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Towards the cost of SluggerReports  Or as a zip (386KB) 
Through Irish Eyes: how the Irish successor generation views the UK.
Parties and major candidates
AllianceDUP Green Party NIUP PUP SDLP Sinn Fein Socialist Environmental Alliance UKUP UUP Women's Coalition John Gilliland "Excellent, balanced weblog on Northern Ireland" Guardian "...pulls in people of all persuasions and none." BBC "...dump all your old ideas about what's happening in Northern Ireland" Sunday Independent "Comment from a full range of the political spectrum" ireland.com "Drives debate beyond the web" Sunday Times "Just keep scrolling" Instapundit "No relation, but some fine reporting!" Deborah O'Toole Linking Slugger  rdf |
June 21, 2004 The Somme: a long remembering I hope this stays on the BBC's Today programme site for a while. It's an interview with a war veteran from the Somme. At 108 he has a memory and sensibility that anyone lucky enough to make it to their eighties would be happy with. I've worked with photographer Brent Jones on a series of interviews to go with a collection of portraits of centenarians; but this is one to be treasured for the sheer humanity of it. Adams' summer speech... GERRY Adams Bodenstown 2004 speech is here, for those interested. [more] Labour WLTM like-minded parties for LT partnership... THE Irish Labour Party seems to be popular in Northern Ireland today. GAA fans complain about 're-routing' The GAA has decided to switch the Ulster finals from its traditional home in Clones to Dublin, despite the claims of Antrim and Down fans that this would necessitate them travelling through potential flashpoint areas. Well done Donegal (with only 14 men) by the way! US/UK extradition: a one way relationship On the cover story of last week's Spectator, former BBC man Rod Liddle blasts the British government for, in effect, allowing extradition on demand to the US on what he claims is often on very weak evidence. He contrasts this with the US's long term refusal to extradite wanted in connection with IRA actions. Review document due A report of the review is expected from the two governments as a scene setter for the intensive talks expected in the Autumn time. However, with one well informed nationalist commentator suggesting there is unlikely to be progress on IRA decomissioning before 2006, don't hold your breath until then, it could be a long long wait. NI exports private security to Iraq Mary Fitzgerald probes the phenomenon of private military companies or PMCs, which is providing lucrative employment for former members of Northern Ireland's former security forces. Belfast Agreement for sale?? Well you can buy anything on ebay. Some bright spark in Galway (Ciaran is that you?) has placed a starting bid on a copy of the Agreement for US$5000. There are no bids at the moment of writing, which suggests few are fooled by the scam. Or there's little value left in the Agreement. Or nobody cares anymore! Thanks to reader Mark for the heads up! June 20, 2004 Racism on the rise With the success of the Celtic Tiger economy and to a certain extent the peace process, the island of Ireland has seen an unprecedented influx of immigrants over recent years. Obviously this is a good thing and a sign of a successful economy. However it brings with it the problems of racial and ethnic tensions. [more] June 19, 2004 Piping hot in Cookstown The Mid-Ulster Section of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association - Northern Ireland Branch, held the 50th annual Mid-Ulster Pipe Band and Drum Majors Championship in Cookstown High School Sports Arena today. It was good to see a big crowd and a lot of bands in attendence, including the world class Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band from Lisburn. June 18, 2004 North-West IQ test at Brain Fest... DERRY people are so brainy that the high-IQ boffins in Mensa have decided to hold their annual conference there. The Belfast Telegraph reports: "In May 2003, Derry came top in the BBC's Test The Nation show, which assessed the IQ of people throughout the UK." [more] Permanent peace needed for healing... A FORMER ANC prisoner who is now chief of Johannesburg East Rand's Metro Police has told South Armagh republicans to prepare themselves to become involved in policing. Robert McBride also echoed Dennis Kennedy's words the other day, saying that there could be no real truth and reconciliation until the peace process has gone beyond the point of no return. [more] Hyde Park horse dies... YETI, the last four-legged survivor of the 1982 Hyde Park bomb blast died last month at The Home of Rest for Horses in Speen. [more] It was God wot won it... NOT one for keeping politics and religion separate, the DUP's Big Man puts Jim Allister's European election victory down to the Even Bigger Man. Rev Paisley said: "Only the intervention of God could have preserved our Party to survive the diabolical attacks upon it and only God’s blessing could have changed the political destiny of Ulster." [more] Anniversary of atrocity... IT'S ten years to the day since the Loughinisland massacre, an atrocity carried out by the UVF that still carries sad memories for many, and appalled the rest of us. Barry Cowan dies... BROADCASTER Barry Cowan has died. This giant of BBC Northern Ireland was the first voice of Talkback, which has paid tribute to his work today. Nationalist vote in long term decline? Very interesting analysis from Tom Luby at The Blanket. He reproduces figures for the total Nationalist vote over the last six elections. What he finds is that rather than increasing or even maintaining previously high levels, the nationalist vote seems to be withering at quite an alarming rate, since 2001. A phenomenon