July, 2022

Unionism’s selective condemnation of certain behaviour – by Carl Duffy

After a video emerged of ‘’chants referencing the IRA’’ at the recent Ulster Fleadh, there has been condemnation from politicians, public figures, and the event organisers. The Ulster Fleadh have stressed in their official statement that they wish to build relationships across all communities and in this respect, I can fully understand their public denunciation […]

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Sabina Higgins and that letter

Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins, is in hot water.  She recently wrote a letter to The Irish Times,  calling for a negotiated settlement of the war in Ukraine. In the absence of negotiation, she said, “the long haul of terrible war will go on”. The Ukrainians weren’t pleased. Kira Rudik, a member […]

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Respect and Respectability – by Michael Lagan

  “Respect our culture”. It’s a cry we hear most years around July time regarding bonfires and the like.  How respectable is Loyalist culture though? I’m a firm believer that everyone has a right to culture, a right to practice and enjoy their culture.  However, what I do not find acceptable is a culture which […]

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The Commonwealth Games – good clean fun?

As I write this, thousands of people are having a whale of a time in Birmingham. They are the Commonwealth athletes, and there are over 5,000 of them. Add to that the supporters of the 72 teams involved, either arriving with their team or living in Britain, and you’ve got an awful lot of happy, […]

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Politicians and courage

  There has been a great deal of tosh talked in recent days about courage. David Trimble has been the focus of much of it, with emphasis on  the boldness of his having come to an agreement with nationalists and republicans to share power. And the price his party paid for this. He has been […]

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  David Trimble: a slightly less bigoted Unionist – by Carl Duffy

The dominant narrative on what is euphemistically called ‘the troubles’ is that it was largely a sectarian conflict. Whilst this viewpoint conveniently diminishes the British involvement in our problems, it manages to thrive because it is based on partial truths. There is undoubtedly a sectarian element to our struggles, and it is within this context […]

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Last night with Rishi and Liz

It was one of those contests where you wonder “Is there no way they can both lose?” In the excitement of people identifying as belonging to the Rishi or the Liz camp, it’s easy to forget these are two right-wing Tories, both intent on slashing tax. The only thing that differentiates them on policy is […]

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David Trimble: a man with red hair

  De mortuis nil nisi bonum – We should speak no evil of the dead. So let me start by noting that David Trimble, who died yesterday, spared us the UUP under the leadership of John Taylor, aka Lord Kilclooney. At the time, Taylor was expected to grab the glittering prize. Trimble ended up triumphant. […]

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