No news is good news, I suppose. But if there is a final agreement for elections to take place, it well happen tomorrow when Bertie and Tony are in town. 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
According to the media, NI’s transport strike hasn’t caused the suffering that was predicted. Indeed, the relaxation of bus lanes may even have made for a calmer than normal morning. People may have staggered their journey, but it’s an interesting indication of the importance of public transport in NI. 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 …
Well Jude Collins is convinced that we are whisker away from the announcements of new Assembly elections and so is pretty much every insider we’ve spoken to in the last few days. Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! 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 …
Dan McGinn in the Scotsman finds the SDLP’s former Finance Minister Sean Farren in fighting mood, ascribing the long hiatus, in equal measure to both Sinn Fein and the UUP, for not accepting the Belfast Agreement as their ultimate bottom lines. 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 Veronica Guerin movie which went down extremely well over here seems to be hitting choppy water in the US. We’d be interested to hear what Slugger readers made of the film. So, wherever in the world you watched it, let us have your own review of the film! 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 …
Despite normally keeping a brief for geopolitics, Airspace One blog has been known to comment on matters Irish in the past. This time it’s Sinn Fein that has caught Phillip Chaston’s eye. 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
To quote that wise old man of baseball Yogi Berra, ‘It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future’. But the mere appearance of this short piece from John Murray Brown is as good an indication that we may soon see the first in a series of substantial moves from the IRA, to get things moving. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …
Politics is not the only late arrival in Northern Ireland. The Honest Ulsterman, erstwhile home of northern Irish poetry finally got its act together today with the publication of its summer 2003 edition. Ex BBC man Eric Waugh has a go at bringing his own swaging honesty to what passed for political process in the brief life of the Northern Ireland Executive. Here’s where he hits bone for the pro-Agreement parties. That once-a-month meeting of the Executive was a damning …
There’s a last chance to see Sammy Wilson and Martin McGuinness have a square go in last week’s Hearts and Minds programme. Although text version of Fionnuala O’Connor’s estimation of the interference of the substantial roll of outsiders who’ve been brought in to sort out various of Northern Ireland’s problems, should remain available for some time. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …
Interesting obituary in the Daily Telegraph for the writer John Bowyer Bell. His most famous work in relation to Ireland was his account of the IRA, which is still in print after 33 years. A remarkable feat for any single book in what has to be publishing’s more overcrowded markets. 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 …
John at North Atlantic Skyline manages to get in another wry dig at the County of Leitrim, over its most recent fling with fame. 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
If you have any old super 8 films taken in Northern Ireland, the BBC would like to know. Thanks to the ever resourceful Smoke Signals. 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
Most Irishmen have their own view of the English. However it is not so clear how well any of us actually know them. The Atlantic Magazine this month gives a platform to one erudite Englishman to wax lyrical on the complex identity that is Englishness. 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 …
David Steven questions why Loyalist attacks on Prison Officers seem to be sneaking in under the media’s radar. Any answers? 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 nudges and whispers, this time it’s the BBC’s security correspondent Barney Rowan reading the intense activity over the weekend as a sign the IRA may be contemplating a serious move on decommissioning. In truth it is hard to imagine a November poll without the IRA offering Trimble something to go to his key supporters with. From Sinn Fein’s point of view, it may be desireable to simply let the political process begin sooner rather than later, whether Trimble turns …
If David Trimble thought his successive victories in the UUC had brought him some respite from the rebels within his party, the three currently unwhipped MPs have given him pause for thought with their latest joint statement. Before Sinn Fein can participate in a future Northern Ireland Executive, the IRA must deal conclusively with weapons decommissioning, end all paramilitary activity and effectively wind up their paramilitary organisation. This is the Ulster Unionist bottom line and there will be no room …
Tony Blair gave Nigel Dodds a dressing-down at Prime Minister’s Questions. 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
Rachel Clarke investigates the phenomenon of Slugging – a form of co-operation that has grown naturally amongst citizens in response to a thirty year old piece of legislation in the US capital. 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
An order of Catholic nuns based in Galway are to use an internet site as the first opportunity for outreach in their history. They are bound by a vow of enclosure never leave the confines of their convent without good reason. 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
According to Malachi O’Doherty, Tony Blair’s tactic of buying more time by postponing the elections has not worked for either the Unionists, who have simply papered over their cracks, or the IRA who are consequently no nearer their bottom line than they were six months ago. There is no changed context for the postponed election. The political circumstances are the same as they were. The strategy of drawing Jeffrey into a challenge and wrong-footing him right out of the party …
