We’re excited to hear about the official launch of Outpost, a blog on Irish-American relations by our colleagues at University College Dublin’s Clinton Institute. Martin, Geoff and team explain:

The purpose of this blog is to offer dynamic and wide-ranging coverage of American politics, culture and society from Irish and European perspectives. Ireland is situated in an unique position to foster a greater understanding of America’s role in the world, it’s relationship with Europe and how the United States is perceived by both the media and public.

Working within this frame Outpost will publish innovative analysis concerning significant diplomatic, economic and cultural developments. This will include expert commentary on the continuing US presence in Northern Ireland. As Ireland enters a new economic framework traditional discourses require reassesment. The Outpost will consistently address shifting paradigms in economics and politics in an innovative and engaging manner.

Recent posts include reports on the closure of Guantánamo, Obama’s healthcare plans, the Irish peace process, and PIGS. Visit the Outpost.

Tags: Clinton Institute, Ireland, Irish-American relations, Outpost, UCD

Earlier Updates and Links to Posts: Obama on Top of the World (25 January)

5 p.m. We’re off for some downtime. Back in the morning with overnight updates, including the latest of Obama envoy George Mitchell’s first trip to the Middle East.

3:30 p.m. Barack, We Have a Problem. Our news this morning (2:45 a.m. and 6 a.m.) was on the emerging “third country” solution for Guantanamo ex-detainees. The meeting of the 27 European Union foreign ministers, however, has failed to agree a unified approach. The French-led proposal to take up to 60 detainees has been blocked or undermined by Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The cheekiest excuse of all came from British Foreign Minister David Miliban who said that, as Britain had taken back nine of its citizens and three of its permanent residents, it had already made its “significant contribution”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Austria, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Bolivia, Camp X-Ray, Center for American Progress, Climate Change, David Miliband, Dennis Ross, Detainees, Djibouti, European Union, Evo Morales, France, Fuel Efficiency, George Mitchell, Germany, Global Warning, Greenhouse Gases, Guantanamo Bay, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Ireland, Javier Solana, Joe Biden, Kyoto Protocol, Maulana Fazlullah, Missile Strikes, Mujahedin-e-Khalq, National Council of Resistance of Iran, New York Times, Nouri al-Maliki, People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, Portugal, Richard Holbrooke, Somalia, Status of Forces Agreement, Susan Rice, Switzerland, Taliban, Terrorism, The Netherlands, Todd Stern

Readers in Dublin are buzzing* over the news of the not-quite-smash hit from Limerick group Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys (aha — even a-not-that-side joke with the name), “There’s No One as Irish as Barack O’Bama”.

*Our inside source in Dublin corrects us: “The word ‘buzzing’ should actually be ‘embarrassed and ashamed’.” We apologise for our initial error.

We’ve snared the music video for you — and for anyone at Conservapedia who wants to set the record straight:

Tags: Barack Obama, Ireland, The Corrigan Brothers