1. Throwing books in the bin is an attack on intellectual freedom Books are not disposable objects — they are voices, ideas, experiences, and history. When books are dumped in waste bins, the community’s right to knowledge and individuals’ right to think freely are discarded with them. This undermines the spirit of Article 40.6.1 of the Irish Constitution, which protects freedom of expression and the circulation of ideas. 2. What happened sets a dangerous precedent If hundreds of books can be labelled “extremist” and thrown away without any academic or legal assessment, then any institution could dispose of any book it dislikes. Today it is jurisprudence and history; tomorrow it could be philosophy, politics, or literature. 3. The library was a major cultural and educational asset This was not a small collection. It was a multilingual library containing: • 10,000 Arabic books • 4,000 English books • Additional collections in several other languages This is an irreplaceable intellectual heritage. Losing it is a loss for the entire society. 4. Protecting books means protecting cultural diversity Ireland prides itself on being an inclusive and multicultural society. Destroying an entire library sends the opposite message: exclusion instead of inclusion. 5. The incident damages the credibility of cultural and religious institutions Communities expect institutions to safeguard knowledge, not dispose of it in rubbish bins. Restoring trust requires transparency, responsibility, and respect for written heritage.

What happens here will set a precedant for future developments, if we ignore this and let these large corporations win then it will erode nightlife in Ireland.  

The site of the former Drake Inn is a large derelict building in the heart of Finglas Village. It has been derelict for decades. Finglas has a huge need for community buildings that would bring people together and be used by local groups and organisations. Arts and culture events should also be a regular occurrence in Finglas Village, and the area urgently needs more affordable housing. The ‘Drake Inn Site’ could be turned into a community and cultural hub for Finglas, and could also include affordable apartments for people to rent and buy. I have raised this in the Dáil and with Dublin City Council and to date no action has been taken. This is a new opportunity for the people of Finglas to have their voices heard on such an important issue. It's time for long overdue action to be taken on this by the City Council. It's time to CPO the 'Drake Inn' site. 

Her family, authors of this petitition, and those who admired her tremendous body of work and passion for life would like to see her celebrated  as a woman writer, all  too neglected, and as one who embodied the vitality and enthusiasm of older people. She is an important part of the rich cultural heritage of the borough. (We are not looking for donations although this site could do with your help)

For a city that prides itself culturally, Galway is severely lacking a proper music venue. Leisureland, The Black Box and temporary venues like the Arts festival tent and the old airport aren’t good enough to bring acclaimed artists and bands here. Galway needs a proper music venue to accommodate a growing city.

We need to save cultural spaces from closing down. Without action we will lose all these spaces in Dublin.

A new bridge over the River Lee in Cork City has just been opened. It goes from Parnell Place to Wandesford Quay, via Oliver Plunkett Street and Tuckey Street. This is our chance to give recognition to our home legend Roy Keane.  Cork City Council are looking for suggestions so lets make sure they know what the public want. 

Many of those items were taken from various sites in Ireland by Mr Cooke while he was living in Birr at the time. When he died he donated his collection to the British Museum. 

Some students don’t need more motivation. They just need a meal. Right now across Ireland, too many students are studying hungry, skipping meals to pay rent or travel to class. Hunger isn’t just physical. It drains focus, energy, and hope. When we feed students, we’re not just helping them survive college. We’re helping them show up fully, to learn, lead, and become who they’re meant to be. This is why we’re building Crave Christi Student Sponsorship, to make sure no student is left behind because of an empty plate. Join us in turning compassion into action. Together, we can make student hunger impossible to ignore. Because hunger shouldn’t be part of the college experience. Not here. Not now.

Considering the success of the Greystones Sharks which in its two years of existence has over 300 members under the age of 16, a public, free space to play basketball would be a great way for kids and teenagers to be able to engage in healthy activity outside of a formal setting.

The question of Palestine is directly connected to our responsibilities. Ireland’s recognition of Palestinian statehood in May 2024 reflects its commitment to international law, human rights, and the principle of self-determination. When Irish cultural institutions accept funding from entities involved, directly or indirectly, in settlement expansion, weapons manufacture, or surveillance against Palestinian civilians, they contradict these principles and the values of the Irish public who fund them. No Climate Justice Without Social Justice Three of the corporate partners listed on IMMA’s website are problematic: Hennessy    Soho House     BNP Paribas Hennessy’s parent company, LVMH, has been linked to human rights violations and environmental harm, including deforestation, carbon-intensive supply chains, and forced labour.  Owner Bernard Arnault also invests in Israeli cyber security and has been involved in illegal surveillance of activists and journalists. (See also: Paris judge approves 10 million euro settlement with LVMH in spy case) Soho House is a global network of private membership clubs for people in the creative industries. It operates a club in Tel Aviv, Jaffa, which has been documented to displace Palestinian communities. BNP Paribas. Although the partnership ended in 2019, the company remains listed as a sponsor of The Freud Circle on IMMA’s website, lending legitimacy to its practices. BNP Paribas finances fossil fuel projects, invests heavily in companies supporting illegal settlements in Palestine and has purchased shares in Israeli weapons manufacturers. All of this contributes to both climate and human rights harm. Removing misleading or outdated sponsor listings is a necessary step toward transparency and accountability. IMMA Policy Framework Opportunities IMMA’s draft ethical policy is a welcome step, but it must go further by addressing financing as well as manufacturing of weapons, banning ties to settlement infrastructure, and explicitly excluding partners linked to human rights abuses or the war economy. Can A Public Institution Divest? Yes. There are clear precedents in Ireland: Dublin City University was the first Irish university to divest from fossil fuels in 2015, setting a precedent for ethical investment policies in higher education Trinity College Dublin achieved full institutional divestment, proving that large national institutions can successfully navigate such transitions while meeting statutory obligations University Galway has also divested from fossil fuels, and both DCU and GU have divested from all association with Israel Cork City Council and South Dublin County Council have both declared themselves an Apartheid Free Zone, proving that public institutions can act within existing statutory frameworks IMMA’s COMMITMENT Director Annie Fletcher wrote in last year’s Earth Rising Impact Report: “IMMA's role as a catalyst for social progress and cultural innovation is perfectly reflected in Earth Rising. It aligns with our five-year strategy to foster dialogue, inclusion, and creativity while encouraging urgent action to protect the planet and build a more sustainable world.” We welcome this commitment. Now is the time to turn those words into action. Add your voice. Sign the petition below to encourage IMMA to reflect the values of justice, human rights, and environmental responsibility in its partnerships.

OThe Clonlara residing along the R463 would like to request the support of all residents of Clonlara for the following reasons: • Improved accessibility for those of us at these addresses means more economic activity in Clonlara village.   • It would allow us to access bars and restaurants. It would also create a higher footfall for the village shop which has now closed twice previously due to this challenge. It would increase bus service user numbers thus ensuring the service is not cancelled and more bus services may be added. • It would reduce traffic at Clonlara bridge as many would choose to walk and cycle such a short distance rather than sit on the bridge in traffic. • It would bring members from your community who are currently not spending time in the village due to a lack of accessibility across the bridge and create a more unified community.   We would also like to request the support of those who have  accessibility concerns for relatives living in the area. We thank you all for your support on this matter. **Petition update*  On 12.10.2025 this petition was submitted to Clare Coco, Cathal Crowe TD, elected members of Shannon municipal district, Clare ag friendly programme, Rural and Community Development Officer Conor Leyden