Letters: Selecting Mary Lou McDonald to run for the Áras would be a wise move for Sinn Féín
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?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
30 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Michael Flatley to make bid for Irish presidency, court told
The choreographer's barrister made the announcement during a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his mansion in Co Cork, the Castlehyde. Barrister Ronnie Hudson notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances' for Flatley, and said he is to move back to Ireland within the next 14 days and look to run in the presidential election this autumn. An affidavit, signed by Flatley's solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the court stating that the Irish-American is 'to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland'. Lord Of The Dance star Flatley, who is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, had strongly hinted at a presidential bid last week, but said he had not made a final decision. He said during a radio interview that he did not believe the Irish people 'have a voice – not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language'. Flatley said he hears concerns from the 'average person on the street' and they are not 'happy right now'. 'Somebody has to speak for the Irish people,' he said. He was in Ireland earlier this month where he performed on a flute at a July 4 celebration hosted at the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, who was recently appointed to the role by Donald Trump. An election for the largely ceremonial role is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on November 11. To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities. So far, two candidates have secured sufficient backing to enter the race: former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee; and Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent and former Galway mayor who has received the backing of opposition parties and independents. Several other figures have hinted at their intention to run, including MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who has criticised the Irish Government's policies on immigration and public safety. At the High Court on Friday, defence barristers in Flatley's case argued against the affidavit being accepted by the court, and stated that it was an attempt by Flatley to 'move the goalposts'. Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said Flatley had said before in 2024 that he intended to move to Paris and then Valencia. 'That didn't happen,' he told the court. He also said that if the court was prepared to admit the affidavit, it would undermine previous assertions made by Flatley's side that the reason he is living in Monaco and cannot return to the state is because of the condition of the Castlehyde. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said that as Flatley's residence 'is so central to the issue of security of costs' in the case, she would allow the affidavit to be taken into account, but said she 'entirely' heard submissions made by the defence about the characteristics of the affidavit and what weight it should be afforded. She said she expected the judgment in relation to the costs application to be delivered in a 'reasonably short period', and that it would be given 'shortly after' the end of the courts term.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Debunked: A new sculpture in Drogheda does not signal an Islamic takeover of Ireland
A NEW SCULPTURE in Drogheda featuring a star and a moon has led to baseless claims that an Islamic takeover is under way in the country. While the star and crescent moon motif is often used to symbolise Islam, the sculpture is part of a series which the artist says represents the astronomical alignment of sites in the Boyne valley. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VCL Consultants (@vclconsultants) 'This monstrosity of a thing here was put up by a Nigerian national who appeared in Drogheda somehow, claiming to represent the people of Drogheda,' a man shouts in a video viewed more than 227,000 times since it was posted to Facebook on 15 July. 'A Nigerian African has decided to put an Islamic symbol on the border of Drogheda.' The man blames Sinn Féin for the sculpture, which he says is a 'declaration of war'. 'This is an attack on the white, Christian, Irish people,' he bellows. The man goes on to say that the sculpture is a sign that Muslims will take control of the country within months, and references theories about fluoride in water, Ukrainian Nazis, the history of famine aid, and brainwashing. These other claims are outside the scope of this factcheck. Advertisement Local media reported earlier this month that two mythology-inspired sculptures had been unveiled by volunteers of Drogheda Tidy Towns. The sculpture is named 'Boann, Goddess of the Boyne', referencing an Irish pagan deity. (Islam is strictly monotheistic). While the sculpture does contain an image of a star inside a crescent, its proportions are different from those used in the Islamic symbols, such as that on the flags of Turkey or Pakistan. The artist, Breda Marron, explained on her website : 'The symbol of the sun, the moon and the star relates to our ancient ancestors who were guided by the alignment to the sun, moon and stars, when deciding about the positioning of the many important sites in the Boyne Valley, such as Newgrange and Knowth.' A similar sculpture that was also erected as part of the series has an almost identical base, though is topped with a spiral, symbolising a mythological sacred well where the River Boyne originated. The man in the social media video's comments about the sculpture being erected by a Nigerian are also puzzling given the artist is an Irish woman. Baseless claims that Muslims are trying to take over Ireland circulate frequently in Irish conspiracy theory groups. This year, The Journal has debunked claims that the most popular name for newborn boys in Galway is Muhammad; that Ireland is establishing a National Hijab Day ; that RTÉ is replacing the Angelus with a Muslim call to prayer ; and that the largest mosque in the world is being built in Ireland. Want to be your own fact-checker? Visit our brand-new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for guides and toolkits The Journal's FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles. You can read it here . For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader's Guide here . You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Taoiseach asks to see report on alleged anti-Semitism in Irish school books
