Coronation Street star Kerri Quinn has told the Belfast Telegraph of her “pride at representing the pro-life community” in an upcoming TV drama from the BBC. The Belfast actor, best known for her role as Vicky Jefferies on Coronation Street, will be seen in the role of a committed pro-life activist in the drama The […]
One of the unforeseen consequences of the closure of the midland peat-burning power stations is the threat to thousands of jobs in the horticulture sector because of the sudden shortage of horticultural peat. Last year, Bord na Mona suspended all peat harvesting on its bogs, and peat-burning power stations were closed down ahead of schedule, causing “significant shock” to […]
We have incitement to hatred legislation in Ireland. If what has happened in the past few days is not incitement to hatred, then what is? When you tell a community that they are victims of institutional racism, without any evidence; when you tell a community that one of their members was murdered, without any evidence; […]
According to an RTE puff piece about its adult, animated satire series, Fantasy Ireland, we Irish ‘can laugh at ourselves’ and poke fun at ‘our sacred cows’. ‘No topic is off limits’. Yeah, right as we are wont to say down in Cork. The only thing that is the stuff of fantasy here is the […]
The taxpayer funded state broadcaster RTÉ has apologised after receiving 600 complaints over a supposedly humourous sketch that was aired during its New Year’s Eve countdown show. There was an outpouring of criticism of the clip and Archbishop Eamon Martin called for it to be removed from the station’s player because it accused God of […]
In their wonderfully tolerant and egalitarian fashion, RTÉ, the Irish State broadcaster, apparently thought it would be hilarious to air a “comedy” segment accusing the Christian God of being a rapist who forces himself on “young girls.” The Waterford Whispers segment, which aired on the night of New Year’s Eve on RTE One’s “NYE Countdown […]
The facts about the shooting in Hartstown today (Wednesday 30th), as currently known, are straightforward, and distressing. George Nkencho, a man of African origin, in his late 20s, entered a Eurospar shop in Hartstown and threatened staff with a large knife. One staff member is currently in hospital after being seriously injured. The Gardai were […]
Prof Ray Kinsella has provided a succinct appraisal of what the Brexit deal means for Ireland – not so much in relation to economic matters, but as a reflection of where the Irish state and the island as a whole stand in relation to the EU as a political entity. He notes in particular how […]
At this stage, the proverbial dogs in the street know that the Irish media is in crisis. With the setting up of the Future of Media Commission it seems that we are going to have a national conversation of sorts about just where the Irish media is going. The real question at this stage is […]
The EU blinked. There’s no point in attempting to put a gloss on it. You know the kind of thing: “This is not a time for triumphalism…” On the contrary, yes, it is. Europe should celebrate the Free Trade Agreement negotiated by Boris Johnson because it is a vindication of what democracy is about, and […]
Handel’s Messiah was the soundtrack to Christmas Day in our house. It was a bit, or more likely totally, above our heads but it gradually, over many years, soaked up the strangeness and wonder, the mysterious otherworldliness of Christmas. The smells and tastes, the treats, the novelties that the kindly Santa left for us on […]
As Niamh pointed out here several weeks ago, those cancelling the Christmas are in good company. Cromwell would not be the sort of chap you would normally name check when issuing decrees. Nor would the Bolsheviks, Nazis and the current Chinese regime who have also attempted to out rightly suppress the most important celebration in […]