Author Archives: Admin

From top (left to right) Dr Bela Ganatra and Dr Ronald Johnson, of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research in the World Health Organisation and Dr Abigail Aiken, Assistant Professor at LBJ School of Public Affairs, Texas; Dr Johnson, and Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan

This afternoon.

At a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

Representatives of the World Health Organisation Dr Abigail Aiken, Assistant Professor at LBJ School of Public Affairs, Texas; and Dr Ronald Johnson and Dr Bela Ganatra, from the Department of Reproductive Health and Research in the World Health Organisation, fielded questions from members of the committee.

At one point…

Paul Gavan: “I just want to get rid of a couple of myths that have been spun on one particular side of the debate. Could someone from the panel, please, tell me what are the risks associated with abortion? Does it, for example, result in higher risk of breast cancer? Does it result in a higher risk of mental health problems? Or are these ill-informed myths?…”

Ronald Johnson: “…As far as we know and this is in the guidelines, there are no known risks for breast cancer, for future reproduction, for mental health, no greater for women who have abortion than normal…than the general population.”

Meanwhile…

Dr Rhona Mahony, Master at National Maternity Hospital, Holles St and Professor Fergal Malone, Master at the Rotunda Maternity Hospital are due to start taking questions shortly.

Watch live here

On Thursday, October 26.

From 6pm.

At F R A M E, 53 South William Street, Dublin 2.

Damn Fine Print will launch Word – a new exhibition of exclusive screenprints in collaboration with sign painter Vanessa Power, otherwise known as Signs of Power.

There may will be tay booze.

Damn Fine Print writes:

Vanessa’s Signs of Power has left her mark across Dublin with incredible hand-drawn shop signs and murals all over the city.

Her new collaboration with Damn Fine Print is an attempt to replicate that work and expand on her repertoire of skills to take in classic print-making and letterpress techniques.

With bold and positive new statements, dramatic colours and irreverent and inspiring motifs, Vanessa has teamed up with their design team to produce a limited run of prints just for this show.

Drawing inspiration from the classic works of Sister Corita Kent and letterpress guru Alan Kitching, Vanessa and the Damn Fine Print crew use traditional brush lettering and black shade techniques alongside classic design methods from the early 20th century that look as fresh, inspired and defining now as they did more than 100 years ago.

Think brush lettering, block shades and casual scripts married with tasteful hand-lettered overlays that evoke real turn-of-the-last-century technology…

The exhibition will run from Friday, October 27 to Friday, November 10.

Signs of Power

Damn Fine Print

Thanks Aidan

 


Splutter!

Looking for an unusual, lapel-based, Irish-made gift?

Ed Hannon writes:

Since 2012 ‘Visions of the Past‘ has been dedicated to the promotion and coverage of Irish history, heritage, folklore and the built environment.

To date the website has had over 800k visits and has documented 350 historic sites.

We are passionate about Irish heritage and with this in mind we have decided to commission three talented Irish designers to create some fantastic hard enamel pins and a tote with an Irish folklore focus.

Today we have launched our etsy shop and our first two enamel pins alongside our tote bag.

The first pin is the ‘Hawthorn Tree‘ pin designed by TwoheadedDog Art, a tree closely linked to Irish folklore and fairy lore.

The second is the enigmatic and powerful ‘Sheela Na Gig’ pin designed by Votive Illustration.

The tote is the logo for VOTP and features the bell tower of my favourite Dublin church St Audoen’s. We are already working on further designs and hope to expand the range over the coming months.

Expand the range.

Fnarr.

Visions of the Past (Etsy)

Visions of The Past

Irish made stuff to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-made stuff’. No fee.

From top: David Miscavige; Church of Scientology new European hub in Firhouse

David Miscavige, leader of The Church of Scientology is to open its new “Ideal Org” at the former Victory Centre in Firhouse, Dublin 24 next Tuesday, October 14.

Ex-Scientologists of Ireland write:

The new premises comes complete with a 1,100-seat ‘grand auditorium’, although the 2016 Census recorded 87 Scientologists in Ireland.

Mike Rinder, former Executive Director of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, describes the Ideal Org strategy as a “real estate, money making scheme and PR campaign for internal scientologists.”

