AR, Béal Feirste Cover Photo Credit: Ciara McMullan Photography In January 2017, the leading parties in the Stormont executive, the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and Sinn Féin, split over the DUP’s handling of a green energy scandal, causing the executive to collapse. This meant that, in the absence of executive ministers, civil servants were running the country. However, because…
As the CYM enters a transition period, we face fundamental questions and an opportunity to re-define ourselves and advance our knowledge by examining the successes and failures of the past, a window to be inventive and optimistic about what the future could hold
AH, BÁC Thatcher’s empowered female successor, Theresa May, was quoted as saying there is “no magic money tree” when being asked about raising taxes or borrowing more to make sure the NHS could keep running. What the slogan generally means is that there are insufficient state funds for important already state funded institutions (like the…
SÓP, Baile Átha Cliath This speech was originally given at the annual Dublin branch commemoration of James Connolly’s execution on 14 May. Dia daoibh a chairde. Thank you for being here this morning to honour the life, and remember the execution of our organisation’s namesake: James Connolly. Why Connolly? Of all the Irish republican revolutionaries why…
Could you give a brief history of communism in Wales? The timeline of socialism and the working class in Wales makes for a rich reading, one that is often hard to condense into a short paragraph. In 1907, Keir Hardie, a Member of Parliament for Methyr, spoke openly on the natural-born connection between Wales and socialism….
OAP, Béal Feirste A language revival has a lot of similarities with a revolutionary movement. Just as a revolutionary movement must have its beginnings in particular communities and be built outwards, minoritised languages need to take root in particular communities first and then expand. Why is this? A language that has no community usage is an…
SÓP, BÁC I overhear a woman on the DART –I swear this train gets later every day.She goes on to tell the man across from herShe’s on a part-time flexible contract,But they’re so short staffed she’s working 6 day weeks. I lose count of how many doorways I passSemi-sheltering shivering bodies in blue sleeping bags.The…
AH, BAC The humanitarian response towards Ukraine and its people from Ireland has been unprecedented. This country is known for its staunch and proud defence of Palestine, and has outdone itself in its support for Ukraine. Something about this war has invoked a deep sense of humanitarianism and empathy, that no other event has, or…
UK cabinet ministers were made aware of imminent sackings on the part of P&O Ferries, which resulted in the loss of over 800 jobs between Britain and Ireland, and did nothing to prevent them, a leaked Ministry for Transport memo has revealed. On 17 March, P&O officials, using pre-recorded videos, announced the sacking (on the…
Since the state’s formation, neutrality in international affairs has been a key tenet of foreign policy considerations in the 26 counties. However, it is a tenet that has seen continuous challenges from successive governments, and has been eroded by measures such as the south’s participation in EU Battlegroups, and by its co-operation with the EU’s…
