Slugger O'Toole Meanwhile.. back at the ranch.. The Guardian’s NewsBlog is live-blogging the first round of voting for the next leader of the Conservative Party. Love this note on the NewsBlog Ms Widdecombe had in fact been queueing patiently to cast her vote from 12.50pm and was first in line, but unfortunately was waiting at the wrong door. Oops. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
ULSTER Unionist and Jewish – Alex Benjamin argues that Fr Alec Reid’s comparison of unionists to Nazis wasn’t just offensive to unionists. Anyway, if unionists are Nazis, how come the BNP has decided it ain’t worth their while to set up shop here? Benjamin writes: Once again the Jewish experience has been used by someone with no real grasp of the situation to make a political point. … In the words of Fintan O’Toole: “The authoritarianism of Irish governments, north …
Every year there is a tussle amongst Republicans of all shades for the title deeds of Wolf Tone’s Republican ideal. It centres on commemoration ceremonies at his graveside in a quiet (derelict?) Protestant churchyard in Bodenstown. Senator Martin Mansergh with his historian’s scalpel had a very precise take on the physical force tradition (subs needed) in the Irish Times last Saturday. He cuts to the point when Presbyterian inspired Republicanism fell away from its Belfast based, merchant class origins: The …
And the wrangling in the wake the Father Reid outburst continues. Eammon McCann, writing on Sunday, argues that, “it was an ignorant, sectarian slur. People who defend Alec Reid on a “Yes, but” basis speak volumes about their own attitudes”. Orange rule from Stormont was characterised by systematic discrimination against Catholics and contemptuous disregard for human rights. The civil rights movement was both inevitable and entirely justified. But Orangeism wasn’t Nazism and it is an insult to the victims of …
Jude Collins is one of the few commentators to put a cogent argument in favour of Alec Reid’s comparison between Nazis and Unionists. He argues that though there was no literal truth in the accusation, the analogy still holds to some limited degree. He also accuses Unionist politicians of political artifice in their emotional responses to the issue. Adds: Thanks to reader James, see this Terrance O’Neill quote (subs needed) from today’s Irish Times: “To those of us who remember …
When, following the orchestrated violence in September, Secretary of State, Peter Hain, declared that he “acknowledge[d] the particular needs of loyalist communities” and appointed David Hanson to take the lead in addressing those needs I, somewhat sarcastically [Really?? – Ed], referred to him as the new Minister for Loyalist Alienation. Now, as the BBC report, David Hanson has announced that a Delivery Team to co-ordinate action in disadvantaged loyalist communities is being set up to implement the findings of a …
THE PUP is to retain its link to the UVF. David Ervine seemed almost grateful to Bertie Ahern for saying loyalists needed time and space to sort themselves out, and he probably appreciated the sweetener from Tony too. However, it came at more than the cost of funding a party linked to the UVF… The Government’s apparent refusal to follow through on a recommendation of the IMC served to undermine the watchdog’s authority (where is the interim report?). But if …
Kevin Myers last week, just before the Republic’s decider against Switzerland made some suggestions as to how the national question might be fixed in football. Have two teams, one for the UK, the other Irish, and let players and supporters follow their own passions. Though he first questions just how Irish the Irish are these days: …it seems as if the English Premiership has corrupted very many players from what we might call the British working classes, for the truth …
Or why a healthy society thrives on dissent. And even, who will save us from the stupidity of endless, repetitive order? Fascinating thesis from that most excellent political dissenter John Lloyd, which he kicks off with a seminal quote from Nietzsche: “The danger to those strong communities founded on homogeneous individuals who have character is growing stupidity, which follows all stability like a shadow. It is the individuals who have fewer ties and are much more uncertain and morally weaker …
TOM Luby has some interesting speculation about why a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane is not on the cards – it’s not really in the interests of either Sinn Fein or the British Government. It’s another good reason to be honest and see the utter futility of a Truth Commission, since it’s pretty clear no-one has any intention of going anywhere near the truth. They have mixed success anywhere, and who could have confidence in it? …
Also in the Irish Times, Fintan O’Toole was in the Polish city of Wroclaw when Fr Alec Reid’s comments hit the newswire. As he says, he didn’t discuss them with his Polish hosts, he was too ashamed “..that this combination of historical ignorance and monumental self-pity is far from rare” and he wondered “How could you possibly explain that Irish nationalists, who are thought to be so steeped in the past, know so little about the recent history of the …
It seems the first hurdle for restoration of government has been successfully straddled by the IRA, although the latest IMC report has not been released yet, the noises coming from Michael McDowell, one of the IRA’s fiercest critics, are very positive. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The designs for the new Lansdowne Road stadium have been revealed today (the real designs, not the fake ones that came from a ‘feasibility study’ last year). The design brief has the stadium on multiple levels on three sides, then swoops down on one end, so the D4 residents don’t have to live in permanent shadow. Take a look for yourself here, here, here and here, and tell us what you think. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily …
Interesting interview with Neil McEndoo, an Anglican minister in Dublin who is upbeat about the future of his church in the Republic. Keith Lynch writes: “in 2002, the number of people who identified themselves as part of the Church of Ireland increased for the first time since its establishment here. With a total of 115,611 people the Church showed an increase of almost 27,000 since the 1991 census”. Presbyterian congregations are also thought to be on the rise. Slugger O'TooleA …
Dennis Bradley, vice Chair of the Policing Board and a victim of a brutal beating in a bar in Derry last month, has called on dissident republicans still on a ‘war footing’, to pack it in and ‘go away’. He has said that he will continue to visit the Brandywell area of the city saying, “I have no intention of staying away from the Brandywell. If other people have a difficulty with that, come and tell me. But don`t get …
According to two key pieces of research staff in pubs and clubs in the Republic have shown signs of improved health since it came in 18 months ago. “…concentrations of cotinine – an indicator of exposure to nicotine found in saliva – fell more dramatically among bar workers in the Republic (80pc) compared with those in the North (20pc)”. It’s not known what factors account for the smaller drop in Northern smokers, but a total ban is due to launch …
As I noted previously here, police had initially responded to a High Court judge’s call for a criminal investigation into the events which led to a breach of contract by announcing that an independent expert would be appointed to review and report on the process of addressing the issues arising from the case. Today the police appeared to change their minds and, as the BBC report, have stated that the fraud squad will conduct a criminal investigation.. and they will …
Just about all of the Sunday papers tackle Fr Alec Reid’s comments in one way or another, and Henry McDonald, in the Observer, takes issue with “The Irish conceit – the belief that ‘we’ are the most special, gifted, talented, put-down and oppressed people to walk upright on this planet”, and points to the interview on Radio Ulster’s Arts Extra with John Banville.. who’s clearly enjoying his 15 minutes – listen to the interview here – [first 10 minutes on …
Liam Clarke believes that Alex Reid simply compounded his heated response to aggressive questioning at Fitzroy Presbyterian Church when he persisted in his belief that the IRA had not been behind the robbery of the Northern Bank. According to Clarke his innocent credulity has been crucial to Reid’s positive role in drawing Republicanism towards peace, but it may also have papered over a few important cracks. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Cooley Distillery, Irelands last remaining independent whiskey maker, has signed a deal to supply a Michael Collins-branded Irish whiskey to Sidney Frank Importing, a US drinks distributor, according to the Sunday Times. Cooley expects to supply 50,000 cases of whiskey to the company in year one of the deal, quite ambitious given that 550,000 cases of Irish whiskey are sold in America each year. It would make the company Cooleys biggest customer. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily …