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☆ Urris: Irish moonshine and the village that declared itself an outlaw republic
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Yolanda Evans | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Back in the 19th century, however, this county was at the center of an illegal trade in poitín – or Irish moonshine. Inishowen in particular was such a hive of illegal activity that the area was jokingly referred to as the Urris Poitín Republic. Fed up with the heavy fines, the people of Urris declared themselves the independent nation of the “Urris Republic of Poitín” and sealed themselves in by collapsing the pass in 1812, McLaughlin-Doherty explains. The townspeople were able to be self-sufficient because of their farmlands and fishing, thus allowing the Urris Republic of Poitín to last for three years before the coup was ended in 1815. The Catholic Church, a stronghold in Ireland, was instrumental in the eventual curbing of illegal poitín production.

Persons: there’s, Malin, –, uisce, Innis Murray, Martin Hegarty, Jennifer McLaughlin, Doherty, “, Urris, McLaughlin, Poitín, ”, Pat Doherty, poitín, Clara Molden, Aengus King, Pádraic Ó Griallais, Poitin, Ó Griallais Organizations: CNN, Donegal, distillers, Irish Ancestral Tours, Research, “, Catholic, Camera, Drinks, Micil Distillery, Revenue, Department, Agriculture Locations: Inishowen, Ireland’s, There’s, Clonmany, Lenan, poitín, Republic, Ireland, Sligo, Urris, Poitín Republic, Poitín, Urris Republic, Republic of Urris, Ireland’s Shannon, Dublin, Drinks Ireland, Galway, “, Britain

☆ As the U.K. Tries Moving Asylum Seekers Offshore, Ireland Pushes Back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s newly ratified plan to put asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda has drawn objections from human rights groups, British and European courts, the House of Lords and even some members of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party. The Irish government said last week that asylum seekers in Britain who fear being deported to Rwanda are instead traveling to Ireland. Irish officials estimate that 80 percent of recent applicants for asylum crossed into the country via Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and with which the Republic of Ireland has an open border. That suggests that Britain’s vow to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is already having something of a deterrent effect, which was Mr. Sunak’s sales pitch for the policy. On Sunday, Ireland’s prime minister, Simon Harris, said, “This country will not in any way, shape or form provide a loophole for anybody else’s migration challenges.”

Persons: Rishi, Simon Harris, ” Organizations: Conservative Party, Northern Ireland Locations: Rwanda, Ireland, Britain, Northern, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ukraine

☆ Europe’s Policymakers Get Ready to Lower Rates, Regardless of the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Europe’s central bankers are trying to get out of the shadow of the United States. Now, European Central Bank policymakers are emphasizing how much the inflation problem has eased in the eurozone. All week, Europe’s policymakers reiterated their growing confidence that high inflation was dissipating in the eurozone and that their 2 percent inflation target was in sight. The E.C.B., which sets interest rates for all 20 countries that use the euro, has signaled it could cut rates at its next policy meeting in early June. “We’re clearly in a disinflation process,” said Gabriel Makhlouf, governor of Ireland’s central bank and one of the 26 members of the E.C.B.’s governing council.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, Gabriel Makhlouf Organizations: European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Locations: United States, Washington, Ireland’s, U.S

☆ Middle East Crisis Review of U.N. Agency Prompts New Calls to Restore Its Funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Matt Surman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United Nations had commissioned an independent review of the agency in January, before Israel circulated its claims, but those charges gave added significance to the inquiry, whose findings were released on Monday. The report issued a series of recommendations for the agency to protect its neutrality, but said that “Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence” for its accusation that a significant number of agency employees are members of terrorist organizations. The United Nations has fired 10 of the 12 employees accused by Israel. Ireland, which has strongly condemned Israel’s campaign in Gaza, increased aid to UNRWA as other countries were cutting it, he noted. UNRWA has argued that Israel has targeted it with a “deliberate and concerted campaign” to undermine its operations when its services are most needed.

