Irish Referendum on Women’s Role in Society

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 08 March 2024 > In the News

On International Women’s Day 2024, France is including the freedom to have an abortion in its constitution while Ireland is holding a referendum to remove clauses from its constitution which promise the Irish state will do everything it can to allow women to stay in the home. The Irish constitution was adopted in 1937, in … Continue reading “Irish Referendum on Women’s Role in Society”

Happy Leap Day!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 28 February 2024 > Celebrate

If you are born on 29 February, you can consider yourself very special… or very unlucky! The chances of being born on a leap day (the extra day we have every four years in leap years) are 1 in 1461. So, people born on that day are rare. But they also only have one “real” … Continue reading “Happy Leap Day!”

Ireland Has a New Holiday

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 25 January 2024 > Celebrate

Ireland has a new bank holiday: St Brigid’s Day, the first to be in honour of  a woman. From 2023, it is marked on the first Monday in February. St Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints, alongside St Colmcille and St Patrick. Like so many Irish celebrations, the Catholic saint’s day on 1 … Continue reading “Ireland Has a New Holiday”

2023 Booker Prize Goes to an Irish Dystopia

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 06 December 2023 > What's On

The Booker Prize 2023 was awarded to Paul Lynch for his dystopian novel set in his native Ireland, Prophet Song.  Chosen from a longlist of 13 and a shortlist of six, Lynch’s is the fifth Irish novel to win the U.K.’s most prestigious literary prize. And it’s the former film critic’s fifth novel. Prophet Song … Continue reading “2023 Booker Prize Goes to an Irish Dystopia”

Six Books for the Booker

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 22 November 2023 > What's On

The Booker Prize shortlist 2023 contains books by two Irish, two American, a Canadian and a British author exploring identity, family dynamics and societal collapse. All of them have been shortlisted for the first time, and two of the books are debut novels. The winner of the U.K.’s most prestigious literary prize will be announced … Continue reading “Six Books for the Booker”

France vs Ireland: 120 years of Rugby

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 September 2023 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Lycée

What better moment than the Rugby World Cup to take a look at the 120-year-long history of friendship and rivalry opposing France and Ireland on the rugby pitch? Let’s explore this relationship thanks to the online exhibition set up by the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris. This online exhibition will enable the students to discover more … Continue reading “France vs Ireland: 120 years of Rugby”

Peacebuilding for St Patrick’s

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 16 March 2023 > Shine Bright Lycée Webpicks

Ireland is celebrating 100 years of independence in 2023. This St Patrick’s Day video from the Irish government looks back at a hundred years of peacebuilding milestones to the background of the beautiful traditional song “Danny Boy” sung by Tolü Makay.  The video covers Irish membership of the League of Nations and then the United … Continue reading “Peacebuilding for St Patrick’s”

St Patrick’s Day on the Web

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 11 March 2023 >

St Patrick’s Day, 17 March, is a great time to inject some Irish culture into your classroom, with these videos, audio and interactive activities. Happy St Patrick’s Day – some of the figures may be a bit approximate in this promotional video, but it’s great for becoming familiar with some Irish traditions and traits, and … Continue reading “St Patrick’s Day on the Web”