I had just placed my third spoonful of Rice Krispies in my mouth this morning and was about to chew and swallow, when I heard the voice of that fine fair-minded man Nelson McCausland coming from my radio. Nelson as you probably know was educated at Worcester College, Oxford. That venerable institution also produced Rupert Murdoch and Woodrow Wyatt, a high-class hack who was also well in with the Queen Mother and Rupert M. I just mention that in case your sectarian mind has the the idea that Nelson is merely some sort of bearded be-kilted loon.
Anyway, back at the breakfast table, Nelson is talking about a reconciliation event he was speaking at along with Declan Kearney. I gather the idea was to look at ways in which progress could be made in bringing together those who have been for so long divided in this corner of the island. Nelson, having been to Oxford, saw through this for the sham that it was. Sinn Féin had started this drive of theirs in 2012 …Yes I know, I thought they started about fifteen years earlier than that, but if Nelson says it was 2012 then it was 2012. The drive was not any real effort to become reconciled with fellow Ulstermen – it was in fact a ploy to lull unionists into a united Ireland. What’s more, it’s only a tiny minority of Protestants and Catholics who want a united Ireland: the great majority are happy where they are, in the arms of Mother Britain. (I should add that Nelson didn’t talk about being dandled on the knee or  in the arms of Mother Britain – I did, to make the thing a bit more, um, alive.) Where were we?…Oh right – reconciliation for Nelson is another word for hoodwink, and if the Shinners think they’re going to dupe unionists by making overtures of friendship and reconciliation, they won’t lull Nelson into any illusion about their real motives.
Smart man, that Nelson McC. You don’t get into Worcester College just by buying a bottle of their sauce. I hadn’t realised that the whole reconciliation thing by the Shinners was twenty-four carat bogus and a ruse to do down unionism. The fiends. I for one consider myself lucky to have had my eyes opened this morning by the totally non-sectarian Nelson and I can tell you,  I finished my Rice Krispies a sadder but a wiser man. Go raibh maith agat, Nelson. That’s leprechaun for ‘Thank you’.
Jude, the predictability of political unionism never ceases to amaze. They make it so easy for Sinn Fein, who can presumably articulate a thought experiment amongst themselves and predict it’s inevitable conclusion. So, if we do this, we know that unionism will do that and then we can do that and they will react thus….and so on. Political unionism continues to hasten its own ineluctable decline.
I have given up on these people. Life is too short. I don’t know how Sinn Féin does it. It doesn’t matter what carrot is offered to them, they just want to see poison. I don’t know whether it is fear or bigotry which drives them or a combination of both. They must be the most insecure bunch I have ever come across. Either that or the hatred of Catholics and all things Irish knows no bounds. Imagine so much opposition to a language in its own country! Where would you get it? Dia ár Sabháil.
Can you understand why many Unionists have a deep loathing of SF and their sister organisation?
To be honest Neill – no. I can understand unionists being in vigorous disagreement with SF views but I find it hard to think of people loathing political opponents. I’m guessing the sister organisation you speak of is – or was – the IRA? Well yes, I can see how unionists would loathe the IRA – but it doesn’t exist anymore. Unlike, it seems, the UDA and the UVF. Can you understand how nationalists/republicans feel about that?
You say the IRA doesnt exist anymore doesnt actually make it so…
As for Loyalist terrorists i would be very surprised if they didnt loath them as much as I do.
I am quite certain the IRA does not exist any more, neill. If you can prove otherwise I will press £50 into your hot little hand…
This kind of ties in with paddykool’s last post about paranoia, and gets to the heart of the current impasse. Any gestures of reconciliation by Sinn Féin/Nationalists/Republicans are seen as part of Gerry’s Trojan Horse strategy with a United Ireland as the end result. It’s kind of a ‘reds under the bed’ mentality which Nelson et al do their very best to propagate at any opportunity.
Is MáirtÃn Ó Muilleoir’s desire to raise the educational standards of Protestant boys part of this same strategy? Martin McGuinness meeting the Queen? Why do the likes of Nelson see ‘reconciliation’ as a dirty word?
