Latest news with #NíBhriain
The Journal
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tetchy scenes between neutrality activists and politicians during Triple Lock abolition meeting
THERE WERE TETCHY scenes during the Oireachtas defence committee meeting this morning discussing legislation around the abolition of the Triple Lock mechanism. Politicians on the committee are hearing from experts on a government proposal to remove the need for formal UN approval from the existing triple-lock system for deploying Irish troops abroad. Niamh Ní Bhriain of the Transnational Institute and Chairperson of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance Stephen Kelly appeared before politicians today to advocate for the retention of the triple lock. The pair clashed with TDs and senators on many occasions, as it become abundantly clear that there were vast differences in ideology between some members of the committee and the invitees. At one point, Fianna Fáil senator Diarmuid Wilson called out Kelly for comments he made regarding politicians' ability to approve future military personnel deployments and Ní Bhriain for remarks about the deploying of Irish children. In her opening remarkers, Ní Bhriain said: 'I urge the members of this Committee to scrutinise this legislation as though it were your sons and daughters being deployed on EU battlegroup or NATO-led missions. 'For those who vote in favour of this legislation such that it is eventually passed, you should know that if Irish personnel are deployed to future wars from which they will return maimed, traumatised or in body-bags – because no one returns from war unscathed – your cards will have been marked and this will be your legacy.' Speaking later, Wilson told her: 'I speak as a father of a member of the Irish Defence Forces. And as I said to a number of people who came before us as witnesses, we take every piece of legislation seriously in this house. 'And we take it as if we're talking about the sons and daughters or gender-neutral members of any family. No matter what the piece of legislation, I want to assure you of that.' Advertisement 'I do not appreciate those comments' Kelly, in his opening remarks, questioned how effective a 'double lock', the deployment of troops following Government and Dáil approval, would be. He said the Peace and Neutrality Alliance reject it as an adequate replacement from the Triple Lock. Both invitees refused to say what would be an adequate replacement to the triple lock, arguing that the existing framework is the closest thing to ensure the neutrality of Ireland in law. Kelly accepted that neutrality and the triple lock were separate, but described them as 'close cousins'. Many politicians challenged this view, claiming that the abolition of the triple lock was to provide more control to Ireland around Defence Forces' deployments. Addressing Kelly's remarks, Wilson asked if Kelly had ever stood for election, to which the chairperson of the neutrality group said he did not. 'Well, it's important that you realise the fact that the people who put themselves forward for election – in every election there are hundreds of people who put themselves forward, be it at local level or national level – some are successful, some are not, but at least they tried. 'I would suggest to you, you should try it yourself sometime before you make those comments in relation to public representatives,' he said. Wilson continued to ask his questions to the invitees. Before answering, Kelly said: 'I don't particularly appreciate your comment.' 'I'm sure you don't,' Wilson replied. 'I don't appreciate it – at all. I'm a citizen, I've come here, I was invited to come here. I didn't have to, I was invited, I took the day off work. And I don't like the implication that you have to run for election to have an opinion on something,' Kelly said. The committee today also heard from Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews and Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan. 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
The Journal
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
A stunning visual art exhibition in one of Dublin's most iconic cultural spaces
A VISUALLY STUNNING exhibition that tackles thought-provoking themes and explores questions that are deeply relevant in the modern-day is open to the public at one of Dublin's landmark cultural venues. The Dream Pool Intervals, a stunning new series of works by Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, is currently on display at Parnell Square's iconic Hugh Lane Gallery with admission free of charge. Visitors who come to experience The Dream Pool Intervals can expect to step into a visual world designed to explore questions of technological and ecological progress. Artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain at the opening of Ailbhe Ní Bhriain: The Dream Pool Intervals at Hugh Lane Gallery © Naoise Culhane Photography 2025 The centrepiece of this stirring exhibit is five large-scale jacquard tapestries woven from several different materials, including cotton, wool, silk and lurex. These intricately woven works offer a commentary on an array of issues which loom large over the modern social consciousness, such as climate change, colonialism, industrialism, nature and the built environment. The effects created by Ní Bhriain's approach are unique and striking, as fragments of archival portraits merge with images of underground caves and architectural ruin, conjuring ideas of the interplay 'between contemporary threats of extinction and ancient narratives of the underworld'. Installation view Hugh Lane Gallery, Ailbhe Ní Bhriain: The Dream Pool Intervals. Image © Hugh Lane Gallery, 2025 The installations are thought-provoking, and walking through the exhibition offers visitors a chance to reflect while experiencing the work of one of Ireland's most exciting visual artists. Advertisement Ní Bhriain is an internationally celebrated artist whose work has been exhibited at venues including Broad Museum, Michigan; Whitechapel Gallery, London; Hammer Museum, LA; Istanbul Modern, Turkey; Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid; Innsbruck International Biennial, Austria; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, France and the 16th Lyon Biennale. Installation view Hugh Lane Gallery, Ailbhe Ní Bhriain: The Dream Pool Intervals. Image © Hugh Lane Gallery, 2025 Speaking about the intention behind her work, Ní Bhriain said: 'In the tapestries are images of destroyed architecture – gathered from multiple sources, icons of war and climate disaster that seem to define this period'. The title of the exhibition is a reference to 'The Dream Pool Essays', a text by the Chinese polymath Shen Kuo in 1088, which includes geological recordings that are considered to be the earliest observations of climate change. Barbara Dawson, Director at the Hugh Lane Gallery, said of the exhibition: 'In Ailbhe Ní Bhriain's monumental tapestries we are presented with mysterious mises en scéne in the ruins of previous world orders forcing us to rethink perceived concepts of progress and advancement in the face of human and ecological fragmentation.' Installation view Hugh Lane Gallery, Ailbhe Ní Bhriain: The Dream Pool Intervals. Image © Hugh Lane Gallery, 2025 Located in the heart of Dublin's city centre, the Hugh Lane Gallery is a cultural cornerstone of the city. In addition to The Dream Pool Intervals exhibition currently running, visitors can also take in the works of impressionists such as Monet and Degas, as well as Francis Bacon's Studio and many other works from the collection, all free of charge. Michael Dempsey, Head of Exhibitions, Hugh Lane Gallery, and Curator of the The Dream Pool Intervals said: 'Ní Bhriain seeks to locate our growing anxieties of crises within a world where colonial and industrial legacies are fused with the consciousness of our current moment. 'Capturing the mood of society today, the relevance of Ní Bhriain's themes cannot be understated. The Hugh Lane Gallery is delighted to present her work'. The Dream Pool Intervals exhibition, brought to you by the Hugh Lane Gallery and Dublin City Council, is open to the public until 28 September. Admission is free of charge. Find out more about what's going on at The Hugh Lane Gallery here .
