Stormont Brake pulled for the first time
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We are approaching the two year anniversary of the announcement of the Windsor Framework. Rishi Sunak at the time trumpeted the ‘Stormont Brake’ as the big concession he wrested from the European Union, though many Unionists (such as Jim Allister) …
Where stands Irish Rugby heading into 2025?
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Having won the Six Nations, tied a series with the Springboks in South Africa, and won 3 out of four November internationals, Ireland stands ranked #2 in the world, which is some improvement on our quarterfinal exit at the hands …
To dream of a White Christmas is probably as close as you’ll get to one
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With multiple wars (most notably in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar), political instability (most notably in France, Germany, South Korea and the United States) and the ongoing cost of living crisis it is perhaps forgivable that the inexorable progress of …
PSNI and Met Police acted illegally by spying on two Belfast journalists…
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From Julian Fowler at the BBC: The landmark ruling was made by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in a case brought by Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney. It found that the actions of police when mounting an undercover surveillance operation …
Kneecap movie shortlisted for two Academy Award nominations…
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From the BBC: It has been included among 15 films shortlisted for the International Feature category in the 2025 Oscars, after The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) selected the film for Ireland’s official submission. The trio’s Sick in the …
Belfast’s transport system is currently flat on its face with acute congestion…
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We talk of cities in human terms. They’re the ‘beating heart’ of an economy with ‘arterial routes’ into the city. Cities have financial ‘nerve-centres’ and a ‘circulation’ of people and traffic. People are the ‘life-blood’ of a city. When people …
After #GE2024 even in the south Sinn Féin remains haunted by its own largely secret northern legacy
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I’ve put off writing an analysis of Sinn Féin’s fate in the southern general election on Feynman’s principle that “if you can’t explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it.” I’m still not sure I do, so only time …
Israel closes embassy in Ireland
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For many years, Sinn Féin and other left-wing organisations in Ireland have made calls for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Ireland (normally during periods of heightened tensions in the Middle East) but this has always been resisted by …
Open sunday – politics free zone…
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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.
Open Sunday – discuss what you like…
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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.