From shamrocks to rainbows, thereโs a deeper meaning behind St. Patrickโs Day traditions
So, we all know that when St. Patrickโs Day rolls around, our social media feeds light up like a Christmas tree with images of leprechauns, shamrocks, and pots of gold at the end of rainbows, right? But have you ever stopped to wonder why?
Ireland to launch a legal challenge against the UK government over Troubles amnesty bill
Irelandโs government says it is taking legal action against British authorities over a controversial law that gives some immunity from prosecution for offenses committed during three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
Irelandโs prime minister condemns anti-immigrant protesters who rampaged through central Dublin
Irelandโs prime minister has condemned anti-immigrant protesters who rampaged through central Dublin after three young children were stabbed, saying the rioters simply wanted to cause chaos, not protect the countryโs way of life.
Biden in Ireland encourages nations to 'dream together'
Holding up his family history as an example, President Joe Biden on Thursday told lawmakers in a packed parliament house that the story of Irish immigrants setting sail for the U_S_ is at the very heart of โwhat binds Ireland and America together.โ.
Biden and Irish poets: 'Hope and history,' a lifelong love
When President Joe Biden visits Ireland this week, you can expect him to visit an ancient castle, honor some of his ancestors and mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement among Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Notre Dame beats No. 5 Clemson 35-14 with punt block for TD
Prince Kollie scored on a blocked punt, Benjamin Morrison returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown and had another interception to set up another score as Notre Dame earned its second straight win over a ranked opponent, beating No. 5 Clemson 35-14.
N.Ireland parties urged to work together after Sinn Fein win
The U.K. and Irish governments have urged rival parties in Northern Ireland to come together to resurrect its power-sharing government after Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein scored a historic victory in local elections to become the biggest party in Northern Irelandโs Assembly.
Biden recommits to Good Friday accord on St. Patrick's Day
President Joe Biden speaks during a virtual meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin on St. Patrick's Day, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Biden marked St. Patrickโs Day on Wednesday by recommitting the U.S. to the Good Friday Agreement, which has come under increasing stress following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. Before the meeting, the president attended a morning Mass at the aptly named St. Patrickโs Church near his family home in Wilmington, Delaware, then returned to the White House to partake in the St. Patrickโs Day celebrations, which were toned down due to the coronavirus pandemic. In keeping with recent tradition, the water in fountains outside the White House ran green for the day. Biden and Martin also emphasized their commitment to addressing global challenges and combating the coronavirus, among other issues, the White House said.
Ireland suspends AstraZeneca vaccine amid blood clot reports
Irish health officials have recommended the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Irelands deputy chief medical officer, said Sunday, March 14 the recommendation was made after Norways medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file)LONDON โ Irish health officials on Sunday recommended the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Irelandโs deputy chief medical officer, said the recommendation was made after Norwayโs medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. The health ministry said the move followed six new reports in Denmark and Norway of blood clotting and lowered levels of blood platelets in people aged under 50.
UK holiday firm had 'undesirable guests' list of Irish names
FILE - This Nov. 5, 2020 file photo shows a sign for a Pontins holiday park. A chain of holiday parks in Britain kept an undesirable guests list of Irish surnames in an attempt to keep out members of the Irish Traveller community, the U.K. equalities watchdog said Tuesday March 2, 2021. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP, File)LONDON โ A chain of holiday parks in Britain kept an โundesirable guestsโ list of Irish last names in an attempt to keep out members of the Irish Traveler community, the U.K. equalities watchdog said Tuesday. The list kept by Pontins, which was displayed on a staff intranet site, contained about 40 largely Irish names, including Cash, Delaney, Gallagher, Murphy and OโBrien. At the firmโs peak, there were about 30 Pontins sites in the U.K., but only half a dozen are still operating.
Border checks stopped at N Ireland ports after threats
Graffiti has appeared across Loyalist areas in Northern Ireland in recent days as anger grows relating to the Northern Ireland protocol and the row over vaccines across the border into Northern Ireland. Under the U.K.-EU divorce terms there are also checks on British goods going to Northern Ireland, because it shares a border with EU member Ireland. An open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in the region. He said problems in shipping some goods to Northern Ireland caused by the new customs and health checks needed to be resolved. He said senior politicians from the U.K., Northern Ireland and the bloc would discuss the ports situation on Wednesday.
