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FORMER TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar will be the keynote speaker at a pro-unity event in Philadelphia in April.
The Ireland’s Future gala dinner will take place on Thursday, 10 April in the Union League building in Philadelphia and around 500 people will be in attendance.
Ireland’s Future is an organisation that aims to promote the “shared responsibility of delivering constitutional change within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement”.
It has held events across the island of Ireland and the US and the organisation’s secretary Niall Murphy said he is “delighted to confirm that Leo Varadkar will be our primary, keynote speaker at a dinner we are organising in Philadelphia”.
Murphy said there is “significant interest and excitement across Irish America in the period building up to the announcement of a border poll”.
He added that Ireland’s Future has been “working hard with key figures from across Irish America and the new American administration allows us a chance to put our position in front of new faces and willing listeners”.
“We are delighted that we have developed relationships on a bipartisan basis and that whether they are Democrats or Republicans, those with an interest in Ireland’s Future are willing to assist and advance our work,” said Murphy.
Varadkar previously delivered an address to an Ireland’s Future event in Dublin’s 3Arena in October 2022, which also featured Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
He also spoke at an Ireland’s Future event in Belfast SSE Arena last summer.
Meanwhile, it was also announced last week that Varadkar is to be a guest lecturer on public leadership as part of his new role as ‘Hauser Leader’ at the university’s Kennedy School Centre.
The Harvard website outlines that Hauser Leaders spend their time on campus advising students and engaging with faculty throughout the academic year.
Other recipients of the title include former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Maria Ressa and Tawakkol Karman, and Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
In his role at the prestigious university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Varadkar will share his leadership experience with students, faculty, and the broader Kennedy School community through guest lecturing, student mentorship, and discussions focused on public leadership, healthcare policy, and international diplomacy.
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Hold on it went both ways
The English fans booed our anthem
@nollaig o cellaigh: And he said so: “They should respect our anthem”.
@nollaig o cellaigh: two wrongs don’t make a right. Everyone knows English fans are one of the worst in the world. There should be no need for Irish fans to reduce themselves to their level.
@nollaig o cellaigh: Hard to take any of this serious when our own dyed in the green wool, gaelic warriors can’t stand still to the end of their own national anthem and the watching crowd interuptes 10 seconds from the end every time.
@Stanley Marsh: it’s tradition. All those who can’t sing it, wait for the cheer at (nearly) the end of it.
I think some Tipperary lad shouted at the ref once : throw in the f****ng ball and get out of the f****ng way.
@nollaig o cellaigh: Yeah but don’t mind that. Let some of their fans show themselves up as yobs or whatever. Thats their problem. Booing another anthem is just pathetic and shows a lack of intelligence. On the field is where you are supposed to stick it to them but we were well outclassed unfortunately.
@nollaig o cellaigh: no they didnt. I was there. It was embarrassing
@yourname: irish are worse now
Soccer yobs….to be expected.
@Padraic Burke: Typical D4, rugger loving, heino drinking, ignorant view…to be expected.
@Stephen Heffernan: he’s not wrong though.
@Stephen Heffernan: he’s spot on though
@Padraic Burke: Egg chaser no doubt!
@reg morrisey: check out GAA matches. The abuse of opposition, the booing, catcalling unparalleled.
@damien leen: The rugger lads have worse problems, mainly with consent
@Alan: Quick look ! over there at them -> look at them..not here
@Stephen Heffernan: He’s had to contradict though ,but by all means the floor is yours.
@Stephen Heffernan: Typical soccer yob comment.
Might I suggest Mr Martin and his colleagues focus on respecting the Irish people and their needs?
@Athena: and so say all of us
Nothing to do with martin. Especially with his history which he likes to forget
@Seamus Flynn: its everything to do with him and every other person on this island.
People should have some respect on both sides.
@Seamus Flynn: as the Tanaiste he represents the country, so I think it does. What’s his history?
@Seamus Flynn: He doesn’t like forget it, he likes to white wash it, the Tan and the British army were actually the good guys and we should have appreciated and been a subservient people
There’s always been a difference between the rugby supporters and the soccer fans…
@St. Mary’s Special School: People who follow rugby don’t even know the rules
@St. Mary’s Special School: not everyone who follows soccer is a thug. You shouldn’t paint everyone with the same brush
@gav0kelly: Laws.
@gav0kelly: speak for yourself only gav
@St. Mary’s Special School: education mostly.
@Jb Walshe: I follow it , but I definitely know more about the rules than all the bandwagon supporters
@gav0kelly: I don’t follow it*
@gav0kelly: no rules in rugby, we have laws in rugby…
@St. Mary’s Special School: yeah, the rugby crowd spend their time in the bar, going to the bar or coming from the bar. More atmosphere on the moon than at a rugby match. Plus they sing Irelands Call, a song which makes God Save The King sound like high art.
@St. Mary’s Special School: Around 100k a year .
@St. Mary’s Special School: 1 has a brain, the other 2 rectums
It is not a good idea to tell a person who they should respect. One should have the right not to respect someone you do not respect. Having said that you can show your disrespect respectfully
@Oh Mammy: A national anthem is not a person.
@Brendan O’Brien: you are a bell end. I will not respect something solely on the basis you present. Mind your own business.
@Oh Mammy: you’ve taken this from Waterford whispers…I hope
@yourname: I will not be told who to respect.
