EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

The first ever survey about Irish people in Europe is being conducted.

If You are Irish and are based in or moving to Continental Europe -

This short survey is for you!

Please forward this email to every Irish person you know living in Europe. 
It is really important for the Irish in Europe.
Please answer just a few short questions in 90 seconds or less Click the Link and answer the questions, thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=c_2bbUKK6N36zUdjY5Fx1FKA_3d_3d

What are the best and hardest things about living in Europe ?
Why might you stay, why might you return?

This survey is specifically about you - Irish people living in Continental Europe.

If you know of any Irish person living anywhere in Continental Europe , please send this survey to him or her today.
If you know many Irish People living in Europe, please send this to them all. This very important survey about you and for you,  and is finishing this week. If you are Irish in Europe - now you can get your say. Click Here to take survey - Have You taken the survey yet? 

Thanks in Advance
Siasy Collins

The Hague, Netherlands, 8th December 2007

Killurin 3-13   1-10 County Europe
“Killurin, winners of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship defeated a brave ‘County Europe’  in the Historic Away Leinster Final  held in The Hague, The Netherlands on Saturday December 8th” reports Siasy Collins, Editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

There was no shortage of skill and clash of the ash on display, as Killurin and Europe played out a keenly contested close first half. Just a single point separated the sides at half time.
Played over the full hour, Europe team which although fit, had not played together as a competitive team before, and is used to playing the European Championship over shorter 2 20-minute halves.
The more experience of the Killurin club side from Offaly began to tell late in the second half. Having whipped to a 3 point lead 1-13 to 1-10 with a few minutes left in the match, they finished the stronger with 2 dynamite late goals, to an overall win 3-13 to Europe’s 1-10. Maastricht based Hurling referee was Tony Bass.

 “As the winners of the 2007 European Hurling Championship, Den Haag GAA Club of The Netherlands, one of the longest established and most successful GAA clubs on mainland Europe, were awarded the honour of hosting Killurin and Europe in this first ever match by a mainland Europe Hurling team in the Leinster Championship series.”, says Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club PRO. “County Europe team comprised hurlers from clubs in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag.”

“European County Board (ECB) currently encompasses 27 clubs in 13 countries speaking 11 different languages with over 600 male and 170 female adult players, which is an increase of 28% on two years ago! The largest clubs in Europe being Paris, Luxembourg, Munich & The Hague but all still have less than 100 members each. “ stated Eileen Jennings, Chairperson of the ECB.

Killurin from Offaly were crowned Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions when they defeated Park Ratheniska from Laois on November 18th. On December 8th they added the first Away Leinster Special Junior Club Title to their honours.

www.EuropeanIrish.com

The Hague, Netherlands, 8th December 2007

Killurin 3-13   1-10 County Europe
“Killurin, winners of the Home Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship defeated a brave  “County Europe”  in the Historic Away Leinster Final held in The Hague, The Netherlands on Saturday December 8th” reports Siasy Collins, Editor of EuropeanIrish.com - the resource for Irish people living in Contiental Europe.

Hurling is one of Ireland’s two national sports, and is currently also played in Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs across Continental Europe – in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich, Den Haag, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Groningen,  Munich, Dusseldorf, Budapest, Vienna, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Knn Croatia and Llati Finland. Gaelic Football, Ireland’s other National Sport is also played in Sweden, Czech Republic and Portugal.

Played at lightening speed, hurling is similar to hockey, played on a sports field, and the players can pickup the ‘sliotar’ (ball) and strike it long distances with the hurley. With ‘H’ shaped goals, 3 points are awarded for a Goal under the crossbar, and 1 point for a score over the crossbar and between the posts. The match is played with 15 players per side, a standard club match lasting 60 minutes, played in 2 halves.

“As the winners of the 2007 European Hurling Championship, Den Haag GAA Club of The Netherlands, one of the longest established and most successful GAA clubs on mainland Europe, were awarded the honour of hosting Killurin and Europe in this first ever match by a mainland Europe Hurling team in the Leinster Championship series (Leinster is an Irish Province)”, says Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club PRO. “County Europe team comprised hurlers from clubs in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag.”

There was no shortage of skill and clash of the ash on display, as Killurin and Europe played out a keenly contested close first half.
Just a single point separated the sides at half time.
Played over the full hour, Europe team which although fit, had not played together as a competitive team before, and is used to playing the European Championship over shorter 2 20-minute halves.
The more experience of the Killurin club side from Offaly began to tell late in the second half. Having whipped to a 3 point lead 1-13 to 1-10 with a few minutes left in the match, they finished the stronger with 2 dynamite late goals, to an overall win 3-13 to Europe’s 1-10. Maastricht based Hurling referee was Tony Bass.

