Some thoughts on the day's events, if I may:
When thousands of people protested peacefully in East Wall, and in other communities across Dublin and the country, their reward was not to be recognised or engaged with for their peaceful political participation.
Their reward was rather to be called far right, deplorable, and the dregs of Irish society. The thing against which they protested happened anyway.
When peaceful mothers and women said, on camera, that they feared for their safety as a result of an influx of immigrant men, often into communities with no amenities for those men, their reward was to be accused of fearmongering.
There are those, clutching for a gotcha, who will say something like "aha, but today's suspect/person of interest is a naturalised Irish citizen". But does it speak well of an immigration system that naturalises people capable (allegedly) of such acts? Does that inspire confidence, or does it sound like patronising nonsense?
There are those who sincerely believe, apparently, that the duty of media organisations is to suppress facts, like nationality, in order to maintain public order. But if the suppression of facts is required to maintain public order, then we have many bigger problems. And we do.
A huge section of people in this country feel as if they are unheard and their concerns ignored. 1,000 people marched in Rosslare at the weekend. Did you hear about it? When Danny Healy Rae raised the case of Killarney this week in the Dáil, a colleague responded with a sweary tirade of abuse. Is this democracy?
When a young man, last week, linked the murder of his beloved girlfriend to Ireland's immigration policies, the media dutifully left that bit out of their coverage.
Every single effort has been made to silence people. Today, they made themselves heard. I wish they had chosen another way.
And then I remember: They did. And you all refused to listen.
@fintanbun 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 1999? You in Nappies.. I seen the big quadruple last season. Stop living in the past.. just hit the 40 point safety zone and be happy with it. 😂 premierships? That was in the last decade.. now you can’t even build Istanbul kayaking club 😂
Super training last night and this morning at #warriorcavan pads, sparring and ab destruction last night.. sparring class this morning.. @ Cavan Swimming Pool & Leisure Complex https://t.co/YZMRKg4oVy
Last nights classes.. TRX+ first and Kick Boxercise straight after.. all polished off with a “till I kill abs” challenge.. 💪💪💪#whenworkisplay#trxtraining#boxercise… https://t.co/CxYpYiT7Fo
Bang!! Fitness party night tonight.. the disco lights were out! The workout was severe.. the work rate was off the scale! A TRX workout that tightened even the season class goers a kick… https://t.co/JeNveB0nGh
Well we did it!! 4 classes back to back with the goal of reaching €1000 for @irishguidedogsfortheblind we reached our goal with the total reaching €1267 at present 😁 thanks to everyone… https://t.co/nIiDHyoxpz
Well we did it!! 4 classes back to back with the goal of reaching €1000 for @irishguidedogsfortheblind we reached our goal with the total reaching €1267 at present 😁 thanks to everyone… https://t.co/osQ7u9f758
Next Sunday we 🔥😉
First class TRX is full but anyone that wants to join in any of the rest of the classes please jump on in! No quota on the number of any of the rest of the classes. Or… https://t.co/iGRYkNugXK
@Alibabba100 Were? Past tense? What do you mea..... oh wait yeah I forgot... yep was... Gerrard never won townspark player of the year I’ve 3 of them!! 😂😂😂
@Alibabba100 Ha ha ha can forgive everything but the Rangers thing I’m off to burn his autobiography.. all those years he copied my playing style too... when I slipped though I made sure so did the other guy...