Author Jude Collins
A day of handshakes and a life well-lived
Yesterday in Derry was a day of handshakes. Michelle O’Neill leaned across several people in the Long Tower chapel (nobody in Derry talks about the ‘Long Tower Church’) to shake Arlene Foster’s hand. Gerry Adams shook hands with Michael D Higgins, and then led him and Bill Clinton across the front of the chapel to […]
Nell McCafferty on Peggy and Martin McGuinness.
Irish Daily Mail, March 22, 2017. “Me and Martin, the boy next door.” There was a stonethrowing riot against the British Army going on in Derry in 1970. I stood watching it with the late Pulitzer Prize-winning US journalist Jimmy Breslin, who coincidentally died on Sunday. I explained to him that Martin McGuinness, who […]
‘Sinn Féin and history’ by Donal Kennedy
Brian Feeney in Belfast’s IRISH NEWS (22 Mar) says – ” “Martin McGuiness was […]
Being meticulous and searching out the truth
I tend to be whatever the opposite of meticulous is. Broad brush. Sweeping. Sometimes ill-informed. That’s why admire people who take a forensic approach, who look carefully at claims, match these with facts, and draw conclusions. That’s why I find this article by Danny Morrison impressive. I’d be interested to know if you think I’m […]
Irony and amputated history
Irony abounded yesterday. Enda Kenny spoke of Martin McGuinness’s ‘terrorist past’ while standing in front of a huge portrait of Michael Collins which decorates his office. BBC and RTÉ reporters stressed the need to see Martin McGuinness ‘in the round’ – that is, besides being a peacemaker who worked tirelessly for reconciliation, he was […]
‘BELLS are RINGING for ME and my G ! ‘ by Perkin Warbeck
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Waterford to Dublin Town the bells were ringing on Sunday March 19. Yes, Quay to rhyme with Bay rather than, say, the key of, G. And Waterford in place of, say, Galway. For it was in the Church of Ireland (sic) Cathedral of Christ Church […]
‘Impossible Space’ by Randall Stephen Hall
© 21.3.17 When someone dies They leave behind them An impossible space. For their family and friends. For their enemies and for those Who never really understood them. Like an individual wave Pushing and pulling against the hard edge Of a Derry quay. Each wave only comes the once To be replaced by another and […]
The life and death of Martin McGuinness
I was all set to do a blog about two of the famous men who died over the last week – rock and roller Chuck Berry and Catholic Bishop Eamonn Casey – but the news of Martin McGuinness’s death has meant that must wait for another day. I first met Martin McGuinness in the early […]
We’ll be voting in the next Irish presidential election – Hooray! …No, wait a minute
There are smooth operators and then there’s Enda Kenny. During his much-reported trip to the White House for St Patrick’s Day, besides being made (with his wife) President Trump’s new bestest friend, Enda revealed that he’d be seeing to it that the Irish diaspora (that’s me and you too, folks) will have a vote in […]