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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Aontú councillor ‘wasn't advocating for violence' at meeting about possible Ipas centres in Meath
David Boyne, who is a local councillor for Trim, stood up at a Trim Says No rally on May 30, where he spoke about a recent decision not to permit an International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre in an industrial unit in the area. Mr Boyne also addressed a separate application that has been lodged for another unit in the centre of Trim town, with a decision expected next week. Before being handed the microphone, Mr Boyne was told he was not allowed to mention politics, including 'f words' that relate to political parties. However, during his speech Mr Boyne said that people power came in two forms, violence or voting. 'I won't mention those words but you know what to do. You know how to stop this,' Mr Boyne said. 'It's people power and people power translates into two things, violence or votes. And if you're not going to do one, do the other.' Last week, Meath County Council decided not to provide Erinpark Ltd with an exemption to turn a unit in Oak Tree Business Park into a centre for international protection applicants. A final decision on a separate application for a premises at Fairgreen, Summerhill Road, is expected on June 10. Mr Boyne said he was not telling those gathered at the meeting to use violence to oppose Ipas centres. 'Absolutely not. I wasn't advocating for violence. The point I was trying to make was people power translates to votes,' Mr Boyne said. 'So, when I said violence or votes, I was referring to the 1916 Rising, which was a violent event, that was people power. That's one way to do it, which nobody wants. Or the other way is votes. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I couldn't talk about politics. I couldn't mention politics and I was trying to link the fact that people power is politics.' The councillor said he hoped that his meaning was not picked up incorrectly. 'The thrust of what I was saying was, violence is bad. Don't do that. Voting is good. Do that,' Mr Boyne said. An Aontú spokesperson said it was 'absolutely ridiculous' to suggest that Mr Boyne was inciting violence. 'Anyone who knows him would find this allegation outrageous. Cllr Boyne is on the public record a number of times calling on people not to take matters into their own hands and not to touch property,' the party said. At a previous meeting on international protection centres in the area, Mr Boyne told those gathered that 'anyone here that might be of a mind to take matters into their own hands, do not touch that building'. The spokesperson added that while Mr Boyne's language was 'very clunky', the councillor had asked people to translate their people power into votes. 'Cllr Boyne is a brand new councillor. He was elected less than a year ago. He hasn't had much experience in public speaking, yet he has been thrown into the deep end, trying to help communities grapple with the Ipas system,' the spokesperson said. They added that it was 'unfair' for Mr Boyne's words to be portrayed as anything other than peaceful, because 'he misspoke once'.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Story of a Song review: Delve into the ballad Grace falls short of filling us in on its afterlife
Rod moves in mysterious ways – and what an impact he ( Rod Stewart , that is) has had on Grace, the maudlin 1916 Rising ballad which has undergone a remarkable resurgence since the rasping rocker started belting it out at his concerts. Stewart has talked a great deal about how Grace has yanked at his heartstrings – on the Late Late Show several years ago, he spent practically the entire interview wiping away tears. But there is more to the tune than a sobbing classic rocker, and the tale of Grace and its rebirth receives a more origin-focused, less Rod-centric retelling in the first episode of the latest season of Aistear an Amhráin ( RTÉ One, 7pm, Tuesday). The informative documentary series traces the evolution of well-loved songs. A run time of just 30 minutes leaves little space for mucking about and Sinéad Ní Churnáin cracks on from the outset by rewinding to 1916 and the love affair between Grace Gifford and Joseph Mary Plunkett, as recounted in the lyrics of Grace. They were the doomed couple who tied the knot hours before Plunkett was marched before a British firing squad for his part in the Easter Rising. READ MORE Plunkett was executed at Kilmainham Gaol, where singer Aoife Scott performs several lines from the song (a favourite of Olympic boxer Kellie Harrington ). 'There is a very particular atmosphere here,' Scott says. 