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Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams at the launch of a Dublin special limited edition of An Phoblacht Rolling News

It's an end of an era for Sinn Féin as An Phoblacht ceases publication

An Phoblacht has been in production in its current form since 1970.

THE SINN FÉIN newspaper An Phoblacht is about to cease publication after 47 years.

The publication has announced that the December 2017 edition will be the last print edition.

The print edition will be replaced by an occasional magazine, with the first edition due out in March 2018. This will be accompanied by online articles.

The move to digital was announced by Sinn Féin’s director of publicity Ciaran Quinn in his latest editorial for the publication.

“Just as Sinn Féin is in a process of renewal and regeneration, so is An Phoblacht,” Quinn wrote.

“The print and newspaper environment is changing in a fast-developing world of social media. Our newsprint edition is now only a fraction of our online readership and with a demand for longer, reflective pieces and discussions on articles.”

Quinn said that with this in mind, the party will be ending its monthly print edition and moving over to digital.

“We will continue to produce online articles and reports with the support of our contributors.”

An Phoblacht has been in production in its current form since 1970.

Through the years, its editors included major party figures such as Patrick Little, Peadar O’Donnell and Frank Ryan. Amongst its contributors were Seán Lemass, Frank Gallagher and Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington.

In his editorial, Quinn thanks all those who have helped the newspaper thrive throughout the years.

We want to thank all those who have worked on the monthly edition, the contributors, photographers, production staff, sellers and – most importantly – you, the readers.
We especially extend out thanks to outgoing editor John Hedges and designer Mark Dawson for their commitment and skills in producing the monthly paper and associated publications over the past seven years while introducing the maintaining our social media platforms.

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    Mute Ollie
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 8:54 AM

    Poor boy. I hope he gets the treatment he needs and there is more research into this condition

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    Mute Marc Walsh
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 7:04 AM

    Is it treatable?

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    Mute Tom the Bomb
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 7:34 AM

    CBT usually and occasionally meds.

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    Mute Mary Kelly
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    Nov 29th 2014, 12:25 AM

    It’s a strep infection so antibiotics.

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    Mute Arthur Pewty
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 9:20 AM

    Hope he get treatment :(

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    Mute Rory Naughton
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 1:34 PM

    Hi Cliodhna.
    Perhaps a more in depth view of PANDAS syndrome would be helpful?
    For example:
    What, if any, controversies are there?
    How does it differ from TS/ OC?
    etc
    Also, am I the only one shocked by the 1/200 kids!! Bizarre that a syndrome which was unrecognised until 16 years ago now affects 0.5% of the population.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 2:53 PM

    One famous person who suffered from a similar and possibly related condition was Andy Warhol, who contracted Scarlet Fever as a child and developed Sydenham’s Chorea. Also known as Saint Vitus dance, it involves OCD and similar repetitive Tourette’s like movements.

    Sydenham’s chorea was first recognised in the 1850s. It is not that rare, about 1/3 of children who contract Scarlet fever develop at least mild symptoms of Sydenham’s chorea. It tends to last a few months to a year.

    PANDAS wasn’t recognised until recently because it looks similar to other conditions e.g. Asperger’s syndrome and Tourette’s. It’s not caused by the same bacteria as Scarlet fever and many doctors were skeptical that an infection could cause long lasting psychological problems in children, and some claimed the infection was an unrelated coincidence.

    But there’s more acceptance now, the few who remain skeptical should be reminded that they accept the existence of Sydenham’s chorea so why not PANDAS.

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    Mute Rory Naughton
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    Oct 22nd 2014, 4:33 PM

    Thanks for the interesting reply John. You made original article far more informative now.
    However a brief read about PANDAS suggests that there remains a lack of scientific consensus. Many in the field believe that, amongst other things, it is being seriously over diagnosed.
    These publications emphasize this:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24106651
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25309889

    Also I thought they were both caused by group A Streptococci?

    1
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