How Ireland’s Nollaig na mBan evolved from a day off housework to a celebration of women’s achievements: Butsaya/Shutterstock Growing up in west Kerry, Christmas was (and still is) not officially over until after Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) on January 6 – candles are lit in windows and decorations are not taken down until the …
Shane MacGowan: a timeless voice for Ireland’s diaspora in England: During a concert in Dublin in 2022, Bob Dylan paused between songs to pay tribute to another singer-songwriter who was in attendance that night. “I want to say hello to Shane MacGowan”, said Dylan, praising MacGowan as one of his “favourite artists”. MacGowan, who has …
Lough Neagh: UK and Ireland’s largest lake is being suffocated by business and agricultural interests: Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland. It is a protected area of special scientific interest and the source of 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water. But it’s also the site of a severe environmental …
The Woman in the Wall: BBC drama about Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries is essential viewing: “This isn’t a prison,” a nun in the new BBC drama The Woman in the Wall says. “You can leave anytime you want. But where would you go? Who would have you? No one wants you. You’re a sinner.” Set in …
The personal details of Northern Ireland’s main police force have been leaked – three reasons why that’s incredibly dangerous: Shutterstock/Damien Storan Data breaches are not a good look for any institution or organisation. But depending on the nature of the data leaked and the organisation, some breaches can be more serious and have greater consequences …
Good Friday Agreement: how the US came to be a key broker in Northern Ireland’s peace deal: Between 1820 and 1920, four million people emigrated from Ireland to the US. Many were fleeing hunger and destitution and so brought with them an “exile” nationalism – a conviction that they were forced to leave by British …
New Brexit deal will be better for Northern Ireland’s economy than the protocol, research suggests: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has said Northern Ireland will be “the world’s most exciting economic zone” due to its access to the EU single market under the latest post-Brexit trading deal between the EU and UK. The details of …
Banshees of Inisherin: how location and language have set the scene for Ireland’s vibrant film industry: From classic western films onwards, many cinematographers have made use of far flung places to transport viewers to other worlds and different times. Stories inspired by the west of Ireland have benefited from the beautiful visage that its landscape …
How Ireland’s ‘great reshuffle’ could benefit women and older workers: Dublin's 'Silicon Docks'. Faina Gurevich / Shutterstock Recent global tech sector layoffs have hit Ireland’s workforce hard. Prior to these job cuts, the Irish digital sector directly employed more than 270,000 people, as well as creating many more ancillary jobs. Tech jobs pay an average …
Ooh, ah, up the ‘Ra: why Ireland’s women footballers are under fire for singing after their historic win: The Irish women’s football team has qualified for their first Fifa World Cup, beating Scotland 1-0. In the aftermath of the match, the team celebrated by cheering and chanting in the locker room, including the line “Ooh, …
From Queen Elizabeth to King Charles: how Northern Ireland’s unionists feel about the monarchy: Monarchism is embedded in Northern Ireland’s Ulster unionist identity. There is probably no such thing as a “republican unionist”. Many unionists descend from Protestant settlers from Britain who colonised Ireland four centuries ago. Loyalty to the monarch was an essential qualification …
Why a play about Ireland’s native language finds new resonance in Anglo-Irish relations today: Caitríona McLaughlin’s version of Brian Friel’s seminal play Translations is coming to Ireland’s national theatre, the Abbey, this summer. Her striking adaption shows how Friel’s masterpiece is as relevant today as it was when it was first performed in 1980. Translations …
South Africa in the news: Ireland’s Little keen to recreate historic glories: Josh Little is eager to help Ireland write a new chapter in their history after reminiscing about the time he pulled an all-nighter with a current international team-mate to watch a famous World Cup …: “South Africa” – BingNews We have set out to …
South Africa in the news: Ireland’s chance to right their chasing wrongs: Going by the evidence of the last few T20Is, chasing has not been Ireland’s forte. Their bowlers came up with decent performances in a couple of games against South Africa, and were on the money in …: “South Africa” – BingNews Ntando Mahlangu’s …
Twelfth of July: How to responsibly follow Northern Ireland’s summer of protest on social media: Earlier this year, disorder in Northern Ireland reached a scale not seen in years, with a wave of protests and violent riots. These actions were a manifestation of loyalist anger at the border created in the Irish Sea, a result …
South Africa in the news: Match officials confirmed for Lions tour and Ireland’s summer series: WORLD RUGBY HAS announced the match officials for this summer’s international fixtures, including the appointments for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa and Ireland’s games against …: “South Africa” – BingNews Munster could miss out with Benetton’s …
Ireland’s shame: reforming an adoption system marked by secrecy and trauma: In the 20th century Magdalene laundries were punitive institutions where young "fallen" women – pregnant and unmarried – endured a daily regime of silence, prayer and hard labour. The last Magdalene laundry closed in 1996. William Murphy/lFlickr, CC BY-SA For the greater part of …
South Africa in the news: Coronavirus live news: Japan prefectures to declare emergency; Ireland’s health IT systems suffer ransomware attack: Japan to declare state of emergency in three more prefectures; Ireland says vaccine programme will be unaffected by IT shutdown …: “South Africa” – BingNews British Lions will play South Africa tour behind closed doors …