Australia-Sydney:Friends seek missing Irishman

Friends of an Irishman who has gone missing in Sydney are seeking help to locate him.
Sean Walsh-a native of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford-lives in the Randwick area and friends are hoping someone may have seen him in a pub or a party over the weekend.
Police have also joined the search for Mr Walsh. Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos of Maroubra Police said they were considering all possibilities. “We have escalated our response based on the concerns of the family,” Det Insp Pisanos said.



“We are not treating it as a suspicious death, but as a high risk missing person. It is definitely out of character.”
If you have seen Mr Walsh since Sunday morning, please contact Brian Flanagan on +353879509895 or Maroubra Police on 9349 9299.
Southern Courier

Video: Super 14 Rugby Union Highlights Round 10 (2009)

Irishman beaten beyond recognition recovers through intercession of Australian beatified nun Mary MacKillop

Here is an excerpt from an ABC News report:

The family of an Irishman who woke from a seven-month long coma after being brutally bashed in Australia say his recovery came because they prayed to the Australian beatified nun Mary MacKillop.
David Keohane, 29, was on his way home from a party in Coogee in Sydney when he was beaten beyond recognition in August last year........ Read full report at ABC

Blessed Mary MacKillop (15 January 1842 - 8 August 1909) was an Australian Catholic nun who, together with Father J.T. Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She was beatified on 19 January 1995 by Pope John Paul II.
Her father Alexander was born in Lochaber, Scotland in 1812 and was deeply religious. He emigrated to Australia and married Flora MacDonald.

Benenson Society is a worthy alternative to Amnesty International and adheres to principles advocated by Peter Benenson

The decision of Amnesty International in 2007 -at a meeting in Mexico- to support access to abortion for women in cases of rape, incest or violence has angered pro-life members. Catholic schools in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, England and the US have left the organisation. Protestants have also resigned. Fr Chris Middleton principal of St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point, Australia publicly condemned Amnesty's new stance and sought a reversal without success. St Aloysius' College Milson's Point and Loreto Kirribilli opposed Amnesty’s decision and severed their association with the organization. This was the genesis of the formation of the
Benenson Society.

The Benenson Society was first formed by students at St Aloysius College Milson's Point and Loreto Kirribilli last year. The society aims to provide students with the opportunity to campaign for human rights, directly lobbying governments on behalf of prisoners of conscience, for the end of torture and the death penalty, and asserting the rights of all to basic freedoms.
The new society's charter was put together in consultation with individuals around Australia, including staff and students at Loreto and St Aloysius.

In just a short time, the Society has grown rapidly not alone in Australia but overseas. Many schools in Australia are now members. Choosing the name ‘Benenson' indicates the schools' desire to stick closely to the founding principles of Amnesty International founder Peter Benenson. The new group has as its symbol a stylised white rose, inspired by the White Rose Society- a group of Catholic and Protestant students and staff at Munich University who opposed Nazism the Second World War by writing letters and pamphlets and were persecuted or killed for their convictions.

Membership is open to students through forming chapters in schools, colleges and universities that sign on to the Charter of the Benenson society. Associate membership may be held by teachers and others interested in supporting the work, as well as by members who finish their studies and wish to remain associated with the Society

Find out more about the Society, and join online at The Benenson Society

World Youth Day 08 Song - Receive the Power - International Version

The theme song for the XXIII World Youth Day 08 in Sydney was Receive the Power, written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto.World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and was held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.
WYD08 attracted 223,000 registered Catholic pilgrims, including 110,000 from 170 nations making it the largest event ever hosted in Australia. I find this theme song particularly moving.

Receive The Power - International Version
Written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto
Performed by Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Robert Galea (Italian), German Silva (Spanish), and Amelia Farrugia (French)

Verse 1 (Latin)
Da ogni dove siamo qua
riuniti ad adorar.
Con te in festa noi gioiam
In tutto il mondo ti seguirem.

Chorus (English)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power from the Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power to be a light unto the world!

Verse 2 (Spanish)
Tu Espíritu nos llama
Responderemos a tu voluntad,
Testigos para siempre
De tu piedad y eterno amor.

Chorus (English)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power from the Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power to be a light unto the world!

Bridge (French)
Agneau de Dieu, nous t’adorons
Notre Seigneur, nous t’adorons
Pain de vie, nous t’adorons
Emmanuel, nous t’adorons
Agneau de Dieu, nous t’adorons
Notre Seigneur, nous t’adorons
Pain de vie, nous t’adorons
Emmanuel, nous te chanterons toujours

Chorus (English)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power from the Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power to be a light unto the world!


________________________________________________ "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." - Acts 1:8

Overall the collapse of WTO benefits the Irish economy

The collapse of the WTO talks is on the whole beneficial for the Irish economy. Certainly some Irish manufacturing and service sectors stood to gain from a WTO deal. However its likely benefits were strongly oversold not alone by some big business interests, but also by certain academics and elements in the media.

