Irish Life Guide » Irish Life Guide

Michael D Higgins elected President

Irish rover — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:32:07 +0000

In his remarks at Dublin Castle, Mr Higgins said he would be a President of all the people – who he said had given him a very clear mandate.

Gardai held back noisy demonstrators

Irish rover — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:47:16 +0000

Gardai held back noisy demonstrators as the British Queen took part in a wreath-laying…

Gardai held back noisy demonstrators as the British Queen took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin city centre.

There was minor trouble as republicans opposed to the visit and the peace process in Northern Ireland jostled with gardai.

At one stage two flares were lit and thrown into the air.

The ceremony, the first major engagement of the British monarch's visit, started on time but, with thousands of gardai lining the route along the city's main thoroughfares, the security operation was the biggest ever mounted in the history of the state.

Queen Elizabeth, who changed into a new outfit for the poignant and symbolic wreath-laying having arrived in Dublin in green, looked unperturbed as the ceremony took place at the Garden of Remembrance, which honours all those who fought for Irish freedom from British rule.

Snipers and armed gardai patrolled rooftops and a church spire overlooking the garden as spotter planes and the garda helicopter circled above.

Gardai maintained order at two separate protests on streets several hundred yards from the garden.

The largest gardai presence ever seen in the country was deployed the entire length of the route as the Queen and President Mary McAleese travelled for the commemoration.

The garden opened in Easter 1966 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising when seven signatories to Ireland's Proclamation of Independence, backed by the 1,000 strong Irish Citizen Army, launched a revolution against British rule beginning with the takeover of the GPO a few hundred yards away on O'Connell Street.

The best ever Oxegen festival 2011

Irish rover — Sat, 07 May 2011 13:33:13 +0000

Oxegen fans will be gasping for breath with the release of the festival's official schedule.

Festival-goers can now prepare themselves for a full three days of sizzling performances at the country's biggest outdoor music event.

More than 80,000 music lovers will descend on Punchestown to watch The Black Eyed Peas headline the first night of the event on July 8.

Also taking the main stage on the night will be The Script and The Strokes.

They will be preceded by Scotland's ever popular indie band Glasvegas, who performed a sold-out gig at the Academy in Dublin last week.

My Chemical Romance and British rapper Tinie Tempah will also play on the first day.

"We're thrilled to bring fans such a rich and varied line-up of international talent this year," Oxegen's Festival Director John Probyn said.

"With so many festival headliners on one bill, I don't think a stronger line-up has ever been seen in Ireland before."

Foo Fighters have been confirmed as the headline act on Saturday.

They will be preceded by Sheffield indie band Arctic Monkeys and singer songwriter Paolo Nutini.

Some of this year's most celebrated new acts, including Jessie J, Bruno Mars and The Vaccines will add to the line-up on July 9.

Choice

Two Door Cinema Club, who found fame thank to a series of mobile phone ads and Playstation games, will also be playing.

They were awarded the Choice Music Prize for the Irish Album of the year in Dublin last month, beating stiff competition from Meteor Award winner Imelda May, who will take to the main stage on Saturday.

And it would appear that promoters have kept the best for last as MCD confirmed that international, multi award-winning acts Coldplay and Beyonce will close the festival on Sunday evening.

It is understood that Beyonce was convinced to perform at Oxegen after watching husband Jay-Z at the festival last year.

Rumour has it that she is trying to persuade Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Jay-Z to join her on stage.

"We're always striving to bring the biggest and best music talent to Oxegen and they really don't come any bigger than Beyonce," Mr Probyn said.

"She is a truly incredible artist and an amazing live performer."

THE LINE-UP

FRIDAY, JULY 8

HEADLINERS: Black Eyed Peas The Script – The Stroke s – My Chemical Romance -Weezer – Ti nie Te mpah – Calvin Harris – Glasve gas

SATURDAY, JULY 9

HEADLINERS: Foo Fighters

Arctic Monkeys – Paolo Nuitini – Brandon Flowers – Two Door Cinema Club – Imelda May – Bruno Mars – Jessie J

SUNDAY, JULY 10

HEADLINERS: Coldplay

Beyonce – The National – Slash – Manic Stre et Preachers – Ke$ha – Friendly Fires – The Saturdays