April, 2020

For this week’s conversation we’ve added a third voice – that of Pat  (another one!) Coyle, originally from Derry, now living and  working in Dublin. We had quite a few headings we had hoped to cover but as so often happens with these things, time outruns intentions and I kept getting warning lights from Zoom to tell me our time was up. Anyway, do have a look at the three-way chat and then tell me, on […]

This Easter Monday, the “Irishman’s Diary” in THE “IRISH” TIMES, written by Brian Maye, commemorates the Centenary of the birth of Liam Cosgrave, described as a man ” unafraid to speak his mind”. I reopened a volume called “Great Irish Speeches” which selected the speech he made as leader of Fine Gael at that Party’s […]

Sometimes, in our anxiety to achieve something, we make promises that haven’t a chance of being fulfilled. We’re on an airplane and suddenly there’s a bout of really scary turbulence. We put our seat in the upright position, close  our eyes and pray to God to get us out of this nasty situation, we’ll stop […]

LETTER TO THE IRISH TIMES 9th February 2007 Madam, If the raising of this matter had a precedent, the House might have been brought down by a chorus of Urination Once Again. Certainly the question of relieving all of the punters all of the time requires measures that can escape stadium managers. Some years ago, […]

LYNDON JOHNSON demanded that anyone in his administration must be willing “to kiss my ass at High Noon in Macy’s window and swear it smells of roses.” BBC comment on Queen Elizabeth’s recent speech, like all her speeches these past eighty years attest to its loyalty  – and TV is a  vastly more public medium […]

I have no problem with people being English, Scottish or Welsh. I don’t even mind unionists calling themselves British. Sure I find it odd that people who live on the island of Ireland want to be described by another term.but then again  how they chose to identify is a matter for them. It’s  the fawning, […]

When you’ve got a huge threat like the coronavirus, which respects no border and no social rank, there’s a temptation to throw up the hands and say “It’s a mess. One day it’ll be over but for now let’s just accept it – it’s a mess.” Right on both counts. It is a mess and […]

I blame the media. I know that’s an old tune played screechily,, but I really think it needs repeated loud and audible. Politicians may do good things or politicians may do bad things, but if the media don’t grab them by the lapels and demand “What kind of sense does that make?”, then they’re failing […]

This is an interesting weekend that’s coming up in the south of Ireland. With the Covid-19 related death count at 235 and the prospect of a warm or even sunny Easter weekend, it’s going to be tough for people in the south to maintain self-isolation – as it will be for all of us. There […]

This is the second conversation I’ve had with Pat McArt, former editor   of the Derry Journal.  It differs, I think, from most interviews in that  we’re covering ground on a range of topics in a fairly free-wheeling way. I am, of course, deeply biased, but playing these back I      find them much more accessible than a hard-nosed, topic-focused interview.  I asked last time for feedback and how people are      reacting when they view the discussion, and I got some very practical    suggestions that have helped. Could I ask you to do the same with this – and maybe make suggestions for topics in future discussions, as we’re   hoping to make this a weekly affair and it would help if we were  guided by what people viewing think.  So I welcome all responses – on     Facebook or by emailing me at judejcollins@gmail.com, noting that  there is an extra ‘j’ in the middle of that email address. Meanwhile, bainigi sult as –  Enjoy.