“Our history tells us that even in the darkest times we, The Irish, have the capacity not simply to look towards the light but to find the light and the Irish Film and Television Acadamy’s beautiful bronze statuette with its triskele reminds us of our Celtic ancestors who built Newgrange.

“There, rather like a cinema projector, a shaft of light shines right to the back of that ancient tomb signalling the beginning of a new year and from that point on the nights get shorter the days get longer, spring bursts through the weary winter and life, hope endure.”

President Mary McAleese at the IFTAs

Your Majesty. 1997 called. They’d like their meaningless, arse-shudderingly faux-Heaney prose back. Thanks.

We’re going to miss him.

Paul Gogarty’s Twitter Feed

(Photocall Ireland)

Stephen Rea (centre) today joined (from left) Pat Harris, Felim Egan, Guggi and Robert Ballagh to launch the Irish Ship To Gaza Art Project.

Each artist is donating a painting that will be produced as a limited edition print and available at irishart4gaza.com. Buy one.

If nothing else, it might cheer them up.

(Photocall Ireland)

Irish Ship To Gaza

Guardian’s Twitter Network Of Arab protests – Interactive Map

“And what I was thinking this morning was that it’s an awful day for relatives – we don’t want it to happen, none of us want it to happen – but God willing, for those who are gone, God willing, it is a wonderful day for them”

Fr Mick Murphy, who anointed the victims of the Cork Airport crash.