Outside, the new Criminal Courts Complex is distinctive, but not hugely original. Busáras with a facelift. Inside, it feels like a science fiction set. Something American, definitely lacking the post-industrial grime that besets most UK efforts, from 28 Days Later to Dr Who. Think of Doctor Manhattan’s laboratory in Watchmen. Or maybe the headquarters for… Continue reading »
Jan
27
Jan
23
Blue Pencilling the Bunreacht
The NUI is to be abolished, with implications for Seanad elections. So how about proper reform, instead of minimalist tinkering? Seanad Éireann shall be composed of sixty members, of whom eleven shall be nominated members and forty-nine shall be elected members. A person to be eligible for membership of Seanad Éireann must be eligible to… Continue reading »
Jan
21
News Business
We lie. We don’t always mean to, but we do. We’re in a hurry, overworked, and just don’t care any more. Now and then, we have our own agendas, buy that’s for the names, the guys you recognize from chat shows, not the anonymous drones who bring you 90% of the news. We used to… Continue reading »
Jan
11
Memory Hole
For some time yesterday, RTE and Highland radio websites carried the news that an iceberg could be seen off Arranmore island in Co Donegal. The story was false. The story is now gone from both websites, and at time of writing, neither mentions that it ever existed. The only online news source to carry the… Continue reading »
Jan
06
A Donegal Christmas
To mark Nollag na mBan, some more photographs taken on Christmas Day.
Jan
05
WTF?
Following contact earlier today from the Slovakian authorities with the Airport Police at Dublin Airport, members of the Garda Síochána recovered a small quantity of explosive material from the luggage of a passenger who had flown into Dublin from that country on Saturday. It has since been established that this material was concealed without his… Continue reading »
Jan
03
Ben Bulben
For some reason, ever since I drove past Ben Bulben a few days ago I’ve had this craving for vienetta.
Jan
01
Blasphemy
1 January 2010: Atheist Ireland Publishes 25 Blasphemous Quotations on Commencement of New Irish Blasphemy Law From today, 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine. The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or… Continue reading »