Author Jude Collins

I recall seeing Alex Higgins in the flesh, as they say, on two occasions. The first was about eight years ago on a flight to England. He sat at the front, spoke briefly to someone who came looking for an autograph and looked like a seriously ill man. The second was about two months ago, […]

President Mary McAleese is a woman who, in a number of ways, I admire.  When the BBC was making a documentary about  Queen’s University’s 150th anniversary, she was a major contributor and over several days I got to talk to her and watch her interact with others. Outstanding intelligence and humanity at work.  So when […]

President Mary McAleese is a woman who, in a number of ways, I admire.  When the BBC was making a documentary about  Queen’s University’s 150th anniversary, she was a major contributor and over several days I got to talk to her and watch her interact with others. Outstanding intelligence and humanity at work.  So when […]

Next Monday I’ll be starting a week-long course in Irish at the McCracken Summer School on the Antrim Road, where I’ll be continuing my up-hill attempt to master the Irish language. One of the deepest regrets I have is that I allowed the incompetence, neglect and occasional brutality of my Irish teachers at school to […]

Next Monday I’ll be starting a week-long course in Irish at the McCracken Summer School on the Antrim Road, where I’ll be continuing my up-hill attempt to master the Irish language. One of the deepest regrets I have is that I allowed the incompetence, neglect and occasional brutality of my Irish teachers at school to […]

I wonder if former Justice Minister Michael McDowell has seen Billy (Spider) Kelly box?  Back in 1950s Derry  Billy was a champion fighter largely through his ability to bob and weave, which left his opponents punching empty air and eventually defeated. I ask the question because Mr McDowell has suggested that the Twelfth of July […]

I wonder if former Justice Minister Michael McDowell has seen Billy (Spider) Kelly box?  Back in 1950s Derry  Billy was a champion fighter largely through his ability to bob and weave, which left his opponents punching empty air and eventually defeated. I ask the question because Mr McDowell has suggested that the Twelfth of July […]

So Ian Óg Paisley has decided that Ulster-Scots isn’t a language. Well whoop-de-doop. In doing so he’s aligned himself with the majority of middle-class unionists who are simply embarrassed by the efforts of people like Nelson McCausland to push for Ulster-Scots parity with Irish. “Ulster-Scots is a language”  Nel insists. C’mere a minute, Nel, I  […]

So Ian Óg Paisley has decided that Ulster-Scots isn’t a language. Well whoop-de-doop. In doing so he’s aligned himself with the majority of middle-class unionists who are simply embarrassed by the efforts of people like Nelson McCausland to push for Ulster-Scots parity with Irish. “Ulster-Scots is a language”  Nel insists. C’mere a minute, Nel, I  […]

Asda is a big corporate bully. That ws my first reaction to the news that an employee had been sacked for telling some people playing music in the store car park that they should be playing ‘The Sash’. The employee makes a joke, the management don’t like the joke, the employee gets fired – a […]