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Wild Woods Of Tyrone
Kilsally`s thoughts on Life, Culture and Northern Ireland
June 24, 2010
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Kilsally
Ulster-Scots enthusiast, born again Christain, Orangeman, Ulsterman, Loyalist, Unionist, Carer, Technician.
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Slugger- Why has the liberal Protestant tradition all but disappeared with the onset of “peace”? June 24, 2017Living in London, I miss a lot of stuff from the substrata; that’s only to be expected . But today I read something from the superstructure that left me gobsmacked. You might find it unremarkable when you’ve far more exciting things to attract your attention like the doings of Emma Little Pengelly. It’s been too more...Brian Walker
- Belfast City Council’s Bonfire Scandal: The Key Questions June 24, 2017The revelation that Belfast City Council is involved in facilitating the storage of pallets (including stolen pallets) to be burnt on loyalist bonfires typically adorned with posters of nationalist politicians, Kill All Taigs-emblazoned Tricolours, Celtic shirts and a statue of the Virgin Mary would be remarkable on its own, but news that the stored pallets […]Chris Donnelly
- Do we want Westminster to impose uniform UK standards? On abortion and same sex marriage? How about an indemnity for soldiers? June 24, 2017Social reform – on abortion and same sex marriage – is not only a bone of contention in the Stormont talks. It’s creating a clash with MPs across party at Westminster at a precarious time for the future of both legislatures. The Supreme Court’s rejection of the appeal against the decision of the Health Secretary more...Brian Walker
- George Osborne in a Twitter wilderness: “That all you got George? You disappointing me.” June 23, 2017“I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.” Are those famous Marlon Brando lines from ‘On The Waterfront’ swirling round George Osborne’s head? Bitterness towards Theresa May and the world in general, is the most obvious explanation for the ex-Chancellor’s behaviour. There must be a certain degree of enjoyment for more... […]David Gordon
- Trading Partners Wanted: Looking at France… June 23, 2017As it stands, arguably Ireland’s most important trading and investment partner is the United Kingdom. This has been the case since Independence although the balance has shifted greatly since Ireland entered the EEC in 1973 with the UK no longer wholly dominant despite our reliance on the UK in certain sectors such as beef, timber, more...Neale Richmond
- Dodds: “We will work to see an end to the dark tunnel of austerity…” June 23, 2017Interesting line from Nigel Dodds, who leads the DUP at Westminster… The Belfast North MP said the economic outlook of Northern Ireland would be “easier to predict” with “stable” government both in Belfast and Westminster. He told MPs: “The electorate sent a very clear message to politicians about austerity at the election, and I think more...Mick Fealty
- The collapse of the Executive, two Assembly elections, a General Election, a new Taoiseach, Trump and the decimation of the Conservative Commons majority. June 23, 2017Steven Agnew is the Leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland. It’s a year to the day since the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. It’s been remarkable but often disconcerting. The Green Party campaigned to Remain within the EU with great effort and energy. A year later, we haven’t shifted more...Soapbox
- Can Warren Gatland see off his tribal critics with an historic Lions NZ win for only the second time in history? June 23, 2017When Warren Gatland announced his Lions squad for the tour to New Zealand there was considerable disgruntlement in Scotland that only two of their kith and kin and had been selected. Former Scottish internationals lined up to criticise the selection that also saw 16 players from England and 12 players from Wales even though they more...ItwasSammyMcNally
- Why the DUP has acquired real power at Westminster (even if it cannot be overused)… June 22, 2017Nice piece by Jon Worth on what’s at stake here for the Tories as compared to the DUP…. …every day that drags on without a deal for May is one more win for the DUP – they are doing their job in the UK press making Northern Ireland’s issues heard. Ultimately all the DUP has more...Mick Fealty
- For Leo A Week is a Long Time in Politics June 22, 2017Eoin Neylon was President of Ogra Fianna Fail from 2014-2016, he has taken a look at the week in Irish Politics “A week is a long time in politics”. This quote is often attributed to former UK Labour PM Harold Wilson. It’s a quote that was likely ringing in the ears of Leo Varadkar this more...Soapbox
