Around Ireland Never heard it coming

By Patrick Markey

Stephen Spielberg’s blockbuster movie "Saving Private Ryan" may have praised the courage of U.S. marines and cast a cold light on war’s brutality, but for one Irish soldier the film proved a keen remainder of the realities of combat — even the celluloid version.

Graham Smith, a 20-year-old soldier with Ireland’s reserve FCA, was recently awarded £10,000 by a Wexford court for injuries he sustained during the filming of Spielberg’s classic scene of the World War II beach landings, according to the Irish Times.

Smith was taking a break on a beach area during a lull in the filming in Wexford when a jeep drove over him. Smith told the judge that he had been sleeping when he heard a colleague shout out a warning and found his legs caught beneath the vehicle.

Since Smith, an apprentice electrician, suffered bruising and was forced to use crutches for six weeks after the incident, the judge awarded him the personal damages against Ryan Productions based in Dublin.

Musical rivals

Bundoran may be just a fleck on the map of Ireland, but next week a major showdown could put the small County Donegal town in the spotlight.

At least in certain music circles anyway.

The town will be the site of two rival country and western festivals in venues just 80 yards apart, the Allingham Arms and the Hollyrood Hotels, according to the Irish Independent on Sunday. Adding to the tension, the separate venues are run by two brothers.

The Mayfest and the May Alive festival should appeal to similar audiences with a host of stars set to appear at both.

But Mayfest organizer James Cafferty said May Alive is just a ripoff, and other festivals have drawn crowds of up to 25,000, bringing millions in revenue for the small town. Says opposing organizer Seanie McEniff, the other festival is being held in another town this year. Besides, he said, Bundoran was a big town, one that needed two festivals to fill its accommodation.

Hellish testimony

A Franciscan Brother who sexually abused five boys over a nine-year period was attacked by one of his victims in Dublin courthouse last week.

The Examiner newspaper reported that gardai and prison officers had to restrain the man, who earlier testified that he had a nervous breakdown and became an alcoholic as a result of the abuse.

The court heard garda evidence that Brother Joseph Keegan’s superiors in the Franciscan order knew about the abuse three years before a victim reported it. Keegan, who is 58, pleaded guilty to eight charges of gross indecency and sexual assault. The court heard that Keegan abused two altar boys and three members of a football team he coached. All the boys were under 13 years old.

The testimony brought emotional scenes in the courtroom. Two of Keegan’s victims walked out as he apologized for the suffering he caused and one told the court that he came close to slitting Keegan’s throat.

Later, nine gardai and prison officers formed a human shield around Br Keegan as he was taken into custody for sentencing.

Naughty nuptials

Kilkenny has seen its fair share of strange nuptials, but this one should top the lot.

The best man and groom will arrive in a hearse, and the wedding ceremony will be held in a cowshed, reported the Kilkenny People

But all is not what it seemed. The strange arrangements were all in the name of aiding sick children. After a fund-raising hen night in local pubs, the ceremony will be headed by a bride in a pony and trap attended by two male bridesmaids. She will be followed by the groom and best man in a hearse and an objector to the marriage will ride alongside on a bicycle. All will finally end up in a cowshed, and hopefully, a substantial cash donation to charity.