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Books
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A Political History of the Two Irelands competition…
Tweet It’s not often we get free things to give away to our readers, but courtesy of Palgrave Macmillan we have a nice paperback copy of Brian M Walker’s excellent history of partition of the island and how identities shifted in both the north east and the south and west: as most of the territory [...] read our review »
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The Earl Bishop
Tweet Interesting BBC article on an upcoming presentation and talk [Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 17 August] by lecturer and broadcaster Stephen Price on the subject of his new book – The Earl Bishop. The 18th Century ”Earl Bishop” was Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry. Hervey was also [...] read our review »
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Breakthrough on Ireland’s bank debt?
Tweet This looks like a breakthrough on the Republic’s bank debt problem: According to a statement issued at 4am (Irish time), eurozone leaders pledged to “examine the situation of the Irish financial sector with the view of further improving the sustainability of the well-performing adjustment programme.” read our review »
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Comment on Taking years off your life – NI life expectancy deprivation gaps show increase over last decade
on 17 May 2013 at 1:10 pm
Health Inequality gaps are worst for people living in West Belfast.
Who represents West Belfast?
Didnt they hold the Health portflio for quite a while?
#SinnFeinFail
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Comment on Team Jasil – that’s John and Basil – say: “Get off your backsides and vote for people that are trying to make a difference”
on 12 May 2013 at 1:21 pm
Having listened to both John and Basil it seems to me that the Jasil Party is not going to contest the Westminster elections? Both stated that Left Right doesn’t apply to NI – only to Westminster but they are determined – despite direct questioning from the audience – to align themselves on the UK political spectrum. They are determined to be parochial. So they couldn’t stand for Westminster.
The ‘Unionist’ and ‘nationalist’ parties stand for Westminster to promote (with little evidence of success) a Unionist or Nationalist agenda. What would a Jasil MP stand for?
Basil might witter about being ‘pro United Kingdom party’ but they have deliberately avoided stating any view on any left right UK issue – other than John adopting a anti Euro stance
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Comment on Team Jasil – that’s John and Basil – say: “Get off your backsides and vote for people that are trying to make a difference”
on 12 May 2013 at 12:59 pm
Good to hear that Basil is against youth unemployment – that will help mark him out for all the parties that are in favour of youth unemployment!
I’m Basil is contradicting himself already. He is pro UK but blithely states NI politics is not about Left and Right.
He says our politics is about administering the money that Westminster gives us for welfare etc.
He essentially says that our politics must never aspire to be involved in these Big Politics issues?
Basil says the constitutional question is settled probably for ever – but that we must not be involved in those politics?
All things to all in Northern Ireland.
“If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at anytime, and would achieve nothing.”
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Comment on Team Jasil – that’s John and Basil – say: “Get off your backsides and vote for people that are trying to make a difference”
on 12 May 2013 at 11:18 am
Oh dear. So basically its another Six County catch all Unionist Party. Neither left nor right. Pro Union but afraid to align with the politics of the Union?
Poor John pulled along by Basil who just wants to be loved by everyone
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Comment on Ferguson’s departure: Rivals must work to burst “the incumbency bubble” of the EPL
on 10 May 2013 at 12:32 pm
A strange trio to choose two highly successful individuals and one failure who has emigrated last I heard
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Comment on Is the proof of Margaret Thatcher’s Northern Ireland policy the prosperity of modern Sinn Fein?
on 14 April 2013 at 11:44 am
‘Sinn Fein, who politically she tried to down at birth with the AIA, are actually at the heart of government now in this region. With current trends they are likely soon to be the largest party in the region.’
A toothless and incompetent Assembly that has less power, direction and influence than many a County council.
SF have the trappings of power but have achieved nothing in policy terms. Partly because of the system but also partly because beyond a very smplisitic nationalism and a juvenile understading of economics they have no policies.
SF are locked in to the status quo in the North and so are increasingly focused in the 26 counties
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Comment on Is the proof of Margaret Thatcher’s Northern Ireland policy the prosperity of modern Sinn Fein?
on 14 April 2013 at 11:38 am
FDM but the British did defeat the IRA. Their goals are unmet and they have disarmed and disbanded.
The beginnings of their end came when Thatcher upped the British military effort so much in the 1980s and inflitrated the Republican movement so heavily that by the late 1980s leading members of SF/IRA were able to sell the idea that they could not win and must pursue other means.
With agents such as Donald Donalson, Scap and Others they were able to isolate opposition and drag Republicanism into politics.
Looks like defeat, sounds like defeat.
Did you think the aim of Thatcher was Simply to have an Army only strategy? Of course they used their agents to achieve their goals – given the opportunity for SF to dress things up and save face was clever tactics and saved lives
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Comment on Gerry Adams says loyalists have much in common with republican neighbours and calls for dialogue
on 14 April 2013 at 11:25 am
The sooner this lotget in government in the Republic the better!
Then the inconsistency of arguing aganst austerity, for a (unfunded/unfundable?) 13 billion euro spending package, cutting Corproation tax (and hence £300m+ off services) would become clear.
We would all be saved this drivel as the hard realities of govt force tough decisions which untimately lead to unpopularity!
In the meantime I reckon they can play their populist cards and become well established as the Third Force of Irish politics (after the demise of Labour)
There would be an irony in that as essentially they will then have fully suplanted the descendants of the Officials!
3,000 deaths to late many would say.
But on a brighter note the British tactic of bidding time, grinding down their paramilitay wing and sucking the Republicans into politics will be complete and their agents can enjoy a happy retirement whereever they are – in Donegal or Stormont.
The Republicans thought they were the ones playing a long game LOL.
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Comment on A5 ruling: “They should not be left in any doubt about what may or may not occur…”
on 8 April 2013 at 11:50 pm
So NI Executive flagship capital expenditure project runs into sand anyone going to resign?
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Comment on Margaret Thatcher: An Ireland ALMOST reconciled to a bitter legacy from the Troubles…
on 8 April 2013 at 11:00 pm
Gerry Adams:”Her Irish policy failed miserably”
Do you really think so Gerry?
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