This afternoon.
Áras An Uachtaráin published ‘The Presidency in Review, 2011-2018’ outlining the work and expenditure of the office over the past seven years.
It includes a breakdown of how President Michael D Higgins’ office spent the presidential allowance of €317,000 per year.
Read in full here
Previously: The President’s €317,000 Top-Up ‘Allowance’
Abbey Theatre in Dublin
The North American musical Come From Away, currently on the Abbey stage, is another attractive show to be seen over the Christmas period.
The puzzle is why a production created outside Ireland and on its way to London’s West End is playing for seven weeks at the Irish National Theatre.
The Abbey receives by far the greatest share of the Arts Council theatre budget, and the assumption must be that this subvention is an investment in the vast creative talent within the Irish theatre community.
Is it appropriate that there should be no representation of Irish-based writers, directors, actors and designers on the main Abbey stage for two months of the year for which it receives generous public funding?
Some 140 Abbey staff are listed in the Come From Away programme and they are among the most experienced and committed practitioners of theatre in Ireland.
Many freelancers on the Irish theatre scene are available for their expertise also to be engaged. Surely it is the responsibility of our National Theatre to draw on this well of home-based talent, recognised and envied outside our shores, to produce its own show for Christmas.
John Fairleigh,
Collinstown,
Co Westmeath.
Abbey Theatre and Christmas fare (The Irish Times letters page)
Sonia and Sophie O’Sullivan at the European Under 18 Championships in July
Tomorrow night.
On the Late Late Show.
Sarah Whiteacre, of RTÉ, writes:
The former World Champion and Olympian [Sonia O’Sullivan] is one of the country’s most successful athletes, but earlier this year she was simply a proud mother when her daughter won a silver medal at the European Under 18 Championships in Hungary.
Sonia and daughter Sophie join Ryan Tubridy to discuss this success…
Tony Cascarino… has become a successful soccer pundit, but his life was disrupted when doctors discovered a golf-ball sized brain tumor, resulting in major surgery to remove it. He’ll be telling Ryan about his frightening ordeal…
After a seven year hiatus, Snow Patrol are back with their new album, and made a welcome return to Ireland this week by playing a sell out concert in Dublin’s 3 Arena…
As a teenager, Evanna Lynch was catapulted to worldwide fame when she went from her native Termonfeckin to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Luna Lovegood in the global sensation Harry Potter. Evanna joins Ryan to chat about her meteoric rise…
Having recently turned his hand to writing a children’s book, Jason Byrne will be chatting to Ryan about drawing inspiration from his own childhood for his books, and his upcoming January tour.
Coming from a parish of 447 people in Longford, Mullinalaghta St Columba’s beat the mighty Kilmacud Crokes, making history by becoming the first Longford side to collect the Leinster club Senior Football Championship title. Ryan hears more about how they came in as massive underdogs but left as the first Longford side ever to contest a final at this level.
There’ll also be comedy from Pat Shortt, and music is from pop sensation Anne-Marie, and The Three Amigos.
The Late Late Show is on tomorrow night, on RTÉ One, at 9.35pm
Pic: Pierce O’Callaghan
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and US President Donald Trump in the White House last April
Amid the chaos, Macron’s approval rating in France is just 23 percent, according to the latest poll from international polling company Ifop, as many on both the left and right see him as out-of-touch.
Meanwhile…
Forty-eight percent of Americans polled in a new American Barometer survey say they approve of President Trump‘s performance in office.The poll showed 24 percent of respondents said they “strongly approved” of Trump, while another 24 percent said they “somewhat approve” of him.
Macron Wanted to Lead the World. Now He’s Struggling to Lead France (New York Magazine)
Hill.TV poll shows 48 percent approve of Trump (TheHill)
Pic: Reuters
An adorable, award-winning short directed by Jeremy Collins and Kelly Dillon of South African animation studio Triggerfish, wherein the adorable and persistent Penny learns to dive, unperturbed by the spotlight-stealing skills of a haughty older girl.
OK Sky news. Do you call Donald Trump the American Prime Minister instead of President ? Do you call Angela Mikel the German Prime Minister instead of Chancellor? Well do us a small favour and called Leo Varadkar by his correct title as the Irish Taoiseach.
— davey boy (@Fredthemuss) December 13, 2018
This morning/afternoon.
Brussels, Belgium.
FIGHT!
Hot Wheels
at
Behold: the McLaren 720S Spider – differing from its hardtop stablemate by way of a retractable glass panel roof that changes from clear to opaque at the touch of a button.
To offset the extra weight, the alloy wheels have been lightened and the rear spoiler recalibrated to adjust the relative aerodynamics when the roof is open or closed.
Yours for a mere €278,000.
Unless the aggressively finned Novitec 720S is more to your taste.
Pope Francis (right) with Cardinal George Pell in 2015
Australian Cardinal George Pell has been convicted of sexual misconduct, becoming the highest-ranking Vatican official to be found guilty of such a crime.
After four days of deliberations, a jury on Tuesday rendered unanimous guilty verdicts on five charges related to the abuse of two choirboys in 1996.
Pell’s trial and all details involving the accusations were covered by a court-issued gag order, which forbade all media in Australia from reporting on it.
Pell’s position as the financial controller of the Vatican makes him the third most powerful person in the Vatican.
Pope Francis has removed Pell from his Council of Cardinals, however…
…the removal of Pell, 77, from the council does not necessarily affect his treasury position, which he technically still holds, and a Vatican spokesman would not comment further.
George Pell: Pope Francis removes Australian cardinal from inner circle (The Guardian)
Previously: I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Pell
Pic: Getty
