Brian O'Neill

The much-missed local historian Dr Éamon Phoenix is being commemorated with a new Foundation in his memory. From the Irish News: The enduring legacy of Éamon Phoenix has been marked with the unveiling of a website and archives honouring the historian’s contribution to Irish history. Launched by the Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation on Tuesday, it is hoped the new initiative will promote mutual understanding and reconciliation in Ireland through the study of history. The charity was established to preserve and …

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We are all familiar with the old Londonderry/Derry argument for the name of Londonderry/Derry/Stroke City/Legenderry/Daire Calgaich/Daire Coluimb Chille/Doire etc but now there is a new spin on things. The historic Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough has been bought over, and the new owners have changed the name to The Harbourview Hotel. Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in the usual arguments over the name. Those against, say it snubs the history of this 176 year old hotel. Those for, say it is …

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You would think trains would be relatively inoffensive things. Ivor the Engine, Thomas the Tank engine, all great lads. But this being Northern Ireland, where we can turn cakes and toasters into sectarian arguments, it is no surprise that there’s a boo hoo over the choo choo. The Irish News reports that residents of Sandy Row are demanding fewer trains. From the article: At a recent rally in Sandy Row opposing the demolition of Boyne Bridge at Durham Street, a …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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From the BBC: The Taoiseach has said the general election in Ireland will be called on Friday. A general election must be called in the Republic of Ireland before the term ends on March 2025. Simon Harris, the leader of Fine Gael, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ News that the likely polling day will be Friday 29 November. “It is my intention to seek the dissolution of the Dáil on Friday, and I hope we have polling day on 29 November,” …

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So, the big day has come, and the US electorate gets to decide who the next US President will be. It is estimated that an astonishing 16 billion will be spent on this election. You may not be able to vote but we can let you give your predictions in our Slugger US Election Competition! The winner will get 2 tickets for our End of Year Review event in December, or if the winner can’t make that event, we will …

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More headaches for Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald this Monday morning. From the BBC: Sinn Féin says that Belfast City councillor JJ Magee has been suspended from the party “without prejudice” following an allegation that inappropriate online messages were exchanged between him and a minor. Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney said in a statement that the party whip had also been removed from Magee. Kearney said the chief executive of Belfast City Council has been notified. KRW Law …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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We get a lot of questions about our comments policy, and I wanted to be more transparent about how the mods make their decisions, so this is your chance to ask any questions. Also, I am keen to improve the comments experience, so if you have any suggestions, please do. We get over 15,000 comments a month. All the mods and I are unpaid volunteers, so it is just not practical for us to answer individual queries by email. So, …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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From the BBC: Police have raided a pizzeria in western Germany which they alleged served customers a side of cocaine when they ordered item number 40 on the menu. Authorities were tipped off about the scheme in March by food inspectors, and drug squad officers began watching the restaurant, criminal director Michael Graf von Moltke said on Monday. When police went to detain the pizzeria manager at his apartment, the 36-year-old reportedly threw a bag of drugs out of the …

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The Rev Harold Good has a book out today. It is Called In Good Time: A Memoir, and it was written with former journalist and Irish News Editor Martin O’Brien. Over in the BelTel, Sam McBride covers some of the juicy bits. From the article: A cleric who facilitated top secret discussions between the DUP and Sinn Féin has revealed the truth of what went on, exposing years of DUP lies. The DUP has always denied it ever sat down with …

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I have written about it before, but the story is worth repeating. I went to primary school in the 80s, and looking back it almost sounds victorian. There was a kid in my class who had autism. Back then ‘isms’ did not exist and so he was just labelled ‘stupid’ and ‘bad’. When we were in P2 when he was ‘naughty’ the teacher used to put him in a big black bin. I can’t imagine being told you are literally …

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The modern concert experience is ruined by muppets taking excessive photos or videos on their phones. I understand you want to take a few pictures to remember the experience, but when will you ever rewatch your shakey concert video with terrible sound? All those glowing screens are extremely distracting when trying to enjoy the show. Nick Cave is an artist who always lets his feelings be known.  At a recent concert, he scolded fans to put away their phones and …

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From the FT: Donald Trump raised further concern about his state of mind on Saturday after delivering crude suggestions about the late golfer Arnold Palmer’s anatomy during a rally in Pennsylvania, in his latest diversion from the political script just weeks before election day. Trump’s comments about Palmer, which lasted more than 10 minutes, were delivered at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as the Republican nominee makes his final pitch to US voters in the battleground states that will decide the …

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In his column in today’s Irish News, Chris Donnelly brings up the controversial RAISE programme, a new initiative to “raise achievement to reduce educational disadvantage”. It’s a £20 million pound programme running over two years. From his column: The DUP education minister, Paul Givan, has courted controversy by introducing new eligibility criteria to identify participating schools which includes fee-paying schools in Lisburn and two-thirds of grammar schools whilst excluding many schools with high percentages of poor pupils in both the …

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