Education.

Ualach.

"Ni h-aon ualach trom i an fhoghlaim."

Gan dabht ar domhain ta ne h-aiseanna oideachais ata ar fail sa tir seo ar fheabhas ar fad agus da reir sin, ta an t-aos og an-foghlamtha ar fad i reim fairsing abhar - cuntasaiocht, teicneolaiocht, dli, adhmadoireacht.

Go mion minic ceapaim fein tar eis mo shaol a chaitheamh mar acaduil ag spreagadh daoine oga, go bhfuil an duine ata oilte i gceird agus ag obair sa limisteir sin ar fad nios sona ina shaol agus nios stuama na an duine a chaitheann a lan ama ag treabhadh tri figuiri agus litreacha in oifigi.

Ni he an stor airgid ag deireadh an lae an rud is tabhachtai ach an sasamh a bhaineann duine as a chuid oibre.

Molaim go ndeanfai iarracht cuid de na sean-ceirdeanna ata caillte le blianta a thabhairt arais aris ar sli eigin agus cuid de na daoine oga a oiliunt ins na ceirdeanna sin. Ceapaim go mbeadh tioncar an-mhaith aige seo ar aos og na tire.

Reading the auguries and the omens it is clear that money will be growing on trees any day soon and right on up, at least, to the time of the next general election. Not only will we have Slieve Gullion, Sleanaglough and Sliabh Foye around here we will also have The Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Meanwhile many of our boards and committees (including some of the highest in the land) are old, ugly, cynical, spineless, hypocritical and disorganised.

The qualities that are needed in greater abundance are bravery, honesty, accuracy, skill, science, politeness, industry, and not forgetting what Johnny Cash beyond the grave still sings about: "this thing called love."

Unfortunately these qualities do not come cheap and they certainly do not grow on trees but they are the real capital that the future depends on. So let’s get some education into education and methodically set about developing these qualities on a wider scale - before it is too late.