There's a storm brewing over the European continent, a great swell of silent majorities yearning to be heard.

There’s a number of observations that need to be made before dealing with the outcome of the local elections in Mayo. The first is that the electorate quite clearly won’t be told what to do.

Pope Francis gives interviews all the time. Generally on informal occasions he tends to favour delivering a few off-the-cuff remarks. Even when his words are misinterpreted and clarifications need to be issued later on, he loses no sweat over it.

Covering anything for the first time is always daunting. As I approached Castlebar’s TF Royal Hotel & Theatre on Saturday, I didn’t know what to expect on the opening day of the local elections.

The world of media is a fascinating one – and it’s constantly evolving.

For political egg-heads the prospect of three elections – local, EU and general – is manna from heaven but for those who at best tolerate elections, not so much! And not too far ahead, for the really smitten election enthusiast, there’s the added ...

What does it mean to be Irish?As a country with a long history of emigration, we are very aware of how fluid it can be. Someone may not be born here but may consider themselves more Irish than me or you.

I defer to no man or woman or binary or non-binary person(s) in my admiration for the female of the species. I just have a natural inclination to respect, admire, appreciate and worship the species.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has elevated Ireland into the Palestinian statehood discourse with studied diplomacy.

What can we expect from the local and European elections? Who will win the battle between the parties, and which candidates will win the battles within them? Just how well will independents do, and what will be the deciding issues and factors? Will ...