I'd just like to wish Stuart Wheeler good luck with his court case for a judicial review of the Prime Minister's decision to refuse to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution. I've no idea of the legalities involved, but according to Mr Wheeler's web site a ruling is expected tomorrow morning.
This comes a day after a poignant comment on Slugger O'Toole, regarding the Republic of Ireland's impending referendum on the constitution, which deserves to be highlighted.
...how can a "good European" vote in conscience for Lisbon when it is a rehash of the Constitution that was shot down already by the electorate in France and the Netherlands then pulled before it when down any further? Do we not owe loyalty to our fellow Europeans before the institutions of Europe? Should we not reject it,...
Slugger has highlights from Iain Dale's picking up on the Irish Daily Mail getting hold of a copy of an email. The email was sent from a UK diplomat in Dublin following a briefing from the Irish government. It lists the various underhand methods the government planned to use to get the answer they wanted from the referendum and let me tell you it's a strategy Robert Mugabe would be proud of.
You kind of expect a government to set the date they feel would be most suitable, but they've also been found to have been deliberately and consciously misleading the public and their opponents into believing it was a date much later than the date they had planned.
They're practically rejoicing about the fact that the document is "largely incomprehensible to the lay reader", which is no small help...
Colm Bradley has outlined some ways he thinks the GAA can remove the barriers to Unionists joining. Just over a year ago I outlined that the GAA has a de facto ban in Unionists joining. Unfortunately Google hasn't cached it, so some of the substantive points are below the fold. The main contention I have though, is that the GAA is excplicitly a political orginisation, and should not be treated as a sporting orginisation unless and until it sheds the vestiges of a political pressure group.
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O'Connell Street, Dublin's main (and most dangerous) street, was the scene for a vicious attack on St Patrick's night. A 17-year old English lad was confronted by a group of youths at 8pm who asked him where he was from and then attacked him when they didn't like the answer. The victim, a pianist, lost a finger in the attack which police were unable to recover.
After almost 90 years of independence most folk in the Republic seem to have dropped the old grudges. Some, it seems, still can't get over the xenophobic hatred. So just what is it that fosters this naked hatred in a country that is developed, prosperous, and supposedly self-confident?
Is the desire to "reclaim" that fourth green field so strong that it warrants an attack on a kid enjoying St Patrick's day, just because he's a...
Some time ago I gave a few examples of practical, everyday benefits of being a part of the United Kingdom as distinct from the Republic of Ireland. I've stumbled across further examples on a semi-regular basis since then, but I couldn't believe that the iPhone hadn't been released (officially) in "Ireland" [sic] yet.
Apparently there are a few complaints that the price of the iPhone in the rip-off Republic is going to be even higher than the price in the United Kingdom (of rip-off Britain and rip-off Northern Ireland) when it is finally launched down south (where it also looks like being an O2 exclusive), just 4 months after UK consumers got their mits on the device.
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Cavan: southernmost of the Three Counties (red)
Our illustrious First Minister has come in for some heavy criticism over his cosy relationship with the leader of the Republic Bertie Ahern, but the preacher has proven his doubters wrong again. The DUP like to talk of all the concessions they've won for unionism, which makes it all the more curious that they've stayed quiet on this major coup: it seems the DUP have won back County Cavan.
Last Tuesday in the Dail Ahern lambasted TD Seymour Crawford during a discussion that was supposed to be about broadband in the Republic. "We'll talk about Cavan another day, we're talking about the Republic of Ireland if you could keep it to that." [Video below the fold]
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The Assembly has rejected any suggestion that the IRA's sectarian murder campaign was a war. A good thing, and fairly unsurprising.
I've always liked Danny Kennedy, but his performance since devolution has impressed me, and he is clearly im proving as time goes on. I enjoyed this contribution during the debate:
Mr McCartney: The Member made an intervention and stated that Ireland was only ever united under the British Crown. Is that an acceptance that uniting Ireland is a worthy cause?
Mr Kennedy: Yes — under the British Crown. If the Republic wants to rejoin the British Commonwealth and renegotiate the terms and conditions for the union, I would withhold any objection.
Here here. Unionism should never be afraid to espouse Irish unity, it should probably be Unionism's...
Donegal: northernmost of the Three Counties (red)
OK, maybe not, but following recent speculation about the transfer of Cavan to Northern Ireland, those who hear the word Ulster and think of the historic province, whose boundaries were set on the authority of Queen Elizabeth I way back when, may well have cause to be pleased.