'I felt these vibrations in the walls. It was very strange. That's why so many people visit Kilmainham Gaol.' Joseph Mary Plunkett was a signatory of the Proclamation Grace is often assumed to have dated from the early 20th century, but, as Ní Churnáin reveals, it was written in the 1980s, a boom-time for dewy-eyed ballads bashed out by hairy Irish folk singers. In this case, the hairy folk singer was Jim McCann, who received the tune, with thanks, from Frank and Seán O'Meara, songwriting siblings from Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 'Jim McCann was over the moon,' says Frank, who wrote the melody and who plays back a grainy early recording that is far jauntier than the version Stewart has belted out across the world for several years. The idea for writing about Gifford and Plunkett came to Seán after he was asked to rustle up a hit to order. Though aware of Plunkett, he knew little of Gifford until delving into her story. 'I may not have known before I did the research what Grace's name was,' he says. As a sort of idiot's guide to Stewart's favourite Irish weepy, Aistear an Amhráin ticks the boxes. Still, it would have been useful to hear more about the track's afterlife. For instance, how is it that former senator Donie Cassidy reportedly came to hold the copyright to Grace? And how much is it worth? Such details would have helped the viewer better appreciate the impact of Grace and reveal something we didn't already know (most of the audience are surely familiar with the story of Gifford). How, for that matter, did Stewart come upon it? You wanted to dive deeper into the story of Grace and its incredible recent renaissance, but, for all its good work, Aistear an Amhráin didn't go far enough in filling in the blanks.
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
On This Week: THAT 'Normal People' Chain raises €70k for charity
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (2nd - 8th June) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 2nd - 8th June. This Week In Irish News McDonagh Tower, a 15-storey block of flats in Ballymun, north Dublin, was reduced to rubble as part of a regeneration project. Thousands of people gathered to witness the tower's demolition, which was brought down by a controlled explosion. Oscar McAuley, the great-great-grandson of Thomas McDonagh, one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, after whom the tower was named, pressed the detonator. 2024: CSO marked 75 years of counting the Irish economy The Central Statistics Office (CSO) celebrated its 75th anniversary this week. The CSO was established in 1949 to gather, analyse and publish independent statistics and insights about Irish society, its economy, and the environment. In 1951, it carried out its first census, the first Census of Population, which is conducted every five years. This Week In Irish Sports Barry McGuigan captured the WBA and lineal featherweight titles after 15 rounds against Eusebio Pedroza. The fighter, nicknamed the 'Clones Cyclone', was on a 27-fight winning streak before facing Pedroza, who held the title for seven years and made 19 successful defences before this fight. Yet it was McGuigan who had the upper hand, flooring Pedroza in the seventh round before winning unanimously. 2024: Gold for Ireland in 4x400m mixed relay in Europe Team Ireland produced a magnificent performance to win gold at the European Athletics Championships. The relay team included Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr & Sharlene Mawdsley who finished in a time of 3:09:92, a championship record. The four join Sonia O'Sullivan as the only gold medallists for Ireland in the 90-year history of the European Championships. This Week In Irish Entertainment Gay Byrne returned to the Late Late Show set to mark the 50th anniversary of the talk show. After receiving a standing ovation upon his arrival, Byrne spoke about how people hated it when the show started, but it quickly became popular, and the rest is history. The anniversary also included Brendan Balfe, who was in the audience for the very first Late Late Show, who recalled his memories of the first show. 2020: Paul Mescal raises €70,000 raffling THAT chain for charity Paul Mescal raised over €70,000 for suicide prevention charity Pieta by raffling off the iconic chain worn by his Normal People character Connell. The chain became a hit with fans to the point that it had its own Instagram account with over 180,000 followers. Mescal said he particularly wanted to help Pieta because "suicide and depression are themes directly linked to Normal People." This Week In Irish Culture 2003: St Anthony relics tour Ireland The relics of the Franciscan monk Saint Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church's most popular saints, came to Ireland for a nine-day tour. Saint Anthony is famous for his power to return lost possessions, and his tour began at Fairview in Dublin. At one point, the poles used to carry the reliquary were lost in Dublin Airport, but Franciscan Conventual friar Father Xavier Goulet, who helped organise the tour, knew who to turn to. They found them about an hour before the official reception of the relics in Fairview started. 