which is reflected on the Unionist side of Northern Ireland's cumbersome political equation. DUP in for the kill? Peter Robinson (does he play chess?) has released some of his party's election data public in an attempt to set an intimidating scene for a final showdown with the UUP. PMs decide whether to intervene Bertie Ahern, currently up to his eyes trying to broker some kind of constitution for the EU and Tony Blair will take some time in Brussels to decide whether they should meet again with the parties. Keep an eye on the Downing Street blog for updates. They think it's all over... Earl Storey is one of the UUP's newer recruits. He gives his own assessment of where the party's recent reversals leaves it. Above all else the party he argues requires a vision that ordinary people can rally around. [more] Ulster-Scots should be neutral According to officials in Dublin, the Boord o Ulster Scotch should be spending Irish tax payers money more neutrally. A letter to the PM Democratic Unionist MEP, Jim Allister QC, has written to the Prime Minister urging him not to endorse the European Constitution because it would be adverse to the interests and independence of the UK. June 17, 2004 West Indies beaten by Ireland Phenomenal result at Stormont. 292 for 7 from 50 overs not enough for tourists. Caribbean reaction to Ireland's convincing victory should be interesting. Fuel crisis in South Armagh... BRITISH and Irish agencies have carried out a massive crackdown on fuel smuggling in the Republican heartland of South Armagh. Fuel laundering and smuggling in the area has been a source of finance for the IRA in the past, and such an operation would have been unheard of before the ceasefires. Hate crimes consultation Over the last few years Westminster has been pushing the envelope as far public consultation in advance on drafting new legislation, particularly through its innovative tellparliament website. Although timings have yet to be finalised Hansard Society will be kicking off a six week consultation on Hate Crime law for Northern Ireland. It's an event we hope will have good represention from Slugger readers, as well as representatives from right across political and civic society! Hearts and Minds: across the divide It's always worth watching Hearts and Minds (particularly for those of us outside NI). Tonight Paul Murphy is the main interview, and another piece enigmatically announced as "one of my best friends friends is Catholic... hands across the sectarian divide... at arm's length". Elephants not forgotten... THE tired old metaphor of the elephant in the room/on the doorstep/in the BBC studio has been resurrected by Dennis Kennedy and Brian Feeney. Kennedy argues that the Government's elephant - an massive issue right in front of your eyes that you still ignore - is ongoing paramilitary activity, while trying to seek a way forward on Truth & Reconciliation. Feeney's elephant is the Sinn Fein vote in the Republic, which may have an impact on business here in future. [more] A pact across the divide... Steven King, regular columnist at the Belfast Telegraph and the UUP's Director of Elections, argues that the DUP has merely soaked up the anti Agreement vote, rather than increased it. However he honestly admits there is a crisis within both moderate Unionism and Nationalism. [more] A late substitution... A METHADONE prescription scheme is to be extended into the Eastern Health Board area, after a trial run in Ballymena. The Bible-belt town has suffered badly from the problems associated with 'skag' over the past decade, and the methadone substitute programme seems to have had a degree of success. A shame then, that we were the last part of the UK or Ireland to adopt methadone. Anti Bloomsday... Former blogger Paul Dunne with his own thoughts on the Bloomsday phenomenon. And John at North Atlantic Skyline with his. Well I never... Anyone who still thinks that British Conservatism is a narrow political creed, should think again. Their excellent online bookshop demonstrates a very catholic taste in political biographies, including this life of IRA icon Joe Cahill! No deal until 2006? Two writers examine what may become one of the more important results last week - the electoral success of Sinn Fein in the local elections in the Republic, and the good showing of several party candidates in the European election, including the election of its first MEP in Dublin. Tom Griffin, the political editor of the Irish World on the threat to Fianna Fail, and the often irracisble but sharp analysis of Brian Feeney. [more] Rascism in Tyrone? Though there is not yet conclusive evidence that this attack was racist, it indicates that one or more Portuguese nationals were targeted in Dungannon on Tuesday night. [more] Paul's Letter to the Republicans... SLUGGER regular Paul A Fitzsimmons wants to know what the IRA thinks about his ideas for independence. Maybe it would be prepared to accept an Independent Republic Of Northern Ireland? Oh, the IRONI of it all... Orange charity award The Orange Order has recently been awarded the national "Flame of Hope" award at a ceremony in London for raising £124,000 on behalf of Cancer Reseach NI. June 16, 2004 Irish-American fracas A row has broken out between the Irish American Caucus and the Irish American Republicans. Father Sean McManus of the Irish American Caucus has accused a conservative think tank of being anti-Catholic for hosting a talk by former FARC commander Carlos Alberto Plotter. Mr Alberto Plotter is due to give a speech on links between Columbia`s FARC and the IRA. Father McManus has called on the Irish American Republicans to denounce the group hosting the conference. Apathy about Assembly... THE Assembly has cost us £36 million since it was suspended in October 2002, while a new survey indicates that people don't care about it any longer. However, there is still support for devolution in principle. [more] Scottish marches to be regulated... SCOTLAND looks set to get its own Parades Commissioner, in order to give communities a bigger say on where and when they take place. Bloomsday 100!!! Even Google get what day it is (and the world's first mobile phone hackers. Bloomsday is a hundred years old today. Dublin has a big literary shindig going (though is the big fry up ruining Irish culture?). The BBC began on Saturday with Walking at Ringsend, and they've an excellent cheats guide to the plot of Ulysses (even if you've read the book). Donegal man and Arts Correspondent of the Guardian Fiacra Gibbons has a Bloomsday blog, and is looking for readers' soliloquys. And there's more. But Germany's Die Tageszeitung grabs the initiative from them all, with a blank blue page reading, Just Ulysses - a presumption. DUP to call the shots? Clearly the DUP is not a party to take it's victory quietly. There were public messages to all of its rivals as it's senior team was confirmed as the primary spokesmen for Northern Ireland's Unionist constituency. However it is likely that having set its conditions for the resumption of local democracy, it will have to wait until Sinn Fein is ready to deal. And that may be yet another very long wait. SDLP: conceding defeat... Noel MacAdam looks at reactions within the SDLP after the obvious disappointment of the Euro elections. It seems from the candidate Martin Morgan's statement, the party has already conceded it cannot hang on to Seamus Mallon's Armagh seat. So, will Durkan will run to hold Foyle and Morgan South Down? Sinn Fein challenge power of IMC Having held fire until last week's multiple elections, Sinn Fein begins a legal challenge to the IMC's decision to penalise it for the IRA's alleged breaches of its ceasefire. If successful it would force legal recognition of the separate nature of the two organisations, as well as undermining the power of the IMC to enforce any futher punative judgements. Jaw jaw continues... The talking up at Stormont continues. Once John O'Donoghue has had a chance to join discussion on strand two issues, the twogovernments will make an assessment of the chances of further progress. West Indies at Stormont Thirty-five years on from Sion Mills, and one of the biggest shocks in cricket history, West Indies are playing 50 over games at Stormont against Ireland today and tomorrow. Tickets still available at gate. June 15, 2004 SF's king maker role 2 years away? Interesting piece in the Irish Independent which posits the idea that the next general election in the Republic may see Fianna Fail dependent upon Sinn Fein rather than PD votes in the Dail to form another government. McGimpsey predicts autumn deal... MICHAEL McGimpsey is predicting that the DUP will make a deal with Sinn Fein come the autumn. While he thinks the DUP prefer to hang until after the 2005 Westminster election, he thinks the Government will apply pressure to have at least an interim arrangement (such as a version of the DUP's 'corporate governance' model) before the end of this year by leaning on the DUP and "rehabilitating" Sinn Fein. [more] Water report leaked... WATER charges in Northern Ireland are likely to be the highest in the UK, according to a leaked report (no pun intended) obtained by the Belfast Telegraph and denounced by the General Consumer Council. So that's another £400 per year down the drain... Gibraltar EU vote There are some curious parallels and affinities between Gibraltar and Northern Ireland and the political situations in both jurisdictions. [more] Where now for action man...? JOHN Gilliland's 36,270 votes (6.6%) were the best result for a non-tribal candidate in a European election since 1979, when Oliver Napier received 39,026 first preferences (6.8%) for Alliance. [more] On your bike... BELFAST commuters are being urged to get on their bicycles by the City Council in the Travelwise NI Bike2Work day tomorrow. [more] Electorate knows best... Malachi O'Doherty, an inveterate critic of the Republican movement argues that whilst many will not like it, the Nationalist electorate in Northern Ireland has chosen Sinn Fein as its champion. But, he argues, the only tangible gains it has delivered have come as a result of the relaxation of the IRA campaign. Sinn Fein makes mark in Republic Unsurprisingly Danny Morrison is very happy with the election result. He claims that the mainstream parties the Republic were punished by "the double standard of insisting that in the North unionists have to share power with nationalists (that is, Sinn Féin) whilst proclaiming that no constitutional party in the South will participate in coalition government with Sinn Féin". The electorate, he argues, is not stupid. Another step on the way... Mark Devenport asks the obvious question arising out of yesterday's election results. Having all but disposed with any credible opposition to any future deal they might make with their opponents, does Sinn Fein and the DUP have the political will to do a deal? [more] |
Slugger O'Toole records news, commentary and diverse opinion on Northern Ireland. Produced by Mick Fealty News, tips or crits here: mick -at- mickfealty.com 
Readers comments
Racism on the rise - (53)Europe: DUP prepares sceptic agenda - (12) A letter to the PM - (30) Adams' summer speech... - (53) Unionist co-operation to ensure third seat? - (293) DUP in for the kill? - (90) GAA fans complain about 're-routing' - (18) The Somme: a long remembering - (2) Labour WLTM like-minded parties for LT partnership... - (13) Paul's Letter to the Republicans... - (195)
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