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Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Reaction to CMAT hit sounds warning to Fianna Fáil as they consider presidential candidate
"All the big boys, all the Berties/All the envelopes, yeah, they hurt me/I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me (All around me)/And it was normal, building houses/That stay empty even now, yeah!" If you've spent any time on social media or are even vaguely aware of the cultural zeitgeist, those words were read in the voice of Ciara Mary Alice Thompson, aka CMAT, the pop-country singer from Dunboyne, Co Meath, who has owned this summer. CMAT has owned this summer. From her Take A Sexy Picture of Me becoming the "woke Macarena" and inspiring thousands of TikTok dance imitators, to a breakout set at Glastonbury, to headlining last weekend's All Together Now festival, it is CMAT's moment. In her latest release, Euro Country, Ms Thompson gives a thoughtful reflection of the Irish identity post-crash from the point of view of someone who came of age during the era of bank bailouts and austerity. While the scars of the time run deep in Irish social and political life, it is interesting to hear the perspective of someone who was a child in those years, as much of the memory of it is done through the lens of older millennials, whose perspectives were more related to a lack of jobs and rampant emigration and, as CMAT points out, suicide. Deaths by suicide in Ireland peaked in 2012 during the recession, with the National Suicide Research Foundation finding that there were 476 more male suicides in the years 2008 to 2012 than had there not been a recession. CMAT during the All Together Now Festival at the weekend where she said she doesn't know all of the politics, but she knows the impacts of the crash in Ireland. Photo: Kieran Frost/Redferns But aside from being the catchiest bridge of an Irish song in a long time, the virality of the song across social media and its pointed use of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as a totem for the entire collapse opens a conversation about the post-2008 Irish economic downturn to a new generation of voters. While it may feel as though it was just yesterday, many voted in last year's general election who wouldn't have been in school yet when the decision was made to bail out Irish banks. The consequences of the economic collapse and austerity budgets of the early 2010s may still be felt, but it would be understandable if the generation who grew up in the recovery years and subsequent revolving existential crises did not understand its context or nuances. CMAT: 'Nobody I grew up with basically lives here anymore; everyone has had to emigrate.' Photo: Sarah Doyle Indeed, speaking on stage in Waterford at the weekend, CMAT herself is quoted as saying she doesn't know all of the politics, but she knows the impacts. "Nobody I grew up with basically lives here anymore; everyone has had to emigrate. 'Nobody can afford to live here; everybody is leaving home. And everyone who is left behind is left with less and less public services, healthcare, and security in everything that you need to live a life not in danger. 'I believe this is directly the fault of the Irish government that we had 20-25 years ago." The comments came in the same weekend that the subject of that bridge, Mr Ahern, was named as the most preferred of a slew of potential Fianna Fáil presidential candidates. Bertie Ahern has been named as the most preferred of a slew of potential Fianna Fáil presidential candidates. File photo: Maxwells It is unlikely that any would-be candidate or the Fianna Fáil party at large will be making decisions based on one song, no matter how catchy, but the prevalence of the sentiment online should sound a warning for some in Fianna Fáil. If their candidate for the Áras is closely associated with the financial crash, they will have to relitigate their party's role in it. Having successfully navigated its electoral shellacking in 2011 to return to power just nine years later and being the largest party in the country by the 15-year mark of the troika bailout, it is something many in the party would be loathe to do, especially not with such a good soundtrack.
Dublin Live
03-06-2025
- Health
- Dublin Live
More than 50,000 treated for self-harm in hospitals in Ireland in four years
Irish hospitals treated over 50,000 people for "self-harm" injuries in a four-year period between 2020-2023, the latest data has revealed. The figures were released by the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland in reply to a Dail question from the Laois/Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan. It records and reports information about self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments across the country and is operated by the National Suicide Research Foundation. A total of 12,553 people went to hospital with self-harm injuries in 2020,12,661 in 2021, 12,705 in 2022 and 12,792 in 2023. The figures for last year and the first five months of this year are not available yet. Reacting to the figures, the Junior Health Minister with responsibility for mental health services Mary Butler said: "Broadly speaking, self-harm rates are stable year on year and there has been a decline in recent years. Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry highlights that between 2010 and 2023 self-harm rates decreased by 12 per cent. "While there is much more to be done, it is reassuring that the rate did not increase across 2022 and 2023 and we now know that self-harm rates did not increase during the Covid-19 pandemic. The peak self-harm rate recorded for adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in 2021 has decreased in 2022 and 2023 which is positive. "However, self-harm rates in younger female adolescents are continuing to rise highlighting the need to prioritise mental health supports and targeted interventions for young people and their parents." Deputy Nolan branded the data as "alarming" and claimed it doesn't reflect the true number of self-harm instances which took place at home during the pandemic. She said: "There is a serious need for more mental health support and targeted interventions for young people and their parents, and that is something I will continue to advocate for. "We need to make sure that adolescents have access to CAMS services and that there are professionals there to help them and support them in their recovery." According to the last published figures; 504 died in 2020, 512 people died in Ireland from suicide in 2021 and 436 in 2022. These are among one of the highest rates in Europe. Eight out of 10 suicide deaths in Ireland are male. Research by Trinity College last year claimed that the suicide rate in Ireland is being underestimated by 20 to 25 per cent because the burden of proof for a registered suicide in Ireland is higher than other countries. Seven in every 10 people who took their own lives in 2020 were 35 years and older. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
More than 50,000 people treated for self-harm in Irish hospitals in recent years
Irish hospitals treated over 50,000 people for "self-harm" injuries in a four-year period between 2020-2023, the latest data has revealed. The figures were released by the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland in reply to a Dail question from the Laois/Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan. It records and reports information about self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments across the country and is operated by the National Suicide Research Foundation. A total of 12,553 people went to hospital with self-harm injuries in 2020,12,661 in 2021, 12,705 in 2022 and 12,792 in 2023. The figures for last year and the first five months of this year are not available yet. Reacting to the figures, the Junior Health Minister with responsibility for mental health services Mary Butler said: "Broadly speaking, self-harm rates are stable year on year and there has been a decline in recent years. "Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry highlights that between 2010 and 2023 self-harm rates decreased by 12 per cent. "While there is much more to be done, it is reassuring that the rate did not increase across 2022 and 2023 and we now know that self-harm rates did not increase during the Covid-19 pandemic. "The peak self-harm rate recorded for adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in 2021 has decreased in 2022 and 2023 which is positive. "However, self-harm rates in younger female adolescents are continuing to rise highlighting the need to prioritise mental health supports and targeted interventions for young people and their parents." Deputy Nolan branded the data as "alarming" and claimed it doesn't reflect the true number of self-harm instances which took place at home during the pandemic. She said: "There is a serious need for more mental health support and targeted interventions for young people and their parents, and that is something I will continue to advocate for. "We need to make sure that adolescents have access to CAMS services and that there are professionals there to help them and support them in their recovery." According to the last published figures; 504 died in 2020, 512 people died in Ireland from suicide in 2021 and 436 in 2022. These are among one of the highest rates in Europe. Eight out of 10 suicide deaths in Ireland are male. Research by Trinity College last year claimed that the suicide rate in Ireland is being underestimated by 20 to 25 per cent because the burden of proof for a registered suicide in Ireland is higher than other countries. Seven in every 10 people who took their own lives in 2020 were 35 years and older.
The Journal
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Cabinet to hear how latest data shows suicide rate in Ireland has reduced by over 25% since 2000
PRELIMINARY FIGURES FOR 2023 show that there were 302 deaths by suicide in Ireland last year, the lowest preliminary figure for over 20 years. The decline has been welcomed by Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler, who will update Cabinet on the latest statistics this morning. There is a significant time lag in reporting deaths by suicide, and because of this, the number will be revised upwards as coroner investigations conclude. Between 2000 and 2021, Ireland has seen a 28% reduction in the number of deaths by suicide, falling from 12.9 per 100,000 in 2000 to 9.2 per 100,000 in 2021 (the last year for which we have official figures). This means that Ireland now has the 11th lowest suicide rate in the EU. Cabinet will be told this morning that a recent consultation on the development of a new national suicide reduction policy received 1,895 submissions, with the majority coming from members of the public. Advertisement Cabinet will also be advised that previous self-harm remains the biggest risk factor for suicide, and that the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry data highlights that between 2010 and 2023 self-harm rates decreased by 12%. It is understood Butler will inform Cabinet of her plans to finalise a new strategy to further reduce self-harm and suicide by the end of 2025, with a view to establishing implementation and oversight monitoring structures early next year. Housing advice Elsewhere, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to inform Cabinet that the Government has been advised to introduce more flexible rent controls and increase investment in cost-rental housing in a bid to hit its goals in relation to population density in Irish cities. The recommendations are laid out in a report from the National Economic and Social Council, which the Taoiseach will bring to Cabinet this morning. The report looks at the benefits of compact growth, which in Ireland's case is the goal of having half of all population growth within its five biggest cities and their suburbs from now to 2040. Some of the benefits outlined in the report are higher productivity and innovation, more sustainable travel, improved access to services and lower energy consumption. Between 2016 to 2022, the share of population growth represented by the five cities was just 32 per cent. The report found that while the National Planning Framework target of having 40 per cent of new housing developments within existing built-up areas is being achieved, more could be done. 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
