TheJournal.ie

Wednesday 27 April, 2016

This endless talk of water charges is tiring. Here are 10 things we should focus on instead

Apr 27th 2016, 3:49 PM 236 Views 100 Comments

Of all the things urgently, dangerously and unfairly wrong with this country, Irish Water isn’t even in the top 10, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Saturday 23 April, 2016

Given up on Catholicism? Why you should tick 'no religion' on the census tomorrow

# Opinion

Given up on Catholicism? Why you should tick 'no religion' on the census tomorrow

Apr 23rd 2016, 7:30 PM 1,541 Views 395 Comments

Religion is all of our business when over 90% of state-funded schools remain in church hands, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Saturday 9 April, 2016

"I should have told my friend his 'rape joke' was inappropriate. Why didn't I?"

# Opinion

"I should have told my friend his 'rape joke' was inappropriate. Why didn't I?"

Apr 9th 2016, 7:30 PM 7,776 Views 264 Comments

Men need to start feeling more than a little uncomfortable about the issue of consent, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Saturday 26 March, 2016

'A victory for Isis would be a Europe crippled by fear and suspicion'

# Column

'A victory for Isis would be a Europe crippled by fear and suspicion'

Mar 26th 2016, 7:30 PM 87 Views 176 Comments

A victory for Isis would see Muslim citizens even further reviled, harassed and ghettoised in European cities, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Friday 11 March, 2016

Why are parents entrusting their child’s wellbeing to someone they are paying buttons to?

# Column

Why are parents entrusting their child’s wellbeing to someone they are paying buttons to?

Mar 11th 2016, 5:00 PM 1,167 Views 59 Comments

The issue of au pairs is a direct result of ridiculous childcare costs, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Monday 29 February, 2016

The Catholic Church still doesn't get the horror of child abuse

# Opinion

The Catholic Church still doesn't get the horror of child abuse

Feb 29th 2016, 7:30 PM 2,567 Views 336 Comments

The Church – to quote the brilliant film “Spotlight” – thinks in centuries, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Saturday 9 January, 2016

'Men don’t talk face to face. They talk shoulder to shoulder'

# Column

'Men don’t talk face to face. They talk shoulder to shoulder'

Jan 9th 2016, 7:15 PM 2,742 Views 37 Comments

Maybe we don’t talk face to face, us men. But then, as the Men’s Sheds movement surely proves, it’s the talking which counts, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Thursday 24 December, 2015

'Sometimes you’d despair for humanity. And sometimes you’d be wrong'

# Opinion

'Sometimes you’d despair for humanity. And sometimes you’d be wrong'

Dec 24th 2015, 8:00 PM 88 Views 9 Comments

This story about a young girl shows there are kind people out there, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Sunday 6 December, 2015

I'm not a AAA fan but we shouldn't be able to restrict funding because we don’t like the look of them

# Column

I'm not a AAA fan but we shouldn't be able to restrict funding because we don’t like the look of them

Dec 6th 2015, 10:00 AM 108 Views 112 Comments

To restrict the fundraising ability because some members might theoretically commit public order offences is a disturbing development, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Sunday 29 November, 2015

A soup kitchen founded in Victorian times is feeding the working poor. That’s some centenary

# Opinion

A soup kitchen founded in Victorian times is feeding the working poor. That’s some centenary

Nov 29th 2015, 8:00 AM 888 Views 37 Comments

Donal O’Keeffe reflects on a visit to Cork Penny Dinners, one of the country’s oldest soup kitchens.

Sunday 1 November, 2015

‘I remember feeling washed up and fearing I would never work again’

# Opinion

‘I remember feeling washed up and fearing I would never work again’

Nov 1st 2015, 8:00 AM 1,477 Views 65 Comments

It’s time to change our attitude toward unemployed people, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Monday 19 October, 2015

Carrickmines tragedy shows we all have empathy, but it gives way when it comes close to our backyard

# Opinion

Carrickmines tragedy shows we all have empathy, but it gives way when it comes close to our backyard

Oct 19th 2015, 5:36 PM 548 Views 96 Comments

Ireland’s dirty secret is that the Carrickmines tragedy could happen in any parish in the country, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Thursday 8 October, 2015

'My religion lapsed three decades ago, but I am irritated by a-la-carte Catholics'

# Opinion

'My religion lapsed three decades ago, but I am irritated by a-la-carte Catholics'

Oct 8th 2015, 8:00 AM 1,172 Views 232 Comments

By staying Catholic I feel liberals hypocritically give tacit approval to behaviour and attitudes they find offensive, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Friday 25 September, 2015

