logo
Freemasons to donate €2,500 to charity following Conor McGregor–Tucker Carlson interview

Freemasons to donate €2,500 to charity following Conor McGregor–Tucker Carlson interview

Extra.ie​24-04-2025

The Freemasons of Ireland have said that they will make a €2,500 donation to charity after Tucker Carlson interviewed Conor McGregor in their hall.
The disgraced UFC fighter was interviewed by Carlson, himself booted off Fox News in mysterious and acrimonious circumstances, last Friday, where he broached potentially running for President once again.
The organisation have since apologised for allowing McGregor and Carlson to use their hall as the location of the interview, saying that they wouldn't have accepted the booking had they realised what it was for, and will investigate the use of the Grand Lodge Room by the Grand Lodge Conduct Committee. The Freemasons of Dublin have said that they will make a €2,500 donation to charity, after Conor McGregor was interviewed by Tucker Carlson in their hall. Pic: Tucker Carlson via YouTube
At the Grand Masters Council earlier this week, the Masons said that lodge rooms would be used only for 'lodge purposes,' and no 'non-Masonic meetings' will be held in the Freemasons Lodge 'until further notice.'
The Irish Independent also report that the masons have decided to donate €2,500 to 'an appropriate, non-political charity' following the controversial interview.
McGregor has said that he will run for President later this year ahead of November's election, but faces an uphill battle to even receive a nomination; as hundreds of members of the Oireachtas and other councils, the two ways that he must receive a nomination, have refused to entertain the idea of nominating him. McGregor's interview saw him discuss a potential Presidential bid, and other political issues. Pic: Tucker Carlson via YouTube
Even if he were to receive a nomination, recent polls said that 89% of the Irish population wouldn't vote for him in the Presidential election; with the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers saying that his bid for the Presidency 'will be widely rejected.'
'When it comes to Tucker Carlson and Conor McGregor, I think you've seen the resounding rejection of Conor McGregor's attempt to run for the Presidency,' Minister Chambers said last week ahead of the Tucker Carlson interview.
'I think most political parties and Independents completely reject his politics, his rhetoric, his divisive approach to public debate, and I'm sure that will be reflected in his interview with Tucker Carlson.'
'That type of extreme politics isn't something that most Irish people would accept, and I think it will be widely rejected if he attempted to run with the Presidency. I'd be surprised if he received a nomination.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Donald Trump 'wants trade deal with EU'
Donald Trump 'wants trade deal with EU'

Irish Examiner

time15 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Donald Trump 'wants trade deal with EU'

US president Donald Trump wants to reach a trade deal with the EU, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said. Mr Harris said there are now 'real and meaningful' trade talks underway between the EU and US, after a call with US trade representative Jamieson Greer. While Mr Harris said the talks are now moving in a more positive direction, he believed there is still a 'way to go' before a deal is reached between the EU and US on trade. I think it's fair to say there is a way to go in relation to this, but I am encouraged by the fact that engagement has now begun in earnest between the EU and the United States. "I know from an EU perspective and from an Irish perspective, we want a negotiated outcome. From my conversation with president Trump's trade representative today, I think he wants that as well." 'What we need to find out in the days ahead, is there a landing zone that can work for everyone. Quite frankly, there has to be, because this transatlantic relationship matters.' Mr Harris acknowledged the deadline would run out next month, adding it was important for negotiators to 'intensely engage' and there 'isn't a day to lose here'. He added: I do now think the mood music, in terms of trying to find a deal, trying to find an agreement, is somewhat better than it was days ago. 'This will require the US and the EU to be really willing now to work to try find some common ground.' Mr Harris said the trading relationship between the EU and US was worth more than €1.4 trillion and this should not be 'snuffed at'. In an Irish readout of the call between Mr Harris and Mr Greer, the two had a 'constructive exchange of views' on the ongoing negotiations. Mr Greer recently met with EU Commissioner for trade, Maros Sefcovic, while Mr Harris travelled to Washington DC in recent months to meet with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. The ongoing negotiations come weeks after Mr Trump threatened to introduce a 50% tariff on all imports from the EU, after saying the talks between the two were 'going nowhere'. It led to a flurry of activity, with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen calling Mr Trump, before the US president opted to delay their introduction to allow for 'serious negotiations'. The deadline for negotiations to be completed are now July 9.

Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'
Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'

Irish Examiner

time31 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'

Ireland's Defence Forces could become embroiled in peacekeeping missions that could jeopardise Ireland's military neutrality if Government proposals to scrap UN authorisation for such deployments is passed, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Ray Murphy, a professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, said if Ireland took part in an EU force without a UN mandate — with the monitoring and controls coming with that — it could end up in situations not originally envisaged that would end up breaching our neutrality. Prof Murphy was one of three academics who took part in a three-hour session at the Oireachtas defence and national security committee, which is holding hearings on the Defence Bill 2025. The draft legislation proposes to remove the requirement for UN approval to send Defence Forces abroad. It also plans to increase from 12 to 50 the number of personnel that can be sent overseas without the Government needing the support of the Dáil. Defence Bill 2025 The bill would authorise Irish troops to take part in an 'international force' for the purposes of peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and international security 'consistent with the principles of the United Nations charter'. Examples of such bodies include the OSCE, the EU, or 'any other body' that operates in manner consistent with UN principles. All three academics at the committee are strongly opposed to the Government proposals to remove the 'triple lock'. It is not clear if the committee is due to hear from academics who are non-committed on the issue or who are in favour of removing the triple lock. Prof Murphy said: 'Any deployment of Defence Forces with an international force will be subject to certain mandatory principles. These are that the particular international force will be mandated to operate for peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and/or strengthening international security, in accordance with international law and consistent with the principles of the UN.' He asked who would determine if a regional body 'operates in a manner consistent' with the UN charter and international law, especially if Security Council or General Assembly approval is not obtained. Situations on the ground 'can change' Prof Murphy said situations on the ground can change and that Irish troops 'could become embroiled in something' that wasn't originally envisaged — and that such a situation could 'certainly jeopardise' military neutrality. He described the proposals as a 'betrayal' to commitments made by governments to its citizens and that they would grant any government 'excessive authority'. Karen Devine, lecturer in European politics at DCU, told the committee that as an academic her job is to 'tell the truth'. She said public support for neutrality has been consistent over the decades, with four in five people in favour of it. She alleged that 'militarists', consisting of the EU, Nato, and the military-industrial complex, 'seek to eradicate' Irish neutrality including the triple lock and want to 'militarise' the EU. She further alleged that these were joined by 'university agents', (professors she effectively identified), think tanks, and the 'mass media', who promoted this agenda.

Government intends to change defamation laws in this term
Government intends to change defamation laws in this term

RTÉ News​

timean hour ago

  • RTÉ News​

Government intends to change defamation laws in this term

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin has said that the Government intends to change Irish defamation laws. Speaking in response to a question on Gerry Adams recently winning a defamation case against the BBC, Mr Martin said that a change in the laws was needed to allow for a balanced environment. "I think the defamation laws need to be changed. We're going to change them. We've published heads of the bill, and Minister (for Justice, Jim) O'Callaghan is going to proceed. We're going to do it in this Government. We said we would," he said. "We will look at the pre-legislation, it'll go to the Oireachtas, but a lot of work has been done on it. Minister James Browne did a lot of work on that in the previous Government, he's a good legislator. "I think we do need to get it through to create a balanced environment for commentary and for investigative journalism," the Taoiseach added. Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, in which he denies any involvement. Last month, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him €100,000, after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Féin leader's legal costs. At the time, the director of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth said there were "profound" implications from the jury's decision. "As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could - and they warned that today's decision could hinder freedom of expression," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store