Man in court in Killarney over "actions likely to stir up hatred"

A 27-year-old man was before Killarney District Court today charged with "actions likely to stir up hatred."
Patrick Kissane from Knockasarnett, Killarney, Co. Kerry appeared before Judge James O'Connor.
Solicitor for the defendant, Pat F. O'Connor sought to have the case heard at a later date and Inspector Martin McCarthy, prosecuting, agreed saying, "This is a rather unusual charge and we'd like to get the DPP's views on the whole thing."
The case was adjourned  until July 19th, to be heard in front of the same court.
The defendant was charged in connection with offences dated  October 1st of last year.
The Irish Traveller Movement's assistant director Brigid Quilligan and Mary Boyne from Kerry Travellers Development Group attended the court today "to observe and to monitor proceedings."

MAN DUE IN COURT OVER ANTI-TRAVELLER FACEBOOK SITE

A man is to appear before Killarney District Court tomorrow in connection with an anti-Traveller Facebook site called ‘Promote The Use Of Knacker Babies As Bait’.

A barman at the time of the alleged offence, he was charged at Killarney Garda Station a fortnight ago in relation to his involvement in creating the site.

The man is being brought before the courts under Section 2 of the Incitement of Hatred Act 1989 which, among other things, prohibits the publishing of racist material.

North East Kerry Development - report launch

North East Kerry Development's Progress Report covering 2009-2010 was launched today in Listowel.
Speakers included a community representative and a businesswoman who relayed how they had benefitted from the local development company's support.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan, officially launched the report.

PHOTOS BY CHANGING IRELAND, FEATURING IN BOTH SHOTS: Eamon O'Reilly, NEKD chief, Pat Mitchell, chairman and Minister Jimmy Deenihan.

Rousing welcomes for Mary Robinson and Rita Fagan at Possibilities Conference

This 'Possibilities' conference is one with a difference, featuring threatre, music, song and dance, not to mention famous activists and promoters of peace and human rights. 

Following Kila's performance, Mary Robinson received a rousing welcome when she spoke this afternoon, focusing in on a few lines in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and our duty to community.

She phrased it better than the original which states: "Article 29 - Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible."

She spoke about the need for "a greater sense of shared responsibility for the implementation of international human rights law."

She was followed by five speakers from communities in Ireland including Mayo's John Monaghan and Dublin's Rita Fagan, the former unpaid, the latter unpaid, both working in communities.

- 2 VIDEOS UPLOADED (ALMOST LIVE)!

2 videos we've uploaded from this afternoon - one featuring the Dalai Lama answering a question about youth in Ireland and the second featuring Rita Fagan telling her story of community struggle, after which she sings! And for the record, Rita’s a good singer.

PHOTO: Community worker Rita Fagan.

Richard Moore - blind man with a vision

LIVE REPORT - CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE DIRECTOR, THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE DALAI LAMA TO IRELAND
Richard Moore from Children In Crossfire introduced the 14th Dalai Lama in Dublin this morning.
Richard set up the NGO some years after losing his eyesight as a child to a British bullet in Derry in the 1970s.
Richard  said the Dalai Lama always teases him about how beautiful his wife is.

DALAI LAMA - LIVE REPORT FROM SAGGART

INTRO
This is a live report from Saggart, Co. Dublin, oddly named after the Irish word for "priest."
The theme of today is activism and taking action, but the Dalai Lama speaks here of nurturing peace within the individual and within society. ALLEN MEAGHER reports:

STRIKING COMMUNITY WORKERS WIN IN LABOUR COURT

The strike involving community workers at Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) has been resolved, according to a report today from the Community Worker's Co-op and confirmed by SIPTU. 

All local work under the Local and Community Development Programme - among other work carried out by the not-for-profit company - had come to a halt as ten workers went on strike after four of them were issued with redundancy notices.

It was the first industrial strike in the State’s largest Gaeltacht in 30 years and the Labour Court yesterday "found in favour of the workers, ordered the redundancies to be removed and staff reinstated, and a mediator to be appointed," said the CWC statement.

The workers were supported by their union SIPTU which argued that the redundancies were not required and that alternative solutions to cost saving at the company can be achieved.

MFG Teo is based in Connemara and provides vital services to the most vulnerable communities in the area. 

You can watch a video interview - prior to the Labour Court announcement - with one of the striking workers here.

Normal work resumed today.

WATCH the Dalai Lama, Mary Robinson, Rita Fagan online TOMORROW!

CAPTION: Tomorrow's gig-like event is one of the biggest ever for Irish activists. If you can't go, you can follow it via a live webcast on this site.

TODAY of all days, Fintan O'Toole wrote about the Irish people's failure to rise up and protest and lamented the lack of activism. He's correct to a point but he took no account in his article of activism that is happening and tomorrow just happens to see one of the biggest activist gatherings in years.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE GOOD THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR AREA!

A reporter with one of the most-listened to and highly-regarded radio programmes in the country is looking for uplifting community development stories. He's particularly interested in stories from the North-West and border counties for some reason. Give us a shout (061-458011) or email (editor@changingireland.ie) and we'll put you in contact.
C'MON FOLKS! - AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE GOOD THAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR AREA!

Community development feature from Palestine

IN MEMORY OF PEACEMAKER JULIANO MER KHAMIS

Juliano Mer Khamis (pictured) was an Israeli actor and peace activist who ran a drama project in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin, the West Bank. He was assassinated on Monday outside the theatre he founded which had brought Israelis and Palestinians together.
One year ago, Changing Ireland Community Media Ltd's chairperson, Gearoid Fitzgibbon, then a reporter for our magazine project, worked in Palestine as a volunteer.
In memory of the late Juliano Mer Khamis, we republish Gearoid's article which focused on a camera project involving Israeli and Palestinian youths. 
The article is also available online in PDF format at: http://www.changingireland.ie/Issue32.pdf 
Lessons in Community Work - Gearoid Fitzgibbon reports from Hebron

PHOTO (ABOVE): Gearoid Fitzgibbon in a classroom with boys in Palestine.
If you think of Israel/Palestine, your first image may not be of a Community Centre in the heart of the occupation, jointly funded and run by a group of Israelis and Palestinians.

Dessie O'Halloran in fundraiser for Inishbofin

Dessie O'Halloran (above) was joined by dancers and a band of musicians for a fundraiser last night for Inishbofin Community Development Project. 

The gig was held in Monroe's of Galway.

Eleanor Shanley and Dessie sang together (pictured) and the band included lead box player Johnny O'Halloran (also pictured). Johnny is a nephew of Dessie's who turned 70 last year.

All-Ireland sean-nós dancing champion Emma O’Sullivan also performed and you can watch our video of Emma dancing by clicking here.

Meanwhile, Inishbofin's annual arts festival takes place from May 6-8^th, a great occasion for visiting the island. This year’s line-up includes De Dannan, Gemma Hayes and band and Peadar King and band.

The island's inaugural Inishbofin Walking Festival runs from May 27 to 29.

Photos: Breda Lymer

PHOTO (ABOVE): All-Ireland sean-nos champion Emma O'Sullivan

PHOTO (ABOVE): Johnny O'Halloran

PHOTO (ABOVE): Dessie O'Halloran and Eleanor Shanley