Imagine living in a 20’ x 10’ room, your belongings are in one cupboard and you don't know if you'll be there a year or a decade

# Opinion

Imagine living in a 20’ x 10’ room, your belongings are in one cupboard and you don't know if you'll be there a year or a decade

Sep 25th 2015, 8:00 AM 299 Views 170 Comments

The sight of little Aylan Kurdi’s lifeless body shamed us all into reluctant action by accepting 4,000 people into Ireland, but now we’re going to put traumatised people into a seriously flawed system, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Monday 7 September, 2015

'Germany is taking in 800,000 refugees, were Ireland proportionally as welcoming, we would take in 40,000'

# Opinion

'Germany is taking in 800,000 refugees, were Ireland proportionally as welcoming, we would take in 40,000'

Sep 7th 2015, 3:45 PM 203 Views 321 Comments

Donal O’Keeffe writes about ‘The week since Aylan Kurdi’s death woke the world and shamed us all’.

Sunday 30 August, 2015

The story of the Cork 4-year-old who is the reason First Communion age is now 7

# Opinion

The story of the Cork 4-year-old who is the reason First Communion age is now 7

Aug 30th 2015, 3:00 PM 15,780 Views 112 Comments

“All I can see is a highly intelligent little girl who had a short, painful life and who has been exploited in death by the Catholic Church”, writes Donal O’Keeffe.

Sunday 16 August, 2015

Do we need another Jonathan Corrie to die before our government will take the homeless crisis seriously?

# Opinion

Do we need another Jonathan Corrie to die before our government will take the homeless crisis seriously?

Aug 16th 2015, 12:00 PM 114 Views 93 Comments

The homeless crisis in Ireland is crying out for politicians to do the right thing, not the political thing, writes Donal O’Keeffe

Tuesday 4 August, 2015

Time for Ireland's new anti-immigration party to answer difficult questions about its members

# Opinion

Time for Ireland's new anti-immigration party to answer difficult questions about its members

Aug 4th 2015, 8:00 AM 2,716 Views 283 Comments

Anyone tweeting criticism of Identity Ireland will find out pretty quickly who – and what – their supporters are. And boy, don’t they like their St Brigid’s Cross swastika avatars.

Tuesday 21 July, 2015

We’re playing God with the lives of the poorest people on Earth

# Opinion

We’re playing God with the lives of the poorest people on Earth

Jul 21st 2015, 1:30 PM 88 Views 77 Comments

When it comes to climate change, we can’t blame ‘Acts of God’ for destroying our planet. We can only blame ourselves.

Wednesday 15 July, 2015

In Ireland, a man can actually confess to rape and still serve no time in prison

# Column

In Ireland, a man can actually confess to rape and still serve no time in prison

Jul 15th 2015, 6:00 PM 15,264 Views 79 Comments

Yesterday Magnus Meyer Hustveit walked free from court after admitting that he had repeatedly raped his former girlfriend when she was unconscious.

Wednesday 1 July, 2015

Some kids have lived their whole lives in Direct Provision. It's time to do the right thing.

# Opinion

Some kids have lived their whole lives in Direct Provision. It's time to do the right thing.

Jul 1st 2015, 4:10 PM 426 Views 126 Comments

Ireland has been warehousing asylum-seekers in Direct Provision since 2000. How can we stand by and allow children to live in these conditions?

Monday 29 June, 2015

# Opinion

Is Ireland a 'genuinely filthy nation'?

Jun 29th 2015, 6:30 PM 1,724 Views 80 Comments

We’re fond of saying that, when the sun shines, there is nowhere in the world more beautiful than Ireland… But what about our growing litter problem?

Monday 15 June, 2015

Death is a constant companion through life. So why are we afraid of discussing it?

# Opinion

Death is a constant companion through life. So why are we afraid of discussing it?

Jun 15th 2015, 12:03 AM 1,478 Views 77 Comments

Death is the one constant which unites us all.

Wednesday 27 May, 2015

Whatever about What Averil Did Next, what about the future of the Soldiers of Destiny?

# Opinion

Whatever about What Averil Did Next, what about the future of the Soldiers of Destiny?

May 27th 2015, 8:00 AM 65 Views 51 Comments

How will the party cope with the sudden loss of Averil Power – aka 50% of its female parliamentarians?

Friday 15 May, 2015

Whatever happens, government may regret activating so many young, idealistic voters

# Opinion

Whatever happens, government may regret activating so many young, idealistic voters

May 15th 2015, 8:00 AM 64 Views 121 Comments

The result of the marriage referendum is far from a foregone conclusion. But one thing’s certain: we now have many more young and passionate voters in this country.

