June, 2020

THE TIMES told me yesterday, 24 June 2020, that it was the anniversary of the beginning of a forgotten war, which arose in 1950 when Korean troops crossed the 38th Parallel into Korea.(Thirty one years earlier a Korean patriot  had made his way on foot all the way to Versailles, petitioning the victorious Allies to […]

In December 1918 the unarmed Irish electorate, in the most emphatic exercise in self-determination established a democratic republican parliament and government. In 1920 the electorate confirmed their faith in their choice in local government elections. And in 1921 they established the Second Dail Eireann. Throughout that period they supported the institutions they had established, including […]

Here’s Lady Macbeth giving her husband what-for, because he’s acting scaredy-cat about killing King Duncan: “…Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would’ Like the poor cat in the adage”. Things have come to a pretty pass when the wife is comparing you to […]

I suppose I’m a generic Sin Feiner, as I believe in a sovereign independent democratic Ireland. It’s a belief long held by most Irish people irrespective of party sympathies.And any reservations I’ve had about the Sinn Fein party have been minor ones, As every humbug in these islands hates Sinn Fein I’d rather not join […]

A prominent republican once told me that the main barrier to a reunited Ireland could well be people in the south rather than unionists in the North. In general I disagree with him on that, but the Letters Page of the Irish Times two days ago suggests he’s maybe right. The heading is ‘Voting on […]

Why are the various parties in the south hell-bent on agreeing a government  by Friday?  That’s because the Special Criminal Court will have run its course very shortly and the government in the south needs to meet and reinstate the Special Criminal Court. What’s so special about the Special Criminal Court, you ask, Virginia? Well, […]

As sometimes happens, there has in recent days been a surge of topics which almost demand attention. But after some mulling  over, Pat and I decided to look at the life and death of Vera Lynn and Bobby Storey. Two more different people you couldn’t find, and yet in some ways there are similarities.  See what you think and let me know. Meanwhile, bain sultas – Enjoy…

I am cheered by the fact that Ireland has won a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Ireland has generally played an honourable and at times an outstanding role in international affairs, in the interests of all mankind. Our soldiers – that is soldiers whose sworn allegiance has been to Ireland have helped or […]

I never met Bobby Storey. In fact I don’t think I even glimpsed him in real life. But his occasional appearances on TV and stories about him, once seen or heard, were unforgettable. Most recently – that is, some years ago – he stood out when he grabbed the microphone and declared “How dare they! […]

“It came out that the Bush people had asked John Major’s government to look into my activities in England. According to news reports the Tories complied………although they claimed …. (that this) was in response to press inquiries……..Two Tory campaign strategists came to Washington to advise the Bush campaign on how they might destroy me the […]