Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.</s>Ireland has protested against Venezuela’s seizure of a paper mill from Smurfit Kappa, the Dublin-based FTSE 100 company that is Europe’s biggest cardboard box maker.

The Venezuelan authorities took control of Smurfit Kappa’s plant last month after a state agency charged the company with price speculation and destabilising the economy. The government also detained two Smurfit managers.

Dublin has complained about the intervention in diplomatic representations to Caracas that it has made via EU channels, saying it is “extremely concerned” about the rapidly deepening crisis in the country as the socialist government of Nicolás Maduro battles some of Latin America’s worst hyperinflation.

Ireland has no embassy in Venezuela and its consulate there has closed so the matter is being handled by its ambassador to Mexico, Barbara Jones.

“The government is aware of recent worrying developments that have seen Venezuelan authorities take control of Smurfit Kappa’s business in Venezuela and detaining of two of its employees,” said the spokesperson for Simon Coveney, deputy premier and foreign minister. “The department of foreign affairs and trade has been liaising directly with the company. The situation is serious, volatile and deteriorating rapidly and we will continue to follow developments closely.”

Smurfit Kappa has vowed to protect the interests of its stakeholders and secure the release of its employees, saying nine out of 10 trade unions in the Venezuelan unit have “confirmed their support and desire to continue working with [THE BUSINESS]as a result of our good labour practices.”

But the company’s options are severely limited, and one expert questioned whether there is any prospect of a successful court action in Caracas to secure the return of a plant that employs 1,600 people.

“The judiciary in Venezuela, the last thing that they are is independent. So they will respond to everything that the executive wants or asks them to do,” said Dany Bahar, fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.“Whenever expropriations happen, it’s an action that’s consistent with the executive’s desperation to try to find money wherever it can...The business climate in Venezuela is [ONE]of thunderstorms with very dark clouds.”

Smurfit Kappa has refuted all claims against it by Sundde, the Venezuelan state price control agency that accused it of boycotting and smuggling after inspecting its factory for two days last month.

Charged with refusing to sell to certain local businesses, the company was also directed to adjust prices for all products.

In a statement, Smurfit Kappa said the authorities had taken “temporary control” of the business for 90 days.

As a result, the company was no longer “responsible for the use of its installations, machinery and equipment, its employees’ safety, that of its surrounding communities, any environmental impact, or the quality of the paper and packaging manufactured in the operations.”

Mr Maduro devalued the Bolívar by 95 per cent last month in an attempt to arrest the collapse of the economy.

But David O’Brien, analyst at Goodbody stockbrokers in Dublin, said Smurfit had already taken a hit from previous devaluations that started in 2015. “Ultimately that has seen the [VENEZUELAN]business fall to less than 1 per cent of group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. It’s a relatively immaterial part of the business from a financial perspective.” – Copyright: The Financial Times Limited 2018</s>Dublin Live fans at the Dublin vs Tyrone All-Ireland Final

Dublin Live fans at the Dublin vs Tyrone All-Ireland Final</s>As it happened: Dublin secure their fourth All Ireland in a row with victory over Tyrone at Croke Park

Dublin take on Tyrone in this afternoon's All-Ireland final as Jim Gavin's side look to claim a four in-a-row. Throw-in is at 15.30 and you can follow the action in our live blog.</s>The Dublin team will gather in the city tomorrow for a homecoming party after their All-Ireland win.

The Dubs beat Tyrone by six points to make it four titles in a row in front of a packed Croke Park on Sunday.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring announced that the team will be going to Smithfield Square at 6:30pm on Monday evening.

Players, management and the backroom staff will all be on stage with as many fans as possible urged to attend and greet the boys with the Sam Maguire.

Dublin City Council said in a statement: "Dublin fans will get their chance to celebrate the four in a row victory with the Dublin Senior Football team as All Ireland Champions 2018. Lord Mayor Nial Ring and Dublin City Council will host a special event for the team, backroom staff, Dublin County Board and True Blue fans on Monday, 3rd September at 6.30 p.m. in Smithfield Plaza.

"Access to the Smithfield Plaza is from North King Street, Friary Avenue and Thundercut Alley. Those attending are asked to follow the event signage and stewards’ instructions.

"Dublin City Council asks people to use public transport when travelling to and from the event, which is a family-friendly alcohol-free event. Fans should note that the Smithfield Luas Stop may be closed between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Luas stops at the Four Courts and Museum will remain open during this time."

