Republicanism – Page 2 – Slugger O'Toole

McCann meets….Belfast Mayor, Mairtin O’Muilleoir

David McCann on September 26, 2013, 2:19 pm

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On Tuesday I sat down with the Mayor of Belfast, Mairtin O’Muilleoir. We discussed a variety of issues from why he joined Sinn Fein to his view of the recent flag disturbances. Here are some key quotes; On his business background; While I have enjoyed creating businesses and being involved in business….I think it has affected some of my outlook, I don’t think it has affected my outlook on matters economic. But I think it’s affected my outlook on matters …

New Australian PM swears an oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

David McCann on September 22, 2013, 2:21 pm

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Tony Abbott was officially sworn in as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia on Wednesday. While he grabbed headlines for appointing just one woman to his cabinet, there was another subtle change that caught my eye as he was sworn in. Under Prime Minister’s Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, the oath of allegience for ministers was changed from swearing an oath to Queen Elizabeth to; I, (Insert name), do swear that I will well and truly serve the …

Zero Sum and Differential Gain in Northern Ireland

Turgon on September 15, 2013, 10:21 pm

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It appears that the idea that ending the DUP’s support for the Maze shrine spelt the end of Robinson’s leadership has itself finally ended: with even the least well informed members of the commentariat who so recently predicted his demise now accepting that Robinson is staying put. This episode is, however, interesting in that it raises again the issues of the zero sum game that so often affects Northern Ireland’s politics. For any uninitiated the zero sum game theory states …

Eighty years later Sinn Fein belatedly attempts Dev’s transformation

Mick Fealty on April 13, 2013, 1:18 pm

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Great piece by Harry McGee in the Irish Times which raises some critical questions that may be exercising Sinn Fein delegates in Castlebar today.. Sinn Féin is not experiencing a New Departure, rather a long drawn-out process of change – mainstreaming, as we inelegantly describe it. As evidenced by the rapid growth of Fianna Fáil from 1926, a large swathe of the population shared its vision, believed as it did that the party was pursuing a reasonable programme based on …

The tricolour and its multiple meanings: Open thread

Mick Fealty on April 3, 2013, 11:08 am

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So as promised here’s the follow up to yesterday’s Irish flag thread. So normal rules apply now, you can debate with each other. I’ll open with three concise observations as a starter. There are probably more important themes, but these are just ones that leapt out at me: At the time of writing, the most favourited comment is Keano’s (seven). It’s one I chose as well. It may be a reflection of the fact culturally the idea of a 32 …

What does the Irish flag mean to you?

Mick Fealty on April 2, 2013, 12:58 pm

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So, this is an experiment. I’m going to introduce a special rule for commenting on the thread below. There’ll be no sanctions for those breaking them (unless you’re really bad!!), but I will take those comments off when I get back into Slugger Central later on today. The rule is you can only say what you honestly think/feel about the flag above. I want you to stick to its personal meaning for you, in the here and now. So, please, …

Charges re-instated against Marian Price and others

Pete Baker on September 5, 2012, 7:49 pm

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The BBC reports that the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) have re-instated charges against Marian Price and three Londonderry men in relation to a 32 County Sovereignty Movement Easter Monday parade in the city in 2011. Among those being charged again is Marvin Canning – the 50-year-old brother-in-law of Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness. From the BBC report In May, a district judge said he would not return the four for trial as there were “no papers in front of …

A new IRA emerges lashed together from the wreckage of the old…

Mick Fealty on July 30, 2012, 11:31 am

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The big news of the weekend? The convergence of a wide range of republican paramilitary groups into a new one called, erm, the IRA… So it hasn’t gone away you know… That’s the PR of it anyway. I suppose one might be tempted to say that it took them long enough to decide that the current spilts were killing any ‘credibility’ they might have had at representing a coherent idea never mind anything else. What it proves is that you …

A happy and safe 12th of July (just remember it belongs to us all)

Mick Fealty on July 12, 2012, 11:45 am

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I got my first live call from an Orange demonstration from a dear and highly valued Orange friend (and, god help him, an Arsenal supporter) at about 8.45 this morning, with the sound of the bands in the background. I’m pretty sure if you’d asked my 1982 self, I might not have had such kindly thoughts, but a lot of water has travelled under the bridge since then. Most Orange demonstrations these days pass off without any need for comment. …

McGuinness’ hero on royal visits…

Belfast Gonzo on June 26, 2012, 3:04 am

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JAMES Connolly is an undoubted hero of Martin McGuinness’ – the deputy First Minister even invoked him in a speech as as recently as last month. But I wonder if this icon of republicanism’s ‘patriot dead’ would have approved of McGuinness meeting the Queen? Here’s some of Connolly’s thoughts on a previous royal visitor to Ireland, King George V in 1911. Different rules for a different era? Knowing from previous experience of Royal Visits, as well as from the Coronation …

Martin McGuinness the Queen and Sinn Fein’s “Tiocfaidh ar Lámh”* campaign…

Mick Fealty on June 25, 2012, 12:36 pm

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Given the nature of all the agreements made since 1998, the meeting of deputy First Minister and the head of state of United Kingdom (you know the old lady Gerry calls the Queen of England) on Wednesday is probably a good thing. You also have to admit that the headlines it evinced in the main flagship new organisations of two countries was impressive too. Radio Four’s Six O’Clock News gave it almost five minutes as the top headline. RTE’s Six …

Ard Comhairle to sign off details of the forthcoming ‘Martin meets Elizabeth’ gig…

Mick Fealty on June 22, 2012, 12:42 am

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One of the stories that’s been hanging in the air for the last few weeks has been will Martin McGuinness meet the Queen, or won’t he? Well, it seems he will. Though the i’s and the t’s remain to be dotted and/or crossed. In recent weeks Slugger understands that the leadership within Sinn Fein have deployed some very senior members ‘of the Movement’ in selling ‘the deal’ to their own activists. Slugger also understands that the party’s Ard Comhairle (high …

“The Facebook campaign is one tactic…”

Pete Baker on June 9, 2012, 11:12 pm

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In response to the anarchy in Londonderry, and elsewhere, the PSNI have launched a Facebook campaign… Police are urging young people from all communities to help drive the figures down even further with help from social media. “The Facebook campaign is one tactic designed specifically to reach out to those over 16 who may have information,” said Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris. “These groups are self-serving, self-named, accountable to no one, elected by no one and they are carrying out …

“Ulster Rugby – Are you unionism in disguise?”

Mick Fealty on May 28, 2012, 12:08 pm

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It annoyed me years ago when I walked into Elvery’s on Dawson Street to find they stocked plenty Leinster and Munster tops but no Ulster ones. Then again, you only stock what there’s a demand for, and for years Ulster was the poor relation in Irish rugby. [Image from BigStock] So much so that as rugby has become genuinely and broadly popular in Northern Ireland, many Northern Irish nationalists have taken to supporting provincial winners from other parts of the …

Denis Donaldson inquest adjourned for ninth time…

Pete Baker on April 27, 2012, 2:58 pm

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I had lost count… There was no sudden flurry of activity, unlike that which accompanied last year’s adjournment, but yesterday a Garda Superintendent did seek, and was granted, a further 6 month adjournment of the inquest into the death of former senior Sinn Féin member Denis Donaldson in 2006 – responsibility for which was claimed by the Real IRA. From the RTÉ report Supt Michael Finan told Coroner Dr Denis McCauley in Letterkenny today that he was seeking a further adjournment of the inquest …

“the war against British rule must continue until freedom is achieved…”

Pete Baker on April 10, 2012, 4:21 pm

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Dissenting republicans gave their response yesterday to Sinn Féin’s various Easter messages – Declan Kearney’s “there is no other IRA“, Gerry Adams’ seven step ‘plan’, or Martin McGuinness’ “We are on the road to freedom” [and his responsibility “to defend and promote the integrity of our struggle” – Ed]. And it was delivered to a reported audience of “several hundred people” at Londonderry’s City Cemetery. It’s of a more traditional flavour… From the Derry Journal report “The IRA will continue to attack …

“in order to ensure the safety of the community and the officers responding…”

Pete Baker on April 8, 2012, 11:14 pm

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The BBC reports that the PSNI have defended the delay of over an hour before officers arrived at the scene of a car bomb alert in Newry on Saturday night. Unlike the security alert on Friday in the Newry area, this one was eventually declared a hoax. From the BBC report A hijacked taxi, containing a suspect device, was abandoned close to houses on Martins Lane on Saturday night. Residents used their own cars to block the road and tried …

“The agency’s investigation has produced evidence of what might be characterised as a lawless lifestyle”

Pete Baker on February 27, 2012, 10:04 pm

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The BBC reports the delayed start of the Serious Organised Crime Agency’s [SOCA] application for a civil recovery order of property and assets belonging to Seamus Francis Mullan. A former member of the Provisional IRA who was serving a life imprisonment sentence for the 1985 murder of an off-duty RUC officer before being freed on early release licence in 1998, Mullan was arrested in 2006 on money laundering and fraud charges – at the time he was described in court as a “disaffected republican”. Subsequently, the …

“This is a read-back into the so-called ‘dirty war’…”

Pete Baker on February 1, 2012, 3:36 pm

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In yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph, Brian Rowan attempted to explained the thinking behind Sinn Féin’s expressed concerns about the “Dark Side” [It’s “a sound working partnership and one that is to be commended” – Ed] Indeed. From the Belfast Telegraph article …this is not a row for the sake of being awkward. It is a serious attempt to engage Matt Baggott sooner rather than later. I think it would be fair to say that a degree of briefing was involved in …

…the British Government has planned the sell-out of Ulster

John Ó Néill on January 5, 2012, 1:47 pm

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So Ian Paisley was right after all! In his The Revivalist editorial of January 1982, he reflected on 1981 saying: 1982 is the year when the British Government has planned the sell-out of Ulster. It is essential that Ulster prepares itself for the great battle which lies ahead. Without Divine intervention all is lost. Admittedly, he had began 1981 by stating: Having made a dirty deal with the I.R.A. terrorists the Government has proceeded to enter into an underhand mini-Munich …