Corrupt politicians always ruled Ireland

Garrett Fitzgerald

I hold no brief for Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, but the fact that he was found guilty of corruption by a tribunal, not a court, does weigh in my opinion of him.

Allegations not proven in court but made in the course of an inquiry, where the defendant has no day in court to mount a defense, weaken the very nature of justice.

Was Ahern corrupt?  Very likely, but we’ll never know as a jury of his peers has never considered the matter.

The Irish tribunals were a farce. Many believe they were conceived in order to give politicians who ordered them up enough time in power to get their jobs done, money stolen and only worry about the consequences later.

But the fact is that Ahern was a symptom, not the root of corruption in Ireland. The father of the Irish state Eamon de Valera stole the money he raised in America from Irish expats and used it to start the Irish Press Newspaper Group, which became the basis of his family fortune.

The One True Holy and Apostolic Ireland de Valera created was where God and Mammon lived side by side, pockets got filled and souls got saved or discarded by whatever means necessary as long as the power elite in business, church and politics got theirs.

It was to hell, or America or Britain, with the rest of the suffering idiots formerly called the citizenry.

Some politicians held up as beacon lights of probity proved not to be.

There are few more revered in retrospect than former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald, yet consider the following from the RTE website in 1999:

“Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald has confirmed that AIB and Ansbacher wrote off debts of almost £200,000 that he owed them six years ago. He was in financial difficulties at the time because of the collapse of the aircraft leasing company, GPA, in which he was a shareholder. Dr. FitzGerald was quoted in today’s Examiner newspaper as pointing out that the write off occurred after he had left politics. He insisted that no favors were asked or given.”

I find the last line especially hilarious. No favors were given? What is a £200,000 write off in 1999 -- close to $600,000 in today’s money?

Now if you replaced the name FitzGerald with Ahern there would be consternation and  damnation all over the place. At last! Proof that Bertie had his hand in the till!

Yet there was no investigation of FitzGerald’s miraculous loan write off, no calls for an inquiry.

When it comes to corruption in Ireland no one was clean or safe. Not the founder of the state de Valera, the most “honest” politician FitzGerald, or the longest serving taoiseach Ahern.

Add in the various golden circles that surrounded most of the Irish political leaders and you have a fair old recipe for corruption and graft on a massive scale.

Ahern did powerful work on the Irish peace process which is why I will always temper my criticism of him.

In a corrupt society he was just one of many. The hands in the till fumbling for the greasy pence were at it long before he began. He just happened to get caught.

Reflections on reaching one million unique readers monthly on Irish Central

A screen grab from IrishCentral's launch day.

Dear Reader;

I've started five publications in my life, all of them survived, but none cost me as much anxiety and stress as IrishCentral.

The others were magazines and newspapers, arenas I knew well, and the fundamentals were the same with all.

IrishCentral was the opposite, a complete leap in the dark into an arena I only dimly understood, full of technology terms and new delivery methods that made my head spin.

I was in my mid fifties, stuck in my ways, barely able to turn on my laptop and the new arena looked like a battlefield against unknown and powerful forces to me.

In the early days, back in 2009, I was seriously worried I would ever get the hang of it.

We had picked wisely in one respect however, a staff that were utterly dedicated to ensuring that it would survive.

In those early days I wondered myself.

It is only three years but that is a lifetime in Internet terms.

In those times we kept plugging away convinced our vision of a multi media site for the Irish Diaspora would work out.

Some others had tried but had foundered.

What we had was our other publications, Irish Voice, Irish America Magazine, Home and Away and the collective wisdom about the Irish in America we shared .

We also knew that irrespective of the medium the fundamentals applied. Good stories, well written, well packaged is the lifeblood of any successful media operation no matter what medium.

We started with 4,000 people a day,coming to the site then it rose to 10,000, then 15, then 20, then 30 and now averaging 35,000 a day which is over one million a month now and still growing.

One million uniques is the magic number which says you have arrived the experts say, a place only 5 per cent of sites ever reach, the moment when you go from hopeful to confident.

In a business where nine out of ten start-ups fail it is a gratifying sight.

I learnt so much. I learnt to read the Google analytics chart which is the bible of this business like an old pro. Google lets you know hour by hour who is coming to your site, how many, what they are reading and how long they stay.

Then there's Chartbeat, which lets you know literally, second by second, who is coming to your site, whether they are reading or writing, where in the world they are coming in from.

