I think the reason many Irish people are resiliant against learning Irish is because it is compulsery. Would that be a good assumption or is it just because it is not spoken that much? I want to learn Irish because then I can understand many place names and I find that a lot of information about th...

Just back on the point of 'Religion an accident of birth?'. I made this point to a Hindu guy in work about 3 years ago. He didn't take it well at all, and wouldn't talk to me for months. I thought it was quite revealing. I guess the Hindu guy's deeply held conviction that his current lifetime is a ...

Agreed. I once took my atheist wife to mass (not in a cock-eyed attempt at conversion, but I wanted us to get married in Church - ah! the folly of youth!), and it really upset her when the priest read this bit out: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father ...

Take it easy Beebub, I know what we're about on here! :) Apologies for temporarily derailing your thread, it's just that I consider the forced teaching of Irish as a cultural oppression which is part and parcel of the whole "Catholic Ireland Experience (tm)". I will never live in Ireland again , mai...

But wouldn't they just do it themselves anyway, which would be more dangerous. I recall a home-made attempt in Ireland a while back :roll: , at least in the hands of the professionals there is accountability. My view is that unless there is a medical reason for the op (which is sometimes the case),...

I'm not clear on why the hell "Irish" is considered a core subject in 21st Century Ireland. I have no issue with children having the option to learn Irish should they so choose, but having it compulsory is just BS. Surely in the global world we need young people who can speak a real language that th...

One more for October: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/catholic-church-in-england-conducts-review-of-child-safety-practices-526249.html The official on charge of investigating allegations of sexual abuse will be charged today. "The disclosure that the Catholic Church employed a paedop...

I have three late nominations. 1) Christian complains of persecution when he's not allowed to persecute: "The Bible is quite specific that marriage is for men and women. If the State wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the State; but the State shouldn’t impose its rules...

Not to worry. No sooner had I linked the New Scientist article above than this week's copy had landed, with the pace of a veritable neutrino, on my doormat (so not yet available online). In summary: The "OPERA" collaboration has begun a new set of measurements to be completed before submitting the f...

DaithiDublin wrote:

paolovf wrote:From your post it it seems like we might have an answer sooner rather than later!

I see what you did there!!