March, 2016

The British Broadcasting Corporation has a worthy motto “NATION SHALL SPEAK PEACE UNTO NATION.”  Those who’ve enjoyed Evelyn Waugh’s novel “SCOOP” featuring the hapless war correspondent William Boot of  “THE DAILY BEAST” may echo the Editor who endorsed the press magnate’s certainties – “UP TO A POINT, LORD COPPER.” Or even, Lord Reith. Deference and […]

A politician died on TV last night – did you see it? Of course he may have been dead for the past two years and we didn’t notice, but last night delivered the definitive verdict: Basil McCrea is dead. I mean, of course, dead as a politician. He was caught up in the explosion (or […]

EVENING ECHO, Cork—1.3.2016 The Rising didn’t fail, elections proved that JOHN Dolan and T. P. O’Mahony (Jan 9) complain that the 1916 Easter Rising had no mandate. Mr O’Mahony says (Jan 23) that, unlike 1916, the unmandated American armed revolt was justified by the popular support it enjoyed, and that is why, unlike 1916, the […]

That Trump, eh? What a clown. He’s insulted women, Muslims, he plans to build a wall between the US and Mexico (and make Mexico pay for it) – it would be easier to list his virtues (he’s very rich) than provide a catalogue of his ghastliness. So thank God to have Hillary Clinton, hugely popular […]

BBC Scotland and various talking heads have spent time this week examining   Scottish education and discussing how funding might be found to close what has become known as  ‘the attainment gap’ ; it has been fairly well documented that children attending schools in better-off areas generally are more successful than those in deprived communities. There […]

  Sinn Fein’s first President (1905-1908), Edward Martyn, was a very wealthy and very cultured man. He gave much of his wealth to establish the Palestrina Choir in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral, the Pipers’ Club in Dublin, and the Abbey Theatre.All of which survive and thrive. The Pipers’ Club gave birth to Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann and the […]

“My heart is with Longford; my people are from Longford – over 200 years. What I want is strong representation for Longford.” – Manchán Magan, Green Party candidate in Longford-Westmeath I’d be the first to say that pride in one’s county is a commendable thing – but then I would say that, being from Tyrone. […]

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was over in Greencastle Co Tyrone two days ago, taking part in their 5-mile protest run. I did this interview with young Bernie Fox, who impressed me enormously. The local people have a job on their hands combating the might of the Canada-based mining company that’s set […]

Don’t tell me that Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) man Sammy(there’s no such thing as Global Warming) Wilson ,has agreed with comments of a racist nature .It appears so at first hearing .Should any of us be surprised? I don’t really think so .This seems to be only more in a long litany of similar comments […]

Two examples of political sleight-of-hand (that’s the polite term for them) this morning, one in the south and the other in the north. In the south, the Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin has “demanded” reforms in the way the Dail works. This morning’s Irish Times tells the tale: “Mr Martin outlined major elements of his […]