Since the death last week of Desmond (Des, Dessie) O’Malley, minister for justice in the Irish government from 1970 to 1973, I’ve been thinking a lot about that period. Published: 27 July 2021 It was a time when I was settled in London, quite often visiting my parents...
I spent the best part of three days reading newspapers and posts and tweets and listening to hours of radio and watching video clips relating to the British government’s proposals to draw a line under Troubles crimes. Published: 20 July 2021 In phone calls, people...
Now I should warn those who are happy only when pointing sadly to their half-empty glass and looking for somebody to blame for it, that I intend here to be cheerful about football, Orange festivities, and — a bit — about the Northern Ireland protocol. Published: 13...
With some of the usual suspects still boring on about a border poll, I want to go back to basics. Published: 6 July 2021 I apologise to those who have heard this story before, but I think it one of the most telling comments about Irish aspirations to unity I’ve ever...
As people scream about diversity and human rights, the widespread shameless hypocrisy is almost beyond belief. Published: 29 June 2021 Both concepts have spawned movements and industries that make so much noise they drown out the views of the ordinary person. How odd...
We all need a change, so today – rather than trying to analyse the latest Stormont dramas and the interventions from London, Dublin and Brussels that are making everything worse – I’m writing about the war against free speech. Published: 22 June 2021 I was at a debate...
As a friend of the Irish language, I hate the thought of the squalid deal now being negotiated between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Published: 15 June 2021 Irish has been ill-served by uncompromising advocates, few of whom seem no more fluent in it than Edwin Poots is said...
I was delighted for two reasons on Sunday afternoon when I saw this tweet from the Northern Ireland Office. Published: 8 June 2021 “Secretary of State @Brandon Lewis has announced Trevor Ringland MBE as the UK’s first Special Envoy to the United States on NI. He will...
What a moment in the politics of Northern Ireland! Published: 1 June 2021 Just now, the DUP, Alliance and Sinn Fein should be very nervous. Now I know that at the moment some of the most bitter enemies of Edwin Poots are members – or about to be ex-members – of the...
“Well when the votes were counted one parochial, backward looking, regressive who is 50 something and from Lagan Valley beat another one,” tweeted Alliance councillor Michael Long after the DUP leadership election. Published: 25 March 2021 “What is clear is that...
