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Niall Mellon

MELLON LOLLY

Date: February 11, 2021 - Wigs on the Green

NO DOUBT, like other charities, the fundraising activities of the Mellon Township Trust operation, set up by Niall Mellon many moons ago, have been banjaxed by the pandemic. Happily though, Nialler has just managed to satisfy an old Revenue judgment that had been registered in his own name. Former Celtic Tiger poster boy Mellon, who… Read more »

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Daniel McClean

DISSIDENTS TRICKED?

Date: February 11, 2021 - Hush Hush

THE RECENT, highly professional execution in Belfast of Daniel McClean, a former member of the so-called Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH) dissident group, is being presented as a ‘purge’ by ONH itself. PSNI briefings, though, have added fuel to the fire by suggesting that the victim was preparing to take out ONH figures before they got… Read more »

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HushHush-def

SPY COPS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Hush Hush

The so called Spy Cops bill currently being debated in Britain’s parliament gives agents being handled by UK covert forces the right to murder in certain circumstances. This ‘Covert Human Intelligence Sources’ (CHIS) legislation seeks to drive a coach and horses through human rights safeguards by giving official sanction to covert state agencies to commit… Read more »

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Tanya Sweeney

THE HOT AIR BRIGADE

Date: February 11, 2021 - The Hot Air Brigade

Take note, Stephen Donnelly: the ‘thumbs-up’ emoji is the most passive-aggressive of all. Tanya Sweeney, Irish Times When O’Connell swept into his Irish forwards coaching job just weeks ago it was wearing his player-warrior super hero suit: a leader, a captain, figuratively and physically substantial. Johnny Watterson and Gavin Cummiskey, Irish Times That’s where I… Read more »

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Arlene Foster

DUP PANICS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Northwind

CRISES IN the north never come one at a time. Just as it seemed that the crisis at the ports of Larne and Belfast that divided unionists and nationalists was being resolved a much bigger crisis in policing loomed, with both sides taking up predictably sharply opposing positions. As it turns out, the ‘threats’ to… Read more »

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Willie O'Dea

MARTIN’S CRITICS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Last Refuge

WILY WILLIE O’Dea used his Sunday Independent platform recently to have a go – ostensibly at the Green Party – for obstructing the road through Moyross in his Limerick city constituency backyard. Deriding the Greens’ attitude, O’Dea said caustically that Green Party leader Eamon Ryan “says he doesn’t like roads!”. However, as O’Dea developed his… Read more »

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Eugene McCartan

EUGENE MCCARTAN’S COMRADES

Date: February 11, 2021 - Last Refuge

DISSENT IN the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI) has seen factions from Belfast and Cork focus their dissent on the perennial figure of Eugene McCartan who has been general secretary of the party for more than 10 years. Eugene – aka ‘the Georgian’ – and his supporters at the CPI’s Essex Street HQ are accused… Read more »

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Gerry Horkan

FIANNA FÁIL’S CUNNING PLAN

Date: February 11, 2021 - Last Refuge

WITH 13 Fianna Fáil Seanad hopefuls vying for the nomination to replace Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion on the Industrial and Commercial Panel (Fine Gael has already chosen Limerick ex-senator Maria Byrne for the Agricultural Panel), the real battle is between aspirants from Dublin Rathdown and Dublin Mid-West. This is because these are the only two… Read more »

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Dee Forbes

RTÉ’S DAMNING STATISTICS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Fit to Print?

AS GOLDHAWK predicted, much revisionist accountancy speak has been heard from RTÉ management as it demands the latest round of cuts from its benighted staff – not all of whom are on bloated, six-figure salaries (as in the top 10 of broadcast celebs). But while… Read more »

Diageo Dana An Garda Síochána IT Trust No Stone Unturned Irish Times Black Friday Vicky Conway

MARK PAUL’S POLEMIC

Date: February 11, 2021 - Fit to Print?

