June Articles

Michael D Higgins may have pushed his luck too far with his recent comments in Irish foreign policy debate

I try to be fair, even to such irritating people as Michael D Higgins, Ireland’s president since 2011. Published: 27 June 2023 But his self-importance, silliness, vanity and sanctimony grate on me, as well as his arrogance and self-aggrandisement in trampling on the...

Irish wing of the culture war has gone overboard with hate speech legislation

I've been involved in two wars, as an unarmed foot soldier. Published: 20 June 2023 One — which I have been part of for several decades — is the struggle of good people on the island of Ireland against the IRA, its apologists and the appeasers who swallow their...

Prince Harry, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump … three strong candidates who each qualify for a diagnosis of narcissism

What a week it's been for those of us who follow the soap opera that is contemporary politics! Published: 13 June 2023 We had the arrest over mysterious SNP finances of Nicola Sturgeon, erstwhile first minister of Scotland — a inept administrator but a communicator...

Ireland should join the Commonwealth and ditch neutrality for Nato

So why doesn’t the Irish Republic join the Commonwealth? Published: 6 June 2023 We live in a dangerous world. Why does it squander opportunities to make new friends? Yesterday and today the Commonwealth Trade Ministers are in London discussing how best to boost...