This afternoon.
John L Gillen tweetz:
I made planters for my tomatoes from some of [Social Democrat] Gary Gannon posters from the European election.
In fairness.
Meanwhile…
We have about 80 posters that we won’t be able to reuse due to tearing and scratching. If anyone could use them for anything, please let me know!
Best one yet was a beekeeper using them for an inspection panel on the hive.
— Niall Ó Tuathail (@niallotuathail) February 24, 2020
This morning/afternoon.
The line up for this year’s All Together Now Festival in Curraghmore House, Waterford on the August Bank Holiday weekend featuring Iggy, Rufus, Jarvis, Sineád and Lauren.
Behold: the ancient, spectacular fender-bender of NGC 5128, aka Centaurus A, our closest active galaxy – a mere 11 light years away. To wt:
…the peculiar elliptical galaxy is over 60,000 light-years across. A region spanning about 8,500 light-years, including the galaxy’s center (upper left), is framed in this sharp Hubble Space telescope close-up. Centaurus A is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies resulting in a violent jumble of star forming regions, massive star clusters, and imposing dark dust lanes. Near the galaxy’s center, left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. As in other active galaxies, that process likely generates the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A.
(Image: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage (STScI/ AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration)
Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar hits out at @sinnfeinireland rallies. Report soon from @IrishTimes pic.twitter.com/Wx6s3RUSs0
— harrymcgee (@harrymcgee) February 24, 2020
From top: Acting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: Sinn Fein negotiating team, from left: Matt Carthy TD, Pearse Doherty TD and David Cullinane TD at Leinster House this afternoon
Sinn Féin holding public meetings that anyone can attend: part of a campaign of intimidation
Eoghan Murphy meeting Richard Barrett of Bartra Capital behind closed doors to discuss co-living developments, which are often designed to bypass tenancy laws: Modern, trendy, v good
— Paulie Doyle (@BigPaulieDoyle) February 24, 2020
Leo Varadkar said the rallies are “designed to be the next phase in Sinn Féin’s campaign of intimidation and bullying”.
He added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if their next step is to take to the streets.”
Speaking at an event in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said: “It shows once again this is not a normal party.”
Sinn Féin is planning five rallies – the first in Cork tonight [see below] – with the others in Dublin, Galway, Cavan and Newry.
SF rallies an ‘unwelcome development’ – Varadkar (RTÉ)
UPDATE:
‘sup?
Saturday.
Mount Henry, County Laois.
Eamonn Farrell writes:
Lambs on this farm have been given orange raincoats to protect them from the cold and wet weather.
The enterprising farmer has issued them to the lambs, which are a bit more delicate when born, which means instead of being kept indoors they can run around outdoors with their more sturdy brothers and sisters.
This morning.
Sam KB tweetz:
Incredible view from a meeting I’m at today of a rainbow spanning from Dublin Bay right over the City. Dublin you are stunning today…
But he would not quit.
The mukimono of Japanese artist Takehiro Kishimoto – intricate geometric patterns and elaborate leaves and blooms incised into fruit and vegetables.
Minister for Children Affairs Katherine Zappone ( above) and Tusla are heavily criticised in the leaked report.
Yesterday.
The Sunday Independent revealed details of a leaked report by the Collaborative Forum on Mother and Baby Home. A report outgoing Minister for Children Affairs Katherine Zappone had refused to publish.
It detailed episodes of mixed race children who were subjected to “racial profiling” and ‘stripped of their identities’.
Also:
Tusla, which controls access to birth records from mother and baby homes and adoption societies, is accused of withholding personal information from applicants detained as children across various institutions on the grounds that to release it “could cause harm to the wider family members”.
The outgoing Minister for Children is criticised for transferring records from mother and baby homes to the child and family agency as “astonishing”, “regressive” and “insensitive”.
The “levels of anger, frustration and discontent” towards Tusla from survivors trying to access their records has “escalated to record numbers”, the report says. Their experiences of trying to find out who they are have been “damaging and re-traumatising” for the most vulnerable survivors.
The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, which is much criticised in the report, fell by the wayside shortly before the change of government.
The legislation attempted to address the rights of adoptees to their identity, while balancing the rights of natural parents to not be contacted. In the end, it could not be done. The minister was advised of constitutional issues with allowing adopted people unrestricted access to their birth information and attempts at reaching consensus failed.
The spirit of inclusivity in which the collaborative forum was founded has given way to feelings of exclusion.
Last week: Tusla And The Silencing