Lord Mayor Nial Ring said: “Tomorrow evening will be a chance for the people of Dublin to come out and give the Dubs and Sam the welcome they so thoroughly deserve.

"Four in a row is a magnificent achievement and is a fitting reward for the Dublin players, backroom staff and manager who have shown such commitment, dedication and professionalism in their quest for this rare honour.

"Let's all come together to show our beloved Dubs our appreciation and gratitude as the party continues. Baile Átha Cliath Abú.”</s>Dublin will celebrate their fourth successive All-Ireland triumph in the city this evening.

The Boys in Blue ran out six-point winners against Tyrone to make history at Croke Park on Sunday.

Jim Gavin's men will be appearing with the Sam Maguire in Smithfield at 6.30pm, reports Dublin Live.

Players, management and the backroom staff will all be on stage with as many fans as possible urged to attend and greet the boys with the Sam Maguire.

Dublin City Council said in a statement: "Dublin fans will get their chance to celebrate the four in a row victory with the Dublin Senior Football team as All Ireland Champions 2018. Lord Mayor Nial Ring and Dublin City Council will host a special event for the team, backroom staff, Dublin County Board and True Blue fans on Monday, 3rd September at 6.30 p.m. in Smithfield Plaza.

"Access to the Smithfield Plaza is from North King Street, Friary Avenue and Thundercut Alley. Those attending are asked to follow the event signage and stewards’ instructions.

"Dublin City Council asks people to use public transport when travelling to and from the event, which is a family-friendly alcohol-free event. Fans should note that the Smithfield Luas Stop may be closed between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Luas stops at the Four Courts and Museum will remain open during this time."

Lord Mayor Nial Ring said: “Tomorrow evening will be a chance for the people of Dublin to come out and give the Dubs and Sam the welcome they so thoroughly deserve.

"Four in a row is a magnificent achievement and is a fitting reward for the Dublin players, backroom staff and manager who have shown such commitment, dedication and professionalism in their quest for this rare honour.

"Let's all come together to show our beloved Dubs our appreciation and gratitude as the party continues. Baile Átha Cliath Abú.”

Don’t miss this weekend’s GAA action – sign up to Sky Sports and get 6 months half price here , or try a NOW TV Sports Month Pass here , now just €20 a month – usually €50

If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.</s>Kevin Heffernan, thou shouldst be living at this hour.

What began as winter conversations up in 1970s Marino about how to revive the city game – how to make something happen in the suburbs – materialised into something magnificent as the sun shone in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day. There was nothing more Tyrone could do here as Dublin retained the cup for the fourth successive year. Never has the sky-blue side looked so strong and imperious.

It was, of course, no surprise, that Dublin swept Tyrone aside to claim their 28th championship. It finished 2-17 to 1-14, the high score a testament to the Ulster team’s decision to have a real cut.

Still, the unblinking way in which Jim Gavin’s team absorbed the very best that Mickey Harte’s young side threw at them in the first 15 minutes of ferocity and poise was frightening to behold.

In the end, this final just removed another grain of comfort; the idea that getting off to a good start against Dublin is crucial. Because for 10 happy minutes, Tyrone were transported to a dream land. Here was a team schooled on Harte’s experience and innovation and bearing the hallmarks of his earlier cloud-busting sides; fearlessness and poise and a wee bit of Northern spite.

Maybe their impetuosity surprised the Dubs. Or maybe Dublin just decided to soak up the early charge. Either way, it all turned in the way an Irish summer day can suddenly vanish.

It was 0-5 to 0-1 on the scoreboard; in most games, for most teams, that is a reliable sign that a team is in trouble. The champions didn’t entertain that notion.

The surge had started even before Paul Mannion’s penalty but reality seemed to crash down on the stadium as soon as his venomous strike hit the net. Dublin seemed to remember who they were and suddenly, the scores came raining down.

In just 13 minutes, Dublin’s blitzing attack had fired 2-4. Their second goal contained everything good about Dublin: the sharpness, the front-foot aggression, slick passing and the unselfishness, with Con O’Callaghan, strong enough to get back to his feet after a late, heavy challenge, slipping a pass for Niall Scully to palm home.

A baritone roar of approval emanated from the Hill end and travelled around the ground and then Dean Rock, after testing the mood for a further goal, hit a point on the run.

Even with their perfect opening, Tyrone trailed 2-6 to 0-6 after just 28 minutes. The impossibility – the near pointlessness – of their mission was beginning to present itself even then. It took courage to the point of bloodymindedness to stay within touching distance, even if the second half seemed to just play itself out in an exchange of points before Peter Harte’s 69th minute penalty.