“European County Board (ECB) currently encompasses 27 clubs in 13 countries speaking 11 different languages with over 600 male and 170 female adult players, which is an increase of 28% on two years ago! The largest clubs in Europe being Paris, Luxembourg, Munich & The Hague but all still have less than 100 members each.”  stated Eileen Jennings, Chairperson of the ECB.

Killurin from Offaly were crowned Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions when they defeated Park Ratheniska from Laois on November 18th. On December 8th they added the first Away Leinster Special Junior Club Title to their honours.

www.EuropeanIrish.com

(1) December 8 - Hurling - A First - Leinster Club winners take on European All Star
 
(2) December 8 - Ceiliuradh Le Cheile - Celebrate Together 19:00 - 04:00
 
(3) Monthly Events
 
(4) December 16 - Childrens Christmas Party Shillelagh Den Haag
 
(5) Message from our Italian Irish music lover
 
(6) CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD
 
(7) Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr
 
(1). 
December 8 - Hurling - A First - Leinster Club winners take on European All Star

December 8 we www.denhaaggaa. com will be hosting, at the WRC, Westlands Rugby Club, Beresteinlaan 52, Den Haag the hurling match between Europe and the Leinster Junior Champions Killurin, Co. Offaly.

This is a historic occasion as it is the first time the winners of any GAA competition in Ireland will earn the right to take on the best in European hurling.  It promises to be a great game, certainly the highest standard of hurling ever to be played in the Netherlands since the County teams of Clare and Wexford played a game in Hurling Hockey Club in Amsterdam nearly 3 2 decades ago..
 
We expect a large number of supporters to come over from Ireland , so, let’s do all we can to get out a big home support as well.  I know we won’t get Croke Park figures but please show support for the efforts being made by European GAA to promote the best sport in the WORLD.Tony Bass European County Secretary will be the referee and well deserved considering the efforts and hours he has given to European GAA all codes. 

Special thanks to the Liam O’Neill and Sheamus Howlin, Leinster Council for allowing this to happen www.gaa.ie/leinster  .

Bring your family, friends and colleagues along to enjoy this unique occasion.

Bain taitneamh as!!

If you have a contact for a TV channel, newspaper or website, Dutch or Irish, send the details to Marie please.   mariesheehan@ yahoo.ie

(in Dutch )

Killurin, winnaars van het Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling kampioenschap in de finale tegen “County Europe” in Den Haag

Den Haag GAA club zal gastheer zijn voor de wedstrijd op 8 december 2007.

Den Haag, Nederland – 20 november, 2007 – De Den Haag Gaelic Athletic Association, kortweg GAA, is een van de oudste en succesvolste GAA clubs op het vaste land van Europa. Wij als club zijn er trots op dat wij gastheer mogen zijn van de finale van het Leinster Special Junior Club hurling kampioenschap, gespeeld door Killurin uit County Offaly, Ierland tegen ‘County Europe’.
 

Killurin uit Offaly werd Leinster Special Junior Club hurling kampioen door Park Ratheniska uit Laois te verslaan op 18 september jongst leden. Zij zullen naar Nederland af reizen om de finale tegen ‘County Europe’ - een team samengesteld van hurlers uit Brussel, Parijs, Luxemburg, Zurich en de gastclub Den Haag te spelen.
“Als winnaars van het Europees Hurling Kampioenschap 2007 zijn wij erg blij met het feit dat wij deze wedstrijd mogen organiseren. En wij verwelkomen Killurin bij onze club,” zegt Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club promotor. “2007 Is een zeer succesvol jaar geweest voor onze dames en heren

Directions to Westlandse Rugby Club Haaglanden (WRC):

Westlandse Rugby Club Haaglanden (WRC)

Beresteinlaan 52a (beside GONA)

Den Haag

www.wrc-haaglanden. nl
####
Public transport: Tram 9 stop Beresteinlaan/ Melis Stokelaan & Bus 25 other end of Beresteinlaan by Lidl

By car:

From Amsterdam Direction (A4)

- Follow the A4 in the direction “Den Haag Zuid”

- Take exit number 12 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 12)”

- Follow the road (it verves to the right) and continue straight

- When you come to the 4th set of traffic lights turn right onto Melis Stokelaan

- At the first ‘crossroads’ to left onto Beresteinlaan

- The rugby club, WRC-Haaglanden, is on your right hand side

From the Rotterdam Direction (A13)

- Follow the A13 in the direction Den Haag

- Take exit number 7 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 7)”

- Go right in the direction “Den Haag Zuid A4 (E30)”

- Follow the direction A4 richting Den Haag Zuid (E30)

- Take exit number 12 “Den Haag Zuid (afrit 12)”

- Follow the road (it verves to the right) and continue straight

- When you come to the 4th set of traffic lights turn right onto Melis Stokelaan

- At the first ‘crossroads’ to left onto Beresteinlaan

- The rugby club, WRC-Haaglanden, is on your right hand side
####################

(2).
 
