Choyaa 
The spectre of Drumcree has loomed over Northern Ireland again this past week. For many, it had faded from view over the last 28 years; for those of us within the Orange Institution, it never truly disappeared. Weekly protests kept the memory alive, while emptier lodge rooms after the 1990s served as a constant reminder of what the crisis did to the Institution. It was never simply a dispute over a road. For the Institution, Drumcree became a wound that …
Just over two years ago, Jeffrey Donaldson was view by many as the embodiment of mild-mannered respectability. His reputation as a pragmatic operator had been reinforced by his role in brokering the DUP’s return to the Executive after the Protocol deal. Today, through the extraordinary courage of two women, that carefully constructed image lies in ruins. The contrast between the public legend and the private reality is stark: Donaldson now stands convicted of offences that destroy any claim he ever …
The brutal stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie on Monday evening sent shockwaves throughout Northern Ireland. For many, however, the primary shock lay in the graphic video posted online rather than the incident itself, as communities had been bracing themselves for such an attack for some time. The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese national named Hadi Alodid, was overpowered by several quick-thinking bystanders, one armed with a hurl. While their actions undoubtedly saved Ogilvie’s life, he has been left with devastating, life-changing injuries, …
The Parades Commission has once again ruled that the Orange Institution will be banned from parading along Garvaghy Road in 2025. This decision is hardly surprising—it marks the thirtieth consecutive year such a ruling has been made. What may surprise many, however, is that weekly protests against this determination have continued, largely unnoticed, for the past three decades. These protests rarely make headlines today. They lack the scale and intensity of the tumultuous demonstrations of the 1990s. Yet their continued …
There’s been a lot of discussion over the years regarding Kneecap, and I thought I’d add my tuppence worth to the debate. From the outset, I’ll say I’m not a fan, nor am I someone the band is particularly aimed at — but I want to offer a Unionist perspective on their polarising influence. Current Controversies The current issues swirling around Kneecap centre on several deeply controversial statements and actions. Among them: the line “The only good Tory is a …
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s hard to ignore the growing conversation around Irish Unification. The topic now features regularly across mainstream platforms — from the BBC and print media, online forums to podcasts and social media, where debate is constant. Advocacy groups, particularly Ireland’s Future, host events throughout the year to keep the issue front and centre. For Unionism, watching this unfold can provoke emotions ranging from unease to outright exhaustion. But as momentum builds, should Unionism …
Since I first began writing about Unionism, I have watched its influence wane, its relevance fade, and its voice grow weaker. What was once a formidable political force now struggles to find direction, leaving Unionists disillusioned, underrepresented, and—too often—a soft target and an easy scapegoat for society’s frustrations. Legacy Since the Good Friday Agreement, a particular narrative around Northern Ireland has gained momentum, one that increasingly portrays Unionism in a negative light while simultaneously whitewashing, sanitising, and even glorifying the …
With a litany of issues plaguing all facets of Unionism and a pressing need for serious introspection, it is disheartening to see that the key priority for many Unionists—led by the controversial Loyalist Community Council (LCC)—appears to be opposing an Irish language nursery and primary school in East Belfast. In light of this narrow focus, it is little wonder that many are turning away from Unionism. My own journey as a Unionist has been exhausting and frustrating, witnessing a series …
With the general election just days away, the timing couldn’t be worse for Unionism. Yet, considering the ongoing turbulence and disarray that has long plagued Unionist factions, it’s hard to envisage a time that would be any better. Facing an array of daunting issues – ranging from internal divisions and a dearth of coherent policies to broken promises and widespread apathy—Unionism stands at a precarious crossroads and the upcoming election may well prove to be one of the most difficult …
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has experienced a rollercoaster journey since becoming the predominant force within Unionism. While they have enjoyed significant triumphs, such as holding the balance of power in Westminster and securing £1 billion in additional investment for Northern Ireland, these achievements have been overshadowed by scandals, poor decision-making, internal divisions, and general disarray. The repercussions of the DUP’s actions extend far beyond party lines, causing many Unionists to question whether the party can ever regain its stability …
The pathetic sight of a rain-drenched Prime Minister announcing a general election, drowned out by Labour’s 1997 election anthem “Things Can Only Get Better,” epitomised the ineptitude and incompetence of the Tory government. Closer to home, these same words—ineptitude and incompetence—have become synonymous with Unionism and it’s difficult to escape the conclusion that Unionism is destined for a fate similar to that of the Tories. Just a few short months ago, the future of Unionism seemed much brighter. The DUP …
This week was an extremely tumultuous one for Unionism as a whole which unexpectedly resulted in an agreement between the UK government and the DUP that paves the way for the restoration of Stormont. As someone who has been calling for pragmatic Unionism over the years, I welcome the moves by Jeffrey Donaldson and his team that have brokered an agreement that affords Northern Ireland the opportunity to be a success. It was a moment when Unionism decided to act …
Unionists are notoriously divided on almost every issue under the sun and finding common ground is an extremely difficult task, however, online abuse directed towards Unionists is one rare example of almost unanimous Unionist unity. For my last article, I outlined an overview of the issues that Unionists faced online concerning abuse, harassment, and generally criminal behaviour, for this article, I wanted to explore further those who were targeted, the trends, trigger points, and the impacts of online abuse. I …
I have been contemplating writing an article on Unionist experiences online and how there is a sense that it is disproportionately negative with Unionists plagued by trolling, abuse, and threats. It’s a topic that I have touched on before but it’s regularly dismissed as “self-pity” and at times it has resulted in accentuating the trolling and abusive messages that I have tried to call out and I suspect this article will result in more of the same from the usual …
My first memory of a political statement was that “a United Ireland was just around the corner”. It was said by an elderly Unionist with an air of resignation to a fate that was both dreaded and unavoidable. Throughout the years this is a statement I have heard innumerable times by Unionists and only as recently as last week an elderly relative made the statement to me. It’s very much a rite of passage for many Unionists to at some …
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. This opening paragraph from Charles Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities sums up many people’s views on the Twelfth with …
An often-discussed but little-understood aspect of Unionism is how divided it is on almost every topic. The divisions go far beyond competing visions and healthy debates and are frequently about power, control, and egos mixed with a generous dollop of Ulster thran. As a consequence of internal divisions and warring factions, Unionism has suffered, the bloc has shrunk, it’s continually on the back foot and there are endless fears about further splits. A movement whose core objective is to maintain …
The UUP for many years now has been drifting well below the radar, only periodically appearing within scope, usually as the result of a self-inflicted misadventure. Last week was another such example, the Belfast Telegraph ran a story citing how the UUP was on a “life support machine, waiting to be turned off”, such criticism of the UUP is nothing new but this time it came from a party member via a leaked document. Is the UUP really in its …
Ireland’s Future held its latest conference at the 3Arena on Saturday, with the event being heralded by organisers as a significant step forward in the push for Irish Unity. Predictably following the conference, opinions were divided with some deeming the event as a defining moment in Irish history whilst others felt it was a misfire and many in between were unaware it even happened. Having watched the event online, I thought I would give a Unionist perspective on the proceedings. …
The census results in Northern Ireland were as predictable as was much of the subsequent commentary and predictions. It can be easy to get drawn into this cycle of claim and counterclaim, but for Unionists to dismiss the results entirely would be foolish. The Union is not dead but there is a looming danger that some interpret as the inevitability of Unification; but what is beyond doubt is that Unionism’s current trajectory will not save the Union. Many of the …
