Leo Varadkar quoted the newly canonised John Henry Newman in the Dáil this week during a debate about future relations between Church and State. He was responding to Brendan Howlin, leader of the Labour party, and the Taoiseach quoted the famous line from Newman that he would drink to his conscience first, and the Pope […]
ON THIS DAY: 20 OCTOBER 1933: The Irish Free State government purchases the copyright of Peadar Kearney’s “The Soldiers Song” – Amhrán na bhFiann – which becomes the national anthem It was composed “early in 1910 or late in 1909”, words by Peadar Kearney, and music by his childhood friend and neighbour Patrick Heeney on […]
After serving 15 years in prison, the “Guildford Four” – Gerard Conlon, Patrick Armstrong, Carole Richardson and Paul Hill – are released for the wrongful conviction of the Guildford pub bombings in 1974. It is considered to be one of the biggest-ever miscarriages of justice in Britain. Despite the IRA unit responsible for the […]
ON THIS DAY: 18TH OCTOBER 1899: Death of Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh (Fr. Eugene O’Growney) He was an Irish priest and scholar, and a key figure in the Gaelic revival of the late 19th century. As a young boy he was very interested in the Irish language and after being ordained a priest, became an editor […]
Screenings of Unplanned have been extended once more in Dublin cinemas in response to public demand. The pro-life box office hit was initially scheduled to show for just one week in October, but was extended to a second week in cinemas around the country after large numbers of people went to see the movie. Now cinemas in […]
The Plan of Campaign was adopted in Ireland between 1886 and 1891, organised by John Dillon and others in the Irish National League, for the benefit of tenant farmers, against mainly absentee and rack-rent landlords and the tyrannical regime of enforced massive rents and evictions. Dillon was among those who organised a campaign whereby tenants […]
Assisted Suicide Laws and Their Danger to People with Disabilities is a scathing analysis of arguments in favour of assisted suicide.
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in Dublin in the 19th century. It was founded by Charles Gavin Duffy, Thomas Davis & John Blake Dillon who at the time were part of Daniel O’Connell’s repeal association. #gript
Speeches by supporters of assisted suicide always include a big shout-out for people with disabilities. Hey, guys, you’re top on our list of favs; we’re just working out the delicate balance against individual rights. Just hang in there; we love youse all. Which, translated, means that the fears of people with disabilities are going to be […]
It was founded by the ‘Callan Curates’ Father Matt O’Keefe and Father Tom O’Shea from Cappahayden, near Callan.’ Fr Tom O’Shea’s importance is emphasised in Callan County Kilkenny: A Short Guide to its History, Monuments and People (Callan Heritage Society). In this volume, Joseph Kennedy writes: “The Callan Tenant Protection Society which was founded […]
Phelim Roe O’Neill or Féilim Rua Ó Néill – was an Irish leader, from the famous O’Neill family, who led the Irish Rebellion of 1641 in Ulster on 23 October when the Irish rebels attacked Protestant plantation settlements and took garrison towns held by the Irish Army. The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation […]
Parnell’s newspaper, the United Ireland, attacked the Land Act and he was arrested together with his party lieutenants, William O’Brien, John Dillon, Michael Davitt and Willie Redmond. They were imprisoned under a proclaimed Coercion Act in Kilmainham Gaol for “sabotaging the Land Act”, from where the No Rent Manifesto, which Parnell and the others […]