Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

The course is an intensive, three-week executive management program delivered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

A spokesperson for the LGMA said, “Participants are mainly drawn from the U.S. public service/local government with a small number of places available to non-U.S. participants.

“The program focuses on a range of public management areas including strategy, policy development, management controls and operations, and management of human resources. The curriculum is designed to build on the skills which experienced executives already possess.”

Councilor Melissa Halpin said it was not appropriate that the LGMA would spend almost €55,000 of public money on the trip at a time when it was also overseeing the collection of the household charge.

“Apparently six senior executives have gone over which would cost the equivalent of 550 household charges,” she said.

“I think it is unacceptable that money that is supposed to be earmarked for public services is being spent on sending senior executives to go to America.”

Dublin People

71 Years of Bliss
A DERRYLECKA woman who met her husband while he was stationed in Newry during World War II have celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Trevor Harris and his wife Mary celebrated the milestone of 71 years of marriage on Tuesday, June 19. Speaking about her husband, Mary said, "Once he met me he wouldn't leave."

Trevor, a soldier in the 1st/5th Welsh Regiment, was stationed in the town during the war when he met his bride-to-be at a social night for the troops at Newry Methodist Church.

The 99-year-old said, "I went to the church hall and Mary was there. We sat down and had a cup of tea and that was it."

After dating for over a year the couple wed in the same church where they met. Mary, 92, said they waited until she was 21 to tie the knot. "We had to wait until I was 21 because Trevor was a stranger in the area, but he was worth the wait.

"There weren't too many necessities during the war so I borrowed a dress and we had a one tier cake and went to Wales after the wedding.”

Trevor, who was 28 when he wed, said he had no doubts about relocating to Newry for his new wife. After their wedding Trevor, who was injured during the war, and Mary settled in Derrylecka where they raised their family of seven children.

The couple's son Derrick said they have come through many ups and downs together. "In December 2009 my sister passed away and she was buried on New Year's Day, and three weeks later my parents were robbed at knife point. In that traumatic year they lost their daughter June and granddaughter Joanne, so they've come through a lot together,” he said.

"It's amazing they've reached their 71st anniversary. They have been totally devoted to their family from day one and they made their children their priority."

Newry Democrat

Property Unease
LIMERICK’S mega-mansions are being held back from sale until the property market stabilizes over the next two years, a prominent auctioneer in the city said.

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Nster.com