Shawn Pogatchnik

The Social Democrats issued this apology to ex-Justice Minister Alan Shatter around 5:45pm Friday (in an obvious bid to minimize news coverage). This comes two weeks after one of their TDs reposted a far-right slander of Shatter, who for many years was Ireland's most prominent Jewish politician.

Ireland pushing to free citizen held by ICE in Texas Irish PM Micheál Martin is wary of provoking the U.S. administration, but behind-the-scenes efforts to free Seamus Culleton from ICE custody have proven fruitless, an Irish official tells POLITICO.…

Seamus Culleton and his family long feared that speaking out could make his ICE ordeal even worse. Their interviews to the Irish Times and RTÉ have put his case squarely on the Irish political agenda. Will it still be there when the Taoiseach visits the White House? www.politico.eu/article/irel...

The current seating plan for this afternoon's Screen 13 presentation of 'Melania' at Dublin Cineworld (the biggest cinema in Ireland). One seat sold, only 136 still available ...

Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...

If there was a child porn factory down the road, it’d be closed immediately.

The Govt’s response wouldn’t be “hang on, they let us print flyers there too”.

Front pages of American newspapers after Jan. 6, 2021, with headlines like "Capitol Chaos," "Assault on Democracy," "Pro-Trump mob storms Capitol."

Five years ago.

That claim of Irishness confused me. The Irish Times did a better description of the novel in a 2010 article: "The book has not withstood the test of time. It is neither read now nor overly worth reading."

The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5

Ireland unveils €1.7 billion plan to beef up its weak defenses The non-NATO member wants to erect drone defenses in time for next year’s EU presidency.

Ireland was already committed to spending €1.1bn on military projects for 2026-30, so today's announcement represents a €600m hike. Much will go on radar and sonar, even more on aircraft. Recruitment and retention remains a fundamental problem. www.politico.eu/article/irel...

Zelenskyy's hand-written message in the visitor's book on arrival at Áras an Úachtaráin, where he's meeting Ireland's newly elected president, Catherine Connolly: "I express my sincere gratitude for Ireland's steadfast support during our fight against Russian aggression."

Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe quits as Irish finance minister Donohoe will become managing director and chief knowledge officer at the World Bank.

Paschal Donohoe won credit from colleagues for easing friction inside Ireland's coalition government. Now his diplomatic skills go to Washington. He leaves Fine Gael with no obvious successor in Dublin Central, where Sinn Féin could win a second seat beside Mary Lou. www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Ireland elects left-wing president in anti-government landslide Catherine Connolly’s lop-sided victory to be Ireland’s next head of state was accompanied by a surge in vandalized ballots from right-wing voters.

My latest on Catherine Connolly's even bigger-than-expected win. It was interesting to see her share the stage at Dublin Castle with the FF and FG leaders she's just humbled. Good grace shown by all. Next up: a byelection to fill Connolly's Galway West seat. www.politico.eu/article/irel...

My latest on the imminent coronation of Catherine Connolly, and yes I've included a hyperlink to her keepie-uppies.

Micheál Martin’s future as Irish PM in doubt as his presidential pick crashes out Political novice Jim Gavin quit the election race to become Ireland’s next head of state after being accused of being a rip-off landlord.

My latest on Martin's misguided pick of Jim Gavin for president. This week's meeting of Fianna Fáil TDs and senators should provide a platform for those seeking a new leader before Martin's due to step down as Taoiseach in Dec2027. Who takes the fall for Calamity Jim? www.politico.eu/article/mich...

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Ireland’s presidential election will be a 3-way fight A Catholic conservative from Ireland’s outgunned right, Maria Steen, fails in her last-ditch bid to join Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys on the Oct. 24 ballot.

After months of no-hopers declaring they'd run for president, we're left with 3 candidates backed by the heavyweights: Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin. It'll be one leftie vs the broad-church parties of government. The top choice of the right can't make the cut. www.politico.eu/article/irel...

In my defense, I did decline references to the political Octagon, to cages and to various types of chokehold (the Peruvian necktie being my favorite).

