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John Laird for Christmas?
John Laird (Lord Laird of Artigarvan) is unionism’s jester. His memoir A Struggle To Be Heard ” by a True Ulster Liberal” (from Slugger’s shop on Amazon here) might serve more as a heavy stocking filler than anybody’s idea of a main present. In it he wears the masks of comedy and tragedy to turn the [...] read our review »
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“It was a trivial problem that… occurs every year”
Just your average family gathering at Christmas, with a bit of an argument about the seating cleaning arrangements… Scuffles have broken out between rival groups of Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics over a turf war in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. Bemused tourists looked on as about 100 priests fought with brooms while cleaning the [...] read our review » -
The ANC, the IRA and the rise of influence of the left within Sinn Fein…
World by Storm has a nice piece up on the IRA’s role in helping MK, the armed wing of the ANC, in the 1980s. In particular he sees a strange alchemy at work there: …if one can think of a clearly legitimate contemporary struggle it was that against apartheid and it is to the credit [...] read our review »
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Comment on Willie Flags Up An Interesting Question
on 23 May 2012 at 11:25 am
The “outrage” from the usual suspects simply highlights the nationalist dislike of anyone, willie include, who reminds them of their disgusting acts
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Comment on Normality and rugby
on 18 May 2012 at 2:56 pm
“Still, your story does fit the whole ‘protestant holocaust in Derry’ thing, and that’s what’s most important”
I personally picked glass off on 2 occasions The club was regulary vandalised It was well out in country in those days.
There was a schism in the club as far as I can remember and a new club was formed in the waterside—-Londonderry YM ?? and City of Derry declined
Again (its a long time ago) I think the old guard wanted to stay at Branch Road but the industrial development of Buncrana Rd not to mention the regular abuse of property and players left them isolated hence the eventual move
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Comment on “The link between taxing and spending is basic to democracy…”
on 18 May 2012 at 2:45 pm
“Newton’s case is that they don’t have the means to change that without asking for tax varying powers…”
No chance – You are either in or out of a fiscal union
The UK will not tolerate any local changes which impact on the UK tax take without a quid pro quo. The corporation tax shambles is a classic example. Income Tax ? same thing will happen – the block grant gets cut.
There is sheer terror in the political class at the thought of local tax powers. The subset of Democracy that would arise is that horror -accountability. Currently they can all whinge about westminsters parsimony- who would they blame if they had full responsibility?
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Comment on Normality and rugby
on 18 May 2012 at 12:51 pm
“There was City of Derry Rubgy club on the Buncrana Road, but it was very much viewed as a protestant sport and so the only contact we’d have with it was in fightin with some of the regulars comin out of their functions at the weekend (just kids stuff happily). Always did seem a strange place for a Rugby club – not sure if it’s still there – don’t think so, but haven’t been down that way for some time now.
City of Derry –imagine having th temerity to have a Rugby Club in er Derry –they are long gone from the address called the “Branch Road” despite the main entrance being on the Buncrana Road. They got fed up picking up the glass from the pitches after PIRA had bombed them again (as representatives of the “occupiers”.) They took the hint and fled along with the rest of the prods to the “waterside”. Fled so far from the centre that some said it shoild be called Eglinton Rugby Club.
They were heavily prod- filled with Foyle old boys– the mick element was, from memory, professionals /teachers who had played rugby at training college /university in England
PS They had one of the Greatest No 8′s ever to play rugby the late great Ken Goodall
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Comment on Martina Anderson to take over from Bairbre de Brun as MEP?
on 16 May 2012 at 10:43 am
“reading “the Derry Journal at all.
Some mistake surely– one “takes” the Times Telegraph etc one “reads” books— “read” the Derry Journal –hardly
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Comment on “Given these circumstances we believe the soldiers used reasonable force.”
on 4 May 2012 at 4:03 pm
“But sure the Loyalists weren’t the aggressors, they were only killing a smaller number of people back.”
It all depends when you start the count.
The murder campaign continues ( with less effect and at an appreciably lower level) amonst those who have not been bought off (yet/?).
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Comment on Cardinal Brady should go – in charity
on 4 May 2012 at 3:56 pm
Take a leaf from the public sector –After a decent interval -kick him quietly “upstairs” to the Roman catholic equivalent of the House of Lords or the senate.. A call from Rome for a special project etc?
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Comment on Calls for withdrawal of NIO may be good for coverage, but…
on 2 May 2012 at 2:25 pm
Careful —he might take his cheque book with him
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Comment on Where are our MLAs?
on 30 April 2012 at 2:54 pm
“Barnshee, surely by not attending they saved that mileage, particularly those furest away”
A quick FOI shows that those cars sure are being regularly used. Oink Oink
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Comment on Derrytresk GAC call off police road safety event under local public pressure…
on 30 April 2012 at 12:52 pm
“East Tyrone Republican Youth Committee tag and references to IRA re-enactments and colour parties.”
Any chance of Loughgall and Gibralter “re-enactments” Perhaps Michael stone could be co-opted?
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