Derry Journal - Columnists Feed

Week 10 - Not the end just a new beginning

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:02:09 GMT

Well, I did it. Biggest Loser ended last night with a Train the Trainer session which allowed us losers to wreak revenge on the trainers who have pushed us to our limits over the course of the last ten weeks.

Pub talk punditry - if you can shout it at the TV, say it on TV!

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:41:20 GMT

After a game in Ballybofey several years ago, Colm O’Rourke and I were getting stuck into the referee for awarding Donegal a penalty, when O’Rourke opined that, “small men can’t referee big matches”. The next day, then GAA president Nicky Brennan publicly demanded an apology. He pointed out gravely that the referee was doing his best and concluded his remarks by saying, “I expect an apology next Sunday”. The thought had never occurred to me before then that lads shooting the breeze about football were being taken so seriously.

The joy of the TV series box set

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:39:16 GMT

On any given morning of the week, the talk among reporters in this particular newsroom will work it s way round to the box set or tv series of the moment.

Week 9: The good, the bad and the very ugly

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:56:25 GMT

Let me tell you a story about your local friendly neighbourhood reporter and their jaunt out of the office to buy a salad at lunchtime.

Misinéirí radacacha

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:45:55 GMT

Tá an Eaglais Chaitliceach in Éirinn i ngéarchéim gan amhras.

Those exam horrors still haunt my dreams

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:44:37 GMT

It’s sunny outside (or at least it was at the time of writing this column) so it must mean one thing and one thing only - exam season.

We belong to a bigger family in the Church

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:43:30 GMT

Last weekend I celebrated the occasion of First Holy Communion in the parish.

Class is permanent....hamstrings are not!

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:10:57 GMT

Dungiven’s 1987 championship winning team played our ‘97 champions at O’Cathain Park on Saturday evening. Arranged by the lads to mark my transplant, it didn’t occur to anyone that the event might put a strain on our already hard pressed organ donation system.

Scenes of a sexual nature, bad language and Ulster-Scots

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:41:25 GMT

A new play at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre is called Can’t Forget About You by David Ireland.

Monaghan Bus Station

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:27:11 GMT

In my life, I’ve encountered few buildings grimmer than the one which houses Monaghan Bus Station.

Week 8: Time for drastic measures?

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:22:53 GMT

The ten week programme that is Biggest Loser is starting to draw to a close. I was going to say “wind down” but that is far from the truth - as the final weigh in and measuring session looms I’ve decided to push things as hard as I can towards the finish line.

Editorial - One step forward, two steps back

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:59:33 GMT

Once again the failure to effectively deal with the issues of the past has threatened to stall progress in the political process.

Double standards alive and on Facebook

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:46:52 GMT

Last week, during the course of a fairly lighthearted conversation a friend christened me with the nick-name ‘Goldenboobs’ - a play, of course on David Beckham’s infamous nick-name.

Moladh le CCEA - leabhair iontacha

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:45:25 GMT

Tá séasúr na scrúduithe ann arís. Beidh díomá ar dhaltaí áirithe agus beidh áthas ar dhaltaí eile. Beidh imní an tsaoil ar thuismitheoirí. Beidh a lán gearán ann gan amhras. B’fhéidir go mbeidh níos mó gearán ann i mbliana toisc go gceartófar scrúduithe áirithe ar líne agus is cinnte go mbeidh fadhbanna ghearradh fiacal ann. Ach tá níos mó in obair an Bhord Scrúduithe sa Tuaisceart (CCEA) ná ullmhúchán agus ceartúchán scrúduithe. Foilsíonn sé treoracha do mhúinteoirí agus do dhaltaí maidir le scrúduithe, ach chomh maith leis sin cuireann sé amach ábhair bhreise a chuireann le stór focal an dalta ar bhealach cruithaitheach. D’fhoilsigh sé dhá aistriúchán ar na mallaibh - ‘Anne Frank, Dialann Cailín Óig’ agus ‘An gasúr a chaith pitseamaí stríocacha’. Rinne Pádraig de Bléine an dá aistriúchán go Gaeilge ghlan bhlasta. Tá sraith de bheathaisnéisí foilsithe ag an Bhord chomh maith- ábhar léitheoireachta do dhéagóirí atá de dhíth. Agus tá CCEA i ndiaidh sé leabhrán faoi bheatha Cholm Cille a chur amach i gcomhoibriú leis an Nerve Centre i nDoire. Leabhair bheaga an-tarraingteacha atá iontu. Tá na pictiúir ar fheabhas. Insítear na scéalta i nGaeilge shimplí bheomhar agus tá an stíl thar a bheith greannmhar.Má thiontaíonn tú na leabhráin bunoscionn, faigheann tú an leagan Béarla. Is polasaí fadcheannach é seo. Tá riachtanais na ndaltaí Gaeilge difriúil leis na riachtanais atá ag daltaí a dhéanann teangacha eile. An chéad chéim in athsheilbh na teanga atá sa GCSE. Mar sin de, is cóir cur leis an bhunGhaeilge atá de dhíth don scrúdú. Is ullmhúchán iontach é do AS agus A Leibhéal an t-ábhar breise seo. Tá pobal léitheoireachta níos leithne tuillte ag na leabhair seo. Bheadh suim iontu ag daltaí ar fud an oileáin agus ag daoine fásta gach uile áit. An dtiocfadh leis an Bhord socrú a dhéanamh le foilsitheoir?

Why life is all about the luck of the draw

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:45:10 GMT

There was a great buzz around the town on Friday afternoon.

Praise, condemnation or flattery . . none of it matters to Guru Jim!

Fri, 31 May 2013 08:56:17 GMT

Six-thirty, St Eunan’s pitch, Letterkenny, Tuesday, May 28th May. The Donegal squad arrive at training having destroyed Tyrone only to find that Jim is very, very unhappy. If they thought pats on the back were due, they were soon disabused of the notion.

Hamill’s Beats - The trouble with ‘mad, swivel-eyed loons’

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:06:53 GMT

What about the “mad, swivel-eyed loons”? Insults aren’t generally to be admired but as insults go, it’s a cracker.

Eamonn McCann - Council chief has questions to answer

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:03:35 GMT

Over a period of months, this column has raised a series of questions about the organisation of City of Culture. Perhaps we will have answers this afternoon.

Meet the expected new Manchester City boss!

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:36:32 GMT

MANUEL Pellegrini, if recent Press reports are to believed, is to be the new supremo at Manchester City.

Foyle Cup is for life not just for meeting sports stars

Mon, 27 May 2013 09:50:12 GMT

As soon as players like Darron Gibson and James McClean start to make inroads in the English Premiership politicians, business men and women and other leading figures are almost falling over themselves to be seen photographed with them.