Arty-arty

The Stage Online announces that Bertie Aherne has spoken out in support of plans to erect a statue to the late, great Luke Kelly, of the Dubliners, in Dublin’s north inner city area. Ahern lends support to Luke Kelly memorial. Sadly plans to erect a bronze memorial plaque, in the shape of a replica Fender Stratocaster, to Rory Gallagher has been opposed by the Irish National Library.Elsewhere in the Stage is reported that the government of the ROI is considering …

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John Bruton plans for Europe in the US

The FT reckons that the appointment of John Bruton as ambassador to the US marks an upgrading of the EU’s complicated and often troubled relationship with the EU. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Last thought of 2004: devastated Asia

Sensationalist maybe, but the Sun carries a devastating set of photographs that stands in for many thousands of people’s lives in the face of a devastating natural diaster. The Economist gives it’s leader over to a reflection on the scale of the disaster – which still seems not have registered with a lot of people. As part of a special reports their science correspondent looks breifly at what might be done in advance of another such incidence:The advice seems simple, …

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Long term obectives with short term aid?

The Uk has raised £45 million in three days. The Republic’s government is facing criticism over the low levels of aid proffered. But as the FT points out it its leader today, the first responses are not the important ones, it’s the long term that matters. In fact the problem of bringing relief lies in the fact that most of the victims lie on the edge of a globalised economy (not unlike the majority of the victims of the Irish …

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Last thought of 2004: devastated Asia

Sensationalist maybe, but the Sun carries a devastating set of photographs that stands in for many thousands of people’s lives in the face of a devastating natural diaster. The Economist gives it’s leader over to a reflection on the scale of the disaster – which still seems not have registered with a lot of people. As part of a special reports their science correspondent looks breifly at what might be done in advance of another such incidence: The advice seems …

Read more…

John Bruton plans for Europe in the US

The FT reckons that the appointment of John Bruton as ambassador to the US marks an upgrading of the EU’s complicated and often troubled relationship with the EU. adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of background about me here. You can email me …

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Happy New Year all…

We’re having a quiet time at home ourselves. It’s been a quiet year for NI politics and (outside picking up the odd gong), a comparatively quiet one for Slugger too. I’m saving all my predictions for a guest slot in Fortnight’s political column, but I wouldn’t be giving much away if I suggested that 2005 should be another quiet one – if all goes well. Thanks to all of you, whatever your persuasion, politics or faction, for your dedication to …

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Government Change in 2005 ?

Ryle Dwyer in tomorrow’s Irish Examiner takes a frank look at the role played by politicians in the Republic in respect of attitudes to partition, northern politics and the British Government. Sunningdale’s history lessons still have warnings for slow learners. adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there …

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Crimbo

How did we all get on with the Crimbo Pressies ? I got the socks and sweets and a 25 years of Viz book.(Rude link) The late presents are arriving – yesterday a copy of what looks to be a fascinating book, Oracles of God by Patrick Murray, reviewed here by Fern Lane in AP/RN.Today two excellent cds by Irish artists new to me, O by Damien Rice and the especially wonderful Season of the Hurricane by Juliet Turner, reviewed …

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Arty-arty

The Stage Online announces that Bertie Aherne has spoken out in support of plans to erect a statue to the late, great Luke Kelly, of the Dubliners, in Dublin’s north inner city area. Ahern lends support to Luke Kelly memorial. Sadly plans to erect a bronze memorial plaque, in the shape of a replica Fender Stratocaster, to Rory Gallagher has been opposed by the Irish National Library. Elsewhere in the Stage is reported that the government of the ROI is …

Read more…

Yesterday’s Man?

The Irish news today carries an interesting story, 1974 talks for peace ‘scuppered’, in which Republican Sinn Fein president Ruairi O Bradaigh claims that peace talks with senior Protestant clergy in 1974 at Feakle, Co Clare, were disrupted, he believes, by Liam Cosgrave’s FG-Labour Coalition sending in “60 armed Special Branch officers and 120 uniformed Gardai”. He claims that the talks led to to a six-month IRA ceasefire and, more interestingly, discussions about withdrawal of the British government from Ireland.On …

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DUP intiated slide from the Union?

Slugger regular Michael Shilliday calls the DUP to task in yesterday’s Newsletter on some of the more contentious detail of what was apparently agreed with the two governments in the most recent round of talks. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

A Centenary to Celebrate in 2005

There is a centenary that will be celebrated across the world in 2005. It’s the centenary of a world-changing year that saw a combination of imagination and science that is unlikely to be equalled by any single individual again. It’s the World Centenary of the ‘miraculous year’ of a 26 year-old patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland – 2005 is Einstein YearUnlike certain self-obsessed party-political fund-raising, there are already events organised in Ireland and around the world to celebrate 1905 as …

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Ireland in line for Tsunami hit?

Interesting piece outlining the latent danger of a landslide in the Canary Islands. The wave, starting at 30m could be as high as 10m when as it hits the south coast of Ireland. Found via James Hudnall. The Irish Times estimates 5 million people in SE Asia have been left without food, and has published a round up of Irish NGO’s collecting for relief of the victims in South East Asia. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

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Journalists ahead of police investigation?

Steven King examines some of the speculation around who did the big bank job last week, and suggests the most worrying aspect of it is that some journalists appear to be ahead of the police in terms of their investigation. King himself believes that in the absence of a definative denial from the IRA, it will continue to remain the chief suspect. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

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Feeney: no change ahead!

A promising start from the definative old pro, Brian Feeney, in which he argues that new benchmarks are needed to chart progress of the peace process. However, he adeptly keeps his own proposition hidden, suggesting instead that unionist backing of the DUP means that all bets should be called off. Andrew McCann accuses Feeney of turning against an Agreement he once championed. He also links to a fascinating presentation on the political uses on of demography in Northern Ireland. Mick …

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Dull but steady progress…

Mark Devenport with his remembrance of a year in Northern Irish politics. A year of apparent progress in negotiations towards an inclusive settlement, but without much of the drama we’ve come to expect from Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Security source blames IRA for heist

According to David Lister, British security officials are briefing journalists that the Northern Bank heist was the work of the IRA. So far there has been no word from Hugh Orde or any official within the PSNI, but such a line, he speculates, must be causing some severe embarrassment within police circles. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …

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Sinn Fein’s centenary membership drive

Sinn Fein is to make a major recruitment drive the focus of its activities in 2005, one hundred years on from its foundation. Although it’s likely to take place on an international basis, the higher profile events seem likely to be in the Republic, ahead of the next Dail election scheduled for 2006. The Irish Independent calls on other ‘successor’ parties to lay their own claims to the Griffith inheritance. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …

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Warning system within year…

A tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean area could be set up within a year, according to yesterday’s FT. One of the most shocking things about the Boxing Day disaster, is that even where communications were good, no one knew what was on its way until it was too late. However n the short term, one of the biggest problems will be the lack of infrastructure on the ground to cope even with the aid currently being offered. …

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