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Help me with the West Wing: Essential viewing or Party Political Broadcast?
Having somehow managed to avoid watching a single episode of the widely praised West Wing TV series I was delighted to discover the entire Box set in my Christmas stocking – and with enough spare time over the holidays to give it a good lash. But with 10 episodes of the first series under my [...] read our review »
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“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review
This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the fence. [...] read our review » -
Risk of going beyond either/or…
This is article was first published in Fortnight magazine back in February 2003. Chris Farrington is now a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences’ in the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. Although the circumstances it describes has changed radically and [...] read our review »
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Comment on McIlroy’s victory: “There’s a time and place for flags and national celebration of identity.”
on 26 June 2011 at 6:40 am
I must admit that I would be the type to cheer against England and even Norn Iron in sports, but I found myself extremely proud to see Rory win. I would even go as far as to say that seeing the tricolor being thrown on him annoyed me as I’m conscious of the fact that he wouldn’t choose it himself. To me, the whole Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter’ thing means that I can and maybe should support this lad regardless of what flag he flies. To me, he’s an Irishman from Belfast that might choose to call himself British or northern Irish…. But he’s something to be proud of.
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Comment on “Sinn Féin needs to change”
on 26 March 2011 at 12:53 am
than just, not ‘that just’
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Comment on “Sinn Féin needs to change”
on 26 March 2011 at 12:51 am
I feel bad for Paul as he’s had a long hard time on the Lisburn council, and will be a loss for his section of voters. The shinners seem to be intent on pushing higher profile militants and ex-prisoners into political roles as a way of defending themselves from the ‘constitutional nationalist’ jibes… queue the defense… ” Pat Sheehan was a hunger striker and Seanna Walsh was Bobby’s best mate, so we’re still mad republicans”. There’s more ways to be militant that just supporting physical force… sinn fein are none of these.
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Comment on “President McAleese is pleased to announce that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has accepted”
on 5 March 2011 at 12:13 am
What’s all this shite about the ‘backward looking’ people who should get over the past and welcome lizzy… Irish people north and south voted to keep the north British under the rule of consent… Blah blah blah? Same people who can’t mention a shinner from the north without calling them murdering Ira bastards. I’ve no time for Gerry et al either, but the hypocrisy is shocking.
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Comment on éirígí: they’re not an intervention – they’re aiming for 0.3% at best
on 4 February 2011 at 5:43 am
Mark – I understand the critique on the number of seats being contested, but I don’t see your thoughts on the actual candidates. I’m very familiar (friend of the family) with one of the candidates, and I find him to be an upstanding republican socialist activist. He may have changed party allegiance, but from what I can tell, his basic political ideology is the same as it always has been.
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Comment on DUP website embraces Irish language (ie, hacked)
on 13 January 2011 at 2:34 am
All seriousness aside, the picture of old Peter with an Irish message next to it (a dream of the future for some) reminds me of an oldie but goodie:
big Ian falls into a devastating coma that lasts for years. When he wakes up, his trusty deputy is at his bedside. Big Ian opens his eyes and whispers to Peter, ‘how long have I been out, and what’s happened?’. Peter responds ‘well boss, I’ve good news and bad news’. ‘well let’s have it’ says big Ian… Peter responds, ‘well chief… There’s a united ireland’. An incredible look of sadness comes over ian’s face… ‘well then, let’s have some good news’. ‘linfield beat cliftonville for the league championship’ says Peter. Finally a smile from Ian followed by an inquiry on the score… 1-8 to 2-9 responds Peter.
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Comment on “Sinn Féin just haven’t made any impact at all.”
on 15 November 2010 at 7:26 pm
Nevermind his performance in 2007 debates, what has he ever done for west belfast other than get re-elected. it wasn’t that long ago that even the andytown news was bashing his performance.
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Comment on SF members and others distributing illegal PDF of ‘Voices from the Grave’
on 3 April 2010 at 3:54 am
Anyone know the fastest way to get this in the US?… other than PDF!
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Comment on “He was subsequently executed and buried in an unmarked grave”
on 12 February 2010 at 1:26 am
“In a normal society he’d have been arrested and possibly sent to prison where he would pay his debts, unless all the cuckolded husbands inside got to him. But not in the Provos’ liberated zone. They could hardly turn over a disgraced IRA intelligence man to the RUC. They had no long term prisons. Any physical punishment short of execution would turn him into a dangerous informer. What were they going to do but have a drumhead court and kill him? ”
I’m definitely not excusing, or even trying to present a logical rational for this murder, but let’s not be silly and claim that turning Lynskey over to the RUC would have gotten anywhere regarding justice for the husband that he was supposed to have had shot. He would have been offered money, immunity, and a new identity for grassing on the ra… remember, belfast in the 70′s was anything but a ‘normal society’.
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Comment on Are Irish jokes still racist?
on 10 February 2010 at 3:59 am
big ian is putting his grandkids to bed one night and wee ian jr jr begs “granda tell us a scary story”… after some coaxing, big ian finally relents… once upon a time, there were two catholics…… now there’s fuckin millions…
after a serious stroke (not the joke
), big ian falls into a coma wherein he stays for 9 long years. when he wakes, peter robinson is sitting at his bedside.
ian asks “how long have I been asleep”
peter reponds “9 years boss”.
ian asks “what did i miss”
peter asks “do you want the good news or the bad news.”
ian says “lets start with the bad news”
peter responds “there’s a united ireland”.
stricken with greif, ian says “well what’s the good news then”
peter responds “Linfield murdered Cliftonville last night”
gleefully ian asks “what was the score?”
robinson responds “2-10 to 1-8″
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