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October 26, 2005
The 'old' verses 'new' IRA and an old conceit
Susan McKay believes there is an unrealistic view in the Republic of what exactly was done in the 1920s by the 'old IRA'. She argues that it was not that different from what the 'new IRA' did in the 70s, 80s and 90s. As such, southern politicians should be careful what they wish for. October 25, 2005
Get with the emotion...
Jude Collins argues that whilst the economic questions raised by possible future re-unification cannot be ignored, the emotional need amongst nationalists generally can be seen in the widespread adoption of north south policies amongst all nationalist parties. He sees the popular outburst that first broke the Berlin Wall and led to unification as a model for the island. [more] October 22, 2005
Republicans need Protestant help
Fascinating letter in yesterday's Irish News. It prompts nationalist to re-visit the root of the Republican cause in Ireland: [more] October 18, 2005
Leaving the church and into Sinn Fein?
Pól O Muirí argues that there has always been a cold distance between the Catholic church and armed Republicanism, and indeed sees a connection between a rapid secularisation and the rise of Sinn Fein. October 15, 2005
Living on an island or in a state?
I met Garrett FitzGerald in Dublin airport on Thursday. Rarely short of a word or two he was unusually quiet, pre-occupied, perhaps, with a talk he was to give this weekend to the Irish Association on Northern Ireland in 2020. A tall order! Whatever he went on to say about the future, he shared his take on Irish history (subs needed) this morning with readers of the Irish Times. Here's a few highlights: [more] October 13, 2005
Never again Father Reid
Young Unionist Peter Munce is stunned rather than angry with Alec Reid could compare Unionists to Nazis. He revisits some of his experiences of visiting Germany and puts the real (as opposed to imagined) holocaust into a personal perspective. Hearts and Minds: Nationalist prejudice run wild? This week on Hearts and Minds, "not for the first time, a leading nationalist has compared the Unionist treatment of Catholics to the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Like President McAleese before him, Father Alec Reid has apologized, but unionists are unconvinced". October 10, 2005
Southerners not taking northern nationalists seriously
Damien Kiberd with a comprehensive review of comments in the last week from various southern commentators all hanging questions over the political re-unification of the island. But he argues: [more] Nationalists need to learn that no means no... Dick Geary responds in today's Irish Times to several respondents to his original letter calling on Nationalists to lift the siege on Unionists. This time he takes the tack that Nationalists have a very prejudicial view of what the consent principle means: [more] October 05, 2005
Republic's precedent for release of prisoners..
An avid reader of histories, Danny Morrison raids the Republic's bloody origins and argues that Fine Gael had leading members of the old IRA within it's ranks well into the forties, that is now being hypocritical in its opposition to having Sinn Fein in government. It's available in today's print version of Daily Ireland [more] October 02, 2005
Was decommissioning really that difficult?
Ed Moloney with one or two pertinent questions that arise from last week's events [more] September 26, 2005
Republicans need re-own the 'Orange tradition'
Michael McDowell on his brand of Republicanism. He argues that for unification to happen at all, Republicans need to work on re-integrating the Orange tradition back into their own concept of an all Ireland Republic before it can stand a chance of fulfilling its long term aim of re-uniting the island. Fitt: the political cameleon Here's one we missed earlier. Ryle Dwyer recalls Gerry Fitt's street career as an MP, when he begged the Republic's government to send weapons to Catholic areas of Belfast to defend themselves with. September 25, 2005
What the GAA means to Northern nationalists
I read somewhere recently that the shutting of the border during the troubles had the unexpected effect of accelerating accent change between neighbours on either side because of the drop in transborder social intercourse. Tom McGurk looks at the effects of partition in sport: specifically how GAA has come to mean something different for Northern Irish nationalists to their counterparts in the Republic. September 22, 2005
Adams and McGuinness are the IRA?
Well the Channel 4 Dispatches programme on the Northern Bank raid is on tonight at 9p. Its author Kevin Toolis has a piece in The (London) Times today, laying out some of the findings of his nine month investigation into the background. First up is the Prime Minister Tony Blair, for what Toolis describes as the lie that there was ever any distinction between Sinn Fein and the IRA. The robbery was just another political punch in a long political campaign. September 21, 2005
North South vs Unification...
Interesting distincion in the thrust of two initiatives within Nationalism. With the launch of the SDLP's North South Makes Sense campaign, which launched yesterday and will culminate in a major conference on 7th October in Derry the emphasis is on make two separates work together. Sinn Fein on the other hand with its Preparing for an Ireland of Equals conference in November in Monaghan has a greater rhetorical emphasis on unification. We'll keeping an eye out for outputs from both events. September 20, 2005
Why SF MPs will not take their seats
Again in the Irish Times, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin explains the ground on which his party is abstaining from sitting in Westminster and petitioning to gain access to the Oireachtas (subs needed) instead. It is, he argues, a question of what was in the party's manifesto, and endorsed by it's voter base. Which might indicate, there'll be no change in the party's stance until the next Westminster election at the very earliest. [more] September 19, 2005
Loyalists should not trust London or Dublin
Father Des Wilson argues that the only people Loyalist communities can trust is the Republican movement. September 13, 2005
Unification can only come from dialogue...
Minister McDowell has argued that the communication gap between Republicans and Unionists has become vast. If, he argues, Republicans are serious about building the kind of united Ireland (envisaged by Thomas Davies and others), they need to build some serious bridges with current unionists to pursuade them of the merits of a unified polity for the island. The only practical way to begin such a process, he believes, is by re-instating the democratic institutions of the Belfast Agreement. September 07, 2005
Why is Nationalism not interested in unionists?
As a Slugger pairing with Tommy McKearney's piece in Daily Ireland yesterday, Trevor Ringland had this letter in the Irish News last Friday, which seems to be covering similar ground, but from another angle. In it he questions Republicanism's past methods for unifying the island, and asks to what extent they have Unionists in mind in their vision for a unified future. [more] August 30, 2005
Remembering Gerry Fitt...
Gerry Fitt's death feels like the passing of an era. A world war coloured his political outlook and his perceptions of conflict. Even so, it never took the edge off his performance in the nightly TV jousts with unionist arch rival Ian Paisley of the early seventies - played out largely against a backdrop of murder campaigns, civil bombings and torturous executions. It intimately connected most political players with their respective audiences in a way that few modern politicians can expect nowadays. [more] Fitt recalled with great affection... Despite the political wrangling over the meaning of Gerry Fitt's political career, Laura McDaid in yesterday's Andersonstown News found that ordinary people in West Belfast had little else but praise for a man they remember with great affection. August 25, 2005
Can Nationalism and social justice mix?
Intertesting piece from Alan Bairner, a Scottish academic writer on sport and politics in, who reflects on the sometimes uncomfortable mix of national and social politics, whilst sitting with the Irish contingent of cricket supporters at the first Ashes test in Lords earlier this year. [more] August 16, 2005
Overreaction to Colombia Three?
Taking a very quick break from holidays. Eilis O'Hanlon thinks that a lot of the critical reaction to the IRA's statement and, most recently, the return of the Columbia 3 (or one of them at least) has been needlessly hysterical and counterproductive. [more] August 03, 2005
How nationalism moved away from the gun...
Tom McGurk looks at the context of the IRA's armed struggle, and how it has changed to bring Northern Irish nationalists to the point where armed struggle seems besides the point and even inimical to their future prosperity. [more] August 02, 2005
Getting beyond the Unification question?
Roy Garland argues that there are more ways than one for the peoples of Ireland to get together than out and out political unification of the island. Already the Council of the Isles , he argues, "has the capacity to transcend petty squabbles and usher in a new era of goodwill and cooperation on an unprecedented scale. Northern Ireland as a political entity can continue to exist, but in a dynamic relationship with an Irish state and a devolved Great Britain". July 04, 2005
Republicanism: a retreat from reality?
Eoghan Harris found himself under political blockcade from what turned out to be a highly personable local Sinn Fein councillor protesting against Harris' journalistic emnity towards Gerry Adams and the wider Sinn Fein project. Worth the read for its raconteur value alone! [more] June 23, 2005
Nationalism: importance of heart over head
Interesting analysis on the shifts within Nationalism, north and south, from Tom Kelly. He welcomes Garrett FitzGerald's analysis in the Irish Times at the weekend for its realistic acceptance of the power and provenance of Sinn Féin, and argues that its rivals, north and south need to get to grips with the fact that it speaks more directly and effectively to the core Nationalist vote than they do. [more] June 15, 2005
Few people favour a United Ireland...
The latest Life and Times Survey has come to my notice through ATW and Everything Ulster. Although a lot of the interesting material is around the desireability or otherwise of a Truth Commission (some lukewarm support but there's also scepticism over it's potential outcomes) these two blogs focus on the unpopularity a United Ireland. However, it's clear also that there's less aggressive opposition to either of the zero sum options than in the past: [more] May 24, 2005
Time for Sinn Fein to spend political capital...
Tom Kelly thinks the SDLP is in danger of taking imprudent risks with its renewed mandate from the Westminster and local elections. Rather, he argues, the party should resist the temptation to get drawn back into a pan-nationalist alliance, in which its main partner previously flourished and it nearly perished. Rather, it is time to let Sinn Fein to do the heavy lifting required to seal a new democratic deal. |
Slugger O'Toole records news, commentary and diverse opinion on Northern Ireland. Produced by Mick Fealty News, tips or crits here: mick.fealty -at- gmail.com Topics a long peace?books Britain Conflict Culture Economy Education election 2003 Election 2005 Enviroment environment Europe Gaeilge Glossary Government Highlights Human Rights Humour International Manifesto Media Nationalism Negotiations Parties Policing Soapbox Society Sport the south unionism
Highlights
Out with the crystal ball...Just a Mo... Commenting Policy A backgrounder on the McCartney affair Northern Bank raid and political fallout, so far
Readers comments
More corrupt than last year? - (4)Living on an island or in a state? - (31) a combination of historical ignorance and monumental self-pity - (42) Payout time... - (4) New Lansdowne revealed - (24) Far right 'imagination'... - (13) Nazi comments were a sectarian slur - (3) The price of peacemaking... - (17) belfast metropolitan area plan unveiled - (23) Why (or rather how) Alec Reid was right... - (37)
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