tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35581522011-12-15T03:08:54.414ZBack up to sluggerotoole.com (when we can't ride the surge) - Notes on Northern Ireland politics and cultureMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.comBlogger11391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-4787553864323478472010-04-20T20:49:00.000+01:002010-04-20T20:49:03.040+01:00

The site is ready and looking good, but we have hit what may be some historic difficulties with the database, which are going to take a while to sort out... In the meantime, we'll be blogging out of here any essential stories...

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-11115683607905516782009-10-07T16:23:00.002+01:002009-10-07T16:26:17.896+01:00

Irishelection.com is asking all the right questions of this crisis... As Cian notes (and it is worth following a few of their internal backlinks just to see the depth and quality of some of the debate over there during the last few days and weeks)...Yes, JOD needs to go, yes he is sacrificial and yes he is an egregious example of wasteful expense. Yet the whole system is screwed up. Take a look

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-91025851147862471872009-10-03T11:17:00.002+01:002009-10-03T11:30:24.631+01:00

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-73479095151810156322009-10-02T18:18:00.006+01:002009-10-02T18:32:10.448+01:00

Okay, kicking off I'm afraid with another Gordon Brown blog, this time from Angus in the western Isle's whose response to the Labour leaders call to arms is to post up Monty Python's Black Knight video...- Unnoticed in all the self promoted hype around the Sun's defection from Brown is another, politically more significant defection: that of Sue Nye, one of Brown's 'inner court' who has made it

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-69319392099896973712009-06-18T14:38:00.003+01:002009-06-18T14:43:34.172+01:00

Whilst Slugger is down (I know, I know... we're moving serves in the next few days)... The Judge makes it clear there are protections for journalists, but these are qualified protections... Although the Recorder concludes[33] I have therefore at this point reached conclusions as follows: (a) That the concept of confidentiality for journalists protecting their sources is recognised in law, and

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-949129549034652202009-06-08T11:27:00.000+01:002009-06-08T11:28:08.470+01:00

Northern Ireland European Count

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-11733350545720416322009-06-06T09:00:00.001+01:002009-06-06T01:59:53.903+01:00

Right, we are going to be following the southern count today, with a live blog of our own. If you want the genuine southern article, Suzy and co have already moved in... It starts about 9, but we don't expect the action to start until 11am... Follow Sean O'Rourke and Rachel English on RTE radio from 11am until 4pm. Catch the TV coverage from 1-2 and 4-6 in the pm at RTE Live...Local Elections in

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-12153753347931037272009-06-06T00:38:00.003+01:002009-06-06T00:52:51.143+01:00

(Mark here - think my blogger account gives a different display name)Some limited and not particularly good raw polling data I got my hands on, 10ish boxes per area that probably benefit the UUP/Greens/Alliance.Massive pinch of salt time but here you go, make of it what you will:North DownUUP - mid 20%DUP/TUV/APNI - all around 20%Greens - mid teensSDLP - 4%ishSF - 2%ishSouth DownSDLP/SF - high

Mark McGregorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05148900106770171371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-69504396218399872142009-06-05T18:49:00.002+01:002009-06-05T18:51:07.426+01:00

They've kept their counsel on the likely result the whole way through campaign, but it looks like McGuinness's post Massereene statement on dissident Republican paramilitaries bought him a huge chunk of the Nationalist electorate... Nationalist gamechanging moment number 1. The SDLP on the other hand are back on a familiar knife edge: if the numbers from verification move slightly in their favour

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-62873884678812420332009-06-05T11:13:00.003+01:002009-06-05T11:30:42.891+01:00

In case Slugger goes belly up, here's a facsimile of the gossip thread intro:This is a kind of open thread… I’d advise people to take what passes below as rumour until proven… but it’s a opportunity to share whispers gossip and general chat about how things are going inside in the verification process… I’ll start with one that should be taken with some salt… Allister is said to be polling well in

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-65292203825970521712009-06-04T16:35:00.000+01:002009-06-04T16:37:38.952+01:00

Starter for one: South Belfast: 176 at Donegall Road in a ward of 2,500 registered voters.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-57848059960336715992009-06-04T16:34:00.003+01:002009-06-04T16:36:37.601+01:00

The big question is how well will Jim Allister do... Well enough in the heartland, but he's up against big machines... Hardly surprising Holywood was a last resort for votes, but a few posters about the place may just get him another small margin...

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-40410966136003523422009-06-03T11:55:00.001+01:002009-06-03T11:57:46.392+01:00

We're expecting a big surge of traffic on the count day of the European election... On that day we'll be double posting all information to this place and Slugger main..

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-26336877402528070342007-11-13T13:38:00.000Z2007-11-13T13:39:57.672Z

I'm having to do an upgrade on the site to try and get rid of a syntax error. Please bear with us whilst we try to get us back to Slugger basecamp again.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-3304547913659522722007-03-08T14:46:00.000Z2007-03-08T14:47:37.746Z

Naomi Long 5583Peter Robinson 5635Wallace Browne 3185Sir Reg Empey 4139Robin Newton 2335Dawn Purvis 3045Michael Copeland 1557Jim Rodgers 820Turnout: 29,873Electorate: 49,757Turnout2003 figures here

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162411512036318732006-11-01T19:36:00.000Z2006-11-01T20:21:24.416Z

Prior to the meeting with the Prime Minister Chancellor Gordon Brown it had been said he would be in listening mode, that this was only the first step in bidding for a "peace dividend". After all, what do you give an economy already overly dependent on public funds? More public funds? Maybe not. £50billion may be the headline but, looking closer, Brown stated"I also said today that we would

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162388251456217272006-11-01T13:21:00.000Z2006-11-01T17:23:02.576Z

Whatever the intended target of the explosives noted in the earlier report, the campaign against furniture stores, et al, continues.. Secretary of State for Wales etc, Peter Hain has pointed the finger of blame at one of the micro-organisations and promises, "We will hunt them down..." just as police reveal they are questioning a 39 year old man, arrested this morning, in connection with previous

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162385653538647392006-11-01T12:47:00.000Z2006-11-01T12:54:13.636Z

It's now about week since we lost touch with old Slugger. Since then we've had to rescue it from the clutches of a particularly nasty server. It's now with the new hosts, and mostly intelligible. He still has all his old memory. But some parts of the code have been mangled, and would mean asking people scroll down to get to the heart of the blog. I'm still working on it (in a bumblingly, non

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162376751308507452006-11-01T10:18:00.000Z2006-11-01T11:25:45.046Z

Interesting that the media seems to be shifting onto Sinn Fein again over policing. Owen Bowcott in the Guardian interviews Des Rae, former chair of the Policing Board:I have written to all the political parties to say we are available to brief them on the workings of the board."The policing problem is easy: it's important that every part of this community is policed and it's important we draw

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162330871104376412006-10-31T20:31:00.000Z2006-10-31T21:49:19.516Z

[I'll try to tidy this up when we get back to Kansas, but in the meantime] With the DUP's Peter Robinson focussing attention on the more immediate deadline, and the likelihood of slippage, his fellow MP Nigel Dodds has taken the opportunity to reassure any potential dissent within the party, and rattle Sinn Féin's cage, by pointing to the less securely tied down timeframe for devolving policing

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162316433304530162006-10-31T17:32:00.000Z2006-10-31T17:44:48.620Z

I've no idea whether he has used this phrase before, but Barry White's reference to the necessary Sinn Fein/DUP agreement to work in office together as a Dual Monarchy reflects some privately held fears amongst liberals, on both sides, that their supposedly mutually exclusive agendas will lead to a de facto repartition of Northern Ireland (cue: Green Flag). A long way from that Shared Future some

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162315724973988342006-10-31T16:04:00.000Z2006-10-31T17:28:45.020Z

For all the talk of heated exchanges in the DUP's big consultation Peter Robinson sounded incredibly relaxed on Inside Politics on Saturday. He noted, rather laconically, that Sinn Fein's arrangements for consulting their party make it likely that the government's deadlines will slip by. He repeated his belief that Sinn Fein should ask for more time, if they need it. Deadlines, he argued were not

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162310114846671792006-10-31T15:16:00.000Z2006-10-31T15:56:26.433Z

Farrel Corcoran was involved with TG4, or TnaG as it was on the day it launched ten years ago. In a debate around language that has often become distracted on politics and an often disabling obsession with tokenism, TG4, he believes is a perfect example of how utility has succeeded when given its head:It was never going to be easy, not just because of severe resource limitations but because of

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162299701894577982006-10-31T13:00:00.000Z2006-10-31T13:01:41.950Z

I can't believe he did that. Hat tip Piaras!

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162068771580736032006-10-28T21:47:00.000+01:002006-10-29T22:54:00.650Z

It's undoubtedly good news that any potentially lethal explosive device is seized before it reaches its intended target... but I'd be more enthusiastic about it if the reports also detailed a number of arrests.

