Author Jude Collins

The SDLP must think they’re living under a curse. It started around the turn of the century, when Sinn Féin moved out and passed them on the electoral road, and varoomed off into the middle distance. More immediately they must feel particularly jinxed. They were arguing over their leadership as Sinn Féin rolled into Belfast […]

As I write this I’m sitting waiting to be called by the Stephen Nolan Show on BBC radio, to talk about whether British soldiers from here are being treated unfairly. It appears that Scotland, Wales and England all have a specially-appointed advocate to see that soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress are looked after, following time […]

As I write this I’m sitting waiting to be called by the Stephen Nolan Show on BBC radio, to talk about whether British soldiers from here are being treated unfairly. It appears that Scotland, Wales and England all have a specially-appointed advocate to see that soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress are looked after, following time […]

Liam Adams is innocent. He is, you know.  The same as you’re innocent and I’m innocent and Uncle Tom Cobley and all are innocent, until proven guilty.  But given the amount of coverage his case has been given, if someone today said  to you “Liam Adams”, somewhere in the back of your mind the thought […]

Liam Adams is innocent. He is, you know.  The same as you’re innocent and I’m innocent and Uncle Tom Cobley and all are innocent, until proven guilty.  But given the amount of coverage his case has been given, if someone today said  to you “Liam Adams”, somewhere in the back of your mind the thought […]

Maybe it’s worked. Maybe electing Michael D Higgins has turned the south of Ireland’s luck. Because today – and we all share in this rejoicing, north and south – the southern government has discovered an extra €3.6 billion it didn’t know it had! Can you imagine how much money that is? No, neither can I […]

Maybe it’s worked. Maybe electing Michael D Higgins has turned the south of Ireland’s luck. Because today – and we all share in this rejoicing, north and south – the southern government has discovered an extra €3.6 billion it didn’t know it had! Can you imagine how much money that is? No, neither can I […]

That was an interesting news item on  BBC TV last night, wasn’t it? A young woman who’d worn a small poppy-emblem on her shirt was told to remove it as, presumably, her employers wanted a political-emblems-free zone. She refused and won. Now all the Poundland (is that what they’re called?) stores throughout the UK have […]

That was an interesting news item on  BBC TV last night, wasn’t it? A young woman who’d worn a small poppy-emblem on her shirt was told to remove it as, presumably, her employers wanted a political-emblems-free zone. She refused and won. Now all the Poundland (is that what they’re called?) stores throughout the UK have […]

I remember Barack Obama’s victory speech in Chicago three years ago.  Bet you do too. The vast crowd, the faces gleaming with expectation, the soaring oratory, the tears of joy and pride. One of our own, the black people said, one of our own. Stirring stuff. There was more stirring stuff in Galway last night […]