Latest news with #Irishness
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Con men use race to distract from society's most glaring division
Stephen Yaxley was born to an immigrant Irish mother in England, but for some reason has always been ashamed of his Irishness. That led to him forming an 'English Defence League'. After leaving school he worked for a time at Luton Airport, but lost that job when he was sentenced to a year in prison for a drunken, violent assault on a police officer. Ever since then, he's never really had what most folk would consider an honest job. His activities always seem to involve raising funds by some sort of con. READ MORE: SNP call out BBC over 'unacceptable' Hamilton by-election programme Perhaps in an attempt to cover up this criminal record, Yaxley started using the alias 'Tommy Robinson'. He has also used a range of other aliases. Imagine being so ashamed of your own identity you've got to use so many different false names, trying to hide who you are! In September 2011, 'Robinson' was convicted of another assault, for headbutting a fellow member of the English Defence League. Yaxley-Lennon has just been released from his latest stint in prison. He said thank you to Elon Musk for getting him out. This petty crook gives thanks to the richest man on Earth. That's fascism for you; the filthy rich linked with small-time crooks using race to direct everybody's attention away from the real glaring divide in society: class Despite their pride, Trump, Musk, and Fromage are all failures. What they fail at (and, of course, those nearest to them, including their own families, realise this, even if most of them think it's probably safer to keep quiet) is being even slightly decent human beings. Forget hatred; what they deserve is our contempt. As for that posturing puppet Yaxley-Lennon/'Robinson', yes, he's also contemptible, as well as being pathetic. Dave Coull Findowrie A GP appointment costs £129. An MRI scan is £457. Calling an ambulance sets the NHS back £1045. An A&E visit averages £1368. A life-saving coronary bypass operation costs £71,996. Crucially, every penny of this is covered upfront for every UK citizen through National Insurance. No bills at the hospital door. No crippling invoices. Treatment is guaranteed when you need it. Now consider the private, profit-driven model Farage tacitly endorses. In the US – where healthcare is a market commodity – 600,000 people are bankrupted by medical bills every single year. Countless others die preventable deaths, denied care either by empty wallets or insurers who profit by refusing to pay claims. The system is structurally perverse: it rewards denial of treatment. READ MORE: Nigel Farage: Don't take Nigel Farage's threat to abortion rights lightly This is the grim future Nigel Farage and his Reform party would drag Britain towards. Farage – a man whose contempt for Scotland drips from his poisonous 'subsidy junkies' slur – represents the worst kind of nativist grift. His vision is one of division and dismantled security. Voting for Reform in Scotland isn't just misguided; it's akin to sleepwalking into self-inflicted disaster, ignoring every historical warning about empowering demagogues who peddle hate. Those tempted by Farage's facile lies must understand the brutal arithmetic. The choice is simple: defend the NHS – that rare, tangible embodiment of collective solidarity that actually works – or surrender to a predatory American-style system where illness means financial ruin. To choose Reform is to choose cruelty over care, profit over people. It is an act of profound self-harm. Alan Hinnrichs Dundee OUR NHS hits the headlines once again this week, and opposition parties once again attempt political point-scoring at the expense of those suffering and waiting. Yet those very opposition parties have been in charge of the NHS in other parts of the UK and unfortunately for those NHS areas and Scotland, a solution to long waiting lists has not been realised, only criticism. No constructive ideas, no examples of better practice, only criticism which demoralises NHS staff who are loyal and dedicated. But where do we go with the future of our NHS and for all who are often in pain and misery awaiting treatment? Unfortunately, a magic wand won't fix it. We all need to take some responsibility for the system. For instance, no missing appointments, using the fully joined-up approach of perhaps a visit to the pharmacy first, taking pressure off other services further down the line. READ MORE: John Swinney: Nigel Farage 'has peddled Russian propaganda for years' NHS nurses and doctors in Scotland are the best paid in the UK and I am sure most would agree we want to continue this practice. The Scottish Government's latest accepted pay offer continues this theme with 'Agenda for Change' staff – including nurses, midwives, paramedics, and porters – receiving a 4.25% pay rise this year, backdated to April 1, and a further 3.75% increase in 2026/27. This is the SNP in government recognising and valuing our dedicated NHS employees, taking action. Going forward, the government has invested massive amounts in our NHS, yet services still demand more. Perhaps a tax increase of 1p in the pound ring-fenced for our NHS is one to put on the table. This option would be more palatable here in Scotland than UK Labour's approach of back-door privatisation. Catriona C Clark Falkirk
Irish Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
New podcast unearths untold stories of the Irish in Manchester
A POWERFUL new podcast is giving voice to the Irish community in Manchester, with stories of migration, music, identity, and belonging at its heart. There's A Lot I Haven't Asked is an eight-part audio series that explores the resilience and legacy of the Irish in Britain's 'second city.' Created by Manchester-born Irish actor and writer Hannah Donelon, the series features original music by renowned traditional musician Michael McGoldrick. It aims to capture the deeply personal – and often overlooked – experiences of Irish emigrants and their descendants. There's a Lot I Haven't Asked Yet is about the Irish in Manchester Beginning with tales of emigration in the 1960s and 70s, when the Irish were Britain's largest migrant minority, the series gradually moves forward in time to include the voices of second- and third-generation Irish Mancunians. Through these stories, the podcast reflects on the challenges of leaving home, the bittersweet process of settling in a new country, and the enduring pride in Irish heritage. Donelon describes the project as a 'privilege' and says she was struck by how eager people were to share what their Irish identity means to them. 'What was immediately clear during my interviews is how much we care about our Irishness – how much we want to celebrate it, understand it, and share it,' she said. Hannah Donelon hosts the podcast series Episodes are rich with memories of rural Irish childhoods, community halls filled with music and dance, and the contradictions of growing up between cultures. Whether recalling GAA matches in local parks or late-night sessions in backroom pubs, the series invites listeners into a vibrant, emotionally resonant world. While the podcast offers older listeners a chance to reminisce, it also speaks to younger generations searching for a deeper connection to their roots. And for those without an Irish background? 'Céad míle fáilte' – a hundred thousand welcomes. The series offers a universal message: that everyone's story matters. There's A Lot I Haven't Asked is produced by Ian Stewart and Gary Hadfield at Blueprint Studios, with support from the Consulate General of Ireland in Manchester and public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It also benefits from contributions by Irish Mancunian and Made by Mortals. Episodes will be released weekly starting Sunday, 1st June, and are available on all major streaming platforms and at See More: Irish, Manchestert, Podcast
Irish Examiner
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Quail Hollow Diary: Orange is the new black as Scottie Scheffler sports jailhouse hues
The nature of these gatherings of the great and good of the sport is that storylines which could otherwise be screaming, bold-red headlines drop down to news in brief territory. This week marks one year since the world's No.1 golfer was thrown in a Louisville jail cell for a supposed turning infraction at the gates of Valhalla. The anniversary should arguably be a bigger deal. After all, the lasting image of the 2024 PGA was not Xander Schauffele raising silver but Scottie Scheffler in an orange prison jumpsuit. It's fair to say Scheffler wouldn't be renowned for his edginess but on the eve of his return to the tournament he broke out a burnt orange T-shirt for his Wednesday tune-up. The colour-matching to his mugshot attire was uncanny and surely no mere coincidence. Scottie Scheffler has worn burnt orange twice in the last year. First was a year ago this week at the Louisville Police Department. The second time is today. He's got to be messing with us — claire rogers (@kclairerogers) May 14, 2025 No fashion faux pas as McIlroy and Harrington raise standards Speaking of style trends, Tuesday night's Champions Dinner was a bit of a mixed bag, to say the least. Gathering the past winners at the whitewashed Southern-style clubhouse of Quail Hollow, all columns and Antebellumish verandas, the dress code was evidently not as strict as the Masters feast. Some dreadfully ill-fitting sports coats were on show and Martin Kaymer looked to be modelling a khaki trench-suit jacket. Jason Day brought typical individuality with a velour terracotta jacket paired with jeans. Thankfully, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington tried to raise the standards, in smart, bold blues. Harrington was the only one of the 17 present to have the decency to wear a tie. Quenching the Quail Hollow thirst pricey business It's thirsty weather down in these rolling hills of south Charlotte. The fact that Quail Hollow was once a dairy farm makes sense in terms of four legs being a whole lot more suitable for the place than two. Traipsing up and down the holes calls for regular refreshment. Luckily the PGA continued to expand their Championship+ tickets which start at $76 which allow patrons free unlimited water, soft drinks and coffee at course concession stands. It does not include alcoholic drinks however. Those will set you back a nickel or two: a regular-sized domestic beer (watery Bud Light, basically) costs $14.50 or E13. A larger, fancier beer is north of $19. A strong cocktail? $24.50. We'll stick to waters, thanks. Read More Unburdened by Masters success, Rory McIlroy wants to enjoy the freedom No good Charlotte as Irish credentials fade Charlotte sits comfortably inside the top 20 rankings of American cities by their Irishness, with 8.4% of the population claiming ancestry. That doesn't mean the place is immune to crimes against Irishness though. A local with a Carolina drawl was desperately trying to get Padraig Harrington's attention near the putting green. His lack of success may have been down to one of the most offensive Yank takes on the Dubliner's first name we've heard: 'Hey Paad-rake…Paad-rake!?' The besmirching went beyond the confines of Quail Hollow when the Irish press pack decamped to Legion Brewing, a microbrewery near the media hotel. Their featured pour on Tuesday night: Slainte Nitro Stout, with hints of coffee and marshmallow. Ambassadors have been expelled for less.
Irish Daily Star
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Irish American author Maura Casey said ‘humor' kept her family from ‘bursting into tears' dealing with illness and addiction
When penning her memoir, Maura Casey got to relive her entire childhood through journals that she kept for most of her life. While attending a charity tournament, later in life, Maura shared childhood memories with Irish writer, Frank McCourt, of growing up in a busy, loud and often turbulent household. Despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic - McCourt's Angela's Ashes being set in Limerick - the pair found themselves laughing at how similar their stories were. 'If you live in the madness of an alcoholic home, there's a funny combination of humor and madness that's hard to explain,' Maura said. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'dumbest President ever' after six-word comment about Congo Read More Related Articles Deranged Trump posts mad 184-word Easter message taking aim at all his enemies Maura is the youngest of six children, who all came in quick succession over the course of seven years. The next child up from Maura was her sister Ellen; her Irish twin who was just 11 months older and 'the most charismatic of the bunch.' Ellen was diagnosed with kidney disease when she was ten, and at that time, it was considered terminal. Ellen's doctor, Mary Hawking - a sister of Stephen Hawking - said that at each medical meeting they would ask the question, 'How do we give Ellen one more summer?' Maura and her sister Ellen were just 11 months apart (Image: Maura Casey) Maura's mother, desperate to save Ellen at any cost, donated her kidney. In Buffalo New York in the 1960s, renal transplants were still considered incredibly risky and Maura believed for many years, her mother kept a lot of the details from the rest of the family, so they wouldn't worry. 'Now people act as if getting a kidney transplant is like getting your wisdom teeth out. But then, it was kind of the medical equivalent of walking on the moon." 'The kidney lasted twenty years,' Maura explained. 'But in making the choices she did, I began to expect it shortened my mother's life considerably. And that's what I wrote the book to find out.' In many ways, Ellen's diagnosis seemed like the catalyst for the turmoil her family went through after that point. 'My father dissolved into alcoholism and a spectacular affair with a neighborhood woman, who had nine kids,' Maura explained. As she wrote, she realized that 'booze was a character in the book just as much as any member of the family.' For a long time, drinking and Irish culture were inextricable for Maura - something she laughed about when she later visited Ireland after getting sober at 28, and realized how wrong she had been. But despite some of the memories being difficult to revisit - like violent altercations within the family home - Maura retells them with an impeccable sense of humor, a trait she also credits to her Irishness. 'Humor is food and drink to an Irishman,' she said. 'It is so much a part of who we are at our very core. My mother could be hysterically funny. Her humor was witty. My father had a story-telling humor. So we were all very, very funny, in different ways, but it also seems to me that our humor kept us from bursting into tears.' For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Telegraph
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Irish establishment cannot fathom Conor McGregor's popularity
Like many other gentle readers of the Telegraph, I hadn't a clue what being a world champion of mixed martial arts (MMA) really meant until Conor McGregor burst on the scene. In the White House last month, President Trump and Elon Musk were hailing him as practically a hero. I then learned that he was a master of boxing, wrestling, jiu-Jitsu and – as we put it in Ireland – whatever you're having yourself. He has also faced charges for assault, disorderly conduct and rape. Although he was found not guilty in a criminal court, he lost a civil suit. McGregor was, we innocents discovered, beloved by many MMA fans – the very same people who had helped whip up support for Donald Trump – from whom the Irish establishment draw aside their skirts. The elite began resorting to the smelling salts when they heard McGregor was thinking of running for president of Ireland. Was victory really possible? 'No worries' was the message from the high moral media ground. Innumerable experts emerged to reassure the delicately minded that there was no chance of McGregor even being able to run since he couldn't win the legally necessary endorsements from serving politicians, not least because of his past scandals. Politicians were staying well away from him and establishment Ireland could breathe again in the knowledge that the most frightening candidate was likely to be senator Frances Black, whose claim to fame is singing a melancholy ballad at Martin McGuinness's funeral. But McGregor is appealing the civil rape case verdict against him, he has plenty of money for lawyers, and was tipped to be the first directly elected Mayor of Dublin. A working-class, Irish-speaking lad from a tough area who became a multi-millionaire, he has both charisma and nerve. He is telling truths the establishment and left-wing ideologues deny. McGregor says Ireland is losing its Irishness. The foreign-born population is heading towards a quarter; excessive legal and illegal immigration is harming small towns all over the country; and officialdom faces accusations of concealing the scale of the violence being committed by the incomers. The establishment seems to have forgotten that, less than two years ago, the public had rejected two woke amendments to the Irish constitution that had been endorsed by every mainstream party and was thought to be a shoo-in. In 2016 and 2024 it did not occur to the Irish establishment that there was the faintest chance of the US electorate voting for a vulgarian like Trump. Even now, they seem to ignore any evidence that Paddy or Mary is not thrilled with the consequences of the new secular religion of equality, diversity and inclusion. Politicians now seem set on shelving the promised plebiscite on giving Dubliners a mayor they might like. This could cause a monumental row and boost McGregor's standing. You might not choose to meet the prize fighter in a dark alley. But what the chattering classes fail to understand is that, the more they try to thwart populism and foist their progressive views on the public, the more disillusioned people become.
