Slugger O'Toole On a bit of a culture jag this morning.. bear with me.. First up, another in the occasional series the Guardian appears to be running on John Millington Synge. This time a marvellous short story by Joseph O’Connor – The playboy of Glenageary – it’s an extract from Synge: A Celebration, edited by Colm Tóibín. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Interesting story about 15 year old Richard Wilkinson who despite winning the British schoolboy’s international slalom in Mirabelle in France cannot get one of the six to eight British licences to compete in international races. Although he’s been invited to train with the England international team, it seems his best hope of competing internaionally will be under an Irish licence, where there is considerably less competition for places. Thanks to Harboy for the heads up! Slugger O'TooleA general account used …
According to Brian Feeney, it was the grim year of 1972 that changed the trajectory of Ted Heath’s Northern Ireland policy from backing Unionists to seeking a long term accomodation with the Catholic minority. In the end he seems to have suffered the worst of both worlds. In Feeney’s view, he ended up being resented by both sides. When Heath did become involved, however, there was no doubt where he laid the blame for the events of the previous two …
REPUBLICANS are to stage their first ever parade in the staunchly unionist town of Ballymena, to commemorate the introduction of internment. Unionists are not amused, and the Parades Commission could yet re-route the march. The town was a topic of discussion on Talkback today, after its Wikipedia description noted that it “is also believed to have the worst per capita heroin problem in Europe. This is largely due to the pervasive influence in the town of unionist paramilitary groups who …
Ciaran over Neither Indifferent nor Sceptical is concerned at the proposal that the British Home Secretary should be given a new range of quasi-judical powers to combat the new terror threat. He argues that in practice they are likely to land Charles Clarke in difficult water with little defence against the accusation of political bias in his subsequent actions. Note the ongoing controversy around the still unexplained re-arrest of Sean Kelly. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads …
There’s been some unusually excellent discussion on Slugger around the London bombs. But it has to be said that recently, especially when there is any mention of the Orange Order, otherwise highly intelligent readers easily match the ignorance found in this snippet overheard on in New York. The golden rule in writing is: write what you know about. Otherwise you run the risk of being satirised on a blog in a faraway country! 😉 Thanks to Two Nations for the …
As they say ‘it’s all go over here’. I presume we will be hearing more from Ms. Hoey. Man shot dead by police on Tube A man has been shot dead by armed officers at Stockwell Tube station, as police hunt four would-be bombers. Passenger Mark Whitby told BBC News he had seen a man of Asian appearance shot five times by “plain-clothes police officers” with a handgun. “I saw the gun being fired five times into the guy – …
THE DUP has been taking quite an interest in the new Anti-Terrorism Bill. Jeffrey Donaldson wants phone tap evidence to be made admissible as evidence in court. But Jim Shannon has other concerns. He believes that “laws to be rushed through by the Government in the wake of the London bombings could effectively outlaw open-air evangelism“. Could anti-terror laws really mean the end for the manic street preachers that do our heads in? God only knows how many lost souls …
The Daily Mail has a fuller report on the shooting of an Asian man in Stockwell Tube station. It’s worth reading their comments facility too. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
MICK has pointed out the danger of inadvertantly becoming an internet figure of fun (remember the Star Wars Kid too?) – but maybe you already are! Overheard In Dublin is best read in a broad Dublin accent. Three recent posts: Customer Service from Dublin Bus! A few years back I was getting on the 19A bus in town and heading home with my mother. The number on front of the bus said 19A but the number on the side of …
Via Newshound, Newton Emerson picked up on the statement by Sinn Féin MLA Willie Clarke on the drive-by shooting in Newcastle on Monday – “We need the community to get involved” – which I noted at the time, and asks “what does he mean by the community, exactly?” As Newton points out, the ubiquitous community label is too readily used in an attempt to legitimise and disguise other agendas – Because community implies grassroots legitimacy it is an ideal disguise …
It looks like they were serious after all. I must admit I was beginning to doubt them, but according the Irish Echo, the Daily Ireland (by which presumably they mean its principals) has issued its much anticipated writ against the Minister for Justice. Given that the case could presumably have been brought in the Republic, some may find their faith in British justice particularly heartwarming. The article goes on to describe the paper’s circulation as “far more than its detractors …
Robin at Perfect.co.uk has more on developments in London. And, as searches continue, the BBC has a revised report that pulls together the available information on the terrorist attack yesterday, the police have also released CCTV images of the suspects. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
If NI gets a smoking ban, it’s more likely to be total than partial. At least those were direct rule minister Shaun Woodward’s candid thoughts today. He’s not expected to make a decision until 2007, but this is the clearest indication yet that he favours a total ban. Consultations with unions follow. But considering their stance on the Republic’s ban, it’s unlikely there will be substantial opposition from that quarter. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and …
Enthusiastic holiday makers, most of them seemingly from Belfast, celebrated the twelth in Benedorm with an unofficial (and illegal) march. The celebrations were stopped by police after about ten minutes when they began to block the road. The organisers were fined 6,000 each for their trouble. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
Ian Paisley Junior has suggested that the organisation of a Republican parade to mark the 34th anniversary of the introduction of internment on 9th August in Ballymena is a cover for what he calls Gerry Adams’ ‘failed initiative’. Does he know something we don’t? In any case, he accuses Republicans of deliberately raising tensions in the town. Over the past year, republicans have deliberately increased tensions and now we have a real concern that such a parade will lead to …
Three underground stations in London have been evacuated after what are described as “a series of incidents”.. very sketchy details at the minute, although the Guardian Newsblog has a SkyNews report that “at 1254. A passenger’s backpack blew apart, but did not cause further damage”. Update More from the Guardian Newsblog Update again Four minor explosions it seems, with possibly only the detonators exploding, including one on a bus. Only one person, it is reported, has been injured. More Today …
Like him or loathe him, the Republic’s minister for Justice has a knack for getting to the nub of certain issues. This week he’s been in Glenties, Co Donegal addressing the MacGill Summer School waxing lyrical on what he sees as the heavy and fixed charicaturing by sections of the media of right or even centre right politics (subs needed) Update: Full text of the speech. Thanks to Nevin for the heads up! He said there was a strong element …
With a second round of bomb attacks on London: none asgoing off, there is considerable heat being generated over the vexed question over the primary cause. Dodgblogium links to Matthew d’Ancona’s attack on Ken Livingston’s remarks on Radio Four yesterday. …he deployed the whiskery argument that western imperialism is at the root of all evil. If we had only left the Arab nations alone after the First World War, the mayor said, “and just bought their oil, rather than feeling …
The Newsletter editorialises on the appointment of Bob Collins. It notes that both of Unionism’s main parties have questioned the government’s intentions of promoting both Human Rights and Equality agendas in that community. The latest appointment, coming on top of the elevation last month of Mrs Monica McWilliams as chief commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, appears to have further alienated the majority population from the kernel of equality and human rights and demonstrates that perhaps Government is not really …