December 8 - Ceiliuradh Le Cheile - Celebrate Together 19:00 - 04:00

A GREAT FORMAL DINNER PARTY
WITH INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE !
SOUTH AMERICA MEETS IRELAND - CHICOLEO PART II
Strandweg 155, 2586 JM Scheveningen
(between the Pier and Carlton Beach Hotel)
Phone 070-3588642
Semi-Formal Attire

This event is organized by the Irish Club~Netherlands, Den Haag GFHC and Holland Ladies team as a celebration dinner for the winners on the day and also for the winning Leinster Junior Hurling Club (Killuren, Co. Offaly, Ireland) and as an end of season and Christmas party celebration for all the organizers after a very successful year of culture and sport.

Join in the ceol agus craic - An Oiche “Ceiliuradh Le Cheile”.

PROGRAM Saturday 8th of December 2007

19.00 hrs – RECEPTION
Welcome Cocktail (with or without alcohol).
On the tables you’ll find nachos and dips
Music:
Katie & Conor 
19.30 hrs BUFFET AI CARAMBA!
***
Presentations
***
Sean Kilkenny Irish Dancers
***
22.00 – 01.00 hrs Live Music with Band “Big Deal” a five piece cover band that have promised to get us all dancing. 

01.00 – 04.00 hrs DJ - Kutzai will help us make sawdust out of the dancefloor and keep us going until the wee wee hours of the morning. There will be a raffle and lots of spot prizes you’ll be delighted to know that all of this is included in the ticket price!

Contact: 06-20573678 to book your ticket NOW limited space 

##############################
(3).
Monthly Events
(a). Contact Helen 070-3923273 if you would like to join this group.
Also, if you fancy going for a nice long walk any weekend please call Helen.

(b).  Ceadaoin 19/12/07
Beidh Teacht le Chéile le  caint agus craic as Gaeilge i ‘Murphy’s Law’ ó 8 i.n. go dtí 10 i.n.  Is cuma faoi do chumas teanga…tar chun do chúpla focail a úsáid agus b’fhéidir cúpla ceann eile a fhoghlam!!!!

Wednesday 19/12/07
There will be a Teacht le Chéile with chat and craic through Irish in ‘Murphy’s Law’ from 8pm until 10 pm.  Don’t worry about your language ability….come to use your few words and maybe learn a few more….

(Teacht le Chéile is the official name of the informal drink occasion, as Gaeilge, of the Irish Club~ Netherlands )
Maire Ni Shlatara (an muinteoir) mnishlatara@hotmail.com
Ait: Murphy’s Law, Dr. Kuyperstraat 11, Den Haag
(in aici le an Ambasáid na hÉireann chun Ríocht na hÍsiltíre)
irishclub_nederland@yahoo.co.uk

####
(4)
December 16 - Childrens Christmas Party Shillelagh Den Haag
Irish Club Netherlands
Children’s Christmas Party
14.00-17.00 hour’s
Sunday, 16th December

The Shillelaigh (Upstairs Functions Room), Javastraat 94, The Hague
Lots of fun and games
Entertainment: by the famous Zassie (clown) of course
Santa will be arriving as usual with bags full of presents
He needs to know your childs age, sex & name by  December 12th.
Please contact  Caroline macafici@planet. nl
070-4277123/ 06-24417780
or Eithne: 070-3657425

Members:   € 5.00                     Non-members: € 7.50

###################
(5)
Message from our Italian Irish music lover

Dear friends,

One of these days there will be a new Website where you can read more about the Irish, Italian and Dutch musicians and about the Irish dancers, who will play, sing and dance at our Music night on Saturday January 26, 2008, I will let you know when the Website is on line.

The tickets for this night will be available next week, starting on Tuesday November 27,in the Murphy’s Law, Dr. Kuyperstraat 7, 2514 BA  Den Haag, located between the Denneweg and the Koninginnegracht, right next to the Irish Embassy.

This nice Pub is closed on Sundays, but on all other days you can enjoy the cosy and relaxed atmosphere and all the good wines, beers, single malt whisky and much more, and every Monday night starting around 2100H,they have very nice jazz-jam sessions.

So if you would like to join our next Music night in January, this is the place where you can find your tickets, for those of you who live out of town, please send over 30 Euro p.p. to; A.J.G. Bruti  Gondelstraat 53     2586 ER  Den Haag  ING banknr. 67 53 16 928, with your name and address, and please mention; Contribution Music night. And I will send over your tickets by post.

