News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

WESTMEATH

Former Justice Minister Paddy Cooney has criticized a piece of artwork in the new Luan Gallery, which features messages smuggled out of prison by Republican activists during the H-Block protests in Northern Ireland.

"First of all, I don't think it is art and secondly, the theme is inappropriate. If it was removed I'd shed no tears," Mr Cooney said last week of the “Fragmens sur les Institutions Republicaines IV 1993-1997” exhibit by Longford artist Shane Cullen.

The controversial installation consists of black panels on which Mr. Cullen has painstakingly hand-painted messages from I.R.A. prisoners smuggled out of jail during the H-Block protests in Northern Ireland in the 1980s.
[Source: Westmeath Independent]

WEXFORD

An incident that took place in the early hours of Thursday morning, November 29, resulted in a father and son being sent to hospital with serious injuries.

Jim Handrick (52) and his 16-year-old son were involved in the incident, which is currently under Garda (police) investigation.

Gardaí believe the incident involved a “civil element” and they are currently attempting to establish the truth and clarify the facts.

It is alleged that a repossession company arrived at Mr. Handrick’s Ballinastraw home where they attempted to remove a vehicle from his property, and the incident stemmed from there.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

A 60-foot fake snowman that vanished from a town center has turned up safe and well – if a little deflated.

The inflatable Snowy the Snowman had been missing from Wicklow Town for a week but has now been returned, accompanied by a sign saying “Sorry.”
Following a tip-off, Garda (Police Officer) Anthony McHugh and Garda Neil Doyle located an airless Snowy at the Halpin Monument in the town last Tuesday morning.
[Source: Irish Independent]
 

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