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The Ditch
@wereontheditch.bsky.social
Maybe you'll call us hurlers. On The Ditch.
Serious Guys’ desire for approval has them support anything the neoliberal consensus demands: abolishing neutrality and embracing EU militarisation; financialising the housing market; basing our economy on the tax receipts of a handful of US corporations.

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Comment: Taking things Seriously
Seriousness’s function in the media: setting the boundaries of acceptable opinion
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November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
An 88 percent increase in the number of whole homes to rent in Gaeltacht areas on Airbnb – in just six years

'The history of the Gaeltachts as places of radical and forward thinking gets forgotten now when they've become a holiday destination,' say @CnaG

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Airbnb Gaeltacht expansionism: 88 percent listings increase
To truly understand Airbnb expansionism in Ireland look to the Gaeltacht.
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November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
An 88 percent increase in the number of whole homes to rent in Gaeltacht areas on Airbnb – in just six years

'The history of the Gaeltachts as places of radical and forward thinking gets forgotten now when they've become a holiday destination,' say @CnaG

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Airbnb Gaeltacht expansionism: 88 percent listings increase
To truly understand Airbnb expansionism in Ireland look to the Gaeltacht.
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November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Ivan Yates used his media training company to also lobby both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs – including junior minister Niall Collins – in hotel meetings on behalf of an energy company that wanted advice on getting “a favourable planning decision”.

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Yates lobbied government TDs, minister for energy firm
Ivan Yates used his media training company to also lobby both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs.
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November 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"Illegal" US Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights – carrying deportees to countries they have no personal ties to – refuelled at Shannon this summer.

It’s Simon Harris’s position that such illegal ICE flights don’t don’t need diplomatic clearance.

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Illegal US ICE deportation flights refuelling at Shannon
Illegal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights – carrying deportees to African countries they have no personal ties to – refuelled at Shannon Airport this July and August.
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November 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
'I find it appalling because at the moment we have nine peace activists before the courts for trying to do what the gardaí should be doing.' – Ed Horgan

Introducing ShannonWarport – shannonwarport.ie – proudly supported by The Ditch

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USA at SNN
US Military at Shannon Airport
shannonwarport.ie
November 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Lufthansa – which repeatedly conducted illegal munitions flights through Irish territory to Israel – has reluctantly engaged with Darragh O’Brien’s Department of Transport, taking part in a Microsoft Teams call after a Ditch report on its unlawful flights

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Lufthansa thanks Department of Transport for its patience
The state meanwhile is prosecuting three anti-war activists.
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October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
🚨Joining us in Doyle's, Dublin 2 on Monday, 3 November at 6pm🚨

Eman Mohammed in conversation with The Ditch, Naoise Dolan and Liam Cunningham

The evening before the trial of the Shannon Three in Ennis
October 31, 2025 at 10:27 AM
A secretive group lobbying government for the arms industry is working with Lockheed Martin to connect Irish businesses with international weapons manufacturers for 'partnering opportunities'

One of its co-founders is a regular contributor to Irish media

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Lobbyists connecting Irish businesses, weapons manufacturers
They're working with Lockheed Martin on 'partnering opportunities'.
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October 30, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Doyle's, Monday, 6pm

The state begins its prosecution of protesters for their alleged attempts to do what government won't: inspect US war planes in Shannon

Join The Ditch in conversation – and solidarity – with Naoise Dolan and Liam Cunningham the evening before the trial
October 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
We welcome the Spanish high court judicial investigation – for complicity in crimes against humanity or genocide – into executives who exported steel to an Israeli weapons factory, as reported by The Ditch.
October 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Against a mainstream media and their weeks of questions, our ruling parties and their thoughtless, abortive campaigns, there’s a chance of a win tomorrow.
And no more than Keegan – “I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.”

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'I will love it if we beat them. Love it.'
Connolly hasn’t compromised her politics for the mainstream media’s idea of the mythological middle Ireland.
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October 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Heather Humphreys was the guest speaker at a unionist meeting during a general election campaign for an Orange Order member – and former UDR soldier – who caused controversy when he said he wouldn’t attend GAA matches or pride events. 

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Humphreys spoke at Orange Order member's event
It was a few months before his general election.
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October 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Comment: Questions media won’t ask: why did Heather Humphreys sit in the Dáil while her party ignored parents desperate for school places for their disabled children; what did she do to help disabled people afford groceries without cutting essentials?

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Disabled people and carers are excluded – not forgotten
And that's a common misconception.
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October 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
'Heather Humphreys's presidential candidacy is clear confirmation that the government does not value nor hear its disabled citizens,' said one disability activist.

'Margaret Thatcher light,' said another.

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'Margaret Thatcher light': disability activists on Humphreys
'Government does not value nor hear its disabled citizens.'
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October 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The Ditch x Village Magazine

Heather Humphreys honoured a disgraced ex-garda after he was accused of extreme domestic violence and found by a tribunal to have corruptly organised planting weapons and fabricated evidence.

An ‘exceptional award’ she said.

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Humphreys honoured disgraced garda
The garda was accused of extreme domestic violence.
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October 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
For the first time since 2006 the state has admitted it allowed munitions – onboard a US war plane authorised by Simon Harris to land at Shannon Airport – to travel through Irish territory on their way to Israel

Darragh O’Brien granted the exemption.

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State admits it’s allowed weapons through Ireland to Israel
It’s the fist time in almost 20 years.
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October 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Simon Harris’s department discussed procurement policy with Lockheed Martin lobbyists just months before government announced a record €1.49 billion defence budget.

The Department of Defence is regularly briefing international arms lobbyists.

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Department of Defence regularly briefing l arms lobbyists
Government just announced a record €1.49 billion defence budget.
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October 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
A company under garda investigation was incorporated just a month before Heather Humphreys was the star attraction at its February “charity” event.

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Humphreys was star attraction at event under investigation
The company was incorporated just a year before.
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October 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Heather Humphreys refuses to confirm she failed to tell the land agency she’s not entitled to a tax exemption on one of her properties – a criminal offence

Media refuses to question her – TD Thomas Gould has called on Humphreys to explain her tax issues

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Humphreys stays silent on property affairs
Media indulges her silence.
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October 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Simon Harris authorised a US military plane to refuel at Shannon Airport on Sunday on its way from a Department of War airbase to the Nevatim Israel Defense Forces base.

It was transporting soldiers or military cargo.

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Harris authorised Shannon stop for US war plane
It was transporting soldiers or military cargo.
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October 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The Ditch live with Ghais Guevara

Thursday, 6pm, Connolly Books, Dublin

‘There’s no other rapper doing geopolitical communist rap.’ - Vice

Before his gig in the Sound House, Philadelphia’s Ghais Guevara chats with The Ditch about class, culture and Black Bolshevism.
October 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The public can distinguish between someone who has opposed power – from its attempted hate speech legislation to its degradation of Irish sovereignty – and someone who used it to inflict austerity.

Ivan Yates just acknowledged what everyone already knew.

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You don’t need to be left to see the lies about Connolly
Ivan Yates was at least honest about the tactics he would need to use.
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October 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Heather Humphreys won’t say if she paid an anti-vacancy tax on her unused residential property.

Humphreys has left the property unoccupied for the last 14 years, during which time the vacant homes tax was introduced.

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Humpheys won’t say if she paid vacant homes tax
She’s left the property unoccupied for more than a decade.
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October 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys has avoided a property tax on her old constituency office after failing to declare she’s no longer entitled to an exemption.

For failing to make this declaration Humphreys could face criminal prosecution.

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Humphreys has avoided a property tax on old office
She could face criminal prosecution under laws introduced when she was a government minister.
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October 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM