The Irish government's attempt to introduce domestic water charges in Ireland is not going well. In fact, for them it's been a disaster because it's sparked off a huge upsurge in working class self organisation and direct action. Last Saturday 17th Sept, saw thousands of anti-water charges campaigners flooding the streets of Dublin o to again voice their opposition to Irish Water & water charges and as a show of strength for the movement. read full story / add a comment

In the months leading up to the Olympics there was a clear political campaign to kick Russia out of the Olympics and this was all part of the broader strategy to make Russia the number one enemy of the West and to restart a new Cold War which the USA has managed to more or less achieve.

However it was surely obvious to anyone who follows sport that there are plenty of others taking drugs and nobody is squeaky clean. Therefore it comes as no surprise to discover the US athletes were taking drugs but what does come as a surprise is the influence of the global US machine on the likes of bodies such as World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) who seem to have one set of rules for some countries and allows them to take drugs with "doctor's note" and other rules for other countries where no such exemptions or rather turning of a blind eye are allowed.

All of this has come to light as a result of recent hacking of WADA. Naturally it is blamed on the Russians. Whether it is or isn't is in material. What matters is what was found and blaming the hackers whoever they are, is simply away to distract from the issue. read full story / add a comment

On Monday 5th Sept at Dublin District Court, Shell were fined EUR1,000 after pleading guilty to causing light and noise pollution from gas flaring at Bellanaboy refinery last New Years Eve. The prosecution was brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following complaints from people living around the Bellanaboy refinery.[1] read full story / add a comment

The political establishment have been left reeling by the size of the award made against Apple. They have launched an all-out propaganda war to try to recover ground.

Here are some of the lies and half truths:

‘The EU is attacking Ireland’s sovereignity’ . The same politicians who meekly accepted orders from the European Central Bank to pay out €64 billion in bank bail-outs have suddenly discovered nationalism.

When it comes to water charges or the privatisation of Aer Lingus they tell us to obey the Brussels bureaucracy. But it is a different story when there is a threat to the ‘tax planning’ industry that is staffed full of accountants and lawyers. Then all of a sudden it is time for the green jersey.

The global elite are under pressure and this is leading to splits and divisions. When this happens they spill the beans on how their system really works. read full story / add a comment

September 17th sees the next major national march against the 'we can't believe they are not dead already' water charges. We respect that many anarchists will be marching with their local groups but for those who are not we thought it would be good to have an anarchist bloc and march together, everyone can then meet up at the end. read full story / add a comment

A few months after the defeat of Bill to ban hare coursing in Ireland’s parliament, an extraordinary statement from the Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation (IGOBF) has come to light.

The IGBOF is the main body representing those involved in greyhound racing and hare coursing in Ireland.

The statement claims that Ireland's greyhound industry is a "failure", with rising debts and plummeting attendance and sponsorship - and that the decline looks set to continue.
read full story / add a comment

Place To Rest Your Head is a multi media project raising issues of the female breast and male chest. read full story / add a comment

The cancellation of a planned balloon releases this Sunday by the Cork Autism Society has been welcomed by the environmental lobby group Friends of the Irish Environment. Balloons released into the environment will burst and the fragments can become lethal 'marine debris', a hazard for sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish, and seabirds who mistake them for jellyfish or other natural prey.
read full story / add a comment

The Department of Transport Tourism and Sport has been accused of ‘mocking’ the Paris Accord in ignoring national policy and legislation on climate change.

‘Just as two superpowers agree to the Paris Accord, our country is manifestly not on track to meet those targets’, a statement from the group said, ‘as the main elements of expenditure identified in the strategy will all lead to increased - not decreased - emissions’. read full story / add a comment

Culture Night, Friday Sept 16th, will see a major exhibition of photographs relating to the current refugee crisis in Europe take place in Rathmines Town Hall. The exhibition 'The Path to Freedom: pictures illustrating the journey refugees are taking from war-torn countries to Europe' is presented by photojournalist Artur Widak and will be accompanied by an illustrated talk, 'Experiences of Artur Widak' by Fiona Bennett. read full story / add a comment

DDCI Calls for Oireachtas Debate; Full Review of Tax Ruling Practices by the Revenue Commissioners Following Today’s EC Apple State Aid Ruling

Following today’s decision by the European Commission that Apple was granted illegal state aid, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (DDCI) is calling for a full Oireachtas debate to take place before any decision is made to contest the ruling in the European Courts.

The details of the revenue seemingly voluntarily foregone by the Irish state are truly astonishing, with Apple paying an effective tax rate of 0.005% in 2014 and reports of 13 billion EUR foregone in the period 2003-2014. This is particularly remarkable given the austerity policies ordinary Irish citizens were facing during much of this period. read full story / add a comment

The 5th annual march for Choice takes place September 24 and once more we are bringing together an anarchist bloc for the march, which is organised by the Abortion RIghts Campaign.