A PLEA for a raft of state subsidies to prevent newspapers being wiped out by ‘big tech’ was made to the Future of Media Commission by the Irish Times and then reported in newspaper last week. 24 hours later it was promptly torn apart by its contrarian, rather right-of-centre journalist, Mark Paul – again in… Read more »

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John Burns

LOYAL SUNDAY TIMES

Date: February 11, 2021 - Fit to Print?

THE AAWRISH edition of the Sunday Times editorialised with sweet reason last weekend about how the north was working its way through the NI protocol until the EU “crassly” threatened to trigger article 16 of the protocol, causing mayhem. It argued that the DUP had been spooked by a poor opinion poll and “low-level shape… Read more »

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Marie Donnelly

CLIMATE COUNCIL CHANGES

Date: February 11, 2021 - Fowl Emissions

SWEEPING CHANGES at the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) bode well for future climate action, especially with far fewer economists being involved. In Ireland as elsewhere, economists are deferred to like few other professional groups, with the underlying assumption being that they, uniquely, bring reason and scientific rigour to their analysis. Hence the fact that… Read more »

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Bog-Cuttings-Defaul

BOG CUTTINGS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Bog Cuttings

“Ride Their Mothers” A man who was intoxicated and abused gardaí in a Boylesports betting shop in Naas was handed a three-month custody order in Naas District Court. Gardaí confronted Jamie Byrne (28) of 43 The Willows, Castlefen, Sallins, in the betting shop after the defendant was reported for being intoxicated. Byrne, who was carrying… Read more »

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Conn Clissman

CONN CLISSMANN’S CHARGES

Date: February 11, 2021 - High Society

A LEGAL challenge brought by some local residents in south Co Dublin has put a spanner in the works for the developers behind a proposed 300-apartment scheme on the site of one of the finest private homes in Dublin, Dalguise House. The applicants are Lulani Dalguise Ltd, a business controlled by some names familiar to… Read more »

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Consuelo O’Connor

JUDY WOODWORTH’S NEW FACES

Date: February 11, 2021 - High Society

THERE WAS some relief in Russborough last week when the High Court ruled in favour of the Judy Woodworth-chaired Alfred Beit Foundation (ABF), ordering local farmer David Egar not to trespass on the grounds of the 220-acre Blessington demesne. The main issue, however, remains to be heard, with Egar claiming a lease on part of… Read more »

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Douglas Erskine-Crum

WHAT NEXT FOR JUDDMONTE?

Date: February 11, 2021 - High Society

THE DEATH of Prince Khalid Abdullah Abdulrahman last month at the age of 83 will have been noted by racing fans who had witnessed and followed some of the many equine stars bred and raced by his Juddmonte Farms. The question now is, will the show go on? Horses like Dancing Brave, Frankel and Enable… Read more »

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Sally Rooney

DIFFERENT ELEMENTS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Behind the Scenes

WHEN PRODUCER Ed Guiney of Element Pictures appeared by Zoom on RTÉ News last week to gush about the Golden Globe nominations for the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, there was no helpful caption to inform the viewers of his whereabouts. Guiney may have been in Element’s offices in Dublin, London or Belfast. Or… Read more »

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Susan Bergin Marlowe Mullingar Film Studio RTÉ Self-Employment

COMMISSION CALL

Date: February 11, 2021 - Behind the Scenes

A LITTLE late in the day culture minister Catherine Martin has got around to seeking to fill the half dozen vacancies in the Irish Manuscripts Commission (IMC). Perhaps filling the board will result in the odd annual report being published. The last one available is the 2017 document. Unlike other boards, the members of the… Read more »

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Naked truth

NAKED: TEN TRUTHS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE – CAROLINE FORAN

Date: February 11, 2021 - BooksReviews

THE LUCRATIVE literary genre of personal development continues to flourish – particularly during the current lockdowns, as stressed-out readers search for answers about coping with uncertain times. In response, supposedly enlightened gurus keep queueing up to tell everyone how to improve their lives. Caroline Foran’s first book, Owning it: Your Bullsh*t-Free Guide to Living with… Read more »

