[Long Read] Next Irish Election will test whether what a government does makes a difference
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In 2024 four billion people go to the polls: about half the population of the planet. In the US, poll watchers predict a Trump win in a campaign where he may spend more time in court than on the stump. …
Belfast murder. Suspected linked to drug gangs…
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Just last week, we were celebrating the fact that there were no security-related deaths in NI for the first time since records began. But only 9 days into the new year, that streak has been broken with the shooting of …
The Leadership of lemmings…
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A response to Andy Pollak’s book review of The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein… I have now drafted two responses to Andy Pollak’s book review: The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein… – Once, a couple of days ago on his …
In the media, as in life. No ones is irreplaceable…
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Remember when RTÉ told us that they had to pay massive salaries to talent like Ryan Tubridy or they would lose them to rivals? It turns out those ‘stars’ may not have been worth as much as their agents made …
Book review: The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein…
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Over the Christmas holidays I read The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein, by the former Irish Examiner journalist Aoife Moore. I was looking forward to reading this book enormously, since good books on this “strange, secretive party that stands on the brink of …
DUP and Sinn Féin accused of “shameless carve-up” over funding cut for disabled kids…
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Excellent reporting from Brendan Hughes over at the BBC: A Belfast charity for children with special needs has had its proposed council funding increased after facing a potential cut of 97%. Sólás is set to receive about £308,000 for a …
Gerry Kelly libel case: “The abuse of process in this case is so blatant that it would be utterly unjust if the court were to allow the proceedings to continue.”
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As the BBC report, Belfast High Court has thrown out a libel case brought by Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly against freelance journalist Malachi O’Doherty, describing it as “scandalous, frivolous and vexatious”. As the Irish Times report notes In a …
Planning for a better future…
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Commentators here and elsewhere have been keen to emphasize all the things Ireland must do to make a united Ireland an attractive proposition for unionists. The presumption seems to be that if you want something badly enough, you have to …
Open sunday – politics free zone…
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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics.
Open Sunday – discuss what you like…
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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing.