For those who were unable to attend the 2010 Dublin LGBTQ Pride ‘Ceremony of Love and Remembrance’ you can listen to the memorial celebration by clicking below
Ceremony 2010
This is a full recording of the ceremony, please forgive the traffic noise in the background at times.
It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony. As someone who lost someone close to me during a very dark period of my life this ceremony helped to give me some closure, and to remember with warmth someone I really loved.
The choir is Gloria – Ireland’s award winning Gay and Lesbian Choir.
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Today I learnt a very valuable lesson – never give your laptop to a stranger.
I was in Starbucks in Dublin enjoying a signature hot chocolate before I went to work. Just as I finished I stood up to close down my laptop and a gentleman beside me asked if he could quickly check his gmail as he was waiting for an important email. I thought nothing off it, logged out of my gmail and handed him my macbook. Read the rest of this entry »
How many of these people would be happy to make a positive contribution?
I was speaking at a higher education conference this week called ‘Re-inventing the University’ which was jointly hosted by Dublin City University and Arizona State University (ASU). The conference itself was highly informative and some revoluntionary concepts for higher education were discussed.
The ASU President Michael Crow delivered an excellent paper on the formulae ASU has used to transform the university and make a difference in both education and the lives of citizens of Arizona state. My initial paper was scrapped by me immediately after hearing President Crow’s speech. He had got me thinking about turning things on their heads in order to effect change and positively reform the system. I was the learner representative at the conference – but not made feel like most learner reps do – some very stimulating conversation was had with senior members of management from ASU and indeed within the Irish higher education sector. Read the rest of this entry »
In light of the rumors surrounding a Cóir demonstration at this years Dublin Pride parade which is scheduled to take place I spoke with Oisín O Reilly, chairperson of the Dublin Pride Committee 2010.
The rumors have been circulating for over a week and Susie at Maman Poulet first blogged about it. The Dublin Pride Committee have received two independent tips that Cóir are planning a demonsteration at this years parade. As Susie points out – there are often very small indivdual protests and one group who blesses the route of the parade after it finishes but Cóir have never demonstrated against it before.
Independent from this I have also heard that the Campaign for Conscience is also planning its own protest.
Oisín O Reilly gave me a short interview and had this to say:
There are unconfirmed reports that there might be a counter demonstration or protest at this years Pride Parade.
As part of the normal planning process for each Pride Festival we continually liaise with the Gardaí and other agencies and we shall raise the matter with them in the course of normal planning.
We are disappointed that anyone would protest at our celebration of equality, diversity and our commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, however, we respect everyones right to have an opinion and protest.
I understand at this point no additional training has been given to volunteers as the size of any protest has not been substantiated.
Image: The Irish Times
The President of NUI Maynooth has resigned to take up the post of Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University in Wales. His resignation takes effect from Sept. 30. A Governing Authority of NUI Maynooth has begun the process of recruiting his successor.
In Professor Hughes’ six years as President, NUI Maynooth has been transformed into one of the most successful research-led institutions in Ireland. He has overseen the tripling of research income (from €10 million in 2004 to €34 million in 2009) and since 2008 NUI Maynooth has topped the league table inIreland for research income per academic.
The University has doubled in size to over 8,000 students. At undergraduate level, NUI Maynooth’s number of CAO first preferences has increased by more than 50% since 2005 and average entrance points have risen from under 400 points to 425 in the same period. Postgraduate student numbers have increased by more than 50%, to 1,800 and the number of foreign students has risen significantly. The University was named Sunday Times “University of the Year” in 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
