February, 2017

Listening to Mark Durkan in the House of Commons on the 6th February on the debate on the bill triggering article 50 confirmed three things. Firstly, Mark Durkan is the the outstanding Irish (Northern or Southern) parliamentarian and an excellent future candidate for the Irish presidency. Secondly, the British, whilst concerned not to upset the […]

I wonder what the breakfast table conversation this morning between Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and his wife is like. Are they saying “Isn’t it lovely that the HSE has made a statement and apologized to us for that child abuse smear they made against you, Maurice”? Unlikely, since the McCabes before this morning have been […]

During a previous Question Time episode, Peter Hitchens once remarked that Lord Michael Heseltine, a notorious political operator and chameleon, was quite the “very cultured demagogue” in chasing public opinion wherever he could find favour. It resonated with me that we have our own such figure within the ranks of People Before Profit, a populist […]

  From its beginnings in 1920 the border from Newry to Derry, imposed by the British government, has been a real obstacle in developing an all-Island economy and bringing about more prosperity and more job opportunities for all living on this small island. The first opportunity that Ireland had to break the British stranglehold was when they […]

First of all the details. Willy Paul for those of you who pay no heed to the eejitry that permeates through rural life was a character widely known in Magherafelt. Though not without his faults he was more commonly known to the Magherafelt area as the man in the trench coat who would randomly direct […]

A friend of mine, who happens to be very left-wing, and I were having food recently in a nice Indian restaurant when we got onto the subject of the upcoming election. This was someone who would have been supportive of the student-led People’s Democracy back in the day. I asked them why someone so left-wing […]

  The current scandal involving a lady called Penelope in Paris (presidential hopeful Francois Fillon’s Welsh wife who was being paid beaucoup dosh for a phantom job) and its coincidence with the US travel ban imposed on Libyans brought one back to an early morning in early 1977. One had just entered the girls’ secondary […]

The Younger Brother. by Randall Stephen Hall © 11.2.17   You fumble your thoughts Like a dropped ball Or string of prayer beads. Each narrow moment A blanket, to cover Your scraped knees And the burnt elbows Of a damaged nationalism. I am the small child To you, the bully. You tug and pull me. […]

  When the new Assembly has been elected, it is clear after listening to Michelle O’Neill on BBC on Thursday night, that it will not be back to ‘business as usual’ for Sinn Fein. The RHI scandal will have to be dealt with to the satisfaction of Sinn Fein and the general public. There is the […]

A!: Aaaghhh…This is awful! It’s like a noose is being tightened round my neck. I passed Ian Paisley two days ago and I’ll swear he made a movement across his throat with his hand. A2: Calm down –   you’re imagining things. Remember you are a strong leader. You are in charge of the DUP. You […]