Chris Donnelly Given the sense of giddiness which seems to have prevailed on the site since it was incorrectly reported that Gerry Adams had accepted a Crown title earlier in the day, I think it’s only fair to start the umpteenth thread on this topic by noting the apology given to Gerry Adams by Downing Street. Those casting a more analytical eye over proceedings will note that an issue pitting Sinn Fein against the British Establishment was never going to be a …
One for the Diaspora…..Tonight in El Paso, Texas, Brian Kelly’s University of Notre Dame side renew their once bitter rivalry with the Hurricanes of the University of Miami,Fla. in the much anticipated Sun Bowl. It’s a season finale which Fighting Irish fans could not have dared for just seven weeks ago, when successive defeats to Navy and Tulsa had left the South Bend team requiring victory against a ranked Utah side, Army and, of course, the aul’ enemy, University of …
A Red C poll to be published tomorrow will show Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty sitting on 40% of the 1st preference votes in the Donegal South West constituency, some 21% ahead of the second placed Fianna Fail candidate. Perhaps just as interestingly, the Sinn Fein candidate would appear to be strongly positioned to pick up second preference votes, with some 19% of those polled stating they’d transfer directly to him following their first choice candidates. Whilst this is just an …
As a republican and Sinn Fein supporter, I’m very much in two minds over Gerry Adams’ decision to contest Louth. Worst case scenario has him losing the seat, experiencing an electoral and political humiliation which will likely end his leadership of the party and solidify a narrative as Sinn Fein as an exclusively northern entity that will take a long time to overcome. Best case scenario for the party is a resounding electoral mandate for the party leader which provides a …
Whilst the media’s focus has been on the activities of dissident republicans in recent months, there are clear signs of a determined loyalist campaign targeting catholics in the town of Antrim. Recently, numerous catholic homes were targeted by pipe-bombs in a co-ordinated attack accompanied by a threat to all catholics in the majority unionist town. Now the town’s two catholic primary schools have been targeted, with an eight year old pupil unwittingly picking up a device left at St Comgall’s PS. Not much is …
We often hear from supporters of the loyalist Marching Orders that those opposed to parades don’t ‘own the road.’ A 58-year old woman was assaulted during a Black Institution parade in Ballymena at the weekend. Her ‘crime’ was to cross the road during a gap in the parade, which allegedly prompted marchers to assault her. During the assault, the 5ft 1 lady was punched in the face and neck and had her fingers dislocated. No doubt those responsible will be swiftly brought to …
The Mourne County is rejoicing following a thrilling semi-final encounter with Kildare which has returned the county’s footballers to the All-Ireland Football Final for the first time since their twin triumphs in the early90s. In truly dramatic style, Down survived a last second 13-yard free which was heroically pushed onto the crossbar by the outstretched fingertips of a brace of Down players, heralding the sound of the whistle amidst scenes of joy for the Black and Red hordes in Croker. Final …
48 years is a long time in any line of work, but later tonight Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella will call time on his storied career in Major League Baseball after reaching that mark. Piniella played the professional game for 18 seasons before embarking on a lengthy career as manager, more than four decades in which he reached the World Series on five occasions, claiming three titles on the way. His playing and managing career included spells in the Bronx …
The NIW saga is fascinating because of the volume and breadth of questions arising from it. There’s the elected reps vs. permanent govt (civil service) angle; the issue around procurement rules and potential for uncovering legacy of corruption, incompetence or bad practice; and the opportunity being presented for the scrutiny function of our legislators to be asserted and defined as never before. And then there is the issue of watching how the political representatives react to an unfolding situation for …
Jeffrey Donaldson was so exercised this week about the right of loyalists to express their culture in north Antrim that he accompanied the local MLA, Mervyn Storey, to a meeting with the Parades Commission and intimated that violence would flow were the Commission not to reverse its determination which had angered loyalist marching bands ahead of tonight’s parade in Rasharkin. Here’s part of Jeffrey’s press release following that meeting: Instead of cohesion and sharing the Parades Commission appear determined to impose segregation …
A favoured mantra of the pro-Loyal Orders parading lobby is that no particular grouping “owns” a road. The assertion is invariably made in the context of Loyal Order parades scheduled to proceed along roads through predominantly nationalist areas. Of course, the issue of road ownership is a nonsense. Members of the very organisations which assert the right to parade along such routes as expressions of their liberties would be the first to screech in horror were reciprocal parades through neighbouring loyalist communities to …
It’s out with the old order, in with the new as the perennial post-millenium powerhouses, Kerry and Tyrone, were both sent packing in surprise quarter-finals today. Whilst the Dubs deserve praise for their defeat of Tyrone, it is the Down men that will be taking centre stage after a fantastic performance saw them see off the champions from the Kingdom. Down will meet the winners of tomorrow’s all-Leinster clash between Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare and Meath in the semi-final, whilst Dublin …
We’ve reached the business end of the Senior Football Championship, with both remaining Ulster sides featuring in a crunch double-header in Croke this afternoon. Tyrone enter as favourites to see off the Dubs whilst Down are underdogs in their encounter with Kerry. Meanwhile, across the city at the Lansdowne Road Aviva Stadium, history will be made as the first game is played in the impressive new ground as two Development teams composed of players from the four provinces play off in …
The protracted dispute over the elibigility of northerners to represent the Republic of Ireland should finally be resolved today, with the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issuing its ruling later today. This comes after the Irish Football Association took a case against west Belfast youth, Daniel Kearns, objecting to the rules which deemed him eligible to represent the Republic. This one’s been covered on Slugger for years and quite a few Sluggerites have become experts on the FIFA …
The race to succeed Reg Empey as UUP Leader may not have officially begun, but expected contender, Basil McCrea, has certainly indicated through his Facebook account his belief that his rival for the post, Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliot, is somewhat jumping the gun. Here’s what McCrea has to say on his Facebook entry: “An interesting piece from Tom Elliot in the Impartial Reporter. Obviously rolling out his leadership campaign on the basis that first out seizes the initiative. Rumour has …
Antrim hurling got its biggest boost since 2004 with the victory over Dublin last week. The unexpected win secured a quarter final place today against Cork. Cruel though it may sound, a good result for the Saffrons will be holding the Rebels to a single-digit margin of victory today, though naturally I hope I’m wrong in striking such a pessimistic note. The other quarter-final will see Galway play Tipperary. Meanwhile, the much anticipated quarter-final draw for the Senior Football Championship will be held …
The cold dish of revenge would appear to be on the menu in the House of Paisley. How else to interpret yet another thinly-veiled assault by Ian Paisley Snr on his successor via his Newsletter column. I can’t find the piece online, but here’s a taster: Candidates who flew too close to the sun of parliamentary expenses found they could not remain airborne. Candidates who covered their eyes to the bright warning lights of voters’ unease melted. Candidates who flew …
Rumours of the death of our twenty six local government councils have been greatly exaggerated, apparently- at least if this Newsletter article is correct. The paper suggests that an imminent announcement will confirm that the Super Council project will be postponed for another five years, leaving us in an as-you-were position next year when we return to the polling booths as the reform agenda gets kicked to touch for another while…. Chris Donnelly
Following the elevation of West Belfast MLA, Alex Attwood, to the Executive post of Social Development Minister, the suggestion that SDLP Leader, Margaret Ritchie, was preparing to appoint newly appointed MLA, Conall McDevitt, to the position of Chairman of the Enterprise Committee has apparently caused considerable rancour within the SDLP. So much so that some within the party clearly saw fit to leak the information into the public realm, embarrassing the party leader within a week of an election. Other leading figures – …
In an election marked by tactical decisions taken by political parties, it’s interesting to note the eve of poll strategy being employed by UCUNF in their bid to claim the South Antrim seat from the DUP’s Willie McCrea. Here’s a photo I snapped about two hours ago outside the polling station in the predominantly nationalist village of Crumlin. Down went the Union Flag emblazoned UCUNF posters which had been positioned immediately outside the school for several weeks, replaced with the …