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162051886903436032006-10-28T17:04:00.000+01:002006-10-28T17:11:26.946+01:00

It started as a bit of prematch banter, but Huw Richards thinks there may be something in the idea that in rugby the Magners (Celtic) League is spectacularly outgunning the Guinness Premiership in England. Northampton play Scottish Borders today, while Cardiff entertain Leicester at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. These contests between members of England's Guinness Premiership and the Magner's

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1162050403925644452006-10-28T16:43:00.000+01:002006-10-28T16:46:43.976+01:00

Ian Parsley argues that one way Alliance could prove its cross community credentials by allowing its MLAs to register "a designation of identity" - as Unionist or Nationalist, as they see fit. He argues that:Under the current arrangements, if three Alliance MLAs designated "Nationalist" and the rest "Unionist", the party would actually hold the balance of power "in both designations". That would

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161982550472655662006-10-27T21:13:00.000+01:002006-10-27T21:55:50.520+01:00

I'm reading an excellent book by FT columnist called The Truth About Markets : Why Some Countries are Rich and Others Remain Poor. It suggests that the basis of the world's (extremely limited) economic prosperity has deep roots in history, culture and geography. But it was this passage that jumped out at me after reading one of the comments on the Trimble thread:The correlation between religion

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161977499184313202006-10-27T19:47:00.000+01:002006-10-27T20:58:13.716+01:00

A very strange tale in today's Irish News[subs req] and not carried anywhere else to my knowledge [not even the Sinn Féin website? - Ed], but we have the photographic evidence.. which I'll come to in a minute. According to the report, seven packages of a suspicious white powder weighing approximately 6 kilos were "given in anonymously at the offices of Sinn Féin in Dungannon on Monday".What did

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161960261177729142006-10-27T17:00:00.000+01:002006-10-27T17:39:06.666+01:00

Here's a statement I received this morning from the head of Human Resources at the Oireachtas, Dublin's equivalent of the Palace of Westminster:"The policy of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas explicitly prohibits the use of our computer facilities for chat room purposes or for weblog (blog). Staff members who engage in blogging which is not related to their official duties, while using

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161949856792655112006-10-27T12:46:00.000+01:002006-10-27T12:50:56.836+01:00

My cousin Paul sent me this competition to find the UK's favourite view. Vote for your own choice, but I'm going for this one of the Antrim coast.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161940686414874802006-10-27T10:05:00.000+01:002006-10-27T10:18:06.453+01:00

I'm guessing you don't really want to know the details of Slugger's travails over the last few weeks, but the upshot is that we're in the process of moving the site. Last time we did that, it took 12 hours, this time, I'm doing it myself and its been in process, on and off, since five o'clock yesterday (I blame Pete for the big long posts). I'm trying to get this done asap. This time we'd like to

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161871133269844022006-10-26T14:28:00.000+01:002006-10-26T15:02:03.423+01:00

The BBC engages in some interpretation of the Conservative Party leader's comments for its headline on David Cameron's visit today - as the report points out he actually said he would prefer if "the IRA went away", but that an old boys association "would be acceptable" based on Ian Paisley's previous comments, while he did state that Sinn Féin "must work fully with the PSNI".Meanwhile, in the

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161855222831135892006-10-26T10:18:00.000+01:002006-10-26T12:12:37.893+01:00

Angela Eagle tells the BBC that they did not tell her about the job losses at Bombardier when she visited last week on a trade mission to Canada. However, it seems, there were strong intimations of this as early as 8th August. The jobs are not being cut so much as being shifted to Mexico. It is a pattern we might expect to see repeated, as lower end functions get pushed out to take advantage of

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161823098914265272006-10-26T01:31:00.000+01:002006-10-26T01:38:18.953+01:00

That discussion on Doughty Street TV the other night on Trimble and the peace process is now online.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161808186126915792006-10-25T21:12:00.000+01:002006-10-25T23:15:34.693+01:00

Not that he had much choice in the matter, since RTÉ had already obtained documents dating from 2003, under the US Freedom of Information Act, from the US State Department revealing that "up to six Islamist groups have had cells operating in Ireland." and that the information was based on intelligence gathered by gardaí.The Irish Times also had these details[subs req]Asked if any "foreign

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161800457204695502006-10-25T19:15:00.000+01:002006-10-25T23:14:23.696+01:00

According to the BBCThe findings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry [which opened in April 1998] will not be published until the end of 2008 2007 at the earliestBy which time Tony Blair will, almost definitely, no longer be Prime Minister.. Updated

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161799410953927992006-10-25T18:49:00.000+01:002006-10-25T19:09:30.206+01:00

