Bigger Picture

We inhabit, to quote ATQ Stewart the “narrow ground,” two ideologies opposed to one another from the very beginning always in a state of conflict with one another.  Nationalists are chalk to my cheese, blur to my oasis,romulus to my remus. A shared future concept is something that parties inNorthern Irelandwant.  It is the basis that will entrench peace inNorthern Irelandand ensure that we never return to darker days.  Martin McGuinness’ announcement at the Sinn Fein conference  shows that only …

Read more…

Rumours on Twitter have just been confirmed by Gerry Adams that Bairbre de Brun is stepping down from her post as Northern Ireland MEP for “personal reasons”. It had been suggested in recent times that de Brun’s health was not great and this may well be the personal reasons of which they speak.   Questions will inevitably follow as to the selection of a new MEP as her replacement.  As to who this might be and the Sinn Fein strategy …

Read more…

  Not much has been made about Robinson’s recent remarks about the Maze conflict centre, the usual dissent from Jim Allister aside. This is suprising when we consider that when the idea for a peace and reconcilliation centre for the Maze was first drawn up it was the DUP who opposed such a move on the grounds of the potential use of the centre as a shrine to the hungerstrikers. While it is not my intention to get into a …

Read more…

There is a time in life when one must stand up and be counted. A time when people cry out for a saviour to come and rescue them from their peril. A time to take your place as a leader of men. Then there are other times. Times when people are really happy enough, not too bothered and well, content with their lot. I come to Slugger as the latter hoping to inspire something of the former. I should explain. …

Read more…