It is an instant feedback world, one I could never have imagined when I purchased my first typewriter in 1979 in San Francisco and went about putting out my first newspaper with all of $938 dollars.

The world has changed so much since that I feel as if I'm on an unfamiliar ocean on a voyage to God knows where.

But it is wonderful too, to test and challenge yourself every day, to push the envelope of your knowledge and to learn new tricks, even when some days you feel like the oldest dog in the kennel.

With age truly does come wisdom of sorts, especially in a job like this. It the kind of wisdom that allows you to understand that doing your level best is the best you or anyone else can do and to hell with the begrudgers after that.

But it also gives you the gift of gratitude to so many readers for supporting this site, to the investors and advertisers who keep it alive and to a wonderful staff who give it everything every day.

So here's to the next monthly 2 million and the 3 million after that. The internet is an unbroken journey without end ,with new terrain every day and a far distant mountain always waiting to be climbed.

Thanks for being along for the ride .

Slainte.
Niall

Irish"horrified" by Irish Americans on St.Pat's claims Trina Vargo of US-Ireland Alliance -- Irish "laugh at the Yanks" she says as she seeks funds

Enda Kenny and Barack Obama

Irish leader Enda Kenny has been slammed for giving President Barack Obama a certificate of Irishness at the White House on Tuesday night by Trina Vargo, head of US Ireland Alliance.

The alliance is funded in large part by the Irish taxpayer, which sends 12 students a year to Ireland on Mitchell Scholarship programs.

“The shop in Shannon Airport must have been out of leprechaun dolls and chunks of the auld sod,” Vargo wrote.

Kenny serves on the honorary board of the organization.

She also stated Irish Americans "horrified" Irish people during the St.Patrick’s period and that Irish people were secretly laughing at them.

The organization is down to receive $20 million in matching funding from hard-pressed Irish taxpayers over the next few years and Vargo is currently circulating a congressional petition seeking to have the American taxpayer pay an additional $5 million in order to trigger more Irish taxpayer money.

Former senator George Mitchell is lobbying members on Capitol Hill strongly for the money.

Staffers for one leading Irish American politician on Capitol Hill has strongly criticized the manner in which Mitchell has gone about lobbying directly for the funds .

“George Mitchell is a hero of the peace process but he is damaging his reputation strong arming politicians on this” one irate staffer stated.

Kenny presented the certificate to Obama, who has Irish roots, as the center piece of his remarks at an event attended by 300 leading Irish Americans and praised the role of Irish Americans in helping Ireland over the generations.

Vargo however, stated that Irish Americans were a disgrace. “ During this week it is always people from Ireland and Northern Ireland who tell me how horrified they are by the shamrockery, and they’re right, it’s embarrassing. "
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"The Irish are just so grateful for the attention that they grit their teeth, take it, and then laugh at the Yanks at the end of the night. Ireland gives us what they think we want and clearly some still do.”

Questions have long been asked about the Mitchell Scholarship funding by Irish American groups give the director's strong antipathy to Irish American organizations..

In addition, there seems little evidence that any of the scholars contribute back to Ireland as was long the contention of the organization.

Vargo's salary funded by Irish and American taxpayers is $175,000 and she also hosts a glitzy Hollywood event her organization splashed out a total of $1.2 million on over five years.

Please, let's keep political correctness out of Saint Patrick's Day -- Pressure mounts to make it about more than just the Irish in America

NYPD Emerald Society marching band in the St Patrick's Day parade in New York (Chang Lee/New York Times)

Political correctness is making its move on St. Patrick’s Day I fear.

There were two articles over the weekend, one in The New York Times, the other The Irish Times, making the same point.

We need to be more inclusive and St. Patrick’s Day should become less Irish and more of an opportunity for all immigrants to celebrate.

To which I say, hooey.

Here are just two extracts.

This from Dr. James Flannery of Emory University in Atlanta in The Irish Times.

It was entitled "St Patrick's Day celebrates the role of all US migrants."

“My hope is that some day the celebration of St Patrick’s Day in Atlanta will become a genuine multicultural holiday, with every year a different ethnic group honored at the head of the parade.

“Imagine a St Patrick’s Day parade that, over time, included Chinese dragons, Mexican mariachi bands, Caribbean steel drummers and Korean acrobats, all marching alongside green-clad Irish pipers and step dancers.”
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I must mention that Jim Flannery is a dear friend of long standing, an inspirational figure in Ireland where he staged the Yeats Cycle of Plays at the Abbey Theater and introduced an unknown young composer called Bill Whelan later of “Riverdance” fame, to the world.

