Protest against annual Islamic procession disrupts traffic in Dublin city centre
Dublin
faced disruption on Friday evening after a protest against the annual Muharram procession was staged outside the GPO.
Muharram processions to mark the beginning of the Islamic new year take place in cities across the world and a small gathering had arranged to walk through the centre of Dublin from Christchurch to the GPO.
Many of the about 100 people who took part were carrying Irish flags while others were waving Palestinian flags in solidarity with the people of
Gaza
.
A counter-protest was arranged with a similar number of people, many of whom were also holding Irish flags, gathering outside the GPO.
READ MORE
Garda sources played down the scale of the counter-protest and there were no reports of violence.
Garda sources played down the scale of the counter-protest and there were no reports of violence. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins
However, there was significant disruption to public transport as peak rush hour approached, with
Luas
services unable to cross the city for a period.
Transport for Ireland said Luas green line services were operating with delays due to the protest, with Luas tickets valid on
Dublin Bus
for the duration of the disruption.
However, just after 6pm it confirmed that services had returned to normal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Black Death, Newgrange and the American Revolution: a virtual trove of Irish history rediscovered
The latest tranche of records from the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (VRTI) has 175,000 new documents lost in a fire at the Four Courts in Dublin during the Civil War in 1922. Pieced together from copies of documents lost in the fire from archives around the globe, the treasury was launched three years ago. Some of the archivists involved choose their favourite documents from this release. The Black Death On Tuesday, October 7th, 1348, the exchequer in Dublin abruptly shut down. The Black Death, which had probably reached Ireland in the late summer, had finally overwhelmed ordinary life in the city. READ MORE For the next five weeks, as the disease raged through the population, the clerks did not do any of their usual tasks of taking and making payments on the Government's behalf. Only on November 12th, 1348 did individuals start to come back to the Exchequer and business slowly resumed as the city tried to come to terms with what had happened. The Dublin chronicler, Friar John Clyn, wrote: 'These cities of Dublin and Drogheda were almost destroyed and wasted of inhabitants and men so that in Dublin alone, from the beginning of August right up to Christmas (1348) 14,000 men died.' The rolls say simply 'nulla' – nothing, repeated again and again down the right-hand side. When the clerks came to write up this roll at the end of the financial year in September 1349, writing this section must have been an unwelcome reminder of an all-too-recent terrifying time. – Dr Elizabeth Biggs, research fellow, VRTI Handwritten notes from the Irish House of Commons debate about the American Revolution, now in the Library of Congress in Washington. The American Revolution Why do thousands of pages of Irish parliamentary debates survive in the Library of Congress, Washington, DC? Long after the Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland ended the existence of the Irish Parliament in 1801, a collection of diaries containing shorthand notes of debates and their transcriptions (pictured above side by side) were purchased by the Library of Congress in 1876. Created by, or for, Henry Cavendish, from 1776-1789, the diaries provide the only first-hand account of the debates of the Irish House of Commons during the period of the American Revolution and Legislative Independence. – Dr Joel Herman, research fellow, VRTI One of the first ever references to Newgrange comes from document dated from the 1690s. Discovery of Newgrange Newgrange , central to our understanding of Ireland's ancient past, was only rediscovered in the 1690s. The Dublin Philosophical Society, embracing new scientific methods, informed the Welsh antiquarian Edward Lhuyd of a mysterious 'cave' in Co Meath. Lhuyd conducted the first archaeological investigation of Newgrange, observing 'barbarous sculptures', cells, a stone cistern, and bones in the chamber. Though a Roman coin was found, Lhuyd doubted Roman origins, citing the tomb's crude design. [ Newgrange tombs not just burial places for elite, new study shows Opens in new window ] He also dismissed Viking involvement, noting the Irish annals placed their arrival after Roman times. Curiously, local legends of pagan rituals suggested a lingering folk memory