Affixing the Imprimatur, queer art and blasphemy in Cork.

Wherein the definition of art and who gets the imprimatur?   I find myself at a loss regarding how the problem of blasphemy is being discussed in Cork. There has been no art-historical analysis of queer art, there has been little media reference to the issue of the 2006-2009 Defamation Bill, and discussion on one political site [...]

PEN International Endorses Irish PEN Centre’s Campaign Against Ireland’s Blasphemy Laws

27 April 2011 : from  The Irish PEN website " PEN International strongly supports the repeal of Ireland’s Defamation Act of 2009 and an amendment to the Irish Constitution‘s requirement that blasphemy be prohibited under Irish law. PEN is an organization whose members pledge to promote good understanding and mutual respect between nations and to [...]

‘Strip-Tease’ by Eithne Strong.

Strip-Tease  A poet must talk in riddles if he will not risk himself   for fear of public eye and tongue blaspheming privacies :   a host of leeches sucking parallels carnivores to strip his shivering secrecies   wrapped intricately. he should be silent or speak out.   No one asked for his arbitrary offerings. [...]

Irish PEN , Urgent Need for Constitutional Referendum on Blasphemy In Ireland

I am linking here to the Irish PEN statement on Ireland's need for a Constitutional Referendum on Blasphemy. Readers of this blog know that there is a link to the International PEN Statement on Defamation of Religions on the Site, and some links to the 2006-2009 Defamation Bill. I am adding here two links from [...]

Anniversary of Ireland’s blasphemy criminalisation, Incentivisation.

The 2006-2009 Defamation Bill : The first anniversary of the Blasphemy Criminalisation in Ireland occurs January 1st 2011. The 2006-2009 Defamation Bill in Ireland is rather unique, it was railroaded through the Dáil in summer of 2009 through a system called the guillotine vote, together with a  majority vote by the two Government parties, Fianna [...]