Apparently the University of Ulster is considering an expansion over the border into Co. Donegal by way of a merger with the Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
£1.3 million is being spent on a study investigating options that might "improve links between the institute and the University of Ulster's Magee campus" in Londonderry, of which a merger is one. Further detail from the UU itself confirms that the funding comes as part of measures in the Republic's...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/02/21/reclamation_of_donegal_beginsDonegall: northernmost of the Three Counties (red)
OK, maybe not, but following recent speculation about the transfer of Cavan to Northern Ireland, those who hear the word Ulster and think of the historic province whose boundaries were set on the authority of Queen Elizabeth I way back when may well have cause to be pleased.
Apparently the University of Ulster is considering an expansion over the border into Co. Donegal by way of a merger with the Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
£1.3 million is being spent on a study investigating options that might "improve links between the institute and the University of Ulster's Magee campus" in Londonderry, of which a merger is one. Further detail...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/02/19/terrorism_not_warfareThe Assembly has rejected any suggestion that the IRA's sectarian murder campaign was a war. A good thing, and fairly unsurprising.
I've always liked Danny Kennedy, but his performance since devolution has impressed me, and he is clearly im proving as time goes on. I enjoyed this contribution during the debate:
Mr McCartney: The Member made an intervention and stated that Ireland was only ever united under the British Crown. Is that an acceptance that uniting Ireland is a worthy cause?
Mr Kennedy: Yes — under the British Crown. If the Republic wants to rejoin the British Commonwealth and renegotiate the terms and conditions for the union, I would withhold any objection.
Here here. Unionism should...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/02/15/delivering_for_ulsterCavan: southernmost of the Three Counties (red)
Our illustrious First Minister has come in for some heavy criticism over his cosy relationship with the leader of the Republic Bertie Ahern, but the preacher has proven his doubters wrong again. The DUP like to talk of all the concessions they've won for unionism, which makes it all the more curious that they've stayed quiet on this major coup: it seems the DUP have won back County Cavan.
Last Tuesday in the Dail Ahern lambasted TD Seymour Crawford during a discussion that was supposed to be about broadband in the Republic. "We'll talk about Cavan another day, we're talking about the Republic of Ireland if you could keep it to that." [Video below the fold]...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/02/01/yesterdays_men_how_times_changeA heart-warming act of friendship in Ballymena today as Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley and the prime minister of the Republic Bertie Ahern got all cozy and loved-up during a visit by the latter to the former's constituency.
Paisley described it as a "Good day for the whole of Ireland" as the two men met at the Galgorm Hotel to discuss the promotion of tourism, an area on which there is a large degree of North-South co-operation.
Former DUP man Roy Gillespie (yes, that Roy Gillespie) wasn't so pleased. He unfurled a Union Jack outside (err.. why?) and sent his wife in apparently to confront Paisley's wife, Eileen.
I'm disappointed in Jim Allister. The man seems to be a useful...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/01/23/calling_ruanes_bluffIt's a busy day on the Caitriona Ruane front today. I'd just like to issue a quick thank you to Jim Allister for confirming that I was right when I said that Ms Ruane was talking out her arse when she said she wanted to change the law to prevent Northern Ireland schools, shockingly, giving preference to children living in Northern Ireland because it "may" breach EU equality rules (and thanks also to Nevin for mentioning it in his comment on this Slugger post).
Jim Allister has contacted the European Commission who have confirmed that this is nonsense. Allister's blog contains the long, wordy response, but in short the child from the Republic would only have a right to equal treatment in terms of admission to...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/2008/01/15/lawrie_heading_southAccording to the BBC, former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie "is our leader" Sanchez is being interviewed for the Republic job. The question is, following a poor run at Fulham, did he just get lucky with Northern Ireland or is he simply more suited to international than club...
In her continuing quest to destroy the educations of hundreds of thousands of children, Caitriona Ruane is to change the law so that Northern Ireland's schools can no longer give preference to Northern Ireland-resident children when it comes to allocating places.
She claims the existing law "may" breach EU equality rules. I'm fairly confident that's a downright lie (call me unparliamentary if you will, but there is no excuse for deliberately misleading the public). The EU equality rules deal with race, religion, sexual discrimination etc. In other words you can't discriminate against a person because of who they are. They do not prohibit member nations from providing services for those resident within their own borders.
Just another example of Sinn Fein not only abusing their position...
As the Northern Ireland football team look to their match away to Spain tonight knowing they must win to have even a chance of qualifying, the Irish Football Association picked up an award in Dublin last night marking the success of it's Football For All program.
