Person: Mick Clifford

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Person: Mick Clifford

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The World Pride parade in Washington earlier this month. This week, it was also reported that 25% of US companies that had previously supported Dublin Pride have now pulled out. The move is directly due to the hostility Trump has towards anything resembling diversity or inclusion.</p>

columnists

Mick Clifford: Trump’s war on free speech is now targeting Ireland and its media regulators

Trump's grip on speech and surveillance is now crossing the Atlantic, with real consequences for Ireland’s media and students

<p>Maureen Kennelly's contract was not renewed. Instead she was offered a nine-month contract which she rejected. Photo: Tristan Hutchinson</p>

S comment-analysis

Mick Clifford: Arts Council CEO Maureen Kennelly was an easy target for minister

Michael Clifford

SMick Clifford: Carlow’s shooting tragedy forces a reckoning with how justice is administered

Michael Clifford

Mick Clifford: The performance of innocence — what Sunny Jacobs’ story left out

Michael Clifford

SMick Clifford: Shane O’Farrell case shows the State still protects itself, not its people

Michael Clifford

SMick Clifford: No genocide in South Africa — but Gaza tells a different story

Mick Clifford: Government needs to come clean on housing numbers

Mick Clifford: Government needs to come clean on housing numbers

In a housing crisis, information should be power — but murky statistics and unanswered questions are blocking public understanding

Wed, 21 May, 2025

FILE PHOTO Bauer Media Audio has agreed to buy Denis O'Brien's Communicorp Group for over €100m. Communicorp includes radio stat

Mick Clifford: The price of peace and pyjamas — is remote work a cultural ticking time bomb?

Remote work has transformed lives, but the loss of in-person interaction may carry unseen long-term costs, especially for Gen Z

Sun, 18 May, 2025

Mick Clifford: Coppinger’s Gript snub should concern anyone who values media freedom

S Mick Clifford: Coppinger’s Gript snub should concern anyone who values media freedom

Selective engagement with the press may feel righteous, but it risks damaging the democratic ideals politicians claim to defend

Sun, 11 May, 2025

Israel Palestinians

Mick Clifford: The ambulance massacre Israel tried — and failed — to hide

The killing of Gaza’s paramedics exposes a chilling pattern of dehumanisation and echoes of past atrocities

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Planning Application

S Mick Clifford: Housing crisis deepens as homeowners block developments to ‘protect character’

In a housing crisis, objecting to every development under the guise of ‘character’ protection masks deeper societal privilege

Sun, 20 Apr, 2025

Mick Clifford: Strip search claims at Leinster House protest raise real questions — and some invented ones

S Mick Clifford: Strip search claims at Leinster House protest raise real questions — and some invented ones

Dáil claims of Garda sexual violence demand real investigation — but not at the cost of facts or credibility

Sun, 06 Apr, 2025

Water bills set to rise

Mick Clifford: Water shortages in the next decade are a real possibility

Investment, political will, and a new attitude to a precious resource are critical, writes Mick Clifford

Mon, 31 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: Two fingers to democracy — How Michael Lowry became the Government’s biggest liability

S Mick Clifford: Two fingers to democracy — How Michael Lowry became the Government’s biggest liability

Michael Lowry’s shadow looms over the Government, exposing the fragility of political integrity and the cost of dishonesty

Sun, 30 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: The land of a hundred thousand welcomes — and unwelcome truths

Mick Clifford: The land of a hundred thousand welcomes — and unwelcome truths

Ireland’s global image took a hit this week as Conor McGregor, social media, and viral headlines shaped the narrative

Sat, 22 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: Why Ireland must face tough questions about its covid strategy

S Mick Clifford: Why Ireland must face tough questions about its covid strategy

Ireland’s pandemic response shaped lives, but did it cause more harm than good? A full, honest inquiry is overdue, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 16 Mar, 2025

Russia Ukraine War

S Mick Clifford: Does neutrality still protect Ireland? Why it’s time for an honest conversation

As global threats rise, Ireland’s neutrality faces scrutiny. Is it a principled stance or outdated idealism? The debate intensifies

Sun, 09 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: Who will be Ireland’s next president? The potential candidates so far

Mick Clifford: Who will be Ireland’s next president? The potential candidates so far

Ireland’s presidential race is soon to begin gathering pace, with major names emerging as potential candidates. Who will take on the challenge of Áras an Uachtaráin?

