As the first nationwide electoral event in close to four and a half years is only five days away, many individuals in the country are using this bank holiday weekend to mull over their voting decisions for the European, local, and mayoral elections in Limerick. The overwhelming selection includes 73 individuals all vying for a place in the 14-seat European Parliament, a staggering 2,169 candidates competing in 166 local electoral arenas, and 15 opponents for the freshly established Limerick mayoral office.
Our team of political experts has scrutinised the three European electoral districts, with Jack Horgan-Jones handling Ireland South, the expansive five-spot, Harry McGee covering Midlands-North-West, and Cormac McQuinn investigating the competition for the four available seats in Dublin. Right now, it appears that each district offers a favourable chance for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin to secure at least one seat. Still, previous European Parliament elections have been known to spring surprises.
Moreover, Jack Power, our Europe Correspondent, provides his expert evaluations of the traits that embody a triumphant MEP whilst also casting a critical eye over the performances of the ten incumbents seeking re-election.
There is grave apprehension across the continent regarding possible election meddling, underhanded tactics, and the spread of false information, particularly in an era of profound tension revolving around immigration matters. Conor Gallagher, our Crime and Security Correspondent, delves into how extreme right-wing factions can propagate fictitious accounts against asylum seekers, describing the methods through which such fabricated tales can quickly gain traction on social media, prompting thousands of views.
Meanwhile, a key political incident occurred in the US when Donald Trump became the first sitting president to be charged with a crime upon a New York jury’s decision convicting him for concealing documents linked to a hush money transaction. Keith Duggan, our Washington Correspondent, has been tracking the case since its inception and will furnish us with information regarding the aftermath of the trial and its implications for the upcoming presidential election in November.
On Friday, the Central Criminal Court in Dublin handed down a four year prison sentence to Gerard O’Brien, 59, a Circuit Court Judge who held the position from 2014 until earlier this year. He was found guilty on charges of sexually assaulting six young males during the 90s. O’Brien, during the years when these offenses took place (1991 to 1997), was a faculty member at CBC Monkstown, in Co Dublin. For an in-depth look into O’Brien’s life, trial, and his criminal activities, one can refer to the article by Eimear Dodd and Claire Henry.
In the section on opinion, Mark O’Connell shares his views on the government’s decision to fence-off part of the Grand Canal in Dublin, reflecting an overarching policy approach. O’Connell’s perspective infers that this move might be a feckless attempt by the Government to present itself as stern on immigration matters in the face of a growing extreme anti-immigration movement; an effort to infuse what Simon Harris refers to as ‘common sense’ into asylum policies.
Meanwhile, Cliff Taylor warns about the potential risks that Ireland might face amidst the impending subsidy war. Lara Marlowe provides a sobering reminder of how wars generally conclude due to fatigue.
An ongoing war that is posing not just a grave threat to Ukraine but also unsettling the security of Europe is Russia’s full-fledged attack on Ukraine. Daniel McLaughlin, through his impactful field reports, talks to the residents who’ve chosen to stay in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city as the war encroaches ever nearer.
For those looking forward to summer dining experiences, Friday’s list featuring 100 excellent dining spots across Ireland has an array of choices, ranging from food trucks to high-end restaurants. A number of these even offer attractive outdoor spaces or views of the sea. Notably, a quarter of the places listed are newly opened.
If you’d rather cook at home, Mark Moriarty has shared a pair of tempting recipes for fiery BBQ dishes: chimichurri-coated short rib and spiced slaw, and chicken shawarma paired with flatbread and tzatziki.
Finally, in a discussion with Martin Doyle, renowned Irish author Kevin Barry shares the harrowing journey he embarked on to establish himself as one of the most esteemed and influential Irish writers.
Jan Carson shares her experiences of travel mishaps in her exceptional essay, demonstrating how such “disasters” often lead to thrilling adventures many might not have encountered before. Extraordinary letters from our readers also contribute to some of the most insightful writing this week. Particularly noteworthy are Connor Holbert’s revelation about his impending decision to leave Ireland – a perspective from someone enjoying a privileged, white-collar lifestyle, as well as a brilliantly witty satire by Prof Chris Fitzpatrick, offering an instructive take on the wrong way to establish a public hospital.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic,
Editor.