The North West Labour HIstory Society are holding a history lecture on the Irish and trade unionism on Sunday 18th April 2010, 2pm at the Working Class Movement Library, 51 Crescent Salford M5 4WX. www.wcml.org.uk

There will be two speakers: Sonja Tiernan and Francis Devine

Deciding on the spur of the moment to take a summer break this year, prior to maybe going belly up, due to the economic slump over here in England. I set off with friends for a two week sojourn to The West of Ireland for a well earned rest from financial angst. After landing and picking up a hire car at Knock then driving to Clairemorris (where we were staying) I was somewhat taken aback to see The West in such dire economic straights. True we read and hear about this kind of strife through the media, but seeing with ones own eyes was shocking and really did take some believing.

As is evident Ireland is being globalised to the extent that it is beginning to resemble England ( Tescoes, Boots, Debenhams ), the USA ( Budweiser, Jack Daniels, Marlboro, Pringles ), the Netherlands ( Heikekien ), and northern Europe ( the Luas ), etc, etc,

Another unfortunate aspect of this mass deluge of globalised culture and sub-culture is seen in the mass invasion of the tiny Irish crisp market by several newcomers including the powerfull Walkers crips brand

The Carrolls and Major cigarette brands were an essential part of the national identity insofar as they were not avaliable anywhere except here and represented a distinct and seperate national identity element insofar as they were unknown outside of Ireland ?

The 'Hands' series of documentaries on traditional Irish crafts and lifestyles date from the 70's and were first shown on RTE television. A generation grew up watching and loving these films, giving a glimpse into how things 'used' to be in Ireland. The 37 films are now available to the public in a box set with 20 hours of viewing. Anyone with Irish links will find these films fascinating. Contact dshawsmith@hotmail.com for enquiries.

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