Kilsally

IT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O' Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally

Civil rights and the community

| Readers 6

An interesting article from the States regarding parades and civil rights.Ed Quillen of the Denver Post argues that “The First Amendment to the federal Constitution protects the right to free speech. It does not say anything about content. It says, “Congress shall make no law,” not “Congress shall enjoy the power to prohibit hate speech, ban material deemed harmful to minors, suppress utterances that hurt people’s feelings … and this power may be delegated to college professors who can determine …

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Address to the Unco Guid

| Readers 29

Thousands of Ulster folk will be celebrating Rabbie Burns this evening. The Ulster-Scots Agency has a very good piece on Burns – The Ulster Connection. May I wish everyone a pleasant Burns Night. Selkirk Grace Some hae meat and cannot eat. Some cannot eat that want it: But we hae meat and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.Address to a Haggis. Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin’-race! Aboon them a’ ye tak …

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Interesting twist

| Readers 2

An interesting twist to the Northern Bank robbery….Apparently the Provos are selling £100,000 in stolen notes for £33,000 in genuine notes to criminal gangs including Loyalists. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

EU constitution debate

| Readers 1

DUP MEP Jim Allister has a few words to say as the proposed constitution is put to a vote in Strasbourg today.Update – The EU parliament has backed the proposed constitution with 500 deputies voting for, 137 against and 40 abstaining. You can also read the DUP press release here. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

The parades issue…..

| Readers 3

The Quigley report has largely been rejected by the House of Commons` Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Sir George Quigley had proposed that the Parades Commission be split into two bodies and that the police should have a greater say on parades. One interesting proposal is the implementation of a registration scheme for bands. The Committee also called for greater transparency in the decision making process and called for the rapid implementation of a proposed `compliance and post mortem` unit. The …

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Ulster-Scots Update

| Readers 10

The latest edition of “The Ulster-Scot” is out – so I thought I would bring a small update to Slugger. The Ulster-Scots Agency is now funding organisations in 10 counties (Northern Ireland plus Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim ).Some interesting tid-bits: The inaugral meeting of the first all-party Ulster-Scots parliamentary group at Westminster will take place on Jan 16th. John Anderson`s stage show “On Eagle`s Wing” will be broadcast by BBC Northern Ireland in January and in the States in …

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UDA statement

| Readers 2

The expected UDA announcement happened yesterday, shortly after a Loyalist commemoration service. It will be very interesting to see if this is the beginning of some fancy footwork and confidence building measures as a prelude to a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Can we expect something from the IRA fairly soon? It certainly seems that the election of the First and Deputy First Ministers is to be seperated to save the DUP from having to vote for a …

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The rise of racism

| Readers 1

It might not be quite as pervasive as “up here in the North” but bigotry in the Republic manifested it`s self in Dublin on Armistice Day at the Irish Jewish Museum and the National War Memorial. This comes just ahead of Remembrance Sunday. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

Shhh….

| Readers 4

It seems that the Patten recommendation to introduce a registration scheme for Police Officers who are members of the Masons, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Orange Order, Apprentice Boys, Royal Black Institution, Opus Dei and Knights of St Columbanus turned out to be a damp squib. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

The GOP vote

| Readers 2

The Register has been running some tongue-in-cheek articles recently (here and here) with regards the recent election results in the USA. Outline plans for Southern “Jesusland” secessation being firmly on the agenda. On a slightly more serious note, James Webb, a distinguished Vietnam war marine has recently had a piece published in the Wall Street Journal with regards the GOP Scots-Irish vote. Mr Webb has also featured in a recent edition of the Newsletter. It is interesting to note the …

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Maiden City Festival

| Readers 1

The annual Maiden City Festival begins today, partly funded by the Republic`s Department of Foreign Affairs. The week long festival is due to stage a diverse range of cultural events culminating in the Relief of Derry parade on the 14th. Surely the continued expansion of this largely Protestant event can be used as a template for others to create a more inclusive atmosphere promoting equality and respect as well as celebrating diversity? KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in …

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Piping champs

| Readers 1

Some good results for Ulster based pipe bands in the recent European Championships held in Lisburn. Possible World Champs in the pipeline? KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

On NI football

| Readers 1

Northern Irish football seems to be making good progress recently. We have an All-Ireland competition to look forward to, the City of Armagh Northern Ireland Supporters Club are following through on the IFA`s anti-racism initiative and Northern Ireland also had a team at the recent UK Chinese Football Tournament. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

DUP to debate alongside SF

| Readers 1

The DUP will share a platform with Sinn Fein twice in th next few weeks. Peter Robinson will be attending this years MacGill summer school and arts week, along with Sinn Fein`s Martin McGuiness, SDLP leader Mark Durcan and Justice Minister Michael McDowell, amongst others. Then Jeffrey Donaldson will be attending the West Belfast Festival “talk back” event and share a platform with Sinn Fein’s MEP Mary Lou McDonald and expelled Labour MP George Galloway. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a …

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An end to paramilitary flags?

| Readers 4

A recent article in the Orange Torch, Scotlands Orange Newspaper, has called for an end to bands carrying paramilitary flags LET’S HONOUR THEM ALL! Why So Selective with “Battle Honours”? At the March sessions of Grand Lodge, the MW Grand Master related a true story from the 1916 Battle of the Somme. In response to requests, and as the Somme anniversary approaches, the following is based upon his remarks … I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a true …

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Portadown District to be suspended

| Readers 1

According to a report in the Irish Independent, the Orange Order are due to suspend Portadown No 1 District Lodge and effectively ban next weeks parade to Drumcree Parish Church. The suspension seems to be on the grounds that Portadown Orangemen attended a Parades Commission Forum in South Africa which is against the official policy of Grand Lodge. One can`t help wondering if this is a move aimed at removing a thorn in the side of Northern Ireland and in …

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Whiterock parade allowed

| Readers 3

The Parades Commission has reversed it`s decision to ban Orangemen from walking down part of the Springfield Road this Saturday. The Commission said it had considered a number of changes surrounding the organisation of the parade. Let us hope that lessons have been learned and that Orangemen will have the parade well marshalled. In particular it might be a good idea to try to ensure that “hangers-on” do not squander this opportunity to build community relations by causing trouble during …

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Time to designate areas?

| Readers 2

With the marching season now upon us I thought it might be worth discussing a solution to the parades issue rather than resolutely ignoring it, as seems to be the position of all the political parties. The main cause of concern seems to be interface areas and traditional routes. Traditional routes are now faced with the dilemma of demographic change. Sinn Fein seems to be slightly muddled here. Some times it argues that parades should not be allowed through Catholic …

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Orange plea to adhere to principles

| Readers 1

The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Robert Saulters, has issued an unprecedented plea to all Orangemen to uphold the Christian principles of the Institution, particulalrly during public processions. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk

Working together

| Readers 2

A group of former Loyalist and Republican prisoners have launched a joint reconcilliation project. The Messines Association aims to offer courses to community groups and individuals. Messines was the location during WW1 in which men of the 36th Ulster Division and the 16th Irish Fusiliers fought alongside each other. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk