News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

“We believe more churches may have been the subject of crime but, in some cases, the priests might not know. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Joe Downey has met with the Bishop of Killaloe and staff and spoke to them about the problem and heard their concerns. He made crime prevention recommendations for churches around the county and they are now looking at those. The problem is that the clergy can’t close the churches.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

The late Rory Gallagher hit the headlines again last week with another petition celebrating the Cork guitarist’s talent.

This time the petition is to induct the blues rocker into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The campaign received a boost when former Guns N’Roses guitarist Slash asked his fans to sign the petition. Slash who played with Gallagher in the past, said on Twitter: “Please sign this petition to help get Rory Gallagher inducted into RRHF."

More than 11,100 people have signed the petition already. Gallagher sold around 30 million records before he died in 1995 from complications after he received a liver transplant.

Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Donegal but moved to Cork when he was young. Rory attended the North Monastery School and started playing guitar at the age of nine.

In 1972 he was named International Guitarist of the Year and was known to be one of the best guitarists in the world for many years.

Last month, Rory's brother Donal brought Rory’s famous sunburst 1961 Stratocaster guitar out of retirement in order to allow Joe Bonamassa to perform with it on his two nights at the London Hammersmith Apollo. Joe opened both nights’ performances with his rendition of ‘Cradle Rock’ using the guitar.

Artists are eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame once their first record was released more than 25 years ago.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

The heartbroken family of a murdered Derry man say they’ve been left in a state of limbo as a result of the tragedy.

Self employed tradesman Damien Keenan died in the early hours of Thursday morning after being stabbed in his Francis Street home on Tuesday afternoon.

The father and grandfather celebrated his 51st birthday only two days prior to the attack.

Speaking exclusively to the Journal his children Paul and Michelle described their sense of “loss and bereavement”.

Paul Keenan said: “We have been left in limbo, everything happened so suddenly and we don’t know the full story yet.

“We just want him home so we can make the arrangements for his funeral but we don’t even know how long that will be as police investigations are ongoing.”

Mr. Keenan, who is originally from a well respected family in the Carnhill area, only recently remarried. He and his new bride had moved into their Francis Street home a number of weeks ago.
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

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Nster.com