For decades he has been a bastion of Irish culture and influence in the south.

But on this occasion I respectfully disagree with him.

The second piece was in The New York Times with the same gist.

“This March 17, on this side of the water, we ought to be celebrating immigration, not just Irishness," writes the author Peter Behrens.

“It’s About Immigrants Not Irishness” was the title of the piece, which says it all.

It is suddenly becoming fashionable to recast the March 17th holiday as a one size fits all day that we can celebrate all immigrants.

But that is neither the history nor the intent of the day from time immemorial.

I embrace Martin Luther King Day for what it is, a celebration of an incredible American, who did for his risen people what no leader before him could do.

When you look at Barack Obama you know it could never have been possible without MLK.

I don’t want to interject an Irish element to Martin Luther King Day, as that would, frankly, be ridiculous.

It’s a day for African Americans to celebrate their success.

I feel the same about Puerto Rican Day here in New York and love the mariachi bands and the free and open atmosphere of their parade, so different to what we have on St. Patrick’s Day.

One year I remember the Grand Marshal was an Elvis impersonator -- that's not something you'll ever see on March 17th I assure you!

Good for them.

Equally, I don’t want to demand that we walk too in that parade, nor in the Israeli Day or the Polish Day or German Day parades that are such a feature of our American summers.

Some years back I went to the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. It was brilliant, exotic and different.

An Irish pipe band among the exploding firecrackers would have looked and sounded ridiculous.

The Irish have a right to their day too, the celebration of the rise from the coffin ships to the White House, the flowering of a culture and a history that has given much to this country.

I love that other nationalities love St. Patrick’s Day, that they clearly have a great day out of it too, that the streets are packed for the spring ritual that rivals Mardi Gras.

But let’s not have a multicultural Saint Patrick’s Day.

That defeats the very notion of what this country is all about “E Pluribus Unum,” from all, one, each separate but together as a nation.

So with due respect to Doctor Jim and the writer Mr. Behrens I say, let’s keep the Irish front and center on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Let's enjoy our different histories, not try and mesh them.

Some Irish need not apply at Obama White House St.Patrick's Bash -- Grumblings as re-election committee grabs prime tickets

It is the most coveted ticket in Irish America, the invaluable access to the Obama White House for the annual St.Patrick’s Day event honoring the Irish Prime Minister.

This year there are many disappointed faces.

Many who have been invited in previous years, including some significant leaders in key re-election states, have been left empty-handed.

It has caused no end of consternation and surprise, especially in an election year when a key constituency like Irish Americans is usually strongly courted.

Indeed, key leaders in many leading organizations have had their stipend cut from two to one, leaving many spouses baffled after they had been on the guest list for several years.

As any couple will tell you hell hath no fury like a spouse scorned and White House personnel have been hearing it hot and heavy over the past week from disappointed significant others.

The culprit appears to be the President’s re-election committee who have bagged many of the Irish invites and shuffled them to big party backers who are only too glad to take part in a White House event, Irish or not.

The upshot has been a similar occurrence to the very first year of the Obama White House in 2009 when old Chicago buddies and other key constituency leaders made it over stalwart Irish names.

That caused such a firestorm that the following year it was Cead Mile Failte to one and all and it has been that way ever since-- until this year.

There were murmurings this week when the British Prime Minister David Cameron had a state dinner in the usual St. Patrick’s slot at the White House. The fact that their joint op-ed in The New York Times did not even mention their joint success at helping solve the issue of Northern Ireland was also noticed.

Ireland and Irish America it seems is relegated to the annual St.Patrick’s shindig, except now, with many being refused invites, even that may not be the case.

It seems a trifle foolish given that Pennsylvania, Ohio and other key states all have large Irish Catholic constituencies which are key swing votes.

The Obama folk should really pay more attention.

Irish Power, Irish Politics - Congressman Joe Crowley and the Irish political machine

Joe Crowley

New York Congressman Joe Crowley’s 50th birthday bash at Sidetracks Irish bar and restaurant in Queens was packed to the gills on Sunday afternoon.

The amiable Joe was where he likes to be best, up on stage with his band, blasting out rock and roll and old Irish standards and meeting and greeting hundreds of supporters.

