Is football the new religion of the masses, and have sports commentators become its most zealous preachers? From Clausewitz to Orwell to a Marty Feldman sketch about a Nazi referee, Raymond O’Connell takes a sharp and witty look at how the World Cup has reshaped culture, jingoism, and the so called People’s Game.
As the Aughinish Alumina plant in Limerick faces the threat of EU sanctions, Irish government ministers admit they cannot reassure workers about their future, prompting fresh questions about whether Brussels has truly neutered Irish independence. Meanwhile the EU drags its feet on banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements even as it rushes through twenty sanctions packages against Russia, exposing a troubling double standard worth examining.
While some hail Andy Burnham’s rise to British prime minister as a fresh chance for progress in Anglo Irish relations, Eoin Ó Murchú argues this optimism ignores his Blairite record, his commitment to endless war in Ukraine, and his pledge to slash social spending in favour of military budgets. This is why the Dublin establishment will welcome him with open arms, and why the working class on both sides of the border cannot afford to be fooled by warm words about Irish heritage.
From the Battle of the Boyne to the Brexit referendum, history is often rewritten to serve those in power while working class voices are conveniently pushed aside. Ernest Walker cuts through the myths of religious division and political spin, exposing how selective storytelling shapes what we believe about our past and present.
From the streets of Johannesburg to the farmlands of India, a new generation of left movements is rising to challenge decaying elites, mass unemployment, and the grip of hyper-imperialism on the global economy. Vijay Prashad reports from the Conference of the Left in South Africa, drawing lessons from over a century of revolutionary struggle to argue why the world urgently needs a living, fighting left.
From “mutton dressed as lamb” to Disraeli’s devastating takedown of Gladstone as “a sophisticated rhetorician inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity,” this witty exploration celebrates the lost art of the well crafted insult. Raymond O’Connell distinguishes between crass abuse and cutting wit, sharing his personal hit parade of literary and political zingers that prove a sharp tongue can still be a thing of beauty.
From secret Ministry of Defence consultancy fees to taxpayer funded rent for his bail address in London, Jeffrey Donaldson’s financial dealings raise troubling questions that extend far beyond his criminal conviction. Discover the eye watering expenses, the lucrative peacebuilding contracts, and the pension windfall still awaiting him, and decide for yourself whether the rules that permitted it all deserve as much scrutiny as the man himself.
As UK ministers resign over defence budgets and Andy Burnham faces the “Moscow test” before even launching his leadership bid, Mike Morrissey asks whether the panic over Russian aggression matches the reality on the ground. With 1.4 million Russian casualties and a stalling war in Ukraine, is Britain being sold a threat by those who profit most from fear?
Forget the Western media headlines: this firsthand account from Leningrad reveals a Russia that is welcoming, resilient, and remarkably easy to visit, if you know how to navigate the logistical challenges imposed by the current geopolitical climate. Jenny Farrell reports on meeting Russian communists and uncovers how the 900 day siege still shapes the city’s identity today, and explores what life really looks like under sanctions in 2026.
As Ireland kicks off its EU Presidency with lavish ceremony and a headline appearance from Zelensky, Eoin Ó Murchú argues the spectacle masks a bloc in deep crisis over energy costs, Chinese competition, and a bitter budget battle that could slash hundreds of billions in spending. Why is Micheál Martin refusing to let Ireland debate where it actually stands on militarisation, neutrality, and the future shape of Europe? Read on for a sharp critique of the Presidency that prizes servility over substance.