Leo’s unity words are welcome

Irish Unity is the big idea that will positively transform society on this island. Its popularity is growing and the economic, political, and social arguments in support of it are advancing each day. The recent interventions by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are an example of this. In June at the Ireland’s Future event in Belfast he said that the goal of a united Ireland had to be more than a “political aspiration.” It needed to become a “political objective.”

Seeds For The Future. 

This is the season for tree planting. That is for planting bare root trees. Any month with an ‘R’ in it is the general rule for tree planters, though there is always a debate on whether planting should happen before or after the risk of frost. As an ad hoc tree planter who struggles to get free time I think September or October are fairly safe even in these muddled climate changing times. I try to plant native broad leaf species though some like the Beech or Horse Chestnut are here for so long that they are probably naturalised by now.

 It didn’t begin a year ago

At the weekend millions of people across the world took to the streets in solidarity with the people of Palestine and those of Lebanon. The decision by the governments of the USA, Germany, Britain and the EU to back Israel has unleashed a vicious war on the Middle East. Monday marked one year since the 7 October attack by Hamas. The nature of that attack was and remains unacceptable. But the viciousness and brutality of the Israeli response has been unparalleled in modern times.