Profile for Congal Claen
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Congal Claen has commented 164 times (3 in the last month).
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Books
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What has The Third Man got to say about Northern Ireland?
Tweet 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 [...] read our review »
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…if University education were universally available and availed of, the country would collapse in one generation
Tweet 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 [...] read our review »
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Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Tweet 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 [...] read our review »
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Comment on Peter Robinson: in 50 years’ time the votes of the culturally Irish will help ensure union remains safe
on 28 April 2013 at 8:37 pm
Hi FDM,
I’m from South Down and it was common knowledge.
“We will have to agree to disagree that calling individuals to attend an Irish/Nationalist forum would in itself be a sectarian act.”
There’s no agree to disagree on this issue. You yourself gave several definitions of sectarianism. Conveniently, this ignores the nationalist/cultural aspect of sectarianism. Religion and nationalism are just different faces of the sectarian coin…
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Comment on Peter Robinson: in 50 years’ time the votes of the culturally Irish will help ensure union remains safe
on 28 April 2013 at 7:57 pm
Hi FDM,
It is widely recognised that lots of catholics voted for Enoch Powell. That’s how he held onto South Down for so long.
“If an Irish/nationalist forum were held and there were only Catholics at it I don’t think I could bring myself to attend. I would see it as sectarian and therefore divisive.”
If prods attended it would still be sectarian. Sectarianism isn’t just defined by religion. Sectarianism may be the expression of a group’s nationalistic or cultural ambitions. So, an Irish/Nationalist forum is in itself sectarian before there’s any exploration of the religious makeup of the group.
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Comment on Peter Robinson: in 50 years’ time the votes of the culturally Irish will help ensure union remains safe
on 28 April 2013 at 1:45 pm
Hi FDM,
“Can Peter Robinson or anyone else for that matter provide me with a single vote or election result that can clearly demonstrate Catholics voting for the union? ANY election ANY time in this region will do.”
Enoch Powell being elected several times in South Down despite the religious makeup suggesting otherwise. I also believe rev Ian polled well in certain catholic areas – Rathlin, although small, being one…
I also know prods who vote the other way. Shocking isn’t it?
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Comment on What does the Irish flag mean to you?
on 2 April 2013 at 1:50 pm
Reality that didn’t live up to the ideology…
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Comment on Can the slow death of Irish Nationalism be averted?
on 2 April 2013 at 12:11 pm
Having also just been bailed out, I wonder are the Cypriot Greeks having anymore success persuading their North of the island from uniting with them?
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Comment on Theresa Villiers: “I’m extremely pleased that we were able to answer the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill’s request for a military helicopter…”
on 27 March 2013 at 4:04 pm
Hi JR,
It wasn’t search and rescue though was it? It’s delivering feed. Which requires aircraft that are suitable for transporting supplies ie not search and rescue helicopters.
Hi SK,
“casual xenophobia”
???
Hi Morpheus,
“Yes, those few minutes it took to call the guys in the Republic to see if they could help really were the difference.”
Well, those minutes seemed to add up. Up to 5 days as of yesterday.
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Comment on Theresa Villiers: “I’m extremely pleased that we were able to answer the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill’s request for a military helicopter…”
on 27 March 2013 at 3:15 pm
Hi Morpheus,
“Is that your level? Seriously?”
You missed my point entirely. I make no complaint about her asking for help from the MoD. Quite the opposite!
The point is that she wasted time by going to the Republic FIRST for help. That was the ourselves alone part of my remark. It was obviously a political choice and a bad error of judgment resulting in the needless deaths of many animals. It’s like the mayor of San Diego ringing up the Mexican Air Force for help!
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Comment on Theresa Villiers: “I’m extremely pleased that we were able to answer the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill’s request for a military helicopter…”
on 27 March 2013 at 12:02 pm
I wonder how many animals could have been saved had Michelle went to the MoD first rather delude herself that “ourselves alone” could handle it?
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Comment on St Patricks Day: Celebrating what it is to be Irish everywhere except NI (where we can’t agree what it means)
on 21 March 2013 at 4:17 pm
Hi Barney,
“Can British identity be separated from the English monarchy?”
Easily. British identity is way older than Englishness. It’s why I consider myself more British than Finchley. The English are relative newcomers to the British Isles compared to the ‘celtic’ fringes.
English monarchy? The current queen is the British monarch and she’s from German extraction. The family only changed it’s name from Saxe-Coburg due to anti German feeling over WW1. Previous to that we’ve had several Scottish monarchs, Dutch, Norman and Welsh to name but a few.
“Is royalism synonymous with unionism?”
Nope. Cromwell is on many an Orange banner. The ABoD shut the gates on their king. I personally think the monarchy is an excellent tourist wheeze. But, if it meant the return of the prodigal Irish to the UK I’d happily see it go.
As you say, “There are many ironies in our shared and overlapping history”.
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Comment on All but three islanders vote to keep the Falklands British…
on 13 March 2013 at 8:12 pm
“Despite all the Brit bullshit this is plain old imperialism. Everyone know what sort of scum the British have been over the centuries. No one is fooled by this charade..”
Being Irish ie from the island of Ireland means you’re British ie from the British Isles. But don’t let that stop you. A fool and his identity is seemingly easily parted…
As for partition comparisons – it was violent Irish Republicans who campaigned to partition the British Isles even though the 1918 election was won democratically by the Conservative and Unionist party.
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