Chris Donnelly

There’s clearly something in the Wearside air (or maybe pork?) that’s affecting prominent Irish football figures. Firstly, Roy Keane follows his own Saipan path by walking out on the Sundireland venture as soon as the going got a little tepid. And now, Northern Ireland’s leading international goalscorer has signalled his anger with international manager, Nigel Worthington, including in the article a less than humble reference to himself as ‘the hero/ messiah’ of the team. Chris Donnelly

Having apparently taken a rest from his foray into Scottish football, DCAL Minister, Gregory Campbell, has launched an attack on singer Dido for (wait for it) including a couple of lines from a ‘rebel’ song in one of the songs on her album. The song lyrics (here) are apparently too much for Gregory, who wants the daughter of an Irish publisher (with Irish roots, no less) to “clarify her position so that her fans and the wider public knows where …

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The population of the Irish capital, Dublin, could decline for the first time since the Famine, according to predictions from the Central Statistics Office (CSO.) In contrast, the population of the commuter belt counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow should continue to grow. The projections for Dublin are premised on a decline in the number of immigrants moving to the city. Chris Donnelly

Amidst the somewhat giddy (misplaced?)optimism of some, Norman Hamill has provided a timely assessment of the likely consequences of the British Conservative Party’s marriage with the Ulster Unionist Party. Correctly, Hamill notes how the Conservatives have already been uncermoniously dumped from the 6 counties by unionists in their previous foray into electoral politics here. But Hamill also highlights the contradiction of the Tories presenting themselves as a ‘modern, pluralist party’ yet cosying up to a party who recently sought an …

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A verbal sparring match has been sparked in Antrim following the refusal of TUV councillor, Mel Lucas, to attend a Remembrance Day service in the town due to the involvement of a catholic priest in the service. There are two notable aspects to the story. Firstly, it would appear, in nationalist eyes, that the TUV leader’s expressed distinction between catholics and republicans articulated at its recent Party conference isn’t too widely shared within party ranks. Secondly, the fact that the …

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The Irish Government has pumped millions into preserving and developing the site of the Battle of the Boyne, as Ian Paisley was able to see first hand during his rendez-vous with outgoing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, at the site of the new Interpretive Centre in May of this year. Now, a Fianna Fail Senator, Cecilia Keaveney, has floated the idea of a former War of Independence internment camp and current British army base at Ballykinlar in County Down becoming the site …

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Fresh from their display of solidarity with parading British soldiers last week, the UDA has declared itself ‘ready for battle’ whilst accusing republicans of being ‘racist, ignorant and bigoted’ (Carlsberg don’t do irony, but if they did…..) The UPRG’s Frankie Gallagher elaborated upon the ‘battle’ declaration by stating that it meant “to do battle in terms of social economy, in terms of bringing jobs into Protestant communities, in terms of unionist unity,” he said. Which raises more questions than it …

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Whilst elsewhere there were welcome condemnations from across the political spectrum for the latest arson attacks on community halls (GAA + Orange), the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland issued the following strangely worded paragraph as part of their condemnation: “Retaliation is always a trap and the people who are burning our Orange Halls will be the ones who will be most pleased if misguided people from the Protestant community retaliate.” Chris Donnelly

The news that a loyalist organisation has claimed responsibility for burning down a GAA Hall in County Tyrone may not be surprising (though it’s obviously depressing.) However, the fact that the attack has been claimed by the Orange Volunteers would suggest that the organisation which has largely restricted its violent activities to Stoneyford village (County Antrim) in recent years is now intent on once again expanding its campaign. Chris Donnelly

You’ll have heard the old story of how the boy next door who, fancying the girl, beat up her younger brother just to get her attention. Ill-conceived I know, but could Ian Og’s behaviour be explained as an attempt to win over the girl across the chamber? Chris Donnelly

Relations between the northern nationalist community and the PSNI have improved in recent times as a result of political developments and some progress in terms of both the attitude and actions of PSNI officers at ground and operational level. At anecdotal levels, I know of strengthening relationships between the PSNI and political and community representatives which has directly led to criminal activity being identified and dealt with effectively b y the PSNI. There is also evidence that the PSNI in …

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In yet another sign of the growing angst within the DUP at the party’s failure to control the narrative (and entire local media agenda) regarding the deterioration of relations at Stormont, the DUP leader has used his televised speech to articulate the party’s desperation/ frustration at the inability to control the media’s presentation of events (though, as noted here, some on Slugger have been decidedly more generous to the DUP than elsewhere in ‘the mainstream’.) In a speech in which …

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Ireland’s victory over Australia in the reconvened International Rules series (or rather the trouble-free manner in which the two fixtures were played) seems to have put the games firmly back on schedule as a permanent fixture- though arguments persist over gap year plans. However, the news that Ulster is due to host Game 1 of the 2009 fixtures has led to speculation that Belfast’s Casement Park will be the venue for the game between the two countries, though as the …

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DUP MP Iris Robinson is apparently insulted that local broadcaster, UTV, have a policy of permitting presenters to wear poppies from November 2nd- 11th. Clearly, Iris doesn’t think this is a long enough period of time- and she knows who to blame: “(UTV stated] they had to be careful not to offend anyone. Of course for ‘anyone’ read ‘republicans’.” The DUP MP declared that this was a “sop to sectarianism and bigotry”, and that it shows UTV are “unable to …

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Away from parades (for a moment at least…) and the chairman of the newly launched Ireland chapter of the International Network for Traditional, Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU), Robert Adam, has warned that Belfast is at risk of losing its own identity due to architectural trends which are failing to take account of the distinctive characteristics of towns and cities in the designing of new buildings. Of Belfast’s new shopping centre, Victoria Square, Adam said: “It’s good architecture but the …

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In the developing furore around the approaching ‘Welcome Home’ parade for British forces in Belfast, it’s perhaps timely that Brian Feeney provides a reminder as to the motivation by those who proposed the parade in the first instance: “Past experience shows it’s impossible to underestimate the stupidity and sheer bloody-mindedness of unionist councillors. Their real motivation in demanding such a parade is only made more obvious in every specious, dishonest and disingenuous interview you listen to.” The columnist mentions that …

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Fresh from his foray into Scottish football and whilst yet to issue that invite to All-Ireland Senior and Minor Football Champions, Tyrone, DCAL Minister Gregory Campbell has put down a Motion in the House of Commons calling for “balanced media coverage” in Scotland and the Six Counties regarding comments made about the ‘Roman Catholic community’ and the Protestant community. Gregory’s motion reads as follows: That this House notes the condemnation by sections of the media, particularly in Northern Ireland and …

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Former Limavady Presbyterian Minister, David Armstrong, has been featured prominently in the media this week, as The Irish News in particular have followed up on the decision of Limavady unionist councillors to block moves to give the Freedom of the Borough to the now Anglican Minister with a series of articles in which Armstrong speaks of his memories of that dark period in his life. Amongst his revelations is the news that then Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal O’Fiach, provided him …

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The naming of streets, bridges, buildings, villages, cities, educational establishments and other places after prominent political and military figures is hardly a practice exclusive to the north of Ireland. Yet in our local context, the maxim that ‘history is written by the winner’ would certainly ring true if merely assessed by a glimpse of any village, town or city road map. Quite apart from the official statues and monuments found at civic sites such as the Belfast City Hall, the …

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Unionist councillors in Limavady have vetoed a move to give the Freedom of Limavady Borough to a Protestant clergyman hounded from the town 20 years ago following his decision to shake hands with a Catholic priest and attend the re-opening of a catholic church which had been bombed by loyalists. Rev. David Armstrong subsequently received death threats from loyalists and faced a backlash within his presbyterian church, leading to his decision to leave the town. He is now an Anglican …

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