Comment: An aesthetic defence of rugby

For the sake of provocation I’ll say no one wearing the Irish number 10 shirt has synthesised all that makes rugby beautiful like David Humphreys did against the All Blacks in Lansdowne Road in 2001.

EU-registered ship travelling to Israel through Spanish territory with 400+ tonnes of munitions

An EU-registered ship will pass through Spanish territory carrying 440 tonnes of mortar bomb parts, projectiles and military-grade steel to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) largest weapons supplier. 

Basque company sent vehicle parts to Israeli arms firm

A Basque company this year sent more than a tonne of vehicle components to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems – the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) largest weapons supplier. 

Comment: Taking things Seriously

I knew things were about to get pretty Serious when I saw Stephen Collins. The Irish Times columnist had written yet another piece explaining we’d better start acting like adults because our betters in Europe and the United States aren’t looking at us favourably right now.

Airbnb expansionism in the Gaeltacht: 88 percent increase in whole homes listed in six years

To understand Airbnb expansionism in Ireland look to the Gaeltacht. Since 2019 there’s been an 88 percent increase in the number of entire homes to rent in Gaeltacht areas on Airbnb compared with a 48 percent rise nationally.

Using his media training company Ivan Yates lobbied government TDs, minister for energy firm

Ivan Yates used his media training company to also lobby both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs – including junior minister Niall Collins – in hotel meetings on behalf of an energy company that wanted advice on getting “a favourable planning decision”.

Illegal US ICE deportation flights refuelling at Shannon Airport – Simon Harris’s department looks other way

Illegal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights – carrying deportees to African countries they have no personal ties to – refuelled at Shannon Airport this July and August. 

Introducing ShannonWarport – addressing Irish complicity in US imperialism

The Irish state is prosecuting activists for, allegedly, doing what our leaders refuse to do: confront Irish complicity in genocide. Tomorrow in Ennis the trial of Áine Ní Threinír, Aindriú de Buitléir and Eimear Walshe begins.

After carrying out illegal munitions flights to Israel, Lufthansa thanks Department of Transport for its patience – state prosecutes anti-war activists

Lufthansa – which has repeatedly conducted illegal munitions flights through Irish territory to Israel – has reluctantly engaged with Darragh O’Brien’s Department of Transport, taking part in a Microsoft Teams call after a Ditch report on its unlawful flights to Israel.    

Irish lobbyists partnering with Lockheed Martin to connect Irish businesses with weapons manufacturers

A secretive group lobbying government for the arms industry is working with Lockheed Martin to connect Irish businesses with international weapons manufacturers for “partnering opportunities”.  

Comment: Highly speculative reasoning on three short reminiscences concerning Catherine Connolly

¶ Last Christmas I was at a party in a hotel in Rossnowlagh chatting with a few of the boys. It had been a bad year electorally for the left.

Heather Humphreys spoke at Orange Order member, ex-UDR man's Ulster Unionist Party event

Heather Humphreys was the guest speaker at a general election campaign rally for an Orange Order member – and former UDR soldier – who caused controversy when he said he wouldn’t attend GAA matches or pride events.