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Books
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The Earl Bishop
Interesting BBC article on an upcoming presentation and talk [Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 17 August] by lecturer and broadcaster Stephen Price on the subject of his new book – The Earl Bishop. The 18th Century ”Earl Bishop” was Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry. Hervey was also elected [...] read our review »
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Have we Learned our own Lessons? Book Review of John Brewer’s Peace Processes
Northern Ireland’s peace process has been promoted as an international success story. The Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs has its Conflict Resolution Unit, which aims to disseminate the ‘lessons’ of the Northern Ireland peace process. And some of the prominent players in our peace process have travelled abroad to other troubled spots to share their [...] read our review »
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Lessons in Cute Hoorism: “Graft was accepted, for you were taking from the British…”
I’ve been catching up on some reading, recently. Most pleasantly surprised by John Drennan’s latest opus from Gill and Macmillan, Cute Hoors and Pious Protestors… It’s early days yet, but I was struck by this paragraph, part of a dissection of Fianna Fail near the beginning: One of the more fatal consequences of our colonial [...] read our review »
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Words escape me…
He’s good, Mr Redfellow, a thinking treasure.
A stout fellow ….
Here’s someone with plenty to say about Rockall!
I am immensely flattered to deserve a thread on Slugger, and for the occasional kind comment above. Whew! Fame at last.
However, Belfast Gonzo @ 05:07 PM raises an itch I need to scratch. Does anyone know whether there is a script available of David Frost’s listing of the then-remaining British Empire?
It was on an edition of That Was the Week That Was and famously concluded:
… Malta, Gibraltar and sweet Rockall.
The last bit is well known and widely recycled, but I’m seeking the whole list.
I love the Shipping Forecast! It is really quite soothing.
So that’s how you spell “Utsire”, all this time I’ve heard North Utsire and South Utsire and I couldn’t for the life of me work out what the actual word was and being a lazy so and so I never bothered checking, well now I know.
The shipping forecast does seem to soothe in a way no other broadcast does. I used to work overtime every saturday morning and Radio 4 was always on the walkman. When the shipping forecast came on one was transported to somewhere between north utsire and south utsire. It is something about the rhythm and the timbre that makes it work. Its totally irrelevant to me but you think it must be relevant to someone or why would it be broadcast. Anyway as an Irish Catholic its one wee bit of British culture that hits a nerve and which I hope continues!!! Good will to all !!
I agree with those who mention it’s oddly soothing quality. It’s one thing I miss about being in the UK/Ireland, not having Radio 4 in the car for TMS, Today and the World At One.
TSF has a wiki entry too.
and before the grammar police get here, I know that apostrophe shouldn’t be there.