The recent outages [hopefully soon to be resolved - Ed] have resulted in a few missed posts. On Tuesday Secretary of State for Wales etc, Peter Hain met the Irish Minister for foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and issued another statement on the timetable, as reported by the BBC."We are awaiting the results of the parties' consultations and we expect them to come back and say they support the St

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161761979549132832006-10-25T08:27:00.000+01:002006-10-25T08:39:39.583+01:00

Vincent Browne raises his old bete noir (subs needed): why does no major Irish media outlet not support "a radical restructuring of Irish society to achieve a far greater level of equality than exists"? But is it true that the fourth estate always leads the political agenda? Aside from a tiny Sinn Fein rump of TDs, in the Republic there is no political mainstream party that is credibly pushing

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161760643992917852006-10-25T07:58:00.000+01:002006-10-25T08:17:24.023+01:00

I'm slightly disadvantaged in my attempts to get Slugger back up and working in that I'm in London today, primarily to give a talk about blogging and Web 2.0 to an international NGO. I have had a few generous offers of help, and am confident we can get back fairly quickly. Thanks to both Joe (a very regular donor to Slugger) and John for their kind help. It is much appreciated.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161711623569116102006-10-24T18:36:00.000+01:002006-10-24T18:40:23.620+01:00

You can catch David Liddington, Donal Blaney, myself, and Iain Dale on Doughty Street TV tonight at 10pm

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161711215110658382006-10-24T18:29:00.000+01:002006-10-24T18:33:35.186+01:00

Sorry for the outage today. We have another episode of the mysteriously missing template(s). I'm trying beg borrow and steal enough tech wisdom to get us back online. But it may take some time. You can help by throwing something in tip jar.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1161391567887856882006-10-21T01:44:00.000+01:002006-10-21T01:46:07.933+01:00

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148920926082751552006-05-29T17:41:00.000+01:002006-05-29T17:42:06.110+01:00

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148906547618507312006-05-29T12:19:00.000+01:002006-05-29T13:55:37.803+01:00

When I saw this report at the weekend I had my doubts about its veracity. But there are direct quotes and it seems to be genuine. Although, the story is probably more revealing than was intended. Looking closely it seems the curator of an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Trisha Ziff, submitted a provisional list of invitees to the official opening of the exhibition of the

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148901139859408342006-05-29T12:08:00.000+01:002006-05-29T12:12:19.863+01:00

Donegal man Mark Tighe has been finding out what Unionist public representatives in the west of Northern Ireland think of the vast improvement in the roads infrastructure just over the border in the Republic."When we started our service 25 years ago the only good road was in the north from Lifford to Aughnacloy," said James McGinley, who operates daily coach services from Donegal to Dublin. "It's

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148900896233702642006-05-29T12:04:00.000+01:002006-05-29T12:08:16.236+01:00

What the rest of the island have long suspected of Dubliners: they have the cushiest jobs in the country. They are:...putting in just over 34 hours a week, or six hours 52 minutes a day — the lowest in Ireland, according to a new survey. This is almost one-and-a-half hours less than those living in Munster, and Connacht and Ulster, who are clocking up almost 36 hours a week, or seven hours 10

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148894169085659822006-05-29T10:06:00.000+01:002006-05-29T11:55:46.833+01:00

I really like this piece from Alan McBride from yesterday's Sunday Life.There are so many people, myself included, who feel they have a right to pontificate on the whys and wherefores of Northern Ireland.Alan McBride is in a completely different category. Having lost his wife and father in law in the Shankill bombing, he has set out changing the world he lives in. Although he would be happy

Sheila Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148845249782140242006-05-28T20:19:00.000+01:002006-05-28T21:04:53.656+01:00

Several of todays papers are making the claim that Martin McGuinness has been a British Agent within Sinn Fein and the IRA.The Sunday World story is front page news and declares that "McGuinness was Brit Spy." According to the Sunday World, Martin Igram, the former handler from the Force Research Unit supports his claim with documentary evidence.The Sunday World claims to have obtained a

Sheila Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148829232744619122006-05-28T15:46:00.000+01:002006-05-28T16:28:04.083+01:00

The Sunday Business Post/Red C tracking poll results for May have been published and as Pat Leahy points out-The electorate are clearly open to persuasion, but they haven’t been persuaded yet.The major moves in this poll are all in threes:Fianna Fail drops three points since the last tracking poll four weeks ago;Fine Gael adds three pointsLabour adds three points.All the changes in support for

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148820974918909312006-05-28T13:51:00.000+01:002006-05-28T13:56:14.953+01:00

Spiked online has a leaked EU memo defining the social costs of drinking alcohol as "passive drinking". The document is expected to shape an EU Commission document on alcohol later this year.

fair_dealnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148811794172424612006-05-28T10:49:00.000+01:002006-05-28T18:41:34.130+01:00

http://www.goodbeachguide.co.uk/The Good Beach Guide, published by the Marine Conservation Society came out on Friday. I've pasted the link, as its quite an interesting and informative site.The good news is: 8 beaches have been recommended, an increase on 6 beaches in 2005.The bad news is: Newcastle in County Down was issued with a warning, and its water quality was judged to be poor as a result

Sheila Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148751708449332812006-05-27T18:11:00.000+01:002006-05-27T19:15:33.366+01:00

It's too easy to retain an innocent and rose coloured view of the Ireland of yesterday, when times were good, men were men and the women stayed at home.Having spent most of my childhood there, I have some experience of many of the issues that we so studiously avoided at the time. I will look at the Ferns Report at some time in the future, but its important to realise that other vulnerable people

Sheila Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148741609216965392006-05-27T15:32:00.000+01:002006-05-27T16:14:46.513+01:00

This Bank Holiday weekend Seamus Heaney will be at the Guardian sponsored Hay Literary Festival[they already have some great content at that link, scroll down to listen to last year's Blasphemy debate with Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens], with other poets at the Poetry Gala on Sunday, and talking to Peter Florence in The Eos Marquee on Monday. Which gives me the opportunity to link to the

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148743013420426162006-05-27T15:31:00.000+01:002006-05-27T16:16:53.450+01:00

The pattern of sectarian attacks in Ballymean has already seen the loss of one innocent life. However, when the PSNI Ballymena DCU Commander, Terry Shevlin, said sectarian attacks in Ballymena were a "two-way affair" his comments were attacked by Sinn Fein representatives, Monica Digney and Philip McGuigan.The PSNI have now released figures of the sectarian attacks in Ballymena DCU between April

fair_dealnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148725628095315342006-05-27T11:20:00.000+01:002006-05-27T13:44:08.763+01:00

Well here's a good reason to mind what you say on line, blogger or no blogger. Charles Johnson, the dogged blogger behind Little Green Footballs has charted in minute detail what may turn out to be the first UK scalp by a big US blogger. This time, the person under suspicion is not a journalist, but another blogger at the Guardian's Comment is Free site. Charles has the details, chapter and verse

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148690817367829642006-05-27T01:45:00.000+01:002006-05-27T01:46:57.416+01:00

Brave attempt two years after Dana won Ireland's first Eurovision. Great start. Pity about the rest of it.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148670374267810642006-05-26T19:58:00.000+01:002006-05-26T20:06:14.313+01:00

Is sectarianism our core problem or is it a culture of violence?I was asked this yesterday and have been thinking about it ever since. As you think about it look at a sample of recent news. In Ballymena, scene of a vicious sectarian murder, thugs fired at an ambulance in the Dunclug estate as it came to the aid of those in a house under attack. In Londonderry, three teenage girls have been

fair_dealnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148670629277901492006-05-26T19:32:00.000+01:002006-05-26T20:10:29.363+01:00

I feel like a pioneer, and that wouldnt be one of the catholic ones that avoid alcohol. It feels very different writing on this site, and I will just take a deep breath and try it.Well, its a Bank Holiday weekend here in Norn Iron, and the Police are starting a clamp down on dangerous drivers. Pity they hadnt been on the A1 last night when I was driving home from Belfast after my exam. (thank you

Sheila Fitzgeraldnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148658130244572362006-05-26T16:33:00.000+01:002006-05-26T16:50:41.873+01:00

It's ironic, but this latest disaster is both self inflicted, and eminently repairable. However it also demonstrates the limitation of Slugger's happy amatuer status. For all our awards and multiple expressions of goodwill, we cannot continue our high levels of service without backing from a serious software player. Money is not the issue (though donations always welcome): service is. There is an

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148655126428755552006-05-26T15:40:00.000+01:002006-05-26T16:10:26.850+01:00

Google's being clever again. This gapminder tool is a great time waster if you are even vaguely curious about the rest of the world. If you want to know what effect wars have on an economy, then highlight Rwanda and watch its fortunes over the last thirty years. Or highlight UK and Ireland, press the animation and witness the Republic overtake the UK on GNP. More at gapminder.org (just scroll

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148653870412752972006-05-26T15:02:00.000+01:002006-05-26T16:13:19.433+01:00

