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…if University education were universally available and availed of, the country would collapse in one generation
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 a [...] read our review »
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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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Kevin Myers’ ‘Watching the Door’: Book Review
This reads as if a mad picaresque tale. Myers as first a reporter for RTÉ and then as a freelance journalist with no real experience, finds himself wandering into savagery as he hastens north as the Troubles explode. A soldier dies next to him; he witnesses an IRA ambush; he sees children shot to death [...] read our review »
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Comment on McGuinness wants to support Northern Irish football team?
on 2 February 2012 at 6:49 am
Martin McGuinness attending a NI game at Windsor park is not the beginning of a new rapprochement. The nationalist community will continue to support/favour a team that more represents All Ireland and not a hived off part of it.
Attending the NI game is a gesture. Similarly Peter Robinson attending a GAA game is unlikely to see the unionist community en mass follow or take up Gaelic football or hurling.
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Comment on Irish emigration – most to go Britain
on 13 January 2012 at 6:06 pm
Allanbrooke
“are you seriously expecting 1.7 million people to vote for a 15-20% cut in their living standard ?”
As in vote to maintain a subsidised economic backwater hived off from the rest of Ireland?. The Northern economy is addicted to the handout. A habit HM govt in Westminster will need to address.
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Comment on Irish emigration – most to go Britain
on 13 January 2012 at 2:47 am
Or more specifically if the subvention from Westminster was to dry up over night the NI state would collapse. The northern economy remains highly uncompetitive. Emigration is now a real issue for both parts of Ireland. And the economic holocaust doesn’t just stop at the Irish border, Tough times lie ahead for both jurisdictions so emigration has reared its ugly head yet again as the temporary panacea for Ireland’s ills. The usual destinations of choice are GB, Australia and the USA. Is this then a reasoned argument against Irish reunification or is it just an indictment on current economic policy?
A vote in favour of reunification for a separate All Ireland state may seem unlikely at this moment. Yet an Ireland (island of) with a dysfunctional state sponsored economy in the NE, restricted from really paying its own way in the world, is like a self fulfilling prophecy – doomed. An economic culture of dependency has been disastrous for the Northern Ireland economy with detrimental effects on Ireland as a whole. And not much good for the UK govt ‘ever willing’ to pay the subsidy.
The underlying long term causes for the under performance of the Irish economy on the whole island are manifold. One such cause is a divided economic set up. Efforts to address it with North South economic co-operation are hindered by political considerations, often viewed by unionists as an embryonic All Ireland govt ready to subsume NI through the back door. Progress may be slow.
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Comment on Can Irish soccer ‘swing’ both ways?
on 5 January 2012 at 7:46 pm
It has to be faced at some point in the near future. The NI team is effectively a unionist team euphemistically referred to by its supporters as ‘our wee country’.
Its pool of eligible players are ever diminishing. Embarrassing court cases that unsuccessfully try to rope in young nationalists to play for them makes me wonder what exactly the IFA are about.
Tinkering with replacing the British anthem won’t cut the mustard. Root and branch reform of the NI set up won’t change things much either, apart from help lose its unionist identity.
If the IFA want to continue with a NI team then so be it. The FAI have in effect an ALL Ireland team now. My preference would be for the FAI and IFA to amalgamate and have one Ireland team but that might mean some unacceptable compromises e.g. a meaningless anthem, neutral flags or none at all etc
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Comment on “Time for the beginning of a calm debate” on Northern Ireland’s Demographics
on 4 January 2012 at 4:42 pm
Was it economic sense for the 26 counties to leave the union? These constitutional decisions, whether made in the past or in times ahead, are not always made for economic gain. There’s a whole complexity of issues, unforeseen circumstances and the law of unintended consequences that come into play.
The growth of the nationalist population had the unintended consequence of seeing the DUP reach out for pro union votes from the nationalist community. The demographic change alters the perceived misconception that the GFA was simply a done deal. This far and no more. The Irish and British governments have to manage a peace ‘process’ that will in time involve constitutional change that reflects what’s happening on the ground.
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Comment on Brittish. No Foreigners.
on 20 December 2011 at 10:00 pm
Mike the First
The 26 county state is the Republic of Ireland. The six county state is Northern Ireland. Ireland is the island of Ireland i.e all 32 counties.
But, at the risk of contradicting myself, the following also holds true.
The term ‘Ireland’ is frequently used by the Irish govt for official purposes, legal documents etc where the language used is in English.
Apparently, according to Wikpedia, Since 1949 the Republic of Ireland Act has provided that the Republic of Ireland (or Poblacht na hÉireann in Irish) is the legal description for the state. However, Ireland remains the constitutional name of the state.
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Comment on Moderation policy
on 20 December 2011 at 7:08 am
Yes I noticed that too. What is the black spot? And more importantly why did I receive it?
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Comment on Brittish. No Foreigners.
on 20 December 2011 at 6:56 am
Roy Walsh is 100% correct. The UK passport refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If NI was part of Britain it would just refer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
The Irish passport on the other hand refers to Citizens of Ireland. All 32 counties.
The ‘We’re all from the British Isles’ argument can be equally applied to ‘We’re all from Europe’. It’s a geographical term.
British Isles – Great Britain and Ireland and adjacent islands in the north Atlantic
Great Britain, GB – an island comprising England and Scotland and Wales
Emerald Isle, Hibernia, Ireland – an island comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
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Comment on More confusion from IFA quarters over football eligibility on the day Nigel walks
on 11 October 2011 at 7:07 pm
Alan N/Ards
Do I think an All Ireland team would win the world cup? May be not very likely but then again is it not even remotely possible?
The main improvement would be to increase the chances of an Irish team reaching the Euros and World Cup finals. And end this endless ‘tit for tat’ shenaningans between the IFA and FAI over players eligibility.
One team will limit the number of international caps for Irish players. Only the best selected. And may be just may be league games could be organised across the whole island in one league.
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Comment on More confusion from IFA quarters over football eligibility on the day Nigel walks
on 11 October 2011 at 11:46 am
There is a very limited future for the NI team. The law of diminishing returns has already been applied. Its heyday for qualifiying for any tournament long since gone. Players from the North will continue to opt for the ROI leaving behind a rump B team. Bereft of any chance or opportunity other than be whipping boys, international fodder there just to make up the numbers.
The NI team represents a divided British province in Ireland. A place with split loyalties and identities The only surprise is that it has taken this long for the situation to arise i.e. players choosing to represent the ROI over NI.
In my opinion the only way this will ever be resolved is one international side for Ireland. The IFA and FAI to hammer out their differences, anthems and flags to be discussed…..then I woke up. Ha
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