Persons: Israel, Stéphane, António Guterres, Guterres, “, Caroline Gennez, ”, Micheál Martin, Israel’s, Japan —, Matthew Miller, Biden, ” Mr, Miller, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: The United Nations, United Nations, UNRWA, United, State Department, ”, European Union Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, United, Palestine, Belgium, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Japan

☆ Sony World Photography Awards 2024: Take a look at this year’s winning images
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Juliette Pavy/Sony World Photography AwardsNow in its 17th year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrates powerful images that resonate with audiences around the world. Mahé Elipe/Sony World Photography Awards “The Sacrifice Zone," taken in a remote part of Kazakhstan, won Eddo Hartmann the Landscape category. Eddo Hartmann/Sony World Photography Awards Ireland’s Siobhán Doran took the prize for the Architecture and Design category for "Sala Mayor (Living Room)." SiobhaÌn Doran/Sony World Photography Awards Jorge Mónaco of Argentina won the Portfolio category for his submission “Portraits and Landscapes.” Jorge Mónaco/Sony World Photography Awards The Still Life prize went to Federico Scarchilli from Italy. Sujata Setia/Sony World Photography Awards Thomas Meurot’s series "Kald Sòl" (Cold Sun) about surfing in Iceland's winter was the winner in the Sport section.

☆ The Masters: Bruising winds blow a flurry of big names out of ‘borderline unplayable’ Augusta National
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Believe it or not, these are both sound bites from a golf tournament. A storm-delayed first round meant some players had to finish their first 18 holes Friday morning, exacerbating a grueling day. “Even the golf course was saying, ‘Get the hell out of here,’” Homa, chasing his first major, said. South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel clinched a two-shot victory at Augusta National in 2011, but crashed out after shooting 74 and 81. I have a chance to win the golf tournament,” Woods replied when asked by reporters what the milestone means to him.

Persons: Mike Tyson, whisking, toiled, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson –, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, ” Rahm, “, Sand, Ashley Landis, Max Homa, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Homa, ‘, ”, DeChambeau, LIV, –, I’ve, Scheffler, Jason, Scheffler’s, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark –, Justin Thomas, Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Charl Schwartzel, ” Schwartzel, ” Spieth, Warren Little, Shane Lowry, Akshay Bhatia, “ It’s, ” Ireland’s Lowry, Akshay, ” Bhatia, It’s, Garcia, Tyson, African Erik van Rooyen, Woods, Gary Player, Fred Couples, ” Woods Organizations: CNN, National, Sky Sports, Augusta National Locations: American, Augusta, “, British, African

☆ Simon Harris becomes Ireland’s youngest-ever leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Simon Harris has become the youngest-ever prime minister of Ireland, officially taking office in Dublin on Tuesday after Leo Varadkar suddenly stepped down last month. Harris, 37, ran unopposed to replace Varadkar as leader of the ruling Fine Gael party, and the final formalities of his rise to power were completed in the Dáil, Ireland’s parliament. And we are seeing innocent children, women, and men being starved and slaughtered,” Harris told lawmakers in the Irish parliament. The son of a taxi driver, born in eastern Ireland, Harris studied journalism and French at a Dublin university but dropped out to instead focus on politics. As health minister, Harris was prominent when Ireland voted to legalize abortion.

Persons: CNN — Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar, Harris, Varadkar, Sinn Fein, Israel, “, ” Harris, Fine, ”, Brian Lawless, Simon Harris ”, “ chillax, “ Didn’t, chillax, …, Jennifer Bray, Enda Kenny, Harris’s Organizations: CNN, Ireland, Fine Gael, Irish Republican Army, Irish, Hot Press, Varadkar, Twitter, “, Sky News Locations: Dublin, Ireland’s, Ireland, Gaza, “, Northern Ireland

☆ Simon Harris Is About to Become Ireland’s Youngest Leader. Who Is He?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Simon Harris was three years into a university degree when he dropped out in 2008. On Tuesday, at 37, he is set to become the Republic of Ireland’s youngest ever head of government, the culmination of a swift political rise to a post he has long aspired to. “He’s always been hungry for this role,” said David Farrell, a professor of politics at University College Dublin, noting that although Mr. Harris was young, he was not lacking in political experience. “His career has been short, but it’s been meteoric.”But Mr. Harris will reach the top at a moment when his center-right party, Fine Gael, has stagnated in the polls. And unless he can revive its fortunes, his time as premier may also be short-lived.