In order to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for all of us that night, there will be a limited number of tickets available, so please get your tickets in time, and join us in the Church, where we will have many hours of pure music, pure food, and where good wine and beer will be available.
For those of you who didn’t receive my first email, for whatever reason, please let me know and I will send it again, for now all the best.

Sandro
##########

(6)
CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD

22/11/2007

SISK APPOINTED MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD

Sisk, Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main contractor on the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road .  Sisk, who won the contract following a public procurement tendering process, will have overall responsibility for the construction of the stadium, which is scheduled to see its first action in 2010.  Sisk is currently mobilising on site.

The contract with the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) was formally signed earlier today, 22 November, 2007, in the presence of Mr Seamus Brennan T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.  The New Stadium is a joint venture between the IRFU and the FAI with the Government providing €191 million towards the cost. 

Work on the construction of the new stadium began in May of this year with the awarding of both the demolition and sub structure contracts.  Demolition of the old stadium was  completed over the August bank holiday weekend with the demolition of the old West Stand. 

Work on the sub structure commenced in tandem with the demolition programme.  A key element in the new stadium, the construction of a podium over the DART line, was completed over the October bank holiday.  Along with the construction of the podium a major new underpass under the railway line was also completed over that weekend. 

Currently the sub structure programme is well advanced.  This has included the construction of a basement under the East Stand and work on a new underground car park under the back pitch. 

Sisk will have complete control over all of the various construction contracts in relation to the stadium including the structural steel, the cladding, the installation of the pitch etc.  In order to meet the LRSDC deadline of matches being played in the new stadium in 2010 many of these contracts were initially awarded independently.

Speaking on behalf of Sisk Mr Tom Costello, the Sisk director in charge of the project, said that Sisk was delighted to have won the contract given the fact that it has already been responsible for the construction of Croke Park .  “We believe we have a unique insight into what is required in the construction of a major sporting venue such as this.  We fully realise that Lansdowne is quite a different stadium than Croke Park but many of the challenges are the same.  We are really excited to have the opportunity to deliver what is another essential piece of Ireland ’s sporting infrastructure”.

Speaking on behalf of LRSDC Mr Philip Browne, chairman of the company, said that he was “delighted with the progress on the stadium to date. The work continues to be on schedule and that is essential.  I think everyone connected with sport in Ireland admires Croke Park .  It really is a fantastic stadium and I think everyone acknowledges that Sisk did a wonderful job there.  We are looking forward to having them on board and to seeing the new stadium rise out of the ground”.

On completion the new stadium at Lansdowne Road will have an all seated capacity of 50,000.  The new stadium will consist of a continuous curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground.  The South, East and West Stands will have four tiers of seating for spectators.  The second tier will provide facilities for premium ticket holders while the third tier will provide facilities for corporate boxes.  The North Stand will comprise of one low level seating tier to reflect its proximity to the residential properties at that end of the ground.

Note on Sisk:

Sisk are Ireland ’s largest and longest established construction firm having been established in 1859 and currently employing 1500. A private, family owned enterprise, the company will be celebrating its 150 years in business in 2009.  The company has been synonymous with construction in Ireland having delivered such well known landmarks down the years as Cavan and Galway Cathedrals, Cork City Hall, Irish Life Mall, and more recently Croke Park, Dundrum Town Centre, Cork School of Music and the recently opened Ritz Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt.  Sisk are also currently constructing the new Convention Centre, Grand Canal Square, and major pharmaceutical facilities for Johnson & Johnson at Centocor and Cordis.  Sisk have seven offices countrywide located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Waterford and Dundalk and have built a reputation for delivering complex projects, utilising latest construction innovations and managing within predetermined ! budgets and schedules. Sisk are focused on the following construction sectors Commercial, Retail, Pharmaceutical, Residential, Civil Engineering, Healthcare, Hotels & Leisure, Industrial and Social Infrastructure.  Sisk were recent recipients of the NISO Overall Construction safety Award for 2007.

*SEE OUR MEDIA GALLERY AT WWW.LRSDC.IE FOR THE LATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE NEW STADIUM*
Regards,
Claire Seale

LRSDC

###########

Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr

Friendship - the best Christmas gift of all  Cairdeas - an bronntana Nollag is fearr

Sonas agus siochain faoi Nollaig

From Irish Club~ Netherlands Board

RTE backed, Garage starring Pat Shortt is a story about a Petrol Station attendant in Ireland whose life changes over a summer.

Pat Shortt’s acting was recognised, with the award for Best Actor at the Monte Carlo Film Festival last weekend.

