A tan suit in a White House and dreams of home: The week in quotes

TRIBUTES TO LIVES well lived, pointing the finger and the stark truth behind the ice bucket challenge.

These – and more – make for a week in quotes:

Taking control

Currently, this is just how I feel: I’m going to go do six months of chemo. It’s going to be rough but I’ll be cured and get on with my normal life.

- Louise McSharry, 2fm presenter and formerly of the DailyEdge.ie parish, on bossing her cancer diagnosis

Source: RTÉ press

What suit?

He loves that suit.

- A White House spokesperson on that suit sported by US President Barack Obama when giving a press briefing this week

Source: Evan Vucci/AP/Press Association Images

Of course, the more interesting – and less covered – quotes were from Obama himself on ISIS in Syria:

I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. We don’t have a strategy yet.

And his pointing the finger for what’s happening in Ukraine:

Russia is responsible for the violence in eastern Ukraine. The violence is encouraged by Russia. The separatists are trained by Russia. They are armed by Russia. They are funded by Russia.Russia has repeatedly violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the new images of Russian forces inside Ukraine make that plain for the world to see.

So, that’s clear.

Behind the ice bucket challenge

Sadly, we lost Mary far too young. It is poignant that she lost her battle against Motor Neurone Disease this week when there’s a huge campaign underway to raise awareness of this terrible disease.

- A poignant reminder from Limerick Council’s current Cathaoirleach Kevin Sheahan about the stark reality behind the current ice bucket challenge, on the death of former Cathaoirleach Mary Harty from the illness

Childhood lost

I was a child and they should have stepped in. It is damaging. There are some things that I don’t remember but, you know, there are also things that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

- One of the 1,400 victim of the child sexual abuse ring that operated in the UK town of Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, currently being revealed through an independent investigation

Source: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A last letter home

I remember going to the Mall with Dad, a very long bike ride with Mom. I remember so many great family times that take me away from this prison. Dreams of family and friends take me away and happiness fills my heart.

- An excerpt from executed photojournalist James Foley’s letter to his family

Diane and John Foley, parents of James. Source: Jim Cole/AP/Press Association Images

Ode to a father

To know Dad was to understand him – a simple, innately good and brilliant man.

- Philip Reynolds’s touching eulogy to his late father and former taoiseach Albert

Source: GIS/Photocall Ireland

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