Slugger O'Toole

On the same day that it emerges that Northern Irish students are, once again, outperforming their counterparts in England and Wales in GCSE exams, it has also been reported that there will be controversial cuts in crossing patrol services at schools in Northern Ireland. The cuts come as the Education Boards are struggling to make ends meet. Trade union NIPSA has revealed that many lollipop staff may be forced to consider quitting their posts because of the dramatic impact new …

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Well, it’s good news from Chivers Managing Director Liam O’Rourke, who’s written to Slugger explaining the current hiatus in the ‘food chain’ in Northern Ireland. Pending a new distribution deal covering NI and Britain, you should be able to ask your local shop to order it! From Liam O’Rourke The situation re YR is that we have the product in wide distribution here in ROI it is listed in every major store and most minor stores also. We purchased YR …

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Intertesting piece from Alan Bairner, a Scottish academic writer on sport and politics in, who reflects on the sometimes uncomfortable mix of national and social politics, whilst sitting with the Irish contingent of cricket supporters at the first Ashes test in Lords earlier this year. The saying “You can choose your friends but not your family” applies equally well to your compatriots. In the case of Ireland, it was for this very reason that James Connolly wrote in Shan Van …

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Lindy McDowell certainly doesn’t pussyfoot around in her suggestion as to what to do about the latest outburst of Loyalist violence. But that’s what she accuses the government of doing. She argues that the people behind the orchestration of violence and intimidation are not known to the public, but are to the security forces: …the only thing these men are loyal to are themselves – to their own hip pockets, their own vanity, their own position. They leach off the …

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A SENIOR cop lays into a government department for refusing to help remove flags in Limavady. Once again, the Department of Regional Development takes the ‘play safe, do nothing’ approach that even a more pro-active PSNI seems to be slowly moving away from these days. The Tele reported: The DRD said that they had arranged a meeting with the Limavady police chief for next week. A spokeswoman said: “Roads Service policy is where complaints are received and there is no …

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Alliance Cllr Maire Hendron claimed Sinn Féin lied about trouble in East Belfast on Monday. UUP MLA Michael Copeland has confirmed the Sinn Féin report saying they met that night to defuse tensions. Maybe Cllr Hendron was tucked up in bed? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

REPUBLICANS have been exploring the possibility of tapping into the growing foreign worker vote in order to strengthen their political position, the News Letter has reported. Sinn Fein MLA for Newry and Armagh, Davy Hyland, said: “There certainly are large numbers of them here in Newry. I passed a house recently where about 50 were having a party and, as they are mostly Catholic, they are more sympathetic to the nationalist outlook.” Who says republicans can’t be prejudiced?! Slugger O'TooleA …

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The UUP has an interesting and expansive line on Northern Ireland as a multicultural society. There’s some evidence that it is popular with the younger elements in the party. But what worries the blogger over at About EU is the party’s call to restrict the number of places given to overseas students in UK universities. Along with Sinn Fein’s Davy Hyland’s remarks, it begs the question as to how far any of the local parties have got in thinking through …

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A fascinating article in the Guardian’s Life section today – let down, unfortunately, by an over-emphasis on current events at the end – about the renowned Trantorian mathematician Hari Seldon’s predictive science of Psychohistory ecologist Peter Turchin’s, of the University of Conneticut, mathematical model of history – detailed in his book Historical Dynamics: Why States Rise and Fall, updated as War & Peace & War out this September. The article includes a great quote from the profoundly anti-deterministic historian Niall …

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Despite appearances, I’m not back to full blogging until next week. The NI blogosphere is growing all the time. The latest to join in the fun is Slugger regular Jo. Here she digs into Toby Harden’s Bandit Country. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

ENGLISH uberspide, lottery winner and UDA supporter Michael Carroll gets the full ‘kiss and tell’ treatment from his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend in today’s Sun. The King of Chavs’ wife is now keeping herself to herself in Belfast, and won’t let him see his daughter. It’s a sordid tale of sex, drugs and ASBOs, but you can only read it all if you bought the paper today. Bah! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Michael McDowell puts the blame for the escape and re-appearance of the Colombian Three on the Army Council of the IRA. He notes that in light of recent press reports this may have been known to includes high level members of Sinn Fein. The minister added: “Their presence [the Colombia Three] raises very, very serious questions for the Provo movement and for the people who were in charge of that movement at the time that they were sent there using …

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Most of polite society in Northern Ireland turns up its collective nose at the tabloid reporting of papers like the Sunday World. However, Brian Wilson writing in the Scotland on Sunday sees the latest campaign against the paper as testimony to its constant focus on the day to day realities of paramilitary life in the largely working class areas of Northern Ireland. We all want to see peace prevail in Northern Ireland. But there is a danger that a price …

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I spent some of last week scouring supermarkets and convenience stores for a couple of bottles of Goodalls good ole Yorkshire Relish and a few more of the YR sauce. None of the outlets I tried in Belfast from M&S to Curley’s had it. What’s the story? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

As I previously noted Peter Hall has a new production of Waiting for Godot, at the Theatre Royal, Bath, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first English production of the play.. which, at the age of 24, he was also responsible for. In today’s Guardian he looks back fondly to that production, while generously reviewing his new production. Heh. And congratulates the audiences, beyond the preview that is, for their less than reverential approach to the timeless masterpiece. But …

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Yes, for once, I am not making a joke about politicians being clowns. Moyle Council is set to allow circuses to return to council land after a blanket ban on all circuses with performing animals, which has been in place since the 1990s, has been overturned.. A motion, proposed by Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan has been passed in recognition of tighter controls on animal welfare. As before, circuses will only be allowed to work on council land if they …

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SDLP East Londonderry MLA John Dallat has called for tighter controls of websites that promote paramilitaries on the net. Relax, Slugger is not amongst them. But it appears John’s been walking on the darker side of the net in recent times. It also appears that the producers of one of the sites has already made good its reply. Update: It looks like PA have been doing some further digging on this issue. Stay with us for further developments. From John …

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Latest outburst by evangelical preacher Pat Robertson vis a vis Venezuela President Hugo Chavez seems a little ‘unchristian’ or is it just the new othordoxy? Assassinate Chavez, Pat Robertson tells a stunned America By Andrew Buncombe in Washington Published: 24 August 2005 Pat Robertson, one of the most influential Christian evangelists in the United States, has sparked controversy by calling for the assassination of the left-wing leader of Venezuela. Mr Robertson, who heads the Christian Coalition and has close links to …

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Now, where was I? *slurp* Oh yes.. The Belfast Telegraph focuses, just about [or is that you? – Ed], on the Northern Ireland aspect of a recent report on the drinking habits of the UK and other European citizens. It seems that drinking wine at home is on the increase *slurp* According to unnamed drinks industry experts, “the demise of the Troubles has fuelled a boom in wine consumption”.. hmm.. AND they helpfully reference a Belfast-based online store, Direct Wine …

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Interesting and thoughtful analysis from Eric Waugh, which argues that the pragmatic response of successive British government in dealing with paramilitaries, both during and after the conflict, has left it morally if not legally compromised in dealing with the last vestiges of Northern Ireland’s long internecine war. The way is now cleared for the working out of a scene deeply traditional in Irish history: for when one grouping dares to seek a modus vivendi with the old enemy, as Redmond …

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