Important Notice

Attention, All:

Starting on 1 September (Friday), for reasons too tedious to list, this site will not be hosting any guest blogs or posted comments, with the exception of SATURDAY PICS OF THE WEEK.  My thanks to the many people who’ve written guest blogs – I’d urge you to think about setting up your own site – you have much to say. To those who posted comments my thanks also. At the end of September the situation will be reviewed.

42 Responses to Important Notice

  1. giordanobruno August 30, 2017 at 12:21 pm #

    Fair enough.
    And what is the important notice?

    • Jude Collins August 30, 2017 at 1:00 pm #

      Ah gio. Graceful as ever…

      • giordanobruno August 30, 2017 at 1:48 pm #

        Just a wee joke Jude. Couldn’t resist.
        In truth I will miss commenting here. I enjoy it obviously and so do others or we wouldn’t do it.
        Thanks for hosting our views as abhorrent as they often are.
        I do hope you will find the time to open it up again.
        A blog without comments is a sad lifeless sort of thing, like a ghost town where the juke box is still playing.
        See you in the next life, if there is one.
        Ádh Mór Ort!

  2. fiosrach August 30, 2017 at 12:32 pm #

    Who will you pedanticize now,gio?

    • giordanobruno August 30, 2017 at 12:40 pm #

      fiosrach
      There are others who need my help!
      But Jude will allow us back into his sanctum sanctorum soon I am sure (unless it is a legal issue!) .
      The only thing worse than having ones opinions talked about is not having them talked about.

  3. fiosrach August 30, 2017 at 12:36 pm #

    Jude, this is equivalent to raising a large family to almost-maturity and then turning them out into the snow and rain on a winter night in their bare feet and with no food. Some of us have nobody else to talk to. I mean, when did you last laugh out loud at Slabber MacFool?

    • Scott Rutherford August 30, 2017 at 1:42 pm #

      Guess we will just all have to talk to people in real life about such issues without the veil of secrecy the internet allows……..scary thought eh.

      • fiosrach August 30, 2017 at 1:55 pm #

        You mean you’ve got a real life! Nah.

        • Scott Rutherford August 30, 2017 at 2:05 pm #

          lol very good Fiosrach.

  4. huge Celt. August 30, 2017 at 1:56 pm #

    Ball burst.
    Game over.

  5. Ceannaire August 30, 2017 at 2:10 pm #

    A pity, Jude. I like reading the comments, after reading the blog (not that the comments are better than the blog!) and will miss them. I’m sure you have your reasons for this.

    If, after a review, there are to be no more comments – then I wish you, Jude, good luck, even better health and many thanks for the opportunities to comment. I’ll still visit every day.

    To all the other posters – thanks for the debates and food for thought throughout the years. The best of luck also to your good selves.

  6. Dan August 30, 2017 at 2:23 pm #

    That sucks
    Comments are litigious I suppose and a real pain to police.
    I just hope this development wasnt after a recent topic that spewed comments about an unliked southern woman, in Irish nationalist circles anyway, who is in the DUP fan club and rues the day Ireland broke free.

  7. John O'Flynn August 30, 2017 at 3:05 pm #

    Thank you Jude for sharing your knowledge and perspectives over such a long time. Your supporters and friends from Canada appreciate you. Cheers!

  8. angela August 30, 2017 at 3:17 pm #

    Yes Jude .Thank you so much for all your blogs and thank you also to most of the people who replied. It certainly was an education for me ( esp PK and Fiosrach and Gio). I willl still log in every day to read your words of wisdom.

    Ah dear God you have left me only politics.ie Have pity on me Has anyone got any recommendations?

  9. Bridget Cairns August 30, 2017 at 3:37 pm #

    ah, such a pity, but thanks for the thoughtful insights on many topics Jude…….

  10. paddykool August 30, 2017 at 3:47 pm #

    Aw Jude …it seems as though I’v e taken my eye off the ball and onto the honeybees for a few mere moments of Summer, to find that on my return the house has been burned down to the ground..Has there been trouble at mill?. Granted I have not been as promiscuous with my prose these past few weeks ,but i dare say that when Winter kicks in and the days grow shorter that I will miss the quiet tinkle of rancour and the odd laugh out loud hoot from our regulars…..not to mention the platform you kindly offered me for my own specific howling at that bloody moon.Still….it has been relatively quiet politically of late and in the absence of the circus there has become less and less to scribble about except for the honeybees and if truth be told we are all in danger of repetition .So thank you for your time and effort these past years and adieu for now…i will pop in to look at the old patient now and then on a daily basis ……but my lips , like everyone else’s , will be sealed.

  11. michael c August 30, 2017 at 3:55 pm #

    Jude,in this place nothing stands still .I remember in the mid 90’s the “talkback” programme going off air for supposedly a 2 month break .Suddenly Drumcree launched the North into crisis and David Dunseath was blasting from the airwaves within a couple of days.Any major news story and I think normal service will resume under the slogan “back by popular demand”!

  12. Perkin Warbeck August 30, 2017 at 4:07 pm #

    As long as we hungry sheep look up and are fed, Esteemed Blogmaster, no problem.

    We can then get the lend of the lens of a Leika and like it or not, concentrate on eliminating our photographic failings. From now on, brevity is all, ‘say cheese !’ is the call and wooly thinking is O.U.T.

    FOCAL ar FHOCAL

    Focal means word in the Leprechaun
    Focal to cameras is like sleep to yawn
    A snap of the one
    In yap, ten of a ton
    This Special A of a new era is the dawn.

  13. Stephen Kelly August 30, 2017 at 4:26 pm #

    Thank you very much Jude for the chance to comment. I will still look forward to the Saturday pictures, i especially like your own wildlife ones as i never get the chance to see such wonderful sights.