Thursday 30 April, 2015

An Irish citizen has been held without trial for 620 days – how can we look the other way?

# Opinion

An Irish citizen has been held without trial for 620 days – how can we look the other way?

Apr 30th 2015, 3:00 PM 296 Views 288 Comments

Would we care more if his name was, say, Sean Murphy and not Ibrahim Halawa?

Sunday 19 April, 2015

If Irish politicians are incompetent, can we really plead ignorance?

# Opinion

If Irish politicians are incompetent, can we really plead ignorance?

Apr 19th 2015, 7:30 PM 187 Views 43 Comments

In a country where few TDs would dare miss a funeral, do we really have a closer connection with our representatives… or do we just make them work harder at fooling us?

Monday 6 April, 2015

Do we care enough about Irish to keep it alive?

# Opinion

Do we care enough about Irish to keep it alive?

Apr 6th 2015, 1:00 PM 1,712 Views 137 Comments

I have next to no Irish and I’m embarrassed by that… yet I don’t think I’ll ever learn.

Monday 23 March, 2015

IRA abuse claims show – once again – how the institution is always placed before the victim

# Opinion

IRA abuse claims show – once again – how the institution is always placed before the victim

Mar 23rd 2015, 8:15 PM 886 Views 299 Comments

There are parallels between Sinn Féin’s reaction to allegations by Paudie McGahon and Maíria Cahill and the Catholic Church’s pursuit of its own institutional safety.

Monday 2 March, 2015

Enda thinks his €185k salary is 'cut to the bone'? Don't tell him about zero hour contracts...

# Opinion

Enda thinks his €185k salary is 'cut to the bone'? Don't tell him about zero hour contracts...

Mar 2nd 2015, 10:57 PM 104 Views 137 Comments

… or what it’s like living on the minimum wage.

Friday 13 February, 2015

Column: Why does this Government refuse to hold a referendum on abortion?

# Eighth Amendment

Column: Why does this Government refuse to hold a referendum on abortion?

Feb 13th 2015, 4:00 PM 140 Views 82 Comments

81% of respondents to a recent poll indicated they wanted abortion allowed in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. Yet 88% of TDs abstained or voted no on the issue.

Friday 30 January, 2015

Opinion: I've just signed up to Irish Water. I don't think that makes me a traitor.

# Water Charges

Opinion: I've just signed up to Irish Water. I don't think that makes me a traitor.

Jan 30th 2015, 1:00 PM 246 Views 306 Comments

Reluctantly and unhappily, I’ve decided I can no more pick the taxes I pay than the laws I obey.

Friday 16 January, 2015

Opinion: This year's Oscars were a decidedly white affair

# Whitewash

Opinion: This year's Oscars were a decidedly white affair

Jan 16th 2015, 1:00 PM 75 Views 90 Comments

The Academy’s (94% white) voters indisputably snubbed creative talent by non-white actors and directors this year.

Wednesday 7 January, 2015

# Reboot Ireland

Opinion: Dear Lucinda and Reboot Ireland, aren't ALL votes issues of conscience?

Jan 7th 2015, 6:30 PM 42 Views 58 Comments

Decisions that impact taxes or spending have at least as dramatic an effect upon day-to-day lives of Irish people as issues like abortion.

Monday 29 December, 2014

# Abortion

Opinion: Tragic case of clinically dead pregnant woman highlights our unworkable approach to abortion

Dec 29th 2014, 8:15 PM 5,551 Views 383 Comments

Following the burial today of a young woman, who was kept on life support while clinically dead due to legal considerations about her pregnancy, we must consider the legacy of the Eighth Amendment.

Monday 15 December, 2014

Opinion: The simple, powerful gesture you can make to balance the sadness of the past week

# Kindness

Opinion: The simple, powerful gesture you can make to balance the sadness of the past week

Dec 15th 2014, 1:18 PM 105 Views 14 Comments

Anyone who keeps up with current affairs in Ireland would be hard-pressed to find a smile these days. I’ve decided what I need to do to change things – if even in a small way.

Wednesday 3 December, 2014

Opinion: The 1916 centenary is coming... but are we honouring the ideal of equality for all?

# Political Legacy

Opinion: The 1916 centenary is coming... but are we honouring the ideal of equality for all?

Dec 3rd 2014, 8:00 AM 246 Views 145 Comments

Is becoming ‘The Best Small Country In The World In Which To Do Business By 2016′ really the best ambition Ireland can have for the centenary year of the Rising?