Kerry O'Shea

1 week ago | irishcentral.com | Kerry O'Shea

The families of the victims of the 2022 Creeslough tragedy have welcomed An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision to uphold their appeal against planning permission for the site of the fatal blast in Co Donegal. The families had lodged an appeal after Donegal County Council granted planning permission earlier this year for the site where ten people died in an explosion. The permission had been granted to Vivo Shell Limited, following its application in April 2024.

1 week ago | irishcentral.com | Kerry O'Shea

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the largest Irish Catholic organization in the US, has responded after Sir Declan Morgan, head of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), compared former RUC members signing on for the ICRIR to former IRA members serving on PSNI recruitment panels.

1 week ago | irishcentral.com | Kerry O'Shea

Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris announced on Friday, June 20, that Irish personnel are being relocated from Tehran, the capital of Iran, back to Ireland. "I have become increasingly concerned about the operational environment for our Embassy in Tehran, and the ability of our diplomatic staff to perform their functions safely," Harris said in a statement on Friday evening.

1 week ago | irishcentral.com | Kerry O'Shea

Leo Varadkar, Ireland's former Taoiseach, believes that if Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK's Reform Party, were to become British Prime Minister, it would put the discussion of Irish unity to "centre stage."Varadkar, who resigned as Taoiseach and the leader of Fine Gael in March 2024, made the comments while speaking on BBC Northern Ireland's The View programme, which aired on Thursday night.

1 week ago | irishcentral.com | Kerry O'Shea

Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister have introduced legislation to establish an Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses; and an associated redress scheme. The Executive Bill, which can be read here, will establish a statutory public inquiry and a statutory redress scheme. The estimated cost is £80 million, which includes almost £60 million in initial redress payments to cover approximately 6,600 redress claims.