Latest news with #BookofKells
Irish Examiner
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Harte: Limiting freedom of speech is a threat to a functioning democracy
The poet and public intellectual Thomas McCarthy told me this week that he thought the Western World was depressed. One depressing and alarming development is the erosion of freedom of speech. Censorship is proliferating in front of our eyes, and it's reached our shores with real-life consequences for our adult children. America, no longer the land of the brave and the free, is where Irish J1 students will have their social media posts checked going back five years. There is something surreal about this. Big Brother is watching you but not even bothering to hide it. Last week, it was reported in the Irish Examiner that visa applicants must 'list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.' Privacy settings on all social media platforms must be set to public. Talk about having a chilling effect on freedom of speech among a crop of young people who have just come of voting age. We need their young voices. I chatted to a retired senior judge about this last weekend, and he was horrified by the development. As he said, bad things like this happen incrementally, until one day you wake up to a knock on the door and think, 'Jesus, how did we get here?' Workers stand handcuffed after being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, at Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana last month. Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have expressed concern. Simon Harris intends to raise the matter with the new US Ambassador next month. Micheál Martin has stated that he disagrees with the measures. In reality, the American Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now essentially reject travellers to the United States who are not ideologically in line with the regime. The parameters of what is considered dissent against the regime seem broad and vague. Imagine if we checked the phones of American tourists in Dublin and said, 'No, sorry, you don't get to see the Cliffs of Moher or the Book of Kells because we see from your social media posts that you deny the genocide in Gaza and you seem supportive of Benjamin Netanyahu'. What the hell has happened to America with its modern-day version of McCarthyism restraining people who hold opposing views? Are all lessons from the past being lost? Barack Obama, who has frustrated many Democrats with his relative silence on a range of subjects in the USA, issued a warning a week ago that America is dangerously close to losing its democracy. Except it's not just in America that this censorship is taking place. Kneecap fans at Glastonbury at the weekend. Following the festival, British police are considering whether to launch criminal investigations into the hip hop group and punk duo Bob Vylan. Freedom of speech has been under relentless attack in the UK. Their Public Order Act 1986 is capable of broad interpretation. In tandem with two further acts of 2002 and 2022, it effectively allows policing to be politicised with jokes, social media posts, and even private conversations arguably coming within their dragnet. Following the Glastonbury Festival last weekend, British police are considering whether to launch criminal investigations into two acts: the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and the punk duo Bob Vylan. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted 'Death, death, to the IDF'. The police announced the possibility of an investigation on Saturday on X. You might not like what someone says, but you may want to ensure that people still have the right to say it. The question is, where does cultural resistance and performance (including satire) end and terrorism or incitement to hatred begin? This is not an easy question to answer, but it is a vitally important one. While 'Glasto' was going on, John Brennan, former Director of the CIA, addressed a summer school for the Law Society's Centre for Justice and Law Reform in Dublin. It was on the theme 'Defending Democracy: Legal Responses to Emerging Threats'. He remarked on the 'delicate balance' faced by governments in permitting free speech while prohibiting hate speech and incitement to violence. We've had a back-and-forth on this ourselves, with hate speech laws being dropped last year by former minister for justice Helen McEntee due to a lack of consensus on the thorny issue. I have found myself flip-flopping on the subject, but I have come to believe that we should probably be wary of hate speech laws for fear of stifling public discourse. Kneecap It is precisely because clamping down on freedom of expression is taken so seriously by human rights lawyers that Kneecap's frontman, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, has attracted an extraordinarily heavyweight legal team defending him in his alleged terrorism offence. He was charged last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November 2024. He has firmly denied the charge but is currently on bail. Ó hAnnaidh's legal team (Kneecap call them An Scoithfhoireann or the Dream Team) is a roll call of who's who in human rights law, including Gareth Peirce, who formerly represented the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six. Peirce has devoted decades to defending underdogs. Critics see her as destabilising the establishment and undermining national security, which is the catch-all rationale that the Americans are using now to reject visa applications or even detain people. Peirce has spoken in the past about the dangers of stigmatising people as a threat to national security when they're not, and 'how justice dies when the law is co-opted for political purposes'. Gareth Peirce avoids the media like the plague, but in an old interview, she said: 'We take it on trust that if the government suspects people of terrorism and locks them up, or puts them on control orders without charge, they must be terrorists.' When a political context is as febrile as it is now, it is more likely that governments will dismantle fundamental freedoms, and we won't question what is really going on. Could this crackdown be a reaction or an attempted distraction from the allegation that the British state has failed to uphold international law and arguably been complicit in genocide through its supply of arms to Israel? Either way, the trial promises to be an important test of the principle of freedom of expression. At Glastonbury, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused Israel of genocide and led the crowd in a chant of "free, free Palestine' as well as anti-Starmer chants. The anti-Starmer chants were explained by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks last week when he said that it was 'not appropriate' for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury. Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily, who run the famous festival, were said to have been pressurised not to let them play. At Glastonbury, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused Israel of genocide and led the crowd in a chant of 'free, free Palestine' as well as anti-Starmer chants. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Meanwhile, in Germany, you can't hold a pro-Palestine demonstration without risking arrest and being accused of anti-Semitism. The Irish writer, Naoise Dolan, has spoken about being detained twice in Berlin for attending pro-Palestinian demonstrations. We're fortunate enough to live in a country where freedom of speech is protected in our Constitution. We received a positive school report from the Democracy Index last year, indicating that we have a fully functioning democracy and are expected to perform well in the 2025 Index. Let's keep it that way because we need dissenting voices now more than ever.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Inside history of St Colmcille who's ‘intrinsically linked' to Irish identity amid calls for bank holiday in his honour
IRELAND could be getting a new bank holiday in honour of another one of the country's patron saints. The Advertisement 2 A new July bank holiday has been proposed Credit: Alamy 2 St Colmcille is the third patron saint of Ireland Following the addition of However, this is still fewer than the Now a campaign to have a public day off named after St Colmcille is growing. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS And the campaign is heating up, with The Kells Colmcille 1500 committee and Kells Local Heroes are supporting the proposals given St Colmcille's links with the Meath town and the Book of Kells. Local councillor Sean Drew intends to submit a motion in support of a new public holiday for the next sitting of Meath County The Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Cllr Drew also suggested renaming the existing June But as exhausted No rain forecast as Met Eireann pinpoint exactly where warmest temps to hit over the bank holiday weekend SAINT Colmcille, or Saint Columba, established more than 50 Christian sites across Ireland. St Colmcille, meaning 'the dove of the Church', was born at Gartan, near Lifford, Co Donegal, in 521AD. Advertisement HOLY MAN, POET & DIPLOMAT Born into Irish aristocracy, St Colmcille is said to have been a descendant of legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall was a fifth century Irish warlord reputed to have fought against the Romans and armies of ancient Scotland, Historians say Colmcille founded his first monastery in what is now the modern day city of Derry or Doire Cholm Cille, in the year 545. 1500 years after his birth historians speak of his legacy as a holy man, a poet and a diplomat. Advertisement It is said that he protected those who were deprived of ears, eyes and throat. PRAYER OFFERING The well of St Colmcille on the Ballycullen Road in south It is believed that Colmcille stopped off here on one of his journeys around Ireland to quench his thirst and bless the well. The holy well has a statue of Colmcille set into stone and visitors to the well drink from the water pray and leave medals nailed into the bark of a tree as offerings. Advertisement Rags left by previous pilgrims visiting the well are to provide cures for eyes, ears and throats. Across Ireland, there are many sites associated with St Colmcille. PATRON SAINT The sites in the north west and in the eastern region associated with St Colmcille included Gleann Cholm Cille, Toraigh, Kells and Swords. The influential Irish monk is known the patron saint of Advertisement Historians point out he was a significant historical figure in the spreading of Christianity in One of his most important monasteries was in Iona, off the coast of Much history was written and recorded in his monasteries. One of Ireland's most famous books, the Book of Kells, is believed to have been crafted by monks in the Columban monastery on Iona. ENDURING LEGACY Colmcille died in Iona on 9 June, 597 AD aged 75. Advertisement But his legacy, as well as devotion to the saint, has endured to modern times. Many Ireland currently has ten public holidays per year, with St Brigid's Day the most recent addition to the list in 2023. Miriam Manning is of the Kells Colmcille 1500 committee which was established to mark the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille from 2020 to 2021. Advertisement WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION Miriam said: 'The Kells association with Columban heritage and the Book of Kells has shaped our identity through the centuries and it would be fitting if he is honoured by the Government. 'A dedicated public holiday recognising St Colmcille, who is also known as St Columba presents an opportunity for Kells to develop a national and international profile for the town and to develop further the networks and collaborations created during the anniversary year keeping the story of St Colmcille alive. 'The iconography perfected in the Book of Kells is recognisable worldwide and in this way it is important to note that Colmcille's legacy is intrinsically linked to our national identity.' The connection between St Colmcille and Kells reaches back to the sixth century when Manus O'Donnell's 'Life of Colmcille' says the Saint was granted the dun of Kells by High King of Tara Diarmaid MacCarroll. Advertisement After Colmcille's death in Iona in Scotland, his followers who included scribes, stonecutters, goldsmiths and masons, returned to Kells in 804 bringing with them the precious relics of the saint. ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION Miriam explained: 'From the teachings of Colmcille, Columban monks and scribes became some of the greatest scribes and painters of books in the world and it is believed the Book of Kells owes its identity and status to having been completed by a particular scribe in the town.' Also backing Donegal's call for a public holiday, Mark Smith of Kells Local Heroes said it would raise the profile of the town and attract scholars and academics who might not visit otherwise. He said: 'St Colmcille's house, the round tower and the Celtic crosses in the town have proven to be huge attractions for students and experts in the study of the Book of Kells and the enormous contribution that local monks made in spreading Christianity across Europe.' Advertisement He said: 'St Colmcille has important historical connections not only with Kells but with many other locations in the county and I think it would be apt and fitting to have a special day in his honour.' One thing is for sure. Meath and Donegal are united in believing honouring St Colmcille with a public holiday of his own is a divine idea.
