Slugger O'Toole

I thought we’d lost this one to the distinctly inhospitable Daily Ireland archives. Thanks to Newshound, it has been recovered for the wider world. Jude Collins argues that there is no such thing as an impartial media. He recounts restrictions of space, ownership, and self censorship as sources of bias and finishes with the paradoxical proposition that objectivity in reporting is a myth that should be both dispelled and aspired towards: Media people are human beings and each sees the …

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As previously noted, the acclaimed Irish writer John McGahern’s new book Memoirs has just been published. The Guardian, on Saturday, printed an extract that details his experience of censorship in Ireland that’s worth reading – a result of the deliberations of the Committee on Evil Literature – and he was interviewed by RTÉ radio’s Rattlebag on 1 Sept about his life and work, during which he also read from his Memoirs – listen to the full interview here[RealPlayer sound file] …

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Andrew Sullivan with a largely unantagonistic and thoughtful analysis of the political fallout now facing George Bush in the wake of what looks like the US’s greatest national disaster for over a century. Incompetence is the central charge that is likely to stick, particular in the light of Bush’s claim early on that no one could have predicted the scale of the disaster. As Sullivan says, “read this prophetic passage and weep”: NOTE: First polls are not sharing the anti …

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Both the Irish Examiner and the Irish Times note the comments of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in an interview yesterday. As the IE reports, when asked whether he saw any circumstances in which Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin would form a coalition, he replied firmly: “No, I don’t.” The Irish Times report the Fianna Fáil leader’s comments here – Mr Ahern said he believed Sinn Féin was on the way towards embracing totally peaceful means. But their economic policy was “the …

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Paul Colgan anticipates how the mechanics of the IRA decommissioning is likely to run, with bookends statements from John de Chastelain stating when it begins and ends. Additionally, “two clergymen one Protestant and one Catholic will give public statements confirming that they have witnessed decommissioning and that the weapons disposed of match up with the IICD’s declared inventory of IRA weapons”. With the arms dumps in question more fragmented than in previous acts, it looks like it will take some …

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Conor Lally in today’s Irish Times has an interesting story on the IRA’s alleged money laundering operations (subs needed). Given the long lead times that are common for such complex investigations, it seems unlikely that any of this will tip the current political apple cart. But a long fuse has been lit here. If and when prosecutions arise, the effect could be politically explosive! IRA extortion demands from companies of up to €400,000 per year are not uncommon. A single …

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Mark Steyn refuses to be partial in his blaming, and gives all the authorities an equal lashing in this week’s column. He argues that it proves the authorities have neither learned nor listened to any of the lessons of 11th September 2001. PS Reader Groucho recommends Lionel Shriver, with a view from an American abroad. One thing that became clear two or three months after “the day that everything changed” is that nothing changed — that huge swathes of the …

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Interesting inteview with Margaret Ward co-author of Irish Women and Nationalism: Soldiers, New Women and Wicked Hag. She gives Slugger a mention, but wonders whether there is a deep gender divide in the readership of the site, considering the apparent dominance of male contributors. It’s a subject that Jo’s been thinking through over on her own recently established blog. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Delcan Lynch on how the Irish are finally getting Cricket. Cricket is a situational game. If it’s a dull game, it’s dull. But when it’s tight, as this Ashes series has been from day one, then it’s hard to stop watching. Not since England last won the Ashes back in 1981 has there been such compelling comtition in the International game, when Ian Botham and Bob Willis dug deep and produced some of the most gripping cricket. If you’ve never …

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Joseph O’Malley reckons that completion of the public promises of the IRA to go entirely political, are key to Sinn Fein’s future political success in the Republic’s next election. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

At last. The IRA is to finally dump all weapons. According to the Guardian it is to start within days, and should be complete within the next two weeks. The Sunday Times reports that preparitory internal moves have begun already. What most striking is that this move is now not likely to be the deal maker or breaker. The DUP, the party democratically enfranchised to pass or fail the IRA’s moves, has a longer term game in mind. The activity …

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Jim Cusack, with a telling anecdote on Gerry Fitt’s ad hoc approach to politics. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

NORTHERN Ireland have just won their first home game at Windsor Park in four years – with TWO set piece goals! It was only Azerbaijan (who are, I believe joint 116th in the world with ourselves), but hopefully it will give the team a lift before the England match on Wednesday. No Sproule and a small victory, but – at last – a reason to be cheerful. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Following my article last week on the Indian Mela festival, which took part in Belfast, it seems Carrickfergus has got on board the ethnic culture bandwagon. It’s hosting a Mini-Matsuri Japanese Festival, organised by the Japan Society of Northern Ireland. Taiko drummers, food tasting, calligraphy, origami and a special tea making ceremony happened this afternoon in the Carrickfergus Museum & Civic Centre. However, elsewhere normal service was as usual, with the Hillsborough Annual Oyster Festival being evacuated after a warning …

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A week-long Festival of Science begins in Dublin today, launched by Micheál Martin – it’s a British Association for the Advancement of Science annual event. Unfortunately the Irish Times chose today to publish an opinion piece by Breda O’Brien, in support of scientific tolerance for the advocates of the new creationism, Intelligent Design[subs req.], which, arguably, displays a distinct lack of understanding of science. Although the majority of the article is centred on a dispute around an editor of a …

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An amazing collection of images of writers, artists and composers goes up for auction at Bonhams on 3 Oct. The Guardian’s James Fenton picks out his favourites here. But I’ll highlight some locally connected lots – Seamus Heaney portrait in oil on canvass – Ted Hughes, Charles Causley and Seamus Heaney photographed together – Samuel Beckett [back] portrait – photograph of WB Yeats, with a Joycean connection – not to mention a Shakespeare print from 1685, a photograph of Charles …

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Outside New Orleans, there’s a lot of vituperative recriminations. All the authorities, federal, state and city-wide seem to have lost the plot. Inside, there is this guy who’s telling what he sees on his PC and generator that’s still working. And this blogger is trying to get livesaving information out to whoever will listen. Adds: Katrina Help Wiki. Indymedia has a check list of rescue resources. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

I wonder if the Irish News had discovered what the mysterious flags erected on the Ormeau Road were a day earlier would this riot have happened?! During the trouble, loyalists threw petrol bombs into the police car park opposite Donegal Pass PSNI station. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

THE Government is to allow suspected IRA fugitives ‘on the run’ back into the UK. However, Alliance’s David Ford isn’t convinced that the IRA will afford people on the run from the IRA the same courtesy. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

TONY Blair has called for parents to take their responsibilities more seriously, as he launched a new drive against bad parenting and anti-social behaviour. As Tony knows all too well, you can’t keep your eye on the kids all of the time (maybe he picked the wrong role model !), so he wants families to teach children to respect others. Closer to home, children are copping criticism from the Chief Constable for (allegedly) being involved rioting and sectarian attacks recently. …

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