Ian O'Doherty

Anti Lockdown protesters confront Gardai on Dublin's Grafton Street. Photo: Arthur Carron

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Deluded freedom champions will liberate us all right back into another lockdown

When most of us saw what was happening in the storming of the Capitol in Washington back on January 6, we were stunned.

Online abuse: Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Tyreik Wright. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Social media is now a cesspit. Big tech must do something about it

Well, it’s happened again.

EU president Ursula von der Leyen had to quickly roll back on triggering of Article 16 of Northern Ireland protocol. Photo: Olivier Hoslet

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Ian O’Doherty Opinion Forget Brexit – the pandemic is by far the toughest test the EU has ever faced

We can be a strange, perplexing little country at times.

Scary thought: It was a surprise that so many of those polled admit that listening to Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath is a great way of reducing their stress levels. Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Now that’s what I call good news! 80s music helps reduces stress

Here at the Indo, we like to do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.

US President Joe Biden made much play of his ability to talk to the kind of blue collar American who had switched their traditional allegiance from the Democrats to the Republicans. Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion The task of spanning a widening chasm in American society may be beyond Joe Biden

A victory for white supremacy. That was the view of one outraged American politician following the end of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial last Saturday.

Political differences: LA Times columnist Virginia Heffernan’s neighbours are Trump voters

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sometimes the modern liberal just hands it to you on a plate

Quick question — how well do you get on with your neighbours?

Turning point: Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony (right) is sent off during Sunday’s Six Nations defeat to Wales in Cardiff. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Let’s be honest – at the moment, sport is the only thing keeping us going

A friend of mine called me on Sunday afternoon.

Alliance: President Biden’s affinity toward Ireland, as well as his Irish heritage, will likely be a big draw to Washington for Taoiseach Micheál Martin

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Ian O’Doherty Opinion We need Micheál Martin to go to Washington for St Patrick's Day – anyone suggesting otherwise is an idiot

Let's take a quick look at all the problems we currently face, shall we?

The novelty has worn off: The fact that schools won’t be open any time soon must have come as a hammer blow to many parents

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Staying child-free has never seemed such a wise choice

I don’t have kids.

A passenger celebrates as he arrives at Belfast International Airport from the UK. Photo: Stephen Davison

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Ian O’Doherty Opinion Hard choices face this government, but there is far more than votes at stake now

At 2pm tomorrow, Irish time, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists are holding a virtual press conference from Washington.

Divided states: People who think this week’s inauguration of Joe Biden will bring an end to a four-year nightmare are simply fooling themselves

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Biden has a hell of a job on his hands — let’s hope he’s up to it

Hail to the thief!

Keep believing: A giant billboard in London proclaims a message of hope and a brighter future. Photo: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Absolutely everyone has lockdown blues at this stage – but these dark days will pass

As you may have been aware, yesterday was officially The Most Depressing Day Of The Year.

Trauma: ‘There is a deep scar running through our national psyche and the abomination of these mother and baby homes is one of the main reasons’

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion There is plenty of blame to go around, but the church must pay

I was born in the Coombe in November, 1971.

Horror: A woman stops at a memorial for Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick who died after he was beaten by supporters of President Donald Trump when they stormed the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion I tried to defend Trump voters from lazy slurs – but they’ve lived down to worst stereotype

In his highly entertaining 2018 travelogue, Another Fine Mess, English journalist Tim Moore drove an old Ford Model T through the American regions which had voted most heavily in favour of Donald Trump.

One activist claimed Grease was "rapey, racist, homophobic and should never be shown on TV again" after the BBC screened it over Christmas

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion From God to Grease, every generation will create its own taboos

So, what did you make of the hugely controversial sketch on RTÉ on New Year’s Eve?

The vultures are circling: As he tries to guide Ireland through the pandemic, Micheál Martin must now also be wary of fellow party members. Photo: Tom Honan/PA Wire

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fianna Fáil’s leadership heave is the last thing this country needs

Face mask? Check.

Weaponisation of cancel culture: Justice Minister Helen McEntee plans to toughen up our legislation on so-called ‘hate speech’. Photo by Gareth Chaney/Collins

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Helen McEntee’s hate speech legislation would turn morons into martyrs

I think we can all agree that we just experienced a rather unusual Christmas.

Done deal: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he had agreed to a Brexit trade deal on Christmas Eve. Photo: Getty

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Brexit deal is finally here – let’s hope there are no hidden land mines

Well, that’s that. No more couples counselling. No more last-ditch weekends away in an effort to save a dying relationship. No more futile attempts at a reconciliation. After four years of rancour, recrimination, tears, tantrums and increasing hostility, this divorce is now absolute.

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones in Normal People

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion If ever there was a year we wanted to end, this was it

Well, that was some year, wasn’t it?

The Christmas buzz on Grafton Street just won’t be the same this year. Photo: Tony Gavin

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion A Christmas like no other – let’s try to make the best of it

Well, we’re nearly there. Three sleeps until the big day.

A dearth of mirth: Paul McGann and Richard E Grant in Withnail and I, the closing scene of which sums up current sentiments

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Christmas is nearly here – and we sorely need this break

‘I have of late — but wherefore I know not — lost all my mirth, forgone all customs of exercises and, indeed, it goes so heavily on my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory.”

