ireland
Ireland’s ‘accidental emigrants’
While thousands of young people are fleeing Ireland as the depression deepens, others who planned to return are stranded overseas. One writer tells of how the doors 'closed behind him' after moving to Brussels and Beijing
ireland, economical crisis, belgium, expatriates, financiële crisis, economy, china
Three gays and a christian democrat: Irish presidential elections
What do an 81-year-old sports commentator, a ‘Dragon’s Den’ panelist and an international gay rights activist (David Norris, pictured) have in common? They’ve all been put forth for the Irish presidency. But as the government scrambles to hold onto the ‘highest office in the land’, the public is steadily boiling with rage. Elections take place on 27 October
ireland, dublin, homosexuality, elections, campaign, sinn fein, television
Eurozone: Greece’s junk in Europe’s trunk
Were there no single currency, a resolution may be more tricky for a country like Greece. The European union holds an 'extraordinary summit' on finding a solution to this financial crisis on 21 July; a second bailout package is under negotiation
ireland, germany, greece, euweek, economic and monetary union, financial crisis, economy
Shh(it), it’s the Queen: Elizabeth II’s ghost-town visit to Irish Republic
It has been hailed as the culmination of the Anglo-Irish peace process: the first ever visit of a British monarch to the Republic of Ireland on 17 May. But with Dublin’s streets lying empty, and the terrorist threat level in the north classed as ‘severe’, the visit seems like a very expensive exercise in cynicism
ireland, northern ireland, protest, monarchy, dublin, england, security
On St. Patrick's day, drink Poitín, the world’s strongest alcohol
You’ll often find it in a clear, unmarked glass bottle, innocently snuggled at the back of a neighbour’s fridge, but the real Poteen (pronounced 'putch-een') isn’t sold in any shop in Dublin. St. Patrick apparently brewed it, and few people in Ireland haven’t tasted this ultra-alcoholic brew, but the lethal concoction has been illegal here since 1661
ireland, dublin, yum nyam, alcohol, agriculture, england, poteen
Dutch, British, Spanish and Swiss reactions on Irish elections
The conservative party fine gael won Irish parliamentary elections on 25 February and will form a coalition with the labour party. The outgoing fianna fáil (FF) lost over two-thirds of its mandate. Future prime minister Enda Kenny wants to renegotiate the EU bailout package and see the country facing profound change; the 31st Dáil meets on 9 March
ireland, economical crisis, euweek, elections, european union, vote, politics
Irish elections: expats can't vote on 25 February 2011
The Dail is dissolved! Irish citizens will be electing a new government to oversee recovery from the worst economic crisis in the state's history. However, many of them forced to leave by the four-year-old fianna fáil-green government's malfeasance will be denied a ballot
ireland, expatriates, human rights, the charter of fundamental rights of the european union, elections, united kingdom, vote
Ireland’s expat-emigrants: silver spoon diaspora
Thousands left Ireland when it was rollicking at the dizzy heights of an economic boom, and when ‘diaspora’ sounded like a chapter heading from Angela’s Ashes. Now that the country has all but gone bust, those who left in the good times have been transformed from ‘expat’ to ‘immigrant’ overnight. In 2010 they were joined by 65, 000 others fleeing the Republic’s economic collapse
ireland, expatriates, youth, economy, students, society, travel
Ireland, bailout and latest cafebabel.com blog 'Euromyths'
Once again the presentation in the media of the financial rescue package of a eurozone country is plainly wrong. The so-called 'bailout' does not consist in a gift of capital to Ireland, and taxpayers are most likely not to pay anything as a consequence. Extract from cafebabel.com's blog in the dock
Ireland: cheddar scones for a cheese crisis
The more we see the PIIGS as under-developed countries, the more the EU ends up sending them humanitarian aid rather than sustainable investments. The proof is in the pudding in Ireland, where the EU has invested 750, 000 euros of cheese to fight the crisis from 15 November. A Frenchman reacts
ireland, economical crisis, dublin, yum nyam, best of cafebabel.com, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, european union
Becoming an atheist? Renounce your religion online
The internet transformed our relationship with organised religion; it could now become its downfall. In 2009, Irish website Countmeout.ie caused an international stir by offering a quick, simple way to leave the catholic church. Panorama on how Europe's muslims, christians and jews exchange faith for freedom of speech
ireland, religion, finland, europe, jews, germany, best of cafebabel.com
Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides
More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community
ireland, northern ireland, belfast, religion, protest, dublin, euweek
Irish artists in Berlin, a city 'always and never in crisis'
Whilst Irish artists like Paul Diamond and You're Only Massive become better known in Berlin, stages in Irish bars remain empty. With less people investing in upcoming Irish talent, the young generation will continue to migrate to artistic-friendly places like Berlin to follow their musical dream
ireland, eucrisis on the ground, business man, labour, economical crisis, dublin, germany
Europe and PIIGS: bitchy politics
The acronym 'PIIGS' seems to have characterised the five eurozone losers as that nasty group of girls that everyone hated in school. Since things turned sour on Europe’s financial front, the EU community has shown its bitchy side - a sentiment which is hardly emblematic of the shared vision that the EU was founded on. Rant
Obituary: Irish academic Fred Halliday dies in Barcelona
The Dubliner passed away on 26 April. No student in east-west relations would have escaped the work of this internationally acclaimed scholar in international relations, unabashed European socialist and eternal friend of the Middle East. Tribute from an Iranian Londoner who met the Irish scholar in Spain
ireland, university, middle east, brunch, transatlantic relations, research and innovation, war
PIIGS unwelcome in the EU parlour: war of words rocks Eurozone
Despite Silvio Berlusconi’s dreams, the next member of the Eurozone is unlikely to be Israel; even Croatia or Turkey have taken a back seat. The current pan-EU squabble is over who should have been admitted to the eurozone in the first place
ireland, economic growth, economical crisis, tower of babel, germany, languages, portugal
Polish migrants post-crisis in Ireland: is there no place like home?
EU enlargement in 2004 meant that the Poles made the most indelible imprint on Irish society - and surprise, they're happy in their new home, despite the fact that both countries have experienced polar fortunes in the recent recession
ireland, labour, economical crisis, immigration, poland, economy, eurozone
