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If you don’t like Good Friday drinking, don’t drink on Good Friday

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The passing of the new intoxicating liquor bill, which will allow bars to sell alcohol on Good Friday for the first time since 1927, has (perhaps unsurprisingly) been met with fierce opposition in certain circles.

Some see it as yet another example of modern society carelessly discarding a long-standing tradition. There’s an element of truth to that, but just because a custom has been there forever doesn’t make it right. Ireland in 2018 is a very different place to the Ireland of 1927 so surely it makes sense that the laws governing its people should evolve at a similar pace.

This was a devoutly Catholic country 90 years ago so banning the sale of alcohol on the day of Jesus’ death, as well as on the day of his birth and St Patrick’s Day, may well have been an appropriate measure at the time. But times change. Even by 1960, people had successfully campaigned for the St Patrick’s Day ban to be lifted. Similar rules, such as not being allowed to eat meat on Friday, have also largely disappeared.

Religion simply isn’t as relevant to Irish people’s lives as it once was. Why should non-believers, or those of a different faith, or even Catholics who simply don’t agree with this particular tradition, be forced to live with a law that is explicitly Catholic in its nature?

Personally I’d be of the opinion that religion should have no influence whatsoever on our legal system. Thankfully most Irish people, certainly amongst my generation, seem to agree, as evidenced by the outcome of the marriage equality referendum in 2015. Although this current debate is more trivial, I can see very distinct parallels between the two.

Then as now those of a religious persuasion saw the law change as an attack on their personal beliefs. But the laws in question don’t actually affect them on a personal level. At the time of the marriage referendum, gay rights activists said, “If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married”. The same logic can be applied to the removal of the drinking ban. If you don’t like drinking on Good Friday, don’t drink on Good Friday.

The new bill doesn’t state that every Irish citizen is now required to go on the lash on Good Friday, just as the legalisation of gay marriage hasn’t forced people unwillingly into gay marriages.

We’re talking about personal choices that affect the people making them on a strictly personal level. Let’s treat them as such.

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Coffee morning being held in memory of late Kevin O’Shea

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A coffee morning will take place in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel next week in memory of the late Kevin O’Shea.


It will take place on October 18 from 11am to 1pm.


All proceeds will go to Kerry Hospice Foundation, Kerry Cancer Support Group and Recovery Haven.


For those who are unable to make it on the day, you can make a donation online by scanning the QR code on the picture.


Kevin’s family extended their heartfelt thanks to local businesses and hotels that have generously sponsored spot prizes, all to be won on the day.


They also said that any donation, big or small, is appreciated and all support is most welcome.

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Gleneagle Concert Band cast in major Hollywood Film

  Members of The Gleneagle Concert Band have been cast in a major Hollywood movie currently filming in West Cork. The WWII biopic is inspired by Hollywood legend James Stewart’s […]

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Members of The Gleneagle Concert Band have been cast in a major Hollywood movie currently filming in West Cork.

The WWII biopic is inspired by Hollywood legend James Stewart’s life, highlighting his time as a combat pilot after putting his entertainment career on hold to join the U.S. Army Air Corps.
It’s set to be the biggest film production filmed in Ireland this year, with a U.S. release scheduled for November 2026.

Band Musical Director Vincent Condon said the opportunity came about through a mix of curiosity and perfect timing.

“I read that a major film was being shot in West Cork and got in touch to see if they needed a band. Wartime movies often feature military bands, and they were delighted that I reached out. The film required an all-male band under 25, which is historically accurate. Filming took place at the start of October, and it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved.”

Band Manager Ciaran Lynch described the experience as unforgettable.

“The band was excellent. We did everything asked of us with no fuss, and it was amazing to see how a major movie comes together. In a year or so, we’ll be able to sit in the cinema with our families and point to the screen saying, ‘We were part of that!’”

This latest experience follows the band’s highly successful summer tour to Seville and Gibraltar, where they performed alongside the Midleton Concert Band beneath Seville’s spectacular Las Setas structure. The trip marked the band’s eighth international tour, continuing a proud tradition of representing Killarney abroad.

With opportunities ranging from international tours to movie sets, the Gleneagle Concert Band continues to give its members unique and creative musical experiences both at home and overseas.

Anyone interested in joining the band or enrolling for instrumental lessons is encouraged to get in touch on 087 222 9513.

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