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News

Hugh’s new book explains how he conducted himself well

THE latest book by regular contributor to The Irish Voice, Hugh Dougherty, tells of his time on the platform and in the driving cab of Western SMT buses as a Glasgow University student from 1969 to 1972.

A summer of celebrations and connections

THE summer is a period of change in many consulates and embassies around the world, and it is no different here in Edinburgh.

Happy Birthday Hibernian FC

HIBERNIAN FC celebrated its 150th anniversary in fantastic fashion at the start of last month with a number of events to mark the milestone.

Features

Book shines a new light on the ‘dear dark mountain sky over I’

I AWAITED the publication of this book with great anticipation as my mother’s people hail from the mountainous region of Sliabh Beagh, near where the three counties of Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone meet.

Extraordinary writer of ordinary lives

AT THE heart of any great book is the ability to tell as good story with characters who are believable and that we identify with. Critics often sight male writers such as Frank O’Connor and Sean O’Faolain as being literary giants in this Irish tradition. Yet in terms of book sales and global recognition, Maeve Binchy has been at the forefront this tradition.

Murder plots to memorabilia

BROGANS Bar at 75 Dame Street, in the heart of Dublin, is today famed for housing the largest collection of Guinness memorabilia outside the brewery. However, in the 1880s, when it was known as Swanns, the pub was infamous as a meeting place of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).

Comment & Opinion

Making memories at Mary From Dungloe 2025

BEING chosen as the Edinburgh Mary 2025 has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Representing Scotland—my new home—here in Donegal, where I was born and raised, made the experience even more meaningful. It felt like everything had come full circle.

Ireland is ready for EU Presidency challenge

Tánaiste SIMON HARRIS looks forward to Ireland assuming its eighth presidency of the EU in 2026.

Tired of the same old line about our train network

Twenty years ago, I was with colleagues in Dublin for a once -per-term meet-up of participants in a postgraduate psychotherapy course. It was organised across Northern Europe with students from Britain, Denmark, Iceland and Ireland.

As Gaeilge

Ag freagairt ceisteanna céannachta

BHUEL, a chairde, is deas a bheith ar ais libh tar éis an tsamhraidh. Tá súil agam gur bhain sibh sult as an samhradh! Tá muid ag druidim le tús théarma nua ranganna Gaeilge agus gníomhaíochtaí eile de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge Glaschú go luath, i mí Mheán Fómhair—féach thíos le haghaidh tuilleadh sonraí fúthu seo—Chuir seo scéal nuachta ón samhradh i gcuimhne dom.

Tá an samhradh linn!

BHUEL, a chairde, tá súil agam go raibh samhradh iontach agaibh go dtí seo. Bhí tús an-mhaith agamsa don samhradh ag obair ag Campa Samhraidh Chonradh na Gaeilge Glaschú.

‘Mol an óige agus tiocfadh siad’

‘MOL an óige agus tiocfadh siad,’ sin a deir an seanfhocal i nGaeilge. Seanfhocal a bhíonn ar m’intinn thart fán am seo achan bliain agus muid ag ullmhú fá choinne Campa Samhraidh Chonradh na Gaeilge Glaschú (ceart).

Sport

Happy Birthday Hibernian FC

HIBERNIAN FC celebrated its 150th anniversary in fantastic fashion at the start of last month with a number of events to mark the milestone.

Hopes high for handball resurgence in Scotland

IN 1427, the Scottish King James I had a cellar window in his palace blocked up as it was interfering with his handball game. This ancient Gaelic sport which is played similar to squash though without the racquet, has faded from popularity in Scotland though has continued with fervour in Ireland and beyond.

Connollys and Gaels Ladies take the Junior spoils

THERE were celebrations for Dunedin Connollys and Glasgow Gaels in the Ladies Junior Championship competitions recently, albeit only the latter were able to enjoy victory on the pitch itself.

Entertainment

A jack of all trades and master of all too!

THIS month, I sat down with the King of Glasgow, the guru of the city’s live entertainment and hospitality sector—not to mention one of the funniest guys you’ll ever meet—Donald MacLeod. I asked him about his 40 years of work in the industry, his fight to save hospitality and of course his love of Ireland. Here’s what he had to say.

Musicians, singers and storytellers shine at All-Ireland Fleadh

THE All-Ireland Fleadh took place in the beautiful town of Wexford at the start of August and, as ever, scores of musicians from Scotland were taking part in some form. Many musicians, singers and storytellers from Scotland were competing, having qualified from the All-Britain Fleadh in June. It was clear, though, from early on Friday that this was going to be a fleadh to remember as the results just kept on coming.

Troubled and Two Pints were the perfect plays

I TOOK a dander through to the Edinburgh Fringe to see a couple of plays.