As part of the program, in June this year, the IFA launched Football Without Frontiers: a British Isles-wide initiative aimed at getting more people from all ethnic backgrounds involved in local football and helping banish prejudice from the terraces. It was for this specifically that the Irish FA was recognised at the Metro Eireann Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMAs).
A full list of winners is online at the Mama Awards...
In a proposal that could ultimately lead to the demise of one of the world's oldest Football Associations, FIFA's legal committee have suggested that there should be 2 notionally all-Ireland teams: one for Gaelic/Catholic nationalist and republicans and one for Planter Scum/Protestant unionists. Naturally the Irish FA are "seeking clarification".
OK, those weren't FIFA's exact words, but that about sums up the suggested "compromise" which emanated from FIFA's Zurich headquarters last night, running contrary to what was leaked (apparently from the FAI) last week. They suggested that both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland sides (assuming they would still call themselves that) select players born anywhere in Ireland, north or south of the border, effectively creating two...
It looks like FIFA have ruled in the favour of the IFA [also here] in the ongoing poaching row, establishing a rare victory for common sense, following a complaint from the Irish FA.
The FAI, organisers of football in the Republic of Ireland, have been trying to abuse the Good Friday Agreement to justify a policy of poaching players born in Northern Ireland, who have no parental/grand-parental connections to the Republic, for the Republic's national squad.
FIFA have just said they will not act retrospectively, which is being taken as an indication that the FAI will be allowed to keep Darron Gibson, one of the players at the centre of the row, but will be prevented from picking Northern Ireland-born players in future.
Contrary to what the FAI and compulsive meddler Dermot f**king Ahern...
Approximately 30 supporters from Bohemians, a Dublin football team, launched a sectarian attack on the Tavern; the last Protestant-owned city-centre bar in Londonderry west of the Foyle on Tuesday evening before a match with Derry City [BBC video report]. The mob of "about 30 males" attacked the bar when it was populated only by a handful of people, including two Canadian tourists. Current reports suggest the attack may have been planned in advance using the internet.
Happily, 4 of those involved have been arrested, charged and convicted already (it's just a shame there's no word on the other 26).
=> Read...
Londonderry MP claims tourist industry fails to differentiate Ulster from "Oireland".
East Londonderry MP & MLA Gregory Campbell is less than impressed with local souvenir shops aimed at tourists. Campbell has asked why the Northern Ireland tourist board gives backing to some shops that sell "stage Oirish" tack like shamrocks and shillelaghs, which tourists could just as easily pick up in a "tip in Tipperary".
He might not have phrased it in the most delicate manner, but there is definitely room for improvement in this area. Just need to look at the "Taste of Ulster" shop at the international airport, stocked with rows and rows of paddywhackery-inspired crap.
Northern Ireland has plenty to offer of its own. Campbell suggested red hands (even if our own tourist board did drop...
Bookies are offering odds on a united Ireland
It's exactly what it says on the tin. For nationalists anyway, it's a chance to put your money where your mouth is, quite literally, by betting on a United Ireland. PaddyPower's online betting service is offering odds on the annexation of Northern Ireland by the Republic by various years from 2012 to 2027 (just go to Novelty Bets > Politics > United Ireland?).
Interestingly, they don't seem that confident of a united Ireland in the next 20 years, and are even offering odds of 20/1 that the Republican wet dream of unification in 2016 will come true.
At this time the odds are:
United Ireland by 2012 25/1
United Ireland by 2017 20/1
United Ireland by 2022 14/1
United Ireland by 2027 10/1
So if you're feeling confident, stick a tenner...
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are catching up to England for levels of broadband uptake according to figures released by Ofcom this week.
In 2005 England was leading the way with 36% of homes connected to broadband. Scotland followed with 31% while Wales and Northern Ireland brought up the rear with 25% and 24% respectively. In 2006 though, England was just in front with 45% while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all just behind on 42%. The Republic was still lagging well behind with just 13% of homes connected to broadband.
The UK average of 44% is just above mid-table for European countries which is led by Holland with 66% and propped up by Greece with just...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/everythingulster/2007/04/15/nothing_to_celebrate_in_easter_risingPopular romantic depictions of the Easter Rising may owe more to retrospective justification than historical accuracy.
The timing seemed a bit late but last Friday saw an opinion piece by Kevin Myers in the Belfast Telegraph on the topic of Easter Rising celebrations. Criticising the preferred Irish narrative of the Rising and highlighting the double-standards of authors labouring over those Myers asks "What is there to celebrate about the cold-blooded slaughter of innocent people in the streets of Dublin?" What, indeed?
