Slugger O'Toole Spotted by Sheila. Some wise words on blogging by Joel Achenbach in the Washington Post – America [and everywhere else – Ed], it turns out, is full of smart, clever, creative people who happen to have no interest in working and whose employers have unwisely given them Internet access. Thus every day, on my blog, these strangers show up, just to shoot the breeze, flirt, kvetch, veer off topic and, most of all, pay zero attention to what I have …
IT’S been a good week for rednecks, even if some of us lost the plot. There was the premiere of the Dukes of Hazzard last night, peace in Lagan Valley with Alabama 3 last Friday and the spectacular finale to mark the end of Hunter S Thompson’s life – as his suicidal ashes were scattered over Aspen, Colorado by a fist sculpture/cannon paid for by Johnny Depp at the weekend. Will Bloggers inherit the Gonzo? Slugger O'TooleA general account used …
Thanks to Ciarán I’ll be trying to find a few free hours over the next couple of days.. but, as he says, this is really interesting stuff. Reputations, an RTE Radio series examining the complexities of the history of Ireland through contrasting attitudes to some of the controversial figures who framed it. RTE have already archived the programmes on Pearse, Parnell, O’Connell, Wolf Tone and Hugh O’Neill, with Diarmuid MacMurrough up for discussion next week. Even better, RTE have made …
The Belfast Telegraph reports, twice, that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment have announced that over 200 submissions have been received in the competition to design the new Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre. Although as today’s DETI statement points out, they are now running a competition to find an exhibition and interpretative designer who “will be required to collaborate with the winning architect to deliver an integrated design solution for the building.” Apart from the obvious concern of introducing a …
IT’S not just the Colombian government that wants IRA members extradited – now the Germans are getting in on the act too. PA reported that Scotland Yard was involved in the arrest of alleged Osnabruck bomber Leonard ‘Bap’ Hardy in Spain. Helpfully, Sinn Fein have informed us that the suspect had been living openly in Ireland for years (tut tut, Bertie). So no more overseas birdwatching trips for the C3 then – but perhaps the Hardy case presents an unforeseen …
Irish Times profile on Irishman starring across water and seeking to play for England Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
After the rioting in Belfast on Saturday night a common cause was forged between Sinn Féin’s Deborah Devenny, “The PSNI have once again demonstrated their unwillingness to deal with loyalist thugs intent upon intimidating the people of this area.”, and the UUP’s Michael Copeland, “Apparent police unwillingness to heed my warnings and pre-empt this situation raises serious questions as to how they are handling this very real problem.” – Police criticised after riot – UTV report – of course that …
The BBC report of the announcement today that 2 of the 8 PSNI stations, the future of which the public was being consulted on, are to remain open exemplifies the problems still faced by policing here. From the initial recommendation by Hugh Orde that they should close, to the process of a public consultation, and the continued resistance to movement on this issue by, in this example, the DUP MLA Arlene Foster – “I remain gravely concerned about the closure …
Newton Emerson with his farewell to the Internet, or at least the Portadown focused part of it. Love it or hate it, the PDN resides on the blogroll of many bloggers far and wide. Portadown’s loss will be our future gain, as he seeks to push his energies into a deeper journalistic furrow. Go Newt! Let us have your memories of NI’s No 1 Satirical site. Thanks to Alan for the heads up! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the …
CELEBRITY rumour blog The Superficial reports Eminem’s publicist saying the rapper quit his European tour, which included Slane, because he’s addicted to sleeping tablets. Some wonderful put-downs on the site too: I’ve lost all respect for his misogyny and gay bashing now. Never again can I look at a woman or a homosexual and think “I hate you because Eminem told me to.” Now you know why Eminem ain’t playing Ireland. Allegedly. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily …
Television lets a lot of tragedy into our homes, it rarely follows up. The BBC revisited some drug addicted children and found this story. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Private polling carried out by Fianna Fáil and covered in the Sunday Tribune (not online) show the party is predicting an electoral meltdown and a spell in opposition. They have also found; strong support in certain areas for Sinn Féin Highlights below Thanks to Ivan for his help. Sunday Tribune (front page) Sun 21 August – extracts Private polls predict election disaster for Fianna Fáil. Fianna Fáil could lose up to 15 seats in the next general election, according to …
STUART Emmrish, editor of the Travel section of the New York Times, returns to find a very different Belfast from the one he remembers seeing in the late 80s. Apart from his disappointment at the empty city centre in the evening, he writes that “the “new” Belfast – the Belfast of outsized ambitions, and perhaps unrealistic expectations – clearly had far to go. But it had already come an awfully long way.” The Observer also takes a look at the …
SOME honest opinions on the underclass situation in Lisburn, Belfast, and, of course, Strabane, the third worst place to live in the UK, according to Channel 4. Remember to have a search on the Chavtown site to get an update on the spide situation in your neighbourhood. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
THE final of the Northern Ireland Trophy – the first major (if non-ranking) tournament here for 18 years is just starting on Eurosport. It was certainly a memorable tournament for world amateur champion, 19-year-old Mark Allen from Antrim, who IIRC won his first seven frames as a professional last week, defeating two former world champions, John Higgins and Steve Davis, who he whitewashed. Pity BBC NI or UTV didn’t see the potential in televising a local rising star in his …
Lots of coverage of the unveiling of the life-sized bronze sculpture of Thin Lizzy frontman, and one of Dublin’s greatest ever rock stars, Phil Lynott on Harry Street in Dublin yesterday.. ahead of tonight’s tribute concert at the Point Theatre on what would have been his 56th birthday. RTE report, BBC here and the Irish Times – who claim 5000 fans turned out to watch the unveiling by his mother, Philomena Lynott – some great photos at Yahoo News here, …
PSNI Supt Terry Shevlin is fed up and worried over the sectarian attacks in Ahoghill, though sectarianism has been disputed previously by senior PSNI officers. Fed up‘ at criticism over distributing fire blankets instead of arresting and worried the unsuccessful allocation of officers may affect crime statistics elsewhere in Ballymena. (think of the shopkeepers and takings?) Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
I’m struggling a bit with the Colombia three story. Some months ago we posed a question as to what might happen when they returned to Dublin. It seems that this took most of the Dublin political (and to a lesser extent journalistic) establishment by surprise. Today in the Irish Times Davy Adams argues (subs required) that most of the recent Sinn Fein moves have been aimed at undermining the integrity of the Taoiseach: In claiming to have a personal commitment …
THE WILL to take on the UVF has been sapped from the top, writes Newton Emerson in yesterday’s Irish News. The UVF, which claims that its feud rival – the LVF – is riddled with informers who are protected by the State, would appear to have a similar issue with protected agents. Some of it is laughably obvious – the block on the publication of the coroners report into the murder of David McIlwaine on security grounds, as Emerson writes, …
[Spotted in the Guardian] A fascinating piece by Robbie Meredith on The Committee On Evil Literature, appointed by Kevin O’Higgins in 1926, and the history of censorship in modern Ireland, on Radio3’s Twenty Minutes on Tuesday – listen here[RealPlayer audio file].. or go here. Interesting contributions from writer John McGahern and Tom Garvin, Professor of Politics at University College Dublin.. over 12,000 titles banned throughout the 20th Century.. but not Jimmy Joyce’s Ulysses.. and while the report ends by pointing …