To get within four points of Dublin was tantalising; just enough to leave Tyrone with a bunch of what-ifs to nurse through the winter. But even after Dublin lost John Small to a second yellow card – after a gruelling tussle with Peter Harte – there was no sense of an upset in the stadium. In came the boys of summer – McManamon, Costello, Macauley – to see them home.

“That mental resolve within the Dublin team is just a pleasure to witness,” Jim Gavin said afterwards.

“And that collective ethos that they have. They see the prize is the collective serving the county, and not the self, and a lot of players there who didn’t even get game time today. And they didn’t show it but they must be disappointed not to play in an All-Ireland final. They just want the team to do well. It’s team team team and they’ve demonstrated that again today.”

So the GAA has a dynasty on its hands. People will carp. As the Sam Maguire is brought along for its customary visit to the Boars Head on Monday and the finality of Dublin’s superiority settles over the country, the debate about Dublin’s resources - the money and the population etc – will become louder over the winter. The subject even found its way into the notes of Stephen Cluxton’s captain’s speech, which is usually a study in politeness.

If the Parnells man sounded faintly resentful, then it is understandable. If this Dublin epoch stretches into the next decade without showing any signs of weakening, then it can be said that the city strength will have engulfed not just the other counties but the All-Ireland contest itself. But to put this day down to ‘resources’ is to be churlish on an exceptional group.

Resources do not account for the two lung-busting covering runs made by Paul Mannion, notionally operating in the full-forward line, to snuff out a looming Tyrone threat on Stephen Cluxton’s goal.

Money doesn’t account for Paddy Christie’s decision, over a decade ago, to try and get a team rolling in Ballymun or the hours he has given to John Small, Philly McMahon and Dean Rock.

It doesn’t really explain what possessed Bernard Brogan to push and harass himself back to fitness just five months after a cruciate injury. Brogan didn’t make the substitutes bench yesterday. Paul Flynn, another of their true-blue attacking talents, didn’t get to leave his seat. And yet both men were genuinely happy and appreciative to share in the glory of their team-mates as the streamers lay scattered across the ground and Bagatelle played on the sound system and the huge blue army scattered across the various villages of the city to celebrate.

Less than an hour after seeing off the last of the challengers, Dublin had the big stadium to themselves. Philly McMahon was among those out on the field. McMahon has been there for all six of Dublin’s All-Ireland titles since 2011: he has borne witness to the revolution. Afterwards, he mentioned the death this year of his father and, some years ago, his brother, when talking about what it is that keeps him wanting to do this, year in and year out.

“And when times are tough and you are sore and tired, they come into your head. That is how they are there spiritually. So for me it is just being grateful. There’s people that this will be the last All-Ireland they will ever see. So why would we not want to win an All-Ireland? Why would we not want to win six or seven? But more importantly why wouldn’t we want to just go out and enjoy it?”

And you could hear, as the gulls circled Croke Park and twilight fell, that the city was gearing up for a party. Maybe the mood was not quite as romantic or innocent as it was back on the night in 2011, when All-Irelands were a once in-a-generation occurrence.

Right now, raising the Sam Maguire has become part of the city calendar. They are out there, splendid and fearsome, all on their own. History beckons.</s>Alan Brogan has tipped Ciaran Kilkenny to claim Footballer of the Year after playing a major role in Dublin's fourth consecutive All-Ireland final victory.

Alan Brogan has tipped Ciaran Kilkenny to claim Footballer of the Year after playing a major role in Dublin's fourth consecutive All-Ireland final victory.

Alan Brogan gives his pick for Footballer of the Year as Dublin secure All-Ireland four in-a-row

Kilkenny performed strongly in Croke Park yesterday, kicking 0-3 from play as Dublin overcame Tyrone by six points to become the fourth team to complete the four in-a-row.

It was the first time that Kilkenny had scored in an All-Ireland final and Brogan thinks that off the back of a stellar campaign, the playmaker will claim the Footballer of the Year prize.

Speaking on The Throw-In, Independent.ie's GAA podcast, Brogan outlined his reasons for picking Kilkenny.

"For me it's Ciaran," he said.

"At the start of the year we said that the one thing he needs to add to his game is to increase his scoring and he is the top scorer from play in the championship. He has been fantastic. He was man-marked by Tiernan McCann yesterday but he still managed to have a huge influence on the game. He chipped in with three points from play so I'm going to go for Ciaran."

