Game of Thrones Tourism Is Happening, Since Westeros Sounds So Fun
It's not just Ren Faire enthusiasts and Irish-American grandparents who want to vacation on the Emerald Isle anymore, and for that, you can thank Game of Thrones, which films partly outside Belfast. Suddenly the HBO drama is the hottest way to market Ireland as a destination—because doesn't Westeros seem like a darling
Abortions Now Legal In Ireland Under Extremely Limited Circumstances
Two days ago, a law permitting abortion in extremely limited circumstances came into force in Ireland. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, as it's called, will allow for abortions when doctors believe that there is a substantial risk to the woman's life, either through physical illness, medical emergency or…
Ireland's President Finally Signs First Legal Abortion Bill Into Law
(Some) abortion is now legal in Ireland for the first time, thanks to the country's new "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill," which legalizes abortion in cases where the mother's life is at stake, including risk of suicide. Whoa: it's an abortion bill that associates the term "life" with living, breathing women…
Ireland Passes Half-Assed Loopholes in Abortion Ban That Won't Change Much
Two months after initially proposing an amendment to allow abortions under certain rare circumstances, the Irish government has officially passed the loophole in their draconian restrictions with an overwhelming vote in favor (127-31) — but not without major grumbling from the church and religious officials.
Ireland Has Made Some (Very) Minor Improvements in Its Abortion Laws
The horrifying (and preventable) death of Savita Halappanavar, the 31-year-old woman who was denied a life-saving abortion when doctors at Ireland’s University Hospital Galway found that she was miscarrying, has prompted lots of outrage over Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws. On Wednesday, Irish lawmakers seemed to…
Ireland Is Opening an Inquest into the Awful Death of Savita Halappanavar
Ireland is set to open an inquest into the horrifying (and probably unnecessary) death of Savita Halappanavar, the Indian dentist who died from suspected complications from septacaemia after the hospital that admitted her reportedly refused to terminate her pregnancy. Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant at the time.
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Skipped St. Paddy’s Day Visit to Savannah Because He Didn’t Want to Attend an All-Bro Dinner
A top Irish official from Ireland (for-real Ireland and not, like, Boston) took an opportunity on his St. Patrick's weekend visit to America's Irish diaspora to chastise the venerable sexists in Savannah, Georgia for hosting their all-cock St. Paddy's dinner, no broads allowed since the 19th century.
Stop Using Fake Holidays as an Excuse to Get Drunk
This isn't to pick on St. Patrick's Day, per se, because America has plenty of imported, quasi-holidays whose only purpose seems to be to sell as much booze to as many reluctant revelers as possible. Don't have enough self-assurance to enjoy a highball at your local rathskeller on a Friday morning without fretting…
Leaked Savita Halappanavar Report Makes the Hospital Look Really, Really Bad
Savita Halappanavar died in an Irish hospital last October, a full week after the 31-year-old dentist came in with back pain and was found to be miscarrying, because doctors refused to remove the fetus until its heartbeat officially stopped. Abortions are illegal in Ireland except in cases where the mother's life…
U.S. Dollars Funding Irish Pro-Life Movement
After the death of Dr. Savita Halappanavar—a 31-year-old woman who succumbed to septicaemia and E.coli ESBL after being denied access to an abortion at a hospital in Ireland despite—caused outrage that led the Irish government to finally move to officially pass a law allowing abortion when the mother's life is at…
Ireland's Leading Bishop Unsurprisingly Dedicated His Annual Christmas Message to Protecting Embryos
Last week, the Pope dedicated his annual Christmas address to denouncing gay marriage. Not to be outdone, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland called for a campaign against abortion in his own cheery Xmas message.
Ireland to Officially Legalize Abortions When the Mother's Life Is at Risk, Including if She's Suicidal
The Irish government will soon allow abortion in certain cases where the mother's life is at risk. In other words: they don't want international outrage directed at them after another woman like Dr. Savita Halappanavar dies because doctors won't terminate her pregnancy — even if she's miscarrying and repeatedly asks…
Ireland Health Watchdog Organization To Investigate Death of Savita Halappanavar
Ireland's government-funded Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) watchdog organization has announced that they're launching an investigation into the death of Savita Halappanavar, the 31-year-old dentist who was denied an abortion after doctors informed her that she would miscarry but could not remove the…