In Cannes it has won the CICAE award, and a Prix Coup de Coeur in Dinard France.

A Jury award was also won at the film festival de Chatenay Malabry, and the Grand Prix at the Film Festival de Cinessone.

Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport ?

30th November 2007
At the GAA European County Board Convention, being held in Budapest Hungary on 1st and 2nd December 2007, wording is being agreed to submit a motion to Ireland’s Annual GAA Congress to ‘pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport’.

The motion being submitted by the European County Board looks to establish an International Gaelic Games Federation. This Federation would drive the development of Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie across the globe. It would look for recognition as a sport from official authorities in countries where Gaelic Games are played, and pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport.

“This is just one of more than 75 Motions being discussed this weekend at the County convention of the European GAA County Board.” reports Siasy Collins editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

ECB Secretary Tony Bass of Maastricht Gaels explained that “Almost 30 clubs and one national federation …, over 600 men and 200 women played Gaelic Games on European soil during the year”

Chairperson of the ECB Eileen Jennings (Paris Gaels) is delighted “to welcome Helen O’Rourke (Ladies Football Association), Pat Toner (GAA Overseas Committee) and GAA club development personnel Con Hogan, Pat Fitzgerald and Kieran Leddy from Ireland and all European Club delegates to the 2007 ECB convention”
Delegates from every club arrive in Budapest Hungary for the weekend which comprises of a GAA Club Development Training Seminar, a Games Workshop, and the ECB Convention.

Follow a morning Training Seminar, the Convention opens at 16:30 on Saturday 1st December, with reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The election of 2008 officers and voting on ECB Motions continues on Sunday from 10:00.

European County Board (ECB) is an official Gaelic Athletics Association County, under Croke Park (Dublin, Ireland) and the Leinster Council, similar to Kilkenny County Board or Dublin County Board.
In fact, Killurin from Offaly ,  Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions  travel to The Netherlands next weekend December 8th and will take on County Europe – a team comprising hurlers from Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag, in the away final of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship.

Read More on European GAA at www.EuropeanIrish.com

Celtic Legends - France Irish Dance shows in Vichy, Montlucon, Clamecy, Cahors, Albi, Bressuire, Vannes, Reims, Morlaix

2007
Nov 27 03:00 pm Opera Vichy 
Nov 27 08:30 pm Opera Vichy 
Nov 28 08:30 pm Centre Athanor Montlucon 
Nov 29 03:00 pm Salle Polyvalente Clamecy 
Nov 29 08:30 pm Salle Polyvalente Clamecy 
Nov 30 08:30 pm Espace Valentre Cahors 
Dec 01 08:30 pm Scenith Albi 
Dec 02 05:00 pm Bocapole Bressuire 
Dec 02 02:00 pm Bocapole Bressuire 
Dec 06 08:30 pm Espace Avel Vor Plougastel 
Dec 07 08:30 pm Centre des Arts Concarneau 
Dec 08 08:30 pm Salle Sesame Morlaix 
Dec 09 04:00 pm Parc Expo le Chorus Vannes 
Dec 11 08:30 pm Centre des Congres Reims 
Dec 12 08:30 pm Espace Jean Beauchet Forges Les Eaux 
Dec 13 08:30 pm La Halle Aurillac 
Dec 14 08:30 pm Salle Oesia Notre Dame D’Oe 
Dec 16 04:00 pm Salle La Soucoupe Saint Nazaire 

2008

France

Mar 06 08:30 pm Salle Damremont Boulogne-Sur-Mer 
Mar 08 08:30 pm Zenith D’Orleans Orleans 
Mar 14 08:30 pm Theatre Municipal Denain 
Mar 18 08:30 pm Gare du Midi Biarritz 
Mar 22 08:30 pm Centre Culturel Ris-Orangis 
Mar 29 08:30 pm Tarmac Deols 
Mar 30 05:00 pm Cite des Congres Nantes 
Apr 02 TBA Salle de Spectacle Casino Arras 
Apr 03 08:30 pm Elispace Beauvais 
Apr 04 Cancelled Les Arenes Metz 
Apr 05 Cancelled Le Zenith Nancy Nancy 
Apr 11 08:30 pm Parc des Expositions Valence 
Apr 12 08:30 pm Le Capra Mejannes Les Ales 
May 21 08:30 pm Le Dome Marseille 
Nov 28 08:30 pm Parc des Expos Isle D’Espagnac 
Nov 29 08:30 pm Espace La Gare Fontenay Le Comte 
Nov 30 08:30 pm Palais des Congres Chasseneuil du Poitou

http://www.celticcafe.com

“The Gaelic Football Championship of Brittany (France) begins this weekend in Brest, at the Stade de Petit Kervu.” explained Gaetan Danet of Bro-Leon GAA Club.
“Teams from Rennes, Nantes and Sens de Bretagne will compete with Bro-Leon Brest Gaelic Footballers.”
There are 6 GAA clubs in all in Brittany: Bains sur Oust (35), Brest (29), Merdrignac (22), Nantes (44), Rennes (35) et Sens de Bretagne (35).

These clubs play and train weekly with have hardly any Irish players at all in each club.

Tournoi de Brest, samedi/Saturday 17 novembre 2007.
Starting at 14h until 18h.
The next round will be in Nantes in December,
Rounds 3 and 4 in Rennes and Sens de Bretagne, will be hosted in March and April of next year.

Good News is also of New Gaelic Football players in Monterfil, with a challenge match already planned between the new outfit and Nantes at the end of June next year.

Ministers have spoken in Irish 22 times at EU meetings since the language became an official one last January, while MEPs have used it about twice as often.

http://www.irishclub.be/display_news.php?ID=17

The European Commission Irish language website is up and running, however efforts to recruit at least 30 Irish language translators and interpreters at an annual cost of about E3.5 million have proven difficult.

There have been teething problems introducing the language to the European Union institutions over the last 10 months, Multi-lingualism Commissioner Leonard Orban is expected to tell representatives from a number of language organisations when they meet in Brussels today.
The meeting aims to assess how the integration of Irish as a working language is progressing within the different EU institutions and has been organised by MEP Sean O Neachtain, who is a native Irish speaker.

He said they would focus in particular on how recruitment of Irish interpreters, translators and jurist-linguists is proceeding.

There have been delays recruiting staff as few, if any, had the necessary qualifications to become a recognised EU translator of texts or interpreter of the spoken word.

This has been followed by a slow take-up of posts as some offered jobs did not want to move to Brussels while others just came for a short time on secondment.

There are also problems filling the posts of legal experts fluent in Irish who are required to translate complex text into Irish.

As a result, only those which are seen as essential texts are being translated.

A number of MEPs use Irish regularly including Jim Higgins, Proinsias De Rossa, Marian Harkin and Liam Aylward and Bairbre de Brun, a Sinn Féin MEP for Northern Ireland.

The Commission’s Irish language site is available at: http://europa.eu/index_ga.htm 

www.examiner.ie

The next production of The Irish Theatre Group Belgium - is ‘Quintessence’ , an evening of drama by two giants of the Irish written word: J. M. Synge & W. B. Yeats.

A young girl elopes with the man she loves and hopes to escape her destiny.

An old woman mourns her sons.
 

A suspicious husband sets a trap for his wayward wife.
 

Two tramps wander through a ruined house between time and eternity.

Join us and experience the hauntingly powerful quintessence of Irish drama from 27 November to December 1. Tickets cost 16 euros (or 12 euros for students or groups of 20 or more).
To book a ticket visit http://www.irishclub.be/display_events.php?ID=83

ILBA / German-Irish Lawyers and Business Assocation
————————————————–

New trilingual website:
www.german-irish-lawyers.org

A network of lawyers, tax consultants, accountants and businesses
active in both Ireland and Germany

GILBA organises events regarding business and law in the EU throughout
the year

Next event
———-

7th of Dec:
Lunch-time lecture with EU Commisioner Charlie McCreevy in the
Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7

Celtic Legends
30th November - Espace Valentre, Cahors, France, 8.30pm
22nd March 2008 - Centre Culturel, Ris-Orangis, France, 8.30pm
11th April 2008 - Parc des Expositions, Valence, France, 8.30pm
12th April 2008 - Le Capra, Mejannes Les Ales, France, 8.30pm
21st May 2008 - Le Dome, Marseille, France, 8.30pm

Rhythm of the Dance
27th February 2008 - Hugenottenhalle, Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 8pm

Riverdance
13th January 2008 - Cirkus, Stokholm, Sweden, 3pm

Tour Dates  on Celticcafe.com

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007

In its key debate next week, the European Parliament will discuss a paper on “The European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation“, which was presented to EU Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon summit last month.  The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will set out the Commission’s views on this issue before the MEPs will discuss and vote on a resolution on this topic.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South)

 http://www.europeanirish.com/Living/mep.htm

http://www.europeanirish.com/Living/mep.htm

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007
continued…

Soil Protection

Two reports on soil protection will be discussed in a joint debate in the European Parliament on Monday evening. Spanish MEP Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines will present a report on the first EU directive on soil protection and Italian MEP Vittorio Prodi will emphasise the need for a strategy on soil protection to combat floods, landslides, desertification and climate change in the EU.

