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
Today is then St. Patrick’s Day. There will be a variety of events, by far the most prominent will be cultural and sporting. I had intended writing a blog on what I view as the way in which the sanitisation of the entirely legitimate nationalist culture of St. Patrick’s Day has actually become a cause of further division. When I discussed it with Mick, however, he challenged me to do something about the religious angle. The reality is that St. …
I’m sure there’s no significance at all in the timing of this story… As the somewhat excitable BBC science report’s headline has it – “Sex-starved fruit flies turn to drink” In an article in Science, researchers suggest that alcohol stimulates the flies’ brains as a “reward” in a similar way to sexual conquest. The work points to a brain chemical called neuropeptide F, which seems to be regulated by the flies’ behaviour. Human brains have a similar chemical, which may react …
Armagh City will be the centre of St Patrick’s day celebrations, with scout parades in the morning, a cross community parade through out the day and Irish music sessions in many of the city centre pubs. And this year, for the first time, when all the daytime celebrations are over, the city will host a band parade around the commercial centre of town. The parade is being organised by Cormeen Rising Sons of William Flute Band, a local band who …
Belfast City Council fly the Union flag 365 days a year from City Hall. St Patrick’s Day is one of a few special days when they also fly the Union Flag from the Ulster Hall and the Duncrue Complex. This isn’t the choice of an individual councillor, this is council policy. It doesn’t attract any interest from the media. Numerous other Government buildings across the north also use St Patrick’s Day as one of the days when they can display …
Okay, here’s my response to Mark’s call… – I was at the Irish Embassy in London last night, at a gathering addressed by Joan Burton. Not sure many in the room shared Joan’s optimism. So, we kick off with some grim Scots Tory realism from Alex Massie: …growth is Ireland’s only chance. That means wholesale reform of the public sector to assist deficit reduction but that won’t be enough either. Many of the things that the French and Germans most …
