In the supposed year of the Gathering, and with the country’s coffers still struggling, our politicians would be better off welcoming the world to Ireland, rather than jetting away for St Patrick’s Day, writes Paul Allen.
The exodus has begun. The well-trodden rat runs to America, Australia and other far-flung destinations are being exploited once again.
But as the world turns green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, the swanky five-star hotels and exotic locations in which many of the Government’s Ministers will be raising a toast to St Patrick will be enough to make the rest of us green with envy. Read More
Like a scene from one of its very famous operas, the curtain draws back to show the Italian nation face into another harsh moment of reality.
Today, Italy is once again embracing its checkered history of political deadlock, which is being played out by a cast of colourful characters local media have nicknamed, “The fraudster, the technocrat, the charisma vacuum and the comic.” Read More
It is time we stopped wallowing in despair and started cheerleading our successes, writes Paul Allen.
In a media environment hungry for scandal, sensation and skulduggery, good news often seems like no news at all. Especially in a country stuck in a boggy mire of fear and self-loathing. Read More



