Irish News columnist; author of Power Play: The Rise of Modern Sinn Féin; The Far Side of Revenge: Making Peace in Northern Ireland; Cinnlínte; Scéalta Nuachta
Articles by Deaglán de Bréadún
Ted Howell, republican who helped to guide Sinn Féin through the peace process negotiations
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Pádraig Ó Snodaigh obituary – Historian, writer and publisher who always promoted Irish as a living language
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David Davin-Power, journalist and broadcaster well-known for his political reporting for RTÉ who ‘wore his learning and eloquence lightly’
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Pat Buckley, Catholic cleric who split from the church and became an independent, activist priest
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Michael D’Arcy, former TD from Wexford who represented county and country for over 50 years
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Michael D’Arcy, former TD from Wexford who represented county and country for over 50 years
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Joe Kinnear, Dublin-born FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup winner, who won even greater renown as a manager
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Dr Catherine O’Neill, leading figure in Irish medicine who specialised in nursing ethics and had a lasting impact on the treatment of patients
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Dr Catherine O’Neill, leading figure in Irish medicine who specialised in nursing ethics and had a lasting impact on the treatment of patients
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Michael O’Regan, a fearlessly honest, forthright and personable journalist and broadcaster best known for his coverage of the Kerry Babies case
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Obituary: ‘Today, Fianna Fáil is the poorer for his passing’ – Ger Connolly, veteran Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly
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Obituary: ‘Today, Fianna Fáil is the poorer for his passing’ – Ger Connolly, veteran Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly
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Ivor Browne, acclaimed psychiatrist who was a mental health pioneer and remained defiant when censured over Fr Michael Cleary scandal
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John Mullaney, Sligo draper who was a passionate supporter of the town’s Yeats International Summer School
John Mullaney, the Sligo draper who has died at the age of 91, was a leading figure in business in the town and deeply involved in the annual Yeats International Summer School. For many years he was in charge of the Mullaney Brothers clothing store at 9 O’Connell Street, which his father, Michael, who was the youngest of 17 children and had worked there under previous owners, bought along with John’s uncle Thomas in 1909. The name was changed from White & Sons to Mullaney Brothers.
Dermot Keogh, leading academic, historian and author who was a mentor to Tánaiste Micheál Martin
istorian Dermot Keogh, who has died aged 78, was a leading academic and the author of more than a dozen books who previously worked as a journalist at and RTÉ. Dermot Francis Keogh was born on May 12, 1945, the eldest of eight children of William and Maureen, who lived in the Kilbarrack/Bayside district of north Dublin.
Maurice Whelan, academic and innovator who gave young Irish engineers opportunities to flourish
Professor Maurice Whelan, who has died at the age of 84, was a distinguished academic and an innovator in the Irish technology sector. Recognition of his many achievements included being made an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, presented by the Dutch government in 1995 for his role in establishing strong business links between the Netherlands and Ireland.
Deirdre Finn, Detective Garda who investigated serious crime and brought robbery gang to justice
Detective Garda Deirdre (Dee) Finn, of Ballinteer and Ballycullen in Dublin, who has died in her early 50s, was a much-respected member of An Garda Síochána. She died tragically after a cruiser boat on which she had been sailing caught fire on the Shannon on August 7. The cruiser was moored at Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, when fire broke out on board. Emergency services arrived, but the boat was already engulfed in flames. The fire was brought under control but it had already claimed Finn’s life.
Flor O’Mahony, former senator and MEP, who was a key figure in the internal life of the Labour Party
Politician and administrator with the Labour Party Flor O’Mahony, who has died at the age of 77, was a senator and Member of the European Parliament as well as a key figure in the internal life of the party. Florence O’Mahony, to give him his full name, was born in Dalkey, Co Dublin, on January 23, 1946. His father Tim, from Ballyhea, Co Kerry, was a member of the Dún Laoghaire Fire Brigade.
Deaglán de Bréadún: It was clear in Moscow that Gorbachev's popularity was not reflected there
OF THE MORE positive aspects of being a political journalist is that, from time to time, you encounter people who have played, or are still playing, a significant role in changing the course of history. I say “encounter” advisedly, because you might be in the same room at a press conference, putting questions to them, but you don’t actually meet them at a personal, one-to-one level.
Boris Johnson's leadership crisis
At 9 pm on August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon went on television to announce: "I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow." It was a dramatic event for the American people at the time and there is growing expectation the British public may be about to hear a similar declaration from their Prime Minister.
