Latest news with #Gaeilge
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Call for investigation after Belfast's Mary Ann McCracken city hall statue damaged and Irish inscription targeted
There has been condemnation and demands for an investigation over damage done to the statue of an anti-slavery campaigner in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. The statue of campaigner and advocate Mary Ann McCracken was erected outside the building in March last year alongside trade unionist Winifred Carney to mark International Women's Day. Both were the first non-royal women to get statues in the grounds of the building. Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin said the statue has been defaced and called for a 'full investigation' into the damage. He also claimed the damage targeted the specific section of the statue which was in Irish. 'It is disgraceful that the statue of Mary Ann McCracken has targeted and damaged,' said the councillor. 'Even more concerning is that the damage appears to have been aimed specifically at the section inscribed as Gaeilge. 'This statue stands proudly at city hall in memory of a remarkable anti-slavery campaigner and Irish republican. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly recreates a famous Rory McIlroy shot 'I have spoken with council officials and called for a full investigation into the damage. I have also asked that the matter be referred to the PSNI. 'Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions to ensure this intolerant behaviour is not repeated. 'Sinn Féin is calling for repairs to be carried out as quickly as possible so the statue can continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.' The PSNI and Belfast City Council have been contacted.
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Dustin the Turkey to 'run for Irish presidency'
Dustin the Turkey plans to 'give back' to the people of Ireland by running to replace Michael D Higgins as the nation's next president. The iconic turkey has announced his intention to run for the position and is prepared to challenge Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness and independent TD Catherine Connolly after their recent campaign confirmations. Dustin told RTE Entertainment: 'Look, I'll be honest with you – I am willing to move to a smaller property, I will go to the Phoenix Park and I will embrace it. Olympic boxer and brand ambassador Jack Marley with Dustin the Turkey at the relaunch of Chadwicks Sallynoggin. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography 'I can do stupid poems in Irish like your man, Mickey D Higgins, and funny enough, Michael D said to me, 'Dustin, you should go for it and I'll leave my wardrobe here at Áras an Uachtaráin because it is the exact same size, it will fit you', so I can just go straight up. 'Now, he has bit more of a Ned Kelly then me but I'd be straight into Áras an Uachtaráin and you know, my First Lady, or Vogue Williams as she is known, would be great, too.' This is not the first time Dustin has declared his intention to be Ireland's head of state. In 1997, the singer and tv host ran against Mary Robinson in an ultimately unsuccessful bid for office. He continued: 'The short answer is of course I will be running for the presidency, I am not ruling myself out because the people of Ireland have been good to me and I should be giving back to them. 'I ran against Mary Robinson and she was a good president but she put a light in the window and left the door open and that's a dangerous thing to do on the north side. 'Then we had Mary McAleese and then we nearly had a lad from Cavan, that's how bad this country was getting but Mickey D stepped in and I think he was a good president apart from the stupid poems as Gaeilge but he is a good, honest man.' Dustin the Turkey also ran for presidency in 1997. Pic: RTÉ Dustin announced his ambitions while opening the newly refurbished branch of hardware shop Chadwicks in his native Sallynoggin, Dublin. The veteran bird is supporting his local hardware shop as a way of repaying the neighbourhood that raised him before he gained fame as the host of RTE kids show 'The Den'. Dustin added: 'The people of Sallynoggin raised me. It is one of those communities where you can leave your back door open. Now, you'll get robbed, but you can leave your back door open. They'll even rob the back door. 'When Chadwicks told me they were refurbin', I put in a tender for it, right? But apparently, some Eastern European builders got it because they turn up in time and charge a fair price and come back if there's anything wrong with the job.' Despite his big ambitions, Dustin is not limiting his campaigning to just the Irish presidency. He believes he could fall back on the vacant Liveline position left open by the recent departure of Joe Duffy, should his Áras bid fall through. He said: 'Me and Joe get on well. Joe was the ringmaster of a circus full of clowns and I'd be able to continue that on Liveline. You get all the nuts and madsters coming on and you just say, 'dear god, dear god, dear god . . . I don't know what to do' and you get a quarter a million a year. It's that simple.'
