Conflict

Ruth Dudley Edwards has been travelling in Northern Ireland and finds the Protestant inhabitants west of the Bann subdued and wary of some the younger generation amongst their Catholic neighbours. In an area where RTE is no stranger to local protestants, she detects some shift in attitudes around the GAA: “Once,” said a woman from a loyalist enclave, “we’d have wanted Tyrone to beat Kerry in the Gaelic football final. Now, because of the way their supporters carry on these …

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Eric Waugh, now a columnist for the Belfast Telegraph, was a BBC correspondent for most of the troubles. He recalls two gruesome episodes from the early stages of the ‘war’ with great (and disturbing) clarity, the IRA’s firebombing of the La Mon House Hotel in which twelve people were incinerated. And one of the earliest atrocities, the UVF bombing of McGurk’s Bar in which 15 perished in the run up to Christmas 1971. He wonders whether in decommissioning military materiel …

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Despite reports that the IRA have held on to a small number of personal firearms, Mark Devenport pronounces the decommissioning question now extinct. But that’s clearly not the end of the story. 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

A sharp but not entirely complementary analysis of the leadership qualities of Gerry Adams from Malachi O’Doherty on Hearts and Minds last night. The programme contains a good analysis session with Noel Doran, Martina Purdy and David McKitterick. 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

On 10th May 1998 just after the Belfast Agreement, Gerry Adams told his party’s Ard Fheis that “The IRA has made it clear that it will not surrender its weapons”. And Danny Morrison as recently as 2001 felt confident enough to state “…there will never, ever, be IRA decommissioning, an IRA surrender.” Throughout however, one consistent voice of dissent has been Anthony McIntyre, who now reflects on the significance decommissioning in the wake of Monday’s press conference. Mick FealtyMick is …

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More scepticism on Sinn Fein’s intentions for the future from William Sjostrum, who sees a (presumably unintended) significance in a flag he saw in Dublin last weekend. Although, personally, I’ve never heard of the two striped flag he’s refering to. Update: Ah, William, you may just have gotten it wrong after all – thanks Henry! 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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It’s not often that Perry over at Samizdata weighs a political situation and finds himself being equivocal. But in considering the announcement of the IRA’s decommissioning, he can’t make up his mind what it actually means. 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

Paul Arthur in yesterday’s Irish Times notes that most analysis of recent political developments is largely overly focused on the short term (Subs needed) choreography of the two main parties. But looked at in the light of longer term trends, he argues, Unionism still lacks a proactive leadership, and Republicans are still in denial.The current political and media pressure on the DUP masks the success of that party on a number of fronts: Despite Ian Paisley’s posturing, the word “No” …

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Aileen Quinton’s article from the News Letter last week about pressures felt by victims:In light of the recent rioting, anger seems to be the emotion of the moment. I am angry too. Angry about terrorism, prisoner releases, OTRs, RIR disbandment, parades rerouting, pressure to have terrorists in government and the suspicion that we will be increasingly maliciously misgoverned until we do. All this with the odious thread of appeasement running through it all. I am angry that the government has …

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Like many things in Northern Ireland the arrangements around the decommissioning were made entirely in secret, and not simply the act itself, but who was chosen and when. That secretiveness alone is what makes it suspect in eyes of Unionist observer, argues Lindy McDowell. She ends with a typically wry but sharp perception: Meanwhile, it is weird, is it not, to hear Gerry invoking British intelligence assessments as proof that the Provies have indeed come up with the goods. When …

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I’d say the caption writer at AP or Newsday has been given some serious lattitude on this photograph featuring what he/she calls ‘Leaders of the Irish Republican Army’. Thanks to reader Jeremy. 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

Chris Thornton has been ruminating on the fast moving events of Monday pm, and traces what details that actually did emerge despite the General’s concern to maintain a degree of secrecy. It included a flame thrower. I can’t remember that one ever reported being used! 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 …

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As John O’Sullivan points out in his Chicago Sun-Times, it’s not all over for Sinn Fein either. The violence has continued after previous IRA acts of decommissioning. But he also believes that Unionism’s case for holding the higher moral ground was severely damaged by their acquience to the Loyalist rioting and intimidation campaign of the late summer and early September: Strong rumors suggest that what the IRA destroyed is the heavy stuff it no longer needs against the British Army. …

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DAVID Gordon goes back to his old stomping ground to find out what sparked the recent loyalist rioting in Newtownabbey. Excuses or reasons..?Part one of this series is here. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Interesting blog from Michael at the Young Unionists. He welcomes what he calls the surrender of the IRA, but is still suspicious that Sinn Fein have a hidden agenda. He bemoans the DUP’s refusal to be engaged in any position that might put a brake on Sinn Fein’s capacity to wring further concessions out of the governments. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …

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Tony Blair opened his speech to the Labour party conference with Northern Ireland. Amid all the change and progress since our first election victory, it was interesting to see in the film there the pictures of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998, and then finally, yesterday, the completion of IRA decommissioning. It has taken many years, and a lot of hard work, but every minute of every hour of every all-night negotiation will have been worth it if it …

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Ian Paisley is to meet with General de Chastelain today. The process of consideration begins for Unionists. And a potentially open-ended period of tight control for the IRA. 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

RTE reporter to passing politician, “this story is live until Wednesday”. That would bring us up to Peter Hain’s announcement of ‘confidence building measures’ for Unionists. Then Northern Ireland presumably returns to the status of ‘big sleep’ in Dublin and the Republic. 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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