FIFA's resistance to allowing Northern Ireland players to carry an Irish passport is causing ructions. FIFA says players for the team MUST use a British passport in order to prove their national credentials to match commissioners, despite what the Agreement says about nationality in Northern Ireland.It sounds a bit odd to have the SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Irish Government standing up for the

Belfast Gonzohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07761444906437787026noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148649571491171902006-05-26T14:03:00.000+01:002006-05-26T14:19:31.530+01:00

Despite rising prices in Northern Ireland buyers from the Republic are taking advantage of lower rates north of the border to find affordable housing.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148649705144526052006-05-26T13:50:00.000+01:002006-05-26T20:18:08.560+01:00

When the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, announced his new [and improved? - Ed] Restoration Committee, officialy titled, it would appear, the Preparation for Government Committee he laid down a deadline for a response from the parties - Tuesday. And Sinn Féin have taken him at his word, scheduling a meeting for their MLAs to decide on a response - on Tuesday [

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148648389780820822006-05-26T13:46:00.000+01:002006-05-26T13:59:49.780+01:00

Great memories of the 'hobo ride' to California by 93 year American professor, Theodore Sarbin. Apparently getting past the state border into California was the toughest part. How times change, with economic good fortune.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148647529198047162006-05-26T13:35:00.000+01:002006-05-26T13:46:46.046+01:00

The second of our bookclub choices is David McWilliams sharp witty survey of the breakneck rush towards affluence in the Republic, the Popes Children. It charts the sheer industry and hard work of the Stakanovite "Decklanders", and the new middle class (former working class) Irish who hunt new markets from NE England to Bulgaria in which to sow the excess equity of their often fairly modest

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148647614442922862006-05-26T13:29:00.000+01:002006-05-26T13:48:10.716+01:00

Well, maybe not quite that serious. There's not a lot of detail available on this story [probably stemming from the lack of information in http://sinnfein.ie/news/detail/14389">the original statement from SF - Ed], just the simple fact that the Sinn Féin Mayor of Monaghan, Cllr Pat Treanor, was refused entry to Canada on his way to Prince Edward Island on what appears to have been a official

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07347937275685488624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148634162417845292006-05-26T09:56:00.000+01:002006-05-26T17:07:56.266+01:00

David Adams in today's Irish Times, reckons (subs needed) the play being rehearsed at Stormont is high political farce. It's all to do with that committee, which:...will serve only as a platform for rehearsing, without room for question or explanation, the mutually incompatible and now boringly familiar party positions. Though one might have imagined it scarcely possible to further limit the

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148632096554838312006-05-26T09:10:00.000+01:002006-05-26T09:28:16.580+01:00

Lindy McDowell is not impressed with the Scottish First Minister's pitch for a return to devolution; nor his approach to 'tackling sectarianism'. She speculates that Northern Ireland has slipped in the order of global priorities:Come any political crisis, hand of history development or seismic decision day and you can bet your rising rates bill that someone sufficiently 'on message' will be

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148631046225619172006-05-26T09:02:00.000+01:002006-05-26T09:10:46.266+01:00

If you've trundled all the way from sluggerotoole.com, I'm afraid there is no news on the broken code, and we don't as yet have a new commenting facility here, though I am working on it. To cheer you up, here's a nicely caustic piece from Brian Feeney in Wednesday's Irish News, who argues that it is all top down and no bottom up.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148601517953333212006-05-26T00:09:00.000+01:002006-05-26T00:58:37.976+01:00

Not exactly hot news off the press, but this former MI6 is playing cat and mouse with his former employers on his blog. "Martin Ingram" is the most prominent figure from the spy world in Northern Ireland.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148597012340947502006-05-25T23:41:00.000+01:002006-05-26T00:04:09.356+01:00

Nice summary in the Economist of the new pensions initiative, which it lauds as a devilishly clever piece of government (subs needed). It picks out three primary strands:"First, the state-pension age will start rising from 65—the age for men now and for women by 2020—to 66 between April 2024 and April 2026, earlier than the date of 2030 suggested by the commission. It will rise by a further two

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148596145211917752006-05-25T23:21:00.001+01:002006-05-25T23:29:05.213+01:00

Since any effective long term decision by 'the committee' now rests upon arriving at a 'consensus' the DUP have effectively disarmed it from endangering its current negotiating position, or undoing any private understandings with the governments in the past. Alisdair McDonnell is not happy for one:"We have warned the Secretary of State that there is little point in a committee if the real action

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1148565812173974902006-05-25T14:53:00.000+01:002006-05-25T15:04:35.283+01:00

