Ireland

May. 18, Post Time: 10:45AM Entries and comments provided by the Maryland Jockey Club First - Purse $55,000, AOC $25,000-$20,000, 3 yo's & up, One And One Sixteenth Miles Post, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds 1 Aussi Austin, Rosario, R.Rodriguez, 3-1 2 Bob's Gone Wild, Vargas, J.Lopez, 20-1 3 Jarrod's Commando, Karamanos, C.Garcia, 10-1 4 Warrensburg, Boyce, D.Barr, 20-1 5 Benny Or Local, Cruise, D.Kobiskie,...

The day couldn't have turned out better for owner Irv Naylor. And it wasn't too shabby for jockey James Slater, either. With Slater in the saddle, Naylor's Alfa Beat captured the 111th running of the Grand National Steeplechase in Butler, adding a punctuation mark to a four-win performance at the Middleburg (Va.) Spring Races that shot Naylor into the national lead among owners in purses won. All four Naylor horses who prevailed in Virginia were trained by Slater's wife, Brianne.

I was profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Maeve Binchy ("Best-selling Irish author Maeve Binchy dies," July 31). Her many books are legendary, and Ireland was her usual locale since she was from that country. She also wrote a column for the Irish Times. She will be sorely missed by her many fans. Geraldine Segal, Randallstown

Johns Hopkins University students scramble to sign up for a coveted spot in the acting and directing classes taught by John Astin. After all, who wouldn't want to study theatrical techniques with a famous actor? Internationally known for his role as Gomez Addams in the 1960s television show "The Addams Family," the Baltimore-born Astin has received Academy Award and Emmy nominations for his work in front of the camera, and also for writing and directing. Perhaps the most meaningful recognition came last December, when it was announced that the university's renovated Merrick Barn theater would now bear his name: The John Astin Theatre.

U2 appear unable to grasp the core of the issue regarding their tax status in Ireland ("The Edge: U2, Bono have not evaded taxes," July 13) . Nobody on this island doubts that they are fully in compliance with Irish or European law, or that they have every right to move their tax base to the Netherlands. Indeed, the Irish Exchequer can hardly complain, considering the criticism Ireland has received from many quarters in Europe because of its own low corporate tax rate. Rather, the quibble lies with the double standards applied by Bono and Co. when lecturing us on the rights and wrongs of wealth distribution.

On December 5, 2006 MONIQUE IRELAND of Ridgewood Avenue. On Tuesday, services will be held at Howell Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Avenue 10:00 viewing /11:30 Celebration. Services entrusted to Hari P. Close Funeral Service, P.A., 410-327-3100.

On March 30, 2007, Darla Mae Ireland (nee Henderson), beloved wife of Philip Ireland, loving mother of Bert Ritter and wife Dawn, Cori Hose and husband Rick, grandmother of Eric, Lindsay, Lexy, her sister, June Topolski, her step-daughter, Barbara Davis, nephew, Darryl Topolski, devoted best friend of 57 years, Bryna Roody and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 3rd from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, April 4th from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, April 5th at 10:30 a.m. at STERLING ASHTON SCHWAB WITZKE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 1630 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville.

Inspired by the turbulent Northern Ireland where he grew up, Gerard Devlin has put Ulster's passion and pain into dramatic oil paintings.Filled with tense figures and Irish symbols, his work is now on view at Halcyon Gallery, the exhibition arm of the Fells Point Creative Alliance.The exhibit is at Halcyon Gallery in Margaret's Cafe, 909 Fell St., through Aug. 4. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Call (410) 276-1651 for more information.Pub Date: 7/18/96

Ireland's Labor Party, traditionally a vehicle for the respectable left, is the probable gainer from the muddled politics that will produce both an election to replace a broken coalition and a confusing referendum on abortion tomorrow. Of the four Irish mainstream political parties, Labor is the only one currently not in public disfavor. Its leader, Dick Spring, towers above his rivals in the polls.The referendum is on three constitutional amendments that would prohibit abortion in nearly all circumstances but permit freedom of travel abroad to get information about abortion.

