July, 2010

I was watching a witless BBC interviewer talking to Dwain Chambers yesterday, after he came fifth in the final of the European Men’s 100 metres. Old Dwain was trying to put the best face he could on his disappointment, saying he’d enjoyed every minute of the Games and it was good to be competing at […]

I was watching a witless BBC interviewer talking to Dwain Chambers yesterday, after he came fifth in the final of the European Men’s 100 metres. Old Dwain was trying to put the best face he could on his disappointment, saying he’d enjoyed every minute of the Games and it was good to be competing at […]

So Ian R K Paisley, aka Lord Bannside – what was it that first attracted you to the creature we call Democracy? Was it a vision you had on a hillside about twenty-five years ago when you took the salute from several hundred men displaying (no, don’t laugh) their rifle licences? Was it that time […]

So Ian R K Paisley, aka Lord Bannside – what was it that first attracted you to the creature we call Democracy? Was it a vision you had on a hillside about twenty-five years ago when you took the salute from several hundred men displaying (no, don’t laugh) their rifle licences? Was it that time […]

I recall seeing Alex Higgins in the flesh, as they say, on two occasions. The first was about eight years ago on a flight to England. He sat at the front, spoke briefly to someone who came looking for an autograph and looked like a seriously ill man. The second was about two months ago, […]

I recall seeing Alex Higgins in the flesh, as they say, on two occasions. The first was about eight years ago on a flight to England. He sat at the front, spoke briefly to someone who came looking for an autograph and looked like a seriously ill man. The second was about two months ago, […]

President Mary McAleese is a woman who, in a number of ways, I admire.  When the BBC was making a documentary about  Queen’s University’s 150th anniversary, she was a major contributor and over several days I got to talk to her and watch her interact with others. Outstanding intelligence and humanity at work.  So when […]

President Mary McAleese is a woman who, in a number of ways, I admire.  When the BBC was making a documentary about  Queen’s University’s 150th anniversary, she was a major contributor and over several days I got to talk to her and watch her interact with others. Outstanding intelligence and humanity at work.  So when […]

Next Monday I’ll be starting a week-long course in Irish at the McCracken Summer School on the Antrim Road, where I’ll be continuing my up-hill attempt to master the Irish language. One of the deepest regrets I have is that I allowed the incompetence, neglect and occasional brutality of my Irish teachers at school to […]

Next Monday I’ll be starting a week-long course in Irish at the McCracken Summer School on the Antrim Road, where I’ll be continuing my up-hill attempt to master the Irish language. One of the deepest regrets I have is that I allowed the incompetence, neglect and occasional brutality of my Irish teachers at school to […]