I have been privileged to work in the newsroom of The Irish Times on many pivotal, unforgettable days, when events in Ireland or elsewhere in the world felt monumental – sometimes for the better, sometimes not. These included major terrorist incidents, such as attacks in Paris in 2015 and Manchester in 2017, and the results day for referendums, such as those on the Eighth Amendment and same-sex marriage in Ireland, and Brexit in the UK.
Last Sunday was one of those days, as the details, the aftermath, and the repercussions of the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump emerged. Even in the mixed-up, crazy world of US politics, it felt like a seminal day.
In The Irish Times, we’re fortunate to have foreign correspondents on the ground, with Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan reporting all week from the Republican National Convention convention in Milwaukee.
I hope you enjoy my selection of stories from this week.
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Stories of the week
1 In keeping with the story of the week, there was, of course, a massive build-up to Trump’s speech on Thursday night at the RNC Convention – his first time taking to the stage since the failed attempt on his life. Would it be the usual divisive tone? Would he call for unity in America? Jack Horgan-Jones watched the hour and a half speech and, in an annotated transcript, picked out the key moments and messages. It makes for a really interesting read.
2 I didn’t get to watch the Republic of Ireland’s fantastic victory over France in the women’s Euro 2025 qualifier at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday evening, because I was coaching future stars of the game at my local club. While they trained I gave regular updates to the girls, who cheered each of the three goals. Along with women players in camogie, Gaelic football, athletics and other sports, these are amazing role models for the next generation. Here, Freya McClements perfectly captures the ongoing revolution that is happening in girls’ sports all over the island.
3 Last Monday, gardaí declared violence outside a proposed asylum seeker accommodation site in Coolock, Co Dublin a “serious public order” incident after protesters set several fires and attacked a security guard at the site. Since then, it has been the scene of more violence, more unrest and more fires. News, views and first-hand accounts have been on the pages and websites of every Irish media organisation all week – as well as the usual, constant stream on social media. Trying to sort through the flood of information, and misinformation, can be exhausting. Artist and film-maker, Adam Doyle’s opinion piece on Wednesday is a good place to start.
4 I often don’t have to read Patrick Freyne’s columns myself, because my wife will read his piece and, every few lines, laugh, read a paragraph out, laugh again. And repeat. We’re so technologically advanced in our house, I have access to text-to-speech even with articles on hard-copy. However, unless you have someone prepared to read out lines such as: “Five words: Danny. Dyer. Is. Jesus. Christ” while stopping at each full-stop for a laugh, you’re just going to have to read this yourself.
Podcast of the Week
I could tell you everything I know about rap in one beat. It’s a genre of music that has completely passed me by – to be fair, hip hop hasn’t exactly missed me either. But I was fascinated by the conversation between Bernice Harrison and Una Mullally on Friday about Kneecap, the rappers from Belfast and Derry that have taken a world I apparently don’t live in by storm. In the tradition of the best podcasts, this one manages to negotiate that tricky line of informing those with no knowledge of the subject at all, while also keeping the interest of those who, unlike me, are fans of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and, erm, DJ Próvaí.
Every day is a school day.
Best of the rest:
Undoubtedly, there is little else being talked about in Cork or Clare at the moment apart from the All-Ireland senior hurling final on Sunday. However, perhaps the most interesting build-up piece of the week is not directly related to the decider. John Fogarty’s interview with Davy Fitzgerald is worth a read, especially for his views on players such as Clare forward Shane O’Donnell. Amazingly, the former Clare player – and ex-Clare, Wexford and Waterford manager – will this weekend be going to his first All-Ireland senior hurling final as a spectator.
If you are a US politics news junkie – and who isn’t at the moment? – the New York Times’ podcast, The Daily, is a regular stop for the latest news and views on the other side of the Atlantic. Their will-he-won’t-he (step aside) coverage of president Joe Biden is fascinating. Or, if it’s more stats and polls you are interested in, 538 (pronounced five, thirty-eight!), which is now under the wing of ABC News, is your only man.
Most Read:
- Armagh 1-18 Kerry 1-16 as it happened: All-Ireland football semi-final
- Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15: All-Ireland semi-final as it happened
- Coolock violence: Fifteen people appear in court after anti-immigration protests
- Trump survives assassination attempt but questions raised over security lapses
- Minister refused communion at Cork funeral Mass over ‘his support for abortion’, says priest
The week ahead
It is difficult to think of a group of people that have been so mistreated, and denied justice and respect, by the Irish State for so long as the survivors of Thalidomide. Introduced to counter morning sickness in the mid-1950s, Thalidomide was withdrawn in the ‘60s after widespread evidence of it leading to birth defects. The Irish Thalidomide Association has demanded a proper apology from the Government, which it says was not contained in a recent letter. Before a planned meeting with the Government next Wednesday, one of the survivors has done a long interview with The Irish Times, which will be published – in print and online – on Tuesday.
