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‘It felt empowering and worthwhile': Martin Leahy marks three years of weekly housing protests

‘It felt empowering and worthwhile': Martin Leahy marks three years of weekly housing protests

Irish Times15-05-2025

Cork-based singer/songwriter Martin Leahy marks three years of singing his song Everyone Should Have a Home outside Leinster House. Video: Dan Dennison
Syrians in Damascus celebrate after US president Donald Trump announced plans to ease sanctions on Syria and normalise relation. Video: Sally Hayden
Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 52,908 people since October 2023, while the total number of injuries has climbed to 119,721.
Hollywood icon Robert De Niro lambasted 'philistine' US President Donald Trump and his proposed movie tariff at the Cannes Film Festival's opening ceremony.
Released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander was reunited with family members after 19 months of captivity by Hamas. Video: Reuters
Dubliner Oscar Despard captained a team from Christ's College, Cambridge to victory in the final of the BBC student quizshow University Challenge. Video: BBC
The Irish Times chess columnist Jim 'JJ' Walsh (93) has retired. He has written about chess in the newspaper for close to 70 years. Video: Dan Dennison
The front facade of an unoccupied cottage in Ranelagh has crumbled and fallen onto the street, obstructing a footpath. Video: Dara MacDonaill
Donegal managed to get players underlapping back the pitch in order to retain possession at the end of extra-time as Armagh aggressively hunted them
Two otters fight in the river Lee. Video: Chris Moody

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Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer

Irish Examiner

time18 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer

Irish rap trio Kneecap have named the legal team which will defend band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh against a terror charge. Rapper O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ní Ghrálaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.' In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. His lawyers have been approached for comment.

Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Gerry Conlon lawyer
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Gerry Conlon lawyer

RTÉ News​

time32 minutes ago

  • RTÉ News​

Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Gerry Conlon lawyer

Irish rap trio Kneecap have named the legal team which will defend band member Liam Ó hAnnaidh against a terror charge. The rapper, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ní Ghrálaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: "The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us." In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". They also said they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out and Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines D.C., and 3Cag. O hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 June.

Rory Gallagher to be honoured with naming ceremony at Cork Airport
Rory Gallagher to be honoured with naming ceremony at Cork Airport

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Rory Gallagher to be honoured with naming ceremony at Cork Airport

Liverpool has John Lennon Airport, Belfast has George Best Airport and now Cork is about to honour one its most famous sons, rock and blues legend Rory Gallagher by naming the main entrance route to Cork Airport in his honour. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will officially name Rory Gallagher Avenue at a ceremony at Cork Airport on Saturday. In attendance will be Rory's brother Donal and other family members as well as lord mayor of Cork Dan Boyle, a musician and fan of the late virtuoso guitarist. Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, and grew up in Cork. It was while on Leeside that he began his music career, playing first with showbands such as The Fontana and The Impact before forming Taste with fellow Cork musicians Eric Kitteringham and Norman Damery. But it was with the second incarnation of Taste, with Richard McCracken on bass and John Wilson on drums, that Gallagher toured the United States with Eric Clapton and Blind Faith before putting in a storming performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in front of an estimated 600,000-plus fans in 1970. READ MORE Dissolving the blues-rock trio in late 1970, Gallagher went on to have a highly successful solo career, selling millions of albums, being voted guitarist of the year by Melody Maker readers in 1972 and earning the respect of such legends as Muddy Waters and Clapton. [ Statue of Rory Gallagher unveiled in Belfast to honour musician's connection to the city Opens in new window ] Gallagher died on June 14th, 1995, aged 47, from complications following a liver transplant. To mark the 30th anniversary of his death, Cork City Council, Cork City Libraries and Gallagher's estate are holding a series of commemorative events this weekend, Cork Rocks for Rory. Cllr Dan Boyle said the commemorative events would include photographic and original memorabilia exhibitions at Cork City Hall, Central Library and Public Museum and a citywide walking trail commemorating the life and legacy of the musician. 'Rory Gallagher has been Cork's finest cultural export across the world. As we mark the 30th anniversary of his passing, we must celebrate his genius.' Gallagher's nephew Eoin Gallagher said: 'The Gallagher family are honoured and proud to endorse this initiative led by the lord mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, and Cork City Council. 'The interest in Rory's music and life has only continued to grow and grow, here in Ireland and throughout the world. We are delighted to support these simultaneous exhibitions and the establishment of the permanent 'Rory Gallagher's Stompin' Ground' Cork City Walking Trail.'

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