from prehistoric times. Lhuyd's work, alongside the Dublin Philosophical Society's, signalled a shift toward modern historical inquiry, blending folklore, manuscript research, observation and early scientific reasoning. – Dr Eamon Darcy, Maynooth University A letter from 1661 relates to a proposed meeting of Franciscans in Mayo or Donegal hoping for a more tolerant attitude from Charles II. A plea for tolerance This letter, written in Irish, was discovered on the person of a Neale MacDavid when he was arrested between Donegal Town and Barnesmore Gap in August 1661. Alarmed, the arresting officer struggled to find someone to translate it. When he did, he sent the letter straight to his superiors in Dublin, who forwarded it to London. It is now among the intelligence files in the State Papers Ireland at the National Archives, UK. What had alarmed the authorities? The letter relates to a proposed meeting of Franciscans in Mayo or Donegal. With Oliver Cromwell dead and Charles II now in power, they hoped to reorganise their order under a more tolerant government. The original translation and the enclosing papers all survive. – Dr Neil Johnston, the National Archives, UK A letter from Anne Macartney to her cousin, Sir George Macartney, Chief Secretary in Dublin, about a duel he allegedly fought with Lord Moira, an Irish peer and political opponent. Racism and a duel In December 1769 Anne Macartney wrote to her cousin, Sir George Macartney, Chief Secretary in Dublin, about a duel he allegedly fought with Lord Moira, an Irish peer and political opponent. " . . . I am shocked to death about you. I have just heard you have fought a duel with Lord Moira, and are wounded . . . my God I hoped you had lived too long from the Hottentots to be affected by anything they could utter." Hottentot was a racist label historically applied to the Khoikhoi peoples of southern Africa. Here, Anne Macartney is describing not Africans, but Irish people – she hoped George Macartney had outgrown the influence of the 'native' Irish. Born in Antrim and educated at Trinity College Dublin, George Macartney identified as English. Although tensions ran high between him and Lord Moira, this duel never actually took place. But the rumour reflects the political heat. However, Macartney would fight real duels during his diplomatic career. In the 1780s he fought two duels – one in India and another in London. In both, he was wounded; the second time, seriously. Macartney is remembered for describing the British Empire as one on which 'the sun never sets'. He died in 1806, without children. – Dr Timothy Murtagh, Research Fellow, VRTI This map, produced as part of the 1891 Census, shows the 'rateable valuation' of land across Ireland. Where was the richest farmland? This map, produced as part of the 1891 Census, shows the 'rateable valuation' of land across Ireland. Local taxes were calculated on this assessment of local land values. Landowners in northwest Donegal and Meath paid very different rates. As these local taxes paid for local welfare, the policy ensured that poorer, overcrowded regions fared worst in times of crisis like the Great Famine. This map, from a few decades later, suggests that the basic problem remained. But modern statistics-gathering and printing of strong visuals, such as coloured maps and diagrams in the census report, helped make a case for land reforms in the late 19th and early 20th century. – Dr Ciarán Wallace, co-director, VRTI
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 5th: On doctors under attack, school admissions, and grand plans
Sir, – Channel 4 deserves great credit for broadcasting Gaza: Doctors under Attack which was aired on July 2nd (the BBC having changed its decision on broadcasting it) – as do Basement Films for having made it, and all those who bravely contributed to it. This powerful documentary should be shown on RTE – and made available on YouTube. Having said that, as a retired doctor, the documentary sickened me. For those who didn't see it, Gaza: Doctors under Attack portrays how Israel has systematically targeted hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare workers in Gaza to purposely destroy 'the one thing that Palestinians need most: its healthcare system'. Commencing with Gaza's main hospital, al-Shifa, and as shown by a UN Human Rights report in December 2024, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have used a standard sequence of assaults on all of Gaza's hospitals: airstrikes, blocking of access and medical supplies by ground troops, use of tanks and bulldozers, detainment of medical staff and patients and those taking shelter, forced evacuation, withdrawal of troops after rendering the hospital non-functional. READ MORE The scenes are graphic and highly disturbing: patients and staff being shot, emaciated children on intravenous drips, horrific injuries, medical staff digging graves for adults and children in the hospital grounds, beds with patients in them being dragged into the streets to avoid being shot. In addition to this, there are allegations of the targeted killing of medics (including in their homes and with family members), and the imprisonment, torture, rape, disappearance, and death of others in detention – as well as the abuse of prisoners by some Israeli doctors. The documentary includes the, by now, customary denials of wrongdoing by the Israeli authorities without evidence being presented (a) to refute the allegations being convincingly made (using the testimonies of detainees, whistleblowers, human rights activists and video footage taken by IDF and prison personnel) or (b) to back up IDF claims that Hamas is using the hospitals for military purposes. The denials are also implausible given the cumulative evidence that has emerged from Gaza, which includes the chilling statistic of more than 57,000 dead, including more than 1,400 healthcare workers. On the day the programme was screened, the death of Dr Marwan al-Sultan, a renowned and highly experienced cardiologist and the medical director of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza was announced. He was the 70th healthcare worker to be killed in Gaza in the last 50 days. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire and for all the hostages to be returned and for medical aid (and food) to pour into Gaza and for hospitals and healthcare workers to be protected – as well as the need for a long-term plan to rebuild the health service. In this context, there is now an urgent need for doctors and other healthcare workers individually and collectively to raise their voices – as well as medical schools and professional training bodies around the world (including in Ireland). Israeli doctors, many of whom work in world-class hospitals in Israel, also need to have the moral courage to raise their voices in support of their Palestinian colleagues who continue to work under attack in the most appalling and dangerous of circumstances down the road from them. If we remain silent, we are also complicit. – Yours, etc, CHRIS FITZPATRICK, Terenure, Dublin. Sir, – Niall McCann's excellent article ('Why is the United Nations not doing more on Gaza,' July 3rd) contains one of the most frustrating statements that sums up the tragedy that is happening there. He mentions Bosnia in the 1990s where the UN authorised Nato to impose a no-fly zone. So, if the UN had similarly bravely imposed this policy on Israel any time in the last 600-plus days of genocide how many thousands of Palestinian lives would have been saved? We are all complicit at this stage – Yours, etc , JUDY BURKE, Rosscarbery, Co Cork. Gaza children and visas Sir, – Your report ( ' Evacuation of ill children from Gaza stalls over visas ,' (July 4th) refers to the visas in question being for accompanying family members of critically ill children, some of whom have died waiting. You also report elsewhere that while one- third of Ukrainian refugees have left, there are still 80,000 in the State. What has happened here? Did we expend all our humanity on Ukraine? Have we none left for the victims of a genocide? Why can we not take all the families of these children and many more besides? Our Government has expressed many fine words to the world about the horrors of Gaza, but cannot seem to convert those words to even this small action. Our hypocrisy is staggering. – Yours, etc, DR EDEL McGINNITY, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Sir, – Ireland alone cannot stop the genocide in Gaza. Nor can we evacuate the entire population. But surely we can evacuate a few children. If they have families here, good. If not, surely families can be found for them? – Yours, etc, Ben Aveling, Ranelagh, Dublin. Health is wealth Sir, – A thought for the day: It occurs to me that we'd all be healthier and wealthier if we could switch the Revenue Commissioners to run Health and the HSE to run the Revenue . – Yours, etc, JOHN H. DOCKRELL, Foxrock, Dublin. It will never catch on Sir, – I only recently realised that the Irish Times e-paper subscription, as well as giving today's paper, also gives you the newspaper from the same day one, two, five, ten, 25 and 50 years ago. I now regularly read the 50-year-old one from when I was a teenager and totally uninterested in current affairs. Depressingly, many of the topics are similar today as back then; economy, inflation, energy, middle east conflict, etc. Today, the edition from June 2nd, 1975 had a little