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Month: July 2019

Why isn’t there Accountability?

Why isn’t there Accountability?

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  There is widespread belief that we do not have accountability in this country. At least for the elites or those in positions of authority. Whether it be the harrowing Cervical Smear scandal, the incredible National Children’s Hospital cost overrun or any other high profile scandal or error. The Public perception is that no one is accountable. No one is ever fired. Maria Bailey is yet another high profile example of this. Even if there are casualties, they usually take…

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Cúl Camps, Gaelic Games and me.

Cúl Camps, Gaelic Games and me.

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My daughters are attending Cúl Camp for the first time this week. They never wanted to go before. During the school year a coach from the local club, Aghada, was in to school to provide coaching and both my girls got hooked. How bad. They’ve even joined the club. Dry evenings are now spent practicing skills in the garden. I mostly climb over the wall to get the ball back. Cúl Camps consists of both football and hurling. The girls…

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Racism is a distraction

Racism is a distraction

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‘It’s the foreigners fault’ and ‘We should look after our own’ are statements I have heard more than once recently. It hasn’t been common but it is happening more than it used to. Each person that expressed these views was at pains to point out that they were not racist. They had ‘foreign’ friends. Each person lamented the politically correct culture that meant they could never say what they were telling me openly. As they were making their points from…

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No more Homework!

No more Homework!

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Populism has taken the world by storm. Donald Trump and Brexit are the most damaging examples. Like so many others I have watched with dismay. In that light I’m a little uncomfortable proposing what could be considered the most populist proposal ever. No more homework. It’s a wish I’m sure we’ve all heard throughout our school lives. Just thinking back to the mountains of work gives me a feeling akin to fingernails on a blackboard. As a campaign it has…

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Move the Capital.

Move the Capital.

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For Ireland to succeed, we need our regional cities to grow twice as fast as Dublin. I have paraphrased, but that was the gist of the Taoiseach’s message in a November visit to Cork. It’s hard to fault the commentary. Even if it does come from the person in the most powerful political position in the country who should be engaging in big action as well as big thinking. Dublin continues to grow in an uncontrolled way. The housing crisis…

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Are we living in ‘Animal Farm’?

Are we living in ‘Animal Farm’?

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  ‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’ is a famous proclamation made by the ruling pigs as the situation for the citizens of Animal Farm became truly clear. I recently read George Orwell’s Animal Farm to my young children. I hadn’t read it since my own childhood and I thought it might be a good way to teach them about critical thinking and the importance of analysing the source of news and information. Propaganda…

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If we tolerate this then our Jobs will be next.

If we tolerate this then our Jobs will be next.

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I have always loved the library. I remember being a child and experiencing the wonder of shelves upon shelves of books. A quiet place where I could get a card and choose any book I liked, queue up and present it to the librarian and take it home. I’m delighted to now get to experience the same thing all over again with my children. They really look forward to our trips to the library. They regularly enter the colouring competitions…

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Real Climate Action won’t be easy.

Real Climate Action won’t be easy.

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Anybody that has ever struggled with weight will know that at the worst times you feel so far gone that there is no point in trying. What difference will one more take away make? The task ahead is just too large. There is a small amount of freedom in this, but mostly it’s deeply depressing. I think we are collectively at this point when it comes to climate change and pollution. It’s hard to get excited about recycling when we…

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H.P.V. Vaccine is a life saver.

H.P.V. Vaccine is a life saver.

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Becoming a parent is the most wonderful thing that happens to many of us. That moment when you first get to meet your child is truly life changing. Nothing prepares you for the complete change in perspective and life that they bring with them. The desire to protect and care for them is indescribable. It’s hard to remember what I did with my time before. Life is so much busier now but I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t think…

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Brexit: Time to say Goodbye

Brexit: Time to say Goodbye

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World affairs are littered with toxic relationships. The courtship of despot Chairman Kim and Donald Trump is funny if you don’t think too deeply about the fact that the leader of ‘the free world’ is chasing friendship from a murderous dictator. The very fact that Trump stands a decent chance of re-election is testament to how warped American voters relationship is with politics. Populism is a drug and there are more addicts than ever before. Our nearest neighbours Britain are…

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