Profile for Blue Hammer
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Blue Hammer has commented 176 times (6 in the last month).
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Books
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Hearing the Other Voice from the Grave: Why Should we Listen to David Ervine’s Stories?
Tweet Ed Moloney’s Voices from the Grave: Two Men’s War in Ireland has received considerable attention in the press and in the public realm since its publication earlier this year. Although the book relates the experiences of the Provisional IRA’s Brendan Hughes and the PUP/UVF’s David Ervine, much of the discussion has focused on Hughes’ [...] read our review » -
Ulsters Last Stand?: Can Unionism Move Beyond Insurance Policy Politics?
Tweet How has Ulster unionism arrived at where it is today – fractured and uncertain, yet dominated electorally by the DUP, a party that tells us it offers unionists sure footing in uncertain times? In his latest book, Ulster’s Last Stand? Reconstructing Unionism after the Peace Process (Irish Academic Press, 2010), Prof. James McAuley from [...] read our review »
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The Earl Bishop
Tweet 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 [...] read our review »
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Comment on “…go around to every fool on this planet and open their eyes to the mountains that surround them in life.”
on 13 May 2013 at 10:12 am
Only heard about this young man due to a tweet of condolence posted by the DFM. A swift Google search revealed a truly inspirational story. Donal’s story in his own words was powerful beyond anything you could expect from a teenager.
Proof that you don’t need a long life to have a valuable and meaningful life.
Rest in Peace, young man.
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Comment on “A lot of Northern Irish funding rewards bad behaviour” (with few positive outcomes)
on 5 May 2013 at 9:30 pm
FDM
Linfield have a deal with the IFA. If the IFA want to break it they’ll have to pay. That’s just common business practice. I’ll say it again – how the IFA fund that buy out is not Linfield’s concern.
To clarify your position, are you suggesting that the IFA should walk away from the 1984 deal and go with the TerrorDome plan? If so should Linfield just acquiesce quietly and give up their guaranteed income stream without a peep of protest?
Personally I wish they had done just that, but only after settling with Linfield who could then have built a ground suitable for Linfield FC. The proposed upgrade looks great, but I don’t fancy rattling around it for the next 50 years.
In saying that, it was great to see Windsor so packed yesterday, despite it being by the Gurns and the Reds.
A reminder of how it used to be. And maybe will be again.
BTW – Linfield changed their approach to the CNR community many years ago not due to UEFA pressure, but because it was the right thing to do. Hopefully Cliftonville will consider reciprocating sometime soon.
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Comment on “A lot of Northern Irish funding rewards bad behaviour” (with few positive outcomes)
on 3 May 2013 at 4:45 pm
Morpheus
As regards Windsor, you will see from my previous comments I agree with you on the best solution ground-wise for Linfield. A new 5-7000 capacity stadium would be perfect.
But with the “contract” in place, guaranteeing 15% of home gates that’s not going to happen. So we need to look at how to move forward which meets the needs of NI and Linfield. I have no interest in NI or where they play. Those who do follow them would not accept the TerrorDome. The IFA remain hamstrung by the deal signed in 1984. The only way forward is for the IFA and Linfield to renegotiate, and as things stand Linfield hold the whip hand in those negotiations.
Disappointing that you agree with FDM on my club. The club you describe is not the one I follow. While fans may be nearly 100% PUL, the club has a long history of cross community team make up, and community outreach across the M1.
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Comment on “A lot of Northern Irish funding rewards bad behaviour” (with few positive outcomes)
on 3 May 2013 at 4:01 pm
Morpheus
Line one: Thread Title: “A lot of NI Funding rewards bad behaviour”
Line two: Your comment “Rewards. Linfield getting a £25m new stadium plus £600k a year to cover their wage bill at the taxpayers expense while the rest squeeze every pound until the Queen squeaks.”
Between those two lines it is quite clear, I’d imagine.
As far as sectarian hatred, I apologise unreservedly to you for including you in that comment. FDM should have that one all to himself.
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Comment on “A lot of Northern Irish funding rewards bad behaviour” (with few positive outcomes)
on 3 May 2013 at 3:27 pm
Mick
FDM and Morpheus are suggesting that Linfield’s “bad behaviour” is being rewarded with taxpayers money.
Looked at objectively, signing a voluntary, yet legally binding agreement with the IFA to host 100 years of NI matches at Windsor in exchange for 15% of the gate was simply good business, not “bad behaviour”, but why let the truth get in the way of sectarian hatred and lies. Linfield have a deal, adn are quite correct to ensure that changes to that deal are not detrimental to the interests of Linfield FC. If the IFA wish to move matches to the Maze Terror Shrine, Blanchflower Stadium, Ormeau Park, North Foreshore or anywhere else, they can buy out the contract. Where they get the money to do so from is neither my, nor Linfield’s concern, but I would imagine this would have been factored into any business plan for the TerrorDome.