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Amer Abdulaziz

ABDULAZIZ UNSADDLED IN DUBAI

Date: February 11, 2021 - Sport of Kings

THE BELEAGUERED Phoenix Thoroughbreds were dealt another blow recently when the racing authorities in Dubai began refusing entries for Phoenix-owned horses. This effectively rules the nags out of competing in the prestigious Dubai Carnival, which runs until March, culminating with the $10m Dubai World Cup. Dubai is the third jurisdiction, following Britain and France, to… Read more »

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Patrick Mullins

HANDICAPPING PATRICK MULLINS

Date: February 11, 2021 - Sport of Kings

IRELAND’S TOP amateur jockeys face an anxious time as they await to hear if a ban on amateurs riding in England will be lifted in time for the Cheltenham Festival next month. The British Horseracing Authority decided recently that amateur riders do not come under the category of ‘elite’ sport and thus has denied them… Read more »

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Joseph O'Brien

CLAIM GAME

Date: February 11, 2021 - Sport of Kings

THE ANTIQUATED nature of the system put in place by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) for owners and trainers to lodge claims when seeking to purchase a horse from a claiming race was brought into sharp focus again recently. The most recent claiming race at Dundalk was won by the Syndicates Racing-owned and Joseph O’Brien-trained Tonkinese,… Read more »

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" Photo: https://thewordpoint.com/ "

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Date: February 11, 2021 - Letters to the Editor

Muppets in Naas Having been subjected to the populist rantings of Messrs Ruby Walsh and Kevin O’Ryan, during the course of the TV coverage of Naas Races on Saturday, January 30, I was reminded of The Muppets: Statler (Ruby) and Waldorf (Kevin). On behalf of fans of balanced broadcasting. Yours etc., JR, Foxrock, Co Dublin

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Robert Etchingham

APPLEGREEN SHAREHOLDERS HAVE THE POWER TO SHOOT DOWN POOR OFFER

Date: February 11, 2021 - Moneybags

BOB ETCHINGHAM and his partner Joe Barrett have made Applegreen a real success, with 559 petrol station forecourts and service centres spread between Ireland, the UK and US. The group is now being taken out through a combination of management and private capital in a €700m buyout. At €5.75 a share this looks poor when… Read more »

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Urs Jordi

GOOD TIMES AHEAD FOR ARYZTA SHAREHOLDERS?

Date: February 11, 2021 - Moneybags

FORMER ARYZTA chairman Gary McGann effectively signed his own death warrant when he pulled off a hugely damaging 10-for-1 rights issue in September 2018 at 88c a share, representing a near 90% discount on the pre-rights price of €8.50. He is now long gone and big questions remain to be answered about Aryzta’s future direction…. Read more »

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Greg Alken

ALKEN BROTHERS CORKED

Date: February 11, 2021 - Briefcases

THE HAPLESS Alken brothers, Anthony and Greg, suffered another setback recently when the High Court ordered the winding-up of one of their companies, Emile Investments Holding Ltd. The Alkens were riding high until the crash when the high-profile Febvre & Co wine importing and distribution business was hit by reduced consumption of vino and increased… Read more »

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Chay Bowes

CHAY BOWES AND THE ‘SHADOWY FORCES’

Date: February 11, 2021 - Briefcases

IT’S BEEN a surprisingly quiet start for Health Reform Ireland (HRI), Chay Bowes’s new think tank that will, in his words, fight “the shadowy forces that operate on the fringes of our heavily politicised health system”. Hopefully, the operation fares better than one of his former interests. Bowes made a pretty big splash onto the… Read more »

