Irish Summer Season

Ben Cohen Retires

Ben Cohen is retiring to spend more time on the cause to stop bullying and homophobia. What a man!

Memorial Day USA

An Irish hot dog for your Memorial Day cookout.

Obama In Dublin

Got to see Obama in Dublin last week and then had to head right out to sea for a few days. He seemed to be very popular here and even won over more fans when he drank almost a full glass of Guinness.

Playing On The Same Team

Giving new meaning to the sport term, "Coming from behind."

Garda

Heineken Cup Final

Gordon D'Arcy and Leinster will face the Northampton Saints in Saturday's Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in a match up that includes six Irish national players.

Irish National Stud Visit

I can vouch the horses aren't the only studs in Ireland!

Bloody Sunday Remembrance

On 21 November 1920, during the War of Independence, 13 spectators and one player were killed when British forces opened fire at a football match at the home of Gaelic sports at Croke Park.


Earlier that day, IRA assassination squads had shot dead 14 suspected British intelligence agents in Dublin.


During the first visit by a British monarch to Ireland in 100 years, Queen Elizabeth visited Croke Park stadium in Dublin.


The Queen was met at the main entrance of Croke Park by Gaelic Athletic Association president Mr Cooney and President Mary McAleese, who is hosting the visit.


A display of Irish set dancing was followed by a meeting with GAA officials.

The BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the Queen walking out on the hallowed nationalist turf at Croke Park represented "the once unimaginable becoming the norm".

Addressing the Queen, Mr Cooney said the visit would underpin and advance the peace process and "go down in the history of the GAA. Your presence does honour to our Association, to its special place in Irish life, and to its hundreds of thousands of members."


The Queen was presented with a limited edition book outlining the GAA's history, and Prince Philip was presented with a hurley stick and a sliothar (hurling ball), with the aside that he should use it "in the back garden".


Dublin footballer Kevin Nolan, who was one of four players from across Ireland to meet the Queen at Croke Park, told Radio Ulster's Evening Extra it was a "great honour" to represent the GAA at the event.


Her speech at Wednesday's state dinner is likely to acknowledge past UK-Irish difficulties without offering an apology, he added.

A Moment Of Silence And Respect

A day after Queen Elizabeth paid respect to those Irish who died in the struggle against Britain for Irish freedom she attended a ceremony and laid a wreath honoring almost 50,000 soldiers at the Irish National War Memorial.

The Queen's attendance at the ceremony honoring the Irish soldiers who died in World War I reflects an aspect of history that has been troubling for her hosts.

For decades, when the focus of admiration was on the rebels who fought and died in the 1916 Easter Rising, the soldiers' contribution went unrecognized.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, who was among the dignitaries at the ceremony, said: "Everyone remembers the past but we have to look to the future, but there are clear indications as a society - in the UK and Republic - people are moving on.

Queen Visits The Guiness Storehouse

Sweet

On The Water

Tall Tale

Irish Field

Casual Face

Death Of A Madman

Woke up this morning to the news that US Forces found and killed Osama Bin Laden. I'm watching online the crowds in the US out in the street waving flags and chanting USA. This must be what it felt like to hear the news of Hitlers death, which ironically was also announced to the world on the first of May.

I can't help but think of all the innocent people who died because of his actions. He caused the death of many, not only on September 11th, but also all of the other terrorist attacks in Africa and the Middle East and the wars that continue.

Former President George W. Bush
Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.



Jack Lynch, 75, who lost his son, New York City firefighter Michael Francis Lynch
"The first thought I had in my mind was that it didn't bring my son back. You cut the head off a snake, you'd think it would kill the snake. But someone will take his place. People like him still exist. The fact that he's gone is not going to stop terrorism."

"I understand that bin Laden was an evil person. He may have believed in what he was doing. I'm not going to judge him. I'm sure some people will look at this and they'll be gratified that he's dead, but me personally, I'm going to leave his fate in God's hands."

Irish Sea