Latest news with #TheSiegeofJadotville
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: High time leadership in Jadotville is recognised
The movie The Siege of Jadotville, available to stream on Netflix, is in widespread circulation in the world. It is of particular interest in the Irish diaspora in the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Two months ago, I wrote to defence minister Simon Harris requesting him to outline the Government's policy on the Jadotville saga. Despite a reminder, I have not received a response — nor likely to it seems — which raises many questions. I have personally studied this campaign at length. I asked Mr Harris: 'Why is it that the greatest military campaign involving the Irish Defence Forces in our recent history is treated with such contempt and such betrayal by our Government; the civil service hierarchy in the department of defence; and most disappointingly, by the hierarchy of the Irish Defence Forces?' I have soldiered for 30 years in the Irish Defence Forces, holding leadership positions of responsibility at home and abroad. I commanded 340 Irish soldiers over a 13-month period in Lebanon and all 340 came home alive, thank God. I asked Mr Harris this in the view of the almost continuous contemptuous attitude of the Government to this magnificent operational feat — that over a five-day period of continuous onslaught by 3,000 heavily armed attackers supported by heavy weapons and a Fouga fighter jet, which strafed the small Irish position at will — that not one Irish soldier died and just a handful of minor injuries were sustained. Up to 300 attackers died in the five days. The Irish troops' food, water, and ammunition ran out — after which Pat Quinlan negotiated a 'surrender with conditions' with the attackers — and all 156 Irish soldiers arrived home safe and well. Sadly, they arrived into 63 years of treachery by their government, their minister, and their military hierarchy. Life sentences. What a tragedy for 156 Irish families. Instead of pathetically berating these heroes for 63 years, it is time that Pat Quinlan's leadership and the sheer professionalism of his officers, NCOs, and private soldiers — some of whom were barely 17 years of age — be recognised. All 156 Irish soldiers were magnificent. I posed the question to Mr Harris: 'Maybe the Government would prefer to be annually commemorating the slaughter of 156 brave Irish soldiers, rather than celebrating their magnificent achievement in battle since their arrival home to Ireland in early 1962?' Quinlan, as is his right as commanding officer, made a number of written recommendations for commendations for a number of officers, NCOs, and privates. These medals have never been awarded, and now comes the current government treachery of an approach by a very senior member to a member of the extended Quinlan family: If the Jadotville veterans gave up their quest for the medals that Comdt Pat Quinlan recommended for his men, the Government would arrange that Comdt Pat Quinlan's family would be awarded a distinguished service medal with honour for the man. Such an offer has been immediately and unanimously rejected by each and every age group of the extended Quinlan family. What an insult to a quality family of three generations in the Irish Defence Forces. It poses a very serious question as to the integrity and loyalty of those civilians who 'lead' our country. It is of serious concern. Ray Cawley, Commandant Retd, Douglas, Cork HSE could solve housing crisis Could the HSE literally hold the key to some of our housing woes? Here in Killarney, we have an enormous property called St Finian's that is owned by the HSE. The building is in a prime location but has remained idle for over 20 years, experiencing year-on-year decline. Meanwhile, two more large HSE properties are about to be vacated as a new community hospital opens in our town. What are the plans for the paediatric hospitals about to be vacated in Dublin? Could all of these properties be repurposed into apartments for much-needed staff and young people? All the vacant property grants can be utilised and rent is payed to the HSE with a buy-out option. Perhaps your readers could highlight any HSE-owned vacant buildings in their towns and cities. It seems an obvious solution. Vera Wall, via email Same excuse for housing years later Given the numerous reports about a lack of supply in the Irish housing market, it is time to take a look back at one of the promises made by a Fine Gael taoiseach. An RTÉ report from May 19, 2014, has the taoiseach of the day commenting on the housing and homelessness crisis. The report describes the taoiseach saying that 'the Government was determined to respond to the phenomenon of homelessness', but also mentioning how he said that 'it was not possible to provide instant houses overnight'. That was 11 years ago. The same excuse is being used today, 11 years later. Eleven years. Fine Gael has been in government all the time since. Fianna Fáil has been alongside them in one way or another for most of that time. It's an old line that you should look at what people do rather than at what they say. What Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have done is to create and sustain the housing crisis. What we're seeing is not failure, it's a success of long-sustained government policy. Hugh Sheehy, Blackrock, Dublin Good intentions won't help illness As a mental health social worker who is also the professional applicant in the involuntary admission of patients suffering from serious mental illness, I could not agree more with Dr Crowe's ('People with severe mental illness will be failed by proposed new law') concerns about proposed changes to our Mental Health Act that could delay treatment. Human rights advocates without clinical experience are well intentioned, but they do not live with family members who suffer with frightening paranoid thoughts of being harmed. Neither do they visit their homes or care for them in our public psychiatric units. Frank Browne, Templeogue, Dublin 16 Defect in new bill I found the article by medical consultant Dr Suzanne Crowe to be a most compelling read. Dr Crowe is correct in taking the Government to task by stating that the new mental health bill is making one very serious mistake. She delineates how this new bill will allow people experiencing psychosis to refuse treatment while in a mental hospital. She is correct in saying that this is a misguided attempt to protect the human rights of someone who may believe that doctors are evil scientists trying to drain their blood. I also have to agree with Dr Crowe when she proffers the notion that this Mental Health Bill has created a bizarre anomaly where the doctors