The Media

Purpose Driven Media

Agitate, Educate, Organise...the schedule is filled with local voices talking about local issues,

Talking about the things that sometimes we are afraid to talk about.

The Media as Propaganda an observation by Jeffrey Kelly

Contemporary use of the media machine in my view relates to no more than it's latter day initiates set forth to achieve.

When the 'erstwhile propagandist Joseph Goebbles woke up one morning and decided enough was enough and would avenge his mediocre existence and abnormal physical attributes; for someone who historically purported himself to be amongst the chosen few that is, on a world still sleeping. The story of modern day media coverage began.

I failed miserably in my thesis at the East London Polytechnic in attempting to prove that Joseph Goebbles reincarnated, as the Australian puppeteer and media mogul Rupert Murdoch the owner of the skies.

I felt a smug relief as I wandered out of the college that day; a miserable failure to all about me, into the bright London sunshine, got drunk and spent the next five years of my life in love with Italy and life.

My sojourn in Matera housed by a group of local anarchist's bent on the reconstruction of the catacombs that lay abandoned for ages past, in pursuit of a more fertile existence in the green fields of the valley that lay below the volcanic rock formation that had somehow become my adopted homestead, ended as abruptly as it had begun.

When her fiancée in true Sicilian style discovered he had been the victim of circumstance and along with a little help from his friends chased me from the borders of my adopted world.

But I digress...

Delve into the darker side of community in conversation with Jeffrey Kelly presents...

Modern day Ireland do we deserve the traditional tag...the friendly Isle? Alcoholism and drug dependence...how does it affect the individual and the community?  Unemployment and homelessness...the way forward for future generations? Politics and crime our 'dual' society...are the forces of law and order on behalf of the Irish people pursuing  a lost cause? Violence and murder on the street  and in the home...can there truly be 'peace' in our time? Immigration Fáilte go h-Eireann a review of the strange and ironic Irish phenomenon of the influx of people into this country. Examine these issues discussed openly by the experts and that of individual experience that may just help you - dismantle then cross the borders in your own mind

Listen to a Irish travellers tale via the streaming broadcast of DECEMBER 19th 2000+6

STREAMING - Part One

STREAMING - Part Two

Listen to a Irish travellers tale via the streaming broadcast of DECEMBER 19th 2000+6

ThankU to the contributing Artists: Shaz OYE, Madeline, ThugsatBay, Charly O'Connor, Christy Moore, Susan Werner, Monique Barry & Ariana Nasr, Valerie St Germain & Hazel O'Connor

Please light a candle for all Victims past, present, and in the future days

Addendum:

My Poster this week depicts:Sea/salt water injection experiment being conducted on a member of the Rom community...by a bunch of complete arseholes...circa: 194?...onwards. The guys on the left are strolling on theRoad to their own demise...

What our politicians think: Courtesy of the Irish Times.

Mr O'Keeffe said: Fine Gael never comments on individual cases.

But we have consistently made the argument that when confronted with intruders on their own property the sides of justice should be tilted in the owners favour.

His party colleague Mayo TD Michael Ring said: He was delighted with the ruling, and also said: The issue was not about Travellers.

Mr Nally was a man living in fear and Mr Ring hoped the verdict sent out a message to those trying to pick on vulnerable people in rural areas that people have the right to protect their property.

Mayo Independent TD Beverley Flynn said: she welcomed the decision, but said that Mr Ward's shooting had been tragic for everyone involved, and the Wards had lost a father and husband.

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, John Carty, said: he plans to raise the matter at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting after Christmas.

I do think legislation needs to be looked at, he said: We were always told a man's home is his castle and a lot of people are going in now and robbing and taking property.

This is very worrying for people in rural areas. He welcomed Mr Nally's acquittal. I hope he gets on with his life now and that he is left in peace.

Headlines courtesy of RTE News: Nally found not guilty of manslaughter: Thursday, 14th December 2006

The Co Mayo farmer Padraig Nally has been found not guilty of the manslaughter of John 'Frog' Ward in October 2004.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court delivered its verdict this evening after three days of deliberations.

