Engine Alley – A Song For Someone
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, step forward Kilkenny/Dublin glamsters Engine Alley who caused a splash in the 1990s.
Led by brothers Canice (top far left) and Brian Kenealy, they added a dash of colour to the local rock scene. A Song For Someone is from their self-titled second album released on Mother Records in 1993.
This live performance is from James Whale’s show on UK TV.
Nick says: Glamorama.
Proud to sign on to this letter on behalf of @AmnestyIreland #IrishSolidariT #TransDayOfRemembrance #HumanRights https://t.co/Xam7Z7N4BW
— Colm O’Gorman (@Colmogorman) November 20, 2020
‘…Now, unfortunately, we see a rise in discriminatory organisations and vocal transgender exclusionary activists using Twitter and divisive antics to attempt to a drive a wedge in queer communities between transgender people and fracture our support from feminists.
For our decades of solidarity, some seek to repay our community with a call for division based on falsities and bigotry. Let us say unequivocally that the statements of newly launched organisations that seek to defend biology or fight gender identity and expression do not represent the wider LGBTI+ community nor feminists in Ireland.
More importantly, they are not organisations at all, they have no governance, no accountability, and are simply Twitter accounts. Further, they are not supported by the wider Irish community. Ireland has dealt with these pseudo-feminists before, and the work of Feminist Ire dealt swiftly with their attacks by stating “Trans women are our sisters; their struggles are ours, our struggles theirs.They were our sisters before any state-issued certification said so and will always be no matter what any legislation says, either now or in the future.”
In addressing these accounts it is simple enough to refute them by stating they are not radical, they are not inclusive, and they are not feminists. They are simply misinformed and transphobic.
The vitriol and disinformation these accounts and people share does not represent the beliefs of the legitimate organisations and signers of this letter, and together we repudiate their beliefs, and call for an end in giving airtime to their despicable brand of harassment.
In Ireland we exist as a strong coalition of intersectional solidarity. As LGBTI+ and feminist organisations we stand together, we march together, we advocate together. We will not allow transphobia to grow and our history of work together will only continue to propel us to a more equal future for all marginalised people.
We call on media, and politicians to no longer provide legitimate representation for those that share bigoted beliefs, that are aligned with far right ideologies and seek nothing but harm and division. These fringe internet accounts stand against affirmative medical care of transgender people, and they stand against the right to self-identification of transgender people in this country.
In summation they stand against trans, women’s and gay rights by aligning themselves with far right tropes and stances. They have attacked LGBT+ education in school, attacked anti-bullying campaigns, and attack access to medical services. They stand to remove equality, and cause a legacy of damaging discrimination. In particular, the road to Gender Recognition was long and public, and we in the trans community are thankful for the support of the many who stood by our side. We are thankful to the wider gay, lesbian and bisexual communities that marched and worked alongside of us for legal recognition. We are thankful for the feminists that saw, and still see, trans women as their sisters and use their voice to speak for equality…
Portion of an open letter to mark Trans Day of Remembrance 2020 last Friday, signed by Amnesty Ireland and members of Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community.
Meanwhile….
Amnesty founder Seán McBride;l Amnesty Ireland chief Colm O’Gorman
Irish friends, a British hate group is setting up on your shores, please read @LGBT_ie @Outhouse_Dublin @GCNmag @BeLonG_To @ailbhes @nxfie @Colmogorman @ThisIsMeIreland @GayProjectIRL @TENI_Tweets @ShoutOut_IE @EILEMagazine @Lisadonegal @TheGeorgeDublin @QuareMedia @UnaMullally
— David Paisley (@DavidPaisley) November 22, 2020
One of the most remarkable things is how they are ignoring the voices of all the women who signed the letter. All of whom have worked tirelessly, many for many, many decades, to advance women’s rights here. They’ve simply ignored them. Says a lot doesn’t it?