At the moment, provisions relating to the EU’s policy on soil are divided between laws on waste, pesticides and nature protection.  The new law would combine all provisions relating to soil.  It would include the requirement to establish national inventories of contaminated sites, which would have to be updated at least every five years.  MEPs point to the additional potential benefit of regional inventories.  The law will also require that Member States put together strategies to improve the condition of such sites and identify key priorities for work in this area.  MEPs in the Parliament’s Environment Committee point to the need to ensure synergy between existing EU laws on ground water, nitrates, sewage sludge, waste and other areas.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Avril Doyle (FG - East)

Stocktaking on Social Reality in the EU

On Thursday morning, British MEP Elizabeth Lynne will present a report on behalf of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee which calls on EU Member States and on the European Commission to pursue “an ambitious objective of reducing poverty, especially among working people.”  In this report, MEPs point out that EU Member States should increase their efforts to reduce poverty and social exclusion. The report highlights the issues of disabled workers and those on the minimum wage, it calls for the prevention of exploitation of illegal workers, child poverty and points to the importance of education in tackling poverty and of the rehabilitation of prisoners.  MEPs also state that EU Member States should end asylum seekers’ dependence on benefits by allowing them to work.

16% of the EU’s workforce is disabled; 78 million EU citizens live in poverty and 8% of EU citizens are suffering from in-work poverty.  In general terms, the gap between rich and poor in the EU is increasing.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Marian Harkin ( Ind - North West );

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007 :

Include aviation sector in greenhouse gas emission trading scheme

On Monday evening, German MEP Peter Liese will present a report on behalf of the Parliament’s Environment Committee supporting the European Commission’s proposal to include aviation in the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), but calling for tougher CO2 emission limits and a stipulation that the ETS should include not just intra-EU flights, but also flights between the EU and third countries by 2010.

The greenhouse gases emitted by the European aviation industry increased by 87% in 2004 compared to 1990 levels. This increase is in stark contrast to the EU’s overall greenhouse gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol - 8%.  MEPs are arguing that ETS allowances for CO2 emissions should be limited to 75% of aircraft operators’ average annual emissions during 2004-2006 and not 100% as proposed by the European Commission.  MEPs propose that 50% of the emission permits should be allocated to aviation operators free of charge and that 50 % should be traded in the ETS in the initial stage. 

Irish MEPs on this issue: Avril Doyle (FG - East); Marian Harkin ( Ind - North West ); Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland )

http://www.europeanirish.com/Living/mep.htm

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007 :

More sport in schools to tackle child obesity

On Monday evening, Hungarian MEP Pál Schmitt and ex-olympic fencer will present a report on behalf of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee which points to the importance of sport in schools.  According to the Culture Committee’s study, the average time allocated by primary schools to physical education has fallen from 121 to 109 minutes and the number of children in the EU who are overweight or obese is estimated to be rising by more than 400,000 a year.  300,000 children are obese or overweight in Ireland .

The European Parliament’s report emphasises that physical education should be carried out together with information campaigns aimed at children and their parents on the need to adopt a health lifestyle and on the health risks linked to an unhealthy diet. MEPs also emphasise the need for better sports facilities and recommend using EU structural funds to create sports facilities in disadvantaged areas.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (FF - East); Kathy Sinnott ( Ind - South); Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin )

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007 :

• More sport in schools to tackle child obesity
  Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (FF - East); Kathy Sinnott ( Ind - South); Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin )
• An EU strategy for the Bali conference on Climate Change

  Irish MEPs on this issue: Avril Doyle (FG - East); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott ( Ind - South); Bairbre De Brún (SF - Northern Ireland )

• Soil Protection

  Irish MEPs on this issue: Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Avril Doyle (FG - East)

• Stocktaking on Social Reality in the EU
  Irish MEPs on this issue: Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South); Marian Harkin ( Ind - North West );
• The EU in the age of globalisation
  Irish MEPs on this issue: Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Proinsias De Rossa (Labour - Dublin ); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South)
• European Commission’s legislative and work programme for 2008.
  - Brian Crowley (FF - South); Mary Lou McDonald (SF - Dublin ); Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East);
• proposed new law on statistics in the areas of public health and health and safety at work
  - Avril Doyle (FG - East); Kathy Sinnott (Ind. - South)

Individual MEPs:

·         Brian Crowley (FF - South) will speak on the EU-Russia summit; he will also ask about measures to combat youth and long-term unemployment and the success of the new programme to combat drug importations from South America.

·         Jim Higgins (FG - North West ) will speak during the debate on the regional impact of earthquakes; he will ask the Commission about increasing road safety in developing countries and will ask the Council about the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

·         Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin ) will ask the European Commission about levels of cocaine abuse in the EU and the EU response to the problem; he will also ask if it is not time to increase financial support to Sierra Leone .