Mr Nally, 62, of Cross, Claremorris, Co Mayo, had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of John Ward at Mr Nally's farmhouse in Cross on 14 October 2004.

Mr Ward, with an address at Carrowbrowne Halting Site in Galway, died after being shot twice with a single barrel shotgun and beaten [20 times] with a stick.

Yesterday Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins told: the jurors. They could return a majority verdict, saying: He would accept a majority verdict from not less than ten of them for an acquittal or a conviction.

Press Release: Courtesy of Pavee Point: Nally Acquittal Thursday, 14th December 2006.

Pavee Point is deeply concerned at the implications of the acquittal of farmer Padraig Nally in today’s retrial for the manslaughter of John Ward.

Pavee Point believes that today’s judgement will significantly undermine the belief of Travellers that they can get a fair trial in Ireland.

Pavee Point believes that it is difficult to see how a fair minded jury could acquit Nally on the basis of the evidence that showed that John Ward was killed by a shot in the back as he was departing Nally’s farm, after he had been beaten 20 times by a wooden plank and after he had already been shot.

The outcome of this re-trial sends out a message to all the Traveller community in Ireland that it is acceptable to kill a Traveller who is perceived to be trespassing or ‘up to no good’.

The question that needs to be asked is that if John Ward was not a Traveller, would Padraig Nally be walking free tonight?

There is considerable dismay among Travellers this evening and the thoughts of many are with Marie Ward and her 11 children who have lost a husband and a father.

Pavee Point has consistently condemned anti social and criminal behaviour from any quarter.

Pavee Point has also consistently condemned people who take the law into their own hands, whether this is Travellers or members of the settled community.

Pavee Point is concerned that as a result of this judgement there is now a green light to people taking the law into their own hands and that any Traveller who is entering a premises for legitimate or illegitimate purposes can no longer be expected to be afforded fair consideration and/or protection by the law.

Further information: Martin Collins/Ronnie Fay/Terry Battles 01 8780255

Statement from Marie Ward wife of the victim December 14, 2006

John Ward, was a loving husband and father to us, his wife and eleven children.
We have to live with the fact that John will never return to us.
Our lives will never be the same after his death.
The law should not allow Padraig Nally, the man who took my husband’s life, to walk free.
No one has a right to take someone else’s life away.
Whenever I or my children go out on to the street we feel people are staring at us.
This is a very uncomfortable experience.
Padraig Nally killed my husband.
My husband was the victim.
My husband’s untimely death has been difficult for me and my children to cope with.
We must try now and rebuild our lives and we would ask the media to respect our privacy in what is a very upsetting and emotional time for us.

Jeffrey Kelly for Jeffrey Kelly presents...offers... heartfelt condolences to Ms Marie Ward at the loss of her husband and their beloved children.

And the wish that Mr John Ward my find peace...at last.

Candlelight Vigil Outside the Fourcourts Dublin, 3.00pm December 19th

Time for Reflection, Silent Vigil

Travellers are organising a candlelight vigil outside the Fourcourts 3pm on Tuesday the 19th of December to highlight their sense of isolation as Irish citizens, their hurt at the level of abuse that they have endured in recent times with regards to negative public feedback and some media coverage of the acquittal of farmer Padraig Nally.

The vigil will also highlight Traveller’s lack of confidence in the institutions of the State to afford them equal protection under the law. The concern now is that it is acceptable to treat Travellers in a sub-human way thus reinforcing negative stereotypes of Travellers as something to be feared.

The message on this day is one of disappointment in a society that does not value Travellers’ lives. There is an urgent need for increased proactive work to promote and embrace diversity.

Travellers call for acceptance and respect for their small community. They have asked those who support their struggle for equality to join them in solidarity on the day to send a strong message that this injustice needs to stop.

For further information please contact:Margaret Carr, Galway Traveller Movement 087-2188834/Martin Collins Pavee Point Travellers Centre 0879898819

Terry Battles: Information Officer Pavee Point 0868274598.