ONE thing puzzles me about today’s reports; a statement by DUP politician and Orangeman Nelson McCausland. He said of the Ardoyne parade: “It is a community problem which has to be resolved by the community.” (News Letter, not online.) While this might fit in with his calls for the Parades Commission to go, Mr McCausland has also been at the forefront of calls not to talk to residents’ groups: “It is Grand Lodge policy that the Orange Order will not …
THE BBC’S Mark Simpson looks at whether yesterday’s riot could affect the bigger political picture. Certainly, community relations in North Belfast won’t have been improved by events. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
It was officially announced today, though anticipated, that Sinn Fein will join the European United Left/Nordic Green Group (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament. The groups main objectives appear on it’s website but the parties MEPs said ‘it does not operate a whip system ensuring that for us, it is Sinn Fein`s and Ireland`s priorities, which will come first.’ Blank
THE ‘Twelfth’ was marred by violence at Ardoyne, North Belfast last night. It was the only major incident, and other violence was localised rather than widespread. It seems unlikely that there will be anything on this scale again this summer, and I would guess that there will be no real political ramifications for the peace process – but possibly for the beleagured Parades Commission. Reports suggest Sinn Fein tried – but failed – to curtail rioting by republicans, and the …
Ana Marie Cox, a blogger on the Wonkette site has been recruited by MTV to beef up it’s online offering on the US presidential election. 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
The Grand Master of the Independent Orange Order, has suggested to its larger sister organisation that it should drop the historic link with the Ulster Unionist Party. Though his words may have less weight considering he’s a member of the rival DUP. 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: …
The Twelth means different things to different people according to Alf McCreary. In places like Rossnowlagh in Donegal, it’s welcomed by the majority Catholic neighbourhood. In Larne, it’s clearly dreaded by some. 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
Just finished an excellent fact-based fiction by Joseph O’Connor, The Star of the Sea. Many have tried to capture the complexity of the Famine experience and the underlying politics. O’Connor, writing in the contemporary style of the time (Dickens make two separate appearances), has managed it as well as any history. 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 …
THE Blanket carries an extensive interview with ex-Special Branch chief, Bill Lowry this weekend. The Sunday Times picks up on one part, in which the UK government tried to prevent the arrest of a fugitive IRA gunwoman in an effort to protect the peace process. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
EFFORTS are still being made by unionists to try and secure a way for the Orange Order’s supporters to march a section of road in Belfast tomorrow. The Order is threatening to hold protests around the city tomorrow evening, in defiance of the decision to re-route their journey. How the Order controls the protest – something it has had difficulty doing in the past – is likely to be seen as key to future Parades Commission decisions. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
From politics.ie, Barry Andrews TD on the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs has challenged what he claims is €100 million bill for Ireland to subsidise the UK’s membership of the EU Blank
The Irish Independent talks to several dyed in the wool Donegal men, who also happen to be members of the Orange Order in the run up to one of the Order’s most uncontroversial parades in Rossknowlagh. 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
The first time I clocked the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man had attained cult status was in Denmark, when family life stopped for the people I was staying with to pay it due homage. But now it seems that cult status has led to visitors to dismantle the iconic Irish cottage that featured in the film stone by stone. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …
Sometimes even the big press get it wrong. 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
The respected dissident republican website The Blanket, which as regular readers will know is not known for its sympathies with the mainstream Republican movement or its supporters, runs a story on the grant funding it believes the Andersonstown News has attracted over the last five years. However, the core of the argument is largely limited to the amount of money spent and the sources, rather than how the money was spent or to what end. In the case of La …
Having spent most of this week sorting out Slugger, I’m taking a working holiday at the Larmer Tree Festival. The highlight for me is Afro Celt Sound System a week next Sunday, but just getting away will be good enough. I will be blogging from time to time; for instance next Friday morning we’ll know how well or how badly we’ve done at the New Statesman Awards. But mostly it will be over to our resident bloggers to ‘keep her …
THE BBC are reporting that the Orange Order intends to blockade Belfast on Monday, after the ‘Twelfth’ demonstration. This is said to be in response to the restrictions on Orange parades in North Belfast. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
The most recent US Ambassador to Dublin Richard Egan, is still capable of making front page news in the Irish Times. Sean O’Driscoll reports on his donation to Ralph Nader’s presidential campaign, in hopes of splitting the Democratic vote as effectively as he did last time out. I doubt we’ll see born again Democrat Michael Moore using his new blog to urge US voters to go for a split vote like he did in 2000. Whilst we have the excuse …
Interesting story from the Kerry camp in the US again. Apparently net users were amongst the first to find out he’d chosen John Edwards as his running mate. It looks the Democrat party is letting a limited number of bloggers in to their convention. The Republicans are still pondering their options. I have some sympathy with the blogger who suggested it was like the Super Bowl – you can see more on tv at home. If you can get to …
Brian Feeney is probably a little bit too pessimistic, but in the process makes an interesting point: “The DUP has a mandate to dismantle the agreement, not operate it. Asking them to talk to Sinn Féin doesn’t guarantee they’ll operate it”. 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
