Latest news with #BloodySunday
RTÉ News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Sinn Féin MEP calls on EU official to apologise over Irish comments
An Irish MEP has asked the EU's most senior foreign affairs official to apologise for suggesting Ireland's policy of neutrality is in part due to Ireland not having a modern-day understanding of "atrocities, mass deportations, suppression of culture and language". European Commission vice president and high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas, made the remarks during a debate on an upcoming NATO meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in France. Responding to a discussion which involved various views on NATO, conflicts including Russia's war in Ukraine and whether the EU needs to increase defence spending, Ms Kallas, who is from Estonia, said: "I do want to address our Irish colleagues. I mean, yes, peace doesn't mean that human suffering will stop. "If, you know, you surrender and you have the aggressor and you say okay take all that you want, it doesn't mean that the human suffering will stop. "Our experience behind the Iron Curtain [the de facto border between East and West during the cold war], after the Second World War countries like Ireland got to build up their prosperity, but for us it meant atrocities, mass deportations, suppression of culture and language. "This is what happens. It is also peace, but it's actually not freedom, freedom of choice for people, and that is what an EU is all about, and that is what we are fighting for." In a statement today, Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion said: "I was astonished by Leas-Uachtarán Kallas's remarks, which displayed a clear lack of understanding of Ireland's history. "In my speech, I underlined Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality, which was shaped by our own experience of colonialism and struggle for self-determination. "Vice President Kallas's suggestion that Ireland simply prospered in the post-war period without trauma or oppression is deeply inaccurate and dismissive of our island's experience. "Ireland too endured atrocities, from the Ballymurphy massacre to Bloody Sunday, where innocent civilians were shot and killed by British soldiers. "Our people suffered internment without trial, and widespread discrimination in housing and employment, particularly in the North. "Furthermore, the suppression of Irish language and culture has been an ongoing battle, as evidenced by the decades-long campaign for an Irish Language Act in the North. "Vice President Kallas's comments were ill-advised and deeply insensitive to the experiences of Irish communities still seeking justice to this day," she said. The Sinn Féin MEP continued that she has written to Ms Kallas's office "asking her to withdraw her remarks".
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
What time and TV channel is Leinster vs Bulls on today in the URC?
Leinster and Bulls clash in the URC Grand Final this evening and it promises to be a fascinating encounter. Leo Cullen's side have hometown advantage, and have won each of the four times they have previously played at Croke Park. And, going in search of a ninth title, will also be aware the last of those championship wins was in 2018. The Bulls are managed by canny, veteran coach Jake White and while they don't have anything like the international experience of Leinster, he has been talking up his players' cohesion and spirit this week. And, oh yeh, their monster pack. The sides finished first and second in the 18-game league-proper, the table-topping Blues posting two more wins and finishing eight points to the good. Here's what you need to know about the game: Where and when is it? The match takes place at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, June 14. What time is kick-off? The action gets under way at 5pm. Quotes corner Jack Conan: "I don't think everyone hates Leinster but I think people definitely revel in us under-achieving at times!" Leinster Coach Leo Cullen: Look through the Bulls team, there's a tonne of experience. I know Jake was saying they're a young squad. I'm not sure what squad he's talking about, that's not a young group, that's not a young team. "He was talking about that on Tuesday. Is he trying to lull us all into some false sense is he? A young group? "Do you see a young group there? They're a serious experienced group we're up against and a team that has unbelievably high standards, that is used to winning, it's in their blood isn't it? Rugby, you're in South Africa and it's on morning, noon and night. Bulls Coach Jake White talking about former Bulls player Cornal Hendricks who died, aged 37, on May 14th and the URC final is being played on June 14th: "Funny enough, I was doing a bit of homework about Croke Park and I read that Bloody Sunday, 14 people died there," said White becoming the first person in our storied history to co-opt Irish 'war' dead for use, on site, against us. "Cornell died on the 14th of May and we play the URC final on Saturday 14th of June. It's quite an ominous number so there is a lot of nice memories of Cornel that we will use and the number 14. Hopefully it will be a fantastic day on the 14th of June for us as a club as well. It's quite amazing that the number 14 keeps coming up. Stars are aligned. Hopefully we will use that in our favour.' Former Ireland international and Premier TV pundit Stephen Ferris: 'Jake White will 100 percent understand that their performance against Sharks will not get them a win on Saturday. They only had 39 percent possession in the semi-final game, they didn't have as many entries into the 22 as Sharks - plus they had three yellow cards. "It's crazy with three yellow cards, the Bulls still managed to win a URC semi-final. Jake White understands the performance has got to be so much better against this Leinster team.' 