Sadly for everyone here, the paranoia and stoking of tensions by certain politicians has a trickle down effect which permeates throughout all of society. It’s difficult to know how best to work with those who see every olive branch as a weapon. Anyone would think the DUP wants to keep us all divided.
Ah Woodrow Wyatt was a good writer and columnist you could learn a lot from him.
Try reading his diaries very entertaining indeed.
If Sf really believed in bringing communities together why do they insist on naming parks after dead terrorists actions like this cause people to wonder how serious they really are in their aim for reconciliation.
Haven’t read the man neill but I may now…Re naming parks – one man’s terrorist, etc. Plus isn’t Prince Charles Commander-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment? I seem to remember some street or road named after him. And Belfast’s city hall teems with monuments, busts etc to military exploits by the British armed forces. So are you saying it’s OK to have places named and monuments raised to military figures as long as they’re British?
Yes I am Jude the Army is controlled and ran by the state who controls the IRA?
So would you have a problem with a Billy Wright play park?
Talking about reconciliation is not the same as actually doing it and when push came to shove SF fell down at the first hurdle
Dr C
I’m with neill on this one:
SF constantly harp on about equality and neutrality. Naming a park after McCreesh is in clear violation of this.
The only way it can be justified is by indulging in whataboutery, but in order to do this one is obliged to pawn whatever moral highground one may have, or in SF’s case, directly contravene their ‘principles’.
Also, are the roads in question named after Prince Charles named so because he is a Para member?
Is the park named after McCreesh because he was a Provo member?
As for City hall’s paraphernalia: Belfast (the city) was built as a British industrial city and includes all the trinkets that came with such times, like rings in a tree trunk so should a city hall follow likewise in terms of civic history. (I’m all up for Bradford city hall having a mass of Asian cultural artefacts, but not at the expense of the town’s heritage & civic history, might as well just hire a skip and erect a “under new management” sign)
Adding more would be wrong and insensitive, but seeing the displays from a bygone area as provocative (or a justification for McCreesh) is a bit of a stretch.
Where does that mentality stop? Many’s a Georgian building in Dublin was lost thanks to that mentality.
Should the Turks start destroying Greek monuments?
Should the Indians disband their regiments of British origin (some of the Indian soldiers are quite proud of their regiments’ pasts, even though the Indians have as much love of the British army as the Irish do)?
I say stop adding to the collection and reflect the modern era of the city but at the same time don’t white wash the past.
Furthermore, if you truly believe in equality and neutrality, well, don’t vote for something that isn’t neutral.
McCreesh is not neutral.
He can only be justified with whataboutery, not an adherence to one’s principles.
At least the unionists are clearly opposed to neutrality and (possibly) equality, they are therefore (perversely) sticking to their guns, by naming the park after McCreesh, SF are in clear violation of their principles.
As for Nelson, the man baffles me. He’s one of the greatest dangers to the union.
I agree with you AG – what else could I do? – that Raymond McCreesh and all those who died on hunger strike are loathed with a particular virulence by some unionists. But to republicans he’s a heroic figure. Just as Churchill, Prince Charles, UDR, etc are not top of the pops with nationalists/republicans – but they don’t line up to declare that means unionists are people they detest.Neill speaks of republicans falling down at the first hurdle. But then neill always had a sense of humour. This, after 15 years of being not so much as bade ‘Good morning’ by virtually all DUP politicians. Mmmm. So that’s how you reconcile with former adversaries…
Jude
Since the signing of the GFA in 1998, political unionism has had ample opportunity to display a willingness to want to work with Nationalist parties to build a society of equals – the problem is too many Unionists still want to dominate and hence are obliging the growing Nationalist community to disabuse them of this silly and antiquated notion.