It seems almost inconvenient to the chosen narrative of the Irish national creation myth to ask questions like: "Who gave Volunteer Garry Holohan the right...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/everythingulster/2007/03/04/why_ireland_is_divided
Yesterday an American visitor going under the pseudonym Eireann posted a comment on another thread asking a few questions about Ireland. Specifically, he/she was having trouble with the concept of why Ireland was divided and why we couldn't all just unite and live happily ever after. It was difficult to know where to start, and definitely beyond the remit of a follow-up comment on a more-or-less unrelated thread, nevertheless I set about formulating some sort of response.
It's not easy to try and explain the logic behind Northern Ireland (never mind the centuries preceding its existence) and unionism to outsiders, most of whom are familiar with the lovey-dovey dreams of republicans to...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/everythingulster/2007/02/27/reinforcing_the_language_barrier_that_seGovernment research on the mainland is indicating that providing public services in foreign languages for non-English speakers is not only costing upwards of £100m a year (including £55m in the NHS), but isolating communities from each other. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein and their new MOPE poster-girl "Maire Nic An Bhaird" are continuing their efforts to create language barriers where none presently exist.
Remember, these millions are being spent on translating for people who can't speak English; by pushing for the new Irish Language Act to be rights-based one, republicans are demanding that the government spend proportionally similar sums translations for people who...
Now that Northern Ireland’s football team have just finished playing a couple of international matches, it seems it’s time for the obligatory whinge to the local press about the perceived need for an all-Ireland football team. As ever, this argument will be made by a Northern Irish Irish-nationalist and based on the flimsiest of logic, and will be given airtime/column-inches on a slow news day.
This all-Ireland team will be called for regardless of whether Northern Ireland have just taken a 4-0 hammering, or just pulled off a once twice in a lifetime giant-killing feat. They will also usually cite the opinions of players who never reached their full potential playing for Northern Ireland.
Normally I would point out all sorts of reasons why this can’t happen....
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/everythingulster/2006/08/22/southern_double_standards_part_iiiThanks to Belfast Gonzo for pointing out the bigoted decision of the IRFU not to play the national anthem or fly the Union Flag when they face Italy in Belfast next year. Instead, Ireland will be represented by the IRFU flag and the 'neutral' song Ireland's Call, usually accompanied by the southern tricolour and Soldier's Song at games in Dublin. In my opinion this is a disgraceful way to treat the players and fans from Northern Ireland who have respected the flag and anthem of the Irish Republic at games in Dublin for so long now.
From some point after partition up until the 1950s, the Ireland rugby team would alternate matches between Dublin and Belfast, using the flag of...
Thanks to Belfast Gonzo for pointing out the bigoted decision of the IRFU not to play the national anthem or fly the Union Flag when they face Italy in Belfast next year. Instead, Ireland will be represented by the IRFU flag and the 'neutral' song Ireland's Call, usually accompanied by the southern tricolour and Soldier's Song at games in Dublin. In my opinion this is a disgraceful way to treat the players and fans from Northern Ireland who have respected the flag and anthem of the Irish Republic at games in Dublin for so long now.
From some point after partition up until the 1950s, the Ireland rugby team would alternate matches between Dublin and Belfast, using the flag of whichever jurisdiction the match was to be held in. However this agreement was broken after Ireland's last full...
In a stunning rejection of basic democratic principles, NIO Minister David Hanson persuaded the House of Commons to reject amendments to the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill designed to make politics in Ulster more accountable (hat tip Pete Baker).
The first amendment proposed by the Lords would have changed the process of making laws for Northern Ireland. At the minute, most laws for Northern Ireland are passed as Orders In Council rather than full Bills. As Orders in Council are secondary legislation they cannot be amended and Parliament are left with a "take it or leave it" vote, allowing the government a lot of wiggle-room to force through unpopular legislation (education reform anyone?) by using the blackmail inherent to this system. Of course this leaves a great...
As I said previously, I will (unlike some journalists) try and reserve judgement on The Wind That Shakes The Barley until I get a chance to see it, however it seems that my initial initial doubts over the director's mental state (apparently he's on the 'national council' of the Respect coalition too) may have been valid after all.
I stumbled across an interview with Ken Loach tonight while looking for Northern Ireland news and I'm glad I did, because I've been enlightened. For you see not only is Ken Loach an award winning film-maker, he has actually uncovered the genesis of the "Irish problem". It's all Britain's fault. No, I'm not being overly dramatic to emphasise my point, he actually believes the whole problem here is the "entire" responsibility of the British.
"The IRA of the...