'The reality is it will be a huge, huge upset if the Bulls come to Dublin and overturn Leinster and win. That would make it five years in a row that Leinster have finished a season without a trophy. There is so much to play for. There are so many elements to this Final, it should be a fire-cracker of a game.' Simon Zebo, Premier Sport analyst: 'There's some really interesting match-ups in this game that I'm looking forward to. Garry Ringrose against David Kriel – Marcell Coetzee against Jack Conan – Johan Goosen v Sam Prendergast – Jimmy O'Brien against Willie le Roux; they all whet the appetite!' 'Leinster always start well and build their score and if teams have to chase the game that plays into the hands of their rush defence.' 'If the Bulls keep the score close in the first half, I think their size and physicality will take its toil and there will be some openings for them to capitalise on with their pacey and dangerous back three. I see the Bulls winning by just a few points as I think they'll physically have the edge over Leinster and they are playing for a cause.' Did you know? Leinster have the most turnovers this season (144), which breaks down as 31 tackle turnovers, 33 lineout steals and 64 jackals Bulls have won the most penalties on their feed (47) and against the head (15) this season. Betting odds Leinster 1/5 Bulls: 9/2 Draw: 33/1 Popular Bets: Dan Sheehan first try-scorer 17/2; Can Moody anytime tryscorer 100/30 What TV channel is it on? The match will be shown live TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & Teams - News & Line-Ups Leinster were forced to select without the injured Caelan Doris, Robbie Henshaw and Will Connors. Bulls suffered a loss very much on a par as that of Doris for Leinster with Cameron Hanekon, also a no8, sustaining an injury too. Hanekon was the winner of the URC's young player of the year (known as Next Gen) and was the league's top gain-line 2024/25 carrier and top turnover winner to here with 65 carries and 16 turnovers. Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT) Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jamie Osborne Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canon Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (CAPT), Marcell Coetzee Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Devon Williams
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Each and every person deserves to be treated humanely and with respect
In fact, people in power (irrespective of religious views) are morally obliged to have an ethical long-term view of the effects of their policies. There are ample historical examples of sadistic treatment of fellow human beings seen as 'others'. Kristallnacht 1938; Hungary 1956; Mississippi 1964; Burntollet Bridge 1968; Bloody Sunday 1972. The Gaza and Israel of today – will they ever meet other than violently? This week Los Angeles was chosen because it is a Democrat-voting state, for no other reason than to stir up violence. As William Butler Yeats reminds his readers, responsibility lies with those who light the match; alas, the instigators walk away from their responsibilities. Why? They reject the fact they are accountable for not only their soul, but the intellect given to each of us for the greater good of mankind. Today greed is astronomical, when allied to ignorance – they become like oil and water. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia Parallels between Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza hard to ignore, despite protests Gustawa Jarecka, a survivor and writer of the Warsaw Ghetto, depicted the effects of hunger and morale collapse among residents. We should all take note. She writes in A Cup of Tears: A Diary of the Warsaw Ghetto a first-hand account of the desperation that led residents to commit horrible acts against one another in their struggle to survive. She could be writing about Gaza. ADVERTISEMENT Jarecka described the overwhelming obsession with food: 'The first days of hunger are the worst, then, it becomes bearable. First comes the weariness, your arms and legs feel heavy, each word becomes a painful noise ringing in the ears. The colours do not bring joy to the eyes; the light hurts them. You feel a constant thirst; chapped lips dry out. 'The jaws clench of their own accord and you feel a pain behind the ears at the sight of a tin spoon abandoned on a table. Then, thoughts about food start; terrible, exhausting daydreams.' The purpose of the ghetto was to dehumanise the residents, to make them appear to their oppressors as less than human. The next stage was to displace, eradicate and replace. The tragedy today is partly that we seem powerless to act to stop the crimes against humanity being committed by Israel. But isn't it a moral crime also to be cowed by anyone who uses the martyrs of the Warsaw Ghetto to justify identical crimes today? For Israel to condemn anyone who draws the parallel between the Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza as 'antisemitic' is an absurdity. Declan Doyle, Co Kilkenny Seventy-year-old granny putting all those spineless EU politicians to shame Seventy-year-old Cork grandmother D Murphy has been deported by Israel after spending time in Givon Prison because she felt she could not sit around while Palestinians are being killed and forced out of their homes in the Occupied West Bank – something that has been going on for decades. I suggest EU politicians, who many would say 'talk out of both sides of their mouth', could learn from this lady. Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Co Cork Our food processing chain gets more protection than elderly people in homes At the moment in many food processing plants in Ireland there are full-time Department of Agriculture inspectors whose job is to ensure that rules and regulations are adhered to. They have the authority to shut down lines when a problem arises and are not answerable to the owners of the plant. The cost of having them on site is recouped from the owners. Would it not be possible to have a qualified person in a care home full-time to ensure nothing like what we witnessed on Prime Time would happen again? That person would be there for the protection of both staff and patients. The benefits of having eyes and ears permanently in those homes would be immeasurable. It may sound like drastic measures, but really, when we are revisiting a problem that most of us thought was no longer an issue, then maybe drastic measures are all that will work. Or is food safety more important than old age and abuse? John Higgins, Ballina, Co Mayo The magic of sport is its uncertainty – and that always breeds new hope One of the joys of live sport is its unpredictability. Now that the dust has settled at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, we can reflect on how nail-biting the Munster hurling final remained until the long-awaited final whistle. The subsequent tie-breaker resolution leaves room for further debate. For neutrals, no doubt it was an enthralling contest. For Cork supporters, there was the glorious satisfaction of winning another provincial championship. To the victors the spoils. For this Limerick fan and my fellow believers, the phrase 'all is not lost' now carries deep and tantalising possibilities. Further twists will emerge as the hurling season continues to beguile us. Tony Wallace, Longwood, Co Meath With the greatest respect, Pride now highlights only the things that divide us I'm frequently told by people of impeccable judgment that I haven't a vindictive bone in my body. By and large, I subscribe to the 'live and let live' philosophy'. However, I'm beginning to find the relatively recent phenomenon of Pride events irritating in the extreme. Why on earth do people have to make such a big deal of their sexuality? It shouldn't be your defining characteristic. There is much more to human beings than that. It's essentially a private matter and no one else's business. I don't really want to know if anyone is heterosexual or homosexual, provided they are decent in their dealings with me. So, while wishing those with same-sex attraction peace and contentment, can we please put an end to these Pride events? They only emphasise difference rather than our common humanity.
Global News
11-06-2025
- Global News
Nova Scotia strike that turned deadly a century ago a milestone for workers' rights
During Nova Scotia's storied 300-year history of coal mining, one deadly riot in 1925 proved to be pivotal for workers' rights in Canada. One hundred years ago today, William Davis — a 37-year-old Cape Breton coal miner and father of nine — was shot to death by a special constable hired by the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO) — a monopoly mine owner that had repeatedly turned to violence to end strikes over poor wages and unsafe working conditions. 'William Davis's story highlights the many sacrifices that those unionized workers made when they stood up against oppression,' says Danny Cavanagh, president of the 70,000-member Nova Scotia Federation of Labour. 'It serves as a reminder of a historic struggle that workers faced to secure their rights.' Davis's death on the outskirts of New Waterford, N.S., commemorated every year in Nova Scotia on June 11, was the painful culmination of a long series of strikes and chaotic skirmishes. Story continues below advertisement During that time, the lives of mine workers and their families were tied to the fortunes of the corporation, which supplied them with homes and offered them credit at company stores that provided food, clothing and supplies few could afford on subsistence wages. Most miners were left deeply indebted, their hopes for higher wages frequently dashed. On July 1, 1923, a strike at the BESCO steel plant in Sydney, N.S., saw hundreds of soldiers and provincial police on horseback harassing and beating strikers and uninvolved citizens. A local publication described the resulting melee as a 'reign of terror.' In Cape Breton, the event is still known as 'Bloody Sunday.' 'That strike was crushed but there's a number of those moments in the lead-up to 1925 as the pressure ratchetted up again and again,' said Lachlan MacKinnon, Canadian research chair in post-industrial communities at Cape Breton University in Sydney. In early 1925, the miners were stunned to learn BESCO would again cut their wages. In response, District 26 of the United Mine Workers of America decided to go on strike. About 12,000 miners walked off the job. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Some unionized miners were thrown out of their company homes. And the corporation eventually withdrew credit from the company stores, making it difficult for miners to keep their families fed. 'People hunted for rabbits and deer and whatever else they could get,' MacKinnon said in an interview. 'And so hunger was really setting in by the end of that winter.' Story continues below advertisement At one point, BESCO vice-president J.E. McClurg taunted the miners, saying: 'We hold the cards. Things are getting better every day they stay out. Let them stay out two months or six months, it matters not. Eventually, they will have to come to us.' The dispute came to a head when the water and electricity supplied to the miners' homes was cut off. The miners decided to head to a company-controlled power plant and pumping station at Waterford Lake, where they planned to cut off power to the mine in New Waterford. According to Nova Scotia's Museum of Industry, between 700 and 3,000 miners, their relatives and neighbours walked to the plant where they were met by scores of special constables, many of them on horseback, armed with pistols and batons. The company police opened fire as the crowd closed in. What happened next is subject to dispute. One account suggests Davis was shot as he grabbed the reins of a constable's horse. Another version tells of the miner being hit by random gunfire. Up to four other people were wounded. Many others were badly beaten or trampled. 'After that, the miners overwhelmed the company constables and they brought them back to a (New Waterford) park,' MacKinnon said. 'There was concern, especially among the clergy, that the special constables would be lynched.' Story continues below advertisement Instead they were thrown in jail and eventually sent to Halifax. Meanwhile, there was immediate retaliation against BESCO as all of its company stores were looted and burned. The era of the company store was over. Davis was given the largest funeral the town of New Waterford had ever seen. And at a union convention later that year, June 11 was declared Davis Day. Miners across the region were given the day off. 'Ultimately, the British Empire Steel Corporation … collapsed and was reformulated under new ownership,' said MacKinnon. 'And the idea of using special constables was widely repudiated …. The government of Canada launched an inquiry.' Nova Scotia's Trade Union Act was adopted in 1937. Bobby Burchell, a former miner and union executive, said Davis and his fellow miners made a huge contribution to the advancement of workers' rights. 'Those guys back in the '20s, they made a big difference in the laws, not only for Nova Scotia but … for all of Canada,' said Burchell, who worked in the coal mine at Lingan, N.S., for six years before serving in senior union roles for the next 34 years. 'They were tired of living under company rules, with company stores and company doctors. They wanted some independence. They wanted some safety in the mines. They wanted better wages. They decided to fight for those benefits …. And laws were enacted to make the mines safer.' Story continues below advertisement Cavanagh said Davis's sacrifice remains a key milestone in the province's labour history. 'Reflecting on this story, we encourage people to think more critically about the ongoing challenges we face today,' he said. 'In 2025, we're still struggling to get paid sick days and making sure that workers have a living wage. Even though we've come a long way, there's still much work to do around occupational health and safety laws.' As for Burchell, his father, uncles and brothers all worked in the mines. And for the past 25 years, he has served as the master of ceremonies at the annual Davis Day commemoration at Davis Square in New Waterford. That's where he'll be on Wednesday, along with some of Davis's relatives and Bea Bruske, president of the 3.3-million-member Canadian Labour Congress. Over the years, Davis Day has come to mean more than just a tribute to the fallen miner and his fight for fair wages. The event, also known as Miners' Memorial Day, has become a day of remembrance for the more than 2,500 miners who have died as a result of accidents or disasters since 1838. Ceremonies will take place in many former coal mining towns across Nova Scotia, which has only one underground coal mine left at Donkin, N.S., where operations have been suspended since 2023.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Nova Scotia strike that turned deadly a century ago a milestone for workers' rights
HALIFAX – During Nova Scotia's storied 300-year history of coal mining, one deadly riot in 1925 proved to be pivotal for workers' rights in Canada. One hundred years ago today, William Davis — a 37-year-old Cape Breton coal miner and father of nine — was shot to death by a special constable hired by the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO) — a monopoly mine owner that had repeatedly turned to violence to end strikes over poor wages and unsafe working conditions. 'William Davis's story highlights the many sacrifices that those unionized workers made when they stood up against oppression,' says Danny Cavanaugh, president of the 70,000-member Nova Scotia Federation of Labour. 