Am Ghobsmacht
What you mischievously depict as some cast-in-stone Republican movement principle was their preferred way forward. Unionists rebuffed the genuine ‘equality’ and ‘parity’ policy option. Republicans therefore introduced the ‘neutral’ option as a bargaining chip to this backward intransigence. However, as predicted, still Unionists refused to shift their position. Consequently, Republicans are now reciprocating the Unionist devil may care attitude that the Republican core base will accept as a legitimate counter-tactic.
Symbolism/Representation
What Unionists value or dislike has no greater importance than what moi and other Republicans value or dislike. Republicans like me shall for the foreseeable future continue to tolerate objectionable Unionist state symols, vile street, road and city names etc not because we will always be obliged to so do but because we appreciate our Unionist neighbours value them. The motto of this island nation must become, live and let live!!!
If Unionists do not learn to at least tolerate what Republicans do genuinely value then they have a bumpy road ahead of them – they can only slow change not stop it.
So what you’re admitting Ruaidri, is that SF breached their principles in a clear example of “well, themuns are doing it too”?
Thankyou.
That was my point.
“The motto of this island nation must become, live and let live!!!”
McCreesh is clearly contrary to this sentiment.
“So are you saying it’s OK to have places named and monuments raised to military figures as long as they’re British?”
I think we can safety assume that’s exactly what he’s saying Jude. After all, this is “their” wee “country”…….
Hang on Ryan its not my country or your country its everybodies country out of common decency I would never name a play park after a loyalist like Lenny Murphy or Billy Wright who committed vile acts on the Catholic communitybecause its not right or proper.
Perhaps in future we could move away from naming and honouring events and people from the past and perhaps honour people who are helping the community now?
Neill,
Imprinted in the soul of the Irish nation are the names of certain British state mass ethnic cleansers, torturers and abusers e.g Cromwell (Rd), Chichester (St) and Craigavan (city) to name but a few.
Stop with the pathetic deflection tactic of pointing to working-class Loyalist elements as the only source of alternative “terrorist” [sic] comparison to be found within the British unionism.
Before undertaking to label some person/group a ‘terrorist’, first define the act(s) of ‘terrorism’ you find warrant that label; see https://twitter.com/Irish_Gael/status/569243169960955905
For fear of interfering in your wallowing and self pity Ruaidri might I point out that Cromwell the proto-republican had a sterling CV when it came to slaughtering Scottish & Irish Presbyterians, English Royalists and pretty much any one who got in his way (including his own King).
Chichester was a scoundrel who loathed and distrusted the Scots, all Gaels and he ripped off and defrauded his own king.
Craigavon was by all definitions a rebel and his part in creating the UVF started a chain reaction that resulted in the Easter rising.
You ( or rather your retrospectively applied ‘Irish nation’ construct) don’t have the monopoly on suffering, despite what Tim Pat Coogan tells you.
Honestly man, you need to get some perspective. If you’re willing to be open minded with the definition of terrorist then you might apply the same scrutiny to historical context.
Jeez.
Hi Neill, could you imagine a terrorist so despicable that they would let tens of millions of men women and children stave to death, a person who would give more money to a dogs home than to starving family’s.
Someone who would massacre native tribes with machine-guns so they could rob their lands of resources, someone who complained that the Irish had never “become reconciled to English rule, which they hate — so different from the Scots, who are so loyal…We shall have to hang some, and it ought to have been done before”.
And then after doing all of this to humanity they get Hospitals named after themselves !! oh the irony!! Well I suppose by now you have twigged on to who I am on about, yes its Queen Victoria (AKA the famine Queen).
You don’t hear nationalist leaders harping on about the fact that someone whose linage has caused 36 million global deaths should be removed from all public areas do you?
The fact of the matter is that whilst I do not like or agree with the unionist narrative I must accept that it has a right to be heard, but the same must be applied to both sides and thus naming Ray McCreesh park is as equally valid as the Royal Victoria Hospital
Rory
You have side stepped an important difference:
Victoria was the popular name of choice for a bygone era where neutrality and equality were far from the concerns of the day.
In the 21st century, we see SF clasping to such sentiments and indeed aggressively pursuing them.
Fair enough, however, by naming a park after McCreesh they have abandoned these principles, this is evident in that the traditional arguments in favour or McCreesh are simply whataboutery.
Naming the park after McCreesh is a clear violation of SF’s principles, naming areas after royalty was very much in line with the Empire’s ‘principles’.
That’s a crucial difference and I have yet to have a nationalist square that circle, all arguments boil down to “well the unionists named such and such” which is when all is said and done a whataboutery.
SF’s stance has been compromised by naming the park after McCreesh, they talk the talk of equality & neutrality and walk the walk of exclusion & intimidation.
You have to realise, a cheann comhairle, how the colonial mind works. The history clock of any country starts to tick when the first WASP/Aryan/Ulster Scot sets foot in a country. Before this there was heathenism, ignorance and no idea how to exploit the natural resources. See Africa, America etc.etc. etc oh and Erseland. Once you have butchered the natives and ‘escheated’ their lands then the last thing you want to do is respect their culture or learn their language. It gives them a legitimacy which may give the natives a mistaken idea that they are equal and may have rights. You cannot ride two horses. Either you are for the New Order or the savages with their ugodly customs. We know where kilted Caleb stands.
Aye and we brought wealth farms industry towns and civilisation to an area where there was none previously in many ways you should thank my fore fathers for civilising you ; )
And all we got in return was ingratitude and violence go figure you would expect the natives to be thankful : )
And before you say it Jude it was an obvious talk in cheek comment!
or tongue in cheek comment typing and eating isn’t easy…..
See? That’s what I’ve just been explaining to AG, neill – you really have a sense of humour. Good to see.
Thats a filthy lie Jude I am horrified you are spreading foul rumours about me!
I tell so many lies about you, neill, I can’t tell which particular one you’re referring to. A sense of humour? Well of course that was meant as a joke…
Serial hazards
Being dandled on the knees of mother Britain, suggests a warm, peaceful maternal relationship. Such an image is difficult to reconcile when one considers the manner in which Britannia waived the rules in Africa, India, Palestine, Aden, Cyprus and Ireland.
Let us also recall that Worcester College Oxford was founded, relatively recently, in 1714. Its predecessor, Gloucester College had been an institution of learning on the same site since the 13th century until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. Institutions of learning flourished in Ireland long before the 13th century.
Evidence of the writer Didorus Siculus the Greek historian may be found in his Bibliotheca Historica c. 60 – 30 BC, at a time when places of worship were common sites in Ireland. Individuals and groups continue to visit our ancient sites of learning. Contemporary Irish centres of learning continue to flourish. The Irish diaspora retains an international reputation, based on an ethos of learning and creativity designed to make the world a better place for us all.
T.G.I.F.
For no other reason than that wee kilted mon in the photo, who else only Nelse.
Though for one awesome moment one felt that Nelson was about to indulge in a bout of eddying – it’s what Nelsons do – and give his wee kilt a whirl in a girly class of way. Thus, revealing that it was not Nelse himself at all at all only (gulp) his long time silver screen partner, Jeanette McDonald in all her soprano glory..
Thankfully, he did not. And anyway Perkie is utterly confident it is no one else only Nelse and so, let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low, the oft repeated question of Andy Stewart morphs from the mode rhetorical into the realm of redundancy:
-McDonald, where’s yoor troosers ?
The revelation of the Nelson willie would put that, erm, crazy piece of typical specious fenian speculation to bed. Sometimes it is better to have, yes, just one Lough Ness monster to mythologize upon. But, as one has already remarked, by the holy haggis of Holyrood, it did not come to pass: there is just so much glimpse of the famed McCausland fungus one can tolerate.
The facial variety is quite enough, GRMA..
One cannot help wondering though about the pose in the photograph: the male diva gesticulation of the left hand as if in mid-Indian love call while reclining in the right hand, as if to the Met Opera mannerism born, the sheet music to, the muscical in q..Could it be that McCausland’s inner baritone is readying himeself or a revival of ‘Rose Marie’ in the local LOL Orange Sporran Hall?
