Outside there were about 200 protestors, with professional-looking banners declaring that the police/RUC/PSNI were not welcome in West Belfast. Inside it was packed, but my companion and I sidled past people and snaffled two reserved seats in the front row…Well, they could have been reserved for us, couldn’t they? Casual dress was the order of the day, […]
Tag Archives | Martin McGuinness
Burning the evidence
Last year around this time an effigy of Gerry Adams was hung from a bonfire. Mr Adams, I believe, asked his solicitor to report the incident to the PSNI on the grounds that it was a hate crime. Odd – I don’t remember anyone being prosecuted for that over the last twelve months. Do you? […]
That McGuinness – what a nerve, eh?
On the train coming out of London on Sunday evening, I met two young women who had been at the mass demonstration against austerity. Their praise for the speakers at the rally focused mainly on Jeremy Corbyn, but they were also very happy with Martin McGuinness’s contribution and what he had to say. They […]
The DUP and referendophobia
Well, last night’s TV debate was a fractious wash-out, but it did sluice into the public debate one important point: the DUP don’t like referendums. You’ll remember Arlene Foster’s response when there was talk of a border poll: “Be careful what you wish for” she warned those seeking one. In other words, if a referendum […]
Talking about Ruth and age
Man 1: What do you think of old Ruth? Man 2: Old Ruth who? Man 2: There’s only one old Ruth – Dudley Edwards. Man 1: That’s got the makings of a chant in it: ‘There’s only one Ruth Dudley Edwards, one Ruth Dudley Eeeeedwards…’ Man 2: Yes but why do you call her ‘old […]
Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams: what if?
It’s funny how the unthinkable can, when you’re not looking, turn into the thinkable. Ten, fifteen years back, it would have been unthinkable that Martin McGuinness would have found ways to work with Ian Paisley, and vice versa. Chalk and cheese, oil and water, the immovable meets the unstoppable. But they did. And those who […]
Last night in the Wellie Park Hotel
It’s a tricky job writing about the man who hires you to write a weekly column; but since there are people who think every word I write stinks of bias anyway ( i.e., my political thinking differs from theirs) there’s little to lose. Last night I was at the launch of Mairtin O Muilleoir’s campaign […]
Ruth Dudley Edwards gets bare-knuckled
Brace yourselves. Just as politicians with an eye on Westminster have started getting in some serious shadow-boxing, so too those with an eye to boosting their favoured party via the media have pulled out the singlet and wriggled into the shorts. (No, no boxing gloves involved, Virginia. This is bare-knuckle stuff we’re talking here.) And […]