Ireland’s national theatre accused of deserting Irish talent

More than 300 actors, directors and designers accuse Abbey of wreaking ‘devastation’

The Abbey theatre in Dublin has staged some of Ireland’s greatest plays but it is now at the centre of an unwanted drama after it was accused of wreaking artistic “devastation” on the country’s theatrical community.

In an open letter published on Monday, a roll-call of Irish talent including the actors Aidan Gillen and Ruth Negga said the country’s national theatre had gutted its domestic industry by scaling back in-house productions in order to buy in and co-produce shows.

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Two Irish nationals facing murder charges over Sydney death

Man allegedly assaulted in inner west on 29 December died in hospital on Monday night

Two Irish nationals are facing murder charges after a man assaulted in Sydney’s inner west died in hospital.

Christopher McLaughlin, 24, and Nathan Kelly 21, were charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company and affray after emergency services found the 66-year-old injured on the side of the road at Summer Hill on 29 December.

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Activists protest against Ireland’s new abortion services

Pro-choice groups condemn picket of clinic as health service warns of fake websites

Anti-abortion activists have struck back against Ireland’s introduction of abortion services by picketing a clinic and by launching potentially misleading websites that mimic the state’s support service for unplanned pregnancies.

A group holding placards protested outside a doctor’s office in Galway on Thursday in an effort to deter women from seeking abortion pills just three days after abortion services became legal.

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Vote points to big win for abortion rights groups in Ireland

A woman places flowers by a mural showing Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian dentist who had sought and been denied an abortion before she died after a miscarriage in a Galway hospital, with the word YES over it, in Dub... . A woman leaves a polling station after casting her vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution, in Dublin, Ireland, Friday May 25, 2018.

Happy St Patrick’s Day – here are 10 great things the Irish have done for us

It's that time of year again when we celebrate all things Irish but there is a lot more to Irish achievement than shamrocks, Guinness and Jedward. Ireland has been making a positive impact around the globe for centuries and there's no better time to celebrate some of those real Irish accomplishments than just ahead of St Patrick's Day.

Early Saturday morning the Senate narrowly approved the Republican tax bill with a vote of 51-49

Vice President Mike Pence announcing the final vote, which was mostly along party lines, 51 to 49, with only one Republican voting against the bill, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. And while Republicans have touted it as a victory for the middle class, several independent analyses found it's skewed toward corporations and the wealthy, according to the Tax Policy Center.

Jury rules: Former FBI agent and his daughter murderously crushed her husband’s skull

Thomas Martens had told the 911 operator he thought he had killed his son-in-law, and when authorities arrived at the brick house on a golf course in Lexington, N.C., there was little argument. Jason Corbett was naked on the floor of his bedroom.

Judge in Ireland rules on playground fall

A child hurt herself falling on a playground in Dublin, Ireland, and this is what Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke of the Circuit Civil Court wrote : She was engaged in a game of chase pure and simple and, while it is most regrettable that she became unbalanced and fell, this was simply an old fashioned accident and I fail to see any liability on the part of the school for that accident. Score one for those of us who understand that there is NO activity, even climbing out of bed, that is always 100% safe.

Deadlocked 2nd Cir Denies En Banc Rehearing in Overseas Data Case

Last summer, a three-judge Second Circuit panel ruled that the U.S. government could not force Microsoft to turn over email data stored on overseas servers . They rejected the government's warrant, issued pursuant to the Stored Communications Act , finding that the act had no extraterritorial reach.

Clinton chooses Irish-American with Longford links as her vice-president

Presumptive Democratic US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has picked an Irish-American senator as her running mate ahead of November's election. Running mate: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her newly appointed vice president, Senator Tim Kaine.

Joseph C. O’Connor, 78, of Grafton/Quincy

He is survived by his brothers, John O'Connor, Mark O'Connor and his wife Kathleen, Patrick O'Connor and his wife Mary, Stephen O'Connor and his wife Sarah, and his sister Bridget "Bridie" Doyle, along with many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. Joseph was born May 30, 1938 in Galway, Ireland, a son of the late Mary and Mark O'Connor.