Although I have strong political views, some of those who think differently from me I genuinely like. One is Alex Kane. Another is Malachi O’Doherty. That doesn’t mean they don’t talk/write tosh. Let’s confine ourselves to Malachi for the moment. In a recent Belfast Telegraph article, titled “Michelle O’Neill has dashed hope of new republican […]
Tag Archives | Sinn Féin
Scandalous endorsement that got the light touch
Journalists have a way of disappointing you. A political story comes up and, while they report it, they don’t return to it again and again, especially now when politicians are vulnerable in the run-up to a general election. In ways it’s hardly believable. The example I have in mind is the fact that the Irish […]
The SDLP parks the bus across the road
As I type, I’m listening to John O’Dowd on Good Morning Ulster . O’Dowd has been asked by Noel Thompson what the election of an abstentionist Sinn Féin MP would do. His response cut to the heart of the abstentionist debate/distraction: what have those MPs from here who take their seats in the House of Commons achieved ? Noel […]
John Finucane and Emmanuel Macron: separated at birth?
The National Front, Marine Le Pen’s party, was doing its best to carry the burden of defeat last night. Legs wobbling, it pointed out how her father had got somewhere around 18% in 2002, so her 35% showed the party was on an upward path. That’s convincing until you look at Emmanuel Macron, the man who defeated […]
The Stormont talks: is there a way out?
Talks, eh? Is there a people anywhere in the world that’s done more talking than people here? I’m not talking (that word again) about yarns in the pub or in the back room or on the street: I’m talking about political talks. Who won’t talk to whom, who insists on talks about talks, before they’re […]
‘The anti-equality axis in the North is blocking political progress’ by Declan Kearney
“Restoration of public confidence in the political process, reestablishment of the political institutions; and future stability now depends upon implementation of the agreements, equality and respect for all in society and adherence to the GFA.” – Declan Kearney An equality ‘revolution’ in the north of Ireland has been bubbling just below the surface […]
Monday morning blues or Monday morning blue skies?
“We had a successful election”. “You can’t be worried about something that happened three days ago” If I tell you that these two statements were uttered by the same person, you may be a little surprised. If I tell you that they were uttered before half-past nine this morning on the Nolan show, by Gregory […]
Always look on the bright side of BREXIT
Here’s a little paradox to cheer you up this crisis-loaded Monday: July and August used to be known in political circles as the silly season. This Summer, can you think of a description further from the truth? And at the same time, can you think of a description nearer to the truth. Let’s talk about that […]
People Before Profit is neither Orange nor Green – hooray!…But hey, wait a minute…
Well, that was interesting. Or maybe not. Just as the south’s election finally gets decided in the form of a new/second-hand government, the weeks of noiseless campaigning up north have come to a muted climax, as the winners beam and the losers try not to look as though someone had put a hole in their chest. […]
How to discredit someone who criticises (that’s you, Gerry Adams)
As the world and its big sister know by now, Gerry Adams was refused entry to the White House over St Patrick’s Day. He waited for over an hour to see if whatever impediment was blocking him could be removed, then left when it wasn’t. He later said he considered his being barred unacceptable and that […]