{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/690b5df3317c91fd9a7765c9/692e1766713e92aff76d27b9?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Zelenskiy in Ireland, President Connolly's 2018 Syria trip, Herzog Park, and 12 best value restaurants","description":"<p>Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/crime-law/2025/12/02/major-garda-security-operation-in-place-for-zelenskiy-visit-to-dublin/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">arrived in Dublin</a> for his first official visit here. It comes at a fraught time for peace negotiations, with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff visiting the Kremlin at the same time as President Zelenskiy <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/politics/2025/12/01/zelenskiy-to-arrive-at-dublin-airport-tonight-for-first-official-visit-to-ireland/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">meets Irish leaders</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Fresh information has been revealed about <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/politics/2025/12/02/new-detail-emerges-about-president-catherine-connollys-2018-trip-to-syria/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">President Catherine Connolly’s controversial trip to Syria</a> in 2018, when she was photographed in the vicinity of a militia group leader. Colm Keena has been speaking to the Irish activist and Assad supporter who facilitated Clare Daly and Mick Wallace’s trip the year before.</p><p><br></p><p>A number of our reporters are covering the proposal to dename Herzog Park in Dublin’s Rathgar,&nbsp;and remove the reference to former Israeli president Chaim Herzog.</p><p><a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/12/01/who-was-chaim-herzog-the-belfast-born-israeli-president-after-whom-a-dublin-park-is-named/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Ella Sloane</a> profiles the Belfast-born, Dublin-raised man who would go on to be leader. <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/12/01/motion-condemning-martins-interference-in-herzog-park-issue-to-be-heard-at-council-meeting/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Olivia Kelly</a> reports on a stormy meeting of Dublin City Councillors over the proposed denaming. <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/12/02/the-politics-of-renaming-streets-roads-and-public-spaces/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Ronan McGreevy</a> examines similar controversies down through the decades over renaming streets. And the <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2025/12/02/letters-to-the-editor-december-2nd-on-small-landlords-denaming-herzog-park-and-vodafones-christmas-ad/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">letters to the editor</a> feature two sample perspectives on the issue.</p><p><br></p><p>Finding a restaurant that provides decent food, service and ambiance at moderate price is increasingly difficult these days. Our restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave, however, has <a href=\"https://irishtimes.com/food/2025/12/02/twelve-irish-restaurants-where-youll-find-particularly-good-value/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">picked 12 particularly good value</a> eateries from across the country.</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times "}