A recent post on the blog asserted that Ireland was not a nation. While I ignored the comment, not considering worth the dignity of an argument, I have since decided to just put it out there to provide the opportunity to debate the matter, regardless how daft I consider the statement. At least one person […]
January, 2016
Health and how to have it
(This article first appeared in the Andersonstown News) Where does health come on your list of priorities? Easiest question of 2016, you say: “At the top”. Even being mildly off-colour acts like a hand-brake on your life: the job’s harder, leisure time is a trial, parents snap at children, parents snap at each other. And […]
‘The legacy of the Easter Rising’ by Danny Morrison
(This article first appeared in The Irish Examiner and is now available on Danny Morrison’s website: www.dannymorrison.com ) No one, not the IRA, not Sinn Féin, not Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, or any party or organisation, owns or has a monopoly on the Rising or its legacy. But you can see from the reactions and opposition […]
‘IT’S REMARKABLE what you see on the internet’ by Donal Kennedy
Quite by accident I came across a diatribe by Ruth Dudley Edwards against various bodies which parade at Easter, calling themselves Oglaigh na hEireann . She described them as traitors. Most people are careful about using such terms, even when their own loyalties have been constant. Ms Dudley Edwards, in her obituary of her […]
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
It is that bit about a First Minister representing everyone in Norneverland where the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Ireland , constantly falls down and it’s where Arlene Foster , its current new leader,has already stumbled. If you represent every one of the people of the state , you have to do just that little […]
‘The Rising Arlene unable to Foster a new era within Political Unionism’ (Revised edition) by Ciaran Mc
First Minister in waiting, Arlene Foster, has ruled out attendance at events to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising. As a Unionist, Mrs Foster is entitled to choose whether she attends these commemorative events or not. But, in her future role as First Minster, representing all backgrounds, histories, traditions and cultures within Northern […]
‘Arlene, unable to Foster a new era of reconciliation within Political Unionism’ by Ciaran Mc
In an interview with the Impartial Reporter, and further ratified in an interview with the BBC, First Minister in waiting Arlene Foster has ruled out attendance at events to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising. Don’t get me wrong, as a Unionist, Mrs Foster has a right to choose whether she attends these […]
Arlene Foster: what’ll she be like as leader?
I’ve met Arlene Foster on just two occasions. The first was about twenty or twenty-five years ago, when I was interviewing unionists about living the Fermanagh border area. The interview took place in her Enniskillen office, and she was unassuming and friendly. I recall nothing of what was said except that at one point, in […]
‘Unionism – What’s in a Name?’ by Jessica McGrann
I have made my feelings towards unionism quite clear. I have put forward my opinion that it is nothing more than a sectarian division in Ireland that can be measured on a sliding scale of bigotry. However, while I detest such division in my country which I blame totally on unionism, to simply say […]
Jim and Gerry ( according to a source…)
How many republicans, would you say, would be happy to talk to Jim Cusack of the Sunday Independent? And during the conversation drop the odd little in-party tidbit, such as the fact that Gerry Adams was getting ready to resign? Or that Pat Doherty, the West Tyrone MP, was likely to succeed him? I ask […]