  14. ben madigan August 30, 2017 at 5:57 pm #

    Sorry to hear of this decision Jude.

    I’ve very much enjoyed all the contributions and the comments.

    Here’s hoping for a later reincarnation of the blog, sometime in the future!

    Best wishes to you and all our friends here

    Ben

  15. TheHist August 30, 2017 at 6:42 pm #

    Saddened by this, Jude – but credit to you for hosting guest blogs and giving people, like myself, the opportunity to put their views across on a public platform. I haven’t been on the blog site as of recent, due to that old thing called life, and have genuinely missed it. I always enjoy reading your articles and your viewpoint. GRMA.

  16. PaulG August 30, 2017 at 6:59 pm #

    Thanks Jude,

    You’ve provided the Platform for for some very interesting posts (at least we’ll still have yours) and some lively debates and banter.

    If anyone is about to take up the mantle, perhaps they’ll leave a link on this page.

  17. Billy Pilgrim August 30, 2017 at 7:59 pm #

    Sorry to hear this, Jude. Thanks for being such a gracious and erudite host all this time. You’ll be much missed.

  18. Prunch August 30, 2017 at 9:48 pm #

    I don’t post here Jude but visit the site daily and I really like reading the different views in the posts. Love your blog.

  19. dedeideoprofundis August 30, 2017 at 11:05 pm #

    will not be hosting any guest blogs or posted comments, with the exception of SATURDAY PICS OF THE WEEK

    No mention of your own contribution there, can we still expect the gospel?

    • fiosrach August 30, 2017 at 11:27 pm #

      You can expect some plants soon.

  20. Brian Patterson August 30, 2017 at 11:16 pm #

    Thank you Jude for providing a platform where we could perform to thunderousapplause orhowls of derision. Or put our head in a noose, metaphorically of course. Thanks to all who contributed in a civilised manner, the vast majority. I know some will whisper, “He has n’t gone awat you know..”. Slán tamaill.

  21. Daithi O Floinn August 30, 2017 at 11:35 pm #

    Jude
    I will be waiting a return to the comments , have people not got the courage to hear the truth. It is on the next generation you are doing this to, who every you are!

  22. Colmán August 31, 2017 at 2:03 am #

    Go raibh maith agat a Jude. I love your blogs as well as Perkin’s and Harry’s blogs. Pity we can’t comment anymore. You should think about having Disquis installed on your blog and then the onus is on the commenters to keep things fair and clean.

    Go n-éirí leat!

    • paddykool August 31, 2017 at 9:38 am #

      Many thanks Colman…and Angela and anyone else who enjoyed my scribblings and my alter-ego ,Harry’s input. It was fun these past few years .Take care one and all..

      • Patrick August 31, 2017 at 2:56 pm #

        I have to say I really enjoyed your contributions to Paddy, both your guest blogs and comments. You have a good way with words and always seemed to hit the nail firmly on the head.

        Thanks to you Jude for having the patience to keep the comments section open for as long as you did. A great effort and i’ll be sure to continue to read your blogs as you have a great talent for them. Thanks again and take care!!

      • giordanobruno August 31, 2017 at 3:12 pm #

        paddy
        Good luck to you and your wasps.
        I’ve enjoyed our debates and respect to you as a master debater!

        • fiosrach August 31, 2017 at 3:58 pm #

          Trojan horse alert, Harry!

          • paddykool August 31, 2017 at 5:05 pm #

            Awwwwwww that ol’ gang o’ mine …..

  23. Pointis August 31, 2017 at 7:22 am #

    I hope everything works out Jude. Sounds like back to school blues setting in! I think the readers and contributors will certainly miss the vibrancy of your blog site. They will have to go cold turkey for September and perhaps beyond. Your have provided a much needed sounding board for diverse views which can be therapeutic and aid understanding and perhaps empathy.

    Best of luck in whatever you decide.

  24. Patrick August 31, 2017 at 9:23 am #

    Sorry to hear that Jude, the best northern and southern Irish Political Blog and Comments on the net.. Will miss your guest Bloggers Paddy, Perkin, Joe and others. Take care and hope everything back to normal soon and tks for the brilliant blogs and discussions up to now.

  25. Patrick McDermott August 31, 2017 at 9:31 am #

    Go raibh maith agat, a Jude a chara, le gach dea-mhian.
    Níl eolas ar luach an tobair go dtí go dtéann sé tirim.

  26. Paul Burns August 31, 2017 at 2:06 pm #

    Thanks Jude, I will continue reading but I’m really going to miss The Perkin’s comments.

  27. Hugh Britton August 31, 2017 at 4:33 pm #

    Thanks Jude. It will be a real loss. You facilitated an exchange of views and insights which we never would have accessed only for your blog. So it is has been both informative and often educational. So who will fill the void ?
    Go raibh maith agat a chara agus ádh mór leat le an todhchaí.

  28. Shevy September 1, 2017 at 12:09 am #

    Thank you Jude.
    I really enjoy reading your blogs. This is the first time I have left a comment and unfortunately my last opportunity to do so.

    I just want to thank you.

  29. Gearóid September 1, 2017 at 6:02 pm #

    Jeepers, I feel I’m at a wake here reading these contributions. It is indeed unfortunate that Jude has been forced to take this decision which I’m sure didn’t come easily. As for you Jude, it was one of my daily pleasures to be able to read and interact in some small way with your blogs and those of the other contributors. I will miss it sorely, so yes, I suppose it is like a wake. I feel like singing “The Parting Glass”….. Or some such.

  30. Freddiemallins September 4, 2017 at 8:54 pm #

    Still hoping this is a temporary measure only, Jude. Will miss the craic.