Brian Walker Surely the most famous poet with a Derry connection isn’t Seamus Heaney or even Phil Coulter but Mrs Cecil ( or Cecilia) Frances Alexander, whose personal fame is oddly far less than than the fame of what she wrote. For me and for millions Christmas properly begins at that electric moment after the Master of the Choristers of King’s College Cambridge points to a single small boy at two minutes past three on Christmas Eve to launch off into the …
Staying with a Roman Catholic theme, as a BBC commentator for the visit of Pope John Paul 11 to Ireland, in 1979, I remember well the pride felt locally for Newry-born Papal secretary John Magee, who was credited with a major role in organising the visit. Magee was already about to be engulfed in mounting controversy, named wrongly at first as the man who discovered the dead body of JP1, rather than make the dreadful admission that a nun, an …
Just an add to all the Cruiseography including my own small memoir in Gonzo’s original thread. First, I’m taken aback at the emerging orthodoxy over the last few days, that the reappraisal of nationalism and unionism owes more to the Cruiser than anyone else. And I speak as a fan who had quite few dealings with him long ago, including helping him out a lift at a Bolton St election count, which I was proud to do. What I found …
“This list is neither “hot” nor “on-the-verge” or anything like that. It’s a mix of value picks that’ll still wow you, cities that are sprucing up for big events, smart alternatives to overrun spots nearby, and destinations that are justifiably hyped.” Thus does Frommers’ explain Belfast’s place in a category of top destinations. I’m as fond of the place as anybody, I nit-pick about all the changes and mourn the loss of heritage (although compared to many Sluggerities I’m just …
Rowan Williams is not alone on the austerity kick. Andrew Charles clearly sympathises with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s struggle to find a moral theory of recession, only to find him slapped down by son of the manse Gordon Brown. Brown invokes the Good Samaritan as he tries to encourage more getting and spending not less, to counteract the credit crisis. Presenter John Humphrys a fellow Welshman reviewing the interview says Williams has become “ a much more effective communicator – …
“The United Kingdom’s occupation of Iraq proved so unpopular at home that London had to declare success and head for the exit. The British pulled out early, and chaos followed in their wake.” Not Iraq 17 December 2008 but a verdict on the end of the British mandate in 1932. There must be a fair chance that history will repeat itself. The contemporary press verdict on the whole affair is mixed, reflecting the confusion and deep doubt over what it …
It’s hardly news at home but how gratifying for the international image that Newry has made it onto the front page of the New York Times. That’s a lot more than can be said for Gordon Brown’s announcement of the final British withdrawal from Iraq, which is merely tagged on to that story about 35 arrests in the Iraqi ministry of the interior and national security. ..these days the lines of traffic leading off the main highway north to this …
Just dipping into the Royal Variety show, it’s nice to see the oul’ accent featuring on the right side of a great c21 spoof. Proceeds of the Cowell-smashing hit to the NSPCC. Proud of you Geraldine. Brian WalkerFormer BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ …
It used to be thought rather touching and certainly harmless when we marked our own milestones through the lives of celebrities. But now the revolt is growing against the celebrity culture, even as the celebs themselves appear to be cashing in on fame more and more. In spite of all his obsessively documented flaws, JFK himself was a real star ; charisma is an over-worked word but his surely still comes across to the generations who don’t remember him. But …
So the British and Irish pint survives in chiming unity. It was gracious of the European Parliament to agree to a status quo that would have cost the EU dear to try to change. The English court case goes to show what can make a human rights issue. But just to show the limits of harmonisation, we parted on miles/kilometres when the Irish authorities went all European – though confusingly for a time we had a mix of local signs …
Is this the worst recession in our life time? Over at NI Crunch talk, a bold attempt to get local business talking, I’ve offered a different thought based on a session with Lord Donoughue, special adviser to Jim Callaghan during the IMF crisis of 1976 and the following politically fatal winter of discontent. Not that things are exactly chipper today of course, even according to the very limited measure of the consumer prices index (CPI) showing a less than expected …
Fascinating how Tony Blair has attracted so much attention for coming out as a (Roman) Catholic in such a supposedly secular society as England, even a year after the event. Is there a hint there of the primeval C16 and C17 English fear of undeclared foreign influences? Why did he not convert while PM? Because he was worried about all the “palaver” he says. Maybe, but not from an obvious quarter in recent years at least. Tony Blair has forged …
Some reflections on the de Menezes verdict which cut in both directions. Let’s begin by stressing the fact that dealing with suspected suicide bombers was new and terrifying. The Telegraph analysis of the chapter of disaster is as good as any. The fact of two different unconnected units, one for surveillance, the other a firearms team to deal directly with the suspect was likely to end in tears. Why didn’t the surveillance unit stop the suspect from getting on a …
Seneschal (chief judge) Lt Col Reg Guille said: “The last time the people of Sark were told how to vote was in 1940. “We got our independence back in 1945 at the point of a bayonet. The people have voted. They’ve chosen their government.” Democracy especially when new minted is a beautiful thing but less so when it returns the “wrong” result, as all Irish voters know. On Sark, old money but less of it seems more preferable than pots …
Two very different responses to Human Rights Day in London and Belfast yesterday. In London Lord Lester, the eminent human rights lawyer and politician who resigned recently as a government adviser launched a scathing attack on Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s “sly” attack on the Human Rights Act which he, Straw, introduced 10 years ago as Home Secretary. “In spite of its achievement in introducing the Human Rights Act, the government has a deeply disappointing record in giving effect to the …
So it looks like a big win for Ireland and a brief welcome distraction from the economic crisis. It includes assurances on all the subterranean fears and even the usual humbug of Irish neutrality. It also emerged yesterday that the Government has forced changes to a key declaration on European security and defence policy (ESDP), which aims to boost existing EU ties with Nato. The changes to the declaration reflect Irish efforts to have the UN’s role highlighted at the …
John Major’s face was ashen as he asked to use the phone in my office on hearing the news of the Chinook crash, after taking part on an Election Call programme for the Euro-election of 1994. (I was surprised he didn’t have his own comms but there you are). It was such a casually awful waste of life. And so began a saga which hasn’t ended even now. The case for the pilots isn’t all family based. Malcolm Rifkind, former …
This piece in the Yorkshire Post expresses the complexity and confusion of the whole sad business.. If they’re worried in Yorkshire you can be sure they’re worried everywhere.. Some of the feed was sold into Northern Ireland and fed to both cattle and pigs on both sides of the border. It is unlikely any was sold into mainland Britain. However, meat from Northern Ireland can be branded British and meat from all kinds of sources can be sold in British-branded …
Ban on tobacco displays announced Northern Ireland is yet to decide a policy. What’s keepin’ ye? Brian WalkerFormer BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London
As recession really takes hold, Peston offers a magisterial macro-view. Arguably the crisis will turn out to be more significant for us and other developed economies than the collapse of communism At the big -micro end, the terms of bail-out for the US auto giants are awaited. “..it could mean that the government would mandate, or at least heavily influence, what kind of cars companies make, what mileage and environmental standards they must meet and what large investments they are …