Irish proponents of the WTO proposals arrogantly dismissed their overall potential negative influences on the Irish economy. Opponents of the WTO proposals were painted as unpatriotic and representative of selfish agricultural interests.
Some big business interests in Ireland claimed to have concern for the poor of the Third World. Of course they were prepared to wrap themselves in a cloak of concern for the poor in an effort to convince a cynical Irish public of the merits of the WTO proposals.

Concessions made by Peter Mandelson at the WTO talks would have put 50,000 farmers out of business and wiped out at least another 50,000 jobs in food processing and services to the agricultural sector in Ireland alone. Agricultural proposals at the WTO would have benefited large ranchers in Australia, Brazil and the US. There were few if any benefits for the poor farmers of the Third World.

The loss in jobs to the Irish economy and devastation of rural Ireland would have far outweighed any potential gains in some industrial and service sectors. Indeed some Irish service jobs are now moving to India-such as Hibernian Insurance. So much for the security of service jobs in the financial sector.

The 100,000 jobs that Ireland stood to lose are based on indigenous natural resources.
We have had too much of the live horse and you will get grass approach-too many half-baked promises. To sacrifice 100,000 jobs would be economic lunacy.
Thankfully Nicolas Sarkozy galvanised opposition to the proposals. Ireland now owes him a huge debt of gratitude.

Mandelson sell out at WTO talks supported by some Irish businessmen and academics

Irish apologists for a sell out quote press releases on farm incomes from Teagasc (The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority). Even in the worst years for Irish farming Teagasc comes out with a positive spin in relation to Irish farming incomes. Teagasc figures tell half the story. Where for instance is there a reference to rocketing costs? Interest rates, electricity, gas and diesel prices have spiralled out of control. Farm maintenance, insurance and building costs are prohibitive. Government/EU imposed regulation hinder agriculture. Many farmers can no longer afford to purchase fertilizers. That is the reality. It is not spin.

Academics such as Alan Matthews seek to explain away the negative effects of any WTO deal. Matthews needs to get out of his academic ivory tower. His livelihood is not on the line. Irish supporters of the putative WTO deal make references to EU farm subsidies. They conveniently omit to state that these subsidies are paid as a quid pro quo for production cuts. And now Mandelson is supporting more EU agricultural production cuts.

The IFA assessment of the loss of 100,000 jobs is correct. Not alone will many thousands of farmers go out of business, but thousands of jobs in food processing and other spin off industries will go. Rural Ireland will become a desert. Those 100,000 jobs exist at present. So why should we should throw them away for half baked promises of service jobs that we may secure in the future on the back of a new WTO agreement. It is time to get real. Mandelson wiped out the sugar beet industry. Dairying, beef, poultry will now go the same way.

Academics such as Matthews and certain business elements are prepared to throw away food security for cheaper food imports that often lack traceability. No mention of the health of consumers. The majority of Third World farmers will gain nothing from the proposed WTO deal. The ranchers in the US, Brazil and Australia will benefit. Meanwhile the US increases its subsidies to a handful of ranchers whilst EU farmers will be put out of business.

There is no guarantee that Ireland will continue to increase its service employment on the back of a revised WTO deal. Much of this-within the next 10 years-will start moving to countries such as India. Also there is a strong likelihood that the 12.5% Corporation Profits Tax will be neutered by the EU. I say hold what jobs we actually have. These farming jobs are based on our natural resources. An Irish failure to veto Mandelson's proposals -as currently constituted -would be the ultimate in political folly. Prior to the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty Brian Cowen promised Padraig Walshe of the IFA that he would use the veto if necessary. It is time for the VETO.

FG Private Members Motion To Seek Bilateral Agreement With US On Immigration

This week FG will introduce a private members motion in the Dail seeking a bilateral agreement between Ireland and the US. It is based on the Australian-US model. This allows 10,000 Australians work in the US annually while US citizens are granted the same number of Australian visas in return.
This is the text of the motion:

That Dáil Éireann, noting:
- the estimated 25,000 - 50,000 Irish emigrants living and working in the USA of undocumented status- the difficulties that the undocumented Irish experience because of their irregular legal status and the fear of deportation- the contribution that Irish emigrants make to the US economic, social and cultural life - the strong economic ties between the island of Ireland and the United States and- the growing level of social, political and economic cooperation on the island of Ireland, following the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
and in light of:
an existing bilateral agreement between Australia and the USA which allows 10,000 Australians work in the US annually while US citizens are granted the same number of Australian visas in return.
calls on the Government to:
ensure that all political and diplomatic efforts are made at the highest level towards securing a bilateral agreement between the island of Ireland and the US which would mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2008 and would
- encourage a deepening of social and economic ties between the island of Ireland and the United States- help regularise the position of the undocumented Irish in the US- establish a system of renewable non immigrant visas between the island of Ireland and the United States- facilitate citizens of the United States and especially members of the Irish diaspora who wish to live or work in Ireland
Michael Ring TD and all Fine Gael Deputies

Ireland-Bertie strikes gold

The Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector has recommended that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern should receive a pay rise of €38k. This will bring his annual salary to €310,000. This makes him one of the best paid leaders in world politics.

