Eibhlin O'Neill's blog

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Corrib Gas field started to pump gas on to shore at the North Mayo terminal built by Shell.

The project one of the largest undertaken in the Irish state was also one of the most contentious. Protest initially passive eventually turned to violence and that violence was on both sides but with an overwhelming emphasis on Shell its security staff and the Irish State. Large numbers of police were deployed and in the end also the military to confront those in the small community who opposed the project.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

I never had contact with Veronica Guerin the murdered Irish journalist mentioned in an earlier post but as General Secretary and Director of Information (a role I finally relinquish in March this year) over the years I got to know a good few journalists in newsroom in Belfast and Dublin and farther afield.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Isle of Man a Tax haven? It was all in the murky mists of past times according to Liberal Vannin’s Kate Beecroft thirty years ago everyone’s terribly professional now (here’s the clip):

http://www.manxradio.com/…/lib-van-does-not-think-island-i…/

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Remember David Cameron proving his green credentials by having a ‘photo op’ driving a sledge pulled by huskies in the Arctic some years ago.

Well the good news is that ‘Dave’ is still green!

As of today the United Kingdom government start a process which will create a marine reserve as large as the United Kingdom and whilst its goods news the downside is it will not be in waters close to home.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

We are still attempting to locate rare footage of inter-Celtic involvement in the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Easter rising that came to light some years ago. This year’s 100th anniversary gives it a new impetus.

The Easter Rising had an influence however far beyond Ireland and indeed the other Celtic countries as Australian historian Daniel Leach recorded in an article some years ago. He said:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Xmas visit by Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Irelands Defence Minister, Simon Coveney, to Irish peacekeepers deployed as part of the United Nations force on the Golan Heights, between Syria and Israel underlines Ireland’s contribution to world peace

Here’s a link to the background to the visit and the deployment (with video) at the Irish Independent:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

SUPER TRAWLERS INSPECTED AND EXTREMELY POSITIVE PROPOSAL FROM DPFtA OVER ONBOARD OBSERVERS

In a clear demonstration that campaigning and publicity works it has been revealed that two “super trawlers” which have quotas to fish in Irish waters have been inspected by the Irish authorities, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has confirmed.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Just weeks after we revealed the damage being wrought on fish stocks by so called monster trawlers off the West of Ireland a new EU deal has been reached, affecting the Irish Sea, which will cause even greater damage to fish stocks.

The Irish Wildlife Trust has expressed concern at the long term damage to the marine eco-system echoing comments we made about a month ago.

There’s an excellent report by Irish Times Marine correspondence Lorna Siggins at this link: