Profile for Chris Donnelly
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Latest posts from Chris Donnelly (see all)
Chris Donnelly has posted 593 times (1 in the last month).
Willie Flags Up An Interesting Question
The ever vocal loyalist campaigner, Willie Frazer, struck an embarrassingly remorseful chord this week after his Tricolour fury was revealed to be a case of misplaced rage. Having labelled St Patrick’s PS, Donaghmore, as a “junior headquarters of SF/ IRA youth” after believing that he’d seen an Irish Tricolour flying from outside the school, Frazer [...] more »
Parading & the Lessons for Conciliatory Strategies
Yesterday I was in attendance for the annual Easter commemoration held in Ardoyne for local republicans from the Ardoyne, Ligoniel and Bone areas who had lost their lives in the struggle for Irish freedom. The occurrence of the event would not have likely registered with the neighbouring loyalist communities on account of the fact that [...] more »
PSNI officers suspended as result of sectarian and racist text messages
Four PSNI officers have been suspended following an internal police investigation which uncovered racist and sectarian text messages. Whilst not revealing the content of any texts, ACC Judith Gillespie did make this remark during her press statement on the matter: “I would be confident that if you had access to any of these texts, you [...] more »
Is it time for unionists to make peace with Ireland’s Patriot Dead?
Undoubtedly the most notable feature of Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit to Dublin last year was her laying of a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance, honouring those Irish republicans who had given their lives in the cause of Irish freedom throughout the centuries. Whilst such practice may be expected by Heads of State on [...] more »
On Robinson as leader & the limitations of his ‘slightly conciliatory’ strategy
Peter Robinson’s speech at the inaugural Edward Carson Lecture has already been the subject of one thread on Slugger, but I thought it worthwhile to provide a follow-up thread with analysis of the content and what it tells us about the thinking of unionism’s premier strategist, Peter Robinson. But I’ll begin with a bit of [...] more »
Trayvon Martin, the hoodie and new media
Many on this side of the Atlantic will have become aware of the growing controversy surrounding the killing of a black teenage boy in Sanford, Florida, on February 26th of this year. Trayvon Martin was a 17-year old black boy who was shot to death by George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch volunteer known for being particularly enthusiastic in [...] more »
Sinn Fein and new media
As one fairly new to the world of Twitter, I owe Mick and a number of others thanks for pointing me in the direction of this fascinating and seemingly effective use of new media by Sinn Fein in Mary Street, Dublin. As Mick put it, Sinn Fein appear to be streets ahead of the Irish [...] more »
The Siege of New Forge: Unionism’s latest pyrrhic triumph.
In the great tradition of unionist pyrrhic victories, the RUC Athletic Association has decided against following the policing service in the state and moving towards becoming a body reflective and representative of its new membership and the political future heralded in by the respective political agreements of Good Friday, Hillsborough and the Patten Reforms. The [...] more »
More on loyalism’s red, white and blue Paddy’s Day in Armagh
With loyalists intent on upstaging the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Armagh this year, I thought it appropriate to highlight some of the contributions on the subject by individuals associated with the controversial parade. Let’s take a look at the parade organiser and some-time contributor to Slugger, Quincey Dougan. In 2010, Quincey penned this article. In it, he [...] more »
Peace Monitoring Report: Should there be a strategy to tackle long-term catholic unemployment and deprivation?
One of the inconvenient truths of the peace and political processes to date has been the fact that all available statistical evidence continues to confirm that catholics remain considerably more disadvantaged in socio-economic terms than their protestant neighbours in the north of Ireland. The Community Relations Council’s Peace Monitoring Report reaffirms this fact, highlighting that [...] more »
Latest comments from Chris Donnelly (see all)
Chris Donnelly has commented 839 times (1 in the last month).
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Books
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The lost art of reading (or drowning in too much information)…
Here’s a great review of a fascinating book (H/T reader Rory) on how the Internet is destroying our capacity for intelligent, focused and critical thought. It opens thus: …here is the news that Ulin brings in this slim, meandering book: that reading is “an act of contemplation”; that such an act becomes more difficult in [...] read our review »
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What has The Third Man got to say about Northern Ireland?
Short answer: very little, other than he enjoyed the environs of Hillsborough Castle, enjoyed working with the local politicians, and has Gerry Adams to thank for Bobby his dog. Peter Mandelson’s book The Third Man has captured media headlines in recent weeks as the Times serialised the most juicy bits. But what did he have [...] read our review »
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Ulsters Last Stand?: Can Unionism Move Beyond Insurance Policy Politics?
