I”m hoping to do a Periscope interview tomorrow at 1.30 pm approx with Niall Murphy, the solicitor for the Loughinisland families…
June, 2016
‘Poltergeists,Zeitgeists and how the Spirit Moves Things’ by Donal Kennedy
A close neighbour of mine some years ago in Howth, son of a dutiful and decent Orangeman, had no claim to book learning, being almost blind, but I suspect he had more instinctive poetry in him than he imagined. After hearing someone talking about mischievous spirits, or poltergeists, he said he’d heard some fellow going on […]
Loughinisland and after
Sometimes it’s hard to focus, such is the variety of issues nibbling at your ankles for attention. For example, today marks the official birthday of Elizabeth II. She is clearly a much-loved figure in British life, despite particular events like the death of Princess Di and general facts like the way she got her job […]
‘What’s the point of X-Y-Z?’ by Donal Kennedy
One of the questions asked at the Second Vatican Council was – “what’s the point of having a Latin Liturgy?” This was before Jumbo Jets and “mass tourism” – no pun intended, and if you tell me their decision was divinely guided, I can’t Adam and Eve it. I was a few weeks in London […]
Why Tony Blair should get his arse out of here
There are those in the Vote Leave campaign who believe that Nigel Farage is a liability: having him as a spokesman for quitting the EU is a bit like getting a joy-rider to appear in a car commercial. I’m not so sure. There’s normally a cheeky-chappy appeal to Farage (admittedly not much in evidence in […]
‘Of priests we can offer a charmin’ variety’ by Donal Kennedy
So wrote A.P. Graves, son of a Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick and father of Robert Graves, poet and novelist, author of “Goodbye To All That”, the brilliant memoir of his youth, including his schooling in Charterhouse Public School and nearly four years service as an Infantry Officer in France, experiences which I would […]
Farage and Cameron on TV: looking good?
Unfortunate and unfair fact: looks matter. And they matter particularly in politics. Having written those two sentences, I can already hear the rumble of onrushing feet as my critics rush to contradict me. Rubbish, they say. What about Churchill? No oil-painting (although he was a painter) but a hugely popular war-time leader. In present-day Ireland […]
Address by Mark Thompson RFJ Truth, Justice, Freedom Rally with the Sikh people (London Sunday 5th June 2016)
Firstly I’d like to thank the organizers of today’s rally for the invite and importantly the opportunity to address you all – it is indeed a great privilege and an honour to stand here with you in solidarity. I want to commend you all for what is truly a wonderful turnout – a turnout […]
OUTRAGE AND ULSTER by Donal Kennedy
To the Editor, Belfast Telegraph. Sir/Madam, FLAMING JUNE was ushered in on the 1st of this month with a screaming headline in THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH by Laura Abernethy – “Outrage as media commentator compares Boys Brigade to dissident republicans.” I’ve listened to BBC Radio all my life, read Dublin newspapers for 65 years and British daily […]
‘Fear and loathing – but is it all in our heads?’ by Jessica McGrann
I have been torturing people on this site for some time now, either shooting from the hip and keeping it real or espousing blatant abuse depending on our point of view. And different points of view are healthy, usually…? Over this time, my evaluation of unionism has been based primarily on the behaviour of […]