It's going to be an important march as the governement are desperately trying to delay calling a referendum to Repeal the 8th Referendum and a huge turnout will help to force them to abandon their delaying tactics. And with Repeal even being raised by Rose of Traless contestants (to RTE's horror) there is a real mood of urgency for change that must be expressed on the streets. We can't wait when 12 people a day are forced to travel to access abortion and more use pills at home under the theoretical threat of a 14 year jail term. read full story / add a comment

Dalradian Gold, the Canadian based mining firm, are planning to set up a gold mine and processing plant in the beautiful Sperrin Mountains, County Tyrone. Described as a potential “gold rush”, Dalradian claim their survey shows there are up to four million ounces of gold in the Sperrins. Officials claim it could produce 120,000 ounces per year for decades and tens of millions in profits. Michael Arthur reports.

However, to remove the gold, Cyanide will be pumped into the mountains. This process is extremely dangerous for the public health of people living in the area and the local ecosystem, the nearby Owenkillew River is the home of the protected Freshwater Pearl Mussel. read full story / add a comment

International Stalls, Pop-up Workshops, Street-Food, Live Music and Entertainment! Dublin's only Ethnic Bazaar! read full story / add a comment

#ANTIFA : - Whilst Gaelic Football is the sport of those who oppose discrimination, football (soccer) in Ireland is inhabited by the racist and homophobic far right who glorify assaults on LGBT men and women, and foreigners, following a recruitment campaign by the openly national socialist Ireland First, represented on Twitter by Futboi (i) Adam @futboiadam and Futbol (l) Andrew @futbolandrew. Adam's Twitter timeline openly tweets about murdering black people, and Alan tweets to incite the burning of mosques, all fully aware Ireland's rightwing police force do not police internet hate crimes, not even blatant incitement to murder, nor do Twitter remove most racist accounts.

Following the demise of Pegida Ireland, the miserable failure that it was, Ireland First have copied the EDL in gathering both young and middle aged football hooligans from Ireland's soccer scene, aiming for a menacing political band of thugs who are prepared to use violence on minorities. Many of their trolling Twitter accounts masquerade under the premise of pseudo-parody, while tweeting out language designed to spur-on violent hate crimes, even murder.

Ireland First's Twitter Account (far worse than Britain First): - https://twitter.com/irelandaboveall

Cork's football casuals have heeded the messages of hate from Andrew and Adam, joined by newcomers like Alan, who seems to think that hanging around a gymnasium makes him invincible, and pretending to be "not serious" frees them from all responsibility for their actions.

Bonehill himself, pretended to be parody, when calling for Jewish people to be murdered, but the judge dismissed his conjecture, and quite rightly took his violent anti-Semitic words at face value. read full story / add a comment

On Thursday September 8th 2016 you are invited to spend an unforgettable evening with acclaimed Palestinian author, academic and activist Ghada Karmi as she launches her latest book, ‘Return: A Palestinian Memoir‘ (Verso, 2016).

The event, jointly hosted by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Academics for Palestine, will take place in the Ballroom in Wynn’s Hotel, 39 Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1 at 7pm. Entry is free.

Ghada Karmi will be in conversation with well-known academic and journalist Harry Browne, and there will be time for questions from the audience. read full story / add a comment

WP says tax windfall must be used for ‘public compensation fund’ to build public housing

Apple revenue could build 72,000 houses in Ireland

The Workers’ Party has today (30th August) issued a call for the government not to appeal the European Commission’s Apple tax decision, but to establish a ‘Public Compensation Fund’ with money recouped from Apple’s unpaid tax bill. read full story / add a comment

On Sept 6th - Tuesday in Castlebar District Court, latest hearing in the State’s attempt to criminally prosecute two prominent I-I members for speaking up in Court when a judge, aided and abetted by others in the pay of the State, broke just about every rule in the book! read full story / add a comment

We will assemble outside SuperValu Car Park in Westport town at 11am on Sunday 4th September.

Judge Seamus Hughes had a total of six penalty points wiped from his driver’s licence on three separate occasions between 2011 and 2012, Phoenix Magazine claims.

The Wesport native, who is also a former Fianna Fail TD, clocked up the first offence on March 28 2011, shortly after taking over from retired judge, John Neilan in District Number Nine. read full story / add a comment

Even though NamaLeaks.com launch was two week ago, we are reposting this report from Mick Wallace about it to help raise awareness of its goals.

Namaleaks.com, the secure and anonymous whistle blowing platform has launched today, Friday August 12th 2016. Namaleaks.com will allow for anyone who has been unfairly treated or who has witnessed poor practice by NAMA, or by any Investment Funds currently operating within Ireland, to securely and anonymously deliver information relating to same, to namaleaks.com. This project is supported by Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Frank McDonald, Julien Mercille, and Cormac Butler.

Watch the video - https://youtu.be/RYsoYnyZcb0 read full story / add a comment