Persons: Simon Harris, Harris, HotPress, “ He’s, ”, David Farrell, “, it’s Organizations: University College Dublin, Fine Gael Locations: Irish, County Wicklow, Dublin, Republic of Ireland’s

☆ A New Chapter for Irish Historians’ ‘Saddest Book’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Ed O Loughlin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the first pitched battle of the civil war that shaped a newly independent Ireland, seven centuries of history burned. On June 30, 1922, forces for and against an accommodation with Britain, Ireland’s former colonial ruler, had been fighting for three days around Dublin’s main court complex. The national Public Record Office was part of the complex, and that day it was caught in a colossal explosion. “This happened just after the First World War, when all over Europe new states like Ireland were emerging from old empires. They were all trying to recover and celebrate their own histories and cultures, and now Ireland had just lost the heart of its own.”

Persons: ”, Peter Crooks Organizations: Trinity College Dublin Locations: Ireland, Britain, Dublin’s, “, Europe

☆ Charged with Sexual Offenses, Influential Politician in Northern Ireland Steps Down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent and influential politicians, resigned his leadership of the party on Friday, after being charged with “historical” sex offenses. The resignation, which sent shock waves through Northern Irish politics, was announced in a statement from the D.U.P. which said it was also suspending Mr. Donaldson as a party member pending a judicial process. The party said that it had received a letter from Mr. Donaldson “confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as leader.”Earlier on Friday the Police Service of Northern Ireland said that it had “charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offenses.” It added that “a 57-year-old woman was also arrested and charged at the time for aiding and abetting additional offenses.”

Persons: Jeffrey Donaldson, Donaldson, Donaldson “ Organizations: Democratic Unionist Party, Police Service of Northern Locations: Northern, Police Service of Northern Ireland

☆ Why Ireland is the most pro-Palestinian nation in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Eoin Mcsweeney | Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

“But like Palestine, (Ireland) had direct and sustained experience of imperialism,” she said. Mousa Salem/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians transport bags of flour on the back of trucks as humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza City on March 6. Omar Qattaa/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians wait to receive food at a refugee camp in Rafah on January 27. AFP/Getty Images Palestinian boy Ahmed Qannan, suffering from malnutrition, receives treatment at a health-care center in Rafah on March 4. Yasser Qudih/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images People in a crowd struggle to buy bread from a bakery in Rafah on February 18.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Micheál Martin, Israel, “, Zoë Lawlor, ”, Jane Ohlmeyer, Leo Varadkar, ” Varadkar, Abdalmajid, Volker Turk, Ohlmeyer, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Ronald Storrs, Seán Gannon, Simon Harris, ” Israel, Amihai Eliyahu, Netanyahu, Dana Erlich, Emily Hand, Varadkar’s, Eli Cohen, Varadkar, Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, ” Matt Carthy, Sinn, ” Lawlor, Loay, Fadi, Kamal Adwan, Omar Qattaa, Saher, Ahmed Qannan, Mohammed Salem, Said Khatib, Dawoud Abo, Jehad, crouches, Abed Zagout, Yazan, Rabie Abu Noqaira, Mohammed Abed, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Yasser Qudih, Fatima Shbair, Lawlor, Carthy Organizations: CNN —, Israel, International Court of Justice, Irish, Irish Palestine Solidarity, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, “, CNN, Irish Free State, Republic of Ireland, Hamas, United Nations, Jewish, Republican Irish, European Union, West Bank, Newstalk, Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Washington Post, Kamal, Anadolu Agency, Getty, AFP, UN, Reuters, US Air Force, UPI, Dawoud Abo Alkas, Amnesty, Irish Times, State Locations: CNN — Ireland, Ireland, Gaza, Israel, Gaza “, South Africa, Irish Palestine, Palestinian, Irish, Palestine, London, St, dispossession, Ulster, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Republic of, Dublin, Jerusalem, Jewish Ulster, Republic of Ireland, Ireland Ireland, Limerick, Rafah, Mousa Salem, Gaza City, AFP, Jordanian, Februrary

☆ Leader of Northern Ireland’s main pro-union party resigns after police charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Northern Ireland’s main pro-union party, is stepping down after he was charged with “allegations of an historical nature,” the DUP announced on Friday. “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences,” the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said Friday her “priority” was to “continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve” following Donaldson’s resignation. Under his leadership, the DUP refused to participate in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government in protest over post-Brexit trading rules. The DUP announced on Friday it had unanimously appointed Gavin Robinson as interim party leader.