@Oh Mammy: you go girl
@Oh Mammy: You do like the word respect tbh
It’s called class. Football fans in every country around the globe find it difficult to show respect for their opponent’s anthem.
Fortunately, it’s quite rare in rugby and you only have to go back to that famous match in the early 70s when England came to play rugby whilst Scotland and Wales stayed home.We gave the boys in white a rousing welcome.
Then we beat them!
@Ian Forbes: your perception is one of a brush with a broad stroke
Not all of us are thugs. In fact the majority aren’t. People who stereotype all football fans and look down their nose at people they don’t know based on incidents from minorities aren’t exactly somebody to aspire to be like either
@Ian Forbes: The captain (Pullman?) said in his speech at the post-match dinner (ah, those were the days!) “We may not be very good, but at least we turn up!” English Rugby has been respected here ever since that day.
@Ian Forbes: I will always have great respect for the English who made the trip that year. The Welsh and Scots were too afraid :D
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Has it? , I would disagree
Westbrit
Sure even the English manager wouldnt sing that tripe
I think people have long since given up on what the likes of mehole has to say
@David Bergin: Talking through your rear end again.
@David Bergin: you’re right – you talk a lot of shïte alright
@UK Hurling Bloke: He is right though, not a word out of his gob can you believe.
It was embarrassing and cringe that they booed their national anthem.doesnt matter if english fans booed ours everyone knows they are low life yobs, there was no need to copy them..anyone who booed their national anthem should be embarrassed with themselves they let the country down.
I fully agree with Micheal on this
FF is turned into a very dark shade of blue
Does this happen at international rugby matches?? I don’t think so,
Micheál Martin, leader of FF the sleeveen Nato party, is embarrassed by anything that might upset his chums.
Wouldn’t sing any Colonial anthem.
No anthem no problem …. Get rid of it. What happens on the pitch is all that matters.
@Peter B (V Eight): or simplier still, people could have some respect.
The english at the euros were a disgrace they booed every one else.s anthem they have some neck givibg out !! Good enuff for them they hate payback !
Stating the obvious but it’s not 2007 anymore. Hate, being amplified online leads to this kind of behaviour.
It’s such a pity to see this when respect and maturity were shown in Croke Park back then considering the terrible history in that place.
Nope, they boo our and indeed pretty much every national anthem. Not showing any respect for them. Wasn’t at the match in fairness but I’d have boo’d if I was
It was a disgrace from the Irish. They were lucky not have the place smashed up again,.antagonising the English.
@Basildon Joe: That’s some quality trolling.
@Brendan O’Brien: sore loser
@Basildon Joe: I think you lost this exchange.
@Brendan O’Brien: I think you should stop following me around here like a bad smell that you are.
Why should we do what mehole says another way of trying to bully people
@Noel: I definitely wouldn’t do what your rear end says.
Booing and roaring at Rice and Grealish too with their Arsenal and City tops in the wash baskets at home.
@biggybald: exactly. They are hypocrite pea brains
Almost 800 years of trying to stamp out IRISH identity and culture and that sap apologizes for the Irish fans/people having a problem with having to listen and/or respect their war song ?????????????
@Michael James Brennan: The irony – complaining about 800 years of oppression and then justifying freely aping the obnoxious behaviour of the said oppressor.
@Michael James Brennan: get over it, dinosaur
How about some respect for the irish taxpayers who keep the refugees and the Ukrainian people with roofs over their head.
Expect nothing better from soccer. Ban the hateful game.
@ian: Sap
Tanaiste should respect England’s report on Grenfel fire!
Bate em with batons like the last time they wrecked the place
I’d respect the British anthem more if they changed it to “Hey God, why didn’t you save our Queen”
Booing is deplorable and puerile, but it is ubiquitous in football ( soccer). It is all part of the tribalism and confrontationalism that tarnishes the game worldwide. To give one example, it does not occur in Rugby Union. I won’t repeat what Oscar Wilde said about soccer and rugby, respectively!!
@James Hanley: Oscar who ?
It’s to be expected of the Irish knuckle draggers
The truth no one in Europe wants anymore Irish tourists, as they bring the same level of rudeness as happened on Saturday.
@Chris: Are you high?
@Chris: some truth there. Irish are turning into the new brits abroad
And the English singing f*** the Was okay? Or should we all sing that together too?
I’m glad England beat us
@Fintan Pox: You really are very needy are you? Sad attempts at trolling
The English fa asked the English supporters not to sing anything about the ira .and what did they in the avia NO SURRENDER TO THE IRA .PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON MORONS
@Glen Kelly: I did not hear this chant. There were no English hooligans in attendance, only crusty scarfers.
@Basildon Joe: I was at the match and they were singing it .I don’t know what heard .
@Glen Kelly: I definitely didn’t hear it but I watched it on TV
@Basildon Joe: well I think you need hearing aid they definitely sang it .I was right there .
up the Ra
Only degenerates on both sides booing.
Totally agree
lol
That happened on both sides, when the opponents’ national anthems were being played and sung.
Not very mature behaviour if I may say so
Racist Irish football fans…and plenty of them.
I dont sing anthems because i can’t sing
Respect is earned.
It’ll always be god save the queen for me
Chavball strikes again.
First time I’ve agreed with him.
It shows the Irish supporters as sad little minded begrudgers
have your say