Belfast Telegraph
10-06-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Church of Ireland Primate's 50 years of service are honoured at St Columb's Cathedral
Among the congregation were his wife Lady Eames and members of his family including their sons Niall and Michael. They were joined by a number of bishops from the three dioceses where Lord Eames served, namely Derry and Raphoe, Down and Dromore and Armagh where he was archbishop and primate from 1986 to 2006. Parishioners from the Derry and Raphoe Diocese also attended yesterday, the Feast Day of St Columba, which is celebrated by both main religious traditions. In Ireland, Columba is also remembered as a patron saint of poets, and is associated with the Book of Kells. The sermon was preached by the current Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Reverend Andrew Foster, who earlier paid tribute to Lord Eames. He said: 'Lord Eames has been a blessing to our diocese, to the Church of Ireland as a whole, and to the wider society on this island during his decades in ministry. He has been a distinguished and courageous church leader who has made an immense contribution to peace-building and reconciliation. 'We in Derry and Raphoe give thanks for Lord Eames' stewardship of our diocese in a troubled period of its history in the late Seventies. 'We are thankful for his leadership of the Church of Ireland over two decades during which our society went from the darkness of the Troubles into the light of a new, admittedly fragile peace. Even in the darkest days, Lord Eames preached a message of hope, born out of his faith in God. He is someone who can always see the good in humanity.' During his five years as Bishop of Derry before he moved to Belfast, Lord Eames worked closely with the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Edward Daly, and the late SDLP leader John Hume. He also made a special point of visiting homes in the Bogside area. He said: 'I wanted to hold out the hand of friendship to the whole Catholic community in Derry.' During his long career, Lord Eames, who is now 88, travelled widely to help solve problems in the worldwide Anglican communion. News Catch Up - Tuesday 10th June 'It was my experience in Derry which taught me much about bridge-building and reconciliation and this benefitted me greatly in subsequent stages of my ministry, including my time as Bishop of Down and Dromore and also in Armagh,' he said. When he retired as primate, he became a cross-bencher peer in the House of Lords and continued to foster the interests of Northern Ireland, and to continue his widespread ministry through preaching. With Sir John Major, he paid tribute at a thanksgiving service in Westminster Abbey for Peter Brooke, a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Last year, Lord Eames was injured in a fall, but is making a steady recovery. He said prior to the Derry service yesterday that 'it was one of the most touching invitations of my career which brought back memories of the vast changes in church life and politics in the last half century'.