Ireland, by ratifying the Maastricht Treaty in a thumping referendum, puts the plan for a single European currency by century's end back on track. Had the Irish rejected this, immediately after the Danish rejection, the whole movement toward a unified Europe -- a single economy based on the current European Community membership -- would have crumbled.As it is, the treaty calls for unanimity which the Danish rejection prevents. But this can now be seen as a surmountable hurdle, calling for a minor rewriting of the rules now, a second appeal to Danish voters later on. Had the only two referendums to be held in the ratification process gone against it, the notion would have been unstoppable that parliamentary acceptances elsewhere represented only the detachment of Europe's politicians and bureaucrats from their constituents.

I was profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Maeve Binchy ("Best-selling Irish author Maeve Binchy dies," July 31). Her many books are legendary, and Ireland was her usual locale since she was from that country. She also wrote a column for the Irish Times. She will be sorely missed by her many fans. Geraldine Segal, Randallstown

Sister Marie Immaculate Fay, who taught in Baltimore parochial schools, died of cardiopulmonary collapse March 22 at her order's retirement home in Aston, Pa. She was 82. Born Margaret Mary Fay in Dublin, Ireland, she attended public schools in Harrisburg, Pa. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in 1951 and professed her first vows in 1953. She earned a bachelor of arts in history at Neumann University in Aston. She began teaching at St. Anthony's School in Gardenville in 1952 and later served at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Belair-Edison, St. Catherine of Siena in East Baltimore and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Essex.

St. Patrick's Day is less than a week off (Baltimore's parade is tomorrow afternoon), and I'm going to go over this one more time . If you want to be on familiar terms with the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland, and I am by no means suggesting that you should, call him St. Paddy . I heartily endorse the seniments of The Provisional Government Of St. Paddy, Not Patty in its address "to the People of the New World":...

100 Years Ago Irish eyed Ellicott City Boy Gets A Prize In the Baltimore News contest for the best essays by children, 12-year old Noble Watkins, of Ellicott City, was awarded the second prize for the following essay. "Essay On Ireland: Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The capital is Dublin on the Eastern coast. There are mountains on the coast and the interior is generally level, with many lakes. Ireland is governed by a lord lieutenant, appointed by the British Government.

It takes so long to say the name of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society that one can be thankful that everybody just refers to it as HoCoPoLitSo. One of this literary organization's longest running and most popular activities is an annual Irish Evening that features a reading by a celebrated author, an opportunity to have books signed, live music and, of course, Irish coffee. This year's event promises to live up to that lively tradition. Memoirist and novelist Hugo Hamilton is the guest speaker for the 34th Irish Evening Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Howard Community College's Smith Theatre.

The biggest winner in Northern Ireland's parade of major champions might turn out to be Royal Portrush. The scenic club overlooking the country's northern coast is getting a renewed look to bring back the British Open for the first time in more than 50 years. Meanwhile, there's new discussion about taking the Irish Open north as soon as 2013. Club officials said last week that Northern Ireland finance ministers have pledged the necessary financial support to lure the Irish Open, which has had eight host venues in the last 13 years.

Notre Dame and Navy will play in Dublin, Ireland, in 2012. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk says Aviva Stadium will be the site for the 86th meeting between the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen. The $410 million stadium opened in May and has a seating capacity of 50,000. "Obviously as an Irish-Catholic from Boston, Mass., I'm going to have a lot of requests for tickets — not airline tickets," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said after Tuesday's practice in South Bend, Ind. "No, I just think it's a great venue and I'm excited about it. That's one of the unique things about being an independent, that you can have a game like that on the schedule.

U2 appear unable to grasp the core of the issue regarding their tax status in Ireland ("The Edge: U2, Bono have not evaded taxes," July 13) . Nobody on this island doubts that they are fully in compliance with Irish or European law, or that they have every right to move their tax base to the Netherlands. Indeed, the Irish Exchequer can hardly complain, considering the criticism Ireland has received from many quarters in Europe because of its own low corporate tax rate. Rather, the quibble lies with the double standards applied by Bono and Co. when lecturing us on the rights and wrongs of wealth distribution.

The exploration and discovery of new and exotic sensory realms inspires chef John Shields' zest for cooking. The owner of Gertrude's Restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art uses travel to foreign shores to nourish that quest. Often called "The Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay," Shields hosts the PBS television series "Coastal Cooking With John Shields" and has written three popular cookbooks on bay cuisine. To say Shields is busy is an understatement, so when he has time to get away, simplicity is key. He finds that and more, in his ancestral home of Ireland.