This afternoon.

Crock of Gold.

The official trailer for Julien Temple’s Victoria Mary Clarke/Johnny Depp-produced, Ralph Steadman-animated documentary on Shane MacGowan has just ‘dropped’ (after a bit of a stagger).

Thanks Fanning Sessions

Meanwhile…

This morning/afternoon.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Kathleen Funchion (above) and and Mairéad Farrell (top right) speak to the media concerning the controversial passing of the Mother and Baby Home records bill.

Depty Funchion said she has written to the Data Protection Commissioner’s office to seek their observations on why they believe the vote last week to seal the records of the Mother and Baby Home Commission for 30 years may have contravened European and Irish law with regard to the accessibility of personal data.

Last Friday, it was revealed the DPC  was consulted by the Department of Children ahead of the drafting of the bill., with DPC Deputy commissioner Graham Doyle saying:

“It would appear to the DPC to be the case that the separate provisions of the 2004 Act in relation to the sealing of documents were not intended in the context of the amendment to the 2018 Act to provide an effective ‘blanket’ barrier to the exercise of rights

Deputy Funchion, who delivered an emotional speech during the Dáil debate on the bill, said:

“I am anxious to focus on solutions that we can bring forward now, particularly through legislation.”

Earlier: Repelled

Illegitimate History

A Higher Appeal

Last Friday: Not So Fast

RollingNews

The Swedish Railway Orchestra – There’s Too Much Love

In Dublin’s fair city, where the streets are so empty…

For the latest single from The Swedish Railway Orchestra’s self-titled album, Rob Smith has set his pulsating groove to footage of the capital during lockdown, shot by video director and editor Barry Finnegan.

Nick says: Block(down) party

The Swedish Railway Orchestra

A rally against Covid restrictions at Custom House Quay, Dublin in August

For those about to lockdown.

He salutes you.

The rest?

Well…

Gene Kerrigan, in The Sunday Independent, writes:

There are times when I envy the headbangers – those groups that promote crank politics in which everything is either deep state or fake news. Or both.

Their world is so simple. Everyone is corrupt except the people who claim everyone is corrupt.

It’s a lovely circular world, easy to understand.

Covid-19 has given them a fresh field in which to grow simple stories of deep corruption by hidden forces.

The rest of us strut and fret in a much more complex world. Which is why I envy the simple, clear and self-righteous views of the headbangers….

Later…

“Lockdowns alone will not work,” said WHO’s Mike Ryan, shortly after the coronavirus emergency began.

So the headbangers, in their simple world, left out the word ‘alone’ and shrieked: “The WHO said lockdowns don’t work, so Nphet is corrupt – see, everyone is corrupt.”

Later…

I dunno.

Maybe Tony Holohan wants to be Emperor of Ireland.

Maybe he’s been hiding a political ambition under that lifetime of public health work.

Perhaps he has a relative in Wuhan. Anyone check that out? Maybe the relative started the whole thing so Tony could become popular and…

Sorry, I seem to have inadvertently switched into headbanger mode for just a moment.

FIGHT!

Also: any excuse.

Revelling in the new FF-FG v Nphet rivalry (Gene Kerrigan, Sunday Independent)

Previously: Gene And Vincent

RollingNews

Blink – Going To Nepal

Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960 (unearthed during a recent Golden Discs music competition), reader Muchacho Gordo-Delgado chooses lovable 1990s Dublin indie pop troopers Blink, who were led by Dermot Lambert (top).

Muchacho writes:

“Forget your 182s, this is the original Blink.”

Blink says:

“We spent an afternoon going around Dublin on the back of a 40-foot truck playing this song, setting off car alarms and, yes, frightening horses.”

Nick says: Kathmandu-be-du.

Blink

This morning.

Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Anti Imperialist Action writes:

To mark the 40th Anniversary of the launch of the 1980 Hunger strike, Anti Imperialist Action renamed Merrion Road in Dublin that houses the Brit Imperialist Embassy, as Bóthar Breandan MacAodha/ Brendan Hughes Road.

Road signs were erected to cover the current signs at the junction of the road that houses the Brit Embassy, at the Embassy itself and on the Bus Stops close by to honour the courage and sacrifice of the Republican Soliders in the H-Block who commenced a Hungerstrike Against British attempts to criminalise the Republican Struggle 40 years Ago this week.

Brendan Hughes the O/C of the Republican POWs and a deeply committed Socialist Republican led the strike against the Brits and it is fitting to rename the road that houses the epi-centre of Brit Imperialism in the Free State in honour of his heroic action and life long fight for Irish National Liberation and Socialist Revolution.

Anti Imperialist Action

Con Kennedy tweetz:

This photo is from the collection of the Irish Society of Antiquarians and was used to document tenement life in Dublin a century ago. This particular photo taken in 1911 is often used in books and documentaries on Dublin life of the time. The photo is of a Tenement in Chancery Lane, AKA Little Italy.

My Great-Great-Grandfather is in the centre by the door. He was a German immigrant, a Jew who married an Italian Roman Catholic in Cork and settled in Dublin. He was a barrel organ grinder who befriended the Ganter Brothers – I have a clock they made for him. I suspect the woman beside him is my Great-Great-Grandmother with my infant Great grandmother in her arms who died when I was 7. The photo depicts all the families who lived in the one tenement. I thought I’d add false colour to the photo.

Anyone?

Hic.

Meanwhile…

According to the former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, now the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (although he seems to be firmly opposed to all three) this is vital to stop ‘unfair’ competition. The police – to show they are determined to get tough on anyone taking advantage of the crisis by, say, selling children’s toys or books – were reported to be out in force this weekend to ensure compliance.

But hold on. This is completely crazy. For the moment, let us leave aside the issue of whether it is a slight overreaction to a virus which, while infections are rising, killed

between zero and thirteen people a day over the last month in Ireland. Let’s leave aside as well how complex it will make the border with Northern Ireland – given that presumably anyone from the Republic will be able to drive across the border to buy garden equipment or a new T-shirt (I hope someone has broken the news to Michel Barnier so he can work out what the heck that means for the backstop). The important point is this: it has turned into a terrifying abuse of government power.

Ireland’s lockdown war on the economy (Matthew Lyn, The Spectator)

Broadsheet.ie