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The only 10 things you need to know about the Irish Civil War

A century ago this month, two icons of Irish history – Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith – died as a result of the Civil War.

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John Downing Opinion ‘A peculiarly lonely, unknown man’ – Arthur Griffith was the shy, forgotten hero of Irish history

Both dedicated their lives to the struggle for Irish independence, both were leaders in Ireland’s first autonomous government, and both died suddenly in the prime of life.

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‘Farming is not doomed – we can adapt,’ says Fine Gael Junior Minister Martin Heydon

One of Martin Heydon’s childhood farming memories involves being with his father at Kilcullen Mart, Co Kildare, and being told by an elderly neighbour that there was no future in farming.

‘Pension bonus’ plans unfair on workers who must retire at 66 on health grounds, says Willie O’Dea

Plans for a higher pension for people who continue working beyond the age of 66 will unfairly discriminate against manual workers and people with health problems, Fianna Fáil welfare spokesman Willie O’Dea has warned.

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John Downing Opinion Say what you like about compulsory Irish, but it keeps our love for the language alive

More than a score years ago, I returned to the Irish language for various reasons. I am now among the 75,000 people or so, not connected to the education system, who speak the language each day.

‘Farming is not doomed – we can adapt,’ says Fine Gael Junior Minister Martin Heydon

One of Martin Heydon’s childhood farming memories involves being with his father at Kilcullen Mart, Co Kildare, and being told by an elderly neighbour that there was no future in farming.

Sabina Higgins ‘ill-informed’ letter covered by popular Russian website with links to security forces

A controversial letter written to a newspaper by the President’s wife has been picked up by Lifenews.ru, a hugely popular website and TV station with close links to the FSB and Russia’s security forces.

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John Downing Opinion Time for President Michael D Higgins to explain – or maybe for his wife Sabina to withdraw ill-judged comments on Ukraine war

Sabina Higgins’s right to views as a private citizen became a serious public issue the moment they appeared on the Áras an Uachtaráin official website.

Cowen: all depends on quality of energy grants for our farmers

Fianna Fáil's acceptance of the new plans to cut carbon emissions will depend heavily on the detail of energy grant schemes for farmers, former agriculture minister Barry Cowen has said.

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John Downing Opinion Flashing the cash has bought France’s ‘Borne enigma’ a brief respite

France’s second-ever woman prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, has defied the pundits and survived to the summer holidays after all.

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John Downing Opinion This was Eamon Ryan’s big moment, but in the end his party fell short on delivery

There is no doubt that a very hard road lies ahead on climate change for Eamon Ryan as Green Party leader.

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John Downing Opinion Coalition needs cool heads on climate change – but day of reckoning cannot be postponed forever

So the Green Party is ending the political season with a major display of militancy on climate change. But at what political cost for its own national standing, and for future relations with the other coalition parties?

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John Downing Opinion David Trimble’s political story offers UK a pathway out of the Brexit crux

Both contenders to replace Boris Johnson led their contributions to their first leadership debate with effusive tributes to David Trimble as news of his death had only come through a short time before.

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John Downing Opinion EU ministers papering over the cracks on use of gas may not be enough to halt crisis this winter

In the end Russia’s renewed disgraceful behaviour over gas supplies helped EU ministers paper over the considerable cracks to back the principle of cutting gas consumption by 15pc this coming winter.

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John Downing Opinion EU energy strategy may amount to fingers crossed for a mild winter

Sporadic talk about energy rationing in Ireland has given way to a furious debate in Germany about who should get priority – private homes or business?

EU tells Ireland to cut gas use by 15pc over next winter as Russian disruption to supply is likely

The European Union has told Ireland and other member states to cut gas usage by 15pc between now and next until March as Russian threats to restrict, if not totally cut, supplies persist.

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Bookies’ favourite Liz Truss drove legislation to undo North’s special status, while Rishi Sunak a better bet for a ‘Brexit fix’

It started with 11 contenders and now there are just two. Former finance minister Rishi Sunak faces off against foreign minister Liz Truss.

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John Downing Opinion After decades overseas and in the outer suburbs ‘my team’ winning is still huge

You might know how you sometimes strike up conversations at matches, or other big social occasions like concerts, with people whom you’ve never seen before and very likely will never see again.

Fianna Fáil rebel TDs demand review of coalition agreement in new blow to Micheál Martin

Dissident Fianna Fáil TDs worried about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis are demanding a review of the deal underpinning the coalition put in place two years ago.

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John Downing Opinion Decreasing euro values against the dollar have big implications for all of us

It’s not a good time to contemplate that holiday of a lifetime in the USA. Suddenly the euro is down against the dollar, with exchange rates pretty much one-for-one, and projected to fall further in the coming weeks with record lows of 90 US cents to the euro predicted by experts.

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John Downing Opinion The cost-of-living crisis could cast a cloud over TDs as they head off on holidays

There has long been an annual charade of the opposition feigning outrage as metaphoric buckets and spades rattle around Leinster House in preparation for the summer break.

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John Downing Opinion Why this crazy race to be the next Tory leader is a reminder of our own political past

Go to the front of the class now if you can truly say you knew who Penny Mordaunt was before this week. This politics lark has paid the bills for me for longer than I care to admit, but hand on heart, I could have only told you she was “something in the British cabinet”.

‘The public are very cynical about us – don’t encourage them,’ TDs are warned as Dáil breaks for summer

In the final Dáil session of the current political term Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl advised the TDs to take time out over the break to rest and spend more time with family.

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John Downing Opinion ‘Healy-Rae effect’ still with us, but Independents’ power might have peaked

The irrepressible Jackie Healy-Rae had an interesting tale to tell on Radio Kerry way back in December 1999.

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John Downing Opinion Fianna Fáil’s fire makes a surprise return in heated Dáil showdown

So, who really won this one? The reality is, the answer may be “check your prejudices and see”.

John Downing Opinion For now, all Sinn Féin has to be right about is what’s wrong – but tough times beckon

The Government will win and argue that its position has been strengthened. Sinn Féin will claim a “moral victory” on upping the tempo of opposition and point to numbers of Independent TDs abandoning Government support.

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John Downing Opinion Amid war and threats of energy crises, gas and nuclear power are now ‘green’

You are forgiven amid all the week’s hullabaloo if you did not notice that “nukes and gas” are now classified as “green energy” in the European Union.

Micheál Martin pitches for a better Dublin-London relationship in a ‘post Boris Johnson world’ at Guernsey conference

The Taoiseach has said he hopes a new UK prime minister, replacing Boris Johnson, can help rebuild relations with Dublin.

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Boris Johnson among a long line of journalists turned politicians – but here’s why it doesn’t always end well

Boris Johnson came to high political office via journalism – and probably sooner rather than later he will head back there.

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John Downing Opinion I first met Boris Johnson 30 years ago – he has been great at landing a big job, but very poor at doing it

Boris Johnson was among the first people I met after moving to Brussels in June 1989 to “report Europe” for the Irish Independent.