[caption id="attachment_67970" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Willie Penrose greeted a well-wisher outside Dáil Eireann following his resignation from the government yesterday."]
WESTMEATH PENROSE QUITS OVER BARRACKS
Willie Penrose resigned Tuesday from the Irish government, citing its plan to close the army barracks in Mullingar in his Westmeath constituency, according to Irish media reports.
The Labour Party TD said he had been "unstinting" in his opposition to the shuttering of Columb Barracks.
"I fully appreciate that difficult decisions have to be made by the government if we are to get out of the economic mess in which we have found ourselves," said the former minister of state for housing and planning, "but I was not prepared to stand over a decision that was not backed up by the facts and figures."
At a rally in October, Penrose said: ''Mullingar's 200-year military history could not be sacrificed for a proposal which does not stand up to scrutiny.
"Decisions should be based on evidence, on rationality and as to whether they make economic sense for the whole of society, not for just one department or organ of state."
In his statement Tuesday, he said: "I understand and appreciate that significant efforts were made by my Labour colleagues in government, who fully understood the depths of my feelings in this regard, to resolve this matter, but to no avail."
Under the coalition arrangement, Penrose headed up a "super junior ministry," which meant that he sat in on cabinet meetings but could not vote.
Labour Party leader and Tánaiste Éamon Gilmore said: "He has informed me that it is his intention to resign from government. That's a decision I very much regret.
"He's a very good colleague," Gilmore said. "Somebody who has worked hard for the Labour Party both nationally and in his constituency.
"I understand his decision, but the government has to make decisions which are in the best interests of the country," the party leader added.
The government also voted Tuesday to close down army barracks in Cavan Town, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
The 55-year-old Penrose, a native of Ballynacargy, Co. Westmeath, was first elected to the Dáil in 1992. A qualified barrister, he ran for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party in 2002, but lost narrowly to Liz McManus in a vote of the rank and file membership, though the top half of his ticket, Pat Rabbitte, won.
MAYO PRIEST MAKES PITCH FOR EMBASSY
The curate at Knock Shrine, the Rev. Richard Gibbons, urged his congregation at Mass in Shanvaghera Church last Sunday to contact Taoiseach Enda Kenny's Castlebar or Dublin offices and appeal against the decision to close the Irish Embassy in the Vatican.
During his eulogy, Gibbons spoke passionately to his congregation about what he believes will be the negative consequences of the closure on ordinary Catholics, and he said he believes there is considerable disappointment and anger in the county.
Speaking to the Mayo News, Gibbons argued that a direct communication with the Vatican is vital in restoring the fragmented relationship between the State and the Catholic hierarchy.
He said the reaction to his sermon has been "pretty good" and he advised Catholics in Mayo who disagree with the closure to contact either the Taoiseach or Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore's Department of Foreign Affairs.
Gibbons said: "There is a strong argument not to shut it down. If we close the Embassy it means we do not wish to reengage and it gives a clear signal to the Vatican. There has been a lot of evil perpetrated but let's not lose sight of the overall contribution and influence of the Catholic Church."
The curate also emphasized the positive work that Ireland and the Vatican have achieved as part of their collaborative work with the United Nations in the areas of conflict resolution, family-friendly policies and climate change. He added: "Not everything is evil, not everything is bad. There's a lot of good work which is also being done."
WEXFORD DRIVER FACES JAIL TIME FOR DEATH
A young mother, who drove a badly defective car at speed around a dangerous bend killing a 22-year-old Wexford woman, has been told by a judge to arrange care for her infant daughter as she is likely to be jailed in the New Year, the Enniscorthy Echo reports.
Danielle Smith, 20, of Bridgetown, broke down in tears at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday morning and apologized profusely to the family of Lena Doyle of the Ballagh, Adamstown, who died in the car crash at Rochestown, near New Ross in April 2010.
Smith, who was accompanied by her family in court, was told by Judge Gerard Griffin that he could not foresee a situation where a prison sentence would not be imposed. The victim's mother, Rita Martin, told the court in an emotionally charged victim impact statement: "In the evening when dinner is ready there is an empty chair at the table where she used to sit. I don't think I'll ever get used to looking at that empty space."
LEITRIM TOWN TO MARK 400
The local authorities and civic organizations are exploring ways in which Carrick-on-Shannon can celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2013, the Leitrim Observer reports. Important events in that history since the town's charter was written include the Plantation of the previously owned O'Rourke lands, the Famine, Catholic Emancipation and World War I.
Leitrim County Council, Carrick-on-Shannon Heritage Group, Carrick Chamber of Commerce, Carrick-on-Shannon Tidy Towns, representatives from the religious denominations in the town, Leitrim County Enterprise Board and Leitrim Tourism have been involved in the discussions.
It's hoped that, as with other towns and cities that have celebrated 400 years, there will be a calendar of events from St Patrick's Day through the October Bank Holiday in 2013.
