Mary Newman

"Trump, the Mar-a-Lago golfer, is the only bull in the world who walks around with his own china shop. When a clown takes over the Palace, he doesn't become King. It's the Palace that becomes a circus" French senator Claude Malhuret once again nails it. You won't hear a better indictment of Trump and his Gulf war than this. Well worth 5 minutes of your time My English s/t 👇

Nothing like being out on Lough Ennell at 6am... beautiful but short sunrise

One of the best cartoons in ages! Thank you @BillBramhall!

Sunrise & sunset on Lough Ennell... moonrise & moonset, fog, reflections and murmurations... not a bad day at all

This is what the mother of the unvaccinated child suffering with months long brain swelling from Measles had to say. “Yes, it hurts, of course, it hurts. But God has chosen Ethan for a reason. God is doing something, and we're gonna glorify his name regardless." Don't put God in this. God gave us knowledge to make vaccines you smooth brained troglodyte. Now your son may get the opportunity to speak to God directly, because you are SLOW!!! independent.co.uk/news/health/me…

What started as a dull evening on Lough Ennell turned into the murmuration of the year. Once the peregrine arrived and all hell broke loose. The next 5–6 weeks are usually the best, here’s hoping the weather settles and we get plenty more displays like this

On this day in 1984 a terrified, freezing 15- year-old schoolgirl called Ann Lovett was crouched in the fetal position, in agony, at the grotto of the Virgin Mary in Granard, Co. Longford. But whilst this child is certainly innocent and worthy of help, and this is a place where pious people come to seek assistance from Our Lady, her desperate prayers will not be answered that lonely night. Amid the darkness and cold, Ann will give birth to a stillborn baby. Compounding that unimaginable tragedy which occurred in this dreary garden of Gethsemane, just hours later the teenage mother will also perish in Mullingar hospital. Although barbaric scenes like this have played out countless times in "modern" Ireland, this instance captured the country's imagination. The 80s were a more media-savvy age than ever and with the added symbolic poignancy of the grotto was impossible to ignore. The town of Granard, then only a rural village of 1,285 souls reacted in a variety of ways to these horrific events. Ireland, let alone rural Ireland, in 1984 was practically a religious theocracy. The Catholic Church and conservative outlooks born of generations of poverty strangled the lives of people in general but women and girls in particular. Some locals were aware of Ann's pregnancy. Gardaí have never revealed how a visibly pregnant schoolgirl could leave a classroom on a freezing rainy winter's day. Everyone had failed this girl and baby boy, from the nuclear family unit all the way up to Leinster House. Four months before that fateful night, two-thirds of the country had voted in an abortion referendum to enshrine the "right to life" of the unborn in the constitution, without adequately clarifying what happened when this clashed with the constitutional "right to life" of the mother. Ann's deceased infant boy was posthumously baptised Pat. The two innocents, the child, and her child, were buried together in the same coffin. It was obvious this very homegrown horror story would become a religious and political football for parties on both sides who didn't give a damn about women or babies. But when the handful of female TDs and activists attempted to speak out for victims, they were roundly ignored in favour of a soundbite from a bishop, or a geriatric male politician. Despite Minister of State for Women's Affairs and Family Law Nuala Fennell making a passionate plea in the Dáil for an inquiry, none materialised. However, amid the sanctimonious accusations and assignations of blame real social progress took root. The closest Irish society came to openly dissecting the issue was on The Gay Byrne Hour radio show. Hundreds of people, mostly women, wrote in to talk about their experiences and their hopes for change.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 We’re delighted to introduce our Junior Cup management and squad as they prepare for their upcoming Munster Schools Junior Cup fixture. Rockwell College v St Munchin's College 📍 St Mary’s, Grove Island, V94 YA72 🕑 2.00pm 💙🤍

Starlings Murmuration on Lough Ennell this evening and we are being spoiled for sunsets so far this year

Sunsert, Murmuration, Marsh Harrier & Swan.... what an evening 🤯😲

Gráinne Seoige: Running in the general election is the biggest regret of my life Playbook on how to destroy a female candidate… Well written article from ⁦@NiamhHoran⁩ independent.ie/irish-news/gra…

FBD Insurance Intermediate Football 1/4 final Rockwell Rovers 2:13 (19) Fethard 2:10 (16) Rockwell Rovers win by 3 points Full Time

Rockwell College is delighted to host the @Munsterrugby Senior Team for an Open Training & Meet and Greet 🏉 📅 Wed 20th 🕛 12 noon 📍 Rockwell College Come watch the team train & meet the players – all welcome, no booking needed.

Surfing at sunset at Tullan Strand, Donegal

New link for our club lotto. Draw will take place at 8pm Mon 2nd June. rockwellroversgaa.clubforce.com/products/lotto…

Who can vote in Ireland? Via the @ElecCommIRL

In physics, as in life, the path of least resistance is often the least interesting.

On May 3rd, we’re climbing Galtee Mor Slievenamon and the Devils Bit raising funds for charity in Michael’s memory any retweet or donation is greatly appreciated . gofund.me/b29aeeeb

I’m here in New York City where I’ve seen so much that is great about Irish-America. Conor McGregor is not in the US representing Ireland, he doesn’t speak for Ireland, or its people.