'It serves as a reminder of a historic struggle that workers faced to secure their rights.' Davis's death on the outskirts of New Waterford, N.S., commemorated every year in Nova Scotia on June 11, was the painful culmination of a long series of strikes and chaotic skirmishes. During that time, the lives of mine workers and their families were tied to the fortunes of the corporation, which supplied them with homes and offered them credit at company stores that provided food, clothing and supplies few could afford on subsistence wages. Most miners were left deeply indebted, their hopes for higher wages frequently dashed. On July 1, 1923, a strike at the BESCO steel plant in Sydney, N.S., saw hundreds of soldiers and provincial police on horseback harassing and beating strikers and uninvolved citizens. A local publication described the resulting melee as a 'reign of terror.' In Cape Breton, the event is still known as 'Bloody Sunday.' 'That strike was crushed but there's a number of those moments in the lead-up to 1925 as the pressure ratchetted up again and again,' said Lachlan MacKinnon, Canadian research chair in post-industrial communities at Cape Breton University in Sydney. In early 1925, the miners were stunned to learn BESCO would again cut their wages. In response, District 26 of the United Mine Workers of America decided to go on strike. About 12,000 miners walked off the job. Some unionized miners were thrown out of their company homes. And the corporation eventually withdrew credit from the company stores, making it difficult for miners to keep their families fed. 'People hunted for rabbits and deer and whatever else they could get,' MacKinnon said in an interview. 'And so hunger was really setting in by the end of that winter.' At one point, BESCO vice-president J.E. McClurg taunted the miners, saying: 'We hold the cards. Things are getting better every day they stay out. Let them stay out two months or six months, it matters not. Eventually, they will have to come to us.' The dispute came to a head when the water and electricity supplied to the miners' homes was cut off. The miners decided to head to a company-controlled power plant and pumping station at Waterford Lake, where they planned to cut off power to the mine in New Waterford. According to Nova Scotia's Museum of Industry, between 700 and 3,000 miners, their relatives and neighbours walked to the plant where they were met by scores of special constables, many of them on horseback, armed with pistols and batons. The company police opened fire as the crowd closed in. What happened next is subject to dispute. One account suggests Davis was shot as he grabbed the reins of a constable's horse. Another version tells of the miner being hit by random gunfire. Up to four other people were wounded. Many others were badly beaten or trampled. 'After that, the miners overwhelmed the company constables and they brought them back to a (New Waterford) park,' MacKinnon said. 'There was concern, especially among the clergy, that the special constables would be lynched.' Instead they were thrown in jail and eventually sent to Halifax. Meanwhile, there was immediate retaliation against BESCO as all of its company stores were looted and burned. The era of the company store was over. Davis was given the largest funeral the town of New Waterford had ever seen. And at a union convention later that year, June 11 was declared Davis Day. Miners across the region were given the day off. 'Ultimately, the British Empire Steel Corporation … collapsed and was reformulated under new ownership,' said MacKinnon. 'And the idea of using special constables was widely repudiated …. The government of Canada launched an inquiry.' Nova Scotia's Trade Union Act was adopted in 1937. Bobby Burchell, a former miner and union executive, said Davis and his fellow miners made a huge contribution to the advancement of workers' rights. 'Those guys back in the '20s, they made a big difference in the laws, not only for Nova Scotia but … for all of Canada,' said Burchell, who worked in the coal mine at Lingan, N.S., for six years before serving in senior union roles for the next 34 years. 'They were tired of living under company rules, with company stores and company doctors. They wanted some independence. They wanted some safety in the mines. They wanted better wages. They decided to fight for those benefits …. And laws were enacted to make the mines safer.' Cavanaugh said Davis's sacrifice remains a key milestone in the province's labour history. 'Reflecting on this story, we encourage people to think more critically about the ongoing challenges we face today,' he said. 'In 2025, we're still struggling to get paid sick days and making sure that workers have a living wage. Even though we've come a long way, there's still much work to do around occupational health and safety laws.' As for Burchell, his father, uncles and brothers all worked in the mines. And for the past 25 years, he has served as the master of ceremonies at the annual Davis Day commemoration at Davis Square in New Waterford. That's where he'll be on Wednesday, along with some of Davis's relatives and Bea Bruske, president of the 3.3-million-member Canadian Labour Congress. Over the years, Davis Day has come to mean more than just a tribute to the fallen miner and his fight for fair wages. The event, also known as Miners' Memorial Day, has become a day of remembrance for the more than 2,500 miners who have died as a result of accidents or disasters since 1838. Ceremonies will take place in many former coal mining towns across Nova Scotia, which has only one underground coal mine left at Donkin, N.S., where operations have been suspended since 2023. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
