It’s as if we’re seeing Kamala Harris for the first time
If not now, if it’s too soon for a woman president, if the stakes are too high this time, when will it be her time?
Kathy Sheridan
Kathy Sheridan columns
Defence Forces personnel must be held to higher standards and scrutiny than any other servants of the State
Complaints about feeling collectively demonised amid allegations cannot be entertained given the pledge of the Defence Forces to the people
Tories’ Project Fear is last, desperate act of a party about to plunge off a cliff
Conservative Party faces losing so badly it won’t have enough seats to mount an official opposition. No wonder Tories are suddenly panicking about democracy
Nina Carberry’s vanishing act is a sign of casual disregard for European Parliament
The European Parliament is an increasingly powerful institution from which a huge share of our laws and regulations derive – so why do some politicians seem to regard it as expensive training wheels?
I ranked among that much derided category of people who spoil their vote
I gave the most obnoxious candidate 27, then started down from number 1. But a final review revealed I had awarded two number 12s
The chasing and jostling of Simon Harris blurred the line between protest and harassment
There are two responses to the harassing of the Taoiseach in Mayo. Some despair at the protesters, others ask why Harris ran scared
The normalisation of hate-speech in Ireland is almost complete
Gardaí are seeing ‘a huge rise in the level of aggression’ at anti-immigration protests despite a sharp decline in such gatherings
Beware of simplistic appeals to ‘common sense’ on issue of immigration
Time was in the US when ‘common sense’ informed the notion that the Irish were violent, drunken apes responsible for driving down wages and taking all the jobs
If you’re shocked to learn that conspiracy theories are gaining traction, you’re in a bubble
Finding that a third of respondents believed it was definitely or probably true that a “small, secret group of people is responsible for making all major decisions in world politics” should dent some general complacency
Not-quite-Independents are emerging as the new political force
One startling fact: the number of Independents elected to the Dáil in recent years has exceeded the combined number elected to all other EU member state parliaments
Politics attracts some idiots and narcissists - but most are still driven by a desire to do good
To step forward and declare you want to serve in spite of all the abuse requires brave, old-fashioned character
Whose needs would a Progressive Democrats 2.0 serve?
In much of the commentary following the recent referendums, the phrase 'enough is enough' was often heard – the implication being that great numbers of people have made enough huge sacrifices by voting for compassion and understanding but that’s all over now
I split my house with my daughter, without government help. Stop shaming ‘empty nesters’
The annual finger-jabbing ignores the fact that there are no meaningful incentives on offer
If politicians like Varadkar and Ardern are burnt out, it’s a sign of the corrosive nature of politics
Varadkar opened up appalling vista where youngish politicians might actually admit they no longer felt up to the job
Government made a hames of it, but where were the Men for Mothers brigade until now?
The far right regards the vote as a big breakthrough, as they should
Spare me the so-called ‘true patriots’ who preach about freedom
Unverified allegations made online are now having real life consequences
Catherine Martin mistook a gotcha moment for a meaningful political move
If the Minister for Media had faced down the opposition and the media and supported the RTÉ chair, public interest in the issue would have faded quickly. Instead, the fallout rumbles on
It’s hardly surprising Maria Walsh reached for ‘male, pale and stale’ label in FF candidate row
Men who agitate about labels or being supplanted by hordes of vengeful women should look around them. Fewer than a quarter of our TDs are women
Trump’s flaming chainsaw circus act is back. And so is the media gravy train
The candidate with openly violent dictatorship ambitions is being allowed to campaign as a normal politician
Michelle O’Neill looks to the future, while Joe Brolly seems stuck in the past
Her hopeful words were in sharp contrast to Joe Brolly’s cynical appraisal of the mood south of the border
We can thank Brexit for one thing: it’s a lesson in how to spot opportunists, liars and zealots
As immigration creeps up the opinion polls, we would do well to pay attention
Has the world forgotten what it means to elect a fascist?
When many people take democracy neither seriously nor literally, we’ve got a problem
US elections: Is it time to consider an upper age limit for politicians?
Age is in the eye of the beholder. Biden may be older but with 91 indictments and a possible jail term looming, Trump is hardly a safer bet in terms of presidential longevity
Demonisation of single, migrant men has bounced from far-right into the mainstream
Fellow human beings are being dehumanised, and we are being played
This year let’s banish ‘following your gut’, ‘centrist dads’ and entertaining politics
Politicians will be thoughtful, truthful and boring. Candidates will not be interchangeable with entertainers. RTE political coverage will be monitored for excessive excitement
From Gaza to Afghanistan to the Criminal Courts of Justice, this was a bleak year for women
Women still face a spectrum starts with an almost concealed disdain, a certain contempt, an ingrained prejudice, and runs all the way to violent hatred
Scorching irony of a politician declaring ‘the inn is full’ at Christmas
After initial disbelief and anger over the Galway hotel fire, the overriding feeling this week is of sadness
Anger is everywhere. We need more imaginative forms of justice
The word ‘anger’ isn’t big enough to cover the naked aggression some people see as their entitlement
A world preoccupied by a burning Palestine suits Putin’s purpose
While the eyes of the world are on Gaza, Russia thrives - billions have been returned to its economy by oligarchs, construction is booming and restaurants are packed
When Elon Musk agrees that Conor McGregor should run for office, reality has overtaken parody
The manufactured outrage unleashed by the Israeli foreign minister’s tweet was something to behold
Women’s bodies have always been a battlefield in war
Survivor and witness testimony, many from the Supernova rave, describe seeing women being raped before they were shot
Suella Braverman lived down to everything that was expected of her
Braverman is the latest in a long line of mediocre-to-really-terrible women in the Tory Party
Tired of hearing about Elon Musk? You’re part of the problem
Wilful indifference to one of the world’s most consequential oligarchs (yes, he’s an oligarch) is nothing to be proud of
‘For the love of God, don’t make me defend Paddy Cosgrave’
At a superficial level, Cosgrave may be considered a martyr to corporate censorship. Another look might suggest he was brought down by his own restless, scattergun bellicosity
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