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THE CELTIC CONNECTION » DECEMRFR/JANUARY 1994/1995
1995 PAN CELTIC CALENDAR
1 November 1994 - 31 October 1995
Presenting Celtic Mythology, History and Original Art Work
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New Leader For Fianna Fail
DUBLIN — Following the recent dramatic turn in Irish politics, Bertie Ahearn was elected new leader of the Fianna Fail party.
While the shape of the future government still remains a mystery, a return of the Labour Party/Fianna Fail coalition seems likely, following an opinion poll which showed that more than 66 percent of those asked did not want a general election. The poll also showed a serious drop in support for Fianna Fail and a marked increase for the Labour Party.
Ahearn insisted that no Fianna Fail minister knowingly withheld information on the Duggan case. He said the information given to them by the new Attorney General, Eoghan Fitzsim-mons, was complex and even Fitzsimmons was in total disagreement with one of his senior advisors as to its significance.
Ahearn said that his priorities are now the peace process and the maintenance of economic
frowth. He said that he will not e rushed into a government with the Labour Party. It will take some weeks before a new
?overnment is formed and a new aoiseach elected. In the meantime, he said that former Taois-each's experience in dealing with the peace process would not be allowed to go to waste.
The day after Reynolds' resignation, the scheduled meeting of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation went ahead as planned. Now "acting-Taoiseacn," Reynolds spoke for about 20 minutes and expressed a strong desire to remain as the leading Fianna Fail representative on the Forum. —Maura McCay
•
Mixed Reactions
BELFAST—The downfall of Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds did not cause any sorrow within the Democratic Unionist Party. The Reverand Ian Paisley and his party were gleeful at his departure.
The SDLP expressed disappointment to see him go, as dia Sinn Fein. There was considerable concern about the departure of Reynolds and the effect on the peace process.
Initially, Sinn Fein made noises that a government without Fianna Faircould'have serious repercussions but afterwards said that they would work with whatever party was in power.
— Celeste Sinclair
m
SINN FEIN EXCLUDED
BELFAST — The exclusion of Sinn Fein from the Investment Conference set for mid-December in Belfast has created outrage among republicans.
Although the British government has agreed to begin exploratory talks with Sinn Fein, they have denied the elected representatives of a marginalized segment of the population a voice regarding potential investment and employment. — Celeste Sinclair
IRISH NEWS
Ahearn's Experience
DUBLIN — At 43, Bertie (Bartholomew) Ahern is the youngest ever leader of Fianna Fail and may soon become the country's youngest ever Taoi-seach.
Although both of his parents are natives of Cork, Ahearn was born in Dublin and attended St. Aidan's BCS in Whitehall. He received his third level education at Rathmines College of Commerce, University College, Dublin, and the London School of Economics.
Trined as an accountant, Ahearn was first elected to the Dail in 1977 for the Dublin-Finglas constituency. He was elected to Dublin City Council in 1978 and served as Lord Mayor from 1986-87.
In Government, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Chief Whip in 1982, Minister for Labour from 1987-91 and Minister for Finance, in succession to Albert Reynolds. For a brief period at the end of 1992 and beginning of 1993, he also had responsibility for Industry and Commerce.
Ahern is a GAA and soccer enthusiast. He has been separated from his wife, Miriam, for a number of years but maintains cordial relations. He sees his two daughters Georgina and Cecilia on a regular basis. Ahearn now lives with his "companion," Celia Larkin, a 35-year old civil servant in the Department of Finance.
Given that there is little appetite for a Christmas-time election in Ireland, it is hoped that Ahearn will be able to quell the political crises and resurrect the collapsed coalition government with the Labour Party. If Labour refuse the coalition, Ahearn is tipped as the best man to lead Fianna Fail into an election and restore the party's popularity.
— Maura McCay
•
Archbishop Visits Ireland
DUBLIN — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, began his first official Irish visit in Northern Ireland. Among his engagements was a service in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, marking the 1,550th anniversary of St. Patrick's arrival in the city. President Mary Robinson also attended the service.
After visiting the North, the Archbishop travelled to the Republic. At St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, he said "the English need to ask for forgiveness for our often brutal domination and crass insensitivity, in the 800 years of history of our relationships with Ireland." Among the invited congregation were the leaders of the four main Christian churches, President Robinson, Albert Reynolds and Sinn Fein vice-president Pat Doherty.
— Celeste Sinclair
Gay Priest Shocks Congregation
DUBLIN — Parishioners of the Baldoyle parish, where Father Liam Cosgrave (68) had spent the last 11 years, reacted with shock when news became public that he had been found dead in a gay sauna club in Dublin.
A post mortem revealed that he died of natural causes. It is believed that he suffered from a heart attack. Despite the headline consuming current political crisis, Irish papers gave a considerable amount of space to the news.
The Irish News reported that Belfast psychiatrist Philip Mc-Garry called for a "sensitive response" to the news, asking the media to allow friends and family to grieve in peace.
He said, "There is still prejudice that some people choose to be gay. In fact, it is clear that no one chooses their sexual orientation. It is something which is, in essence, given.
"Homosexuality is as likely to occur in the clergy as in people of any walk of life. Unfortunately, there is a rigidity of thinking which regards it as unacceptable for a person who is gay to be a priest.
"This belief then extends to denying the obvious reality that there are a number of priests who are performing their duties extremely well but who need to find personal and sometimes physical companionship." He added that some good would come out of the tragedy if it helped increase understanding ana tolerance. — Celeste Sinclair
•
Hume Receives Peace Award
BELFAST — The SDLP leader, John Hume, recently stood beside ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former United States president George Bush in Italy, as they were presented with the Pio Manzu Institute Award for Peace. PLO spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi was the fourth recipient. Hume made a speech entitled Peace and Stability: The Acceptance of Diversity. I ts main message was "humanity transcends nationality."
— Celeste Sinclair •
Adams on the Move
BELFAST—Gerry Adams made his first visit to Britain since the exclusion order, which had prevented him from doing so. He gave a press conference in the House of Commond as the guest of Labour MP Tony Benn.
Afterwards, Adams said that he wanted his next foreign trip to be to the U.S. but he needed another visa. He indicated that he wanted to conduct some fund-raising activity.
Although denied permission to conduct fundraising, Adams was
granted a visa to meet with top r.S. officials in Washington. Significantly, he met with Anthony Lake, Clinton's national security advisor at at the White House.
— Celeste Sinclair