The death of Ian Paisley brings back memories of a difficult time on this island, writes Fergus Finlay

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, on his trip to the USA, has promised to take up the cause of “the undocumented Irish” living and working in America. These are illegal immigrants.

Enda Kenny should not be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the altar of apology.

A lost documentary of the Rolling Stones’ short Irish tour in 1965 has been uncovered, says Joe McNamee, and it makes for astonishing viewing.

Tenants in receipt of rent supplement are being told they must negotiate a better deal with their landlords — or find a new place to live.

BEFORE the Ireland v Russia rugby world cup match over the weekend, it was announced that the national anthem of Ireland was about to be played.

Ireland – A History

STEVEN King’s version of recent political history in Northern Ireland, on the circumstances surrounding the resignation from office of former prime minister Terence O’Neill is at variance with fact (‘North needs an election to purge system on the brink of breakdown’, November 25)

GREAT news. Green shoots, at last. One of the key drivers of the Irish economy has officially emerged from recession. Yes, the Cassandras are back in business. What with bombs here and shootings there, the Troubles junkies can hardly believe their luck.

The question is: now that we no longer have the sound of gunfire ringing in our ears, can we see any more clearly how a period of history that began with 400 people gathering in Derry’s Duke Street ended with 3,500 lost lives?

IRELAND has more than 6,000 lakes and, according to author John Dunne, we don’t appreciate them. They are, he thinks, a neglected part of our heritage.

IN THE concluding sentence of his magisterial new history of Ireland from the French revolution to the present day, Professor Paul Bew wonders if, “as ethnic rage gives way to ethnic vanity, is it really possible that the enmities of Irish history are losing their power to hurt and destroy”?

IT was a year of hope in the North, with realistic signs of progress in that there was so little talk about ending partition. It was not even mentioned during the talks at St Andrews.

Although Jim Gray, former head of the Ulster Defence Association, was facing charges of money laundering, his murder should be unreservedly deplored.

THE final decommissioning of the IRA arms last weekend was not the first time the organisation has dumped its weapons.

THE Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has suggested that gardaí should serve in the North as a means of showing up the IRA.