Andrée Murphy

ANDRÉE MURPHY: How denial undermines the recovery of memory

ALL of those who have suffered state and non-state violations on this island since partition can point to a lack of accurate memory of that experience. Some of this is incredibly personal. For some families the experience of violation was quite simply unspeakable and was not spoken.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Diaspora must be allowed to play its part in the unity debate

IN the dying hours of the 33rd Dáil, the Joint Oireachtas Committee for the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement published an extraordinary report with recommendations regarding women and the constitutional debate. It was extraordinary because it took the wider debate on the potential for constitutional change and focused on the necessary, practical steps to ensure women’s participation. That included recognition of the disproportionate impact of our conflict on women.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Shiny and new versus the old and intolerant

I TOOK my first trip out of the new Grand Central this week. It is beautifully designed, clean, fresh and modern. And so easy to hop on the new hourly trains to Dublin. What a difference this connection will make, and it will clearly become an integrated part of our infrastructure very quickly.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Saoirse drops a truth bomb on the Graham Norton sofa

THE funniest thing that happened on last week’s Graham Norton’s show was when the 'comedy' was interrupted. Norton always gets stellar guests on his show and last week was particularly sparkling. New York’s Denzel Washington and Maynooth’s Paul Mescal were on talking about the new Gladiator. Eddie Redmayne joined them and in the middle was New York-born but Dublin raised Saoirse Ronan. A sofa filled with next year’s Academy Award nominees.

ANDREE MURPHY: Let's enjoy the autumn that Kavanagh fell in love in

THERE are few better feelings than those evoked by an autumn day. Patrick Kavanagh knew that when he strolled down Raglan Road. But the reason we love his poem so much is because we relate to it.

ANDREE MURPHY: It's just what happens – and we just keep letting it go on

In all of the headlines that have grabbed our attention during the past six weeks the headlines of violence against women have lacked the attention they deserve.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Óglaigh na hÉireann give the world a moral lesson

THE term genocide is becoming devoid of meaning.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Attempts to avoid unity debate are pointless

THE intervention of Leo Varadkar calling for formal and robust planning for a border poll and indeed advocating for Irish unity was another acceleration of the constitutional debate.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Enough's enough – we need out

THE British government does not like accountability for its actions in its dominions. In 1989 it was involved in killing an officer of the court, Pat Finucane. The truth of that killing has come dropping slow, leading at last to the announcement that the inquiry, first agreed at Weston Park in 2001, will be held.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Activists are the drivers of justice and change

ACTIVISTS are the lifeblood of change. It is only when grumbling and annoyance changes to advocacy and activism that change becomes possible.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: No, Chief Constable – the police can't have two masters

NEWS last month that the PSNI Chief Constable was in conflict with the Justice Minister about who should write what letters to whom was revealing on many levels.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Dublin needs to remain steadfast on legacy

SIMON Harris’ ascendancy to the position of Taoiseach was an unlikely rise. The third Taoiseach in one administration in its final months would, on the face of it, deem him a lame duck. But Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have a knack of making the unlikely and improbable likely and probable as they reimagine their position in post-Civil War Irish politics.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: In an age of information reason is on the way out

WE live in an anti-reason age where the truth holds little value and conspiracy creates global movements. It is an age like the 1930s in many ways, yet utterly modern in others. The casualty in it all is the human capacity for reason, and the threats that flow are existential.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: New AOH Pres stood beside victims of state violence for three decades and more

OUR past is not a tourist attraction. It is, however, definitely there for us to learn from, explore and share. It is certainly something that resides beside us, asking questions, demanding truth, justice and accountability. Painful, unresolved pasts are not postcards from the edge.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Our new Ireland will face down fascists

IT'S 30 years since IRA volunteer Martin Doherty was murdered in the Widow Scallon's on Pearse Street in Dublin. He stopped the bombing of that pub, which was filled with Sinn Féin members and supporters, by tackling the loyalist would-be bomber.

Gaelic Games: Magherafelt a step ahead of St Brigid's in the Ulster Minor Club Tournament

Soccer: Rosario undone in extra-time by Rathfriland Rangers

NIFL Premiership: Gormley nets second hat-trick of the month as Reds romp to victory

Gaelic Games: Biddies and Magherafelt get the ball rolling at the Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament

OPINION: Praise the Lord, after half-century of decline, Castle St/Queen St is on way back

MINDFUL MOMENT: Here comes the judge - my testing task at Aisling Awards

SQUINTER: Plain-speaking Gordon lays it on the line

DÚLRA: Meadow Ladies are on a nature mission

Andrée Murphy

Latest Stories

Most Read