Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRELAND WAS THE “laughing stock of the progressive world” in 1982 – at least according to one young Irish man who wrote to the Taoiseach from Australia.
The man wrote on 30 January 1978 to the then Taoiseach Jack Lynch about the Catholic Church’s relationship with the Irish State, wondering how Church laws could be more liberal in Australia. The letter was among the many documents unveiled in the 1982 State Papers, which were released this month under the 30-year rule.
The enclosed article from the Sydney Herald is about a newspaper advertisement from a Dublin man on the anullment of his marriage, in which he proclaims ‘Deo Gratias’, or ‘thank God’.
According to the paper, the ad was "an echo of frustration" that many Irish people felt about family law at the time, given that contraception and divorce were both banned.
Taoiseach Lynch opposed legalising divorce and said that there was no way his Fianna Fail would back plans to legalise it.
But for one young man out in Oz, Ireland badly needed to move on:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
But luckily, tutorials can still go ahead, because TAs are dispensable, and over-crowded, un-ventilated tutorial rooms give plenty of room for social distancing. Paddy Prendergast is a virus to Trinity, never mind Covid-19!
@Joe Vlogs: exactly my thoughts .. and as for labs even with protective clothing, you’re still around however many other students that are carrying out the experiment with you.. doesn’t really leave much meaning for “keeping distance from each other” .. I don’t think this was thought thoroughly.
@Joe Vlogs: i’d have some respect for U if U put your real name to the comment
@brian oconnell: I am devastated you don’t respect me. I used to use my genuine name, but I got tired of being stopped on the street to be asked for autographs from the likes of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, so I used this instead. I didn’t think the validity of my points were dependent on my name and avatar.
We need to be proactive rather than constantly reactive. Anybody capable of working from home should be sent home asap.
@The Risen: most jobs that require you to sit behind a computer for 9 hours straight, so.
Well done Trinity, hopefully the government will use some proactive measures too!
Shh about to hit the fan. If anyone there is exposed already, they will be up and about in town. People need to get the right information so they can self isolate.
Book of Kells is infected.
@zachary vvm: Americanos won’t be happy they can’t see the book of Kelly
A local race of 200 runners outdoors has been cancelled yet kids cooped up all day in close proximity in schools is ok! Assemblies of 300+ taking place regularly.
have your say