flags

“Leaders welcomed the opportunity to meet and engage in a discussion…”

Pete Baker on December 21, 2012, 12:18 am

| Readers 56

According to the BBC report, after a “meeting at Stormont Castle, which began at 0930 GMT and lasted almost eight hours, [and] was supposed to take place last week but was cancelled after some parties refused to attend”, “The leaders of Northern Ireland’s five main parties have reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law”. Phew. That’s a relief… Although, it’s not entirely clear from the reports which “leaders” they mean exactly. [Was Gerry there? – Ed] The UTV report has some …

The danger of an impotent Assembly

Brian Walker on December 10, 2012, 11:53 pm

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The litany of ritual condemnation in yesterday’s Assembly debate could have been spoken any time during direct rule. There is no hint here of a responsible government trying to get on top of events. Just a wringing of hands in an Assembly, impotent, riddled with its own contradictions, waiting for the trouble to burn itself out. For another night the initiative is surrendered to the streets. No MLA of course shares any measure of responsiblity. Perhaps that’s unfair. Perhaps for the moment …

No ‘mere anarchy’, but Northern Ireland’s weakened ‘centre’ is hardly fit for purpose…

Mick Fealty on December 10, 2012, 11:24 am

| Readers 37

The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Second Coming – WB Yeats Okay, I do get the flag stuff. As Unionists point out, it is perfectly proper to fly the flag of the jurisdiction we have all, north and south, consented to be part of until there’s sufficient consent to leave. Although the Union flag may – and on occasion for good reason – be seen as provocative, it is still a symbol of …

Who really leads the DUP..?

Belfast Gonzo on December 3, 2012, 2:15 pm

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“THERE is new political space developing in Northern Ireland,” Peter Robinson told the South Antrim DUP at the weekend. “It is the DUP’s aim that unionism will own it and lead it.” But it can’t. Tonight, “the new political space” will be seen at the front of the City Hall, where I doubt those mingling in the Christmas Market will care too much about any flag flying above them. Round the back, will be the “old” political space, full of …

Jubilee entices England to re-embrace the symbol (if not the fact) of the United Kingdom?

Mick Fealty on June 6, 2012, 12:20 pm

| Readers 44

As little more than an after thought to Brian’s piece on the utility of a lightly borne monarchy (see also my earlier Audioboo on the same subject), one of the things that has struck me is the sudden emergence of the Union flag as the emblem of choice, particularly in England where the cross of St George has been the preferred public emblem for maybe the last 15-20 years. It’s not really a surprise that it’s the Union flag that’s …

POTD – It’s as close or as far away as you want it to be

Moochin Photoman on July 17, 2011, 2:48 am

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St Matthews Chapel Newtownards Rd 3rd July 2011 Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the …

POTD – That would be a vexillogical question.

Moochin Photoman on May 19, 2011, 11:25 am

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Pitt Park Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of grants …

POTD – Back to porridge

Moochin Photoman on May 16, 2011, 11:01 am

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Tattered flags at Simon Bolivar Park near the commercial port in Port-au-Prince. How time flies. 3 weeks in Haiti and i’m back to a shedload of editing. I took the old advertising adage “You’re better looking at it than for it” to a bit of an extreme. I’m looking forward to going through all I took to see the themes and threads running through the work, some apparent at the time others will reveal themselves. I’m also looking forward to …

Flag wars over St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick

Turgon on March 16, 2011, 11:15 pm

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UTV are covering the story of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Downpatrick. For the last 25 years the local council have handed out red and white St. Patrick’s cross flags. Sinn Féin councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe has announced that he will be carrying a tricolour during the parade. He stated: “I’ll be there on Thursday with my tricolour marching down the street with the councillors as I said I would be. “Very little unionist councillors have ever participated …

Photograph of the Day – Disappearing Orange

Moochin Photoman on September 1, 2010, 11:00 am

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On Sunday i spent the day covering the charity cycle ‘Lap the Lough’ (86 miles clockwise around Lough Neagh). I didn’t make a note of where i took this unfortunately. Anyways another of my bug bears is the flags issue. I think there should be more respect shown and that the flying of these fluttering rags of allegiance should be limited to ensure that this sort of disrespect isn’t the norm which unfortunately it seems to be. Discuss……. Moochin PhotomanPhotographer …

Belfast bonfire builders wipe Council’s eye

Blank on July 9, 2010, 6:56 pm

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There are many hundreds of bonfires being prepared for the 11th night and one has destroyed a nearby home when it caught light early. Another on Belfast City Hospital property off the Donegal Road has been attracting more publicity The Irish News reported on Tuesday (not online) that this one is now part of Belfast City Council’s Bonfire Management Scheme and is receiving up to £3K worth of funding (drawn from European Peace III money) for meeting certain requirements. One …

Photograph of the Day – Cheeky

Moochin Photoman on July 7, 2010, 9:50 am

| Readers 14

Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of grants from the …