- The DUP deal is nearly done. But they back a hard Brexit to thwart a customs border at the ports. June 21, 2017In the debate on the Queens speech Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader at Westminster gave a broad hint that a confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives will be concluded shortly. But he also disabused us of any notion that because the DUP favoured a “frictionless” border, it also meant they were supporting a version more...Brian Walker
- The French Elections and the Macron phenomenon… June 21, 2017‘Brenda from Bristol’ probably summed up the mood to this year’s general election when stopped in the street by a TV reporter. ‘Oh no, not another one!’ [i] In Northern Ireland we are used to annual or even bi-annual elections but even our electoral activity pales in comparison to the poor people of France who more...Samuel Thompson
- The expansion of the Ulster waist-line is threatening to bankrupt the Health Service in 20 years, obesity should be weighing heavily on the Health Minister’s mind; if only we had one… June 21, 2017Good grief Northern Ireland you’re getting bigger! One-in-four of us has now moved up the scales to possess a “Over-30-BMI-Body”. Given that the expansion of the Ulster waist-line is threatening to bankrupt the Health Service in 20 years, obesity should be weighing heavily on the Health Minister’s mind; if only we had one. If we more...Terry Maguire
- SDLP leader anticipates the Con-DUP money bonus… June 21, 2017This just in from Colum Eastwood (see how many of Richard Bullick’s points you can spot?): The talks in London are clearly undermining the talks here. We need a resolution to that uncertainty so that we can get on with the job of getting the deal done here. The chaotic talks between the DUP and the more...Mick Fealty
- What does the British government think its proper role is? June 21, 2017Until last week, remarkably little attention had be paid to how this government views its obligations under “Constitutional Issues” (v) of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement: (v) affirm that whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction there shall be exercis […]Brian Walker
- 15 step approach to ‘frauding up’ an invisible negotiations strategy, the Northern Ireland way… June 21, 2017I’m a bit late coming to this (pace Allison in the Irish News), but given the poor ratio of speculation to fact about the Con-DUP deal, this is decent guide to the glacial pace of negotiations in Stormont (and London) from former DUP spad, Richard Bullick, who has now been released into the wild: 1/15 more...Mick Fealty
- Can SF leave the DUP completely unpoliced over any settlement it brings back from Westminster? June 21, 2017The only thing that is certain is that everything is uncertain. Six months ago Arlene Foster and the DUP were on the ropes and friendless. Sinn Fein moved in for the killer blow, and only just missed eclipsing them in the March election. Round two began shortly afterwards, in which the DUP bagged almost all more...Mick Fealty
- Arlene’s Letter, Emma’s Flags: It’s the Others, stupid. June 20, 2017In politics, detail is important. After all, Arlene Foster used that very phrase in a guest blog on this website last October (doesn’t that just seem like a lifetime ago? It is one high-profile- and very costly- scandal, a government collapse and two elections removed….) Arlene Foster is in a spot of bother. Again. The more...Chris Donnelly
- The shape of a Stormont deal is emerging. Will promised public consultation seal the deal or become yet another stalling move? June 20, 2017So the parties are to respond to a paper issued by the two governments today. After four months of apparent lack of close engagement by the British government in particular , talks took on a clearer shape and urgency since the Westminster general election. The paper has been seen by Barney Rowan and summarised in more...Brian Walker
- “There is a question about our demand for evidence and strategy in politics” June 20, 2017GOVERNMENT AND EVIDENCE – An interesting session run by the Alliance For Useful Evidence at UU Belfast last week which heard from NISRA’s Siobhan Carey and two former permanent secretaries Aideen McGinley and Will Haire about how (and to what extend) NI’s government departments make best use of evidence in their policymaking.Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast)
- Why has the liberal Protestant tradition all but disappeared with the onset of “peace”? June 24, 2017
