Virtually everything the UK does regarding Palestine makes it the Republic’s ugly friend: almost anyone would look good standing next to it. But Dublin is hideous in its own right. We let US military planes that may be carrying arms to Israel pass through Shannon Airport without inspection. Our Central Bank grants regulatory approval to Israeli war bonds for sale across the EU.
An Anglo-American audience is a mixed blessing for an Irish artist. Pro: you get their money. Con: their opinions, too. The Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have exploded in popularity since last year’s film about them. They now have less time for Irish-language poetry events in Dublin. They have also attracted international controversy, which they say is a bad-faith reaction to the pro-Palestinian solidarity they have been expressing in Ireland for years without a problem.
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