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Yeats poem was inspiration behind Sligo student's work at unique medieval exhibition in Dublin
The exhibition explores early medieval Ireland's cultural impact on Europe and includes the largest-ever loan of manuscripts from the Abbey Library of St. Gall in Switzerland—many of them contemporaries of the Book of Kells. As part of its legacy element, students from Ireland and Switzerland took part in a collaborative schools project, working with calligrapher Tim O'Neill and museum staff to create manuscripts using traditional techniques such as insular script and handmade dyes. An important legacy of the exhibition is an international school project led by the National Museum of Ireland and the Abbey of St. Gall involving second-level students from Irish schools (Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath, Coláiste Muire, Ballymote, Co. Sligo and St Gallen/Gallen Community School, Offaly) as well as the Catholic Cantonal Secondary School 'flade' in St. Gallen. Students produced their own manuscripts inspired by the world today, using the techniques of the past through a process of creating dyes, materials, and insular script and art. They were all instructed by attended workshops online, in their classrooms and at the museum, with calligraphy expert, Tim O'Neill, and museum staff, and their work will feature in the exhibition. Shauna said: 'W.B. Yeats' 'The Wild Swans at Coole' was the inspiration for my piece. I was captivated by the symbolism of partnership evident in Yeats' portrayal of the swans and their sultry vitality as they remain free-spirited amidst the constant hustle and bustle of life.' The exhibition was launched by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter and Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan TD. Words on the Wave: Ireland and St. Gallen in Early Medieval Europe focuses on early medieval Ireland and its profound impact on ideas in Europe. At the exhibition's heart are 17 manuscripts on loan from the Abbey Library of St. Gall in Switzerland, a seventh-century library - in a city named after the Irish monk, St. Gall - that is home to one of the world's most significant collections of early medieval manuscripts. This exhibition is a world-first, marking the largest-ever loan of these manuscripts. New research commissioned by the National Museum of Ireland for the exhibition, using advanced scientific techniques, has provided evidence for the first time that the four most decorated manuscripts on loan from the Abbey Library of St. Gall were made using the hides of Irish cattle. While the role of Irish monks in writing the manuscripts was already known, this research reveals that that the books travelled from Ireland to St. Gallen with them, on their journey over a thousand years ago. Employing techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and multispectral imaging in both ultraviolet and infrared spectrums, researchers working with University College Cork's Inks and Skins project were able to identify elemental components of the inks, pigments, and parchment—many of which are not visible to the naked eye. The analysis revealed that the manuscripts were written with iron gall ink made from the nests of wasps in oak trees, a distinctive and well-documented feature of Irish manuscript production during the early medieval period. Furthermore, the method by which the animal skins were prepared, along with the presence of specific chemical elements such as sulphur and potassium, closely aligns with known Irish techniques of parchment manufacture. The Inks and ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Skins project team also collected surface DNA samples from the manuscripts to identify the genomes in the skins of the cattle used in their production. These priceless, handmade manuscripts reflect the journeys of Irish monks like St. Gall and St. Columbanus, who travelled to Europe seeking exile, refuge, and learning. Their journeys involved not only the movement of people but also ideas and artistic traditions, connecting the small island of Ireland to a much larger continent. It mirrors a 1,400-year-old connection between Switzerland and Ireland that started with the arrival of St. Gall in St. Gallen in 612. Scientific analysis of this DNA conducted by the School of Genetics in Trinity College Dublin, indicates that the cattle were of Irish origin. Using a technique pioneered by the team in 2017— a non-invasive genetic analysis of the parchment on which the manuscripts are written in which DNA is gently extracted from the surface of manuscripts using a rubber eraser—the team successfully recovered genetic material from the animal skins used in manuscript production. The results, interpreted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), demonstrates that the cattle, from whose skin the parchment was made, were of Irish origin.
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Rare cranes return to Offaly bog for seventh year
A pair of rare common cranes, which have previously nested at a bog in Co Offaly, have returned for a seventh consecutive year. The pair, which have successfully reared five chicks in the last three years, have been seen back at their favoured nesting site by an ecologist working for Bord na Móna (BnM). Following careful monitoring it has now been established that the pair are once again incubating eggs. The location of the nest is confidential in order to protect and conserve the birds. However, it is confirmed that the site is situated on a cutaway bog, formerly used to harvest peat for energy production. "These birds are now benefitting further from habitat improvements associated with BnM's Peatland Climate Action Scheme (PCAS)" said Chris Cullen, Ecologist at BnM, who has been monitoring the Cranes since 2022. "Over the last two breeding periods, the nesting pair and their young have been seen utilising recently rehabilitated cutaway peatlands for feeding and shelter" he said. "In addition, over the last number of years, several summering, but non-breeding individuals, have also been observed on other rehabilitated cutaway bogs in the Midlands" said Mr Cullen. "It appears a nascent breeding population is possibly becoming established, with clear links to rehabilitated peatlands in terms of usage" he added. The Peatland Climate Action Scheme is a large-scale peatlands restoration project administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Over 20,000 hectares has been rehabilitated under this Scheme to date. It is hoped that the ongoing development of wetland habitats following rehabilitation under the present scheme will continue to support the expansion of this newly returned species in Ireland. The crane is deeply connected to the culture and history of Ireland. They have been central to folklore tales such as Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the druids, St Colmcille and the Book of Kells.