report in the motoring section ) on the production of the first British electric car. The Enfield 8000 cost £2,808 had a rust-free aluminium body and was powered by eight lead-acid batteries with a range of 55 miles but limited to 40 mph top speed. It has taken a very long time for the EV concept to catch on and contemporary EVs are a far cry from the Enfield 8000 but we're getting there! – Yours, etc, MARTIN HOWLEY, Carrigaline, Co Cork. Calling time on no comment Sir, – With regard to the Ranelagh charging arm, the real question is why did 'Dublin City Council not respond to requests for comment'? (' Dublin electric car owner ordered to remove 'unauthorised' charging arm by council , July 3rd). Who do they think they are? They work for us! If they don't want to talk about a specific case they can give general advice on the use of these devices or suggest real alternatives. The media should be chasing down CEO Richard Shakespeare on a weekly basis to explain these and other decisions about our city. It really is time for an elected executive mayor with a budget. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL O'LEARY, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Our friends in the North Sir, – Newton Emerson makes some salient points in respect of cross-Border student fees (' Fees for students from Republic in NI need to rise ,' July 3rd). Unfortunately, he slips into the usual blinkered thinking that has bedevilled cross-border mobility when he writes: 'One-third of students from Northern Ireland who want a local place are unable to get one, forcing them to study in Britain, where they have to pay the maximum fee anyway.' They are not forced to study in Britain. They could come South, where fees, even if they go back up to €3,000, would be just over a quarter of the sum to be paid in Britain (¤11,000). Yes, the cost of living is higher here, so some of the savings on fees may be needed for living expenses. And the poor A Level points equivalencies have been a handicap, though that has been removed now on the back of recommendations by a Universities Ireland working group that I chaired in 2023. If only our schools in the North gave students as much support for the CAO system as they do for UCAS, cross-border mobility for Northerners could be addressed. It is high time that they did so, and that they were helped to do so. If only for the sake of keeping more of our youngsters and their obvious talents closer to home. – Yours, etc, PROF PÓL Ó DOCHARTAIGH, University of Galway, Galway. Gaming the education system Sir, – Is it a rule for thee (the poor) and a rule for me (the rich) in modern education? An article by Carl O'Brien details how the deans of the medical schools in Ireland have met and are arranging plans to reduce the weighting of the Hpat aptitude test. ('C olleges to alter entry requirements for medicine amid concern applicants 'gaming' aptitude test ,' July 1st). The article highlights how 'gaming' the system is the perceived flaw of the Hpat exam. It struck me that the comment section related to the article was flooded with comments to the anecdotal tune of 'I know someone who got 625 points but, due to the Hpat, couldn't study medicine.' Surely, by now, we have concluded that being book smart is not the sole indication of the skill of a future doctor? I note that a well-known private 'grinds' school in Dublin, in 2020, had over 100 students achieve 600-plus points. Did these students also not 'game the system' by attending a private institution? Why is it okay to 'game' the Leaving Cert but not the Hpat? –Yours, etc, JAMES BOURKE, Kanturk, Cork. School admissions Sir, – I am writing in response to the article, (' New school admissions system for second-level schools to be piloted in five towns in October ,' July 3rd). While I believe this pilot is a step in the right direction, it ultimately fails to tackle the root cause of the problem. The current system's fundamental flaw lies in the existence of overlapping catchment areas, which actively encourages parents to apply to multiple schools. This therefore leads to 'long waiting lists and months of stress' and 'duplicate applications'. A single application form merely streamlines the submission of these multiple, often redundant, applications; it does not eliminate the underlying incentive for them. A far more effective and equitable solution would be to implement a system where schools have clearly defined, non-overlapping catchment areas. If every residential address falls within the designated catchment of one, and only one, second-level school, then the need for multiple applications vanishes. Parents would know precisely which school their child is entitled to attend, subject to