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Dustin the Turkey: "I will run to be president of Ireland"
Dustin the Turkey has said that he intends to run for the presidency of Ireland and has claimed that out-going President Michael D Higgins has endorsed him for the role. With former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness confirmed as Fine Gael's candidate and Independent TD Catherine Connolly expected to launch her campaign tomorrow, the singer, tv host and occasional carpenter has said that he "owes it to the people of Ireland" to make a bid to become head of state. Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Dustin said, "Look, I'll be honest with you - I am willing to move to a smaller property, I will go to the Phoenix Park and I will embrace it. "I can do stupid poems in Irish like your man, Mickey D Higgins, and funny enough, Michael D said to me, `Dustin, you should go for it and I'll leave my wardrobe here at Áras an Uachtaráin because it is the exact same size, it will fit you', so I can just go straight up. "Now, he has bit more of a Ned Kelly then me but I'd be straight into Áras an Uachtaráin and you know, my First Lady, or Vogue Williams as she is known, would be great, too. "Sometimes you see her and you don't whether to snog her or throw her a bale of hay - with teeth like that, she looks like she won the Grand National last year." Dustin, who harboured presidential ambitions before when he ran in 1997, added, "The short answer is of course I will be running for the presidency, I am not ruling myself out because the people of Ireland have been good to me and I should be giving back to them. "I ran against Mary Robinson and she was a good president but she put a light in the window and left the door open and that's a dangerous thing to do on the north side. "Then we had Mary McAleese and then we nearly had a lad from Cavan, that's how bad this country was getting but Mickey D stepped in and I think he was a good president apart from the stupid poems as Gaeilge but he is a good honest man." Dustin was speaking as he opened the newly refurbished branch of hardware shop Chadwicks in his native Sallynoggin, deep in South Country Dublin. A chip off the old block, the famous turkey, who rose to fame as a host of RTÉ kids show The Den alongside Zig and Zag, said he decided to support his local DIY outlet because he wanted to give something back to neighourhood that made him who he is. "You hit the nail on the head there," he said. "The people of Sallynoggin raised me. It is one of those communities where you can leave your back door open. Now, you'll get robbed, but you can leave your back door open, they'll even rob the back door. "When Chadwicks told me they were refurbin', I put in a tender for it, right? But apparently, some Eastern European builders got it because they turn up in time and charge a fair price and come back if there's anything wrong." Another high profile position in Ireland waiting to be filled is the new host of Liveline following Joe Duffy's departure from the role last June, and Dustin is more than ready to take over. "Me and Joe get on well," he said. "Joe was the ringmaster of a circus full of clowns and I'd be able to continue that on Livelive. You get all the nuts and madsters coming on and you just say, "dear god, dear god, dear god . . . I don't know what to do' and you get a quarter a million a year. It's that simple."
Extra.ie
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Lights, Gaeilge, Action! - Irish filmmaker on his family legacy of shooting movies
A young filmmaker whose debut short premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh this week is extending an established family legacy of shooting as Gaeilge – and working with legendary Hollywood director Ridley Scott. Oíche Chultúir – a boy racer-themed action short that is set in Gaeltacht-area Connemara – was well received in Galway, almost 50 years after writer/director/star Oisín Fleming's grandfather broke the mould for Irish language cinema. Bob Quinn's 1978 film Poitín, set in the same part of the world, was the first full-length feature shot entirely in the Irish language. Quinn, now 89, ran an independent cinema from his home, later immortalised in the 2004 documentary Cinegael Paradiso, directed by his son Robert and also screened in Galway this week. A young filmmaker whose debut short premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh this week is extending an established family legacy of shooting as Gaeilge. Pic: Sean Dwyer Fleming said he hasn't given much thought to the evolution of life in rural Ireland between his grandfather's film about illicit alcohol production and his own Kneecap-soundtracked caper, which deals in harder substances. But the 26-year-old has 'definitely thought about' the similarities between the films. 