Michelle O’Neill addresses Ard Fheis for the first time as First Minister

Michelle O’Neill took the stage of the 2024 Ard Fheis for the first time as First Minister. The party’s strong results in Northern Ireland have been a bright spot in a difficult political year, and O’Neill’s personal ratings remain high eight months into the job. O’Neill’s speech touched upon issues dear to her base: Casement Park and Irish language rights. O’Neill referenced the need for Irish unity and tried to set out how the change narrative in Northern Ireland could …

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Gavin Robinson attempts a reset after a difficult year

Gavin Robinson took to the stage in his first speech as DUP leader. Addressing around 300 delegates, he attempted to reset a party that had been battered over the past three years. With devolution restored and a run of elections now behind the party, Robinson has a huge task ahead. How do you restore a once-dominant party to its former strength? One clear message from the conference is that the DUP is in a rebuilding phase. Despite the success of …

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New UUP Leader to be decided in September

UUP plan to have new leader in place by 14 September at an extraordinary general meeting pic.twitter.com/8z1JgR1oSb — Jayne McCormack (@BBCJayneMcC) August 20, 2024 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

UTV Election Debate: A win for Eastwood with Long and Robinson taking aim at one another

Representatives from the five main parties gathered at UTV today in the first local debate ahead of the General Election on July 4th. John Finucane for Sinn Fein, Colum Eastwood for the SDLP, Naomi Long for the Alliance Party, Robbie Butler for the UUP, and Gavin Robinson for the DUP. The debate was divided into three themes: influence at Westminster, Executive finances and a border poll. An interesting aspect of the debate was some of the participants’ different and laid-back …

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Slugger TV talks with Senator Mal O’Hara

Slugger TV – 26th April 2024 from Northern Visions NVTV on Vimeo. Slugger TV speaks with Green Party Leader, Senator Mal O’Hara about the future of the Greens, remaining in government in the Republic and the party’s strategy going into GE 2024. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

#APNI24 looking for reform and growth at Westminster

Alliance gathered for their annual conference in the Stormont Hotel in East Belfast. 400 delegates heard their leaders pitch for reform of the institutions and the upcoming Westminster elections. I have attended every Alliance conference since 2014 and this is one of the most upbeat and energetic that I have witnessed. The party’s local election saw growth but unlike, Sinn Fein, it was a mixed bag with losses in some places and failure to break through in others. The Deputy …

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Panel: North Belfast is Best Belfast

Who has the vision and the influence to realise the full potential of the North of the city? Power is never just vested in politicians. Activists across community, voluntary, education, faith and business sectors also have ideas and the means to influence change. At this event our panel will share their ideas and reflect on your suggestions. Joining host David McCann around the table are Paul Carlin, Matt Shields and Hilary Woods. Paul Carlin is the chair of the Cavehill Business Association and the ‘no audition’ Cavehill Community …

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State of the State looks at challenges for the new Executive

Powered by RedCircle I talk with Ed Roddis and Marie Doyle from Deloitte about the 2024 State of the State Report in Northern Ireland and the challenges facing the new Executive. What is the report? Deloitte commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct an online survey of 5,815 UK adults aged 16-75 between 27 October and 1 November 2023, 420 of which lived in Northern Ireland. The research also comprised of interviews with more than 100 leaders in government and public services including permanent secretaries …

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Slugger TV speaks to the US Consul General

Slugger TV – 12th January 2024 from Northern Visions NVTV on Vimeo. This month we speak with the US Consul General, James Applegate. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Slugger Podcast: Looking at the boundaries for #GE24

David McCann and Peter Donaghy look at how the proposed new constituency boundaries could impact the next election results in Northern Ireland David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Slugger TV speaks with Colum Eastwood

Slugger TV – 6th October 2023 from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo. This month the SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood talks to Slugger TV. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Slugger TV talks with Doug Beatte

Slugger TV 14th July 2023 from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo UUP Leader, Doug Beattie chats with me about pacts, unionism and the future of the UUP. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

My Granny & Me-A journey of a political nerd.

Last Wednesday I did my first ever Tenx9 at the Black Box in Belfast. The theme was along with the Belfast Photo Festival “Journey.” It’s a mix of politics and how my Granny set me on the path towards my career today. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. You can listen to this story here on the podcast or you can read the text below. I am the little fella in this picture taken in the summer of 1997, rocking …

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Slugger TV looks at #LE23

Slugger TV 26th May 2023 from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo. Slugger TV looks at LE23 with Brendan Hughes and Sarah Creighton David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

#BBCRedlines looks at the unaligned parties for #le23

Last week on the Red Lines podcast, we looked at the Unaligned parties with Suzanne Breen, Enda McClafferty and the host, Mark Carruthers. You can listen to the full episode here.  David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

And the winner is………….Slugger reviews the PEBs of #LE23

We are back! The Slugger Party Election Broadcast Review has returned to give its assessment of the party election broadcasts of the 2023 local elections. A valuable public service to election nerds and people who have devoted hours and days of effort to create these three minute wonders. A bit like the Eurovision Song Contest, high scores aren’t any indication of likely success at the ballot box. It’s a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at the aesthetics and impact of one aspect …

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#BBCRedlines looks at the battle within Nationalism during #le23

The View looks at the state of nationalism ahead of #LE23 Broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland on May 4th, 2023 Listen to the full podcast here   David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

#BBCRedlines looks at Unionism ahead of #LE23

Sam McBride, Gareth Gordon, Mark Carruthers and myself looked at the battle within Unionism for the upcoming Local Elections. You can watch the segment from The View last night but to listen to the full thing visit the BBC Red Lines website.  David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Slugger TV: reflections on local government #imaginebelfast

Councillors Brian Heading (SDLP) and John Kyle (UUP)

Slugger TV escaped the studio again this month and ventured into the Imagine! Belfast Festival Of Ideas And Politics to chat to two local politicians who are stepping down at the upcoming local elections. Councillors Brian Heading (SDLP) and John Kyle (UUP, formerly PUP) spoke to David McCann about their careers in local government and offered insights into how parties work with one another on councils. You can catch on NvTv on the tellybox from 8pm on Saturday (Freeview channel …

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Eastwoods tells delegates SDLP is here to stay

200 delegates gathered in St Columb’s Hall for the SDLP conference. Gathering in the party heartland of Derry after a terrible year the SDLP is doing some soul-searching about its future. Recent polls have shown the party is still struggling to gain traction with the electorate. This conference is aimed at beginning the fightback for the party and what they are betting the house on is a New Movement for a New Ireland. This idea is not an original one. …

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