Speaking of wonderful old Irish standards, his evergreen mother, Eileen, from Co. Armagh was able to sing with the best of them, belting out “The Boys From the County Armagh.”

Joe is about number four in the pecking order for Democrats in the House right now and could well be speaker someday. Nancy Pelosi is not getting younger, and Joe would be a major player when she leaves.

Not that he doesn’t hold power now. He is the King of Queens, the boss of the Queens Democratic Party, the last great political machine in New York politics.

It is thanks to Crowley and his mentor/predecessor Tom Manton that this is the case. They have an old fashioned Irish sense of discipline and power broking that this fractured city could do with on many levels.

It is fashionable to knock political machines these days, but in an era when politics is as corrupt as ever and nothing ever seems to get done the old style politics, which produced heroic men like Franklin Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt and others, looks better and better.

If Christine Quinn becomes mayor of New York City, as she is favorite to do next year, it will be because the Queens machine picked her out of relative obscurity and made her speaker of the New York City Council. How many Irish and lesbian major city bosses have we seen in history?

Also present on Sunday to pay homage to Joe was the ubiquitous Senator Chuck Schumer, who never seems to tire of flesh pressing, glad handing and boosting his native city.

Fresh from marching in several St. Patrick’s parades, with more to come, Schumer, the third ranked leader in the Senate, mixes a brilliant blend of local know how and bonhomie with an unparalleled political brain and clout.

Schumer has been to so many Irish events that he can even sing some of the Irish songs and he proceeded to do just that.
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(At one point I even found myself on the stage, singing with my brother, Fergus, the minister for New Era in Ireland, who dropped in to wish Joe well during a visit to New York).

It was that kind of evening, which on the surface was a good old fashioned Irish party, but underneath all that was a deeply sophisticated political operation turning out the numbers and the fundraising.

It is not just about the Irish. Visit Crowley’s office and you will quickly realize that he represents the most diverse Congressional district in America.

Walk with him through his district as I have done and you will hear 70 separate languages, and see large Indo Asian enclaves that make it a fascinating mix of new cultures and political needs.

It is the new America, starry-eyed dreamers from many cultures who make this country great. It is good to know that Joe Crowley has a stake in that future for them.

When it comes to his people in New York, whether they’re Irish, Asian, black or white, Joe Crowley delivers.

Boston Herald editorial slams Senator Brown for inaction on Irish E3 visa bill

Senator Scott Brown 

Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) has caught a bellyful from the Boston Herald editorial writers for his deeply unimpressive performance on the E3 visa bill which would help 10,500 Irish to emigrate legally to America.

This kind of hometown broadside from a mass circulation newspaper is exactly what Brown does not want to read, but the Herald has it exactly right.

Brown is in a tough re-election race and needs all the support he can get.

Brown shot his mouth off a few weeks back, saying he had a deal in the bag and since then -- nothing.

Kudos to the Boston Herald, a Republican leaning newspaper, for telling it like it is.

Brown has talked a big game but has delivered zilch. Press releases proclaiming victory are no substitute for the real thing.

Hopefully the editorial reproduced below, will stiffen his spine.

Here is the Herald editorial;

It was one of those what’s-not-to-like kind of bills. A Senate bill — quickly dubbed the Irish immigration bill — would increase the number of work visas allocated to Irish nationals by 10,500 a year. Currently the so-called E-3 visa program applies only to Australian nationals. It’s part of the hodge-podge of immigration laws and visa programs that apply to some 20 other countries, not to mention occupational categories.

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) filed legislation back in December to broaden the E-3 program and his bill was added to a broader proposal by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) aimed at bringing in skilled workers from China and India.

OK, as far as we’re concerned you can’t have too much of a good thing — and immigrants with the skill set that American business needs, who want to come here legally are a very good thing.

So you’d think with bipartisan support (and Schumer is supposed to have Democrats in the Senate lined up behind the bill), this would indeed be a no-brainer.

In fact, Brown announced with fanfare back on Feb. 8 that the bill was “ready to pop.” He gave several interviews to that effect and his office indicated he had twice written to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who had been holding up Schumer’s bill in what was reported to be an effort to cut some other immigration-related deal.

Brown thought he had a deal. But more than a month later what was “ready to pop” has apparently pooped out. Asked what the status of the bill was Brown’s press office replied, “Schumer and Grassley will have more information.” Okey dokey then.

