Advertise
-
Books
-
Eamon Nancarrow’s misadventures in Rock…
It’s the quiet ones you have to watch, they say. When I last saw Eamonn Namcarrow, back in the mid 1980s he was a congenial, good-natured and highly sociable young lad. The next time was 26 years later, in Lavery’s Gin Palace in Bradbury Place. He’d just brought out his first book, Holywood Star about [...] read our review »
-
Talking to a brick wall: how to make politicians listen?
It took me a long time to warm to advertising agencies. The first time I worked with one I was working in sales management on Fairy Washing Up Liquid. I was due to attend a meeting at which I was to be told what consumers really thought of the brand. I remember my reluctance to [...] read our review »
-
Learning from 1798?: Northern Ireland’s Upcoming Decade of Commemorations
Last year, the Lilliput Press released a new extended edition of Tom Dunne’s Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize winning book, Rebellions: Memoir, Memory and 1798. First published in 2004, Dunne’s book provoked considerable controversy with its critique of the ‘commemorationist’ history that Dunne believed dominated the 1998 commemorations of the 1798 Rebellion. The book blasted the involvement [...] read our review »
-
Comment on Boston College: an end of history
on 13 January 2012 at 3:43 pm
Moloney was asking for trouble when he published the book drawing from the archives. It was obvious this would stir up a hornet’s nest, so he has either always wanted this to happen or was extremely foolish.
McIntyre can only fall into the foolish category. I bet he is really regretting his involvement in this now. He has made some very informed and legitimate complaints about mainstream republicans in recent times, but the damage from this goes will beyond that.
The morality is tough on this one, but in the end I think it is better to have records from the people involved preserved for future access than not.
These guys have very likely ensured there will be no first hand accounts to be read on a massively important period of our history, as it looks likely this stuff will be destroyed, and who else in their right mind would now come forward to participate in a similar project?
Go to comment
Comment on Euro crisis: “it is time to send for the Borg…”
on 15 November 2011 at 9:05 pm
Fair enough Pete – but a (if not the) major issue is that this is a financial crisis that has so far been treated as a political one.
As all the political cards have been played the financial crisis has become bigger – and is now big enough to risk some serious political crises down the road.
I’m not sure we can separate the two at this point.
Go to comment
Comment on Voters cut adrift from a politics lacking in sex and identity?
on 15 November 2011 at 6:08 pm
I’m not sure the general public are as ill informed as is suggested.
Certainly more and more people are taking an interest in macro-economics and Geo-politics as this crisis has unfolded.
I do believe our elites have deliberately contrived to make important topics as inaccessible and incomprehensible as possible, but that does not mean at their root they are not understood by the public. I think what’s more accurate is people have chosen (in relatively good times) to ignore seemingly distant or boring subject matter, but the learning curve has been fast.
We have evolved a very strong (and unhealthy) respect for authority, where massively important decisions have been left to self appointed experts who we can only hope have our best interests at heart.
In good times this is fine, but when the crunch came to Ireland for example, the Finance Minister was a Barrister who had to rely on ‘advice’ and guesswork to make sovereignty grade decisions.
We are approaching the point (if we haven’t already passed it) where the electorate are well ahead of the politicos.
Go to comment
Comment on Euro crisis: “it is time to send for the Borg…”
on 15 November 2011 at 5:51 pm
Pete – I have to say I enjoy your economic blogs.
DR – it is said the best conspiracies happen in plain sight. In this case our elites have become so empowered I don’t think they are making any attempt to hide it.
It’s hard to shake the impression these are people deeply out of their depth and out of tune with reality.
I’m not sure there are any good (or less bad) options left.
Go to comment
Comment on Gay Mitchell and the Commonwealth
on 30 September 2011 at 5:34 pm
Condescending tone aside Andrew, I took some trouble to map out a model for Commonwealth membership that is most certainly in use. Canada as you say, Australia, NZ etc.
I haven’t heard any elaboration on what the proposal is for Ireland, so perhaps you could share your spectacular insight with me on what the finer points are in the proposed model.
Go to comment
Comment on Gay Mitchell and the Commonwealth
on 30 September 2011 at 5:01 pm
I’m trying to think through how this would work in a practical sense:
- The constitution would need to be changed to add the Queen as head of state
- The position of President would be abolished and replaced with a representative of HRH in Ireland – a Governor General let’s say
- GG position could be by appointment or election (a la current Presidential elections)
- Constitutional deadlocks etc. (e.g. hung parliaments, parliamentary dissolutions) would be handled by the GG (not sure how much say the monarch would actually have/take in these scenarios
- HRH goes on the currency
- All constitutional changes need to be approved by the GG (the Queen’s proxy)
- As Head of State it would be reasonable to expect pictures of HRH in parliament, court rooms etc
- Military would likely be ‘Royal’ forces
- Anything else?
Certainly looks like a weakening of sovereignty to me.
A serious national discussion on this may a more ‘dangerous’ topic than anything Sinn Fein could dream of getting on the agenda
Go to comment
Comment on Adams Proposes McGuinness to be Sinn Féin Candidate for Áras
on 16 September 2011 at 7:28 pm
“would it not be fantastic to have a bogsider in the aras.”
Perfect – lots of room in Phoenix park to walk the greyhounds…
Go to comment
Comment on Adams Proposes McGuinness to be Sinn Féin Candidate for Áras
on 16 September 2011 at 6:22 pm
“If he got elected, would he shake hands with the Queen?”
You mean the wealthy, unelected head of state who cannot be (or be married to) a Catholic?
Yes – of course he would…
Go to comment
Comment on Most likely big fallers: TDs on Saturday, MLAs in May?
on 24 February 2011 at 10:04 pm
Folks,
I’m trying to figure out how best to follow things remotely (i.e. via the internet in North America).
Can I assume everything will be speculation until Saturday morning, or will there be exit polls etc to follow through the day on Friday and after the polls close?
Once Saturday does come around will we see a roll-out of results starting at 9am GMT? If so when do you think the final picture will be available?
Apart from the usual suspects (Slugger, RTE etc) what will you be using to follow the incoming picture?
Thanks…
Go to comment
Comment on “There is no quick fix nationalist route to a ‘New Ireland’.”
on 7 April 2010 at 9:15 pm
Halfer…
“I can’t understand how any successful unification process can take place with an external veto hanging over it and without the input or desires of the southern population taken into account”
I see two referenda – one North and one South.
A majority in each would represent agreement to form a UI.
If you assume that is the target then I think the consent concept agreed in recent times is a considerable step forward for nationalists. Consent now cuts both ways, and as the demographics change I believe we constantly move towards the goal.
Go to comment