Rudderless: ‘Destructive’ Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson has plunged Britain head first into a Brexit disaster with his poor political negotiating skills. Photo: Duncan McGlynn/Getty

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fishing row is just latest mad gambit from UK – but Boris’s ship may well be sinking

Deadlines. They’re the bane of every journalist’s life. Most hacks file on time. Others? Well, some are renowned for filing late copy and it will probably come as no great surprise that when Boris Johnson was a journo he was a pest when it came to deadlines.

Lost moment: Steve Thompson celebrates winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England, a feat he no longer remembers. Photo by Odd Andersen/Getty

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Ian O’Doherty Opinion Boris Johnson’s reign of error has descended into political equivalent of a scrap outside a chipper

Oh what a tangled web they weave.

A mural by Australian artist Scott Marsh is seen on a wall at the Botany View Hotel in Sydney

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion With Donald Trump gone, what are we going to do for laughs now?

I’ve often said that politics is too important to take seriously.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald outside the Convention Centre Dublin for a Dáil session. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

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Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in Varadkar is just another populist political stunt

As the eyes of the world turned to events in America and the US presidential election, it was nice to see that, closer to home, some of us still enjoy more traditional pursuits.

Ian O'Doherty

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Deluded freedom champions will liberate us all right back into another lockdown

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Social media is now a cesspit. Big tech must do something about it

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Forget Brexit – the pandemic is by far the toughest test the EU has ever faced

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Now that’s what I call good news! 80s music helps reduces stress

Ian O'Doherty Opinion The task of spanning a widening chasm in American society may be beyond Joe Biden

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sometimes the modern liberal just hands it to you on a plate

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Let’s be honest – at the moment, sport is the only thing keeping us going

Ian O’Doherty Opinion We need Micheál Martin to go to Washington for St Patrick's Day – anyone suggesting otherwise is an idiot

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Staying child-free has never seemed such a wise choice

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Hard choices face this government, but there is far more than votes at stake now

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Biden has a hell of a job on his hands — let’s hope he’s up to it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Absolutely everyone has lockdown blues at this stage – but these dark days will pass

Ian O'Doherty Opinion There is plenty of blame to go around, but the church must pay

Ian O'Doherty Opinion I tried to defend Trump voters from lazy slurs – but they’ve lived down to worst stereotype

Ian O'Doherty Opinion From God to Grease, every generation will create its own taboos

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fianna Fáil’s leadership heave is the last thing this country needs

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Helen McEntee’s hate speech legislation would turn morons into martyrs

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Brexit deal is finally here – let’s hope there are no hidden land mines

Ian O'Doherty Opinion If ever there was a year we wanted to end, this was it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion A Christmas like no other – let’s try to make the best of it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Christmas is nearly here – and we sorely need this break

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fishing row is just latest mad gambit from UK – but Boris’s ship may well be sinking

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Safety-first mammies may have had the right idea about rugby

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Anti-vaxxers are spouting utter nonsense – but censoring them is not the answer

Amnesty calling for censorship? But they used to be the good guys

Ian O'Doherty Opinion It’s been a year to forget so let’s make this a Christmas to remember

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Cancel culture is dangerous and now coming for ordinary people

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Boris Johnson’s reign of error has descended into political equivalent of a scrap outside a chipper

Ian O'Doherty Opinion With Donald Trump gone, what are we going to do for laughs now?

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in Varadkar is just another populist political stunt

Ian O'Doherty

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Deluded freedom champions will liberate us all right back into another lockdown

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Social media is now a cesspit. Big tech must do something about it

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Forget Brexit – the pandemic is by far the toughest test the EU has ever faced

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Now that’s what I call good news! 80s music helps reduces stress

Ian O'Doherty Opinion The task of spanning a widening chasm in American society may be beyond Joe Biden

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sometimes the modern liberal just hands it to you on a plate

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Let’s be honest – at the moment, sport is the only thing keeping us going

Ian O’Doherty Opinion We need Micheál Martin to go to Washington for St Patrick's Day – anyone suggesting otherwise is an idiot

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Staying child-free has never seemed such a wise choice

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Hard choices face this government, but there is far more than votes at stake now

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Biden has a hell of a job on his hands — let’s hope he’s up to it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Absolutely everyone has lockdown blues at this stage – but these dark days will pass

Ian O'Doherty Opinion There is plenty of blame to go around, but the church must pay

Ian O'Doherty Opinion I tried to defend Trump voters from lazy slurs – but they’ve lived down to worst stereotype

Ian O'Doherty Opinion From God to Grease, every generation will ­create its own taboos

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fianna Fáil’s leadership heave is the last thing this country needs

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Helen McEntee’s hate speech legislation would turn morons into martyrs

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Brexit deal is finally here – let’s hope there are no hidden land mines

Ian O'Doherty Opinion If ever there was a year we wanted to end, this was it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion A Christmas like no other – let’s try to make the best of it

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Christmas is nearly here – and we sorely need this break

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Fishing row is just latest mad gambit from UK – but Boris’s ship may well be sinking

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Safety-first mammies may have had the right idea about rugby

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Anti-vaxxers are spouting utter nonsense – but censoring them is not the answer

Amnesty calling for censorship? But they used to be the good guys

Ian O'Doherty Opinion It’s been a year to forget so let’s make this a Christmas to remember

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Cancel culture is dangerous and now coming for ordinary people

Ian O’Doherty Opinion Boris Johnson’s reign of error has descended into political equivalent of a scrap outside a chipper

Ian O'Doherty Opinion With Donald Trump gone, what are we going to do for laughs now?

Ian O'Doherty Opinion Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in Varadkar is just another populist political stunt

Ian O'Doherty Opinion From God to Grease, every generation will create its own taboos