Brian O’Neill

Leo Varadkar calls on Dublin daddy to apologise for walking out on us…

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From the Irish Times: People in the Republic will one day need to offer apologies to northern nationalists for forgetting about them “for a very long time” after partition, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Speaking in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, …

Slugger Team

The Northern Irish Brain Drain is a Myth

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For decades it has been widely believed that many of our young folk who decamp from Northern Ireland to pursue further education elsewhere tend not to return. The logic was that with our many local problems there would be greater …

Dan McGinn

Very Different People

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Episode One of the new series of ‘Blue Lights’ last week ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. But before we dive into that, another quick reminder of the ground rules for these reviews. We would urge those commenting on …

Brian Walker

Hooray. The A5 can now be built. Twice in a fortnight a High Court ruling has been overturned by the Lady Chief Justice. Let’s hope this one has better luck

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At last, even an inflated cost of nearly £ 2  billion, a new dualled A5   can be built.   Although the delay was represented as a Sinn Fein  failure, better now to look at as a victory for all, particlarly  in …

Brian Walker

Sure isn’t the Garvaghy Road dispute a terrible mistake? Let’s tell the politicians to be kind to us and behave

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So much more real than the familiar ranting,  Mick’s evocative  post captures spot on  how Catholic sentiment built up from the start of the Troubles,  grew in intensity during the long killing seasons and has finally been enshrined in powerful …

Mick Fealty

Still our ghosts visit: Garvaghy Road, founding myths and the dangerous fantasy of victory

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The Garvaghy Road estates were formed in a few short years by families fleeing intimidation, and that founding story is still being renewed. The law may be clear on the Orange Order’s right to walk, but neither a court ruling nor tribal politics can resolve what only engagement will.

Brian Pope

Drumcree: Perhaps Cultural Unionism and Constitutional Unionism have Parted Company.

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The return of Drumcree to our newspapers and political headlines has brought back troubling memories for many people in Northern Ireland. However, in trying to untangle this difficult problem, perhaps we also need to ask ourselves whether we are understanding …

El Cavador

If integrated education must change, what about the rest of the system?

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Jack Russell’s recent article argues that integrated education must abandon the 40/40/20 aspiration and its “essentially Christian” character if it is to survive. His evidence on how young people and parents now identify is compelling, and I agree with much …

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.