The Taoiseach has asked to see a report, conducted by an Israeli education organisation, on alleged 'promotion' of anti-Semitism in Irish schoolbooks. The report published late last year finds 'concerning misrepresentations of the Holocaust, Judaism and Israel' in some schoolbooks at primary and second level. Conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (Impact-se), the report analysed primary and post-primary textbooks, focusing on history and religious education. 'The findings reveal a troubling pattern of trivialisation and minimisation of the Holocaust,' it says. 'For instance, Auschwitz was referred to misleadingly as a 'prisoner of war camp', failing to acknowledge its role as a death camp where mass extermination occurred,' the report says. READ MORE 'Such descriptions dilute the historical and emotional gravity of the Holocaust, providing students with an incomplete understanding of this atrocity.' It says 'many narratives question the legitimacy of the state of Israel and undermine Jewish claims to indigeneity in the land', while 'discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict often lack the necessary historical and political context, presenting a one-sided view that frames Israel as the sole aggressor'. Impact-se is well regarded in Israel and the United States but faced criticism in 2022 from the United Nations, which called it 'biased', and in 2018 by then minister of state for international development in the British Conservative government, Alistair Burt, who said its research was 'not objective'. Among the Irish publishers whose schoolbooks Impact-se criticises are Edco, Gill Education, and Veritas. A junior cycle religious education textbook, Inspire – Wisdom for the world, published by implies 'Judaism believes engaging in violence and war is necessary to achieve justice. In so doing, it ignores the diverse teachings in Jewish texts that advocate for peace, justice,' says Impact-se. A spokesman for said the book ' highlights the importance of working to prevent anti-Semitism". 'For example, the material on the Holocaust and anti-Semitism on pages 396 to 399 explicitly stresses the importance of standing up against anti-Semitism. Inspire also includes many examples that cover the diverse teachings in Jewish texts that advocate for peace, justice and the sanctity of life,' he said, providing examples from the book. A Leaving Certificate religious education book, Faith Seeking Understanding, published by Veritas, is 'problematic', says the report, because it labels the Auschwitz concentration camp by name only. 'Auschwitz was not merely a geographical location ... Failing to label the image as 'Auschwitz Death Camp' or at least 'Auschwitz Concentration Camp' fails to convey the horrific reality associated with the name.' Veritas closed last year and could not be contacted for comment. Gill Education and Edco did not respond to requests for comment. The Taoiseach's office did not comment on the report, though confirmed Micheál Martin has sought a copy of it. 'During [a] meeting a report on the representation of Jews, Judaism and Israel in Irish school textbooks was raised. Following the meeting, the Taoiseach requested a copy of the report,' said a spokesman. Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council, said he had sought a meeting the Department of Education amid concerns from parents of the estimated 700 to 1,000 Jewish school-going children about 'material that was offensive to Jewish people in our schoolbooks'. 'I was told I would receive a call within four days to arrange a meeting. The call never came,' said Mr Cohen. 'In recent times, the classroom has become a battleground for political messaging – particularly concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Teachers, like all citizens, are entitled to their views. But it becomes deeply problematic when those views are presented as fact to young minds. 'I have received many calls – not only from Jewish parents – expressing serious concern. Many people feel their children are being subjected to ideological messaging as early as five years old. They are right to be alarmed.' A spokesman for the Department of Education said it had no role in the content of text books. 'The curriculum for students in Ireland, at both primary and post-primary level, is for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender, orientation or ethnicity. 'The curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).' Chief executive of the NCCA Arlene Forster said she was aware of the report. 'Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, it is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The content of textbooks is decided by each publisher.' Marcus Sheff, Impact-se chief executive, told The Irish Times that, given the report's findings, 'it can be no wonder that the [Irish] Jewish community feels increasingly worried and unsafe'. The texts' content 'clearly promotes anti-Semitism' in classrooms, he said. 'It is therefore both sad and astonishing that Ireland's Government has not engaged with these incredibly worrying findings, instead choosing to deflect or ignore the evidence entirely.' Mr Sheff is a former journalist and was briefly a reservist spokesman and media trainer with the Israel Defense Forces .