The lesson for Brown, who badly wanted this election year victory, may be that press releases are cheap, but wheeling and dealing on Capitol Hill — especially with the likes of Grassley — takes a whole bunch of effort and a whole lot of brass. And this is no time to show weakness.

What were Nike thinking, marketing Black and Tan sneakers for St. Patrick's Day? Irish Americans surely deserved better than that

What were Nike thinking?

They have a $3 billion dollar budget worldwide for marketing and the best they can come up with for the Irish this St. Patrick's Day is the 'Black and Tan' sneaker.

Did no one at this giant company just check on Google exactly what most Irish relate the term Black and Tan to?

It was the equivalent of Al-Qaeda for a generation of Irish during the War of Independence. A bunch of merciless thugs and scum, many from British prisons, released on the Irish to kill and shoot as many as possible and terrorize them into subjection.

Surely not a fitting name for a St.Patrick's Day-themed pair of sneakers?

Nike made the elementary mistake of linking their product to a drink called Black and Tan on sale in some bars. But the drink has nothing like the world wide reputation or impact that the original term does.
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It is a marketing strategy straight out of the "Nova," the car marketed in Hispanic countries which means "no go," and the Ford Probe, which reminded every woman of a gynecological inspection.

It is up there with Umbro marketing Zyklon runners a few years back in Israel -- Zyklon B was the form of gas that killed millions of innocent Jews in the Holocaust.

The sheen has come off Nike in recent years with lots of issues around child labor in their Far East sweat shops.

This latest gaffe will certainly not help with Irish Americans and neither should it.

Nike should just do it -- get rid of these offensive sneakers.

President Xi Jinping’s visit to Ireland then China’s deep connection with the Shannon region

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping accepts a piece of bog oak from Shannon Development CEO Vincent Cunnane

One of the most unusual stories involving Ireland and China unfolded in the Shannon region recently.

On the afternoon of February 18. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the future premier of China, spent several hours at the Shannon Development Zone paying homage to the region that inspired the Chinese economic miracle.

Yes, you read that right. The next leader of what many consider will be the most powerful superpower of all in this century made clear that the inspirational example of Shannon and its economic development
zone had been a major factor in the rise of China.

Shannon Development pioneered the set-aside economic zones, the creation of the first ever duty free and, not to be forgotten, the invention of Irish Coffee.

Last week in New York, Shannon Development CEO Vincent Cunnane recounted how the rural corner of Ireland became an inspiration to Communist China.

Back in the 1980s as China emerged from the dreadful excesses of the Mao era, leaders began searching the world for an economic model.

Deng Xiaoping, a huge reforming figure, sent Jiang Zemin (who was to become president from 1993 to 2002) and a team on a world tour to investigate new models of economic development.
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The Chinese landed in Shannon and were blown away by the duty free zone and how it worked. As Cunnane points out, the zone was a perfect example for the Chinese as they could not turn the entire country into an economic powerhouse overnight, but they could see how specially selected economic zones could work for them.

As Irish Times journalist Conor O’Clery noted, “The place that apparently impressed (the Chinese) the most was the Shannon industrial duty free zone. I’m told they were also very impressed with the informality of their Irish hosts, who took them to Durty Nellies pub afterwards for a sing-song – which may explain the warmth with which the Taoiseach (President) Bertie Ahern was greeted by President Jiang in Beijing in 1998.”

The Chinese government subsequently opened four special economic zones in 1980 on the Shannon model which were extremely successful in attracting foreign investment, stimulating trade and invigorating growth. There are now more than 9,000 such zones all over the country.

In the past 20 years, powerful Chinese leaders have come to Clare and studied Shannon Development. 
They included President Jiang Zemin; Premier Zhu Rongji; Premier Wen Jiabao; Vice Premier Huang Ju and Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

Xi was just the latest in a group of leaders to undertake what has become a pilgrimage for Chinese leaders. Cunnane believes that China will now become a major player for Ireland’s economic recovery, and that Shannon will lead the way.

It is a believe it or not story, but one that now looks like it will have a happy ending.

Rick Santorum is unable to win Catholic vote and it is costing him victory

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney during a presidential debate

Another Super Tuesday another strange reality for Rick Santorum.

The most Catholic candidate in history is losing the Catholic vote-- to a Mormon.

In Ohio the exit poll showed Mitt Romney well ahead among Catholics.

It was not even close, 43 per cent to 30 per cent. It cost Santorum the upset victory.

