Comment Archives for the future's bright, the future's orange
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Books
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Belfast port celebrated as hopes rise for lower corporation tax
Tweet The House of Lords was the suitably grand venue for the London launch of Alf McCreary’s magnificently illustrated tome Titanic Port, a history of Belfast Harbour. Before I got a chance to take a good look at my copy, my ears pricked up when the chairman of the harbour commissioners Len O’Hagan said hopes were [...] read our review » -
The Irish political journalist’s problem with partial disclosure…
Tweet The nod and wink politics of Ireland’s last two or three decades as practised par excellence by Bertie, Albert and Charlie is ultimately what has the Republic in the stew it’s in. Don’t get me wrong, the effective monitoring of those exercising of power does not demand full disclosure of everything all the time. [...] read our review »
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The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday (Neil MacFarquhar)
Tweet With perhaps the longest title of any book I’ve read this year, The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East gives an insight into the lives of people living in Middle East through the eyes of journalist Neil MacFarquhar. MacFarquhar’s father was a chemical [...] read our review »
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Comment on What was your sporting moment of 2012?
on 22 December 2012 at 7:54 pm
Personally, it was being at thomand park to watch Ulster beat Munster in the HEC quarters – amazing day.
Ryder cup was stunning. Man city amazing, chelski superb and of course Bradley Wiggins the sensation on 2 wheels.
Amazing year for sport.
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Comment on One rule for the City of Belfast and another for the City of Newry?
on 4 December 2012 at 8:25 pm
struggling to believe that the SDLP voted in favour of such madness. Sick actually.
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Comment on Brolly’s Altruistic Act
on 6 October 2012 at 7:29 pm
cracking act of friendship. a good news story indeed.
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Comment on Judge rules oral history tape release would not “materially increase the risk to his life or that of his family”
on 3 October 2012 at 8:10 pm
‘ Covenanter (profile) 2 October 2012 at 6:31 pm
Are we supposed to believe that the PSNI/Brit Intelligence doesn’t already know full details of the McConville Kidnap/Killing? This charade is nuts.
I think that the strong suspicion is that the evil Brit war machine was fully aware of the crimes of certain senior republicans, but that they took no action against them because they recognised the potential for doing business with them.’
I would say this is bang on the money. Adams and Mcguiness delivered a peaceful solution to NI. Why would you pop them in prison and risk collapsing the entire house of cards?
The question is not so much, why do the authorities not investigate them but rather why so many decent folk give guys with such a past their vote. Okay, taking a terrorist organisation away from violence is fabulous but at the end of the end, some pretty terrible deeds took place up to that point.
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Comment on Respect?
on 3 October 2012 at 8:04 pm
Submariner (profile) 3 October 2012 at 12:41 am
Sub ,
That’s a very black and white view …obviously some people felt they had no choice esp in the early stages of the conflict …and on both sides .
Mark im a black and white sort of a guy. Same goes for members of the security forces. They also knew the risks when they joined up and i say this as an ex serviceman. I dont buy into all this poor lads out in Iraq/Afganistan bullshit. They chose to pick up a gun and join whatever branch of the armed forces knowing the risks involved. As my old Skipper used to say if ya cant take a joke ya shouldnt have joined. Black Humor i know but still true.
We’ll not hear you moan on about Loughall or Gibaltor then?
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Comment on Europe take the Ryder Cup home (against all reasonable hope)!!!
on 1 October 2012 at 8:50 pm
as for his passion for the fleg, well as I understand it he went to a state school around Holywood, a fairly Unionist heartland. I assume he went to School and realized all prods weren’t sectarian bigots. He probably also befriended a lot of footy and rugger folk who associated with the fleg and he found them not to be paramilitary gun-slingers. I’d say unlike many of the folk on this forum he hasn’t spent his entire life in a loyalist or republican bubble and has actually befriended folk from many backgrounds.
More importantly, to roll in, 5 mins before tee off is just cool. Hats off.
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Comment on Europe take the Ryder Cup home (against all reasonable hope)!!!
on 1 October 2012 at 8:44 pm
well sub, I guess you’d better tuck the tricolour away in a drawer then as it’s affiliated with republican paramilatories… yawn yawn yawn.
I’d say Rory is a typical Catholic growing up in modern-day NI. He ain’t much fussed about politics but has grown up in NI and is proud to be from here. End of the day it’s up to him but the fact that it winds you up does cheer me up I have to admit lol.
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Comment on Europe take the Ryder Cup home (against all reasonable hope)!!!
on 1 October 2012 at 7:18 pm
No doubt about it – Rory makes it pretty clear he’s from Northern Ireland lol. Not sure why they started signing ‘we’re not brazil we’re NI’ but what the heck.
Anyway, besides the usual political points scoring exercise it was quite a sensational comeback. I’m more of a euro-sceptic but it’s pretty cool that they all come together and play as a team. Extraordinary performance.
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Comment on BNP Leader tweets about ‘fenian bastards’ following Covenant Day attendance
on 30 September 2012 at 11:11 am
Funny too see how quiet the southern media are on yesterday’s events. Bury the old head in the sand I guess…
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Comment on Orange Order: No one will have veto over our Ulster Covenant parade
on 26 September 2012 at 8:44 pm
andnowwhat (profile) 26 September 2012 at 7:48 pm
Peter
The Orange and the Black brought this upon themselves. If the County reacted straight away to what the YCV did and disallowed them from being hired for a year dor two, things would have been so much better.
Why didn’t they?
absolutely bang on that man.
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Comment on Orange Order: No one will have veto over our Ulster Covenant parade
on 26 September 2012 at 7:15 pm
Kinda sensible ruling. I’d like to see the OO take additional steps. eg have some bands with just a drum beat.
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Comment on When will unionists stop misusing the terms ‘Ulster’ and ‘Province’?
on 22 September 2012 at 12:17 pm
Only when you stop going on about the occupied 6 counties lol… or ‘the north’ or whatever other made up terminology from the shinner encyclopedia of irish history lol
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Comment on “the outcome of the tribunal had effectively branded him as “sectarian” and “a liar”…”
on 18 September 2012 at 8:50 pm
Oh dear, the shinners are at in again:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19638161
This time O’Dowd under the spotlight
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Comment on Dungiven parade: Republicanism on display or a mere base sectarian reflex?
on 30 August 2012 at 8:51 pm
Not a chance of voluntary rerouting. Voluntary drum beats would be a step forward. eg no parade restictions by the parades body but the bands take it on themselves not to play music.
Fair enough?
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Comment on Dungiven parade: Republicanism on display or a mere base sectarian reflex?
on 29 August 2012 at 9:05 pm
+1 comrade
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Comment on McIlroy sets down marker for Rio Gold
on 19 August 2012 at 8:44 pm
good point Joe. Doh, forgot that myself….
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Comment on McIlroy sets down marker for Rio Gold
on 19 August 2012 at 12:55 pm
I’d say Rory will move to the US but there’s no way he’ll represent the states.
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Comment on Widening access the UU way
on 19 August 2012 at 12:53 pm
The world gone mad. Everyone makes mistakes – get over it. Goodness knows what kinda clampits are going to get onto the course now…
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Comment on Sinn Fein’s super discipline “means they shrink at the head, they rot at the head intellectually…”
on 16 August 2012 at 8:54 pm
‘he Lodger (profile) 16 August 2012 at 4:55 pm
Some of the lower level members aren’t exactly shining either. It would appear that the unionist outreach programme is not being embraced by all.
http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/local/ballintoy-band-anger-at-fun-day-row-1-4158932‘
I’m sure if they had dished the kids out IRA medals, the shinner would have been happy enough… pathetic…
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Comment on Where is the joint Team GB, Team Ireland celebration ?
on 14 August 2012 at 8:36 pm
Aye, good point – i thought it was a bit weird myself. Okay, the lads are from different parts of NI, but it does seem an ideal opportunity to build a few bridges. I saw a really good interview on BBC NI of the 5 of them and they seemed to get on well. No doubt they’ll all have a reception at Stormont or City hall but an inclusive bus ride would have been cool.
And yes, the DUP mayor should definitely have been about.
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