2023: Largest collection of Cumann na mBan memorabilia goes on display One of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Cumann na mBan memorabilia has gone on display at the Cork Public Museum after its surprise discovery in a dusty attic. The archive, which contains over 5,000 items, including photographs, letters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings, gave insight into the role of the women's Republican paramilitary organisation during tumultuous times in the country's history, especially during the Civil War. The collection would have been lost forever if a house owner had not contacted the museum and asked them to assess the material before selling the property in 2007. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1979: 'Sunday Girl' by Blondie Sunday Girl was written by Blondie's guitarist Chris Stein and was inspired by Debbie Harry's cat having run away. 1983: 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police The Police's signature song was recognised by BMI in the US as the most played song in radio history. 1998: 'C'est La Vie' by B*Witched The iconic song from B*Witched made them the youngest girl group ever to have a UK number one. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Liam Cunningham (64) Actor best known for roles in Game of Thrones, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and Hunger. Donal Skehan (39) Television presenter, chef and food writer. Helen McEntee (39) Minister for Education and Youth, and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael. Other Irish Trivia From This Week 2019: The Irish pigeon who played a vital role in D-Day An Irish pigeon played a small but vital part in bringing the news of the Normandy landings on D-Day 75 years ago. Paddy the Pigeon was one of 32 pigeons released from Normandy to bring back the news of D-Day to England. He travelled 368 km (230 miles) in four hours and 50 minutes. For this feat, Paddy was awarded the Dickin Medal, which has been described as the animal equivalent of Britain's Victoria Cross, and is the only Irish animal to have been so decorated. Looking Ahead
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘One of most inspirational heroes' – bid to honour doc who saved 1916 Rising lives & set up 1st Irish Children Hospital
THE new National Children's Hospital looks set to be named after a leading female doctor who saved lives during the 1916 Rising. 5 During the Easter Rising, Lynn was appointed Chief Medical Officer and was the only female commandant involved Credit: Doctors in Unite 5 She saved many lives during the 1916 Rising Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 The shattered remains of the General Post Office in Sackville Street, Dublin, after the Easter Rising Credit: Getty Images - Getty An inspirational woman, Lynn joined the Irish Citizen Army and was Chief But the defining moment of Dr Lynn's medical career was her establishment of the first Irish Children's The It's now awaiting a second stage debate, although both the Taoiseach and Minister for Health have responded positively to the idea. READ MORE IN HEALTH Here, Emma Mooney takes a look at the life of the pioneering doctor known for saving lives and fighting for social change. KATHLEEN LYNN was born in 1874 in the coastal town of Killala, Co Even as a child, she was marked by the shadow of the Great Famine and the stark poverty she witnessed around her — an awareness that would shape her life's work. Most read in Irish News Educated at Alexandra College in Having studied at the Catholic University of Ireland's school of medicine in Dublin, and the Royal College of Surgeons, Lynn later faced opposition on the grounds of her gender and was refused a position at Adelaide Hospital. FIRST FEMALE RESIDENT DOCTOR Instead, Lynn became the first female resident doctor at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, where she worked as a clinical assistant. But the Mayo woman's life wasn't all medicine. Lynn was heavily involved in politics from 1903, and was active across feminist, socialist and labour movements. She served on the executive committee of the Irish Women's Suffrage and Local Government Association for 13 years, and was a member of the Inspired by socialist activist James Connolly, Lynn supported workers who were fighting to unionise during the 1913 Lockout. Working alongside revolutionary Constance Markievicz, Lynn offered medical help and fed those worst affected through soup kitchens. GUN RUNNING In the same year, Lynn treated political activist Helena Molony at her practice in Rathmines, which inspired her to fight for social change. She joined the Irish Citizen Army and taught first aid to Cumann na mBan. She also used her own car for gun running prior to the 1916 Rising. During the Easter Rising, Lynn was appointed Chief Medical Officer and was the only female commandant involved. She was stationed at City Hall, where she treated the wounded, but the post was re-captured by British soldiers on the evening of Easter Monday. Lynn was taken to Ship Street barracks before being moved to Kilmainham Gaol. Her diaries revealed squalid and