Even in Oklahoma where Santorum won, Catholics tilted to Mitt not him.

It is certainly an anomaly.

You could certainly never see Mormons voting for a Catholic over one of their own.

Santorum emphasizes his rock rigid Catholic beliefs at every opportunity.

Yet here again we see what became evident in nationwide polls.

Despite his Catholic roots and constant appeal to faith, Catholics themselves do not feel comfortable with him.

Strange.

It may turn out that the lack of Catholic votes may cost Santorum the GOP nomination.

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Archbishop Diarmuid Martin sheds tears on "60 Minutes" describing meeting victims of clerical abuse

Diarmuid Martin on "60 Minutes"

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin shed tears on "60 Minutes" tonight as he recounted asking to see a class of eight-year old boys in a Dublin school so he could imagine what it was like for them to be abused.

He did so after meeting a man who was horrifically abused at that age by a priest in his own archdiocese.

It was an emotional highpoint of a "60 Minutes" profile that portrayed Martin as a hero of the Irish church and a voice for the children who had been abused.

The Irish Times Religious Affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry made it clear that Martin alone among the top hierarchy had come to the aid of those abused by releasing the documents detailing the charges against hundreds of priests.

He alone among top church figures retained the loyalty of the faithful, McGarry said, pointing out that his boss, Cardinal Sean Brady, Primate of All Ireland, had been totally compromised after admitting covering up allegations made by boys many years ago into the notorious pedophile Father Brendan Smyth.

By so doing Martin clearly saved many other children from abuse and stopped the cover up..

The "60 Minutes" show painted a devastating portrait of the downfall of the church in Ireland with vocations plummeting and fall off in attendance as dramatic as only 2 per cent mass attendance in some parishes, down from over 90 per cent.

Martin is the one bright star remaining in that church and his stand off with Rome and those continuing the abuse cover up was clearly outlined on "60 Minutes."

As I stated last week here Martin is the greatest living Irishman a man who has told truth to power in the most courageous and straightforward way. The "60 Minutes" profile merely underlined that.

He has refused to tolerate child abuse practitioners among his clergy, has named and shamed them and has handed over every available file on them to the proper authorities.

His acts have made him deeply unpopular in Rome and among those apologists who would somehow make child abuse a temporary little evil in the Catholic Church.

He is a turbulent priest, a popular figure in Irish history who stands with his people not the powers that be.

For that reason he is Ireland’s greatest living person. The "60 Minutes" profile will only add to the legend.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin sheds tears on "60 Minutes" as he discusses the impact on young children of abuse

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin shed tears on "60 Minutes" tonight as he recounted asking to see a class of eight-year old boys in a Dublin school so he could imagine what it was like for them to be abused.

He did so after meeting a man who was horrifically abused at that age by a priest in his own archdiocese.

It was an emotional highpoint of a "60 Minutes" profile that portrayed Martin as a hero of the Irish church and a voice for the children who had been abused.

The Irish Times Religious Affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry made it clear that Martin alone among the top hierarchy had come to the aid of those abused by releasing the documents detailing the charges against hundreds of priests.

He alone among top church figures retained the loyalty of the faithful, McGarry said, pointing out that his boss, Cardinal Sean Brady, Primate of All Ireland, had been totally compromised after admitting covering up allegations made by boys many years ago into the notorious pedophile Father Brendan Smyth.

By so doing Martin clearly saved many other children from abuse and stopped the cover up..

The "60 Minutes" show painted a devastating portrait of the downfall of the church in Ireland with vocations plummeting and fall off in attendance as dramatic as only 2 per cent mass attendance in some parishes, down from over 90 per cent.

Martin is the one bright star remaining in that church and his stand off with Rome and those continuing the abuse cover up was clearly outlined on "60 Minutes."

As I stated last week here Martin is the greatest living Irishman a man who has told truth to power in the most courageous and straightforward way. The "60 Minutes" profile merely underlined that.

He has refused to tolerate child abuse practitioners among his clergy, has named and shamed them and has handed over every available file on them to the proper authorities.

His acts have made him deeply unpopular in Rome and among those apologists who would somehow make child abuse a temporary little evil in the Catholic Church.
__________________
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He is a turbulent priest, a popular figure in Irish history who stands with his people not the powers that be.

For that reason he is Ireland’s greatest living person. The "60 Minutes" profile will only add to the legend.