A British chain of holiday parks was until recently using an "undesirable guest list" to stop people with Irish surnames from making bookings, an anti-discrimination watchdog said on Tuesday. The list used internally at Pontins and obtained by the i newspaper included surnames commonly found in Ireland and within the Irish diaspora in Britain, such as Doherty, Gallagher, Murphy, Nolan, O'Brien and O'Connell. The list was aimed at stopping Gypsies and Irish Travellers from staying at Pontins facilities, according to a whistleblower who contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Celebrating the creativity of Irish women
News 28 February 2021
This month we have been celebrating the creativity of Irish women, including sharing the stories of Irish women who have created history. We have remembered the designer and architect Eileen Gray; computer programming pioneer Kay McNulty; tennis champion Mabel Cahill; the first woman recognised as a veterinary surgeon in the UK and Ireland, Aleen Cust; the Irish born woman who founded the company that became the Royal Ballet, Dame Ninette de Valois and Countess Constance Markiewicz, whom the journal Świat once described as a ‘modern Irish amazon’.
Their stories are all highlighted in an exhibition called “Blazing a Trail: Lives and Legacies of Irish Diaspora Women”. It celebrates the lives and legacies of 21 pioneering Irish diaspora women of the 19th and 20th centuries who blazed a trail in a wide range of fields. The exhibition is available in Polish translation to interested cultural
Donegal County Council is currently seeking nominations for this year s Tipp O Neill award.
The Tipp O Neill Irish Diaspora Award is presented on an annual basis to a chosen member of the broad Irish Diaspora in recognition of achievements in their chosen field and their interest in, and support for Ireland and its Diaspora.
Despite the current challenges, the awards are going ahead with nominations closing on May 31st.
Joanne Kilmartin, Donegal Diaspora Executive with Donegal County Council has been outlining what they look for in a candidate:
The Tipperary farmer behind Irish Heritage Tree s first forest
The Irish Heritage Tree program is the perfect way to reconnect with your Irish roots by planting trees in Ireland.
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As we begin planting our first Irish Heritage Trees, learn more about the Tipperary farmer behind our first forest.
John Purcell, an organic beef farmer from County Tipperary, has contributed scenic sections of his 500-acre farm to the Irish Heritage Tree program - a program that allows the Irish Diaspora to plant a tree in Ireland and reconnect and forever be connected with their Irish roots.
Located in the Golden Vale of Ireland in Tipperary, the farm is steeped in natural beauty and Irish folklore, with several ancient ringforts still visible on the farm. The farm also has ties to St. Patrick, who allegedly lost his tooth in the Fadaghta River that runs through the site.
The inaugural John Ford Ireland Film Symposium will take place in Dublin over four days, June 7-10. The symposium’s screenings, talks and events will center on Ford’s own films, in addition to other films and filmmakers inspired by his work and legacy.
Ford, whose parents were born in the west of Ireland, directed 137 films throughout his prolific career, including The Searchers, The Grapes of Wrath, Fort Apache, Rio Grande, Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, How Green Was My Valley, and The Quiet Man, which was said to be his most personal film. He revolutionized the Western genre and provided an important perspective on portraying Ireland in film. He still holds the record for winning the most Oscars work as a director.