John Stapleton

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | John Stapleton

Just how many own goals can one government make and still survive? As Prime Minister Scott Morrison leads his shambolic government to electoral wipeout, he is now embroiled in yet another controversy. Are the Australian authorities, including the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force, to blame for the diplomatic fracas that erupted over football player Hakeem al-Araibis detention in Thailand?

3 weeks ago | johnmenadue.com | John Stapleton

The leadership is in play. Diabolical polling ensures that. But how Malcolm Turnbulls leadership devolved to the current disaster is a complicated yarn, like the man himself. So lets begin at the beginning. Rob Hirst, drummer for Midnight Oil, recalls the future Prime Minister from the early 1970s when both were schoolboys at the elite private school Sydney Grammar. Turnbull managed to alienate almost everyone around him.

1 month ago | ireland-live.ie | John Stapleton

There was a full house last night in Bishop Freeman Schoolhouse, Coolagh as one of their own was honoured and feted after completing a massive 47 years at the helm of the Coolagh Pattern Committee. Chairman, elected way back in 1978, when the Pattern was revived by James Neill, Coolaghmore. Billy was the chief organiser of the winter card games for the same period. Joan O’Keeffe was elected to replace Billy as the new Chairperson and John Corrigan takes over the task of managing the card games.

1 month ago | torbayweekly.co.uk | John Stapleton

Whilst several of the planets are still in view in the evening sky, the astronomical highlight of March is the Sun. First of all, the Spring or Vernal Equinox occurs on the 20th of March. This day marks the beginning of spring and is the day when day and night are of almost equal length (hence equinox) with 12 hours of light and dark. Then, on Saturday, March 29th, there will be a partial solar eclipse with about 305 of the sun obscured by the moon, as seen from Torbay.

2 months ago | torbayweekly.co.uk | John Stapleton

February began with National Astronomy Week, running from the 1st through to the 9th.  This is timed to coincide with a particular event visible during the current alignment of most of the major planets in the sky at once. Despite the media hype about this occurring on one night last month, the planets have been on view like this since December and will continue to be visible together into March.