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Ulsters Last Stand?: Can Unionism Move Beyond Insurance Policy Politics?
How has Ulster unionism arrived at where it is today – fractured and uncertain, yet dominated electorally by the DUP, a party that tells us it offers unionists sure footing in uncertain times? In his latest book, Ulster’s Last Stand? Reconstructing Unionism after the Peace Process (Irish Academic Press, 2010), Prof. James McAuley from the [...] read our review »
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What has The Third Man got to say about Northern Ireland?
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 have [...] read our review »
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Of the Old North and other Vanished Kingdoms..
I’m currently trawling through Norman Davies’s fabulous new tome – “Vanished Kingdoms” – Five stars in the (London) Telegraph’s review from Ben Wilson: All the nations that have ever lived have left their footsteps in the sand,” writes Norman Davies. “The traces fade with every tide, the echoes grow faint, the images are fractured, the human [...] read our review »
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Comment on Hearts and Minds: Paramilitaries and ‘the table of accountability’
on 27 February 2012 at 10:01 pm
Jesus wept. What did he actually say and/or mean in this interview? Why this fiction that the UPRG isn’t the UDA? What work are they actually involved in? I’ve a fair idea it’s about trying to substitute the illegitimate power of the UDA in those communities with at the least a veneer of legitimacy through conflict resolution and community work but it doesn’t and won’t work like that mainly because the role and authority of the UDA organisation trumps everything else. the other reason is that it’s mainly populated bty idiots and thugs and that combination doesn’t serve communities well
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Comment on What Nelson takes away with one hand, Sammy can replace with the other
on 17 February 2012 at 8:08 pm
I’m not too sure Nelson thinks this was an ill considred decision at all.
What’s the long term DSD plan here? Cuts have to be made. Remove this laganside grant funding but how. Do you not think that Nelson and his advisors would have been expecting a backlash and would have been prepared to extend the programme for another year following that backlash. Do people really think that the DSD officials and the DUO advisors are that stupid? They ain’t. believe me. the cosy consensus over who gets the money has now been broken and by god even the groups in receipt of the funding now agree with the aim of sustainability( presumably without public funding) in the futur . Expect less than a united front in the future about who can claim sustainability and who can’t! And the scheme can now be radically altered or removed as required. If you doubt what I’m saying is correct take a look at how changes to the DSD regional infrastructure programme have been handled. A bit of transition time but the Minister( actually the departmental officials who have been making the plans for years) gets the outcome he wants anyway
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Comment on Freedom of Information – when the minister has access to the information the public can’t see
on 15 February 2012 at 7:43 pm
It’s not only government that needs to be more transparent. The website of the Belfast Community Circus School which runs the festival of fools doesn’t as far as I can see have any annual reports and accounts for the organisation . The information on the funding of the event should surely be also made available by the organisation in receipt of the funds.
Actually from the Belfast Community Circus School website – as far as I can see it’s not that clear what sort of an organisation it is – private sector or a voluntary organisation.I might be wrong but I can’t find a charity or company registration number.
More transparency all round I say. the festival of fools should have nothing to fear from total transparency given the claimed successes for the event.
I’ve been to a few events in the past with my children btw – totally brilliant – and yes the festival made me venture into Belfast when I wouldn’t have otherwise
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Comment on “This further signifies the positive effect the City of Culture title is generating in the region…”
on 24 January 2012 at 11:46 am
Conspiracy nonsense. The event last night in Derry was planned last year – I received my invite way before xmas 2011 .
the £1 million is a small sum by lottery standards but the announcement made was bugger all to do with the dissidents or decisions on the fleadh etc.
BIG NI committee made this decision last year and normally there wouldn’t be such a high profile launch for @£1 million and it wouldn’t involve the Uk committee.
They were coming over anyway and a planned stakeholder event facilitated the announcement.
Anyone think otherwsie could ask BIG for the relevant papers under an FOI
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Comment on Look back at Workers Party NI conference (including audio)
on 1 November 2011 at 6:11 pm
Well – there has obviously been some development within the party.
Their Ballymoney representatives are i’m fairly certain former loyalist activists linked to the pup/uvf.
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Comment on Green Party NI conference, the visit of Alex Attwood, and criticism of MLAs who can’t read or believe the speeches written for them
on 31 October 2011 at 8:51 pm
I subscribed a few pounds to the green party over the past 4-5 years but cancelled my subscription about 9 months ago . I used to do a bit of canvassing in bangor and holywood going back about 6 years ago.
2 – 3 reasons I left, stopped the money and actually don’t think I’d be interested in voting green again never mind canvassing.
1. The performance of the greens in govt in the south. Absolutely pathetic. How the hell Eamon Ryan ended up as leader of an allegedly socially progressive party after the performance in government? well?
2. Your man Brian Wilson. A total non entity as an MLA – did he ever actually speak when he was in the assembly. He made no impression whatsoever with the wider NI voting public during his term. I can’t recall one single thing. Maybe some of the rest of you could enlighten me. Considering his recent behaviour I think his former colleagues have been rather gracious to him.
3. Cadogan Enright
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Comment on NI Universities show strong religious imbalance in student numbers
on 18 October 2011 at 9:26 pm
Turgon
I was as Queens in the late eighties. No doubt about it that some of the SU Executive were republicans but care to inform us of those ” SU executive officers ended up in gaol for terrorist offenses “.
This is genuinely new to me and I’m curious. Maybe i’m ignorant but is this true?
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Comment on Steven King’s been a very naughty boy (but plagiarism is not just what it seems)…
on 8 October 2011 at 7:29 pm
Are we not all forgetting the rather obvious motive for his plagiarism? Greed. He did it for the money as it was easy and he thought he wouldn’t get caught.
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Comment on Stay classy, Carál…
on 21 September 2011 at 10:19 pm
Walked past Caral outside her office last week. Was deeply unimpressed to see her lighting up a cigarette just outside the front door. A lot worse in my book than calling someone a gob shite
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Comment on U.V.F. flags, banners and symbolism – historically and culturally legitimate (and legal)…
on 25 August 2011 at 2:49 pm
Mooch. You reckon? Bugger all to do with typos I reckon. Maybe Quincey will enlighten us all? Here’s an idea do you think the Community Relations Council could live with public funds being used by a community group to produce propaganda to justify the illegal flying of illegal paramilitary organisation flags?
I reckon Quincey has been touting his leaflet on slugger without permission from either REACT or CRC and someone’s not too happy with him??
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