Tweet Public Policy & Sport | Accountant | @UL Grad | Sports Fanatic | Views my own, RT's ≠ endorsement.
Westport, Ireland
Joined January 2011
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Enda Costello retweeted
Today Israeli authorities barred me and other European elected representatives from entering the West Bank to meet Palestinian students and civil society leaders, as part of a @ProgIntl delegation.
We knew that by crossing into the occupied Palestinian territories, we risked being detained, interrogated and turned away by Israeli authorities. And that, alas, is exactly what happened.
For more than eight hours, we were held, interrogated and made to feel as though we had done something wrong simply by attempting to enter.
The simple truth is we had done nothing wrong. We went to show our support for the Palestinian people and highlight the terrible injustice and violence being perpetrated against them. We want to ensure that people back home do not look away from the reality of what is happening.
Ultimately, we went to show solidarity. But we left with an even greater determination to speak out. We will not be silenced, and we will not look away. None of us should.
Enda Costello retweeted
A horrific Russian strike in the Kharkiv region. A “shahed” struck people directly – in a park near an ordinary café. Pure atrocity. Six people were killed, including children. A little girl was killed in a stroller – her name was Angelina, she was just over a year old, born in August 2025… Her mother’s name was Inna. She died in the hospital… Another girl who was killed was 11 years old. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Another 14 people were injured, including six more children.
I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine under these circumstances and helps us shoot down “shaheds,” shoot down missiles, and stop Russian assaults. These are horrific photos, but behind them are shattered lives and the truth about this war. Lives must be protected. Ukraine needs air defense. You can't think about making money with Russia as long as it continues its asinine war. We ask that sanctions on Russia stay in place as long as the killings continue. We ask America to be strong, and we ask it to apply the Lindsey Graham law. We ask Europe to continue its support. We ask that everything possible be done to bring peace and guarantee security. Ukraine wants peace. It is Russia that has insisted on continuing the killing all this time. The world has enough strength to stop the war. That strength must finally be used – against the murderers.
Enda Costello retweeted
She was only four when Trump said he would end the war in 24 hours. Just turned six when Musk decided to join Trump on Putin’s side and help the Kremlin killers murder her
Enda Costello retweeted
Clearly this needs saying.
Unionists opposing a Republican parade on the Shankill Rd does not destroy the idea of the north remaining in the UK. In fact, those unionists would be joined by most nationalists in vehemently opposing such sectarian baiting nonsense.
Today is the day that any concept of a “New Ireland” died. The lies, spin and promises. It was always nonsense, and that had been laid bare.
I never want any discord. I want to build a brighter future for Northern Ireland - for all of us. I work to that every day. I believe every person in this place I serve sees that.
When others, including the First Minister and her party, have behaved with utter recklessness and disregard for stability and our institutions, I believe in responsibility.
I have always embraced those who are different from who I am, and endeavoured to show respect.
I have witnessed the tradition I come from treated with such utter contempt and hatred.
“Little room, Great Hatred” that is what I’ve seen. That is what we have all saw with our own eyes.
I come from the Orange tradition. I am deeply proud of the warmth, compassion, depth and richness of that tradition. All of our traditions come from particular aspects or “sects”. By its very nature, they are “of “something and not “of” something else. They are exclusionary by the very nature of it pertaining to the particular tradition, beliefs or views of some, but it is not exclusionary by experience or engagement. Every religious order or community is exclusionary by doctrine, but not by outreach. We all deserve respect. That respect and tolerance threatens no one.
It is hard to believe I have to explain the basics of this so many years after the principles of the Glorious Revolution and our human rights and civil rights frameworks, but here we are.
I have been deeply, deeply offended by the way my traditions and culture have been described, treated and expressed.
The behaviour, and jubilance tastelessly and appalling shown by some tonight only shines a light on their intolerance, hatred and ignorance.
I will never be goaded into punishing the people of Northern Ireland for the reckless of Sinn Fein.
But I am disgusted and furious of those who have played to their base and not for what is for everyone.
In this election you have a choice - choose those who want Northern Ireland to work, and those who do all they can to make it so.
Enda Costello retweeted
As the conflict in Portadown continues, I urge all parties to engage in good-faith negotiations to reach an agreement that builds on the extraordinary progress made on the island of Ireland over the last three decades.
The brave residents of Garvaghy Road have already borne the burden of this dispute. The longer it persists, the greater the risk of reopening old wounds.
Let's uphold the principles embodied in the Good Friday Agreement and focus on building a shared future, rather than returning to the sectarian divisions of the past.
Enda Costello retweeted
This is a consequential moment on the island of Ireland.
The Orange Order parade represents a return to the divisions of the past. After 28 years of progress thanks to the Good Friday Agreement, we have come too far to turn back now.
Today, I joined my colleagues in the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus in writing to the British Secretary of State Bryant, calling on the Government of the United Kingdom to cancel the Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road.
