wayback

Roy Garland’s article on the importance of the loyalist political voice, is both a reminder of the more positive role played by loyalist paramilitaries in the initial stages of the peace process, and a warning that the political marginalisation of their support base poses as much a danger as the actual existence of the organisations themselves. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …

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In this short analysis for Fortnight magazine, Adrian Guelke doesn’t believe that the combination of Sinn Fein and the DUP as the respective poll leaders of Nationalism and Unionism can work together. 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 that Sinn Fein are holding out for the transference of powers over security and justice before signing up to the policing boards to the Assembly. 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

Liam Clarke sees lessons (subs may be needed) from NI which the Coalition might do well to draw from. However, Malachi O’Doherty is piqued by a tendency amongst pro-war journalists to push all the war’s opponent’s into a single, mostly reprehensible camp. 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: …

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Senior Alliance Party spokeswoman Eileen Bell has hit back at a suggestion (subs may be required) from Martin McGuinness that it was not yet time to let people exiled by paramilitaries back to Northern Ireland. 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

Some readers may have noticed an absence of any mention of sport on Slugger for a while. The latest omission being the fundamental lesson taught the Irish rugby team by the English last Sunday. Call it sour grapes if you like, but we have chosen to pick up this story from the Irish Independent on the strange behaviour of the England captain immediately prior to the start of the match (which caused something like a 7 minute delay). The unconditional …

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We’ve just discovered this online project which aims to compile practical resources for the use of community groups in Northern Ireland. I suspect it’s still in its earliest phases, but if you are involved in community development it’s certainly worth signing up with, both to check out what’s there, and what can be added – whether you’re in Northern Ireland or not. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

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I’m not sure how we managed to miss this piece from Kit Kildare (except that there were megabytes of text on NI flowing all over the place the time), but in this spirited analysis he suggests that the breaking of David Trimble as Unionist leader is inevitable and will only strengthen his successor’s bottom line. 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 …

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There are quite a number of excellent Irish weblogs, some of them featuring regularly here on Slugger. However it is not often that we find blog comment on Northern Ireland beyond. The exception it seems is young Tory blogger Peter Cuthbertson, who announces his intention to cover matters here in more depth with the introduction of his Northern Ireland category. Thanks too to the leftist blogger behind British Spin for the epithet ‘superlative Slugger O’Toole’. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor …

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Several things seem to be emerging from Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis over the weekend. If the party agrees to join the policing board, it won’t be until after the elections on 29th May. The party seems upbeat about the prospects for the re-introduction of devolved institutions, but as yet there no concrete indication of how the IRA will intrepret the term acts of completion, as laid down in Blair’s speech of October last year. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …

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Though this a great story, there is as yet no guarantee it will come to fruition. 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 looks like Bertie Ahern is taking some losses in terms of his support for the Coalition campaign in Iraq. If you are looking for good blog coverage of the war, Irish American blogger Sean Paul Kelley appears to making a reputation for good blow by blow reporting. Ma Bear has blogged some good stuff on the fall out in the Republic over the war. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

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Henry McDonald investigates one of the latest crazes in Belfast; strippers in RUC uniform! 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

Seamus Mallon suggests that the real deal breaker is whether Sinn Fein undertake to join the Policing Boards. If not, then elections should be postponed indefinately. 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

In what almost looks like self-mocking irony, Bertie Ahern is set to accept sanctions, as long as they are not called that. 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

There are signs that this next stage in the re-negotiation drama will entail some smart choreography from all sides. The IRA will not disarm until after what’s now being called the Hillsborough Declaration. It looks like everyone else will have to row in behind, or not. 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 …

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Slugger guest writer Gary Kent attended a recent meeing of a body that is rarely reported within the media that he believes could provide an important non-executive government back channel for the development of greater British-Irish political understanding. The low media profile of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body lies in its success. When it began in 1990, British-Irish relations had been deeply poisoned by the Troubles and its sessions, some of which had to be held in camera, were marked by …

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Niall O’Dowd editorialises in the Irish Voice about the disquiet many Irish Americans feel about the anti-American feeling back in the home country. 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

Maria McCourt gives an account the US trip of someone who may come to represent one of Belfast’s most unexpected civic successes of the year; Sinn Fein’s first Lord Mayor Alex Maskey. 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

There have been several pieces written in the last week or so about the rightness or the wrongness of the Iraqi war from an Irish or Northern Irish view point. The latest is Eamon Lynch’s piece asking why Gerry Adams and indeed most other Irish politicians did not use the St Patrick’s Day celebrations to make their feelings known to President Bush. Meanwhile David Quinn has written what is probably the most openly pro American article in the National Review. …

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