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 the [...] read our review »
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Comment on Willie Flags Up An Interesting Question
on 20 May 2012 at 11:00 pm
Ryan
But defining what is controversial can be the actual problem. Poppies in Dundonald or Lillies in Derry may not present problems for specific school communities but others on the outside may object.
Bangordub
True to a point, but exposing such hypocritical attitudes is surely a part of inching society forward to a place where we reach better understandings of one another.
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Comment on Two more convicted of menacing comments on Facebook…
on 13 April 2012 at 6:00 pm
Some context is important when examining this case, which I reported on at the time on the following thread:
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/08/20/rasharkin-parade-will-facebook-threats-lead-to-psni-action/
McKenna was in Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors band at the time of the offence and one of the comments he made that the judge read out was
“never a prouder moment than 2nite parading past the daithi mckay bastard in rasharkin. put a bullet in each o the cunts and they’ll not be back agin – wankers.”
I think we should all be glad that the PSNI stepped up to the mark on this occasion, but the backdrop of the story perfectly illustrates another issue which formed the subject of a more recent thread:
http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/04/11/parading-the-lessons-for-conciliatory-strategies/
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Comment on The Siege of New Forge: Unionism’s latest pyrrhic triumph.
on 22 March 2012 at 11:13 pm
Mick
That’d be missing the wood for the trees, wouldn’t it. Though, naturally, I can understand why you’d prefer that ‘angle’ to the story.
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Comment on You say RUC AA, I say Police Athletic Association Northern Ireland (or else!)
on 20 March 2012 at 10:05 pm
The fact that loyalist murder gangs get no electoral support speaks volumes.
Blue Hammer
Given that this is the centenary year of the Ulster Covenant, perhaps you could do with engaging in a bit of reading when not supporting the ‘Blue Hammers…’
Then you might realise that, were it not for unionism’s ability to ensure the anti-democratic tradition of Britain’s rule in Ireland was maintained courtesy of the Covenant, Curragh Mutiny and ultimately partition, then political unionism would have been where Irish republicans ended up in the ‘terrorist/ freedom fighter’ rotation.
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Comment on A victory…. for tolerance and respect
on 20 March 2012 at 6:44 pm
Mick
‘Less well understood’ is rather mischievous.
It is pretty well understood, and that is part of the problem.
After all, there is no rational reason to seek to march where one is not welcome as part of the celebration of a cultural identity.
In Ardoyne, that has meant loyalist paramilitary bands marching beneath a banner named for a loyalist killed minutes after killing a local catholic.
I’d say people have little problem understanding that.
In Springfield Rd, that means actually opening up the peace wall to allow loyalists to infringe on ‘the other’ s side for no other godly reason than to antagonise.
In Coleraine, that means still trying to bring a band with numerous members implicated in a sectarian murder of a local catholic into contentious areas (incidentally, on that shared inclusive culture, perhaps you’d do well to remember that loyalists in Coleraine used the presence of a solitary tricolour in the town as an excuse for the murder.)
And, of course, in Portadown, it means still whining 5,000 days later because they can’t annoy the Garvaghy Road catholics (apparently the lesson of the Quinn children has not been long forgotten.)
And we could go on, and on, and on….
It is, I’m afraid, a case of being far too well understood.
The challenge stands. If, and indeed, when, unionism reveals itself to be prepared to play host to reciprocal republican commemorations- complete with republican bands etc- then a much, much stronger case can be made for moving towards a culture which is defined by mutual respect and tolerance.
The asymmetrical nature of the current situation means that is not likely. Therefore it is for those- like Quincey et al- to show just why nationalists are apparently ‘misunderstanding’ this band culture.
And I’d contend that seeking to aggravate ‘the other’ by erecting loyalist flags in Limavady and organising controversial marches in Armagh on the day traditionally associated with a celebration of an Irish identity is not really the best way.
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Comment on You say RUC AA, I say Police Athletic Association Northern Ireland (or else!)
on 20 March 2012 at 6:30 pm
RUC AA as Ireland’s version of The United Daughters of the Confederacy….
Coming so soon after Robinson’s tantrum over the prison service symbols, I’m assuming that appeal for catholic votes has been put to the side…..again.
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Comment on A victory…. for tolerance and respect
on 20 March 2012 at 4:21 pm
Plausible arguments abound as ever on Slugger. Always an audience for those willing to argue black is but a darker shade of white etc.
Yet it still boils down to this, in spite of Mick et al’s best efforts to suggest otherwise.
A republican parade near the venue of loyalist parades on July 12th would be regarded as an incendiary act, calculated to aggravate unionists on the day when they celebrate their British identity.
The evidence has been presented to expose the motivations of the band organisers as being cynically premised on a tissue of lies.
The net result of the loyalist action was, as Billy points out, that many people feared a violent confrontation in Armagh and simply made alternative plans.
As has been said before, were the loyalists actually interested in simply commemorating the occasion, or indeed staking a claim to the British and protestant identity of Patrick, then they could have simply continued with the established tradition of marching where they had done for many years (safe in the knowledge that, for many other days throughout the year, Orange and loyalist feet would parade through Armagh.)
They didn’t because respecting the legitimacy of the Irish nationalist tradition remains a problem for too many within unionism.
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Comment on A victory…. for tolerance and respect
on 19 March 2012 at 11:11 pm
Billy P
On a point of order, ‘Slugger’ hasn’t been pushing any narrative as Slugger doesn’t speak with one voice.
Indeed, as you can tell from my own contributions on Slugger, I think the line being spun by Quincey and Mick is so absurd that even most unionists are buying it.
What happened in Armagh was simply loyalists at their lark again. Several weeks ago, they were at it in Antrim, trying to strong arm their way into the commemorations for the dead British soldiers at Massereene.
It’s simply the manifestation of a cultural identity which struggles to define itself other than through its opposition to ‘the other.’
Thankfully, in Armagh people did not take the bait.
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Comment on A victory…. for tolerance and respect
on 19 March 2012 at 2:52 pm
I am sickened by your continuous accusations that our culture sets out to “antagonise and aggravate” 99% of parades do not do so in anyway, do you think a whole culture exists to cause offence in that 1%?
DR
You have skipped over my observation that most unionists are more than capable of celebrating their identity in a positive manner.
But regarding the others, the quick answer, Drumlin, is to prove it.
There are scores of republican parades throughout the year, and having attended a number of them, and witnessed (albeit more reluctantly) many loyalist ones, there appears to be little difference in the quality of music on offer from most.
But maybe that’s because I’m a pianist in my leisure time and more accustomed to hearing a better quality of music…..
But I digress….
The simple challenge to the loyalist band/ marching culture is to show itself less interested in ‘the other’ and more interested in celebrating their own collective identity.
That means following the republican lead and organising marches when and where such processions are welcomed and do not seek to harm community relations.
I’ve used the example before of republicans voluntarily rerouting commemorations away from the Stewartstown Rd interface with the Blacks Road protestant community.
If it’s simply about enjoying onself, why thrive on such conflicts, not least since it is obvious even to all but the most naive of loyalists that they would not countenance forceably ‘hosting’ republican commemorations in the same manner that they seek republican/ nationalist communities to host loyalist parades.
Furthermore, address the practice of ‘claiming’ territory through flags and other symbols, usually associated with marching. Again, there have been numerous examples to illustrate that loyalists would not dream of tolerating reciprocal territorial marking in either mixed or majority unionist communities, so why incorporate it as a part of your parading culture?
In other words, do unto others……
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Comment on A victory…. for tolerance and respect
on 19 March 2012 at 10:56 am
Drumlin
There are Irish republican bands which march in a similar manner. Hardly unique.
More interesting is Quincey’s reference to “specific partial demand” which appears to be a MOPEish claim stemming from the fact that his bands weren’t to be allowed to play whatever they wanted nor fly whatever colours they wanted as part of the main St Patrick’s Day parade.
Well done to all those in Armagh who refused to take the bait laid out by Quincey and his cohorts. It is indeed a tribute to their maturity.
I do, however, agree with the gist of Quincey’s final sentence, where he notes the differing “approaches to cultural expression” in the 6 Counties.
Irish nationalists are very comfortable celebrating their cultural identity in a manner which does not seek to antagonise nor aggravate unionists. So are many unionists.
Alas, it remains a problem for too many within the Loyal Orders and the ‘unique’ band tradition- something confirmed yet again by the marking of the 5,000th day since the brethren were refused the ‘right’ to annoy the Garvaghy Road catholics in Portadown.
Alas, it remains a problem for too many within the Loyal Orders and the ‘unique’ band tradition- something confirmed yet again by the marking of the 5,000 day since the brethren were refused the ‘right’ to annoy the Garvaghy Road catholics in Portadown.
Differing attitudes to cultural expression indeed, Quincey.
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