Alan's brother Bernard made a remarkable recovery from a knee injury to rejoin the panel last month, but Jim Gavin opted to leave the four-time All Star off his 26-man matchday squad.

Brogan commended his brother's resolve to get back fit this season but admitted that he isn't sure whether or not he will return for a shot at the five in-a-row in 2019.

"I think he was fit, I think he trained well over the last few weeks," Brogan said.

"Like everyone, he was hoping to get in and get a bit of game time. Maybe with the injury, the time-frame was just a bit too tight. He probably needed a month or six weeks to get back beforehand and maybe get a bit of game time. He gave it everything and to get back in six months and be fit to play is a testament to himself and the work he has put in.

"It's a big commitment and for someone like him, at that age you need to be playing right the way through to get your fitness right and get yourself in the team. That's gonna be a big ask for someone with two small kids at 35, with the age profile of this team. He'll take some time over the next few weeks."

Subscribe to The Throw-In, Independent.ie's weekly GAA podcast in association with Allianz, for the best in GAA discussion and analysis every week, with some of the biggest names in football and hurling from Joe Brolly, Tomás Ó'Sé and John Mullane.

Subscribe and listen to The Throw-In podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.</s>Bernard Brogan would have aspired to steal the headlines in the lead-up to Dublin’s victorious All-Ireland final clash with Tyrone but it was his twins Donagh and Keadán Brogan who stole the attention after full-time.

Bernard Brogan would have aspired to steal the headlines in the lead-up to Dublin’s victorious All-Ireland final clash with Tyrone but it was his twins Donagh and Keadán Brogan who stole the attention after full-time.

Pictures: Bernard Brogan beaming with pride as he celebrates Dublin's All Ireland win with his twins

Brogan suffered a cruciate knee injury in an early February training session which saw him miss the majority of Dublin's championship campaign, but the former Footballer of the Year recovered in rapid time to feature in his Super 8 clash with Roscommon.

The significance of his injury pales however in comparison with the birth of his, and his wife Keira Doyle's, twins Donagh and Keadán who were born in July in time to see their Dad winning his sixth All-Ireland, albeit from outside the match day squad.

The twins stole Brogan's limelight after full-time when they were pictured with their Dad, wearing tiny Dublin jerseys alongside the Sam Maguire.
• 'He was here in spirit' - Philly McMahon pictured in tears as he pays 'Breaking Bad' inspired tribute to father
• 'My admiration has gone up for them ten-fold' - Jim Gavin shows respect for Tyrone

While Brogan will have been disappointed to miss out on playing time in Dublin's 2-17 to 1-14 victory, there is a clear sense of pride in his face as he does a much more comfortable job of holding Keadán and placing a hand on the Sam Maguire Cup than Paul Flynn does with Donagh.

Whether the 34-year-old can return next season to feature for the Dubs or not, fans in the Hill will eagerly await the day when the twins are old enough to follow in their family's famous Gaelic football footsteps, to represent their county on the biggest stage.

Speaking after Dublin's 2-17 to 1-14 win, Dublin boss Jim Gavin said: "Probably the hardest part of the job is giving the news that a player can't travel.

"That's the really difficult part, because you're breaking a guy's dreams. We had 34 on the squad, so to be giving that news to eight players is tough on them. It's testament to Bernard (Brogan's) mental strength to see how well he was moving out there.

"There's a lot of sacrifice involved. There's such a talented group of players in Dublin. But it's a player's choice. They're volunteering their time."</s>Dublin defeated Tyrone in the All-Ireland Final - and the celebrations are well underway.

The defending champions took home a a Fourth All-Ireland in a row, a sixth in eight years.

A team of thoroughbred prizefighters led by the ruthless Jim Gavin , the trophy collector at the top, chasing records and making history with the casual nature of a person online shopping, a silent assassin picking off any challengers to his crown in the footballing world.

Mickey Harte stood on the opposite side, the old battler back again to this stage for the first time in ten years, with a new side full of youthful, skillful, and energetic faces looking to emulate the heroes of 2003, '05, and '08 - but it was not to be as Dublin secured a 2-17 to 1-14 victory.

The Dubs will return to Smithfield at 6:30pm.

Keep it here with Dublin Live for all the updates from the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final!
Ireland protests in response to the Venezuelan government seizing a Smurfit Kappa production plant, with Dublin liaising through its Mexican embassy to secure its return and the release of imprisoned managers.