How Ireland's record GDP crash dragged the euro area into reverse

Ireland's GDP fell 12.1% in early 2026, the steepest quarterly drop on record, flipping the whole euro area into contraction. The catch: it was never growth.

the spend

🇮🇪 #Ireland is under fire over its continued sales of alumina to #Russia, raising concerns that the country might be indirectly helping Moscow fuel its war machine against #Ukraine

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/08/why-ireland-is-under-fire-over-its-alumina-exports-to-russia

Why Ireland is under fire over its alumina exports to Russia

Though legal, Ireland's alumina exports to Russia have prompted outrage just as the country prepares to assume the EU Council's presidency. #EuropeNews

euronews
The #PoorLawExtensionAct was passed by the British parliament on #ThisDayInHistory in 1847. Pushed by the #Liberal party, it forced the people of #Ireland to pay for any #famine relief sent to her during the #GreatHunger. Note that Ireland was a full member of the UK at the time.

I joined Suzanne Parker on WLR’s Legally Speaking podcast to talk about FOI, transparency, public spending, and how important it is that citizens can access information.

We also discussed my book Shining a Light.

Listen here: https://wlrfm.com/podcast/legally-speaking-the-world-of-ai-and-the-freedom-of-information/

#ireland #law #justice #foia

Senior Kinahan gang crime figure jailed for 24 years by Dublin court

Sean McGovern pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a deadly feud after being extradited from the UAE

The Guardian

This is an attempt to art-wash decades of policy FAILURES. Happy for the 2k contemplated but considering the stats, i.e. how many of us artists/art workers struggle to make the bare minimum, how much The Arts give back and how slow this Basic Income for the Arts scheme is moving, it boils down to being art-washing for crumbs 😒

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/ireland-basic-income-for-the-arts-scheme-becomes-permanent

#BasicIncome #BasicIncomeForTheArts #ArtMatters #mastodaoine #artists #art #ArtsWorkers #Ireland #WorkersRights

Bad cess is also used as a strong negative. Samuel Lover in Irish Legends (1848) has ‘Bad cess to the dhrop,’ which means ‘no drop at all.’

It's also used in the song, "The Black Velvet Band":
"A gold watch she took from his pocket
And slipped it right into my hand
And the very first thing that I said was
Bad ‘cess to the black velvet band"

#ireland #slang #language