are detaining while the judges are now finding that they are being elevated to a position of treating these poor souls. Psychosis is a severe mental condition in which thoughts and emotions are so affected that contact is often lost with external reality. The symptoms of psychosis is confused thinking and delusions allied to false beliefs that are not shared by others. Hallucinations are common, and this is where the psychotic hears, sees, smells, or tastes something that isn't there. This is why this bill would deny people with the psychosis treatments they need if they choose to deny them. The Government must realise that it's the illness and not the treatment that robs the patient of their autonomy. Dr Crowe sums up this anomaly for me when she says: 'To admit and not properly treat denies the person their right to return to health.' This, to my mind, is an unfathomable defect in this proposed bill. I would urge the government to immediately look at amending this obvious flaw in this bill. Clinical psychotherapist John O'Brien, Clonmel, Tipperary Automatic right to allowance The disability allowances are outdated. It should not be means tested, it should be an automatic right. Inheritance tax for those who have a lifelong disability should not be classed the same as those with no lifelong disability and able to create their own wealth. People with lifelong disabilities suffer enough, and our Government has neglected disabilities for too long. Siobhan O'Rourke, Castleisland, Kerry Read More Letters to the Editor: Sacrificing assets to hit unreachable targets
Extra.ie
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
The Fall star Jamie Dornan announces major career change
The pair aims to share stories from Northern Ireland, where they were born. Actors Jamie Dornan and Conor MacNeill have launched a new production company, Blackthorn Films. The company is based in Northern Ireland, where the two were born and raised. They met on the set of the 2015 film The Siege of Jadotville, and have co-starred in projects like The Tourist, The Fall and Belfast. 'Blackthorn Films was born out of a shared desire to create indigenous stories from the island of Ireland that have a true global reach,' said Dornan and MacNeill. 'The company's aim is to produce work that flips the lens and presents fresh narratives, particularly from the North of the country.' Blackthorn recently received the BBC's TV Small Indie Fund, an effort that supports grassroots production companies across the UK. They also hired producer Shauna Shivers-McAtamney to oversee their film and TV docket, who's worked as a script editor for BBC-Hulu's adaptation of Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends, BAFTA-nominated comedy The Dry and the upcoming drama Trespasses. 'We are both most creatively content when working at home, and we are excited to collaborate with the wealth of skilled and talented filmmakers there, many of whom we have worked with before,' the pair said. 'The professionalism, positive mindset and down-to-earth nature of the key talent and crews in Ireland, North and South, is something we want to harness and embolden.'
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Netflix viewers urged to watch 'hidden gem' war film starring Jamie Dornan
Netflix viewers have been raving about a "hidden gem" called The Siege of Jadotville, which portrays the gritty real-life event that unfolded for an Irish UN peacekeeping troop. This 2016 release, directed by Richie Smyth, tells the story of 150 Irish soldiers plunged into the throes of the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil turmoil . Jamie Dornan stars as Commandant Pat Quinlan in the Netflix hit, an Irish leader who steers his men through the brutal onslaught by mercenaries. Other big names include Emmanuelle Seigne, Mark Strong, Michael McElhatton and Conor Quinlan, who is the actual grandson of Pat Quinlan. Despite being massively outnumbered, the film dramatizes how this band of peacekeepers withstood the seemingly impossible odds pitted against them . Read More Related Articles Jenna Bush Hager announces major career move in heartfelt statement Read More Related Articles Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly moves on from Kevin Costner series in new detective drama The Siege of Jadotville has received a decent 7.2/10 on IMDB and a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes, however, fans are showing it full marks, declaring it a 10/10 Netflix masterpiece. The Siege of Jadotville is now on Netflix One viewer raved, "I actually watched Siege of Jadotville-what a hidden gem. The tension, the bravery, the realism... totally agree, 10/10." Another urgently recommended, "The Siege of Jadotville - A must watch!" while someone else confessed they became riveted saying, "I watched 'The Siege of Jadotville' on Netflix on a whim and was absolutely glued to the screen the whole time." A delighted fan shared their second viewing experience, stating, "Second time to watch The Siege of Jadotville which is an excellent war #film and one of the best films made by #Netflix A story about a little known #Irish military endeavour that makes one proud! Go see.." For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . Yet another fan declared their love for the film, "Finally got around to watching "The Siege of Jadotville" . My god it's magnificent." Fans are raving about the movie Meanwhile, someone else passionately posted, "The siege of Jadotville... masterpiece..," adding a tearful emoji to emphasize their emotional reaction. Jamie Dornan spoke of the weight on his shoulders portraying such a pivotal moment in history. Recounting to the Irish Examiner, Dornan expressed, "You do feel a certain amount of pressure to honor and respect the man you're playing. And to give a portrayal that's worthy of the man, because he's quite a man." He explained the unique responsibility involved when depicting true events, "You're playing people who have really existed and they still have family who are around - it's recent history, it's '61, it wasn't that long ago. Conor Quinlan who's Pat Quinlan's grandson is in the movie with us. He was there every day, which had its own pressure at the start. But then I loved having him there, we didn't fall out so I think he must be happy enough!" The film's leading Irish actor also noted the importance of not letting the sense of obligation overwhelm him, "Also, you can't let that burden you. You've got to leave that behind once you get on set because you've so many things to worry about as that is, and you can't let that overburden you in terms of what you're trying to do with the role." For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
