Ba é Naomh Máel Ruain bunaitheoir agus abb-easpag Mhainistir Thamhlachta, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath. Meastar go raibh sé ar dhuine is mó le rá den ghluaiseacht mhainistreach ar a dtugadh na Céilí Dé. Is beag atá ar eolas faoina shaol. Ní hé Máel Ruain a ainm pearsanta a thugtar air ag am a baistí, ach […]
Fun fact: Iconoclasm was last in vogue, in the Christian world, during the reign of Leo the Armenian as Byzantine Emperor, from 815 to 843AD. Since then, most societies have shied away from the destruction of images of Jesus, because, well, it’s not very popular. Until now, anyway. A leading figure in the Black Lives […]
If you happen to be a disinterested observer of Ireland’s decades-long abortion debate, you could be forgiven for thinking that things unfolded something like this. First, Catholic Ireland implemented the oppressive 8th Amendment, designed to inflict moral dogmas on a helpless population. Then, despite many horrifying happenings in between, the last vanguard of the patriarchy […]
A whole series of men working in the Irish arts and comedy scene have, this weekend, been publicly accused of sexual misconduct by women on twitter. Up to ten men, including at least one Oscar winning musician, one very well known Irish actor, and several comedians, have been accused of offences ranging from grooming young […]
Given that today is Bloomsday, perhaps it is timely to point out that there has been as much arm chancery about interpreting his politics as there is about many other things Joycean. The only real clue from his written work is that his family were Parnellites who stood by the Chief after his downfall. “He was […]
With most festivals and fleadhs cancelled for the summer, musicians and performers are coming up with novel ideas to keep music going online. At the weekend, thousands took part in the first-ever online Céilí in the Kitchen where families or socially-distant friends posted videos on Facebook and elsewhere of their celebration of Irish traditional music and […]
Begun, the statue wars have: British public defending cultural heritage in Poole. Baden-Powell statue now not being removed today. pic.twitter.com/qJuakSQVyo — Michael Heaver (@Michael_Heaver) June 11, 2020 The statue in question, naturally enough, is of some bloke you haven’t heard of, who founded the scouts. And trust me, the people who want it taken down […]
Give the man credit: He never shies away from the difficult jobs: The Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar has said Ireland 'definitely needs to bring in new laws around hate speech and hate crimes' and also needs an anti-racism awareness campaign. He told #2FMbreakfast such legislation 'isn't easy to introduce' due to the right to freedom of speech. […]
Reciting a pledge, renouncing your sins, hands upturned to receive absolution? You can recognise a religious ceremony when you see one, and here it is, in Bethseda, Maryland, yesterday: We often joke, those of us on the centre right, that in many quarters progressivism has become a kind of secular religion, and perhaps now you […]
ON THIS DAY: 16th May 1920, Joan Of Arc was cannonised a saint “You Englishmen, who have no right in this Kingdom of France, the King of Heaven sends you word and warning, by me Jehanne the Maid, to abandon your forts and depart into your own country, or I will raise such a war-cry […]
World Fiddle Day in Scartaglin is an annual gathering of traditional musicians not to be missed – but this year, like everything else, it will take place online. The Kerry village hosts a celebration of the fiddle and traditional music and song of area surrounding Scartaglin, Cordal, Castleisland, and those who enriched it by visiting […]
In the opening volley of the War of Independence in 1919, the Third Tipperary Brigade under commanding officer Séumas Robinson ambushed a RIC convoy transporting dynamite at Soloheadbeg on January 19th. Dan Breen’s brother, Lar, had told the IRA that the consignment was due to be moved under escort, and the raid included Volunteers Seán […]