Persons: Jeffrey Donaldson, Mr Donaldson, “, Donaldson, Michelle O’Neill, ”, O’Neill, Sinn Fein, Emma Little, ” Donaldson, Gavin Robinson Organizations: CNN, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Northern Ireland’s, Party, Party Officers, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Police Service of Northern, Facebook, Northern Irish, United, Ulster Unionist Party Locations: Northern, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Newry, Ireland, Northern Ireland

☆ Leo Varadkar: What was behind Irish PM’s shock resignation?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Prime Minister Leo Varadkar sent shockwaves through Ireland when he candidly announced last week that he was “no longer the best person” to lead his country. Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray was given less than an hour’s notice of the surprise statement from the taoiseach on Wednesday. His successor, largely tipped to be Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, will need to lead the center-right political party, Fine Gael, against a fired-up opposition. The 37-year-old who rose to prominence during his spell as health minister during the pandemic is considered by many to be a “mirror image” to Varadkar, Murphy said. Mary Lou McDonald, president of opposition party Sinn Fein, which has been making steady gains since 2020.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s, Varadkar, Joe Biden, Jennifer Bray, Bray, ” Gary Murphy, ”, ” Murphy, “, Simon Harris, Murphy, Varadkar “, Boris Johnson “, resoundingly, Nick Bradshaw, Paschal Donohoe, Harris, Tik Tok, “ Simon Harris, ” Bray, Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein, Charles McQuillan, Sinn Féin Organizations: CNN —, Israel, Irish Times, Wednesday, CNN, Dublin City University, Higher Education, Fine Gael, Irish, Catholic Church Locations: shockwaves, Ireland, Gaza, Irish, Brussels, United Kingdom, Bray, Varadkar

☆ Ireland set for youngest-ever PM after Simon Harris wins leadership of governing party
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Eve Brennan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Ireland’s governing party Fine Gael has named Simon Harris as its new leader, paving the way for him to succeed former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar as the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history at age 37. “It’s the absolute honour of my life to formally be here with you today in Athlone to accept the leadership of this great party, of our great party,” said Harris in his acceptance speech at a Fine Gael party conference in the Irish county of West Meath on Sunday. Simon Harris embraces his family after being announced as the new leader of Fine Gael. Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters“I want to thank every single person in this room and every single community you come from across Ireland. He also served as the country’s health minister from May 2016 to June 2020, according to Fine Gael’s website.

Persons: Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar, Varadkar, ”, “, Harris, Clodagh Kilcoyne Organizations: CNN, Fine Gael, West Meath, Reuters Locations: Athlone, Irish, West, Ireland

☆ How Irish business is winning in the US: It’s not all butter and cheese
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Irish companies have to think about being in an Irish domestic market which is frankly, really small, or just going global straightaway. The US is particularly strong for Irish companies; the US economy has held up well. I think Irish companies are very adept at pivoting into what other other countries need and being part of the story. It seems like Irish companies are increasingly becoming job creators in the US. Glanbia Foods, an Irish company that manufactures American-style cheese, now produces one in four slices of cheese consumed in the US.

