Kneecap: A Tortured Artist?
Coachella hit the headlines globally last week as Irish hip-hop trio, Kneecap, emblazoned their uncouth political message onstage. “F*** Israel, Free Palestine” was perhaps the most notable of their many…
Avoiding Scrutiny: The Dáil Speaking Rights Debate
The Dáil sits today for another round of international embarrassment as it weighs a confidence motion in the Ceann Comhairle (Speaker), Verona Murphy. The 34th Dáil has been characterized by…
Why was Conor McGregor in the White House?
America needs to “look after its little bro”, proclaimed MMA star Conor McGregor from a White House podium on St. Patrick’s Day. His mere presence drew swift condemnations from Irish…
Micheál Martin: The Art of the Diplomat
Micheál Martin visited Donald Trump in the White House yesterday. It was a hotly anticipated encounter after the growing potential for tensions between the two long-time allies. I wrote a…
White House Welcome
Those of us in Dublin may have noticed strong gusts of wind this morning. Indeed, Micheál Martin let out a massive sigh of relief at the receipt of Donald Trump’s…
Opposition: A Missed Opportunity
With somewhat conflicted feelings, I dare say I have had a more productive two weeks since my last Political Strategy post than the opposition in Dáil Éireann. On the one…
Boycott or no boycott?
The Irish Government announced its St. Patrick’s Day plans this morning. As usual, it disperses to every corner of the world in a diplomatic blitz like no other. Yet the…
Occupied Territories Bill: the path to power?
Much of Ireland languishes in an imposed luddite existence after Storm Éowyn. Yet Sinn Féin is focusing on the conflict in the Middle East, not its own constituents. Politicians have…
A Program for Government
In a characteristically delayed approach to the new year, the new Irish Government will finally begin next week. After weeks of fairly uneventful negotiations in Dublin, Fianna Fáil and Fine…
Eoin Hayes and the Palantir Problem
Another election, another major scandal involving the Social Democrats and the Middle East. During the Local Elections in June, the party came under fire for deselecting a Jewish candidate for…