— Colm O'Gorman (@Colmogorman) November 22, 2020
Irish born and raised. Out and proud. Great grandfather executed in 1916 for Irish freedom. Grandfather founded @Amnesty on example of lifetime activist work of my great grandmother for political prisoners & prisoners of conscience. It is the *contents* of the letter – paint
— Iseult White (@iseult) November 22, 2020
I have read it 10 times to try and get my head around why you all signed it. It has taken me till tonight to put any words to my response. Like I said sick to my stomach. There are so may positive and celebratory ways to support trans people. That letter was not that.
— Iseult White (@iseult) November 22, 2020
For me free speech and representation are non negotiable. Every year as a child we made Christmas cards and wrote letters to prisoners of conscience that were denied voice and representation. Never knowing if it did any good. I have tears streaming down my face this minute.
— Iseult White (@iseult) November 22, 2020
Feast Roast.
A vegan alternative to stuffed turkey crown.
Finally.
From Irish start-up Thanks Plants.
Luke Brennan writes:
If anyone is interested in eating a bit less meat this Christmas, this (above) is what I am going for.
They have a rather delicious Seiten festive roast. Seiten flour is the same core ingredient in their vegan sausage range, which I got slightly addicted to this summer. Available in most Dublin based SuperValu stores, or online through their website (at link below). Not quite a stocking filler, but 100% Irish and a great addition to the Christmas table!
Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Stocking Fillers’. Noo fee
Orla Gartland – Pretending
A restroom with a view.
London-based Dublin singer/songwriter Orla Gartland (top) hangs out in the jacks in the innovative video for her new single, directed by Rosie Brear.
With over a quarter of a million views on YouTube, Orla copperfastens her reputation as an internet sensation.
Nick says: Royal flush.
Gulp.
This afternoon.
Bake ‘n’ Brew, Quarry Road, Cabra, Dublin 7.
Maccers writes:
Made me laugh…..Nice toasties as well.
Irish-Made Xmas Stocking-Fillers return TOMORROW!
Finally, sez you.
If you own an Irish business selling Irish-made items online you can advertise them here over the next few weeks for NOTHING.
Send your Irish-Made stocking fillers (with a brief bio) marked ‘Irish-made Stocking Fillers’ to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie.
No fee.
Dr. Mike Yeadon, a former Vice President and Chief Science Officer for Pfizer for 16 years, says “there is no science to suggest a second wave should happen.” asserting that:
“false positive results from inherently unreliable COVID tests are being used to manufacture a second wave based on new cases.”
Dr Yaedon says that half or even “almost all” of tests for COVID are false positives and the threshold for herd immunity may be much lower than previously thought, and may have been reached in many countries already.
Via The American Institute for Economic Research
This video provides one of the most erudite and informative looks at Covid-19 and the consequences of lockdowns. It was remarkable this week to watch as it appeared on YouTube and was forcibly taken down only 2 hours after posting. The copy above is hosted on LBRY, a blockchain video application. In a year of fantastic educational content, this is one of the best we’ve seen.
An Education in Viruses and Public Health, from Michael Yeadon, Former VP of Pfizer (AIER)
Thanks Bob
Meanwhile…
This morning.
UK’s TalkRadio.
A business owner, who has refused to shut up shop during England’s second coronavirus lockdown, saying the rules were a “complete injustice” for small businesses, talks to Mike Graham.
From top: Co-living was welcomed by the real estate trade; Minister for Housing Darrah O’Brien
This morning/afternoon.
After a rush of planning application, the building Co-living developments – in which residents get a private bedroom in a furnished home with shared common area – is to be halted.
Via RTÉ:
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said he was concerned that the high number of applications coupled with the high density of the developments would increase land prices.
“By allowing permissions to extract higher units of beds in a single development and combined with the higher than anticipated number of applications this has the potential to have negative repercussions for other development types, such as affordable purchase or cost rental that the Programme for Government is committed to promoting” he said.
Meanwhile…
Social Democrats Housing spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan
“The ban on co-living developments is long overdue. The Government must now draw a line in the sand under these shoddy housing policies.
“At the heart of the co-living plan was a desire to drive down standards, forcing people to live in shoeboxes so that developers could squeeze every last cent out of a site. Today’s decision by the Minister for Housing is a recognition that this was wrong.”