Persons: Bell, Leo Clancy, Joe Biden, we’ve, it’s, that’s, That’s, We’re, It’s, We’ve, Tesla, Elon Musk’s Tesla, Wells, Colin Langan, ” Langan, Elisabeth Buchwald Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, European Union and International Monetary Fund, Enterprise Ireland, Patrick’s, Entrepreneurship, Federal Reserve, Companies, UBS, Tesla, NAR, National Association of Realtors Locations: New York, Ireland, United States, Jefferson , Wisconsin, America, Irish, Europe, Washington, We’re, automaking, Wells Fargo

☆ Biden and Irish Leader Use St. Patrick’s Day Visit to Address Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden on Sunday used what is normally a festive St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House to acknowledge the growing international concern, including among the Irish, over the humanitarian situation of Palestinians amid Israel’s military action in Gaza. “The taoiseach and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and get the cease-fire deal,” Mr. Biden said alongside Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, or taoiseach, an outspoken critic of Israel’s war against Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. But during his trip to the United States, Mr. Varadkar made clear that he would raise his concerns over the war in the Middle East with the American president. The prime minister in a way was speaking to a domestic audience back in Ireland, which, given its own history of resistance to British rule, is one of the more supportive European nations to Palestinians. Ireland was the first European Union nation to call for a Palestinian state and the last to permit the opening of a residential Israeli embassy.

Persons: Biden, “, ” Mr, Leo Varadkar, Varadkar Organizations: White, Irish American, shamrocks, Guinness, European Union Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Ireland, Palestinian

☆ Travel news: These are the global airports passengers love the most
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —In travel news this week: passenger–pleasing airports, cool streets around the world, France’s frog-leg crisis and Ireland’s best food and drink. World’s best airportsThe busy beavers at Airports Council International have gathered nearly 600,000 surveys from travelers at more than 400 airports around the world and have revealed the passengers’ favorites. What’s Japan’s most international city? DenisTangneyJr/iStockphoto/Getty Images Topeka, Kansas: Choose Topeka doesn’t just focus on remote workers. Ron Buskirk/Alamy Stock Photo Rochester, New York: The Greater ROC Remote program offers $10,000 in grants and incentives (plus another $9,000 for home-buying grants).

Persons: South Carolina • Gerald R, Mohammed, Patrick’s, you’ll, –, Saint Patrick, ”, they’ve, John Hope Franklin, Tyler Layne, Ali Majdfar, Roberto Galan, Ron Buskirk, Denis Tangney Jr, Walter Bibikow, Ann Arbor, Paul Brady, Titanic, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Council International, Spartanburg International, Ford International, Mohammed V International, Turkey • Guayaquil International, Salalah, Oman • Sultan Hasanuddin International, Green, of, US Centers for Disease Control, John Hope Franklin Reconciliation, Getty Images, Topeka doesn’t, Getty, Shoals, ROC Remote, Images, Miami Beach Locations: Greenville, South Carolina, Michigan, Rome, Italy, Morocco • Izmir Adnan Menderes, Turkey, Ecuador, Oman • Sultan, Indonesia • Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Asia, Tokyo, Spain, Valencia, of Europe, Happy, Ireland, South Korea, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Tulsa, Tulsa West Virginia, New, West Virginia, Getty Images Indiana, Evansville, Getty Images Topeka , Kansas, Topeka, Kentucky, Mayfield, Graves, Alabama, Tuscumbia, Rochester , New York, Images Alaska, Alaska, Sitka, Getty Images Michigan, Ann

☆ Opinion: Is the US on the brink of another civil war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Opinion Bruce Hoffman | Jacob Ware | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The most dismal assessment, though, is that of Canadian journalist Stephen Marche who, in his 2022 book, The Next Civil War: Dispatches form the American Future, contends that a new American civil war is inevitable. Remember that the United States leads the world — by far — in the number of firearms in private hands. There are an estimated 393 million privately held firearms in the United States — more than one gun per person. In fact, there are more civilian-held guns in the United States than the other top 25 countries in the world combined. Indeed, more guns were purchased in the United States in 2020 — nearly 23 million — than any other year on record.