Irish PM says 'perverse' morality drove unwed mothers' homes
Prime Minister Micheal Martin said young women and their children had paid a heavy price for Irelandโs โperverse religious moralityโ in past decades. The final report of an inquiry into the mother-and-baby homes said that 9,000 children died in 18 different mother and baby homes during the 20th century. Fifteen percent of all children in the homes died, almost double the nationwide infant mortality rate, the report said. Church-run homes in Ireland housed orphans, unmarried pregnant women and their babies for most of the 20th century. โWhile mother and baby homes were not a peculiarly Irish phenomenon, the proportion of Irish unmarried mothers who were admitted to mother and baby homes or (state-run) county homes in the 20th century was probably the highest in the world,โ the report said.
Notre Dame better in Texas, but loses again in semifinals
Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young (47) in the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas โ Ian Book had Notre Dame moving with a chance to get within a touchdown of No. Notre Dame beat the Tigers 47-40 in November while Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined because of a positive COVID-19 test. โI donโt have a unique problem at Notre Dame,โ Kelly said. Everybody can keep saying, you know, Notre Dame is not good enough.
Shackleton expedition artifacts to be donated to UK museums
An eleven-foot wooden sledge used on Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition on a table at Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, London, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/James Brooks)LONDON โ A sled and flag used in one of explorer Ernest Shackleton's famed expeditions to the South Pole have been bought by a British government-funded body to keep the treasured artifacts in the U.K. The expedition was named Nimrod after the ship, which came within less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the South Pole for the first time in 1909. Shackleton never reached the South Pole and died of a heart attack in 1922 off South Georgia, a British overseas territory, during a fourth Antarctic expedition. The sled and flag were owned by Eric Marshall, a surgeon and polar explorer who accompanied Shackleton on Nimrodโs โsledge marchโ to the South Pole.
Book leads No. 2 Irish past Syracuse 45-21; Clemson next up
It was Bookโs 30th victory as a starter, the most ever for a Notre Dame quarterback. โItโs a dream come true to be able to attend Notre Dame and have a good career,โ Book said. Notre Dame started its run thanks to a roughing the passer by Syracuse that Book later turned into a 28-yard TD run. Book finished with 348 total yards, becoming only the second Irish player to move past 10,000 yards (10,008) in total offense. Notre Dame: The Irish have an extra week to rest up for Clemson after the conference adjusted the schedules earlier this week, canceling their last game.
No. 4 Notre Dame sacks No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double OT
4 Notre Dame shut down top-ranked Clemson with a couple of sacks to seal a 47-40 win Saturday night. 1 for the first time since taking down Florida State in 1993 at Notre Dame Stadium. Uiagalelei, starting in place of Trevor Lawrence for a second week, passed for 439 yards, the most ever by a Notre Dame opponent. Notre Dame: Avery Davis came to South Bend as a quarterback and has been moved to running back, receiver and defensive back. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are at Boston College, which might bring back some bad memories for Notre Dame fans.
Irish regulator investigates Instagram over children's data
LONDON โ Irish privacy regulators have opened two investigations into Instagram over the social media site's handling of young people's personal data. Ireland's Data Protection Commission said it launched the investigations in September after receiving complaints about the company. Data scientist David Stier said last year that his analysis found users, including those under 18, who switched their account types to business accounts also had their contact information displayed on their profile. โThe DPC has been actively monitoring complaints received from individuals in this area and has identified potential concerns in relation to the processing of childrenโs personal data on Instagram which require further examination,โ Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement. Companies can be fined up to 4% of a company's annual revenue or 20 million euros ($24 million) โ whichever is higher โ for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation.
Williams, Crawford lead No. 5 Notre Dame past Florida State
5 Fighting Irish beat Florida State 42-26 on Saturday night. I just kept that mindset after I fumbled.โโWe just reminded (Kyren) about ball security,โ said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, whose team lost several workouts due to the pandemic. Notre Dame: The Irish offense was often lethal, especially once it stopped hurting its own cause. Notre Dame had five touchdowns and 365 yards in the first half and finished with 554 yards. Notre Dame is home for the fourth straight game to start the season when Louisville visits Oct. 17.
Can you fathom no St. Patrickโs Day celebrations at pubs in Ireland?
A St. Patrickโs Day in Ireland without celebrations at local pubs? Yes, it is true, and just the latest example of how serious the coronavirus pandemic has become. The Irish government sent a release Sunday asking all pubs be closed from Sunday night until March 29 to help quell the spread of the coronavirus. St. Patrickโs Day celebrations surely will be affected around the world, and itโs hard to imagine you canโt even go to a pub in the heart of Ireland anymore to celebrate St. Patrickโs Day. But that once again emphasizes the seriousness of the pandemic and the sacrifices so many are making.