The New Europe?

With recent terrorist attacks in Germany and France and Britain's decision to leave the European Union it seems Europe is at an important crossroads.The far right is gaining momentum across European Union, with dissatisfaction with the European union rising. The European Union is in a very critical stage of development, after the United Kingdom decided to leave on June 23rd, the future of Union looks shaky. The exponential rise in terrorist attacks in France, Germany and Belgium have lead many people to reconsider immigration policy in Europe. On July 24th, A Syrian Refugee hacked a mother to death with a machete. This incident will surely exacerbate already simmering anti-refugee sentiment in the European Union. After such a tumultuous year in Europe it can be inferred that nature of European politics will change quite drastically. Countries will now likely seek to have their own referendums on European Union membership, and immigration policies will likely become tighter.

The Schengen agreement which was established in 1995, allowed for the free movement of European citizens and abolished passport controls in 26 European countries. (Ireland and the United Kingdom opted out. In 2016 many Schengen area countries imposed stricter immigration policies in response to the refugee crisis. This has undermined the whole purpose of the Schengen agreement.The Europe that we will leave is set to change. Does this mean further European Union integration? or does it mean less European integration? Its difficult to tell.I am a proud European Union citizen and I strongly support my countries membership of the European Union.However I can't help but notice  that some its weakness's are being exploited by those on the right to further their own anti-Eu rhetoric.

Brexit and European Unity?

Knowledge is power

We all know the old adage 'knowledge is power' - but why is knowledge is power ?. In an increasingly secular world  people seem to be putting their faith into academics and intellectuals rather than men of the cloth. Dogma is becoming sidelined to the proverbial dustbin of history. Ever since I was a child I have always looked up to intellectual and erudite people. It still makes me wonder in awe when I encounter these  people. Growing up I was never really athletic or even academic, I was a particularly energetic child and quite frenetic. I did find solace reading however, and quickly grew a small library of books.It was a form of escapism, or way of sublimating all my energy.

To understand why I value intellectuals, its fitting I examine the sort of anti-intellectual environment I grew up in - particularly the sort of atmosphere of my secondary school. It was a Catholic all-boys secondary school and was quite economically disadvantaged.I think they took our cognitive faculties away from us in there because we were never expected to question anything. They just taught us by rote learning - Which seemed anachronistic for the time. We had no art or music as subjects in that school any mode of creative self expression was neatly omitted in a way that seemed almost intentional in that nondescript prison-like building. With this sort of environment, it is no wonder I began to admire people who liked to question and scrutinize the world around - people who helped expose the world as it really is. You see I was convinced I didn't have a successful life ahead of me. I was quite troublesome at times in class and quite reckless. I wasn't indifferent to learning, but I was indifferent to the education system that suffocated me.

So why is knowledge power ? Well in my answer the pursuit of knowledge is evolutionary. We learn so we can survive, and when we are in hostile environments we will think of ways to get them for the betterment of our lives. I think its wise to set the goal of ones live for the acquisition of knowledge. That was can expand our boundaries and even go beyond them.

Hello there!. It's been nearly two months since my last blog entry and a lot has happened in that time.I've started college studying Social science,which is a subject I have always been infatuated with. Along with the learning, I've made some nice new friends from all around the country. I found it a little difficulty to settle in at first to be honest. There wasn't anything I really had in common with everyone else,but I sort of realised that sometimes you don't have to have anything in common with someone to be their friend,you just gotta be nice.

And so the winter as finally cast it's ugly head upon these shores.Damp cold weather will substitute the sunny blissful Days of August and September.I do love watching the golden coloured leaves, but I think it's ironic that they have to die to turn that colour. I think personally that I like autumn the most of the four seasons. It's a bit like a microcosm of human life,that stage where we're getting older and our days of youth are further away from us than our gradual decay. 

Recently my phone screen got completely pulverised when it fell face-down on the ground. I was really kicking myself over that. oh well. It looks like a stained glass window with the cracks.It will have to do for now. I have been watching some comedy on YouTube recently, the likes of Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr -arguably the Best in the business. I'm hoping to see Jimmy Carr live in December with a couple of friends too.It should be real fun (hopefully).

So I shall leave this blog for now.In between now and the next time, life will have happened.And then I'll have something to write about again.. 

Some nonsense

It was a lovely Spring day and it was my first time there.I looked forward out across the great expanse of glistening ocean.I felt at peace in this location.I was mesmerised by the emptiness that filled the seascape.Where could I have encountered such tranquillity in urban life?, there would be no equal. 

I came here to get away from the confusuions of city life, I was like a hermit of old times that sought solace from the corruptions of society.I noticed an old couple sitting on a rotted wooden bench, it supports them just as they have supported eachother throughout many years.It is now decaying, jusy like them.

My lovely girl was there, her snow-like skin glistening in sun.She had taken me here to get some rest,Her sweet voice was like the ringing of bells on Christmas day.She spoke profoundly about her hardships but was keen on telling me about her ambitions for the future.I listened intently to what she had to say, as I knew our time together was now numbered.She had her turquoise-coloured eyes fixated upon a lighthouse in the distance.She told me her grandfather had worked there many summers ago.

