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Books
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Debating the Churches’ Role in the Peace in Northern Ireland
This morning’s Sunday Sequence featured a substantial debate (about 35 minutes into the recorded programme) on a new book,Religion, Civil Society and Peace in Northern Ireland (Oxford University Press 2011), written by sociologists John Brewer, Gareth Higgins and Francis Teeney. The debate was framed in an opening vignette by presenter William Crawley in uncompromising terms, [...] read our review » -
The peace process not such a good model after all
Which reminds me…. Platform for Change’s driving force Robin Wilson has produced a corrective to the notion that the lessons of the NI conflict are easily exportable. Like myself, Robin is associated with the Constitution Unit. He introduced his new book in a CU blog which I here reproduce. The water crisis in Northern Ireland [...] read our review »
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Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Somehow I escaped reading this essential school text, with its story of racism in 1930s American South. Living in Northern Ireland, I draw parallels with sectarianism, with its similar bigotry and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird was part of a Unite Against Hate campaign event at Parliament Buildings in Northern Ireland, which I’ve written [...] read our review »
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Comment on Ireland: “It’s simply not a country you can admire…”
on 8 March 2012 at 12:04 am
Considered points Mick and the expression of the Northern view on Southern affairs is essential. There’s no way I can say this without slightly playing the man/site, but I’ve been lurking on this site for a number of years and it was the sheer frustration at the slant of the majority of Ireland posts and comments that prompted me to register.
Cynicism breeds on internet forums and while Slugger has it’s fair share of grindingly pragmatic issues to deal with, I don’t see uninformed sneering as something that should be tolerated any more than inaccurate facts or inflammatory language.
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Comment on Ireland: “It’s simply not a country you can admire…”
on 7 March 2012 at 11:12 pm
“The Irish state has had 90 years of freedom from the UK and look at it. Where did republicanism get it?”
It gave us to freedom to f*ck things up ourselves but given the alternative to the utterly inept governance up until then, I don’t think you could argue that we would have been any better continuing to tolerate a British administration.
Ireland is a country with miserable faults but this site is not inclined now or ever to discuss the truly beautiful aspects of the nation with an atom of generosity or balanced rhetoric. The community ties, the peaceful life that is a given in 99% of the borders, the natural beauty and a value placed on human interactions. These might not slot neatly into a society model that holds taxation and civic duty as the pinnacle, but I would judge that Ireland has it’s priorities right over a lot of it’s European neighbours.
Carry on with the negativity as this url holds as it’s sole goal.
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Comment on Is Northern Ireland less innovative than the Republic?
on 7 February 2012 at 3:01 pm
This blog post sums up the entire Slugger site when it comes to discussing the South. Snide remarks and an utter lack of generosity from the Unionist community when it comes to any perceived achievement down there.
Why would anyone contribute to this site when it reads as 20-25 people trying to one up each other in negativity?
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Comment on Unionists too distanced from the future of the Union debate?
on 17 January 2012 at 12:45 pm
“A quick look South Mick,tells us all we need to know !!”
What exactly is meant by that?
Have you abstracted us away to the point where every housewife in Macroom is one GAA match away from diesel smuggling?
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Comment on Is O’Flaherty prepared to rattle *all* the cages?
on 16 October 2011 at 9:27 pm
“what consideration was given to finding a local person or at least someone with direct experience here…”
Racist slop…As a man who lived twenty miles from Enniskillen, would that be considered local enough for Tom?
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Comment on Five minute guide to building a bonfire
on 11 July 2011 at 10:29 pm
Should I be offended by all the weasly justification of burning the Tricolour at a public event or saddened that this goon take pride in the glory of stacking pallets and then burning them. Pissing away their potential, one Dutch Gold at a time.
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Comment on Irish flag – illegal in Ireland?
on 20 May 2011 at 11:21 pm
From a garda friend..
” That legislation is invoked whenever there is a large gathering, including at matches, concerts etc and covers the taking of any item that can be used as a weapon including bottles, glasses and Flagpoles. The flagpole one is usually more controversial because of importance attached to it..”
Instead of talking to the garda, she proceeds to play to the gallery. Can’t say she deserves much sympathy….
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Comment on Her Majesty’s challenge for the opponents of Irish
on 19 May 2011 at 11:16 pm
“Cavanman,
It’s alive and well then? Right so. ”
In the West where i live, it is in rude health, smiley face or none. I suggest taking a step outside of the Northern Irish sphere to see how this petty glueing of Sinn Fin to the Irish tongue falls apart in Ireland. It’s bigger than Gerry thank god.
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Comment on Her Majesty’s challenge for the opponents of Irish
on 19 May 2011 at 10:33 pm
Alf….Dumped is a strange term for a language heavily in daily use in the Western regions as well as inclusion in everyday phrases throughout all other regions..
Look up at the date on the calendar and realise that attitudes can change for the better as well
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Comment on Her Majesty’s challenge for the opponents of Irish
on 19 May 2011 at 10:08 pm
My own great-grandparents encouraged the use of English but never to the detriment of the Irish language.
I really think people need to have a bit more cop for the deserved respect given to a culture that permeates every single county of this island.
Her Majesty has it within her grasp to be that gracious towards it
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