-When I’m cau-au-au-au-au-ualing you.
By all accounts, lugubrious to relate, Nelson’s alter eddy, the singing mountie, did not quite float the boat of his singing partner off-screen as he did in cinema and motion picture house. Outside the studio insiders tell how Nelson was given with no misgivings to cause Jeanette’s canoe to tilt askew where the caribou is known to moo.
Certainly, in the sphere of mounting, their real time partnership was not all in the same league as, curiously enough, another royal couple known for their familiarity with the caul-ing routine: ROG and his consort, Jessica. As they stand shoulder to shoulder, erm, it can now be revealed that ‘onanism is not a factor.Never was.
-When I’m Ireland cau-au-au-au-au-auling you-oo-oo-oo-oo.
By one of those freaky newspeak happenstances, Esteemed Blogmeister, another one of the Ulster clique (though from opposite ends of the same endity) was,yesterday, in Thursday’s Unionist Times critiquing a motion picture set in almost the same neck of the woods as ‘Rose Marie’.
T.G. I.T.
That would have been ‘Heaven’s Gate’ and the fillum critic is the McCann Man who is Thursday. While describing the movie as a masterpiece he somehow contrives to omit any mench of the most masterly facet of that movie, the sublime scene in the rollerskating rink. Its sublimity due in no small way to the fiddle accompaniment of David Mansfield, who also composed and choreographed the music and dancing respectively.
His phrase ‘and too many others to mention’ may be excused, however. Perkie can reveal that an acquaintance of his, a wee mon from the Lower Falls and who happened to be exiled in the backwoods of Montana at the time ‘Heaven’s Gate’ was being fillumed (no names, no packman drills) landed himself a role as an extra as one of the hundreds of homesteaders.
Twas he who revealed to PW how the star of the fillum, Kris Kristofferson, spent a lot of his down time looking up his closet in his upscale mobile home on the set, in search of his cleanest dirty shirt most mornings. After a night of, erm, cannabis.
Speaking of which, while Perkied prefers to smoke rather than actually read his bespoke Unionist Times, (the taste of the former activity is a deal more agreeable) nonetheless, noblesse oblige and duty beckons.
This omission of any mench by the e-mccann man (one had better get used to handling over more e-sheckels for the privilege of perusing his e-heckles at capitalism from next week) of music in this fillum review might well give a clue as his devotion to the game he insists on sponsoring as football (nee soccer).
A game as played between the two last teams standing, Merchanidse Utd v Mercenary City, devoid, utterly of music, except that of, erm, LSD.
Could be, of course, that e-mccann sees the difference between ‘football’ and ‘soccer’ as some do between ‘violin’ and ‘fiddle’.
As the great Nashville string scraper, Johnny Gimble once remarked: ‘ a violin is what gets carried in a case, a fiddle in a gunny sack’.
Precious folk carry their football around in a case these days.
All others, like Paddy Stink and Mickey Mud , get to carry their ball around in a gunny sack with the GAH logo on its sides.
The kind of volk, indeed, that genial and admirable admirer of Hausfrau Sache-Coburg-Gotha, Nelson McCausland (for it is he !) would caul ‘untermensch’.
-I hear him mccauling mee-ee-ee-ee.
Once again. To get a mench.
There was always something a bit psychedelic about all that snap , crackle and pop, Jude .In future , at the breakfast table , stick to something more earthy and prophylactic…like a good bowl of porridge. It’ll stand by you better..warming from the inside, slow release nourishment and all that…. and protecting your delicate sensibilities from the likes of Nelson’s wittering paranoia….
Nelson’s multi-coloured number is not a McCausland tartan. There is no McCausland tartan.
http://www.heritageofscotland.com/tartan_finder.php?search=&clan=McCausland
So apparently “Nelson really is merely some sort of bearded be-kilted loon” who dresses up to create a false impression
Bear that in mind when taking on board the rest of his message!!
Ben
As far as I can recall the whole clan tartan affiliation thing was invented by a couple of business savvy Polish guys of dubious noble lineage who landed in Edinburgh just in time to help rich Edinburghers decide upon their skirt of choice just in time for the royal visit in the early 19th century.