Having checked with the clubs concerned, I note that Glentoran received no payment for the use of the Hoval for the CAS Final, Glenavon never receive anything for the use of Mourneview for NI U21 games, and the North Belfast big two allow use of Seaview and Solitude (NB who paid for their 4G pitches??) to all comers for no financial consideration. Oh, wait. . . .
Life in a glass house, eh?
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Comment on “A lot of Northern Irish funding rewards bad behaviour” (with few positive outcomes)
on 3 May 2013 at 11:19 am
FDM
In terms of your main point about the publication or not of a viable business plan to support the Windsor upgrade there is little I would disagree with – they should either publish or confirm there is nothing to publish.
One thing you fail to mention is the legally binding 100 year contract, signed in 1984, whereby the IFA undertook to host all NI home games at Windsor Park, with Linfield receiving 15% of gate money in payment for the use of their facilities. At that time, no other NI ground had the ability or potential to host NI games, so Windsor, as the (even then) biggest and best ground in the country was the only option and Linfield, as its owners, had the IFA over a barrel.
Hindsight is 100%, obviously, and with that it is clear that in 1984 someone in the IFA made a colossal screw-up with the terms of that deal, but 30 years later that is not Linfield’s fault. So by all means build a stadium at the Maze, but NI cannot play there. Which is convenient as no NI fans want to have anything to do with that site, and its soon to be established Shrine to Terror.
As a Linfield fan, I also agree with your hope that the Crues win their legal bid. I have no desire to watch Linfield play in a 20,000 capacity stadium with only 2,500 people in it. It would be like Queen’s Park at Hampden – dead atmopshere in a ground we could NEVER fill. My ideal would be for the IFA to buy themselves out of the LFC deal, giving us sufficient money to raize Windsor to the ground and rebuild a tight, compact, modern 5,000-7,000 capacity ground fit for our purposes. We could aspire to grow our attendances to fill it, and the improved atmosphere would assist with that, rather than the opposite effect in a 20,000 capacity empty bowl.
Finally, at the risk of engaging in whataboutery, Linfield are not the only team, either here, in RoI or in the rest of the UK whose fans sing off-colour songs. That, sadly, is the nature of football fans worldwide. I’d be interested to know your view on the Leeds fans’ Munich songs, Celtic’s pro-IRA chants, everybody’s “Always the victims, it’s never your fault” Liverpool songs, and how they are any worse or better than the “Billy Boys”. Or is it only “virulent Loyalism” that gets your goat?
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Comment on #Flegs: They haven’t gone away you know…
on 19 April 2013 at 12:14 pm
FDM
Firstly – I am in full agreement with you re Reds/Crues.
What is your view on the restrictions applied to Linfield fans coming to Solitude? Do you think we will ever see Blues fans travelling there in the same way as they do to all other gounds (including DC), or will the current Ballysillan/Bus scenario remain?
Interested in your view from a Reds background.
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Comment on #Flegs: They haven’t gone away you know…
on 18 April 2013 at 4:45 pm
It’s an absolute scandal.
If the Blues can be got in and out of Solitude for a match as important as last Saturday’s, then the Reds should be able to get their full support into Seaview.
Hopefully we’ll see the day soon when the Blues can attend Solitude just like any other ground. But I can’t argue for that if the same courtesy cannot be extended to Reds fans visiting any ground too.
As FDM said on another thread, watching the Reds play this year has been a pleasure (apart from when they tortured us, nearly every time we played them), so blocking people from seeing them , and losing potential long-term fans, is madness.
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Comment on The new old firm…
on 17 April 2013 at 1:44 pm
“FDM
Or alternatively you could go out and support your local Irish League team.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the standard, as long as your are watching the current champions Cliftonville of course…”
Batten down the hatches – I find myself in total agreement with FDM!! SUPPORT THE IPL!
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Comment on Margaret Thatcher: An Ireland ALMOST reconciled to a bitter legacy from the Troubles…
on 10 April 2013 at 2:02 pm
FDM
“By acting as brutishly/britishly [delete as appropriate] she extended the conflict by 15 years at least”
The “conflict” ended with the PIRA ceasefire/surrender (delete as appropriate) in August 1994. Based on your comment above, Thatcher extended it by 15 years, so by your reckoning it could have ended in August 1979, only weeks after her election. I call “bullshit” and fear you are simply repeating the SF line so constantly drip fed to you from Connolly House.
Someone (who might lead me to fall foul of Godwin’s Law) stated that if you want to tell a lie and have people believe it, make it a really big fucking lie.
Good work FDM.
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