Mick Fealty

First of all, prize for the most eye-catching headlne of the year has got to go to Police Praise IRA, and Rosie Cowan’s article in the Guardian last Saturday. There have been a few rumblings about the border/link with Britain poll in the last few days. Newshound reprint an Andersonstown News (agus i nGaelige) story by Concubhar � Liath�in, whilst Trimble seems confident that the next Assembly elections will share the billling with a referendum on the issue. Mick FealtyMick …

Read more…

Interesting piece on one of Northern Ireland’s largest and most ignored natural assets, according to Gary Grattan. “LOUGH Neagh – at 152 square miles the largest inland area of water in the UK – is not being exploited to its full tourism potential. “Sensitively and sensibly handled, the marketing of Lough Neagh as a recreational waterway is not in any way detrimental of ecological aspects of the lough. “The development will also create wealth in the surrounding areas via the …

Read more…

Following the widely trailed violence on the Springfield Road, the PSNI believe that this twelth was a relatively relaxed affair. Though Henry McDonald suggests that the Orange Order need to take a long hard look at itself. Others within the Order like George Patten apparently agree. John Coulter highlights an impending collapse in confidence within the Yes-camp unionist camp, and further suggests that Trimble has no choice but to make a serious shift to the right: “Strategically, Trimble is holed …

Read more…

“…courtly yet testy; an eloquent speaker yet a poor communicator; atavistic yet sophisticated; stubborn yet not quite sure of where he wants to go.” Brian Walker believes Trimble is the perfect paradigm of contemporary Ulster Unionism. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Today is known as the Glorious Twelfth for many in Northern Ireland, celebrating a history of civil and religious freedom. For others it an opportunity to break and head for the hills of Donegal, or other more tranquil spots. Of the many parades that take place each year, most pass off with little comment and even some with the active approval of the local Catholic population. This from Irish Times journalist Theresa Judge on the annual parade in Rossnowlagh, Donegal …

Read more…

Deireann Ian Malcolm: is mor an trua � nach bhfuil an d� thaobh ag Droim Cr� �balta teacht ar chomhr�iteach a thaispe�nfadh go bhfuil muid uilig ag f�s an�os tr� sc�th�n phr�iseas na s�och�na. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

More criticism of Trimble in the Guardian. The leader in yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph calls for Nationalists to understand the perception of the outworking of the Belfast Agreement amongst Unionist voters is vastly different to their own: “It serves no purpose for nationalist politicians to berate the unionist leadership for failing to fully embrace the Good Friday Agreement, with all its ambiguity. For them, it has delivered on equality, but for David Trimble and a majority of unionists it has failed …

Read more…

Ciaran Irvine urges the debate on the future of the whole island to focus on what can be done with that future rather than to get caught up in bemoaning the miseries of the past. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

David Trimble seems to be at the receiving end of lectures from just about everyone these days. David Lister at The Times suggests that: “Mr Trimble, who has vehemently denied suggestions that he will stand down as party leader before the election, needs urgent help to win back Protestants who have lost faith with the peace process. The basic problem for Mr Trimble is that, although his compromises in taking Unionists into a power-sharing Assembly and talking to terrorists have …

Read more…

a significant shift in the way that violence is perceived in the post ceasefire era. “…she said she was more hopeful about the North situation today than she has been at any other time in her life. The current focus on sectarian violence and intolerance would not have happened during the Troubles when, every day, people were “absorbed with issues of death”, she said” But as the first comments on yesterday’s survey of attitudes come in, others are more downbeat …

Read more…

For a sense of historical perspective, Timothy Lavin hunts back through the archives of the Atlantic magazine, and unearths some real gems from: Brian Moore commenting bleakly on the future of Ulster as seen in 1970; Henry Massingham writing in the very immediate aftermath of the 1916 rising; and Padraig O’Malley on the marching season of 1996, amongst others. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

Read more…

Andrew O’Hagan grew up in that unsettled extension of Northern Ireland’s political and cultural norms, the west of Scotland. This piece for the London Review of Books is an excellent account of what it takes to be a dissident to your own (footballing) tradition. John Lancaster kicks off his reminiscence of the latest World Cup re-visiting the McCarthy – Keane stand-off, whilst Niall Quinn is rewarded for his efforts with an honourary degree. If you can get a copy of …

Read more…

The Guardian seems to like reading the Letter. They’ve listed us in their roll of favourite weblogs. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

It seems as if Johnny Adair’s outfit is something of a roll, and attracting new members from his former allies. Meanwhile DUP minister Nigel Dodds has landed a major funding package to be aimed at ‘interface areas’ that have taken the brunt of the violence over the last 18 months or so. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …

Read more…

A key piece of attitudinal research was released today. On the face of it the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2001 confirms the widespread belief that the two communities are increasingly divided on on every matter of substance around the ‘Peace Process’. The lead authors, University of Ulster researchers Joanne Hughes and Caitlin Donnelly, said in a statement it was crucial for politicians and community activists “to explore the factors contributing to recent negative trends and to identify strategies …

Read more…

The peace line in Belfast is multiplying and fragmenting, and it seems there is a similar multiplicity of motives for wanting them there. Of all the political ‘coups’ of the last week, Gearoid O’Caireallain regards Maskey’s wreathlaying as the most masterful strategic move of the lot. The Orange leadership at Drumcree seems to be under fire from some who suspect them of having become soft. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

Read more…

The meeting of the pro-agreement parties at Hillsborough today seems to have had a mixed reception. Some are complaining that David Trimble is not showing it the regard he should, in leaving it to his Stormont Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt. However this may have the more mundane (and hopeful??) explanation that this group will be meeting more regularly to more effectively manage the implimentation of the Belfast Agreement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

Read more…