Persons: Bruce Hoffman, Jacob Ware, Donald Trump, Biden, … ” Bruce Hoffman Michael Lionstar, Barbara F, Walter, ” Jacob Ware Jacob Ware Accelerationism, Barack Obama, Steven Simon, Jonathan Stevenson, “, ”, Stephen Marche, —, Simon, Stevenson, Bois —, Timothy McVeigh, Richard Haass, ” Haass, ” Robert Miles Organizations: of Foreign Relations, Georgetown University, DeSales University, . Press, CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Oklahoma City, National Security, University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy, Washington Post, University of Maryland, “, Capitol, ”, Survey, Foreign, Irish Republican Army, IRA Locations: America ”, Columbia, Texas, Western, America, Northern Ireland, United States, Switzerland, Northern, Ireland

☆ Tensions over Israel-Hamas war loom over Irish Taoiseach’s usually jovial annual visit to White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

There will still be shamrocks this year, but Israel’s war in Gaza is lending a darker backdrop to the occasion. While he rebuffed calls by some Irish politicians to boycott the annual White House stop, he has made plain the Gaza war lends fresh urgency to this year’s talks. “I’ll use that opportunity to put across Ireland’s perspective on this and tell them how Irish people feel. Last year, Varadkar declared Biden “unmistakably a son of Ireland” and announced the president’s forthcoming visit to the island. Barry’s opposition to Biden’s foreign policy predated the war in Gaza; he boycotted Biden’s address to the Dáil in April.

Persons: Patrick’s, Joe Biden, —, Leo Varadkar, Biden, “, ”, Varadkar, “ I’m, Ireland ”, Israel ”, Jane Ohlmeyer, Arthur Balfour, Mick Barry, Biden’s, Michelle O’Neill, O’Neill, Sinn Fein, Carter, Clinton Organizations: Washington CNN, shamrocks, Irish, RTE, White, Muredach’s, Hamas, Trinity College Dublin, Socialist Party, Capitol, Northern, St, ”, Irish Republican Army, Biden Locations: United States, Ireland, Gaza, Boston, St, Ballina ., Israel, Dublin, Palestine, British, Ireland’s, Northern Ireland, Northern

☆ Israel slams Hamas’ latest Gaza ceasefire proposal as ‘ridiculous’ but says it will send negotiators to latest talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The response from Hamas was long-awaited after discussions over a proposed six-week pause in the fighting appeared to stall. Hamas communicated their latest proposal via mediators Qatar and Egypt on Thursday, two sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN. On Friday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands” but announced that an Israeli team would soon be traveling to Doha to further talks. The Hamas proposal included 100 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, the diplomat said. Even if both Hamas and Israel are participating in the talks, the two sides would not be in the same room.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, John Kirby, we’ve, ” Kirby, CNN’s MJ Lee, Ireland’s, Biden nodded, ” Basem Naim, CNN’s Amir Tal, MJ Lee, Betsy Klein, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Qatar, Hamas, Reuters, CIA, Biden, National Security, White House Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Israeli, Doha, Rafah, Qatar, Jordan

CNN —“Ireland, we are at war,” UFC star Conor McGregor declared to his millions of social media followers on November 22, 2023. This comes after the Garda – as Ireland’s police are known – told CNN there were 231 anti-immigration related public gatherings in 2023. A working-class boy from Dublin, McGregor was driven by a desire to become world champion in a sport relatively unknown in Ireland. Political analysts and far-right experts have told CNN that McGregor’s unique brand of Irish patriotism that won him supporters as a fighter has mutated into a strand of “far-right” Irish nationalism. O’Keefe regularly writes to McGregor on X, calling him “President McGregor.” O’Keefe did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Conor McGregor, It’s, McGregor, Ciarán, ” O’Connor, McGregor’s, “, Petery Murphy, Paul Murphy, –, Murphy, Drew Harris, ” Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Stacy Revere, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, ” Ewan MacKenna, ” McGregor, Patrick T, Fallon, ’, “ McGregor, Matthew Donoghue, Megan Briggs, Mick O’Keefe, O’Keefe, ” O’Keefe, Keith Woods, lambasts, Woods, Nick Fuentes ’, Fuentes –, Padraig Pearse, Artur Widak, Europe’s, Heidi Beirich, ” Donoghue Organizations: CNN, CNN — “, ” UFC, Institute for Strategic, Police, Flames, Getty, Irish, People, Profit, Irish National Party, Irish Freedom Party, Garda, Local, UFC, Guardian, Mobile, Forbes, Labour, RTÉ, Central Statistics Office Ireland, Ireland, University College Dublin, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Kaseya Center, North, American White, Blacks, Leinster House, ”, Global, Twitter Locations: CNN — “ Ireland, Dublin, Irish, Ireland, Algeria, AFP, Las Vegas , Nevada, It’s, East Wall, Miami , Florida, North America, American, “ Ireland, Europe’s “, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden

☆ A Sudden Turn in Voter Sentiment Helped Quash Changes to Ireland’s Constitution
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In early February, as a referendum approached that had been called by Ireland’s coalition government to consider two proposals to alter the country’s Constitution, polls showed that a clear majority of voters intended to support it. Many analysts assumed it would be the latest in a series of votes in recent years amending the country’s 1930s-era Constitution to reflect Ireland’s increasingly secular and liberal identity. But as the day of the referendum, held to coincide with International Women’s Day, drew closer, public opinion seemed to turn, with polls showing support for the “yes” vote plummeting. When voters cast their ballots on Friday, they delivered a definitive “no” to both proposed amendments — one to change long-criticized language about women’s duties being in the home and another to broaden the definition of family beyond marriage. The outcome dealt a blow to a government hoping for an easy victory.

Organizations: Ireland’s

☆ Irish government loses public votes to update ‘sexist’ constitution
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Lauren Kent | Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Irish government conceded on Saturday that it had lost two referenda to change what it called “sexist” language in the constitution in an embarrassing defeat. Ireland went to the polls on Friday in votes deliberately timed to coincide with International Women’s Day to replace two constitutional references. Varadkar had championed the vote as a chance to change “very old-fashioned, very sexist language about women”, according to Reuters. Ireland has held referendums on a number of social issues in recent years, with voters repeatedly supporting progressive changes to the country’s constitution. Three years later, they cast ballots to end an abortion ban, and in 2019, divorce laws were liberalized after another referendum.

Persons: “, Leo Varadkar, ” Varadkar, Varadkar, ”, Maria Steen, Micheál Martin Organizations: CNN, Irish, Ireland, ”, Reuters, PA Media, RTE Locations: Dublin, Ireland

☆ Searching for your Irish ancestry? Guinness’ archives could help you reconnect with your roots
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It’s, unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to Irish family history research,” says Crista Cowan, corporate genealogist for Ancestry. The 1.6 million records come from what might sound like a surprising source: the archives of Ireland’s famed Guinness brewery. The Guinness brewery has a storied pastResearchers combing through the newly released files might stumble upon some celebrity connections, too. Courtesy Guinness Archive, Diegeo IrelandArthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on a Dublin brewery in 1759. Courtesy Guinness Archive, Diageo IrelandWorkers generally entered the Guinness workforce at age 14, according to a description of the records on the company’s website.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Crista Cowan, they’ll, Patrick’s, Cowan, ” Cowan, “, who’s, John O’Brien, Liam Neeson, Graham Norton, Bono, Arthur Purcell, who's, Purcell, Arthur Guinness, “ Guinness, …, Eibhlin Colgan, ” Guinness, Guinness, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Public Records, Ireland’s, Guinness, Diegeo, Records, Brewery, Diageo, Diageo Ireland Workers Locations: Dublin, St, Ireland, Diegeo Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Diageo Ireland, James’s, James's

☆ In Ancient Bones, a Reminder that Northern Ireland’s Ghosts Are Never Far
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Ali Watkins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

They turned up around Halloween, as a roaring storm gripped the wetlands of Northern Ireland and tilled its ground: human bones, sticking up from the tea-colored water in Bellaghy bog, halfway between Derry and Belfast. The skeletal remains were disconcerting enough. “The skin was as pink as ours,” said Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. We know now that the remains — extraordinarily well preserved — belonged to a teenage boy from the Iron Age, held together for thousands of years by the preservative power of the peat bog. But in the weeks before radiocarbon dating rendered the find an archaeological triumph, investigators wrestled with a more uncomfortable possibility: Was the body an echo of not-so-distant history, one with which the small island has yet to fully reckon?

Persons: ”, Nikki Deehan Organizations: Belfast, Police Service of Northern Locations: Northern Ireland, Derry, Police Service of Northern Ireland

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