From Ireland: Politics, Health, Security, and Recognition
By Deaglán de Bréadún Certainty is always a rare commodity in Irish politics but it has rarely been so scarce as it is these days. Like many other places, we don’t know for sure how things are going to pan out in the immediate future, to say nothing of the longer term. New Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie North of the border, there have been changes at the top of the two main parties who favour retaining the constitutional link with Britain.
Ireland’s Tourism Prospects Are Improving
By Deaglán de Bréadún Tourism is an important element of the Irish economy and it has suffered greatly because of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A whole raft of conditions has been applied to inward travel.
Tourism Slowly Making a Way Back
By Deaglán de Bréadún Tourism is an important element of the Irish economy and it has suffered greatly because of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. A whole raft of conditions has been applied to inward travel.
News from Ireland:The North
April 17, 2021 By Deaglán de Bréadún Concern has been growing in Ireland, north and south, that the Troubles which caused so many deaths and injuries for thirty years from the late Sixties until the end of the Nineties might be on the way back. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was concluded in April 1998, with former US Senator George Mitchell chairing the negotiations, so it is ironic that worries about the durability of the peace have arisen on the 23rd anniversary.
A Vaccine Update from Ireland
By Deaglán de Bréadún Ireland is currently going through one of the most dreary and restrictive periods in its history, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Curbs on movement and social gatherings for work or pleasure mean that most people spend the bulk of their time at home. When they do go out, they are under orders from the Government to observe specific limits: in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland you are not supposed to exceed five kilometres, or just over three miles.
| Irish America
By Deaglán de Bréadún Ireland is currently going through one of the most dreary and restrictive periods in its history, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Curbs on movement and social gatherings for work or pleasure mean that most people spend the bulk of their time at home. When they do go out, they are under orders from the Government to observe specific limits: in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland you are not supposed to exceed five kilometres, or just over three miles.
Tipperary Win Munster Final after 85-Year Wait
Tipperary marked the centenary of Bloody Sunday with a historic win over Cork to win the Munster Final for the first time since 1935. By Deaglán de Bréadún In one of the most dramatic days in Irish sporting history, the Gaelic football team from County Tipperary won the Munster provincial championship last Sunday when they beat the favourites Cork.
NEWS FROM IRELAND: The U.S. Election, BREXIT, and Handling the Pandemic
By Deaglán de Bréadún On a happy note, there has been a general welcome in the Republic and among nationalists in the North for the success of Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the election to the White House. The incoming President’s obvious pride in his ancestral links with Ireland have made a strong impression. He has family connections with County Mayo on the west coast and County Louth in the east and both locations are looking forward to his next visit to Ireland.
New Concerns Over Brexit and The Irish Border
By Deaglán de Bréadún Combining the words ‘British’ and ‘exit’, the United Kingdom process of withdrawal from the European Union known as Brexit began with a referendum in June 2016 when 52% of UK voters opted to leave the EU. The marriage which took place on New Year’s Day back in 1973 was meant to be finally over by March 2019 but it dragged on until January 31st this year.
In Leinster House, a Historically Significant Monument Lies Overlooked
Photo by Deaglán de Bréadún It’s a fine piece of sculpture but the Cenotaph (defined as a monument to a person or persons interred at another location) in the grounds of Leinster House receives little public or media attention — in part this is because of its location behind the railings at Leinster lawn, on Merrion Square West.
A Leader who Championed Peace
By Deaglán de Bréadún The recent passing of John Hume evoked comparisons with other Irish leaders who sought in their time to advance the cause of Irish self-government and independence by peaceful means. The greatest achievement of Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847) was Catholic Emancipation: he played a leading role in ending the ban on Catholics from sitting in parliament and holding senior government offices.
History's Heroes Not Always Set In Stone
By Deaglán de Bréadún A petition is circulating to have a statue of Jack Charlton installed at the Aviva Stadium (I still think of it as Lansdowne Road) in Dublin. There are moves also to have a statue put up in his native village of Ashington in Northumberland. As far back as 1994, a statue in his honour was put on display at Cork Airport which shows him in fishing rather than football mode. He loved catching salmon as much as scoring goals, apparently.
US Senator George Mitchell and The Good Friday Agreement
How an Irish American Senator went on to play a pivotal role in Northern Ireland's peace process Editor's Note: The Good Friday Agreement was signed on this day, April 10, in 1998. Below, a piece from our sister publication Irish America Magazine that was published in April 1999 exploring Senator George Mitchell's vital role in the Peace Process. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Philosophers have argued for a long time over the importance of the individual in history.
US Senator George Mitchell and The Good Friday Agreement
How an Irish American Senator went on to play a pivotal role in Northern Ireland's peace process Editor's Note: The Good Friday Agreement was signed on this day, April 10, in 1998. Below, a piece from our sister publication Irish America Magazine that was published in April 1999 exploring Senator George Mitchell's vital role in the Peace Process. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Philosophers have argued for a long time over the importance of the individual in history.
Sinn Fein seek victory in North Belfast election against DUP
The Northern Ireland battle for Westminster seats could see a nationalist voice from Belfast in London after the UK's Brexit election on Dec 12. Imagine if your father was shot dead before your eyes when you were eight years old. The year was 1989 and human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane (39), who frequently represented Irish republicans in the law-courts, was having Sunday lunch with his wife Geraldine and their three young children at the family home in Belfast.
Trump-like candidate shocks Irish presidential race with strong showing
Ireland has produced its very own version of Donald Trump, according to observers, in the person of Peter Casey, who surged into second place in the country’s presidential election on the strength of his populist views. He was formerly based in Atlanta. Just a few weeks back Casey, an Irish American millionaire, rated at just 1% but then he began a Trump-like charge expressing populist and highly controversial views on social welfare and minorities.
Reflections on the Good Friday Agreement
Signed on April 10, 1998, the landmark Good Friday Agreement helped to bring to an end the 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Twenty years on, Deaglán de Bréadún looks at how the agreement came about, the American role, and the current state of play.
George Mitchell: A Keystone of the Good Friday Agreement
George Mitchell, center, smiles as he is applauded by fellow recipients of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, John Hume, left, of the SDLP and Gerry Adams, right, of Sinn Féin during aceremony in Boston, Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Also pictured are Liz O'Donnell, Ireland's Minister of State and Paul Murphy, Minister of State of the Northern Ireland Office.
Gerry Adams - the face of Irish republicanism - hands over at Sinn Féin
Gerry Adams has been the face of Sinn Féin, the Irish republican party and political counterpart of the Irish Republican Army guerrilla movement, for decades. But as 2018 begins this man of “The Troubles” hands over to a middle-class college graduate from the suburbs of Dublin city, whose ascent has been through the political process rather than years of all-out conflict in Northern Ireland.
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye Gerry: Sinn Féin gets a new leader
Gerry Adams, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald at the 2017 Sinn Fein Ard Fheis.Rollingnews.ie At a special party conference in Dublin on February 10th the Sinn Féin party will officially elect a new leader in succession to Gerry Adams, who has held the position since 1983.
Bordering on Division
On an emerald, hilly landscape — one of the last stops in Europe before you hit the Atlantic Ocean — twin villages face each other. Blacklion and Belcoo have less than a thousand souls between them, carrying out their lives amid their pastel-painted two-storey houses, a handful of pubs, and shops selling sweets, cigarettes and local newspapers. A road links them, meeting in the middle at a stone bridge over a rippling river.
Enda Kenny under pressure to step down after major misjudgments
Opposition to Enda Kenny within his own party, Fine Gael, is hardening.
New appointments for Northern Ireland Executive announced
Martin McGuinness with his new Sinn Féin ministerial colleagues (l - r) Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Megan Fearon, Michelle O’Neill and Chris Hazzard. Photo by: Máirtín Ó Muilleoir / Twitter Independent Unionist Claire Sugden (29) has been named as Northern Ireland's new Justice Minister.
Irish Election: Labour Party in deep trouble as Fianna Fail make up ground
Labour leader Joan Burton canvassing in Dublin. Photo by: Photocall Ireland The Irish Labour Party may be close to collapse after one poll taken by the Irish Sunday Times showed their support at only 4 per cent going into the Friday 26th election.Two other polls have them at 8 per cent and 6 per cent far off their 2011 figure of 19 per cent.
Sinn Fein's history unrolls towards mainstream
As Ireland hunkers down for the 2016 general election, the prospects of Sinn Fein appear rosy. Journalist Deaglan de Breadun recently published a history of the party, concentrating on the rise in its fortunes in recent years. The saying goes that “journalism is the first draft of history”, and there is some truth in that. In principle, contemporary news reports should be the foundation for subsequent accounts, assuming the reports are accurate.
Gerry Adams says Sinn Fein set for power in Irish Republic in 2016
Derry: Sinn Fein wants to lead the next Irish government, Gerry Adams told the party's ardfheis (national conference) in Derry this weekend. Addressing an overflow attendance of more than 2,000 delegates, he said: "Sinn Féin will not prop up either a Fine Gael or a Fianna Fáil-led government." Observers said the ardfheis was the best-attended event of its kind that Sinn Fein had held for decades.
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