A Rapid Reading Review of the media – short reports and web links – including : How Northern Ireland leads the way in surviving cancer; Why Catholic unionists still won’t vote for DUP by Liam Clarke; Sheen to help Dublin church hit by arson; Column: The war on drugs isn’t working. We need to medicalise heroin; Tribute – Visionary business leader and charity founder
How Northern Ireland leads the way in surviving cancer
Cancer survivorship’ is a term we’re hearing a lot more of in Northern Ireland these days. And that’s because, in spite of the rising incidence of the disease, the number of people surviving cancer is increasing significantly year on year.
Each year, there are between 50 and 60 men and women who survive cancer who previously would have died. Queen’s University’s Comprehensive Cancer Services programme is helping to make the ‘Big C’ become smalle
Protests against proposed education cuts
RTE News – Almost 3,000 people took to the streets in counties Mayo and Donegal on Saturday to protest against proposed cuts in education that would affect small rural schools. More than 2,000 protested in Castlebar and more than 700 people marched in Gaoth Dobhair. Organisers say that any changes to the pupil-teacher ratio would devastate local communities and lead to the closure of many small schools
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0225/schools.html
Why Catholic unionists still won’t vote for DUP
Belfast Telegraph – Liam Clarke writes – So why aren’t all these guys voting DUP, as Peter Robinson recommends? For one thing, there have always been people who thought like this, but they tend to want a recognition of Irish identity. A formative moment for Fr O’Neill was the statement by Francis Campbell, the Newry-born former British ambassador to the Vatican, that he wanted to be both British and Irish.
Many pro-Union Catholics give nationalist parties – not unionist ones – most credit for making this a fairer society.
Sheen to help Dublin church hit by arson
Herald – Holywood legend Martin Sheen has vowed to help rebuild a Dublin church where he once attended Mass. The West Wing star was shocked to learn that St Catherine’s Church in the city had gone up in flames since his visit. Sheen prayed at the Meath Street building in 2010 and spoke to the local priests and meet with parishioners. While attending the screening of his new movie Stella Days, the Herald informed the Apocalypse Now actor that St Catherine’s was now in need of massive funding to rebuild after a suspected arson attack last month.
The 71-year-old said he was stunned. “Oh no, that’s so terrible. Did that really happen to the place I visited? No that’s horrible,” he said.The actor added that he would do anything at all to help the parish there. “Dear God I’m just so sorry to hear that. I would absolutely lend my support to them,” he said. The rebuilding of the church is set to cost around €4m and parish priest Fr Niall Coghlan recently told the Herald that it may be “months or years before it may open again”, admitting that “people are very upset about their church”.
http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/sheen-helps-dublin-church-hit-by-arson-3030816.html
Titanic play will explore most famous year in Belfast’s history
News Letter – Rosemary Jenkinson’s White Star of the North promises to explore the most significant historical moments of 1912, the year the Titanic departed, the Ulster Volunteers formed and the Ulster Covenant was signed.
This broad sweep of a drama is set in Belfast and at sea; according to the playwright it explains the “local backdrop that persuaded many people to board the Titanic.
“Part of it was the political situation in Belfast at the time that made people want to emigrate. Things were unsettled, there were fears of religious discrimination and it wasn’t clear whether there would be Home Rule in Ireland or not.”
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyle/features/titanic_play_will_explore_most_famous_year_in_belfast_s_history_1_3557208
Woman terrorised by robbers in priest’s home
BBC – A gang of men have terrorised a woman during a robbery at a parochial house in County Donegal. The woman, a friend of the local priest, was alone in the parochial house in Burt, when three men burst in.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17151791
Man arrested over Ian Paisley ‘confidentiality breach’
BBC – A 41-year-old man has been arrested over an alleged breach of patient confidentiality concerning the former DUP leader Ian Paisley who is in hospital.
The man is being questioned about an allegation of misconduct in a public office.
Mr Paisley is being treated for heart problems at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17165751
Column: The war on drugs isn’t working. We need to medicalise heroin.
TheJournal.ie – Heroin addiction is behind much of the criminality in this country – and failing to do something about it will not make the problem go away, writes Senator John Crown.
New poll shows rise in support for Sinn Féin
TheJournal.ie – Satisfaction with the government remains unchanged as support for Fianna Fáil drops in today’s poll in the Sunday Times.
http://www.thejournal.ie/new-poll-shows-rise-in-support-for-sinn-fein-366221-Feb2012/
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0225/politics.html
Travellers are largely to blame for their negative image
Independent – Sadly, they seem to relish making a show of themselves on both TV and the internet, writes Colum Kenny…If Travellers want to be treated like everyone else, then they should not goad and incite one another into violence or beat one another up for power and money in front of their children.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/colum-kenny/colum-kenny-travellers-are-largely-to-blame-for-their-negative-image-3031783.html
Tribute – Visionary business leader and charity founder
Irish Times – SHANE O’NEILL, who has died at his home in Richmond, Surrey, at the age of 50 from the degenerative brain illness Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, was an outstandingly successful Irish businessman on the international stage. He was diagnosed with the disease in May last year and advised that he had only a short time to live.
Born in Cork in 1961 but raised in south Dublin, he attended school at Willow Park and Blackrock College. Although a talented scrumhalf, he was also an enthusiastic soccer player, something that went against the grain at the school at that time. He was a keen supporter of Leeds United.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2012/0225/1224312374032.html