
Thousands attend 'March for Life' in Dublin city centre
The demonstration gathered on St Stephen's Green, across the road from the Newman University Church around 2pm before marching to Molesworth Street.
The crowd then heard from speeches from speakers including Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Meath Councillor says vandals ‘too cowardly' following third attack on home
Trim councillor David Boyne took to social media to condemn a 'fresh act of vandalism' against his home after the front window of his property was smashed in the early hours of Sunday morning. 'This is the third time someone has violated my home. First my jeep was covered in eggs, then someone defecated on my property, and now this,' he said. 'I believe this could be the work of extreme left-wing groups who have targeted me before.' 'I have heard of other councillors being hassled. I've been accused of being a fascist and a racist, and I am sometimes publicly accosted by ill-informed people, but this is a new low. This is a criminal act.' Expressing concern for his family, Cllr Boyne said: 'I feel sorry for my wife and five kids, having to face the trauma of these petty, feeble-minded attacks. But I am not intimidated. Whoever they are, they're too cowardly to meet me face-to-face. I take it all as a compliment — obviously Aontú is doing something right.' Aontú has called on authorities to take political intimidation seriously and ensure that 'all public representatives can carry out their duties free from harassment or violence.' Meanwhile Cllr Boyne said he acknowledges public frustration with the state of politics but insisted 'that anger is being misdirected'. 'I know people are frustrated — I am too. But it's Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael they should be taking their anger out on. They're the ones in power. Aontú is the opposition, working to right the wrongs FF/FG are inflicting on the Irish people. We are the only party holding them to account. People have to fight back — and we have a weapon: votes,' Cllr Boyne added.


Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish passport service should put US applicants 'at bottom of the waiting list', TD says
Ireland's passport service should introduce a 'hierarchical structure' for processing applications, with Americans placed at the 'bottom of the waiting list', a TD has suggested. It comes as figures received by Aontú show an ongoing post-covid increase in applications. Information released by Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín show that between 2015 and July 21, 2025, 8,567,741 passport applications were received. Some 8,853,137 passports were issued over the same period. Mr Harris said the number of passports issued can be higher than the number of applications received for various reasons. This includes if an application is for a 'passport bundle', which includes a passport book and card. This is counted as one application, but two travel documents are issued. They can also differ as an application may be made in the previous calendar year, and the document may not be issued until the following year. 820,000 applications a year up to 2019 Between 2015 and 2019, an average of 819,933 passport applications were received every year. This dropped to 499,884 in 2020 in line with pandemic restrictions that shut down international travel. There was a slight uplift to 772,850 applications in 2021. However, as travel restrictions were lifted, the number of applications received increased dramatically. Over a million applications each year now In 2022, some 1,157,990 passport applications were received. There has been in excess of 1m applications received every year since, with 1,036,712 applications and 1,000,640 applications in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As of July 21, there had been around 580,000 applications received so far in 2025 with 615,5433 issued. Aontú's Paul Lawless told the Irish Examiner that Irish citizens must be prioritised for passport processing, as he suggested that US citizens are 'applying for a passport just to frame it'. 'I think it's natural that we saw a spike in the number of passport applications after the pandemic as people were permitted to travel again and needed to renew,' he said. 'At certain times of the year there are delays and this is very unfortunate for people who have booked flights or holidays and are left in the lurch as to whether they will be able to travel or not.' He said Aontú believes there needs to be a clear hierarchical structure put in place for processing passport applications. 'Those who need to travel due to death or illness in the family should be prioritised first and foremost. Date of travel should determine priority also. We also think that people who were born in or are resident in Ireland should be prioritised over non-residents. 'I'm aware of some cases where American citizens are applying for passports because they just want to frame it, or to be able to say that they have an Irish passport. These individuals should be put to the bottom of the waiting list, especially at times where Irish families are struggling to get passports.' In May 2022, the passport service reached a crisis point with 195,000 applications in the queue. The Dáil heard that some applications were taking up to 14 weeks. However, Mr Harris said the turnaround for paper applications is now eight weeks, with the 'majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days'.


Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Louth politician condemns ‘shameful' attacks on Indian community
Drogheda Independent A Louth political representative has strongly condemned recent random attacks on members of Ireland's Indian community, describing them as 'shameful and unacceptable'. Aontú's Louth rep Michael O'Dowd said he was 'appalled' and 'angry' at reports of unprovoked assaults, insisting that Indian people living in Ireland deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.