Such fortunate timing resulted in them being reward handsomely….
Jude, I reject your implication that young Nelson is sectarian… now, if you had used the adjective racist I might well have been in agreement
Colm. was he not boss of the Lord’s Day Observance Society at one stage?
That may not necessarily prove his bigotry, nor may his membership of the Orange Order.
But they surely are indicators of his ‘mentality’, which apparently was groomed at Oxford.
Apparently Sammy Wilson and Nigel Dodds are also old boys of that institution.
And I always thought you needed a bit of a brain to go to Oxbridge!
These three are brilliant at hiding any indication of their intelligence.
On the subject of naming parks (etc), I came across a real gem in this weeks “mid ulster observer”.A journalist in that paper informs us that there is a housing development in the North Antrim village of Ahoghill called “Belgrano” and I quote “in honour of the great British naval victory during the Falklands war”.Now presumably this name had to be given the go ahead by the DUP and UUP members of Ballymena council.Seriously the slaughter of 323 conscripts and 2 civilians sailing away from an exclusion zone is a matter to be celebrated and people have to live with this as their address.I am waiting with bated breath for that young boy with the faux posh accent (Butler or something I think they call him) to make it the top story on “Talkback” any day now. Young Butler tried to take on Barry McElduff this week on the Raymond McCreesh park issue by adopting a high moral tone but wee Barry swatted him away with ease and put him on the back foot straight away.Apparently the regular “talk back” presenter was away on holidays this week and the BBC made the fatal mistake of “sending out a cub to do a man’s job”!
Michael, maybe its all part of the BBC dumbing down policy.
Oul Nelson’s performance on Nolan the other night was nothing short of a disaster – this after Paul Givan’s dismal showing is a clear illustration that the DUP are sinking! With Declan Kearney he didn’t want to debate, listen or engage in a meaningful and purposeful way – he wanted to simply try and humour the conversation by making numerous references to “Trojan horse” and equality and go off on pathetic, meaningless rants. Time Nelson got over Gerry Adams comment and added something positive or meaningful on issues of equality and reconciliation! Maybe he could take a stance from SF and fight for equality for his own community and others whilst at the same time trying to built reconciliation.
Equality and reconciliation are only considered by the DUP if it suits their agenda – when is the last time we have heard the DUP talk or promote the idea of reconciling with Catholic/Nationalist/Republicans? Many in the DUP including Nelson live in their caves, refuse to accept changes and engage in dinosaur backward looking politics … How this is appealing to any potential voters, I do not know … Nelson’s vision for a future NI seems to be a return to the oul days of Unionist majority rule, with Catholics/Nationalists/Republicans accepting their second class status and bowing to the high almighty! This mantra was what created the division and problems we currently find ourselves in ….
Past, present and future
Earlier today there was a discussion about the total expense of a contentious march being paid by those organizing the march. One speaker retorted that the SDLP’s origins were in Civil Rights marches and implied that the organizers ought to have paid for the policing costs. Who in their right mind would advocate paying to be beaten by a paramilitary police force. The RUC had a mandate from the state to attack people who were protesting about Votes, Houses and Jobs. Yes I know that was in 1968.
Samuel Devenney died after an attack by the RUC in 1969. He was beaten on his head, chest and face in his own home. The Drury Report confirmed that Mr Devenney was attacked in his own home but it was not possible to identify the officers in the report. The files on his death will be kept secret until 2022. It is strange that some people get hot under the collar about the name of a park, yet remain silent when members of the so called military reaction force shoot innocent people dead and indicate their willingness to kill for the state, again, if requested to do so.
The American’s did that to the Iraqies. Dropped missiles and bombs on their cities and towns killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and then charged them for the privilege! It just shows if have the power and control all the media you can do what you like!
Just looking at the photo with Nelson with the kilt on …..wonder if his views swing to the left or right.
I think it would be fair to say the man leans to the hard right!