250 Scientologists are being recruited from around the world to staff this new HQ.

David Miscavige, leader of the Church of Scientology since the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986, will be in Dublin for the opening.

His reign atop Scientology has been turbulent. His wife, Shelly, disappeared from public view in 2005. Some of Scientology’s most famous adherents, like actress Leah Remini, and writer/director Paul Haggis, have publicly split with the church.

Dozens of former Scientologists have fled the church’s vast “Gold Base” HQ in Gilman Hot Springs, California, claiming they were coerced and abused for years inside its fences.

And a book and an HBO documentary, both titled “Going Clear,” painted a brutal picture of intimidation, beatings, imprisonment, and exploitation of Scientology workers.

In October 2009, the French branch of the Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud and fined €600,000.

In a speech to the Australian Senate on 17 Nov 2009, Nicholas Xenophon labelled the Church of Scientology as a criminal organisation, making allegations of members experiencing blackmail, torture and violence, forced imprisonment, and coerced abortions.

Ruling in the High Court in London in 1984, Justice Latey concluded:

“Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious…It is corrupt, sinister, and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard…

It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others.”

Ex Scientologists Ireland

Pic: Getty, Tallaght Echo

Late last month, with a TWENTY FIVE EURO voucher for Golden Discs on offer we asked you to choose a favourite Autumnal track.

You answered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner.

in reverse order then…

Justin Hayward – Forever Autumn

David T writes:

I find my my autumn mood usually lifts on hearing Justin Hayward’s “Forever Autumn” because I love its eerie, crepescular quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb-SVPJM4L4

Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra – Some Velvet Morning

Otis Blue writes:

I find my autumn mood lifts on hearing Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra singing Some Velvet Morning…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGdJw5SbWE

Aphrodite’s Child – Spring Summer Winter and Fall

Gorev Mahagut writes:

 I find my autumn mood lifts on hearing Aphrodite’s Child singing “Spring Summer Winter and Fall”, whose lyrics demonstrate some confusion about what order the seasons go in.

The Band – King Harvest

Yep writes:

I find my My Autumn mood usually lifts on hearing King Harvest by the band.

I can clearly remember being handed that album going back to school, staring at the cover of ’em all wrapped up looking soaked and cold, then spending the next few months buying and listening to everything I could.

Trying to explain how cool the song structure of King Harvest was at a Halloween party was a downside. Especially considering my analysis was ” but it’s kinda backwards kinda in a way”.

Van Morrison – Evening Meditation

Specific Gravity writes:

I find my autumn mood usually lifts on hearing Van Morrison’s Evening Meditation, from his Sense of Wonder album.

Something in it always brings to mind relaxing by a turf fire with a tipple after a day traipsing over crackling leaves with a refreshing bite in the air.

Of course, Van was no doubt meditating over far more exotic escapades when he wrote it…but it’s Autumn to me.

Winner

Van Morrison – Purple Heather

Nevan writes:

Van’s Purple Heather is so autumnal it’s like “a horn-shaped basket jammed it with an insanely ornate assortment of shellacked vegetables”. And it comes right after a song called “Autumn Song”. And it starts with the line “Well the summertime has gone and the leaves are gently turning”. It’s decorative gourd season!

Thanks all.

Golden Discs

Previously: Yes, Yes, Yes, It’s Your Autumn Almanac

This morning.

RTÉ Radio studios.

Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe and Sean O’Rourke  ahead of questions on Budget 2018 for the Today with Sean O’Rourke Show.

Cosy.

‘I think you have forgotten the people who can only get as far as their knees’ – Paschal Donohoe answers questions from the public on Budget 2018 (Irish Independent)

Rollingnews

Tony Groves

Tony Groves, financial consultant, noted tweeter and Broadsheeet columnist, is taking part in the Dublin City Marathon at the end of the month in aid of Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH).

And YOU can sponsor him.

Tony writes:

There’s over 8,000 people homeless, 3,000 of whom are children. Campaigns like #MyNameIs and the work of the volunteers at Inner City Helping Homeless have helped so many.
Please give whatever you can (at link below). It’s really needed and appreciated.

Marathon fundraiser for ICHH (Gofundme)