capacity. If capacity for a particular school regularly comes under pressure then the redrawing of its catchment area would be necessitated. The pilot system, while well-intentioned, risks becoming a more efficient way to manage an inherently inefficient, unfair and stressful process. – Yours, etc, SEAN KEAVNEY, Castleknock, Dublin 15. Grand plans and infrastructure Sir, – I read with some dismay about the the grandiose plans of Transport Infrastructure Ireland to significant expand the Luas network. (' Future of the Luas: suburban routes and circular services around Dublin by 2050 ,' July 1st). In many ways this is symptomatic of the calamitous problem that continually bedevils getting any project done in Ireland. A large State agency with a large cohort of senior staff launches lofty plans, containing great ambition, no doubt having engaged many experts (not cheap) along the way in its compiling. The report or study is published, perhaps along with a media launch, maybe a government minister is present and it is handshakes all around. Let's be honest. We are codding ourselves here. Years later nothing has happened, the report or study got 'shelved' and perhaps many of the senior personnel involved are long retired. A small suggestion would be 'shelve' this approach. Instead, why not target small but realistic projects and get them built? In the case of the Luas why not construct small extensions each year or target a line say from Broombridge to Dublin Airport (I note that this is ruled out for 'operational' reasons, whatever they are). Rather than grandiose plans which remain just that why not pick a project and drive it on, less is more as is often said and what's more it might actually get done. – Yours, etc, ROB MAC GIOLLARNÁTH, Annascaul, Co Kerry. Counting the carbon cost Sir, – Your recent editorial, and letters drew attention to the issue of costs versus aesthetics in design for public buildings / infrastructure . However, what is truly depressing is the absence of discussion of the carbon cost, as opposed to the financial costs of such projects. Any discussion of these issues without a clear focus on the true cost to the planet is empty. After all, cement contributes about 8 per cent of all greenhouse emissions worldwide. We should not be embarking on such projects without serious consideration of the overall costs (to the planet) against perceived benefits (to whom?). Between artificial intelligence perhaps displacing the need for many jobs, and working from home obviating the need for more office space, not to mention the obvious need for a steep reduction in air traffic – it is surely time to realistically re-evaluate what our priorities should be. – Yours, etc, PAUL O'SHEA, Shankill, Dublin. A popular population Sir, – With reference to your article in today's article: ( 'The people behind the numbers as Ireland's population grows by nearly a third in 20 years, ' (July 3rd) showing Ireland's population increasing to over five million: When I in the course of my 'maiden speech' at the L & H society in UCD in January 1950 voted against the motion that we should unite with England politically, I stated that we had three million people and the audience immediately rose to its feet with thunderous applause! – Yours, etc, SEÁN Ó CEALLAIGH, Dublin 7
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
The Menu: Put it on a plate for the people of Palestine
I heard on the radio this week that Palestinian children in Gaza were in danger of dying of thirst as the Israelis are blockading fuel needed for trucks used to distribute water throughout this occupied territory — I didn't realise I still had the capacity to be shocked by Israel's inhumanity. It is a pleasure to earn a crust celebrating my passion for finest Irish food and hospitality, an especial privilege to share that passion in these pages. I also appreciate the food and drink section of the Irish Examiner can be a 'safe space', a sanctuary for readers in an increasingly batshit world where the grotesqueries of the daily news cycle become more outlandishly unfathomable by the day. Compounding that is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness most of us feel in the face of obscene wealth and populist power being wielded with hideous disregard for humanity and the planet. Currently, the Israeli State-directed genocide in Gaza is the most egregious example of such inhumanity in action. So, I have found it increasingly difficult to wax lyrical about delicious dishes and magnificent meals while a 'first world' state weaponises hunger as part of its ethnic cleansing of its own population. Is it any wonder there is such a thing as 'comfort food'? Any means of making a difference, however small, is