A Tear at the tickled down her Cheek.She was nostalgic of times gone by.I told her to not fret, as memories perpetuate ones soul throughout their lives,as constant reminders of the people we met and those we have left behind.

Well after a long interval, I have returned.I have been busy the past few months but everything is in good spirit still.Now we are in 2015, I haven't wrote anything in over 5 months so I will try include as many salient points worth considering in my review of the past view months.Well January was a pretty good month, I graded in Sin Moo Hapkido and gained a red belt. I am still quite pleased about this.In February I  bought a new dslr camera.It cost me 200 euro and it's really great. I will post some photos below that I took of the stunning Irish coast in April.This year again, Ireland won the Six Nations Rugby tournament which was brilliant, considering they won it last year also ! It was the first time Ireland ever had a back to back win.It was personally my favourite six nations tournament to date.

I had forgotten about this blog because I really don't like talking about my private life especially on the internet, mostly because my life isn't ecstatic or anything, so there isn't much to talk about mostly so I like to keep things brief at most.Recently I watched A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick.It was sort of unusual but I think it was a masterpiece of a film, and it is an in depth approach that analyses how power structures change in society- well that's my own subjective interpretation anyway.I must admit I am a big fan of Stanley Kubrick's films, the first film of his that I saw was Full Metal Jacket.I was impressed by that film and was astounded to find out it wasn't filmed in South-East Asia but in London !.

That's enough talk of films for now.Books never fail to captivate me, I seem to have an insatiable desire to read and that's true.Recently I have been reading some philosophical books by pre-eminent philosophers like Bertrand Russell and Arthur Schopenhauer.I think reading is a productive way to pass the time,I need to make up for all the precious time I waste daily on the internet.

The summer is here in Ireland, but I think we are still in the liminal stage between spring and summer - judging by the weather at present.I hope to make the most of the weather this year anyway.Hopefully I will revamp room during the summer too, It is in a state of immense decrepitude at the moment haha.So yeah I am happy to be posting in this blog again and will definitely be posting things in the future.I really use this blog as a diary of events because I never really records things.

Some photos  I took of the cliffs on the copper coast of County Waterford, Ireland

One year on !

Well it has been a wonderful year full of great surprises. I am very grateful for the people I have had around me throughout the year.I can't express enough gratitude to the people I spent my year with.There are so many highlights of my year ! I don't know where to begin.Living in Ireland gives me a unique experience of the world around me.This was the first ever blog I had, and I found the whole experience of writing very exciting.

This year I had set myself specific goals. I wanted to continue my martial arts and I wanted to learn the Irish language a bit more.In the martial art of Sin Moo Hapkido I attained a blue belt back in April which I thought was pretty cool, I hope to progress on to red belt.I learned some Irish in School since I was 4 as is the norm in Ireland, however I used to dread learning it, until I finished secondary school I realized that is actually quite beautiful language and something we should be proud of as citizens of Ireland.My friends and I went to see stand up comedian Tommy Tiernan earlier in the year, It was my first time going to a stand-up gig, it was hilarious ! Tiernan's energy is unparalleled.I'd definitely go to another of his shows.

I spent some of the summer volunteering with two different organisations, It felt great being able to lend and hand it was nice to see that my work was rewarding.Through volunteering I have made some wonderful friends who I hope to be in contact with throughout the rest of my life.It is a a lot of fun and a great way to pass the summer.The weather during the summer this year was quite uplifting overall.

During the year I read quite a lot of books, If you've read my blog earlier this year you may see some of the books that I've been reading. Many of the books I read are books on Philosophy, I developed an interest in philosophy about 3 years ago and I can't stop reading philosophy. I do think it is imperative in life that we can sit down and ponder on life's most important questions,even to question our own values and long held assumptions about life,


Throughout this year in Ireland there was massive civil unrest throughout the country caused by the governments plans to introduce the much hated water charges.It's not exactly the water charges that are the biggest problem, the problem is really a lack of transparency in the  Irish Water organisation.There were many protests in the country throughout the year that exemplified the countries overall discontent with Irish Water.

In international news, The brutal Syrian civil war lingers on to a stalemate. its being going on for more than three years now since protests against the Assad regime began in early 2011.In the middle east , ultra Islamic fundamentalist group Isis have created a self proclaimed caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq,the brutality of Isis continues to enslave people in the area.Of course in sporting news Ireland won the the six nations rugby tournament, which was the first time Ireland had one the six nations since 2009.The world cup was also held in Brazil , with German beating Argentina in the final.

This post is getting a bit too long and I don't want to see a huge block of writing, I normally want to keep things concise.This has been a wonderful year for me in many respects, I faced some difficulties but I overcame them,I met so many new friends this year and made so many special memories worth remembering.I can only wish for another prosperous year in 2015 to myself and to anybody that reads this blog.

Good luck
Rob