Norma Burke Media

09/12/2020

Delighted to attend the launch of the launch of the D8 Social Enterprise Strategy and Survey this morning with the
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys. Fantastic to see so much support for social enterprise from the Government and Dublin City Council. Also great to hear from a number of inspiring social enterprises improving our communities in D8 such as My Streets Ireland and Dublin Food Co-op, Kilmainham. Onwards to a year of recovery and social change from social entrepreneurs!

03/12/2020

IN PICTURES: some street photography during lockdown in Dublin.

22/11/2020

IRELAND: I wrote earlier in the week to acting Editor John Burns of the Irish edition of The Times and The Sunday Times, Ireland about the below article on the disproportionate policing of Irish women. I advised him that I am submitting a complaint to the Press Ombudsman under principle 8 of the code for stirring up prejudice based on gender.

He said that he would publish a letter with my views in today's edition, however, it has not appeared. I also asked John if he would cover the Irish Council for Civil Liberties letter to the Garda Commissioner on this matter and he advised that he did not disclose the paper's content in advance. Today's edition did not cover the ICCL letter, which you can read below: https://www.iccl.ie/iccl-letter-on-garda-profiling-of-protesters/

07/12/2019

1917 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Saw the latest Sam Mendes movie this week and it's amazing. It's based on a fragment of a story his grandfather (who fought in WWI) had told him about an ordinary soldier sent to the front lines to deliver a message.

Cinematically, it's incredible. The whole movie is filmed as one continous shot, which completely immerses you in the action of the film (I think I spotted three actual cuts but may have missed some cleverly hidden ones). The immediacy this gives means you won't have much adrenaline left by the end - I jumped, shrieked & hid in my jumper throughout!

As it's in real time, we follow the soldiers' every moment. So as well as being in the midst of the hairier scenes, we also pause when they do, such as stopping to inspect an orchard of chopped down cherry trees (which also sets up a beautiful poetic moment later in the film) or listening to a song sung by soldiers in the woods before they have to go into battle. Which gives it an unusual Hollywood intercut with Eric Rohmer vibe.

The film does feature some well known faces such as Colin Firth & Benedict Cumberbatch, but they are not in star roles and the glory goes to the less well known lead actors, who are both excellent, in particular George MacKay.

The futility of war can't be escaped in this film, but the incredible bravery of ordinary men is raised to the extraordinary. Go see it! Out Jan 10th...

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chap...

07/12/2019

John Pilger's new film THE DIRTY WAR ON THE NHS is on at UK cinemas now & will also have a screening Monday online between 6pm-10pm...

The NHS, the last bastion of a truly people’s institution without which so many of us would stumble and fall and perhaps not survive. The film is certainly a tribute to the NHS; but, above all, it’s a warning. Under our noses, often secretly and deceptively, our National Health Service is being ...

01/11/2019

SORRY WE MISSED YOU: what you pay & what something actually costs may not occur to you when you buy online. This new Ken Loach film highlights the difference, shining a light on the human cost of the parcel delivery business & bogus self-employment. Necessary & moving. Go see it! On general release today ⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://t.co/52GqCxRzSJ

IN CINEMAS SOON. From director Ken Loach, writer Paul Laverty and the award-winning team behind I, DANIEL BLAKE, comes SORRY WE MISSED YOU - a powerful explo...

12/10/2019

THE DAY SHALL COME, a new film from Chris Morris is out this weekend. A blistering black comedy based on a hundred true stories. Brilliant & timely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

28/09/2019

Saw JOKER this week. A virtuoso & Oscar worthy performance from Joaquin Phoenix. The film is bleak but beautiful & captivating from start to finish. Out on October 4th in the UK & Ireland. Definitely go see it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

30/06/2019

IN PICTURES: Only 30% of cyclists in Dublin are women. Earlier in the week, , a group of suffragette women cyclists set up in 2018 to mark one hundred years of women's suffrage led the Velo City Parade. This was held as part of Velo City 2019, a global conference on cycling being held in Dublin & thousands of cyclists took part. Hopefully some more women were inspired to get on their bikes!

22/06/2019

IN PICTURES: 'Art in the Garden', a sculpture & art exhibition with 14 works by Salvador Dali as well as many modern masters including Banksy, Picasso, Miro, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon & Andy Warhol & work by Ireland's leading contemporary artists is on until July 1st in the magnificent surrounds of The Culloden Estate & Spa, Northern Ireland. The exhibition with over 200 works is in association with Gormleys Fine Art & some of the work has been commissioned especially for the event. The event is free of charge & has complimentary tours each day at 2pm, 4pm & 6pm but do treat yourself to afternoon tea or an overnight stay if you really want to spoil yourself. Overlooking Belfast Lough in the Holywood Hills, the Culloden Estate & Spa hotel was named Luxury Hotel of the Year at this year's Irish Hotel Awards & is 6 miles or 10 minutes by train from the beautiful & historic city centre of Belfast. Booking 72 hours in advance online for train or half an hour in advance for bus you can get fares for as little as £20 return from Dublin if you book with Translink & from London it's a short flight with Easyjet or Flybe. Check out Discover Northern Ireland for more info and to see more of what beautiful Northern Ireland has to offer. Some pics from my visit here...

13/04/2019

Thanks so much to RTÉ, especially the Documentary on One, RTÉ Radio 1 team for hosting the 2019 International Feature Conference (IFC) of the European Broadcasting Union over four days in the beautiful surrounds of the Castlemartyr Resort in Cork. Such inspirational & thought provoking audio & talks & so many enlightening conversations with audio producers from all around the world - China, India, Canada & Australia as well as of course many European countries including Ireland. With a day out to Fortress Spike Island, Cork & the Jameson Distillery Midleton thanks to Failte Ireland too! Here's a little vid...

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