Wee Baby Brothers

My mother, Annie, gave birth to thirteen of us. I am the oldest.  Then came Margaret, Paddy, Ann, Frances, Liam, Jim and David, Sean and his twin Brendan, Maura, Deirdre and Dominic. We are probably not all listed here in proper chronological order. I rarely get anyone’s birthday right. It’s hard to keep track. We are now reduced to eight. Our brother Liam and sister Frances died in the last few years. David and Jim died at birth or shortly afterwards in 1956 and Sean’s twin Brendan in 1958 again at birth or shortly afterwards.

Well done Ciarán and Orlaith

Two weeks ago my good friends Ciarán and Orlaith Staunton from New York were awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad by President Michael D Higgins.

Belfast Peoples Assembly

Well done to Belfast Sinn Féin for last week’s successful Belfast People’s Assembly in the Waterfront Hall. Over 300 hundred people packed into the studio conference hall to hear submissions from a range of individuals and groups, including community activists, academic, business people, anti-racist groups and Gaeilgeoirí.