Save Our Children

Went to Dublin today for the Photo Ireland Festival of Photography which will run until the end of the month. There are exhibitions and workshops scattered all over the City and we managed to fit in 6 shows during the day. Best by far was at the Institito Cervantes on Lincoln Place where the work of Spanish photographer Jose Luis Marin was on show. All the work was shot before the Spanish Civil War and for many years was presumed lost as Marin wasn't exactly popular with Franco. It turned up again though and just as well. The quality of these old black and white shots is simply wonderful and forms a great social commentary on the Spain of the 1930's and before. A must for anyone interested in the history of photography.

While in the City we also came across yet another demonstration outside government buildings. A few years ago it was decided to provide Special Needs Assistants throughout the first and second level school systems and the programme has proved invaluable to very many youngsters who are working their way through mainstream education rather than being cooped up in special institutions. Then the bl**dy bankers and builders ran off with all the money and guess who is expected to suffer for their sins? No, not the wealthy and others who can afford it but the poor and the vulnerable and now the children with special educational needs. The blind, the deaf, the autistic and the slow learners. Plans are afoot to cap and/or to axe the posts of their Special Needs Assistants. I might remind you that this is supposed to be what they call a "Christian" country. Oh yeah!!