My latest on the Irish presidential race. Unsurprisingly, Conor McGregor won't be on the ballot. By submitting now, he avoids what would have been his first real political test: seeking a nomination from Dublin City Council. He never bothered to come back to Ireland before throwing in the towel.

Gaelic football legend wins spot on Ireland’s presidential ballot Jim Gavin — a former air force pilot and successful Dublin football manager — is the PM’s pick to compete in the Oct. 24 election.

Here's my latest on Fianna Fáil picking political newcomer Jim Gavin to run for president. The backbenchers' sizable anti-Gav vote doesn't bode well. It's such a wildcard pick. He may be a strong campaigner. But will the GAA grassroots deliver goodwill outside Dublin? www.politico.eu/article/irel...

Mairead McGuinness quits Irish presidential race Ex-EU commissioner cites health reasons as her Fine Gael party calls move “an awful shock.”

Catherine Connolly's bid for the Áras just got an unexpected boost. Much depends on whether FF and SF both run candidates. If either opts out, their councilors are more likely to put wildcard candidates on the ballot. The threshold for nominations via councils is low.
www.politico.eu/article/mair...

My latest on the opening moves of Ireland's presidential race. Will Micheál run? No. Will Mary Lou? Possibly, but risk aversion likely wins out. The election-tilting wild card, if either FF or SF can play it: a 'celebrity' candidate from outside established political ranks. Brace for disappointment!

Immigrants to Northern Ireland face new wave of terror Police seek reinforcements to protect homes this weekend from racist mobs spurred by an alleged crime in Ballymena.

Here's my latest on the Ballymena rioting and its spread this week to other loyalist quarters. Context for U.S. readers: There's been more real trouble in Northern Ireland this month than in Los Angeles (with its three briefly burning, endlessly broadcast Waymos). www.politico.eu/article/immi...

Ex-Sinn Féin chief Gerry Adams wins libel award over BBC investigation linking him to IRA killing The 76-year-old says he sued in plaintiff-friendly Dublin, not Belfast, to “put manners on the BBC.”

Story's up on Gerry Adams' libel win vs the BBC. The outcome could well have been different had he filed suit in the UK. Says the €100k will go to 'charitable causes.' www.politico.eu/article/ex-s...

Headline from the independent: Trump gives rambling speech about trophy wives, golf and the 'great late' Al Capone in politically-charged West Point address

Headline from the New York Times: Trump Gives Commencement Address at West Point, Stressing a New Era

Hard to believe they’re talking about the same event.

Every year on Memorial Day, I share this video of French caretakers who take sand from Omaha Beach in Normandy, and scrub them into the letters to give them the gold coloring.

They do this for all 9,386 US soldiers who died.

France also gave us this land as American soil.

Rubio publicly criticizing an ally for cracking down on right-wing extremism. And Germany hitting back. We are in a new world

Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin Statement

Another statement tonight from the Taoiseach: "No matter what we do, they agree nothing. In 106 years of democracy in Ireland the opposition has never refused to let Dáil business proceed. That’s the politics of the street." www.fiannafail.ie/news/stateme...

And the Ceann Comhairle has just issued a statement confirming this lady's not for turning. The key bit: "I fully intend to continue to carry out the onerous office to which I was elected in accordance with the solemn undertakings I gave the Dáil upon my election." www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-cen...

Sinn Féin demands resignation of Ireland’s parliament speaker Prime Minister Micheál Martin vows to resist Sinn Féin’s campaign of “total opposition” in showdown that has crippled the ability of the Dáil Éireann parliament to function.

It doesn't look like Verona Murphy will go voluntarily as Ceann Comhairle, so a formal no-confidence motion on Tuesday seems a certainty. Once the opposition loses that vote, where then? The Leinster House one-stop shop will need to start issuing earplugs. www.politico.eu/article/sinn...

Chaos as Ireland’s opposition shouts down speaker, shuts down parliament Government forces through new speaking rules — but the Sinn Féin-led opposition makes it impossible for the other side to speak at all.

Hard to see how this ends. Martin keeps wanting to describe it as a fight over an 8-minute speaking slot, but it's all about Michael Lowry and his two fingers. Verona Murphy's hold of the speaker's chair is slipping. www.politico.eu/article/chao...