inhumane conditions. She was later sent to ACTIVE IN POLITICS But by the end of the summer of 1916, Lynn had returned to Rathmines and firmly established her life in Ireland again. She stayed active in politics and was voted vice-president of Sinn Fein in 1917. In 1923, she was elected to the In keeping with Sinn Fein abstention policy at the time, she did not take her seat, and left politics altogether in 1927. But the defining moment of Lynn's medical career — and possibly her life — was her founding of Saint Ultan's Children's Hospital, the first of its kind in Ireland. Alongside a group of female activists, she established the Dublin medical facility in 1919 with the aim of helping poor women and children. FIGHTING TB It was the first hospital in the country managed entirely by women, and from 1937 became the centre for providing the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) Lynn remained an outspoken voice for downtrodden people throughout the rest of her life, advocating for women and children in particular. She died on 14 September 1955 at St Mary's Nursing Home in Dublin and was buried in Deansgrange cemetery with a full military funeral to honour her part in the 1916 Rising. She left her cottage in Glenmalure, Co 5 Irish rebels lying in wait on a roof getting ready to fire during the Easter Rising Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 Irish republican and socialist leader James Connolly
The Journal
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
'I'll miss it so badly': Joe Duffy looks back on his storied radio career on the Late Late Show
VETERAN RTÉ RADIO broadcaster Joe Duffy has told Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty 'everyone has a story' and that he will miss his job on the radio 'so badly', in an appearance that follows an announcement yesterday that he would be retiring. Duffy jogged onto the set of the Late Late Show this evening to embrace Kielty as the audience gave him a warm round of applause. The Liveline host was in high spirits and full of jokes as he spoke to Kielty about his storied career in broadcasting. He opened by speaking about his 'great respect' for people of faith while expressing his admiration for the newly elected Pope Leo. Speaking then about his time as a radio host, his love of the medium was on clear display. 'Everyone has a story,' Duffy said of the guests over the years. He said that he is conscious of the problem of loneliness and how radio can be an antidote to that. He also said Irish people are more 'radio literate' than, for example, people who call into the BBC. Asked why he had chosen to call it a day, Duffy joked that he decided to retire 'because I wanted to be on the Late Late Show'. 'I've been doing it now for 27 years,' Duffy said of his time hosting Liveline, adding that he was 'of an age' now. But it was obvious he still loves what he does. 'I love getting a call from people who are upset, or they've been ripped off, and that's just the internal RTÉ calls!' he said, prompting laughter from the studio audience. Advertisement Turning to more serious issues, he told the story of two women who called in one time to say they had found out through listening to the broadcast their birth mother, who had been in a Magdelene laundry, had died. One of those women was in the audience and thanked Duffy. 'That really, Joe, lit a spark and that spark turned into a fire, and that fire was lit under the Church and state in Ireland,' she said, adding that it led to a formal apology from former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The radio host sought to deflect the attention and praise away from himself, pointing to the activists and campaigners who had made the cause of abuse victims a political issue. But Kielty made sure to give him some of the credit, which was met with more applause. Duffy spoke with obvious emotion about the struggles his mother had growing up and how it showed 'how far we've come as a country', that workhouses, for example, are no longer part of Irish society. He also said that while he, as a radio host, is supposed to stay neutral, what really gets to him is violence. He recalled violent incidents in his neighbourhood of Ballyfermot in Dublin and discussed stories from his two books about the children affected by The Troubles and the 1916 Rising. 'Bullets never stop travelling,' Duffy said. 'If you put a bullet through a kid's kneecap, that bullet will not stop travelling for the rest of your life.' Turning to the future, Kiely asked if he would consider a run for the Áras, but Duffy said he wouldn't want to 'move into a smaller house'. 'I will miss it so badly,' he said about showing up every day to speak to people live on the radio, which he clearly still loves doing. Duffy appeared on the show this evening as one of a number of high-profile guests, including NFL star Tom Brady, Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle and Ireland's Eurovision contestant EMMY. 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