'I suppose it's interesting how we both made a crime film with a car chase, and kind of similar cheeky dialogue,' he explained to Fleming, who comes from Bray in Co. Wicklow, has two 'very proud grandparents' in Bob and his wife Helen, who 'helped write Bosco', so filmmaking 'definitely runs deep' in the family. Fleming, who comes from Bray in Co. Wicklow, has two 'very proud grandparents' in Bob and his wife Helen, who 'helped write Bosco', so filmmaking 'definitely runs deep' in the family. Pic: RTÉ That is true even before considering he is the son of Vikings: Valhalla director Hannah Quinn and cinematographer Tim Fleming, whose credits include Gladiator, Once and the Netflix smash Fate: The Winx Saga (which was directed by Quinn). In fact, both his parents worked on Gladiator, where the infant Fleming first shared a set with legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott, though it turned out that it would not be the last time. Fleming was a trainee assistant director on the 2021 historical epic The Last Duel, starring 'absolute gent' Matt Damon. 'I definitely was inspired by how direct he was and how calm he was and how simple it was,' Fleming said of working with Scott. 'Just don't overcomplicate it. Direct and clean [instruction] is just always better. You don't want to confuse anybody.' The emerging filmmaker has learned from his parents, too, and doesn't play down the head start he got over less-connected peers. Pic: Supplied One day of the shoot 'really sticks out', he remembered. 'It's a massive scene, 150 extras in the middle of this medieval battle. And over the walkie-talkie, they're like, 'Right, stand by, rolling.' 'And then he goes, 'Okay, wait, wait, let it cook.' And he just waits for 30 seconds, just lets the tension build just to get more out of the performance – just little things like that. 'He'd also set up a shot and say over the walkie: 'I'm painting a Vermeer.' He's an amazing artist. He's always referencing shots or paintings that he wants to recreate. I just love that.' 'I won't lie; it makes my life a lot easier because [my parents are] so well-liked. And I've actually worked with a lot of these people in my career now, that I'd been on set with as a kid. So I'm so lucky. Pic: Supplied The emerging filmmaker has learned from his parents too, and doesn't play down the head start he got over less-connected peers. 'I won't lie; it makes my life a lot easier because [my parents are] so well-liked. And I've actually worked with a lot of these people in my career now, that I'd been on set with as a kid. So I'm so lucky. 'I don't take it for granted. I've had every opportunity to move up in the industry, and I never, ever complain. I just keep my head down and work on it. When I get the nepo baby accusations, I just take it on the chin.' Fleming said he abandoned plans to go to film school after hearing from enough graduates that they 'wish they'd just started working'. Pic: Sean Dwyer Some 60 credits into a career that began at 16, his parents would appear correct in telling him they have 'only brought me to the door'. 'If I'm not good enough, there's no way I'd make it to 60 credits, I suppose,' he added. Fleming said he abandoned plans to go to film school after hearing from enough graduates that they 'wish they'd just started working'. 'They wished that they just learned on the job, because there's only so much film school can teach you, I think. And then people come out of film school maybe and they get a shock to the system, because the industry can be pretty brutal.' Both his parents contributed to Oíche Chultúir, and have mentored their son on their own jobs. 'We work really well together. My mum was definitely tough on me when she trained me first as an assistant director for my first few jobs, but I suppose she did that for a reason, to kind of shape me up. But I'd really love to work with them more.' His brother Jacob and half-brother Eoin are also pursuing film careers, following their father into cinematography. It was not his pedigree or Gaeilgeoir background that inspired Fleming to make films in Irish, but the international success of Colm Bairéad's Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin – first noticed by Fleming while working on The Gone with his mother in Australia. 'All the Aussies I was with wouldn't stop going on about this little Irish film called The Quiet Girl, and I thought, 'Wow, I'm on the other side of the world, and we don't seem to be celebrating our own Irish language films as much as other people do.' 'On the way home, I did the [funding pitch for Screen Ireland] with the Kneecap track [H.O.O.D] in mind, having not known there was going to be this massive Kneecap explosion.' The band were 'reasonable' in licensing the track for use in the film, while fellow Irish-language rapper Súil Amháin requested a donation to the charity ACALI' Palestine in place of a fee. Fleming said the feedback so far has confirmed his belief that the 'tone of the Irish just feels better than the English' in his film. 'I like the cadence when you write it, and I just like the cadence of my film. I'd love to play around with that more.'
Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Selecting Mary Lou McDonald to run for the Áras would be a wise move for Sinn Féín
Some commentators believe she would be in with a clear shot. We know she's a really good campaigner and has a really good public profile. I believe this would be the kind of move for Sinn Féin that would put it back on the pitch in terms of advancing its agenda on day-to-day issues like housing and health, but also on its raison d'etre of having a united Ireland. Win or lose, it would be a big, bold move for Sinn Féin to run its most high-profile person for the presidency, if that was the route it was willing to go down. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Mushroom murder trial is over, now let's move on to something more cheerful When checking through quite a number of newspapers, there seems to be a limited range of news. In the UK it's the heat and Wimbledon, in the US it's Trump and flooding. But everywhere in the world, it's also Australia's mushroom killer. Three people are dead, another has been injured and the jury has determined that Erin Patterson was guilty. Unless she wins an appeal, she will be in jail for a very long time. Thirty-two words to deliver the verdict and it was done, but it seems millions more have been written about it. It's time to forget Australia's deadly mushrooms, spiders, snakes and other animals and get back to reporting on our sports, celebrities – if we have any – and politics. There must be something positive happening somewhere in the world. Please find it. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Encouraging to see the revival of Irish language across popular culture There has been a revival of sorts in recent years in the Irish language, which is welcome. We have seen the success of films like An Cailín Ciúin that can stand on their own irrespective of what language is spoken. This year, the Galway Film Fleadh is showing 11 films as Gaeilge, twice last year's number. This points to a very healthy state of Irish-language productions. Kneecap are popularising An Ghaeilge, especially with young people. This is a far cry from the attitude of my fellow classmates when we studied Peig nearly 50 years ago in secondary school. This year, for the first time, the Galway International Arts Festival has Gaeilge ambassadors volunteering at events to encourage people to use their cúpla focal. There will be a pop-up Gaeltacht each day in Eyre Square between 1pm and 2pm. The use of An Ghaeilge is becoming more mainstream. They may be small steps, but people's attitudes to the language are changing. We have a long way to go before we experience the kind of revival the Welsh language has undergone in Wales, but as the seanfhocal says: 'De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.' Tommy Roddy, Ballybane, Galway It's about time somebody talked some sense into Trump over tariffs fiasco It seems like lies and more lies with Trump's tariffs these days after the US president kicked the can down the road again on his punitive tariffs. It might be a good idea if someone in his administration could now be bold enough to liberate him from his nonsensical tariff agenda. Perhaps they should suggest he needs to focus all his attention on his much sought-after Nobel Peace Prize. He should be well on his way with the support of his warmongering pal Benjamin Netanyahu. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 Semi-final scoreboard mishap at Croke Park must be explained by GAA During the closing minutes of the hurling semi-final last Sunday, my internal scoreboard did jolt with the one in the stadium. However, this was little more than momentary, as I quickly endorsed the integrity of what the Croke Park screens were displaying. And while this 'mix-up' may, arguably, have disadvantaged Kilkenny, the core concern is that of the integrity of the stadium's information processes. Therefore, it's good to see the GAA quickly indicate that the matter would be investigated, and I hope, thereafter, that the reason for the mishap will be clearly explained. Human error, in my view, would be more understandable and more forgiveable than a technology system failure. How a lucky intervention from my wife saved me from Battle of the Oriel As a Dundalk FC supporter I read with interest last Saturday's 'Battle of Oriel' piece ('This was not football, it was a riot. I might have had a reputation as a hard man, but I was frightened to death that night', July 5). This, of course, referred to the European Champions League game between Dundalk and Linfield in 1979. In one of her many wise decisions down the years, my wife talked me out of attending the game. Luckily, I agreed. Forty-six years later, I'm still going to and enjoying games in Oriel Park. Mind you, for some people, the words 'head' and 'examined' may spring to mind. Tom Gilsenan, Dublin 9 If this weather keeps up, we could be coolest tourist destination in Europe As high temperatures make most of Europe to the south and east of this island unbearable, perhaps Fáilte Ireland could roll out this simple marketing slogan: 'Ireland is cool.' David Loughlin, Dublin 6 Our Government must put pressure on Central Bank to stop sale of war bonds Wicklow County Council has joined the dozen or so other councils around the country calling on the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) to stop facilitating the sale in the EU of Israeli war bonds. Will our political leaders now recognise the will of the people throughout the country and instruct the CBI to cease this facility? For all its rhetoric, the Irish Government is still effectively supporting Israel in its genocidal campaign. Is that how we want to be remembered?
