Brian O’Neill

Stormont and Sensibility: Jim Allister MP writes a romance novel…

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Not to be outdone by Doug Beattie and Peter Robinson, Jim Allister MP becomes the latest Unionist leader to put pen to paper. Whereas Doug Beattie regaled us with his war exploits and Peter Robinson went for ‘Witty Putdowns and …

Brian Pope

The Republican Party has a moral duty to speak up against swingeing cuts to USAID…

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Time is running out for millions of people in the world’s poorest nations as the US takes a step closer to making drastic cuts to its international aid budget. Tariffs, Ukraine and Gaza have dominated the headlines, for good reason, …

Secret Patient

A distinct lack of imagination from the Chancellor…

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New week, a new cunning plan by Rachel Reeves to make savings by cutting welfare benefits. From BBC News,“Reeves, who ruled out tax rises in the statement, has already announced several spending cuts. But late on Tuesday, it emerged that …

Brian O’Neill

Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Brian O’Neill

Open sunday – politics free zone…

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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

John Mooney

Carry On Down the Falls…

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McKinstry Road. The last stop on the Belfast Glider route west of the city centre. Probably five miles and certainly 24 “stops”. A small industrial estate and I begin the walk. It is easier to walk downhill than uphill. At …

Felicity Graham

Portrait of a happy man…

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I was sorting through some of the paperwork left behind by my mother a few years ago and came upon a book – a compilation of writings by authors aged eight to eighty-eight from throughout Northern California.  I was about …

Terry Wright

“The full story has not been written. Who will be the last person to hold the pen?”

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Selfies with the POTUS and his decisions spreading panic in Dublin, or so the DUP hopes, Northern Ireland gifted special status as the USA celebrates 250 years of the Declaration of Independence and the Deputy First Minister, Emma-Little Pengelly MLA, …

David McCann

Abuse of our MLAs

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The View had an excellent report last night highlighting some of the threats and abuse faced by our MLAs. An Electoral Commission survey on the 2024 UK general election found that many candidates continue to experience unacceptable levels of intimidation …

David McCann

The State of the State Report 2025 .

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Powered by RedCircle The State of the State Report is back for 2025. With a full year of devolution under Northern Ireland’s belt, this report surveys sector leaders in Northern Ireland the public to find out their attitudes towards key …

Mick Fealty

Despite flooding the zone with frenzied anger in the Dáil, the opposition has lost the battle

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It’s rare for me to question or criticise or even quote a press editorial of any paper never mind my favourite, The Irish Times. In twenty plus years of blogging I’ve never succumbed to the old habit of “fisking” and …