Profile for Alan N/Ards
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Alan N/Ards has commented 149 times (7 in the last month).
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Books
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…if University education were universally available and availed of, the country would collapse in one generation
The words of Brian O’Nolan, variously Brian Ó Nualláin, Myles na gCopaleen, Myles na Gopaleen and, of course, Flann O’Brien. That O’Nolan was referencing his own dissolute student days at UCD only mildly distracts from the prophetic undertone of his words: I paid no attention whatsoever to books or study and regarded lectures as a [...] read our review »
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Help me with the West Wing: Essential viewing or Party Political Broadcast?
Having somehow managed to avoid watching a single episode of the widely praised West Wing TV series I was delighted to discover the entire Box set in my Christmas stocking – and with enough spare time over the holidays to give it a good lash. But with 10 episodes of the first series under my [...] read our review »
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Kevin Myers’ ‘Watching the Door’: Book Review
This reads as if a mad picaresque tale. Myers as first a reporter for RTÉ and then as a freelance journalist with no real experience, finds himself wandering into savagery as he hastens north as the Troubles explode. A soldier dies next to him; he witnesses an IRA ambush; he sees children shot to death [...] read our review »
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Comment on Sectarianism in Northern Ireland is common (and popular) across all classes…
on 21 May 2012 at 8:46 pm
Greenflag
The mistake that you are making here is equating all of sectarianism with religion. I would argue that there are more politically sectarian people in NI than religiously sectarian.
I would say that a protestant who openly supported SF or SDLP would be asked to leave ( if he was lucky) a working class loyalist area. The same goes for a unionist supporting catholic in a working class republican area.
Do you think that the so called peace walls are there to keep the church going protestant and roman catholics apart? They are there to keep the sectarian non church going loyalist and republicans bigots from killing each other.
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Comment on Sectarianism in Northern Ireland is common (and popular) across all classes…
on 21 May 2012 at 3:26 pm
Daniel and Greenflag
Do you really believe that if NI joins with the ROI that sectarianism will go away? I think not. I believe that it could get worse. If that’s possible.
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Comment on Normality and rugby
on 20 May 2012 at 8:59 pm
constitutional publican
Looking forward to the day the irfu and gaa do away the green, white and gold/orange “republican rag” that flies around The Aviva and gaa grounds on match days. Maybe when they do this, they might get support across all 32 counties.
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Comment on Normality and rugby
on 17 May 2012 at 8:30 pm
I wonder does Ulster rugby really need people like Barry McElduff supporting them. His “observations” of the Ulster contingent not singing the “national anthem” at international games is not very helpful when Ulster rugby is bringing the game across the divide. Why bring it up? He will be trying to get the “6 county” NI flag removed from Ravenhill next. He is not a rugby supporter and as a “politician” he should no better. He should be shown the door at Ravenhill for trying to stir things up. SUFTUM!
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Comment on Leinster would probably win 9 times out of 10, but…
on 17 May 2012 at 4:13 pm
SUFTUM!
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Comment on “A mix in society between Catholic and Protestant was lost at that time…”
on 25 April 2012 at 9:23 pm
Graham Norton (talking on radio 4 recently) was saying that protestants in West Cork when he was growing up, had a seige mentality. This was in the 70′s/early 80′s. When he moved there it was the summer and he played with the kids who lived near him. When the school holidays ended and he went off to the local protestant school and the other kids to the RC school, he didn’t see much of them again. Maybe things have changed and more of the kids around Bandon are educated together.
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Comment on SF Lord Mayor to step down before having to meet the Queen…
on 23 April 2012 at 4:57 pm
Once again, instead of SF showing the british people on the island of Ireland that their hand of friendship is genuine, they show us their forked tongue. Unionist’s have responded well to their president’s hand of friendship. She compared us to nazi’s but we forgave her and welcomed her back to our areas. The lastest president has been welcomed here as well. Well done Niall. Another blow for “irish freedom” as been struck. You are a true republican legend.
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Comment on For Unionists Only: What would you relish in a United Ireland?
on 18 April 2012 at 4:25 pm
I belive that Cyberbeagle is right in saying that Stormont needs to remain. I don’t have a problem with with the Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan being part of it as it will finally give those unionist’s left on the wrong side of the border a voice.
As someone the wrong side of 50 I would want to know what will happen to the contributions I have paid over the past 35 years towards my state pension. In a new Ireland what happens to these contributions?
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Comment on For Unionists Only: What would you relish in a United Ireland?
on 18 April 2012 at 10:10 am
This is a hard one. I have been thinking about for the last hour and I am struggling to come up with positive suggestions. One thing I do believe is that the peace loving majority in the south will be open to change. They will embrace a new constitution, flag, anthem for the new Ireland to make unionist’s feel that they belong. I’m looking forward to watching Ireland play in the 6 nations without the tricolour on show and a new anthem.
I believe the queen’s visit last year has shown that the peace loving majority in the republic have finally earned the respect of unionist’s in NI and the border counties of the republic. I believe that this new Ireland has to embrace the scottish connection for it to work and I have no doubt that it will. The same way that it will value the people from the orange side of the peace wall if it is to work.
The people in the 26 couties will appreciate the new health service that will come about if there is unification. I’m not sure if they will appreciate the higher taxation that is enevitable though. There are many things that can unite us but lack of respect and mutual understanding will keep us divided for a long time.
Maybe in the future, the first President of this unified ireland will be the elderly Ian Paisley jnr. I would certainly value that!
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Comment on PSNI officers suspended as result of sectarian and racist text messages
on 7 April 2012 at 3:24 pm
The McBride Principles. This is the famous or should I say infamous Sean McBride who led an IRA unit in a sectarian attack on Shankill rd united irishmen at the Wolfe Tone commemorationsin the 1930′s.
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