Munster Express Online

The United States has always been a land of huge contradictions for me. For the most part, and certainly in my experience, its people are extremely friendly and polite and they have a great sense of humour.

As anticipation mounts regarding next year’s return of the Tall Ships to Waterford, the possibility of a stand-off with our near neighbours in New Ross is growing.

I came across a story last week that smacks of the most bizarre reasoning that might apply to a fictitious ‘Catch 22’ situation.

We may soon have a visit to Waterford from the Laois Heritage Society which wants their authorities to introduce feral goats in an effort to protect the famous Rock of Dunamaise and its ruined caste.

Our friends in Kilkenny are confidently predicting that President Barrack Obama will visit the Marble City and Moneygall in County Offaly in about three months time despite denials to the contrary by the US Embassy. One of the President’s ancestors is buried in the Kilkenny City’s Cathedral.

Eagle-eyed Customs officials at Shannon Airport were a bit taken aback recently when they seized no less than 10 rhinoceros horns over a three week period.

Our friends in WIT will be watching with interest the situation not too far up the road where the Tipperary Institute has entered negotiations with Limerick Institute of Technology with a view to merging the two colleges.

In the harsh light of the post Christmas freeze some chilling figures have emerged which show that, in the weeks just gone, more children than ever celebrated their Christmas in women’s refuges.

A Tramore couple were lying in bed together on the morning of their tenth wedding anniversary when the wife said: “Darling, as this is such a special occasion, I think that it’s time I made a confession. Before we were married I was a hooker for many years.”