·         Mairéad McGuinness (FG - East) will make a one-minute speech on the lack of accredited laboratories for medical testing and on the current crisis regarding misdiagnosis of medical conditions in Ireland; she will ask the Commission about the Economic Partnership Agreements with ACP countries and will ask the Council about the liberalisation of postal services.

·         Colm Burke (FG - South) will ask about the reform agenda in Turkey following the elections there and will speak about the new EU telecoms package; he will also host a visit from a group of his constituents.

·         Liam Aylward (FF - East) will speak about nuclear energy programmes; he will ask the European Commission about participants in the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad; and he will also ask the Council of the EU what structures are being put in place to ensure greater coordination between the EU and the USA in the field of climate change.

·         Kathy Sinnott ( Ind - South) will ask about cross-border collective copyright management.

·         Gay Mitchell (FG - Dublin ) will speak during the debates on accounting standards in the EU and on giving implementing powers to the Commission in the field of Economic and Monetary Affairs; he will also ask the Commission about slums and development and ask the Council about non-EU financial services.

·         Seán Ó Neachtain (FF - North West) will ask the Council of the EU how it will ensure that Research and Development Funds will be available to regions on the EU’s periphery; he will also ask what initiatives are being pursued by the European Commission to promote primary education in the developing world; and he will speak about the issue of digital interactive services.

·         Avril Doyle (FG - East) will ask the Commission about the recognition of horse passports and will ask the Council about the EU nationals’ repatriation fund.

5-11 Nov Italy FESTIVAL DE CINE LATINO AMERICANO DE TRIESTE Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi 3 30175 Trieste
7-11 Nov Italy  INTERNATIONAL SHORTFILMFESTIVAL via Dante 12/c 39100 Bolzano
7-11 Nov Italy  INVIDEO - EXHIBITION OF VIDEO ART AND CINEMA BEYOND viale Vittorio Veneto 2 20124 Milano
10-24 Nov Italy  FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL CINEMA GIOVANE BELLINZONA – CAST
13-18 Nov Italy  INDEPENDENT FILM SHOW palazzo dello spagnuolo via Vergini, 19 80137 Naples
14-18 Nov Italy  I CASTELLI ANIMATI Corso Gramsci, 110 00045 Genzano
15-20 Nov Italy  INDEPENDENT FILM SHOW Via Calabritto 20 80122 Napoli
16-18 Nov Italy  FESTIVAL OF VIDEOTALES FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE TERRITORY Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto via Serralunga 27 13900 Biella
16-22 Nov Italy FESTIVAL DEI POPOLI Borgo Pinti 82/R 50121 Firenze
17-Nov Italy LO SGUARDO BIFRONTE - THE TWO-FACED GAZE ROME
17-25 Nov Italy ASIATICAFILMMEDIALE Via Garibaldi, 22 00153 Rome
19-24 Nov Italy INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Festival del Cortometraggio Via In Selci, 84/a 00184 Roma
21-26 Nov Italy  FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL CINEMA DI SALERNO Casella Postale 137 84100 Salerno
23-24 Nov Italy  HK. RIMUSICAZIONI FESTIVAL 39100 Bolzano
30-Nov - 3 Dec Italy CORTO IMOLA FESTIVAL Via Verdi, 140026 Imola (BO)
1-3 Dec Italy  A CORTO DI CINEMA via S. Gemma Galgani 55100 Lucca
1-5 Dec Italy  PANAFRICANA - ROME PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL Piazza Bartolomeo Romano, 8 00154 Rome
1-5 Dec Italy  POTENZA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Via dell’Ateneo 85100 Potenza
4-5 Dec Italy  COURMAYEUR- NOIR IN FESTIVAL VIA PANARO, 1700199 Rome
4-5 Dec Italy  MESSINA FILM FESTIVAL Piazza Immacolata di Marmo 4 98122 Messina

5-18 Nov Czech Republic  CZECH GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL MEZIPATRA Smejkalova 75 616 00 Brno
24-25 Nov Czech Republic  ANTI-ANTI-FEST 111 21 Prague 1

Anti-Anti-Fest is a festival showcasing short films in any medium except film. This is the third Anti-Film Festival. This event will also include a salon for anti-digital (film), and anti-moving image (still photography), making it an “Anti-Anti-Fest.”

The festival is open to the public
The festival has a competition

CZECH GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL MEZIPATRA November 2, 2007 / November 18, 2007 

Czech gay and lesbian film festival Mezipatra is a specialized competitive film festival that shows films dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

The festival is open to the public
The festival has a competition

Organiser 

Smejkalova 75

616 00 Brno

Czech Republic
Tel : +420 775 616 055
Fax : +420 549 212 728