. This marks Ronan’s second world premiere in the past five months, coming on the heels of “The Second Girl” at the Huntington.

Public regains access to JFK State House statue

By Gintautas Dumcius, State House News Service
April 30, 2015

Gintautas Dumcius, State House News Service

The John F. Kennedy statue overlooking the State House lawn and Boston Common is againavailable for close-up viewing to the wider public.

The public will be able to view the statue of the former US president seasonally, through October, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Department of Conservation and Recreation rangers will be available by the statue for security purposes. To visit the statue, members of the public will have to pass through security checks at the State House entrances by the Gen. Joseph Hooker statue and Ashburton Park.

Irish Government Tightening Banking Rules

By Bill O'Donnell
April 30, 2015

Bill O'Donnell

Irish Government Tightening Banking Rules – Ireland’s political leaders, like ours here in Congress, don’t agree too often, but there is a growing consensus on the isle that it no longer can be business as usual for Irish banks. Enough time has passed since the biggest banks, with their destructive, madcap operating style, and developers and investors brought Ireland’s economy to its knees to make reform inevitable.

Let’s not quit on Boston 2024

By Jim Keefe
April 30, 2015

Jim Keefe

Frankly, I’m not surprised at the level of skepticism that has greeted the possibility of the Summer Olympics coming to Boston. That Yankee caution and resistance to all things new has permeated our culture for centuries. And while as a region we often take pride in our adherence to tradition, it has often held us back, and the friction that is mounting against the Olympics is a perfect example of this.

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