On the day my pension age went up to 66, Slugger got ill and took to bed. It happened last night when I was footering about with some important code in the index file. I'm going to do a few posts for those who know about this old place, but I'm hopeful we'll be back up before too long (famous last words???). Non dirty dancing continues at Stormont. Although it seems that after late night

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1129678629035036322005-10-19T00:34:00.000+01:002005-10-19T00:37:09.040+01:00

If you've made you're way here instead of Slugger's usual abode, it's because Slugger is down at it's usual site. This is due to a scripting error in the comments zones. We are hoping to have it fixed in the next few days or so. Please bear with us in the meantime.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1110314686358522122005-03-08T20:42:00.000Z2005-03-08T20:44:46.360Z

Problem is that we will need to be put on a dedicated server - $200 a month. This may take a few hours or a day or two! We'll try to bring you some tidbits from the radio/tv/net coverage.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1110313625525503942005-03-08T20:25:00.000Z2005-03-08T20:27:05.526Z

If you've made it here - well done. We seem to have been closed by the hosting company for out running our bandwidth with the surge of interest in Slugger over the IRA statement. I'm pestering them every fifteen minutes with emails to get them to switch it back on! News reports here as we have them

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094828191038665052004-09-10T15:52:00.000+01:002004-09-10T17:00:37.500+01:00

We're not quite there yet, but we do have a working model of Slugger here. Posting will begin there in earnest on Monday.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094827939727842262004-09-10T15:00:00.000+01:002004-09-10T15:52:19.726+01:00

Jude Collins reckons that the idea that Ian Paisley does not have the energy to hold down the First Minister's job is ill-founded given his age, and although he may continue to have influence it is on the wane. He sees strong parallels with the immenent exiting of the IRA from any further role in Irish politics.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094717801676790902004-09-09T09:12:00.000+01:002004-09-09T09:16:41.676+01:00

Whatever changes there are afoot inside David Trimble's party, the outward signs are not good. With the best will in the world four months is no time to get yourself established in a political party. But the reaction of more than one member to the news of Lyle Rea's resignation from the post of Chief Executive, was Lyle who?

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094717411713925322004-09-09T08:38:00.000+01:002004-09-09T09:11:50.513+01:00

Stephen King produces a fairly accurate assay of the current state of play amongst the key players as they prepare to head to Leeds Castle. In particular he dismisses speculation that Tony Blair is a position to insist on any kind of definative outcome. And in any case the days when NI could bring kudos to Irish or British PMs is long since gone.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094715512878933382004-09-09T08:33:00.000+01:002004-09-09T08:38:32.876+01:00

David Healey was red carded in Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier in Cardiff last night, for (as the ref would have it) making obscene gestures to his family the crowd in celebration of his goal. Although innocuous enough here in Italy, where the referee hails from the gesture means quite something else. He was one of three players to get their marching orders.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094628049220822732004-09-08T07:53:00.001+01:002004-09-08T08:20:49.220+01:00

The CSO in Dublin has released figures that show the population of the Republic has reached record levels. John Fitzgerald of the ESRI told Radio Ulster this morning that immigration was a major driver for the growth, explaining that the new migrants fell into three roughly equal groups: returning nationals; other EU citizens; and people from outside the EU. He was keen to stress that a large

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094627542623506512004-09-08T07:53:00.000+01:002004-09-08T08:12:22.623+01:00

According to the CSO in Dublin the Republic's population has hit 4 million, a level not seen there since the end of the last century. Underpinning the huge rise since the early nineties have been migration rates unprecidented in over 200 years. John Fitzgerald, head of the ESRI, speakng to Radio Ulster explalined that the figures roughly break down into three equal groups: returning Irish

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094600525663094142004-09-08T01:05:00.000+01:002004-09-08T07:53:00.326+01:00

The DUP is not talking to Sinn Fein - not even in the most informal of terms. Danny Morrison believes that what he terms the Paisley factor will make a deal between his former party ans the new incumbents of Unionism impossible. Malachi O'Doherty says Paisley should be given a pass, whilst Mark Durkan is suspicious of the DUP's manouvres since taking poll position last November. It seems that

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094598287744901392004-09-07T23:58:00.000+01:002004-09-08T00:04:47.743+01:00

We'll be returning to something like normal service from tomorrow. I've a fullish schedule of interviews in Belfast tomorrow running from 9am to 4pm, but I hope lodge myself in an internet cafe tomorrow late afternoon and make up for some lost time. Thanks for your patience over the past few weeks!

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094462582049560632004-09-06T10:03:00.000+01:002004-09-06T10:31:10.160+01:00

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee online consultation hate crime has begun at last! There are three strands to the discussion, which are roughtly: the law as it stands; incidence of hate crime; and possible responses to it. The focus on Northern Ireland will no doubt raise questions around the growing number of racist attacks, but also perhaps where religious conviction ends and incitement

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094461134933973612004-09-06T09:45:00.000+01:002004-09-06T10:26:32.760+01:00

Mick Hall looks at the often overactive rumour mill that is the Northern Irish political world and wonders whether the highly secretive negotiations is only adding to distrust within communities.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094460272872526242004-09-06T09:40:00.000+01:002004-09-06T09:44:32.873+01:00

Sergio Kernan, with an interesting angle on one part of the Irish Diaspora which has lost touch with even the rudimentary elements of Irish politics and history - the Irish Argentines.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094459996991224472004-09-06T09:29:00.000+01:002004-09-06T10:02:24.043+01:00

Though I haven't read it yet, Ronan Bennett's Booker shortlisted novel, Havoc in its third year has brought him some serious critical acclaim. Although the fiction is firmly centred in Puritan Northern England, at times he may have been drawing on his background in Northern Ireland. Reviewer Kathryn Hughes: In taverns, in church and in the streets, men watch other men for signs that they are

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094459355659919702004-09-06T09:26:00.000+01:002004-09-06T09:29:15.660+01:00

Alan Greer writes to the Guardian arguing that life in Belfast in the 1980's was not so bad as it's been painted in retrospect.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094394901450414902004-09-05T15:31:00.000+01:002004-09-05T15:35:01.450+01:00

According to James Crabtree, the response of all the major British political parties to the idea of allowing bloggers in to their party conferences has been a resounding No! It stands in marked contrast to the US parties's accreditation of a small group of bloggers for their national conventions.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094391387187331572004-09-05T14:23:00.000+01:002004-09-05T15:24:54.083+01:00

Jim Maguire of the Western People makes an analogy between Sinn Fein's position viz a viz the Peace Process and the response of the drinks industry in the Republic to speculation that regulation on the sales of alcohol may be taken out of their hands: "Just as public health considerations must take precedence over the commercial interests of the drinks industry so must constitutional consensus

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094389285313840932004-09-05T13:48:00.000+01:002004-09-05T14:21:24.773+01:00

This piece by yours truly in today's Sunday Independent, is less of a review so much as a reading of some of the main themes of John Lloyd's recent essay on how the media illserves democracy (registration needed) in an Irish context. IT'S hard to believe, but the presidency of the most powerful democracy on earth may swing on what two rival groups of Vietnam veterans say about some minor

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094230778867318112004-09-03T17:56:00.000+01:002004-09-03T17:59:38.866+01:00

We hope that we'll have Slugger back early next week. Because of the way it crashed, we may have to start with only a limited amount of the site's archives, and effectively begin anew. We will also have the very latest upgrade of the MT software. Though the site should look the same as before it should be faster and easier to reload. Night all!

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094207490785001742004-09-03T11:27:00.000+01:002004-09-03T11:31:53.606+01:00

Chief Constable Hugh Orde has called into question the ambiguity of the rulings of the Parades Commission that allows police to prevent marchers to follow certain routes, but not supporters and followers.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094207228642365062004-09-03T11:23:00.000+01:002004-09-03T12:10:07.603+01:00

Both the UK Secretary of State and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs are on message saying that we cannot afford further delay beyond the three weeks of negotiations this month. But there are no obvious signs of either of the two main parties turning the ten year process into product in such a short time.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094206774350598822004-09-03T11:16:00.000+01:002004-09-03T11:19:34.350+01:00

In what has to be one of the most bizarre incidents of the last 35 years, the Thirty Two Degrees North pub on the Crumlin Road was attacked last night - by a JCB with burning rubble stoked in its bucket.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094206517161941852004-09-03T11:08:00.000+01:002004-09-03T11:15:17.160+01:00

Ian Paisley is loosing patience with the multiple speculations about the true state of his health.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558152.post-1094206041890257472004-09-03T11:00:00.000+01:002004-09-03T11:20:32.083+01:00

According to Ray O'Hanlon of the US based Irish Echo Karl Rove's comments spurred the prompting of Irish American lobbyists to highlight the efforts of George Bush to find a solution in Northern Ireland. However it seems to have stirred a controversy that Democrat Irish American lobbyists are happy to exploit.

Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09172035156183790535noreply@blogger.com0