Animal rights campaigners fear the grotesque disembowelment of a horse in Dublin may have been a ritualistic killing.

Ireland has an opportunity to become an example of best practice in diaspora engagement and policy.  That’s according to the organisers of the European strand of the Global Diaspora Forum, which is taking place in Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel in Killiney over the next two days (14th and 15th May).
 
The Global Diaspora Forum is a celebration of diaspora communities, and has been held annually in Washington DC since 2011.  The forum is coordinated by the International Global Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development.
 
The European strand was organised by the Irish International Diaspora Centre (IIDC) Trust, which is working to deliver a world-class diaspora centre in Dublin.  The Trust operates under the auspices of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.
 
Opening the conference, Gerry Dunne, CEO of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, said: “Despite its size, Ireland punches far above its weight when it comes to diaspora issues.  This makes us so well-placed to be the first partner, outside of the US, to collaborate in the delivery of the Global Diaspora Forum.
 
“Ireland’s diaspora – estimated to be in the realm of 70 million – have permeated every corner of the globe and most professions, ranging from medical to political to culture and the arts.  This Irish diaspora experience is an enormous untapped resource, which we are only awakening to.  By reaching out to our diaspora, we can create communities centring on business, technology and the creative industries.  We can share ideas and collaborate to bid for business and implement initiatives for the common good.
 
“However, diaspora engagement needs to be facilitated by governments,” said Mr Dunne.  “Given the scale and good reputation of Ireland’s diaspora, we are ideally placed to become a best-practice model in terms of how we engage with our diaspora communities and how we implement policies and structures to maximise benefits.
 
“Issues such as voting rights for diaspora; structures for creating business linkages; and ways to help generations of diaspora connect with their roots are some of the areas that can be explored as measures to maximise the benefits of connecting with our diaspora.  Of course, diaspora communities who have established themselves in Ireland in recent decades present another area from which we can garner new insights and connections.
 
“This Global Diaspora Forum is about exploring diaspora engagement and its benefits.  Given plans by the Irish international Diaspora Trust to create a world-class diaspora centre at Dún Laoghaire Harbour, we are delighted to be in a position to host this historic event.  We hope that it will be the precursor to much more proactive diaspora engagement in Ireland and at an EU level,” added Mr Dunne.
 
Speaking ahead of his input to the forum, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore said: “I look forward to addressing and meeting the international and Irish experts who will gather inDún Laoghaire. Ireland is extremely fortunate to possess a diaspora that makes an enormous contribution to our country.  The forum allows us to share our experience and to learn from others.

A ‘ JFK50’ museum will open in New Ross town in mid-May as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the visit of President John F Kennedy to the town.
 
The community museum, which has been collecting memorabilia and artefacts from the original visit of President John F. Kennedy to the two, and his ancestral home in 1963, will open to the public at Bailey’s Shop on North Street in New Ross town.
 
One of the curators of the community museum Ray Flynn commented, “Earlier this year we invited resident of New Ross and the region to loan to us any memorabilia they had in their possession, that was in anyway connected with the historic visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in the 1960s, we called out for photographs, flags, souvenirs, newspaper articles or even parts of the original podium, the response we have received has been phenomenal.
 
We have had some really interesting pieces come into the museum some of which include a letter to the Hickey Family in New Ross, the Hicky family owned a blanket factory in the town and presented President Kennedy with a specially made blanket during his visit, sometime after he returned to the U.S. they received a very nice thank you letter from the White house.
 
We also have hundreds of fantastic photographs, many of these include children from the town at the time and it has been a fascinating experience to identify these children who are now grown adults and to hear their memories of the iconic day in ’63.
 
Another fascinating piece has been donated by Rita Malone from the twon, Rita was 12 years old during the visit and it clearly had a last impression on Rita as for years afterwards she collected every press clipping she could find on President Kennedy and she has presented the museum with five large scrapbooks.
 
In general the feeling is that when Kennedy came to New Ross he had an amazing and a still lasting effect on the town and we feel that this museum really captured that feeling.” Ray conculuded.
 
All items included in the museum have been carefully catalogued and will be on display for the duration of the JFK50 celebrations, and local volunteers will staff the museum.
 
If you wish to loan any items to the Museum please contact New Ross Tidy Towns Committee or New Ross and District Chamber Office on 051-361011.
 
The town recently announced the stage line-up for celebrations in New Ross for ‘The Homecoming’ on June 22, this features Wexford ambassador, journalist, presenter and former RTE news reader Anne Doyle who will take to the stage on New Ross Quayside and welcome visitors to Wexford as well as introduce the formidable line-up, which will include the critically acclaimed award winning author and Wexford ambassador Colm Toibin who will recite from the stage.  George Hook, well-known broadcaster, TV critic and Kennedy fan will assist Anne.
 
International singer and Wexford ambassador Michael Londra who will preform a song he has written especially for the event with Grammy award winning songwriter Marcus Hummon.
 
World-renowned dancer, musician and performer Michael Flatley, who will narrate the journey and significance of the Emigrant Flame before it’s symbolic lighting on the quayside, evoking the spirit and inspiration of the Kennedys and the entire Irish emigrant family. And American Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Judy Collins, one of the great icons of American music, will also entertain visitors from the stage with some wonderful pieces from her vast songbook. Extreme Rhythm, the most hightly acclaimed percussion group in Europe, led by Wexford Town man Nicky Bailey, will also perform in honour of JFK and the Kennedy Family and World pipe band champions, New Ross and District Pipe Band will also entertain the special guests and viewing public.
 
For further details on all of the events taking place throughout the year for the JFK50 see www.jfk50ireland.com.

Ireland’s leader Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton have announced that Squarespace, the leading all-in-one website publishing platform, plans to establish its EMEA Headquarters in Dublin along with the creation of 100 new jobs.

Valentia Island Lighthouse will be officially open to the public for the first time this June.

Last Saturday Lansdowne traveled to Manhattanville College for the spring opener. The game was played in 3 halves (thirds) so as to give all players as much playing time as possible.

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Rory McIlroy has done a Masters u-turn and opted to play the week before Augusta after all – with a charity trip to Haiti put on the long finger.

The 56-year-old actor made his stage debut as former New York Post and Daily News columnist Mike McAlary on Monday night and was overcome with emotion after starring in his close friend Nora Ephron's play, who died of leukemia aged 71 last year.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan has publicly stated that the Catholic Church should be more welcoming to gay men and women – despite his opposition to same-sex marriages.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad. The closing date for return of nominations to the Embassy [or your nearest Irish Consulate in the United States] is Monday April 22nd. For more information and a copy of the downloadable nomination form, click here.

The founder of One in Four, an organization that supports victims of sexual abuse in Ireland, said the appointment of Pope Francis evoked “a spark of hope” in him.

The case of a Cork woman who was abused at the Dunderrow National School in 1973 has been opened at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.