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

General Election Ireland 2024

Mick Clifford: Foul play in the Dáil? Micheál Martin’s Irish dribble leaves everyone confused

A linguistic slip — or strategic play? Taoiseach’s Dáil exchange sparks debate over language, politics, and truth

Sun, 23 Feb, 2025

Minister to meet woman who wants inquiry into the death of her son killed in hit-and-run

S Mick Clifford: The cynical use of a tragedy to play politics

Politicians are doing a great disservice to a bereaved family

Sat, 15 Feb, 2025

Omagh Bombing Inquiry

S Mick Clifford: No room for closure when history is rewritten

Between them, the Republican movement and the British state are determined that there will not be a full reckoning with the past

Sun, 09 Feb, 2025

Mick Clifford: From pardons to trade wars, Trump’s first 20 days signal a wild presidency

Mick Clifford: From pardons to trade wars, Trump’s first 20 days signal a wild presidency

Donald Trump’s first 20 days in office have been marked by chaos, extreme policies, and a dangerous hunger for power

Sat, 08 Feb, 2025

Tom Dunne: Bob Dylan film is a glorious take on our darling young one

S Mick Clifford: Threat to humanity still blowin’ in the wind

Bob Dylan has always seen things that are beyond the vision of most of us

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025

Donald Trump

Mick Clifford: The Donald living the lie in the Trump world

Whether America and all it purports to represent can outlive this individual will be the story of the coming years

Sun, 26 Jan, 2025

Mick Clifford: Michael D Higgins's words have consequences

Mick Clifford: Michael D Higgins's words have consequences

The President's popularity is unquestionable but his successor should not use the office to openly criticise policy

Sat, 18 Jan, 2025

Mick Clifford: Ireland must pass the Occupied Territories Bill despite the likely Trump reaction

S Mick Clifford: Ireland must pass the Occupied Territories Bill despite the likely Trump reaction

All too often western democracies like ours hold noses and look away from severe human rights abuses in pursuit of our own economic interests. We must not do this when it comes to the war in Gaza, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 12 Jan, 2025

Mick Clifford: Difficult to see how the next Government will make us any better off

S Mick Clifford: Difficult to see how the next Government will make us any better off

Influence of independents will be seen in what will not get done — rather than creating positive change

Sun, 05 Jan, 2025

Cillian Murphy

Mick Clifford's A to Z of 2024: A look back at the people who shaped the passing year

A look back at the passing year and the people who shaped it, for good and ill

Mon, 30 Dec, 2024

Irish leaders discuss peace issues

Mick Clifford: 2024’s political heavyweight hardbacks

There were more outstanding books in 2024 that merit a mention

Sat, 28 Dec, 2024

children with xmas presents

Mick Clifford: The children with the least deserve the most Christmas magic

The magic these children deserve is to have a place they can call home from which they can develop and grow and be better prepared to tackle the turbulent straits that life will inevitably throw up, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

Mick Clifford: Eamon Ryan, Eoin Hayes, and the race to ruin political reputations

S Mick Clifford: Eamon Ryan, Eoin Hayes, and the race to ruin political reputations

A particular brand of negative politics has seen two men treated like villains

Sun, 15 Dec, 2024

Mick Clifford: Padraig Nally's death a reminder that old prejudices haven't gone away

S Mick Clifford: Padraig Nally's death a reminder that old prejudices haven't gone away

Padraig Nally was at the centre of a manslaughter case that divided a nation and his RIP.ie condolence page had to be taken down after a number of anti-Traveller comments that were described as 'vile' and 'racist'

Sun, 08 Dec, 2024

Mick Clifford: We must address threats to democracy

S Mick Clifford: We must address threats to democracy

We are lucky to enjoy democracy in Ireland. However, it faces major challenges if people feel abandoned by the State

Sat, 30 Nov, 2024

General Election Ireland 2024

S Mick Clifford: Is Simon Harris the Bertie Ahern of the 2020s?

He has given the impression of being a ‘something for everybody in the audience’ populist since he kicked off, but how will that fare when difficult decisions are required?

