Ted Howell - Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

ONE FLU OVER?I have the flu. It’s a sign of my loyalty to you dear reader, that I write this column in my sick bed. Bathed in sweat. I’ve changed my T shirt four times since Saint Stephen’s Day. I ran out of paper hankies and turned to kitchen roll for nose cleaning duties. The snatters are tripping me. I’ve changed my sheets as well. Three times. Everyone else is away so I phoned Richard. Gearóid Ó Cairealláin – the definitive activistLots has already been written about Gearóid Ó Cairealláin who died a fortnight ago. He was such a vital part of the Irish language community in west Belfast over so many years, and as someone I knew and greatly respected him, I cannot allow his passing to go without a wee personal tribute.Israeli barbarity knows no boundariesWe begin the new year as we ended the old one in the Middle East. The Israeli military - its ground forces, and air force - continue their expansionist war in southern Lebanon, Syria, the west Bank, the Gaza Strip and in the Yemen. In pursuit of its land grab Israeli soldiers last weekend forcibly invaded Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and gave the staff 15 minutes to leave. The Israeli forces then stripped the doctors, nurses and other medical staff and forced the semi naked medics and gravely injured patients out on to the cold and rubble strewn streets. There were 350 people in the hospital, including 180 medical workers and 75 wounded people. Many of the medics were taken away by the Israeli forces their plight uncertain.