A reflection on Biblical matters: Free will: God’s gift, our challenge

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
February 5, 2015

By James W. Dolan
Special to the Reporter

How does one reconcile two obvious facts that seem to conflict with the Bible and Christian tradition? As described in Genesis, creation and the fundamental flaw in mankind, often termed “original sin,” are inaccurate. The creative process occurred over millions of years and Adam and Eve are more representative than real.

Begorrah, you better believe it: Bostonians care about Ireland

By Joe Leary
February 5, 2015
Joe Leary

Most Irish Americans, and certainly all those Americans who were born in Ireland and are now living in the Boston area, deeply care about their Irish Heritage. There are dozens upon dozens of serious Irish organizations in the Boston metropolitan area whose members are devoted to Ireland and our heritage. Most of them not only celebrate their heritage, but they also try to instill Irish values in their children through dance, sport, and cultural events.

‘Riverdance’ just keeps on coming

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
February 5, 2015

Last fall, when Rachel Kelly brought the inaugural iFest to Boston, she featured a group of about thirty dancers, and another eight musicians from the Riverdance troupe. That “Riverdance” performance here last September was a huge audience favorite, and a real showstopper.

On the elaborate outdoor stage at the Seaport World Trade Center, their 25-minute condensed version of the show featured live dancing and music, synchronized with video moments from the various performances from around the world.

Minister for Diaspora talks immigration in visit to D.C. Boston

By Ed Forry
February 5, 2015

Irish Fine Gael politician James “Jimmy” Deenihan T.D., the Minister of State for the Diaspora, visited Boston last month during a four-day, two-city American visit that featured immigration talks in Washington with members of Congress, Irish American business leaders, and organizations thaty support Irish citizens.

Irish first to get beef to US market

By Peter F. Stevens
February 5, 2015
Peter F. Stevens

The news has been a long time coming – nearly sixteen years. Since the Mad Cow outbreak in the late 1990s, the US had banned the import of European beef. Now, Ireland has become the first country in Europe to meet the strictures ensuring that the meat is safe for American consumers.

The US government lifted the ban last March, but Ireland has beaten its neighbors in preparing to sell to the lucrative market across the Atlantic. The news has been greeted with elation by the Irish government and its food board, Bord Bia.

Great travel deals for Americans

By Scott Mayerowitz and Anne D’Innocenzio, Associated Press
February 5, 2015
Scott Mayerowitz and Anne D’Innocenzio, Associated Press

Americans hoping to save on European goods thanks to a falling euro shouldn’t rush to uncork that bottle of French Bordeaux. There’s very little to celebrate. Unless you like travel deals.

Not since September 2003 has the euro traded this low against the dollar. Still, German sports cars, Belgian beers and the latest fashions out of Italy aren’t going on sale anytime soon. The reason? There’s simply too much demand in the US for any markdowns.

Aer Lingus backs takeover bid by IAG, parent of British Airways

By Shawn Pogatchnik,
 Associated Press
February 5, 2015
Shawn Pogatchnik,
 Associated Press

Aer Lingus planes are shown at Dublin airport, Ireland, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Aer Lingus said it supports a takeover bid by British Airways parent IAG, putting the Irish national airline with its trademark shamrock tailfins on course for foreign acquisition nine years after its privatization. AP Photo/Peter MorrisonAer Lingus planes are shown at Dublin airport, Ireland, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Aer Lingus said it supports a takeover bid by British Airways parent IAG, putting the Irish national airline with its trademark shamrock tailfins on course for foreign acquisition nine years after its privatization. AP Photo/Peter Morrison

DUBLIN — Aer Lingus said late last month that it supports a takeover bid by British
Airways parent IAG, putting the Irish national airline with its trademark shamrock tailfins on course for foreign acquisition nine years after its privatization.

The 11-member Aer Lingus board said it could recommend IAG’s latest bid of 2.55 euros ($2.85) per share, valuing the airline at 1.36 billion euros ($1.52 billion). It emphasized that the proposal required backing from the two biggest shareholders: rival Irish carrier Ryanair and the Irish government.

Peter Koutoujian Sr, dies suddenly; wake Jan 21 & 22, funeral Jan 23

By Ed Forry
January 19, 2015
Ed Forry

Former Waltham City Clerk Peter Koutoujian Sr died suddenly at his Waltham home on Friday, January 16, at the age of 77.
He and his wife of fifty-four years, Newton native Cornelia "Connie" (Cassidy) Koutoujian, were lifelong leaders in Boston's Irish American community, and were active members of the Knights and Ladies of Saint Finbarr (County Cork) and the Eire Society of Boston, among other Irish organizations.

How US Envoy Gary Hart helped restore the 1998 Peace Agreement

By Paul Galvin, Special to the Reporter
January 12, 2015
Paul Galvin, Special to the Reporter

US Envoy Gary Hart: Played key role in ending recent impasse.US Envoy Gary Hart: Played key role in ending recent impasse.Almost 17 years after the 1998 US-brokered Peace Agreement between the major UK/Irish parties that ended 25-plus years of civil war in northeast Ireland, many difficult issues remain unresolved that threaten to unravel the historic agreement. In an environment of still-segregated schools and walls still-divided neighborhoods with, as one reporter aptly noted, “generational narratives oversimplified and shockingly devoid of respect for other points of view,” many diplomatic veterans viewed this US diplomatic initiative to help achieve agreement as “mission impossible.”

But the most recent envoy to the UK/Northern Ireland, Gary Hart, did succeed in helping the parties to agree.
Central to the agreement is a devolved tax structure, funding for 60,000 new jobs, cross-community education, war victims’ compensation, and public sector reforms to be funded with $3.1 billion by the UK government. How did this happen?

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