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
The letter states that the United States is a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, but the agreement was reached between the UK and Irish governments and Northern Ireland political parties with no such US role or designation.
gov.uk/government/pub…
peacemaker.un.org/sites/default/…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Frid…
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/2/c…
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
Enda Costello retweeted
The decision by the Parades Commission to allow a march down the Garvaghy Road was in stark contrast to the one it arrived at just three months ago, and to the ones it had made for the past 28 years. rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/092…
Enda Costello retweeted
I join my Congressional Colleagues and Irish America in urging the British Secretary of State to cancel the Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road, and ensure a peaceful resolution to the escalating situation.
Allowing this parade to proceed has resulted in wounds being ripped open that are yet to be fully healed. The community’s response has been expectedly visceral and emotional.
For 28 years the Good Friday Agreement has been a model of peace and prosperity for the world to celebrate. We cannot and must not go back.
The decision to allow the parade to move forward must be rejected and reversed.
abcnews.com/International/wi…
The Parades Commission set 8am as the deadline to march down the Garvaghy Road.
That deadline has now long passed.
On what grounds is the PSNI still forcing this parade through a minority community against its wishes?
If the PSNI told the Parades Commission they had no information indicating the Garvaghy Road parade would result in disorder, why were reinforcements brought in from Scotland and elsewhere to deal with the very real prospect of disorder in Portadown?
That deserves an explanation
The courts decided it was not their place to override the Parades Commission, who in turn have clearly made an error in judgement regarding the Garvaghy Road. The commission needs to intervene, rescind their decision. And let peace return and tension dissipate.
Enda Costello retweeted
A lot of you from outside Ireland are probably hearing about the Garvaghy Road and wondering what all the fuss is about.
1998 -
After the parade was banned from marching on the Garvaghy Rd, ten Catholic churches were set on fire across Ulster in one night.
In the following days, loyalists attacked Catholic homes, schools and businesses. Multiple houses were petrol-bombed, resulting in the murder of 3 young boys, the Quinn brothers. Their home was targeted because their mother was Catholic.
She mother woke to the sound of her children screaming in fear and the house full of smoke. Sadly the boys, Jason, Mark and Richard, did not make it out.
Garfield Gilmour was sentenced to life in prison after he admitted to driving three members of a UVF unit to the house, but later that was reduced to manslaughter.
Johnny McKay and brothers Raymond and Ivan Parke were named by Gilmour as the killers, but were never charged because of a lack of evidence.
In the days following the murders, loyalist bands defied orders not to play music while marching passed the home of the Quinn boys grandmother.
Tonight, a court overturned an earlier ruling banning the parade from marching on the Garvaghy Road, crowds have gathered and confrontation now seems inevitable with that march set to go ahead early Sunday morning.
The courts allowing this march to go ahead is absolute madness!
Enda Costello retweeted
I’ve been lucky to have some amazing moments in my career and today was another. A day I won’t forget. ☘️
Enda Costello retweeted
This is not Andy Burnham's call to make. No British Prime Minister has any right to rule out a unity referendum.
The Good Friday Agreement is clear: the people of the island of Ireland alone must determine their own future.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out calling a referendum on Irish unification, describing a border poll as "off the table".
He was speaking during his first official visit to Northern Ireland as prime minister.
Read more here: bbc.in/45ML13X
Enda Costello retweeted
This image of a football match in Gaza was removed from a sports photography festival in France, following Israeli pressure.
Enda Costello retweeted
Midwest Radio, the last two minutes of commentary before & after the final whistle.
#Mayo #AllIreland – at Dublin City, Ireland
Enda Costello retweeted
Once the new 10c reduction comes into affect tonight, this will bring prices in Ireland down this table further. Price of oil going up is negating that, however.
Worth noting that the average wage in Ireland is 54% above the EU average wage though. (ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/pr…)
🛢️ Diesel price per litre across Europe as of April 9th 2026
🇳🇱 Netherlands: €2.58
🇩🇰 Denmark: €2.56
🇩🇪 Germany: €2.43
🇧🇪 Belgium: €2.31
🇫🇮 Finland: €2.26
🇫🇷 France: €2.23
🇦🇹 Austria: €2.23
🇸🇪 Sweden: €2.20
🇱🇺 Luxembourg: €2.19
🇱🇹 Lithuania: €2.18
🇵🇹 Portugal: €2.13
🇮🇪 Ireland: €2.10
🇮🇹 Italy: €2.09
🇬🇷 Greece: €2.07
🇱🇻 Latvia: €2.06
🇪🇪 Estonia: €2.03
🇷🇴 Romania: €2.02
🇨🇿 Czechia: €1.98
🇭🇷 Croatia: €1.87
🇨🇾 Cyprus: €1.84
🇪🇸 Spain: €1.81
🇵🇱 Poland: €1.80
🇸🇮 Slovenia: €1.77
🇸🇰 Slovakia: €1.75
🇧🇬 Bulgaria: €1.70
🇭🇺 Hungary: €1.67
The most expensive diesel? Netherlands 🇳🇱
The cheapest? Hungary 🇭🇺
Source: Eurostat
Enda Costello retweeted
Its frightening thinking about the media environment a lot of these protesters exist in. Their opinions and feelings come from online hysteria mixed with half truths that give them revolutionary complexes that makes them completely impossible to engage with
#fuelProtest