Is it time that the British people looked again at the decision to leave the EU? Since they voted for Brexit, the UK has stumbled from one disaster to another, and now the UK is predicted to be in recession for at least two years. Why is there not at least some discussion of looking […]
THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN: C.P.SCOTT’S MEETING WITH EAMON de VALERA – by Donal Kennedy
Scott’s political diaries were published in 1961, nearly 30 years after his death, apparently unnoticed by Irish commentators. Below is his entry for 15 July 1921: – “Saw de Valera in his hotel this afternoon. A whole bevy of people in the sitting-room, through which Childers showed me to the bedroom, where the great […]
Talking about immigration – by John Patton
Yesterday, I had lunch in a little café in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh; it was clean, hospitable and offered an affordable menu. I had vegetable soup and bread with a coffee; it was delicious; without asking, I was brought a little jug of water, laced with a mint leaf by the […]
United Ireland planning and today’s Irish Times
I found two absorbing articles in this morning’s Irish Times. The first was about the views of Bertie Ahern regarding a reunited Ireland, the other a comparison of the education systems north and south. Bertie first. The title of the article is ‘Former Taoiseach warns against holding Irish unity referendum’, which is massively misleading, since […]
PAT + JUDE TALK TO BRIAN McCABE, FORMER DISTRICT COMMANDER IN THE NYPD AND PROMINENT IRISH-AMERICAN
Today, Pat and I have a slightly different vlog/podcast, because we’re talking to a New Yorker (yes, in New York) by the name of Brian McCabe. Brian is a former District Commander in the NYPD and a prominent figure in Irish-America. Pat and I ask him questions about the degree to which Irish-America is a […]
THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN’S C.P. SCOTT ON THE SIGNING OF THE ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT IN LONDON 1921 by Donal Kennedy
“Came up to London 2nd December…at Hammond’s * urgent request who reported the situation almost desperate and was anxious for me to see Lloyd George. Hobhouse** concurring. Met Laski*** and Hammond at Euston and talked while Hammond had lunch. Laski reported conversation with Churchill in which Churchill was full of threats of John Bull […]
Key Historical Documents from “THE IRISH REPUBLIC” by Dorothy Macardle
“After the 15th day of October, 1922 we, the Army Council, will exercise all the powers and do all the matters and things in the first paragraph of this proclamation mentioned, or any of them, according as the same shall seem necessary or expedient. The said Regulations as to the Trial of Civilians by Military […]
PAT+JUDE TALK ABOUT THE DUP ELECTION, PUTIN’S LONG SPEECH, THE SOUTH AND REFUGEES, & HARRY THE SPARE
Oh no! Not another one? Yep, another election is headed our way in our dear stateen, courtesy of the DUP. You’ve heard of the dam-busters? And the Ghostbusters? Meet the DUP – the protocol busters. To quote Doug Beattie regarding the next number of weeks: “It should be fun”. Did you catch Vlad Putin’s long […]
REVIEW OF ‘THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN’ by John Patton
McDonagh has enjoyed signiicant success in the theatre and those skills illuminate the script and direction; actors require characters who are multi-dimensional and lines which have meaning and are contextually appropriate; music, set and costume are important dramatic forces in a production. These requirements are well fulfilled in the film; each of the cast […]
LETTER FROM RORY O’CONNOR FROM MOUNTJOY GAOL AUGUST 1922 – by Donal Kennedy
“The lies and hypocrisy of the Free State leaders are astounding, especially to those of us who took part in the Army negotiations for unity and those who know the whole inner history of those negotiations. We were never requested to evacuate the Four Courts. On the contrary, at one meeting of the Coalition Army […]