Andrew McCann of A Tangled Web fame and former regular on Slugger is looking for votes for the BBC’s latest appeal (scroll down) for lucid political websites. 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
GRASSROOTS unionist criticism of the late IRA leader Joe Cahill has not been unexpected, but in contrast to some eulogies, not all republicans agreed with his strategy. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Belfast City Council has been accused of ‘banning’ a duo from entertaining at a bash to launch the Gay Pride festival. While UK.GAY highlight death threats to a couple in what they describe as a spate of recent homophobic attacks. UPDATE see more. As a result of comments attached to this blog Noel McAdam, the journalist who wrote the Belfast Telegraph article, has forwarded a more complete story from a later edition. ‘A council ‘gag’ slapped on a Gay Pride …
Ruth Dudley Edwards with an interesting view of what could turn out to be a power Irish British relationship in the European Commission. 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
Alex Kane considers the ongoing albeit low level of attacks against racial minorities and recent migrant groups in Northern Ireland. He argues that no future society in Northern Ireland can call itself fair and just unless it takes up a serious duty to protect all of its citizens. By Alex Kane “When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I …
The poet Michael O’Loughlin pays homage to the great Patrick Kavanaghin today’s Irish Independent and discusses the Dublin of Raglan Road and Baggot street. Kavanagh endeared himself to me not only with his poetry, which has been overshadowed by the works of Yeats and Heaney, but also with his humour- for example this anatomical description in his book “Tarry Flynn” “Tarry had never observed the sexual differences between men and women until this moment. Mary Reilly was tall, and if …
The Irish Independent has several articles on NIB banking scandal. Phrases such as “Culture of Greed “ follow an Inspector’s report. There may be criminal charges. This latest outrage follows other scandals. But does this culture of greed not reflect the ethos of the Celtic Tiger and the change in Ireland at an individual level to a more materialist society whose members’ priorities are personal wealth and advancement? Was it not inevitable that greed and crime would follow the arrival …
The trustworthiness of security forces in Northern Ireland has been a hot potato since as long as I can remember. But in Africa, even in relatively peaceful countries like Ghana, money can save you time at the checkpoint. 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
Abiole Lapate reckons Ireland is only country in the world ever to have been completely converted to Christianity without blood being spilt. Emmm…. 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
How many reading Slugger remember the steam train? The smoke, the smuts, the smell of the coal. One of my earliest memories of Lurgan is the excitement of being on the rickety bridge that was between Victoria Street and Brownlow Terrace, home of the Model School, while a steam train passed underneath. Steam trains are rare beasts these days in Ireland – and if the Belfast to Derry line is axed it seems they will become rarer still! The Belfast …
Prisoners and visitors are to be restricted wearing football tops. Meanwhile Tom Hartley (SF) has challenged Professor Ed Cairns of the University of Ulster at Coleraine over comments that indicate youngsters in Nationalist areas are purchasing and wearing Glasgow Rangers tops for games of ‘Protestants and Catholics’ (covered in the Irish News, subs only) Blank
Paul Donovan looks at the introduction of Hate laws in Britain and their probable extension into Northern Ireland. The online consultation should begin before the end of August. We’ll keep you posted. 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
Glentoran have got through the peliminary round of the UEFA cup for the first time in over 20 years after a 4 – 3 aggregate victory over Finnish full-timers AC Allianssi. The win coincides with an upturn in form for the national team and a new feel-good factor in Northern Irish football as a whole. SoapboxThis is a guest slot to give a platform for new writers either as a one off, or a prelude to becoming part of the …
Alex Kane considers the ongoing albeit low level of attacks against racial minorities and recent migrant groups in Northern Ireland. He argues that no future society in Northern Ireland can call itself fair and just unless it takes up a serious duty to protect all of its citizens. By Alex Kane “When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I …
The Belfast Telegraph tonight reports that a QUB lecturer and a playwright have teamed up to write a play about the black Irish people of Montserrat that will be premiered at the festival. I hope that it is well supported. It has been noticed that colour bias and racism have increased in Ireland as other forms of conflict have decreased. Although people here are aware of nuances of language when it comes to religion and politics all too often we …
MORE planning problems for Jim Wells, who single-handedly constitutes the DUP’s environmental wing. Today (sadly, not online), he highlights how developers are bypassing the Planning Service exploiting a loophole and going almost directly to the Planning Appeals Commission to get applications approved. The PAC is seen as more sympathetic to developers, and there is no right to appeal its decisions. Even making a case to the PAC can be an expensive business for members of the public who object to …
TODAY’S Guardian reports on how political blogging could play a more significant part in the next general election. As more politicians – who would’ve been writing diaries anyway – get the blog bug, some of their critics are registering their MPs name online and writing blogs for them – whether they want them or not! The Guardian reports: The British political weblog might be less than 18 months old, but it can also be a weapon if it falls into …
A report in the Asia Times highlights the large contract for private security work in Iraq given to Aegis Defence Services, a company run by Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Spicer, and the campaign against it. Spicer was the commanding officer of Mark Wright and James Fisher who were convicted of murdering Peter McBride then returned to service after a campaign Spicer was prominent in. He has had a chequered history since leaving the British Army. The report also highlights the fact Wright …
Leabhar deas bhreá é, An Bhealach ‘na Bhaile leis an file Cathal Ó Searcaigh. Ina measc dothan eile, an dan ab fhearr liom nios mó na achan ceann eile is é An Tobar. Deireann an tseanbhean Bríd ar an cead line, “cuirfidh sé brí ionat agus beatha …faghairt in a súile”. Sin mar a bhfuil an cuid eile den obair. Ach ní tharlionn rud ar bith go prap inti. Bogainn an teanga mar sruthlinn. Seo cuir sios ar milte aiteanna …
Neil McGregor with a finely balanced assay of the ambivalent meanings of the British Museum collection of historic artefacts. There are some resonances with our own historical obsessions, although they written within a very different frame: “The Catholic model of authority, as seen from London, was one where intellectual inquiry was limited, controlled, and often prohibited. On the political plane, France provided the clear demonstration that in an absolutist society, even one only idiosyncratically Catholic, true intellectual liberty was denied. …
