Breda O'Brien: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 11:53, 31 January 2014 editTbrambo (talk \| contribs)209 edits →Homophobia / RTÉ Censorship Controversy ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 15:01, 6 December 2024 edit undoSkynxnex (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers26,133 editsm Cleaned up using AutoEd \| fixes: curly quotes
(182 intermediate revisions by 76 users not shown)
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{Short description\|Irish newspaper columnist and Catholic conservative pundit}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=~~October~~ ~~2013~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2024}}
	'''Breda O'Brien''' (born in 1962) is an Irish teacher, journalist and ]. She founded ] of Ireland in 1992 and is a leader in the Irish ] movement. She writes a column for '']''.
			{{Infobox person
			\|name = Breda O'Brien
			\|nationality = Irish
			\|occupation = Journalist, Teacher
		⚫	\|alma_mater = ]
		⚫	}}

			'''Breda O'Brien''' (born 1962) is an Irish teacher and columnist, writing a weekly column for '']''. O'Brien is a frequent spokesperson for ]-based views on political issues such as opposition to ] and ]. She founded the Irish chapter of ] in 1992.<ref>{{cite news\|title='Feminists for Life' to lobby\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|date=24 September 1992\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1992/0924/Pg004.html\|first=Mary\|last=Cummins\|accessdate=28 July 2016\|page=4}}</ref>

	==Early life and education==		==Early life and education==
	Born in ], ], O'Brien was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Dungarvan and later at the ], Dublin~~. In 1987 she was awarded a diploma in audio visual production from the Crex Avex~~, ], ~~France. In 1988, she was awarded~~ a ~~diploma in video production from Lumen Video Production School, ], ]~~.<ref name="bourke">{{cite book \|editor-last=Bourke \|editor-first=Angela \|title=The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing: Irish Women's Writing and Traditions, Volume 5 \|publisher=NYU Press \|year=2002 \|isbn=9780814799079}}</ref>		Born in ], ], O'Brien was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Dungarvan and later at the ], Dublin, qualifying as a teacher.

			==Career==
	== RTÉ Censorship / Homophobia Controversy ==
		⚫	O'Brien taught English and Religion, at ], a public Catholic girls' school, between 1983 and 1987. She later returned to this post in 1992, and has remained there since. She has worked as a video producer and communications trainer in the Catholic Communications Centre (founded by the ]), ], Dublin from 1988 to 1991. She worked as a researcher for ] from 1991 to 1992. Her career as a columnist began with '']'' from 1997 to 2000 and continued with ''The Irish Times''.<ref name="bourke">{{cite book \|editor-last=Bourke \|editor-first=Angela \|title=The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing: Irish Women's Writing and Traditions, Volume 5 \|publisher=NYU Press \|year=2002 \|isbn=9780814799079}}</ref>
	On January 11th, 2014 Irish drag performer ] a.k.a. Rory O'Neill, appeared on ] with ]. Comments made by Rory on the topic of ], during the interview, mentioned individuals involved in Irish journalism, including Ms. O'Brien, and the conservative lobby group The ]. Mr. O'Neill's view was that those mentioned displayed homophobic behaviour due to their opposition to homosexual equality on issues like gay marriage and gay adoption. Those mentioned, in-turn, threatened ] and Mr. O'Neill with legal action.<ref> Irish Central retrieved January 26, 2014</ref> RTÉ subsequently removed that section of the interview from their online archive.<ref name="indo-tsns">{{cite news\|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/rte-cuts-part-of-show-after-legal-complaint-from-waters-29921034.html\|title=RTE cuts part of show after legal complaint from Waters\|last=Byrne\|first=Brian\|publisher=]\|date=16 January 2014\|accessdate=16 January 2014}}</ref> The legality of Mr. Waters' display of support for censorship was subsequently questioned since he was a member of the ].<ref> retrieved January 26, 2014</ref> Two weeks after the initial incident on The Saturday Night Show, John Waters resigned from his post at the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.<ref> retrieved January 26, 2014</ref> There was further comment on the lack of coverage of the event by ] who regularly publish Waters' articles.<ref> retrieved January 26, 2014</ref>

			O'Brien is a patron of the ], a conservative Catholic pressure group,<ref name="mothers marry daughters">{{cite news\|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Should-we-let-mothers-marry-their-daughters-conservative-Breda-OBrien-asks-on-marriage-referendum-.html#\|title="Should we let mothers marry their daughters?" conservative Breda O'Brien asks on marriage referendum - IrishCentral.com\|last=Kayla Hertz\|work=IrishCentral\|accessdate=2 March 2015}}</ref> and appears regularly in the Irish media as a contributor, supporting the teachings of the ].
	On the January 25th episode of the RTÉ Saturday Night Show Brendan O'Connor issued a controversial public apology to Ms. O'Brien on behalf of RTÉ for comments made by Rory O'Neill in the interview held two weeks previously. Even though RTÉ censored Mr. O'Neill's statements from their online archive, Mr. O'Connor ended his RTÉ apology with the contradictory insistence that "It is an important part of democratic debate that people must be able to hold dissenting views on controversial issues."<ref> retrieved January 26th, 2014</ref> The fact that the Irish State broadcaster (RTÉ) censored a citizens opinions, and then was rumoured to have offered compensation to those promoting the censorship, became a controversial issue, discussed by members of government.<ref> retrieved January 30th, 2014</ref><ref> retrieved January 30th, 2014</ref><ref> retrieved January 30th, 2014</ref><ref> retrieved January 31st, 2014</ref>