Sat, 23 Nov, 2024

The Mick Clifford Podcast: One week to go — who is having a good election?

The Mick Clifford Podcast: One week to go — who is having a good election?

With just a week left before polling day, we take a look at where everybody and everything stands in the general election campaign

Listen | Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

General Election Ireland 2024

S Mick Clifford: Where do Sinn Féin’s loyalties lie?

Sinn Féin has some imaginative policies and a realistic aspiration to govern. But questions remain around their credibility and priorities

Sun, 17 Nov, 2024

Mick Clifford: What will spark this election to life?

S Mick Clifford: What will spark this election to life?

It’s all to play for in this upcoming general election, writes Mick Clifford

Sat, 09 Nov, 2024

Donald Trump
Melania Trump

Mick Clifford: Donald Trump's crimes and lies simply didn't matter

Now that he has power, there will be a sense of trepidation in some quarters as to how Donald Trump intends to use it, writes Mick Clifford

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Donald Trump Campaigns For President In Pennsylvania

Mick Clifford: Many voters in the rust belt look at Donald Trump and like what they see

As one observer in rural Pennsylvania tells Mick Clifford, Trump's appeal in this former Democratic stronghold is a sense that he is giving the middle finger to the elite

Mon, 04 Nov, 2024

Mick Clifford: In the bleak Ireland of the 1980s, we chased the American Dream. How times have changed

Mick Clifford: In the bleak Ireland of the 1980s, we chased the American Dream. How times have changed

Roll on 40 years, and the difference in evolution of our respective societies, our respective democracies, is stark

Sat, 02 Nov, 2024

Mick Clifford: The US is about to face its moment of truth

Mick Clifford: The US is about to face its moment of truth

Right now, all that stands between Donald Trump and his plan to further erode democracy is Kamala Harris

Sat, 02 Nov, 2024

US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP-USELECTION

S Mick Clifford: Maga fans don’t just believe Trump — they believe in him

Like fans beating matchday traffic on a Munster final day, those leaving Trump rallies early already have their result: They're happy to have been in communion with each other and with their hero

Tue, 29 Oct, 2024

elementary school students with smartphones

Mick Clifford: Screens corrupt primal connections

Proper regulation, enforcement, and selective bans are all positive developments, but can problems generated by negative online activity be tackled exclusively by governments or transnational bodies?

Sat, 26 Oct, 2024

The concept of home ownership and Euro

S Mick Clifford: What will be key issues of an election?

There is plenty of money in the coffers. So why are so many people suffering in this country?

Sun, 20 Oct, 2024

Approved for Construction

S Mick Clifford: Rushed planning bill may cost us all

If all criticisms are correct then the new law will result in hold ups to housing and infrastructure, and mounting fees for solicitors

Sat, 12 Oct, 2024

Mick Clifford: A political pitch for polarisation

S Mick Clifford: A political pitch for polarisation

Why has Paul Murphy used a public forum to present a cartoon image of the far right?

Sun, 06 Oct, 2024

Mick Clifford: Are we any better off? Comparing the Coalition's first and last budgets

S Mick Clifford: Are we any better off? Comparing the Coalition's first and last budgets

Comparing the Coalition's first and last budgets could help us understand the big picture

Wed, 02 Oct, 2024

1,996 grants with a total value of €230m for new and improved sports facilities and equipment throughout the country under the C

S Mick Clifford: Our spending needs to come under greater scrutiny

The shed and hut costs have correctly given rise to much anger, but the allocation of sports capital grants is an example of how politicians purport to give out money as if is their own

Sun, 29 Sep, 2024

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Manufacturing truth with Paul Rouse

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Manufacturing truth with Paul Rouse

When he isn’t lecturing on history in UCD or presenting the Irish Examiner football podcast, Professor Paul Rouse mulls over how our world has become so susceptible to lies, spin and misinformation.

Listen | Thu, 26 Sep, 2024

Winter weather Dec 11th 2022

S Patrick Nugent's death at Bunratty Castle still shrouded in mystery 40 years on

As investigations into the death of Patrick Nugent resume, one wonders why it wasn’t done right the first time

Tue, 24 Sep, 2024