Welcome to 2020 sound and vision.

To get you in the mood for the weekend, we’re offering a precious Golden Discs voucher worth exactly €25.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell me below what your favourite closing song is on an album.

Here’s mine (off this long player).

The winner will be chosen by my pet zebra.

Lines MUST close at 6am!

Please include video links if possible.

Nick says: Good luck.

Golden Discs

Tonight.

A Status Yellow low temperature/ice-warning is in place from 6pm until 11am tomorrow.

Met Éireann issued the warning earlier today.

Via Met Éireann

Meanwhile…

This morning/afternoon.

Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2.

The People Before Profit General Election 2020 launch with top pic from left: Ruth Coppinger, Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett, Mick Barry, Brid Smith and Gino Kenny at their General Election 2020 Launch in Buswell’s Hotel Dublin.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

A.S. Fanning – Abandoned

Desperate times call for committed songwriters.

Step forward Berlin-based, Dublin-born gothic-folk musician A.S. Fanning (top).

Formerly frontman of Porn Trauma and The Last Tycoons, Fanning is set to release the follow-up to his 2017 debut album Second Life.

The golden-voiced Fanning describes his new single ‘Abandoned’ as being based on…

“…the sense that there’s this other tier of society, whose actions have a huge impact on the rest of us, but who behave with complete recklessness and without consequences. I suppose the song is written from the point of view of someone who’s feeling those consequences.”

The striking video comes courtesy of Grant and Adam Conversano.

Nick says: Get the message.

A.S. Fanning

EARLIER:

Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Paddy Holohan on his No Shame podcast; Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to journalists in Bray this afternoon

This afternoon.

In Bray, Co Wicklow.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has responded to comments made by Sinn Féin councillor Paddy Holohan on his No Shame podcast.

Mr Holohan made comments about Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Indian heritage on the podcast and subsequently apologised yesterday saying his comments had been misinterpreted.

This morning Joe.ie reported that on the same podcast, he suggested underage girls were having sex with men and then blackmailing them for sums of money up to €10,000.

Ms McDonald told journalists in Bray:

“A matter came to my attention just over the last 40 minutes or so that we had to deal with which I imagine you will have questions on.

“And that is comments made by Councillor Paddy Holohan on his podcast. I have moved immediately to the party’s disciplinary procedures, all of that matter is now in hand.

“And disciplinary action will be taken.

“Obviously, the comments themselves are offensive, they’re beyond offensive. I actually find them upsetting.

“I’m very, very shocked at the comments made and the party’s disciplinary procedure is now activated as we speak.

“And it involves, we have procedures within the party to deal with circumstances where there has been a gross breach of the code of ethics.

“That is what I regard this to be.

“But obviously I have to allow that procedure now to continue. And we will make a further statement in the course of today.”

Asked by Hugh O’Connell, of the Irish Independent, if Cllr Holohan has been suspended, Ms McDonald said:

“The procedure has to be gone through. I don’t have the authority, nor should I, to just arbitrarily suspend or expel anyone. So I have moved immediately to ask the party to trigger that procedure and that is now in train.

“It’s only come to my attention literally in the last 40 minutes, so I am as shocked to see this commentary as anybody else.”

Paddy Holohan is now facing disciplinary action from Sinn Féin over his claims that “scum” underage girls were having sex with men and blackmailing them (Ellen Coyne, Joe.ie)

Via Hugh O’Connell

Pic: Shane Beatty

Broadsheet.ie