			In her ''Irish Times'' column, she has expressed her opposition to abortion in all circumstances, including rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality,<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/premium/loginpage?destination=http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/despite-some-awful-dilemmas-abortion-is-not-an-option-1.727607\|title=Despite some awful dilemmas, abortion is not an option\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|location = Dublin\|newspaper=]\|access-date=27 September 2016}}</ref> and to same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2003/0802/Pg012.html\|title=First casualty of sexuality debate is balance\|first=Breda\|last=O'Brien\|date=2 August 2003\|accessdate=28 July 2016\|page=12}}</ref>
	==Later life==
⚫	O'Brien taught at ], a public Catholic girls' school, between 1983 and 1987. She later returned to this post in 1992, and has remained there since. She has worked as a video producer and communications trainer in the Catholic Communications Centre (founded by the ]), ], Dublin from 1988 to 1991. She worked as a researcher for ] from 1991 to 1992. Her career as a columnist began with '']'' from 1997 to 2000 and continued with ''The Irish Times''.<ref name="bourke"/>

			Her stance on ] has changed. Initially opposed to them in 2008,<ref name="it-12-july-2008">{{cite news\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/same-sex-relationships-no-substitute-for-marriage-1.944466\|access-date=27 September 2016\|date=12 July 2008\|page=14\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|title=Same-sex relationships no substitute for marriage}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|date=5 July 2008\|access-date=27 September 2016\|page=14\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|title=Activists using 'homophobia' label as bullying tactic\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/activists-using-homophobia-label-as-bullying-tactic-1.942974}}</ref> and 2010<ref>{{cite news\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/upside-down-world-if-church-denied-freedom-of-speech-1.683562\|date=26 June 2010\|accessdate=27 September 2016\|title=Upside-down world if church denied freedom of speech\|page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|accessdate=27 September 2016\|date=6 Feb 2010\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/genuinely-tolerant-society-will-not-be-a-cold-house-for-religion-1.618591\|title=Genuinely tolerant society will not be a cold house for religion\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|page=16}}</ref> by 2015, in the run up to the ], she claimed to be in support of them.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Ryan\|first1=Órla\|title='Should we allow mothers to marry their daughters?'\|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/marriage-referendum-1895782-Jan2015/\|accessdate=16 February 2015\|agency=]\|date=22 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode\|title=Breda O'Brien - interviewed on the Marian Finucane Show\|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/marian-finucane/programmes/2014/0222/506035-marian-finucane-saturday-22-february-2014/?clipid=1424181\|accessdate=16 February 2015\|series=Marian Finucane Show\|station=]\|date=22 February 2014}}</ref>
	O'Brien is a patron of the ], a conservative Irish ],<ref name="iona-patrons">, the ], retrieved 10 April 2009</ref> and appears regularly in the Irish media as a contributor, supporting the teachings of the ].

			{{Blockquote\|text=Marriage is already under assault in every way from heterosexuals. Do we wish to redefine it in an even more radical way? ... It is never pleasant to take a stance like this, and it must be a thousand times less pleasant to be the person who is told that important values like equality must take second place to the common good.\|author=Breda O'Brien\|source=<ref name="it-12-july-2008" />}}
	O'Brien supported the right to Muslim women to wear the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/0531/1212156441179.html\|title=It is better to avoid making hijab a major issue\|last=O'Brien\|first=Breda\|date=31 May 2008\|location = Dublin\|work=The Irish Times \|date=5 May 2008\|publisher=]\|accessdate=7 May 2009}}</ref>

			O'Brien, along with other members of the Iona Institute took legal action against RTE and Panti Bliss for being labelled as homophobes for campaigning against marriage equality. This was the impetus for Panti's Noble Call speech.

			She is married, and has four children who have been ].<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/defending-the-right-to-home-educate-children-1.1891594\|title=Defending the right to home educate children\|newspaper=The Irish Times\|date=9 August 2014\|first=Breda\|last=O'Brien\|accessdate=12 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/profile/breda-o-brien-7.2276464\|title=Breda O'Brien\|publisher=The Irish Times\|accessdate=12 July 2016}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==
	* ]		* ]
		⚫	* ]
			* ]
	* ]		* ]
			* ]
⚫	* ]
			* ]

	==References==		==References==
Line 27:		Line 41:
	<!--==External links==-->		<!--==External links==-->

			{{Abortion in the Republic of Ireland}}
	{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
			{{Authority control}}
	\| NAME = Obrien, Breda

	\| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
	\| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
	\| DATE OF BIRTH = 1962
	\| PLACE OF BIRTH =
	\| DATE OF DEATH =
	\| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫	}}
	{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Breda}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Breda}}
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
		⚫	]
			]
			]
			]
	]		]
			]
	]		]
	]		]
⚫	]
⚫	]
	]		]
			]

Latest revision as of 15:01, 6 December 2024

Irish newspaper columnist and Catholic conservative pundit

Breda O'Brien
Nationality	Irish
Alma mater	Mater Dei Institute of Education
Occupation(s)	Journalist, Teacher

Breda O'Brien (born 1962) is an Irish teacher and columnist, writing a weekly column for The Irish Times. O'Brien is a frequent spokesperson for Catholic-based views on political issues such as opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. She founded the Irish chapter of Feminists for Life in 1992.

