Chris Donnelly

Brian Feeney has slammed Community Relations Council chief, Duncan Morrow, following an article by the latter (which was the subject of a thread here.) While Feeney clearly has little time for the CRC, for reasons he articulates, he takes particular issue with a “revealing” paragraph by Morrow which also raised some eyebrows on the initial thread here on Slugger a week ago: “For nationalists, a shared future means committing to full engagement in a state with which they have never …

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After all of the positive sporting stories of late, this one brings us back to reality with a harsh bang. In Derry, loyalists caused the abrupt abandonment of an underage soccer fixture in the city last weekend after they gathered nearby and shouted abuse at the predominantly catholic players from the Top of the Hill team. The two sets of players sought refuge in the changing rooms and the catholic team required a police escort to leave the area safely. …

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DUP councillors in Coleraine have had to dig deep to cover the cost of an £18,000 legal bill arising from a court case taken by Sinn Fein councillor Billy Leonard. The 9 DUP councillors have each parted with £2,000 after Cllr. Leonard had taken Coleraine Council to court following his exclusion -at the behest of the DUP- from the Council’s Christmas Party last year. Billy Leonard, clearly savouring his victory, commented, “If they had not been so politically and crassly …

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After 5 weeks, the inaugural Fantasy Football Slugger League has got off to a pacy start, with no fewer than 70 teams entering our League to compete for the title of Champions of the Slugger world. At this stage, the early leader is Tony Morgan’s ‘High As A Kuyt,’ with 267 points- making him 17,765th out of more than 932,000 global teams in the overall FA Premier League competition, which puts him in the top 2% percent of competitors worldwide …

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This month’s Lisburn Partnership Funding Newsletter is headlined with a story entitled “Arts Council: Place, Identity and Art.” The article refers to a new scheme the Arts Council is offering to help provide funds for community groups to engage with professional artists within their local communities. Sounds straightforward and non-contentious enough? But wait, there is one major proviso: this £200,000 programme is strictly for protestants only. The full text has been included below: “The Arts Council has opened a new …

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Reports of racist attacks are commonplace in the local media, and the issue was the focus for a Belfast Telegraph report yesterday. Such attacks have occured right across the north of Ireland in the past, as the report illustrates. But a number of political representatives have been criticised in the past for making (at best) remarks which amounted to less than forthright criticism of the perpetrators of such incidents, and (at worst) highly controversial remarks which could be interpreted as …

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Fickle fans, angry journalists, bickering bureaucrats, tossed jumpers and/or promises of a club job? All the ingredients to the Lawrie Sanchez saga, which could leave the Windsor Park fans crying in their celebratory beers….. Chris Donnelly

Mary Harney, Tanaiste and Health Minister in the Irish government, has announced her resignation as leader of the troubled Progressive Democrats, with immediate effect. With an election due within the next nine months, the news will undoubtedly spark quick moves within the party to replace Harney, with Michael McDowell likely to be clear favourite to replace Harney as leader. Chris Donnelly

The High Court has set 6th December as the day for a hearing into the long-running dispute over the name of the city of Doire/ Derry/ Londonderry (take your pick time.) The issue has long divided nationalists and unionists along predictable lines. In this Irish News report, Sinn Fein’s Mitchel McLaughlin, whose party jointly proposed the official re-naming of the city with the SDLP at council level three years ago, suggests that one way of preserving the name ‘Londonderry’ would …

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Darren Clarke has been confirmed as one of Ian Woosnam’s two wildcard selections for the European Ryder Cup team later this month. His place in the team had been in doubt following the death of his wife, Heather, several weeks ago. However, since then Clarke has made clear his willingness to put his name forward for consideration for selection by European coach, Ian Woosnam. The decision means that Ireland will be represented by three golfers in the twelve-strong European contingent …

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Posters plastered on walls throughout the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey indicate that some loyalists are intent on staging a protest at today’s Cemetery Sunday service in the nearby Carnmoney cemetery. However, loyalist paramilitary groups issued a joint statement over the weekend urging their supporters to stay away from the planned protest. Chris Donnelly

In Ireland, we associate the words ‘September’, ‘football’ and ‘Irish’ with the commencement of international football (soccer) campaigns, however frustrating the results may prove to be. But for the Irish in America, these words mean only one thing: the start of another season for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. We’ve all seen the t-shirts and baseball caps, be it in films or actually in person, being worn by Irish people who really have no idea what it refers to. …

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Ireland lost 1-0 to Germany in the first match of the European Championship qualifying group tonight. The Germans deserved their victory on the night, though the goal itself was unfortunate for Ireland – a deflection off of Robbie Keane from a free-kick. A great first half performance, which saw Shay Given make several crucial saves to keep the score level. Kevin Doyle played well up front, making several timely tackles to relieve the German pressure, but the failure to get …

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I posted a thread several days ago in relation to threats made against Sinn Fein elected representatives and activists in the north Antrim/ East Derry region. Since then, the threats and attacks have intensified. A petrol bomb attack on a home in Ballymena has been confirmed as a case of mistaken identity, with the intended target being a Sinn Fein activist in the town. Cllr Anita Cavlan has recieved yet another threat from loyalists- as has Billy Leonard (Coleraine), whilst …

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The Draft Hurling and Football Championship and League GAA proposals have been sent to the counties for discussion, and no doubt there will be plenty of that! From an Ulster perspective, the biggest losers in both football and hurling in these proposals are Antrim. Under the new rules (if implemented by Special Congress in October), Antrim would be dumped from Division 1 in Hurling and, incredibly, the proposals would lead to the potential scenario that an Antrim football team could …

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Sinn Fein’s solitary Ballymena councillor, Monica Digney, has been the subject of a sustained campaign of intimidation since becoming the party’s first elected representative for the town. Earlier today, her car- and that of another north Antrim party councillor, Anita Cavlan- was the subject of a bomb hoax alert, which she confirmed as the fifth or sixth threat she has recieved in just over a year, the most recent being just four weeks ago. Political representatives of all hues are …

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The Sunday Life reported yesterday that Lord Laird is being tipped to succeed Robert Saulters at the helm of the Orange Order. Laird, who took part in a public debate as part of the West Belfast Feile this year, has for long been a colourful figure. In May 2005, Laird used parliamentary privilege to make allegations against Dundalk-based former BOSI Chairman Phil Flynn. Laird has himself been subjected to media scrutiny, facing criticism for expenses he claimed when chairman of …

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The Apostrophe Protection Society has criticised those responsible for the ‘Frans Crash Repairs’ advert on a giant advertising billboard on the N8 (near the Portlaoise bypass.) Chairman John Richards said, “It is inexcusable, largely because I assume it was produced by a professional sign-writer who didn’t know his job. It is unacceptable because nobody bothered to check the accuracy of the sign.” Chris Donnelly

DUP-controlled Antrim Borough Council has been condemned for paying for the erection of flagpoles complete with union flags in a predominantly loyalist area of the majority-nationalist town of Randalstown. The flags were erected in the Neilsbrook area of the town and paid for by the Community Relations Unit (OFM/DFM) and the council. However, the council did not conduct any equality impact assessment prior to the move. When Lisburn Council’s DUP majority passed a similar motion last year, which included erecting …

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One of the great feuds of Irish football would sensationally appear to be over as rumours are rife that Sunderland Chairman, Niall Quinn, will today unveil Roy Keane as the struggling club’s new manager. In a truly bizarre twist, Keane will be taking over from where his arch nemesis, Mick McCarthy, left off as Sunderland manager last year. There was controversy in May 2002 when Keane missed Niall Quinn’s testimonial game. Keane also had harsh words for Quinn following a …

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