September, 2012

I’m disappointed. Seriously, I am. I don’t deny that quarter of a million men and the same number of women signing  up to use force against Britain if it tried to pass a bill in its own parliament – that’s impressive. At once cocking a snook at the notion of Irish democracy  AND British democracy […]

I’m disappointed. Seriously, I am. I don’t deny that quarter of a million men and the same number of women signing  up to use force against Britain if it tried to pass a bill in its own parliament – that’s impressive. At once cocking a snook at the notion of Irish democracy  AND British democracy […]

AN OPEN LETTER TO PETER ROBINSON Dear Peter  I think you’re right. From your point of view, that is.  You’ve called on nationalists to “show respect for unionism” by referring to the state by its official title ‘Northern Ireland’.  You figure that use of other titles like ‘”the north”or “the six counties’”or “the north of […]

AN OPEN LETTER TO PETER ROBINSON Dear Peter  I think you’re right. From your point of view, that is.  You’ve called on nationalists to “show respect for unionism” by referring to the state by its official title ‘Northern Ireland’.  You figure that use of other titles like ‘”the north”or “the six counties’”or “the north of […]

1.             Does violence pay?  That was  one of the questions Stephen Nolan asked Gerry Kelly on TV last night. Gerry chose to answer by pointing out that, regardless of his past – of which he’s never made a secret – he was elected by the mandate of the people who voted […]

1.             Does violence pay?  That was  one of the questions Stephen Nolan asked Gerry Kelly on TV last night. Gerry chose to answer by pointing out that, regardless of his past – of which he’s never made a secret – he was elected by the mandate of the people who voted […]

Whew!  Still recovering from a great night last night – the Dublin launch of ‘Whose Past Is It Anyway?’ Having invited Professor Diarmaid Ferriter to be the guest speaker, I suddenly had a sickening realization that I know only a handful of people in Dublin these days, where once I knew so many. But ain’t […]

Whew!  Still recovering from a great night last night – the Dublin launch of ‘Whose Past Is It Anyway?’ Having invited Professor Diarmaid Ferriter to be the guest speaker, I suddenly had a sickening realization that I know only a handful of people in Dublin these days, where once I knew so many. But ain’t […]

I’m sitting here drumming my fingers, waiting for a call from the Nolan radio show about the recent talk of taxing the rich. It’s an interesting idea, isn’t it? Odd that it hasn’t been seriously tried before. Maybe that’s because the combined wealth of Cameron’s cabinet is £70 million. Cameron himself is worth around £4 […]

I’m sitting here drumming my fingers, waiting for a call from the Nolan radio show about the recent talk of taxing the rich. It’s an interesting idea, isn’t it? Odd that it hasn’t been seriously tried before. Maybe that’s because the combined wealth of Cameron’s cabinet is £70 million. Cameron himself is worth around £4 […]