don't forget Mothers' Day

In the US it's the second Sunday in May (this year it's 11th May).
In the UK and Ireland Mothers' Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent:
2nd March 2008

In these parts the tradition goes back to 'Mothering Sunday' when Catholics were supposed to travel to Mass in their "Mother Church" (or regional cathedral) rather than their local parish. With the Reformation, it had become an occasion for children to visit parents.

In the US the first known observance of Mother's Day occurred in Albion, Michigan, on May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of the month. Legend claims local pioneer, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, called on other mothers to join her when she stepped up to complete the sermon of the Rev. Myron Daughterty, who was distraught. Apparently an anti-temperance group had forced his son and two other temperance advocates to spend the night in a saloon and become publicly drunk!

Blakeley's two sons, both travelling salesmen, vowed to return each year to pay tribute to her. At their urging, in the early 1880s, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

HANSARD & IRGLOVA to perform at the OSCARS

GLEN HANSARD and MARKETA IRGLOVA will perform their due FALLING SLOWLY at this year's OSCARS ceremony.  The track from the feature ONCE is nominated in the Best Original Song category.  The ACADEMY questioned it's validity to remain in competition since nominated songs must consist 'of words and music, both original and written specifically for' a motion picture whereas the piece has already appeared on two albums.

The Academy allowed the track to remain in competition following reassurances from Hansard and Director JOHN CARNEY that composition of the song began during discussions way back in 2002 whereas the script and financing for the film took a number of years to come to fruition.  The Academy accepted that 'the song was played in some venues that were deemed inconsequential (no less!) enough not to deem it in-eligibile.'

Once was made on an incredibly low budget of less than €150,000 with 'a couple of handi-cams' and according to a mind-blown Hansard 'we thought it would help sell a few albums'.   It did more than that, it won an audience award at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL which made FOX SEARCHLIGHT buy the rights.  During its first few months at the American box office it grossed more than $7 million!  

In the film Hansard plays a Dublin busker, and Irglova (niece of director Carney) is a street-vendor.  There is a palpable screen energy between the two who have been dating since filming in January 2006 - they first met 6 years ago when Irglova was 13.  Hansard admits 'I'd been falling in love with her for a long time but I kept telling myself 'she's just a kid''.

ready to become a director?

We placed a recruitment advert in today's IRISH TIMES to find a new Director for BOARDMATCH IRELAND. The position became free when BRIAN SHEEHAN moved to GLEN where he's the new CEO. All the SEXTON+ gang wish Brian the best of luck, he has been an absolute pleasure to work with. MIRIAM ENRIGHT (Director of Marketing) has taken-over as acting-MD at Boardmatch.

Boardmatch provide a very worthwhile service that helps people in business polish their leadership skills by volunteering on the boards (usually) of notforprofit organisations.


Here's how the ad reads:
Boardmatch Ireland promotes stronger links between business and the nonprofit sector via voluntary leadership roles at board level. Business professionals volunteer their skills and experience to nonprofit organisations, enabling stronger governance practices and increasing effectiveness in nonprofits while gaining new leadership skills at Board level. Introductions between business professionals and nonprofits are facilitated, principally, via a free web-based service.

Director - BoardmatchIreland.ie Based Dublin + Travel
We wish to recruit a dynamic Director to build on the great progress to date. Reporting directly to our Board, the Director will lead the organisation successfully delivering the next phase of our ambitious strategic plan.

You can download a full job description from: www.boardmatchireland.ie

SALARY:
A competitive salary is on offer to attract the highest calibre candidate

APPLICATION:
Please send a detailed letter of application and CV to: chair@boardmatchireland.ie

CLOSING DATE:
Friday 7th March 2008

Fidel Castro retires = 19 Feb 2008

HAVANA - Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down on Tuesday 49 years after taking power in an armed revolution.

Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public since undergoing stomach surgery almost 19 months ago, said he would not seek a new term as president or leader of Cuba's armed forces when the National Assembly meets on Sunday.

His retirement raised expectations for change on the communist island, and calls by Castro's arch-enemy, the United States, for democracy, but Cuba experts said limited economic reforms were more likely than swift political transformation.

"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament ... I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept -- I repeat not aspire to or accept -- the positions of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief," Castro said in a statement published in the Communist Party's Granma newspaper.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who has tightened the decades-old economic embargo against Castro's government, said his retirement should begin a democratic transition.

Cuba's National Assembly is expected to nominate Castro's brother and designated successor Raul Castro as president. The 76-year-old defense minister has been running the country since emergency intestinal surgery forced his older brother to delegate power on July 31, 2006.

Raul Castro has promoted more open debate about the failings of Cuba's state-run economy, but he is unlikely to make bold political changes to the one-party state. Fidel Castro will remain influential as first secretary of the ruling Communist Party.