IN the Civil War, Irish Free State soldiers tied republicans to bombs and blew them to pieces.

IT IS becoming increasingly obvious that all parties will squander the opportunities for change that now abound both here and abroad.

ONE aspect of political reform that has escaped any examination so far is the use, overuse and misuse by the government of the plethora of consultants, lawyers, special advisors, spin-doctors, public relations experts, estate agents and so on.

ON a recent Saturday on a ferociously wet and windy day I was boarding the 5.45pm train from Killarney to Banteer. I had an overloaded buggy and a toddler in tow, when I heard a voice behind me asking did I want help with the buggy. I gratefully thanked the young man and gladly accepted his help.

SERIOUS concerns are emerging about the potential squandering of billions of euro of Irish citizens money and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, as a result of the sale of Quinn Insurance.

FORCING everyone to learn a language for the purposes of cultural enlightenment is a rather blunt tactic that breeds indifference.

GIVEN that the Tutankhamun exhibition is due to open at the RDS next week I thought I might share a little-known fact with you and your readers.

REPORTS that China is poised to invest as much as $10 billion in Zimbabwe are very disturbing, but unfortunately they come as no surprise.