Misneach was set up back in the sixties by socialist-republican Gaeilgeoir and modernist author Máirtín Ó Cadhain. It’s recently been revived by a group of Irish-language activists with a fiercely anti-capitalist bent. Tomás Lynch caught up with Misneach member Seanán Mac Aoidh to talk about the ructions over the Irish language Act in the North and all things Gaeilge.
Beyond The Pale.
Ever heard of a Housing Passport? Patrick McCusker takes a look at a scheme that’s been talked about by the government as a way of addressing the housing crisis, in which you can transfer your place on the waiting list to another county so as to start a new life in the countryside rather than spend several years waiting for a house in Dublin.
The Hateful Eighth.
Above: Paul Reynolds caught this very telling photograph at last year’s Rally For Life. Since its introduction in 1983 the 8th amendment has created an environment where responsibility of control for the pregnant woman is in the hands of the Health Care Provider. For practicing midwives, this is a scary position to be in. Polly Molotov is a registered midwife and general nurse and takes us through the problems it creates. It … Read More
The Boogeyman of Balance.
Listening to Marian Finucane interviewing anyone on a Sunday morning can be a slog but sometimes she makes a comment that sheds light on the modus operandi of the national broadcaster. Her “from both sides” comment when interviewing Katie Ascough last November got Sean Finnan thinking about RTÉ’s juggling act when it comes to balance.
Let’s Talk About Sex.
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger is on the frontline fight for many issues but especially women’s rights and secular education. Last week she tabled the Provision of Objective Sex Education Bill which wants to ensure that children receive factual, secular sex education. Caitriona Devery spoke to her about the issues at hand.
Taking Back Trinners.
Above: A photo of the protesters outside the Book of Kells from Trinity SU’s Twitter page. Followthem for more. Last week TCD students blocked access to Trinity via the Front Gate and prevented tourists from viewing the book of Kells. In the last few hours, they have moved on (with the support of the SU) to blocking the entrances to the college and have began occupying the dining hall. … Read More
Translation Years.
Kabosh is a company on a mission to challenge the very notion of what theatre is. Their latest play Lives in Translation sold out the Belfast Festival in 2017 and is back for another run. It hones in on the survival instinct of one woman as she navigates conflict and gets stuck in the suffocating bureaucratic purgatory of the asylum process. Rosemary Jenkinson shared some thoughts about the production … Read More
Season Of The Witch.
Bristling with political resonances, Jesse Jones picks apart hidden histories of dissent and resistance. Her installation Tremble Tremble, represented Ireland at this year’s Art Olympics, the Venice Biennale. It features iconic theatre artist Olwen Fouéré and was inspired by research into witches and other feminist histories that are still relevant to contemporary Ireland. Caitriona Devery caught up with her to chat about art and politics.
Slumlord Slammed!
Dublin Central Housing Action give the low down to the anti-eviction attempt at 52 Mountjoy Square and Paul Howard, whose been topping the polls for the past week as the nation’s most despised landlord.
Pride, Tinged With Sadness: An Interview From The Front.
Above: Some photographs sent on from daily life at the front. Jamie Goldrick chats to an Irish volunteer who traveled East to volunteer with the YPG in the fight against ISIS. He chats about his motivations, life in Rojava and the realities of day-to-day life on the front-lines in Syria. Can you describe your immediate surroundings right now as you type this? I’m sat on the veranda of a building … Read More