Midnight Mass From Oz

RTE's Midnight Mass from Oz last night was a splendid undertaking and was well produced. It was celebrated beside Hyde Park Barracks, near the famous waterfront Sydney Opera House, where many 'convicts' from Ireland were sent for stealing handkerchiefs, and such stuff, during the Penal times.

The programme was laced with little anecdotes of historic importance, and during the Mass a virtual sea of football jerseys, from counties on both sides of the border, were to be seen as our young displayed their pride in being Irish.

President Mary McAleese was linked up live, and gave one of her usual customary free-flowing little talks, for which she is now famous.