As the American Presidential election hangs in the balance with Biden losing his ten-point lead and Trump polling better than expected, what can we expect as the outcome for the American people? The polls have been questioned again as being very far from accurate. The predicted landslide for Biden has evaporated like mist on a […]
November, 2020
BATH KNIGHTS THREE – WHAT A SHOWER! by Donal Kennedy
I’ve been musing on the merits of three individuals made Knights of the Bath during the past three hundred years, their friends, and subsequent careers. Benito Mussolini was Knighted by King George V in 1923. Nicolae Ceaucescu was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978. Keir Starmer was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014. […]
Trump and his fan-boy Johnson
Looking across the Atlantic this morning, Boris Johnson must be one happy man. The expectation that his role model, Donald Trump, would be brought to heel by the American electorate has proved ill-founded. More Americans voted for Trump in 2020 than did in 2016. So now Boris Johnson knows that You can have an absurdly-styled […]
Has Donald Trump been good for the US economy? And for equality?
When asked who’d be better for the economy, Americans are much more likely to reply “Trump” than “Biden”. And a promise to bring the stock market and prosperity to new heights if elected is one of Trump’s promises. So shouldn’t people in the US hold their nose today and vote for Trump? After all, it’s […]
PAT + JUDE TALK ABOUT LEO AND THAT DOCUMENT, OLD FOOTBALLERS, AND THE US ELECTION
Has Varadkar finally blotted his exercise copy? Up to now he was the moral guardian of Irish politics, clean as a new pin. But now he’s done an old pals’ routine – will the stain stay with him? Last week, Nobby Stiles died and Bobby Charlton was reported as suffering from dementia. How do you react to these idols, once so young and invincible, showing the onset of old age and death? Finally, Trump and that election tomorrow – will. you watch it? Through your fingers and behind the sofa? Is there anything to be said for the present incumbent of the White House? All the stories that need opening up with twin scalpels…
MORE ABOUT THE IRISH CHRISTIAN BROTHERS, DR CHRIS FITZPATRICK AND OTHER OLD BOYS WITH HANG-UPS by Donal Kennedy
My BLOG “Dr Chris Fitzpatrick & The Irish Christian Brothers (October 17th) incorporated the BLOG “The Promotion of Violence and the Irish Christian Brothers” which appeared in November 2015. And that BLOG was a verbatim transcript of a piece of mine published in THE IRISH DEMOCRAT in the 1980s called “Men of Violence, Brothers […]
Varadkar catches the FF virus
Oh dear. Has Varadkar caught the Martin virus? Since the formation of the most recent Dublin government, it’s been Micheál Martin who’s been experiencing a fever, nausea, a pounding headache and a loss of the sense of smell (yes, Virginia, handy if you’re heading up the FFers, but still.)But now his Tánaiste has been found […]
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1st 1920 : ANOTHER INCIDENT IN “THE RESTORATION OF ORDER IN IRELAND” by Donal Kennedy
You’d think the hanging of a prisoner of war would suffice for one day’s work in the “Restoration of Order in Ireland” campaign pursued by the British Government. But you would be underestimating the zeal of the agents of that restoration. Kevin Barry was hanged in the morning in Dublin In the afternoon, Ellen Quinn […]
The upside-down topsy turvy world of Irish politics by Fra Hughes
While Irish Republicans and Nationalists commemorate the centenary of Terence James MacSwiney Lord Mayor of Cork who died on hunger strike on 25 October 1920. The playwright, author and politician had been arrested for sedition against the British military and political occupation of Ireland during the War of Independence and died after 74 days in […]