Search Results for 'Northern Ireland'

DURING REFERENDA on European treaties - such as during the recet Lisbon Treaty campaign - you will meet the odd excitable type who’ll tell you that he’s voting No because some closet member of Youth Defence or the Communist Party of Ireland told him the treaty would end Irish neutrality.

NORTHERN IRELAND endured its worst period of violence in the 1970s but the arrival of punk music gave young Catholics and Protestants a reason to defy the sectarian divide.

Theatre companies are gathering in force for the beginning of RoolaBoola Children’s Arts Festival, taking place all next week at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar and culminating in a weekend of fun and excitement for young people and their families over the October Bank Holiday. The annual festival kicks off in truly spellbinding style next Monday October 19 with The Musician, a darkly thrilling piece of musical theatre by Northern Ireland’s Cahoots, purveyors of world-class children’s theatre. The Musician is a new opera for children that tells the story of the child who became the best known flautist of them all… the Pied Piper.

It is likely that planned strike action will be averted this morning at the offices of the Kilkenny People newspaper and the Kilkenny People printing press.

Founded in 1961, Irish School of Motoring has been the nation’s leading and most successful driving school for almost 50 years. From its humble beginnings as a two car operation ISM grew quickly to become the largest, longest running, and only nationwide school of motoring in the country.

NUI Galway and the University of Ulster have joined forces with HSE West and the Western Health and Social Care Trust to create a collaborative cross-border partnership on diabetes-related research.

The 22nd running of the British and Irish Cross Country International took place in Perry Park, Birmingham, on Saturday. It was hosted this year by the England Athletics Masters Association in conjunction with the famous Birchfield Harriers at their excellent facilities at Perry Barr. The event involves five teams: England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They all compete as individuals and teams in the various masters’ age categories from 35 upwards. It is highly competitive and fiercely patriotic. But overall there is camaraderie not often seen in athletics which has been matured over many meetings. A deep respect has developed for all those taking part who compete to the best of their ability. The post race prize giving function is where all of this is best witnessed. The Irish team has had a number Mayo AC participants over the past few years and this year Breege Blehein-McHale (o40) and Tom Hunt (o60) were in the Irish team having qualified at the Masters’ cross country trial in the Phoenix Park last month. Breege had previously taken part in Falkirk, Scotland in 2006, when she ran on the winning Irish o40 team, while Tom was part of the bronze medal team in Belfast (2007) and gold medal team in Swansea (2008). Conditions in Perry Park were tough, with cold blustery showers but the course — just over 2k lap — was a fair test, some soggy stretches and an uphill finish. Women and o65/70 men ran three laps, and men in remaining categories, four. The Irish women's o40 team won silver and were just pipped for first place by one point by Wales' 14pts (3,4,7). Carmel Crowley (Bandon AC) second, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld) fifth, and a great run by Breege Blehein (eighth) gave them 15 points, with the fourth Irish finisher Helen White (Sportsworld) in 11th. The Irish o60 team were without 2008 individual winner Martin McEvilly (GCH) and drafted in two last minute replacements (including Frenchpark native Liam Hester) finishing fifth with 39 pts (6,16,17) behind winners Wales 12pts (1,3,8). Tom Meehan (Sligo AC) won silver with the o50 team in his first appearance for Ireland. England were overall winners once again with Ireland a very creditable second of the five countries. Of the 15 team categories Ireland won three (M35, M55, W50) and were second in eight, with four runners winning individual gold: M35, M50, W45, W50.

A man who, following a domestic disturbance, was observed driving in an erratic manner and when arrested for drink driving tried to escape from the garda car and was abusive towards gardaí, was before Judge Patrick Clyne at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.

The Galway Branch of Skål International tourism organisation will hold its annual black tie banquet at the Ardilaun on Sunday December 13.

A young man who led gardai on a dangerous car chase before losing control of his vehicle and running away through a field was sentenced to a total of six months and disqualified from driving for three years.