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Marcus Carne

ANNE HERATY’S KINGSPAN SHARES

Date: February 11, 2021 - Briefcases

GOLDHAWK UNDERSTANDS that when you’ve just sold your company for an eye-watering €318m, six-figure sums might seem particularly trifling – forgettable, even. But it was nonetheless surprising to find that when Anne Heraty was first appointed as a director of Kingspan, she and the company plum forgot to mention that she had more than €100,000… Read more »

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WAVF Castleknock Hospitality BAL Susan Bergin Tixserve EOG Fergal Naughton hot-water-brigade def

WINDING UP KEATING

Date: February 11, 2021 - Briefcases

FANS OF Goldhawk may not be too surprised to hear that Clare-headquartered construction and marine/civil engineering powerhouse Keating has ended up in liquidation. This comes four months after a High Court examinership process was kick-started. It will be recalled (see The Phoenix 11/9/20) that the first sign of trouble was a judgment registered against the… Read more »

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WAVF Castleknock Hospitality BAL Susan Bergin Tixserve EOG Fergal Naughton hot-water-brigade def

SEAN GANLEY CALLS TIME

Date: February 11, 2021 - Briefcases

SEAN GANLEY, brother of Rivada boss Declan, has called time on GSC International Business Development, an ambitious effort to provide paid advice to the business leaders of the world. GSC was set up in 2018 and the younger Ganley brother leaned heavily on the family contacts to, as the website put it, “bring together a… Read more »

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Simon Coveney

IRELAND TO ALLY WITH ISRAELI ARMY?

Date: January 28, 2021 - Affairs of the Nation

THERE HAS been no coverage by Irish media of a dramatic EU decision that could see EU states – including Ireland – involved in military action abroad alongside the Israeli Defence Forces. EU defence ministers, who met on November 20 last, endorsed a series of decisions about Pesco (Permanent Structured Cooperation, aka the EU’s incipient… Read more »

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Bethany Home

BETHANY BABY HOME AND THE IRISH TIMES

Date: January 28, 2021 - Pillars of Society

THE REPORT of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes dominated news coverage recently, especially in the Irish Times which has always focused on the treatment of children by the religious, especially Catholic clerics. However, the paper of record stands accused of having a one-sided approach to such abuse. By and large it… Read more »

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Jake Browne

THOMAS ARNOLD & JAKE BROWNE

Date: January 28, 2021 - The Young Bloods

If we’re to give them credit for anything around the shambles that was the Goat/Go House, it’s that its co-founders Thomas Arnold and Jake Browne can pedal a stellar line in self-promotion. The duo impressively convinced landlords to allow a bunch of young TikTok wannabes – including four teenagers – to move into their expensive… Read more »

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Sean Haughey

HAUGHEY TELLS MARTIN TO GO

Date: January 28, 2021 - Affairs of the Nation

THE NORMALLY inoffensive Fianna Fáil TD, Seán Haughey, let loose with both barrels against his leader, Micheál Martin, last weekend, remarking sweetly that the Taoiseach was unlikely to lead the party into the next general election. “The decision is his”, he said, qualifying the remark with the comment, “to a certain extent”, before going on… Read more »

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Ailish Kelly

AILISH KELLY’S ‘ZOOM BOOM’

Date: January 28, 2021 - Affairs of the Nation

PRESUMABLY cosmetic surgery queen Ailish Kelly and her daughter, Niamh Murdock, were delighted with a plug – in the Business Post of all places – that they received earlier this month. Readers were informed that there is something called a ‘Zoom boom’ in play these days, with clinics claiming “a surge in the number of… Read more »

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Conor McGregor

CONOR MCGREGOR’S LENDERS

Date: January 28, 2021 - Briefcases

CONOR MCGREGOR, who is battling a million-euro assault claim in the High Court, reportedly made more than €5m in his humbling defeat to Dustin Poirier last weekend. The defeat will have nudged his estimated net worth – estimated by the financial boffins at the Sunday Times ‘Rich List’, at any rate – close to €140m,… Read more »

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