It is interesting to compare the salaries of some world leaders:

• Angela Merkel (German Chancellor) €311,778
• Bertie Ahern (Ireland) €310,000
• George W Bush (USA) €284,000
• Gordon Brown (UK) €268,000
• John Howard (Australia) €206,000

The Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector has further recommended that around 1600 senior staff including Ministers and Junior Ministers, the judiciary, top gardaí and heads of Government departments and state agencies should receive average increases of 7.3% The total cost of the increases will be around €16m a year.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has begun to slash public expenditure which is rising at a rate of 13%. Reductions in front line services at hospitals is further fueling hostility to the Government. There are indications that benchmarking will disappoint many public servants. The inflation rate of 4% remains stubbornly high. Unemployment has begun to rise. This Government has entered choppy waters. These rises will inflame public opinion.

The Taoiseach's salary of €310,000 should certainly add an edge to the leadership ambitions of several Cabinet Ministers.

South Africa wins Rugby World Cup Final

In a dour but compelling contest South Africa defeated England. There was an awesome display of forward power on both sides. The game featured much high kicking also. The Springboks line out was superb. Nevertheless South Africa failed to score a try. Ferocious tackling by England kept them out.

Mark Cueto crossed the line for England but television match official — Australian Stuart Dickinson- decided that Cueto's knee grazed the touchline as he dived over.

Best for South Africa were: Victor Matfield, Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn, Butch James, John Smit and Bakkies Botha . Os du Randt at 36 years deserves special mention. He is probably finest loose head prop of all time.

English players to a man gave it their best shot and lost no caste in defeat. All in all a fantastic effort by the Red Rose.

Springboks coach Jake White may now coach either Australia or New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup-France poleaxe New Zealand, England defeat Australia.

Today was a day of shocks in the World Cup. In the first game England surprised Australia with an awesome display of forward power.




The Aussie front row has long been the Achilles Heel of the team. Today England exploited this weakness to the full. Englands forwards starved the Aussie backs of possession. Andrew Sheridan Nick Easter and Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw were outstanding whilst Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Gomarsall were a thorn in the side of the Wallabies. Andrew Sheridan was man of the match. Chris Latham Stirling Mortlock and Lote Tuqiri were best for Australia. Englands biggest weakness is the lack of creativity amongst its backs.


In the second game France stunned New Zealand. In the first half the French tactics of just kicking the ball into the New Zealand half played into the All Blacks hands by conceding possession. The French line -out was poor. In the second half Les Bleus varied tactics and kept the ball in hand more and spread the ball to the wings . This stretched the All Blacks. Luke McAlister was sin binned for an off-the-ball tackle. In those ten minutes France scored ten points. This was one of the turning points of the game. Bernard Laporte's use of the bench played a major role in fashioning this victory. That the French defence withstood the New Zealand onslaught is a tribute to coach Dave Ellis.



Why did New Zealand lose this game?

• Excessive pressure on coach and players in New Zealand creates a mental block.
• New Zealand won its group without one hard game. France was battle hardened in the Group of Death.
• Possibly the failure to select Chris Jack and Aaron Mauger.
• Too many All Black players are heading to France and England after the World Cup. This is undoubtedly a distraction.

There will certainly be much soul searching in New Zealand and Australia over the next few months. Australia must find good forwards. New Zealand must find some way of overcoming a mental block where the World Cup is concerned.

Rugby Union World Cup-Irish expectations were unrealistic.

Amongst some elements of the media and supporters there was a belief that Ireland was a credible World Cup contender.

These expectations were built on a foundation of sand. Sure Ireland won the Triple Crown in 2006 and 2007. But it is worth remembering that the English team has been in free fall since 2003. The present English team is but a pale shadow of the World Cup winning team of 2003.

Scotland is in decline. Wales during this period had injury problems. So winning two Triple Crowns in successive years probably masked some glaring inefficiencies in Ireland's game.

Much is made of the fact that Ireland defeated South Africa and Australia in Autumn Internationals. Both South Africa and Australia sent experimental sides. They were more concerned with developing strong squads for the World Cup. This was the correct approach and is in marked contrast to the ill-advised policy pursued by Eddie O Sullivan.

A disappointing tour of Argentina and a shockingly poor performance against Italy in a warm up match ought to have sounded the alarm bells.