Dublin man, Simon Scriver will go for gold in the World Championship of Public Speaking in Washington DC, on August, 18th to 20th. Simon is the current Ireland and UK champion which he won recently in Limerick with his speech “Nuggets of Gold”. This is the final round of a contest with entrants from 15,400 Clubs in 135 countries!
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The Easter Rising Centenary issue of SIPTU's Liberty magazine is out since March.

It contains lots of interesting articles including ones on the Irish Citizens Army (ICA) and James Connolly.

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It has been one hundred years since the heroic Easter uprising of the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) and the ICA (Irish Citizen Army) against the might of the British Empire in 1916. The planning of the 2016 commemoration was thrust into the hands of the conservative Fine Gael/Labour government who would have been at least a bit uneasy about the potential for increasing the political support base for the more politically radical Sinn Féin. However, the problem of artistic representation of the events was at least partially resolved by the well-worn techniques used by successive conservative Irish governments over the years since the Easter Rising: mythologisation, diversion and counternarrative. read full story / add a comment

Since 2008, during one of the worst financial crises to hit the state, government funding of the arts sector was significantly reduced as the overall Departmental budget has seen an increase. Department of the Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht reports show that central funding increased from 245,000,000 Euro in 2008 to 310,000,000 Euro in 2016. During this same period Arts Council reports show a fall in their funding from 81,620,000 Euro to 59,100,000 Euro. This has resulted in a fall in supports to the individual artist who the sector rely on to maintain Ireland as a place that is known for its living culture and the arts. read full story / add a comment

While currently young filmmakers are being sought for a festival and short films are pouring in, the festival organisers are busily planning an exciting programme of screenings, Q&A's, discussions and workshops for this year's festival.

There are 7 categories; Animation, Fictional Shorts, Music Video, Short Shorts ‘one minute wonders’, Documentary, Schools and Third Level

First Cut! would also like to announce YMVA, Young Music Video Award, Competition 2016!

The First Cut! Youth Film Festival is thrilled to announce it has teamed up with Brendan Canty – Feel Good Lost to give young up-and-coming filmmakers under the age of 24 the chance to make a music video with mentorship from the film director. The Feel Good Lost Hozier ‘Take me to Church’ video, shot on a shoestring budget, garnered millions of Internet 'hits' and rave reviews from critics all over the world. The 'Feel Good Lost' production company is now considered one of the world's most exciting up-and-coming film firms.

So if you’ve ever wanted to gain a fantastic insight into the world of Music Video Filmmaking and have a chance to work with the best then watch this space!

Deadline for Submissions: Feb 12th 2016 read full story / add a comment

An open art project that welcomes participation from anyone affected by a fatality (or injury) on Irish roads. No art skills are required. read full story / add a comment

Despite all the contemporary global interconnectedness, the lack of an international social consciousness among artists (whose work is linked only by its sameness and market-ready designs and styles) evokes frustration in the politically conscious critic and commentator. read full story / add a comment

Visual Artists Ireland [NI] will open a new dedicated Northern Ireland office on Friday, July 3rd in 109 – 113 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1FF. The office will be a focal point for the advocacy and support of Northern Ireland’s visual artists and will be managed by Rob Hilken, Northern Ireland Manager reporting directly to Noel Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Visual Artists Ireland who will also have a base there. read full story / add a comment

To get your copy, send US$0.50 to Mundial Publications, Box 3321 Church Street
Station, New York, NY 10008. read full story / add a comment

President OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND

IRISHLADS AND IRISHLADIES: In the name of O’Brien, Martin-Murphy, Esat Digifone, the Dublin United Tramways Company, and of the dead executionerins who met with unhappy accidents on their way to midday Mass, from whom she receives her old tradition of being neither this nor that.

Having patiently perfected her zeal, having waited, resolutely as a cat bound and gagged all night in the outhouse, for the right moment to reveal herself on Facebook, she now seizes this moment, with her one good typing hand, supported by all her children who thankfully went away and quietly died in flats above chip shops at Cricklewood, and by gallant allies first in London, and now, Berlin, but relying in the first instance on her own weakness, she strikes in full confidence of her ongoing defeat. read full story / add a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE… Contact: Seán Ó Cearrúlláin 086 155 59 37
email: ih@empirl.com

Drogheda, 09-02-15: E.M. Productions® in association with the Improving Horizons Foundation is recruiting for an Adventure Series that will change the lives of twenty ordinary locals through a project that will retrace World War Two’s Greatest Survival Story from 1943.

Long Months of Hard Training – Small Wages – Constant Danger – Honour and Recognition in Case of Success…

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Notice of a newly-published account of Indymedia.ie read full story / add a comment

Get the journal of revolutionary Marxism -- contact an Internationalist supporter or send US$0.50 to Mundial Publications, Box 3321 Church Street Station, New York, NY 10008 USA. Five issue/one year subscription $10. read full story / add a comment

It does follow that truth is unattainable. However it is not easily acquired. Its acquisition is a struggle. To strip off illusion and much of ambiguity contemporary society needs replacement by a communal form that precludes social oppression read full story / add a comment

Children’s talent competition sponsored by Cllr. Kieran McCarthy. A panel of professionals in the arts make this an enriching and rewarding experience for the children involved. RSVP produce this non-profit event; ‘We believe that growth and transformation in society is affected positively by respecting our young people’s creative skills in this way, our vision for the event is one of encouraging our young people to be the best that they can be.’ €6 entry fee. read full story / add a comment

Saturday night's concert was part of the International Concert Series presented in The National Concert Hall for 2013/2014. I was looking forward to the concert because the soloist and conductor, Michael Collins, is a totally congenial and engaging musician whom I last saw a number of years ago at the celebrity farewell concert for John Ruddock the famous Dublin/Limerick impresario. The atmosphere in The National Concert Hall that night was unforgettable, the best I ever remember. And Michael Collins had a lot to do with it. Everything was set fair for Saturday night. A very appealing program. A treat in store. read full story / add a comment

Season Four of the Dublin Film Qlub, “Burning the Closet!”, continues with…

NIGHTHAWKS

Dir. Ron Peck, 1978
Starring: Ken Robertson, Tony Westrope, Rachel Nicholas
Language: English
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Relaunch of the Sovereign Nation the 15th of February 2014. read full story / add a comment

---TICKETS ON SALE NOW--

Call 0851756912 or contact the Dublin Cumann Facebook page. read full story / add a comment

The series looks at the influence that the industrial dispute had on several different artistic disciplines from Literature and Song to Poetry, Drama and History. read full story / add a comment