Naoise Dolan: I've fasted, protested and donated for Gaza — and none of it is enough
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Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
University of Galway defends new non-Irish speaking president amid Sinn Féin ‘step backwards' claims
Today at 11:42 The University of Galway has defended its newly appointed president after the Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge said the university had taken a 'step backwards' by hiring a president with no Irish. Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD wrote to the newly appointed president of University of Galway, Professor David J Burn and the chairperson of Údarás na hOllscoile, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the status of Irish in the university in the wake of the decision.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Ex-SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says he rejected a knighthood ... using 'strong language'
FORMER SDLP LEADER and possible Irish presidential candidate Colum Eastwood said he rejected an offer for a knighthood from Westminster using 'strong language'. Speaking on BBC NI's Red Lines podcast with Mark Carruthers, the former Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader said a politician in Westminster extended the honour to him. 'I looked at the person and used language that I can't use in this podcast and said: 'Do you know who it is you're talking to?' 'People in the political establishment in London don't really understand the North, ' he said. The Foyle MP, who resigned as SDLP party leader last October, said the politician then asked him he if he would like to join the privy council, but he declined that offer too. The privy council is the formal advisory body to the monarch, privy counsellors advise the King on exercising the Royal Prerogative, which is the executive power of the monarch to make decisions such as declaring war. 'I said: 'I tell you what, the Budget's coming up, throw in a few quid for Derry from that Towns Fund and that'll do alright,' Eastwood said. 'So we got £20m for Derry as part of that conversation.' He described Westminster as 'bonkers' for 'going around offering people gongs to thank them or buy them in'. Advertisement 'As someone who doesn't want Westminster to even be running Northern Ireland I have absolutely no interest in any kind of gongs from any British government, I was happier with £20m for Derry.' The SDLP is a social democratic and Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland. Their main aim is to join the North and South of Ireland using non-violent means and create a new Ireland. The party was formed in 1970, and led by John Hume from 1979 to 2001. It has previously been reported by the BBC that Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin . When asked by Carruthers about a potential candidacy, Eastwood said: 'The most important thing for me is to have a conversation about Irish unity as part of that presidential election'. Eastwood said a 'number of people from different political parties' have spoken to him about running in the election, but he has not yet made a decision on the matter. The Journal previously reported that Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is not aware of any engagement with Eastwood over becoming the party's candidate for the Irish presidency. When Carruthers put this to him, Eastwood said: 'He should be surprised because we hadn't talked about it'. He said that although he had spoken to 'credible' people within different political parties in the Republic, he had not spoken to Fianna Fáil leadership at the time. The Foyle MP believes there will be a united Ireland 'a lot sooner than people think', and the Irish presidency would be useful in reaching this end. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Michael O'Leary has written to the Irish Times for 'slagging off' his Metrolink opinions
RYANAIR BOSS AND billionaire Michael O'Leary has written to the Irish Times, criticising one of the newspaper's columnist, for 'slagging' him over his opinions on Dublin's Metrolink. O'Leary and fellow billionaire Dermot Desmond have said the cost of the multi-billion-euro transport project is unjustifiable . They have questioned its popularity and whether future advancements in other transport technology will make it obsolete. Irish Times columnist Justine McCarthy wrote last week that their comments 'show you can be rich and wrong', and claimed there was a 'tang of Marie Antoinette's 'let them eat cake'' about the tone of their remarks. In a response to the newspaper today, O'Leary made it clear that he did not appreciate the remarks. He repeatedly cited an inflated price tag of the Dublin transport project. Advertisement The airline owner questioned how Ireland could 'seriously consider wasting approximately €20 billion of taxpayer money'. A €23 billion price tag first-appeared in a ministerial briefing to Darragh O'Brien earlier this year, a figure that was a 'potential upper range' cost but was not the estimated cost. The Journal 's FactCheck has previously highlighted that the figure is a misleading claim. There is a 95% chance the figure will not go above €23 billion – but the more-likely price range is between €7.16 billion and €12.25 billion. Throughout his letter, he criticised the columnist and questioned what expertise she held in transport when compared to him and Desmond, who was previously involved in the 2006 redevelopment of London City Airport in the UK. He added: 'If the next time Ms McCarthy wants to offer an opinion on government transport projects, perhaps she could address the cost benefit of the project, rather than slagging off two successful – albeit opinionated – business people.' Referring to himself and Desmond, he added: 'But sadly we are both guilty of 'being rich', so therefore dismissed by The Irish Times 'experts', who know so much more about transport.' Related Reads As another Irish billionaire criticises Metrolink, this transport expert says it's 'the only show in town' Minister says Ryanair boss is a 'successful' man but he's wrong about MetroLink Metrolink gets €2 billion funding boost - but no one knows what the final cost will be yet He said the Metrolink was a 'white elephant' and claimed that there were 'far better uses of taxpayer funds'. He maintained his opinion that the cost of the Metrolink 'cannot be justified'. O'Leary also sought to dispel assertions by the columnist that he was opposed to the construction Dublin Airport's second runway, clarifying that he was only opposed to the location of the new tarmac. Last month, transport minister O'Brien noted that while the Ryanair boss is a 'successful' businessman, he believed O'Leary is wrong about the MetroLink. He claimed that the transport project would enable future economic development. Brian Caulfield, a professor in transportation at Trinity College Dublin, told The Journal last week that the passenger volume of trains, such as the Metrolink, can't be bested. He said the project was best-in-class, compared with any future transport developments . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