Early life and education

Born in Dungarvan, County Waterford, O'Brien was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Dungarvan and later at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin, qualifying as a teacher.

Career

O'Brien taught English and Religion, at Muckross Park College, a public Catholic girls' school, between 1983 and 1987. She later returned to this post in 1992, and has remained there since. She has worked as a video producer and communications trainer in the Catholic Communications Centre (founded by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference), Booterstown, Dublin from 1988 to 1991. She worked as a researcher for RTÉ from 1991 to 1992. Her career as a columnist began with The Sunday Business Post from 1997 to 2000 and continued with The Irish Times.

O'Brien is a patron of the Iona Institute, a conservative Catholic pressure group, and appears regularly in the Irish media as a contributor, supporting the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In her Irish Times column, she has expressed her opposition to abortion in all circumstances, including rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality, and to same-sex marriage.

Her stance on civil partnerships has changed. Initially opposed to them in 2008, and 2010 by 2015, in the run up to the Irish marriage equality referendum, she claimed to be in support of them.

Marriage is already under assault in every way from heterosexuals. Do we wish to redefine it in an even more radical way? ... It is never pleasant to take a stance like this, and it must be a thousand times less pleasant to be the person who is told that important values like equality must take second place to the common good.
— Breda O'Brien,

O'Brien, along with other members of the Iona Institute took legal action against RTE and Panti Bliss for being labelled as homophobes for campaigning against marriage equality. This was the impetus for Panti's Noble Call speech.

She is married, and has four children who have been home-schooled.

References

Cummins, Mary (24 September 1992). "'Feminists for Life' to lobby". The Irish Times. p. 4. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
Bourke, Angela, ed. (2002). The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing: Irish Women's Writing and Traditions, Volume 5. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814799079.
Kayla Hertz. ""Should we let mothers marry their daughters?" conservative Breda O'Brien asks on marriage referendum - IrishCentral.com". IrishCentral. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
O'Brien, Breda. "Despite some awful dilemmas, abortion is not an option". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
O'Brien, Breda (2 August 2003). "First casualty of sexuality debate is balance". The Irish Times. p. 12. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ O'Brien, Breda (12 July 2008). "Same-sex relationships no substitute for marriage". The Irish Times. p. 14. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
O'Brien, Breda (5 July 2008). "Activists using 'homophobia' label as bullying tactic". The Irish Times. p. 14. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
O'Brien, Breda (26 June 2010). "Upside-down world if church denied freedom of speech". The Irish Times. p. 14. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
O'Brien, Breda (6 February 2010). "Genuinely tolerant society will not be a cold house for religion". The Irish Times. p. 16. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
Ryan, Órla (22 January 2014). "'Should we allow mothers to marry their daughters?'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
"Breda O'Brien - interviewed on the Marian Finucane Show". Marian Finucane Show. 22 February 2014. RTÉ Radio 1. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
O'Brien, Breda (9 August 2014). "Defending the right to home educate children". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
"Breda O'Brien". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

Abortion in the Republic of Ireland

Legislation

Constitutional amendments

Eighth Amendment (1983)
Thirteenth Amendment (Travel) (1992)
Fourteenth Amendment (Information) (1992)
Thirty-sixth Amendment (Repeal of Eighth Amendment) (2018)

Failed amendments

Case law

X Case (1992)
Services outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies Act 1995
C Case (1997)
D v Ireland (2006)
A, B and C v Ireland (2010)
PP v. HSE (2014)
Mellet v Ireland (2016)

Advocacy

Pro-abortion rights	Abortion Rights Campaign Amnesty International Ireland Colm O'Gorman Irish Family Planning Association Ivana Bacik Janet O'Sullivan Kate O'Connell Mary Robinson Migrants and Ethnic-minorities for Reproductive Justice Peter Boylan Ruth Coppinger Termination for Medical Reasons Together for Yes
Anti-abortion rights	Breda O'Brien Cora Sherlock David Quinn Every Life Counts Family & Life Iona Institute Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Joe McCarroll John Bruton John McGuirk Justin Barrett Maria Steen Niamh Uí Bhriain Patricia Casey Pro Life Campaign Pro-Life Amendment Campaign Youth Defence

Individuals

Categories:

Latest revision as of 15:01, 6 December 2024

Early life and education

Career

See also

References