UUP leader David Trimble appears to moving ahead with some gusto after what has seemed like an interminable hiatus and is calling for the sanctions regime to established as soon as possible. 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
Recent electoral history in the Republic has some valuable lessons for Jeffrey Donaldson, if he is considering setting up a breakaway party, says political analyst Noel Whelan: The Progressive Democrats had a very good first general election, then fell back and have fluctuated since. Seventeen years later, O’Malley’s breakaway party survives, not least because they have been prepared to go into coalition with their founding leader’s political mothership. It’s a lesson Jeffrey Donaldson would do well to remember. Breakaway political …
The Irish Census results, delayed for a year by the Foot and Mouth crisis, has been announced. It confirms a trend towards social and religious diversity and, in a period of the most rapid economic growth in the island’s recent history, a massive 8% rise in the population over a mere six years. 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 …
The controversy over the Irish Echo’s columnist Eamon Lynch’s piece last week continues. The Echo have now placed Mairtin O’Muilleoir’s response on their website and removed the original from the archives. Now archcritic of the Anderstown News, and dissident Republican Anthony McIntyre, has himself weighed in with his thoughts on the matter. 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 …
An excellent overview of the strengths and, more crucially, the weaknesses of the Northern Ireland economy from the BBC’s James Arnold. Putting his finger on a series of uncomfortable truths, he concludes: Ironic, perhaps: Northern Ireland, for so long disadvantaged, may now be held back because it is not disadvantaged enough. 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 …
Despite only squeaking through the UUC meeting, Paul Murphy is decidedly upbeat (subs needed) about the prospects of the Joint Declaration providing a catalyst for renewed politics in Northern Ireland. Mr Murphy said that the IMB could be a mechanism for sorting out differences between all the different parties, helping to establish trust and confidence. “We now have the context where we can resolve problems,” he said. He seems to be particularly bouyed by the result last Monday night: “After …
Brian Feeney sometimes gives the impression of casting around to find something provocative/controversial to say. However this week he’s possibly hit a particularly important nail on the head: Monday’s UUC meeting was not ‘the defining moment’ for unionism billed by Jeffrey Donaldson any more than the previous 10 meetings he engineered. The defining moment for unionism was 30 years ago in 1973 when Harold Wilson’s government made it clear to Brian Faulkner, the hard-liner of those days that he would …
Writing and managing Slugger takes up a fair amount of time in the day – especially during busy news periods. If you’d like to contribute towards the upkeep of the site, just hit the donation button on the left hand side, just below the A long peace? link and let us have 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 …
No doubt much to the relief of all concerned the saga of the Portadown mosque has been ended with Craigavon Borough Council to grant planning permission in the Bleary area of Portadown. 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
Brian Walker takes his lead from the upbeat noises coming from the British government: A significantly different scenario from May’s disaster is now being offered. The message emerging from Government is: we won’t give guarantees that could weaken our leverage with the IRA, but we’ll lay odds on an election in the autumn. This time the poll will not be so starkly conditional on IRA “clarity” over disarmament, if only because it mightn’t be necessary. But what the IRA offered …
With typical political alacrity, the DUP have launched the first of their new one-stop-shops for councillors in David Trimble’s backyard. Clearly they are preparing for a long hiatus, even if there is a quick Autumn return to Assembly elections as Dublin and others are pushing for. 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 …
Years ago a friend of mine worked at a major nightspot just outside Lisburn. One night a major punch-up broke out. Everyone was hammering everyone else. Eventually he himself was cornered by some big bloke. Asked whether he was Catholic or protestant – he blurted out the first thing that came into his head, “Hebrew!” The guy was stunned and puzzled enough to give my friend time to make good his escape. Today, it seems, Northern Ireland’s Jews are courted …
The US based Irish Echo today has given a right of reply to the managing editor of Belfast’s Andersonstown News to refute allegations against it in one the US based paper’s articles last week. It is also alleged that the US paper has agreed to pull the original article out of its online archive. The much respected journalist concerned, Eamon Lynch, has consequently resigned in protest. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …
John Murray Brown, who often writes on NI for the FT, turns his attention to the Special Olympics which are due to be opened in Dublin on Saturday by Nelson Mandela, and some ground breaking translation technology. The games site will be constantly undated and available in Irish, French, and seven other commonly spoken world languages. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …
John Murray Brown reckons that Donaldson has little choice but to go to the DUP if he’s not prepared to set up a splinter party. 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
Neville Sanders, the Peterborough Tory councillor at the centre of a major controversy last week has been suspended by his local party. Update: Here’s the latest on the at vote of no confidence in Sanders in the local council from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 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 …
John Taylor adds his voice to the attempt to keep Donaldson and close ally Arlene Foster inside the party. 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
Steven King, in ebullient mood, gives a slightly oblique glimpse of how the UCC meeting went for the Trimble 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: @MickFealty
Gerry Moriarty and Dan Keenan on the outcomes of the UUC meeting in The Irish Times: Mr Donaldson described the UUP leader’s success as a “Pyrrhic victory”. He said the 809 delegates had a choice of voting for “principles or a tactical approach to this process that has not served this party well” and ended up choosing tactics above principle. Mr Donaldson will engage in a period of reflection before deciding whether to quit the UUP. He said he would …
Arch critic of Sinn Fein Ellis O’Hanlon was on good form in the Sunday Independent recently, with her characture of Northern Ireland’s protagonists as members of the British Big Brother cast. Thanks to reader Andrew for the reminder. 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
