In the midst of the crucial Good Friday Agreement discussions in 1998, Gerry Adams and David Trimble found themselves side by side in the toilets of Stormont. This accidental meeting has become a tale talked about over the years, however, there seems to be some discrepancy regarding the conversation that transpired while the two were taking care of necessary business.
Adams refutes the notion that he intentionally joined the Ulster Unionist Party leader in the toilet for a discrete chat. According to Adams, his famous words were, “How are you doing, David?” to which Trimble retorted, ‘Grow up,’ as they stood adjacent to each other.
However, Owen McCafferty’s theatre production, ‘The Agreement,’ portrays a different scenario. Here, the Adams character expresses, “So, this is where the big lads go,” on meeting Trimble, who responds similarly: “Grow up.”
The actual exchange, which might have affected the future of Northern Ireland, remains somewhat ambiguous. When probed about it during a post-performance Q&A on stage, Adams clarified that his opening line had been, “We have to stop meeting like this,” eliciting the ‘Grow up’ response from Trimble.
This version of events comes from Adams alone, given that Trimble passed away two years prior and was known for his discretion.
In other news, Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, known for mental adaptability since her breakout role in the film ‘Atonement’ in 2007, has raised local planner’s eyebrows. Her ambitious plans for a new residence in West Cork have been criticised for being too intrusive and out of sync with the surrounding scenery.
Dublin-born “Slow Horses” actor, Jack Lowden, recently wed Saoirse Ronan, and the newlyweds have made plans to establish their residence in Foilnamuck, in proximity to Ballydehob, west Cork. In 2020, the couple made a purchase of a home in this rural setting at a cost of €650,000. Not long thereafter, the duo applied for planning consent to tear down this property and erect a larger, more sizable abode spanning 332 square meters in its place.
A planning expert working alongside Ronan suggested the current building, lacking insulation, suffered several defects including leaks, cracks and possible woodworm, posing a fire risk. They outlined plans for the prospective property to possess an eco-friendly, modern-edge architectural design. Nonetheless, Cork County Council thwarted this proposition.
According to the council’s planners, the existing property blends seamlessly into its scenic, coastal surroundings. They expressed concerns that the proposed property, set on an elevated section of the plot, would distress the attractiveness of the locality, due to its “siting, scale, design, and mass”.
Meanwhile, uncertainty prevails at Dublin’s Southside legal firm, Thomas Montgomery & Sons, which ceased business last year, following the identification of a €1.7 million deficit in its client account. The previous week, two orders, amounting to €86,707 and €606,552 were served by the Revenue bureau against the Dún Laoghaire-based firm. At this juncture, neither of these orders has been resolved.
The late David Montgomery, the firm’s chief partner met a tragic end in Dún Laoghaire harbour in October 2022 during a period in which he was being scrutinised by the Law Society. The firm was established by David’s father, William Montgomery, who is implicated in the two Revenue orders.
Recently, at the High Court, claims were presented suggesting substantial amounts were due to a pension fund managed by David Montgomery on behalf of businessman Connie Kelleher, based in Foxrock. Allegations assert Montgomery ran a scheme using funds from Kelleher’s pension to provide loans with borrowed sums accruing interest, this allowed for reinvestment into the pension. Nonetheless, a staggering €618,834 deficit in the client account is now apparent.
The extravagant building ideas proposed by a wealthy individual with an interest in the Napoleonic era have suffered a setback.
Multimillionaire Louis Ronan senior from Tipperary, who amassed his wealth from the sale of BSE testing kits, invested last year over £3 million into a historic military construction, The Battery, in Sandycove, South Dublin. This was part of an island-wide defence against a Napoleonic invasion during the 1800s. However, securing approval to develop this protected site, which is situated on a rocky ledge overlooking the Forty Foot, could present a more formidable challenge than a Russian conquest.
Over the course of the summer, the senior Ronan put forth a proposition to augment the stone coastal defences with a modern addition. However, his proposals were contested by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and have since been torpedoed by the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The council decided that the plans were inappropriate for a protected and historically significant structure, stating it would adversely affect the site’s military history and contravene various terms of the county’s development plan.
Over on Grafton Street, there’s discord over construction noise. While complaints about noise from neighbours are standard during developmental projects, complaints about the impact on how residents enjoy their music are less common. However, buskers are up in arms. Among them are Andrew Glover and Andrew Kavanagh from the pop band Keywest, who initiated their careers on Grafton Street. They are protesting the blueprints for four high-end flats on the upper levels of buildings numbered 4-5 on Grafton Street. These buildings were purchased last year for £16 million by ex-Davy stockbrokers CEO Brian McKiernan, and Davy’s real estate branch manager, David Goddard.
Glover has expressed concerns that, just as in Temple Bar, buskers and local people on Grafton Street will likely encounter disputes over noise. Glover believes that Grafton Street is globally renowned for its street performers and that the vibrancy and culture brought by these musicians lure many tourists to Ireland each year. He anticipates that if roads like Grafton Street become residential, these street artists may find themselves without a stage to perform.
The ideas voiced by Kavanagh are reiterated, stating that talents like Gavin James, Dermot Kennedy, and U2 have procured global fame for street performances. Someone might be inspired to do a rendition of Where the Streets Lack Buskers next?
Sabina Higgins embraces a uniquely fluffy position
Interesting news circulated last week, capturing our attention when it was announced that Sabina Higgins, married to President Michael D Higgins, has assumed the role of patron for a group known as Wool in School. Evidently, the First Lady will encourage the young ones to develop interest in knitting and appreciate wool for being a natural and sustainable product.
If Higgins, who is an actress and campaigner, is pondering over what knitting project to suggest to children, she can find inspiration in her rather unique husband. After all, he’s the source behind the creation of a series of dolls named Michael D, as well as a beloved assortment of Michael “Tea” tea cosies.