invaluable beyond belief. One Plate for Palestine (July 22-27), is a wonderful fundraising initiative from Barbara Nealon (Kinsale's St Francis Provisions) and Beverley Mathews (L'Atitude 51, in Cork City) to support charities working in Gaza to combat starvation, and to raise awareness of, and maintain focus on, the genocidal actions of the Israelis. One Plate for Palestine is inviting Irish food and hospitality businesses — restaurants, cafés, bars, food trucks, market stalls, etc — from all over Ireland to add a special Palestinian-themed dish to their menus, with all proceeds from the sale of that dish going directly to Gaza. Food businesses can either create a Palestinian-themed dish (or drink) of their own or follow an existing recipe, using any or all of the following ingredients: Palestinian za'atar, sumac, labneh, hummus, Palestinian olive oil, and Palestinian olives. If you wanted, you could even serve up those gorgeous Palestinian goodies with good sourdough bread and a little salt, a super supper I've enjoyed many times in the past. Better again, restaurants can serve up One Plate for Palestine's suggested dish, Prátaí do Phalaistín/Potatoes for Palestine, a simple yet delicious combination which brings together the two food cultures in a symbolic nod to the historical ties that bind Palestine and Ireland, in particular a shared history of hunger and starvation as a result of colonial oppression. The dish comprises new season potatoes served up with any or all of the aforementioned traditional Palestinian foodstuffs and, if you've only ever eaten new spuds with too much butter — no crime there! — I think you'll be blown away by how well they work with the Palestinian additions. The goal is to raise at least €25,000 for charities working on the ground in Gaza, such as Gaza Go Bragh and World Central Kitchen, reputable charities that have been doing incredible work to bring fresh water and meals to the people in extremely challenging conditions. So, come on, Irish food world, let's see you stepping up, not only to feature a One Plate for Palestine on your menus, but also to spread the word amongst friends, colleagues and comrades in the industry and beyond, to reach as wide an audience as possible. This initiative is not just aimed at the hospitality sector because the other side of the equation involves Irish diners who are invited to also join in by supporting local restaurants participating in One Plate for Palestine. Or you could even run your own One Plate for Palestine fundraising supper evening at home for family and friends? After all, what finer seasoning could such a dish, any shared dish, have than to be sprinkled with love, hope and humanity. Instagram: @oneplateforpalestine FOODIE FARE Happy 10th birthday to Lott's & Co and, what's more, this birthday belle is the one dishing out the gifts with all manner of titbits, treats, giveaways and promotions for customers, across their three Dublin stores including a Beggar's Bush Birthday Bash (July 10) with prizes including hampers, dining vouchers, and the chance to win free catering delivered to your door. Instagram: @lottsandco Fans of Julia's Lobster Truck, in the Burren, will be delighted to hear that she is very close to securing a new pitch for one of Ireland's finest food trucks but the enforced absence saw Julia Hemingway take a serendipitous turn to teaching at home, where she now offers wonderful Seafood Cookery Experiences for 2-8 people in her own Burren kitchen, near Carron, Co Clare, including hands-on cooking (poaching and preparing lobster or crab, mussels and clams), followed by a delicious seafood feast at the kitchen table. Instagram: @JuliasLobsterTruck TODAY'S SPECIAL Ogam sauces South Korean food is most certainly catching the global imagination with Korean chicken set to be come as ubiquitous on Irish menus as Thai curry or lasagne. But when a cuisine and a dish in particular dish suddenly trends to that extent, quality can vary wildly which is why I am so delighted to have Korean Jay Choi as a near neighbour in Cork, not least because of I get to sample her new sauces/marinades. With the tagline, 'Born in South Korea, Made in Ireland', Jay's Korean BBQ Spicy Gochujang and Korean BBQ Original are not only stunning, but are real workhorses in the kitchen. Sweet and savoury in equal measures, with funky, fruity flavours, they have myriad applications in the kitchen once combined with a little imagination. A quick drizzle over rice vermicelli salad, with thinly sliced carrot, cucumber and peppers, was quite transformational; a dollop in homemade garlic aioli is my new BBQ burger sauce of choice; and, yeah, it makes for sublime Korean chicken wings, when cooked over charcoal.
