Seefeh

She/Her

[M Ní Raghallaigh @MuireannNiR]

Absolutely horrendous conditions being reported from outside the IPO by @AilbheConneely on @morningireland - inhumane conditions, no sanitation, disease, no food or water.
Heartbreaking for the men involved.
Volunteers overwhelmed too.
Action needed.

[Seefeh @seefeh]

@Ciarabelles Hard agree

[BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine @RobLooseCannon]

On this day in 1984 a terrified, freezing 15- year-old schoolgirl called Ann Lovett was crouched in the fetal position, in agony, at the grotto of the Virgin Mary in Granard, Co. Longford.

But whilst this child is certainly innocent and worthy of help, and this is a place where pious people come to seek assistance from Our Lady, her desperate prayers will not be answered that lonely night.

Amid the darkness and cold, Ann will give birth to a stillborn baby. Compounding that unimaginable tragedy which occurred in this dreary garden of Gethsemane, just hours later this teenage mother will also perish in Mullingar hospital.

Although barbaric scenes like this have played out countless times in "modern" Ireland, this instance captured the country's imagination. The 80s were a more media-savvy age than ever and with the added symbolic poignancy of the grotto was impossible to ignore.

The town of Granard, then only a rural village of 1,285 souls reacted in a variety of ways to these horrific events. Ireland, let alone rural Ireland, in 1984 was practically a religious theocracy. The Catholic Church and conservative outlooks born of generations of poverty stifled the lives of people in general but women and girls in particular.

Some locals were aware of Ann's pregnancy. Gardaí have never revealed how a visibly pregnant schoolgirl could leave a classroom on a freezing rainy winter's day. Everyone had failed this girl and baby boy, from the nuclear family unit all the way up to Leinster House.

Four months before that fateful night two-thirds of the country had voted in an abortion referendum to enshrine the "right to life" of the unborn in the constitution, without adequately clarifying what happened when this clashed with the constitutional "right to life" of the mother. Ann's deceased infant boy was posthumously baptised Pat. The two innocents, the child, and her child, were buried together in the same coffin.

It was obvious this very homegrown horror story would become a religious and political football for people who didn't give a damn about females or babies. But when the handful of female TDs and activists attempted to speak out for victims they were roundly ignored in favour of a soundbite from a bishop, or a geriatric male politician.

Despite Minister of State for Women's Affairs and Family Law Nuala Fennell making a passionate plea in the Dáil for an inquiry, none materialised. However, amid the sanctimonious accusations and assignations of blame real social progress took root. The closest Irish society came to openly dissecting the issue was on The Gay Byrne Hour radio show.

Hundreds of people, mostly women, wrote in to talk about their experiences and their hopes for change. And so bit by bit, around dinner tables and office desks, on barstools and in double beds stories are told.

Then, as now, progressive Ireland creeps forward. Becoming more and more humane and tolerant, we hope. Our compassion growing with our own experience of pain and loss.

If you need advice about family planning, pregnancy or termination please contact one of the below services.

https://t.co/GHPKNyoPXY

https://t.co/k4jFoCUgbU

https://t.co/msd9SjJblc

[The Irish For @theirishfor]

Bean Pháidín.

[Brid Smith @bridsmithTD]

In awe of Mná Ath Cliath #soscogadh 🇵🇸

[Esheru @Eshprojet1]

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s trial received more coverage, than the charges brought against Israel today in the ICJ for committing genocide.

[spochadóir @spochadoir]

tell ye who’s not in the epstein files. marty whelan. don’t meet your heroes but keep them local.

[Dr Charlotte Proudman @DrProudman]

Having suffered the horror of being spiked, I’ve spent years campaigning to make it a specific criminal offence. The Home Secretary has undermined our work when he laughed at spiking — giving perpetrators a green light. RT if you agree he should be fired.
https://t.co/yGu1qQ2c64

[Muslim Sisters of Eire @Msoe_Dublin]

We are very low on hot food for tomorrow evening,at the present we only have 300 hotmeals. If any restaurants or individuals can drop some over tomorrow, it would be really appreciated! The soup run starts at 6.30 at the GPO.
Please text 0867854866 if you have any questions.

[Seefeh @seefeh]

@fesshole @BourneSaoirse hand burger!

[Cllr. Daithí Doolan @DaithiDoolan]

Delighted to confirm @DubCityCouncil voted tonight to fly the Palestinian flag. This is an active show of solidarity from Ireland's largest local authority to the people of Palestine @sinnfeinireland #Gaza_now @oalesantana

[Daniel Lambert @dlLambo]

Please share/donate if you can 🎁

For the first time, sadly, we’ll definitely miss our target but can still get a gift to every child.

To do this we’ll reduce spend per child to €20 but need to get to €60k by midnight.

7 hours to raise €5000🤞🏻

👉 https://t.co/PExcUBdskk

[Seefeh @seefeh]

@CarolMaps @BourneSaoirse

[Courts News Ireland @courtsnewsIRL]

A developer has told the High Court that several properties it owns in a trending neighbourhood on Dublin's northside have been "unlawfully taken over" and are allegedly being used for raves, gigs and as a community centre.

https://t.co/rjtgBa7g1t

[Seefeh @seefeh]

@pr0ject_kingpin @Texas_Bird_Dog @emzconcannon You don’t understand the concept of clinical experience and learning in practice? Yeah it’s flags you should worry about…

[Peter McGann @peterjmcgann]

A bit rich coming from a known reapist

[Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery @KennysBookshop]

The Kennys Bookshop Christmas Book Tree of 2023!

[The Blindboy Podcast @bbboatclub]

Lynn Ruane is a compassionate, deeply intelligent person who speaks and acts with conviction, consistently. We need more people like her

[KNEECAP @KNEECAPCEOL]

Ever wonder why we support Palestinians…