Irish Examiner view: Initiative to reduce drug harm is sound festival advice

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland body articulated their position well: 'It is, of course, safer not to use drugs at all. However, we know that some people may choose to use substances at festivals.'

The recent hot spell has been notable for several reasons — its rarity, for one — but it has also served to change our perspective. For many, the sight of the sun on several consecutive days was a definitive sign of summer’s arrival.

A different season means different behaviour. Already, the National Parks & Wildlife Service has appealed to dog owners to keep their animals on leads at a variety of beaches around Dublin. Many of those locations are protected by the EU habitats and birds directives and the appeal is focused on keeping dogs away from nesting birds, but there is a broader point to be made here also.

The conduct of some visitors to our beauty spots leaves a good deal to be desired. A loose dog may foul a beach or attack a bird, but its behaviour can at least be regulated by its owner. The same cannot be said of those who litter the countryside, and beaches in particular. People who leave rubbish after them know perfectly well that they are behaving selfishly but continue to do so regardless.

Another activity closely associated with the summer is the festival season, with thousands of young people gearing up to see their favourite musicians at a variety of outdoor venues in the coming months. As reported here by Cormac O’Keeffe, however, a survey by a dance music magazine found that nine out of 10 respondents said drug use occurs within their peer group while at such festivals.

It is encouraging to see the HSE and the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland have come together in a harm- reduction initiative to advise festivalgoers on the strength of such drugs. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland body articulated their position well: “It is, of course, safer not to use drugs at all. However, we know that some people may choose to use substances at festivals.

“Small decisions like drinking water, not mixing substances, and looking after our friends can make a big difference to staying safe.”

Everyone is looking forward to the summer, but looking after each other is a valid message all year round.

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Cyber disruption of Carlow emails

Readers will be well aware by now of the frightening situation in Carlow earlier this week, where many schools shut down after receiving emails threatening school shootings or bomb attacks.

At the time of writing, investigations were continuing; it is understood that gardaí believe the emails were routed through another country.

It is not the first time schools have been targeted in this way in Europe. For instance, hundreds of schools in Czechia and Slovakia received bomb threats and were shut down two years ago, and the Czech intelligence service was quick to blame Russia for orchestrating the threats.

Last year, threats were made against schools in Tallinn in Estonia, on social media: The Estonian security services said the threats were part of an operation aimed at creating fear in the country.

The situation in Carlow certainly seem to fit that pattern — threats issued to schools, apparently at random, which create a climate of confusion and uncertainty.

Another common thread is the transnational element to these threats. Just as the Czech intelligence service attributed the threats to Russia, the garda focus on an external source for the Carlow threats is also significant.

In that context, it is reassuring that the Defence Forces’ cyber command unit is attending CyCon, the International Conference on Cyber Conflict.

An evaluation of the threats and benefits of AI will feature at the event — which, coincidentally, is being held in Tallinn — as will dangers posed to critical infrastructure from cyberattacks as well as Russian cyber interference in elections. The organisations represented at the event will also discuss the need for closer co-operation between militaries.

Clearly there is a growing need for this level of international co-operation. If threats such as this week’s in Carlow can originate outside the country, then it follows that pursuing such threats will require assistance from other jurisdictions.

Well said, CMAT

Irish singer CMAT, real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, has hit out at online criticism of her appearance following her performance at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival recently.

In an Instagram post, she said she had had a “difficult” few days after performing at the music festival because of online comments about her weight, adding: “It is literally so boring for me, a gorgeous genius, to keep having to yap on about how horribly I am treated because of my body.”

The Meath native has been targeted online in the past. Two years ago she was also criticised for her appearance at the same festival.

On that occasion, the BBC had to disable comments on a social media post of her performance, and the broadcaster had to do the same this week, though it has not had to disable comments about other performers at the festival.

This week, she was supported by the BBC, which stated: “We fully support CMAT and condemn any toxic commentary aimed at her.”

After the criticism in 2024 she wrote songs based on that experience which featured on her album Euro-Country, which was released late last year.

She received the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Album for Euro-Country just last week. Revenge on faceless online cowards is a dish best served cold.

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