west belfast – Page 2 – Slugger O'Toole

“every discussion of the experience of west Belfast there is going to be blinkered”

Pete Baker on July 29, 2011, 8:57 pm

| Readers 24

In the Belfast Telegraph, Malachi O’Doherty takes a critical look at that “plenty for all” Feile. From the Belfast Telegraph article The story of what west Belfast experienced through the Troubles is complex and amazing, but it is filtered at the Feile through a determination to defend the reputation of the IRA, the organisation that brought much of that grief upon the people and to write out of history the pain and horror suffered by those – and we know them – …

A Bonefire In An Empty Space…?

Belfast Gonzo on July 25, 2011, 12:00 pm

| Readers 8

IF you’re stuck at the desk over lunch and need a laugh, check out PSNI West Belfast’s Facebook page. There are some gems of posts, such this possible attempt at haiku below. Profound. But fair play to the poor sod that gets lumbered with replying! Stroaking The Wood From The Bru In Andytonw. Wat Harm Is There Liting. A Bonefire In An Empty Space? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

And the #belw11 winners were … Paul Maskey (26% of the electorate) and the EONI (165 minutes)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 10, 2011, 2:24 am

| Readers 24

Paul Maskey blowing out candles on a muffin - it's his birthday

It was going to be hard for either of them to trip up. Paul Maskey’s coronation to continue Sinn Fein’s reign in West Belfast would have required some kind of enormous scandal to have brewed up earlier this week to spoil his chances – and even the ongoing, rumbling Mary McArdle story wasn’t enough to do that. The Electoral Office wanted a slick, faster-than-expected result to cancel out some of the bad publicity surrounding the referendum and Assembly election counts …

The small matter of a Belfast West by-election #belw11 … and two questions

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 9, 2011, 7:03 pm

| Readers 23

It’s difficult to get excited about the Westminster by-election. Polling stations have been open again across West Belfast for the second time in five weeks. This time, it’s a simple one-ballot first past the post election to see who will replace Gerry Adams TD in Westminster. The count will start soon after 10pm in the Kings Hall, with boxes verified as they start to arrive from across the constituency. It struck me this morning that where else in the UK …

West Belfast: Eaten bread soon forgotten #ae11 #belw11

Blank on April 19, 2011, 7:59 pm

| Readers 24

In 2007 it was impossible for anyone that follows local elections to be anything but impressed with Sinn Féin’s vote management in West Belfast; 4.9 quotas returning 5 candidates when one of them (Gerry Adams TD) was exceptionally high profile seemed to be delivered effortlessly (those that have worked campaign trails know it will have been anything but). This time round SF are attempting the same feat with slightly different circumstance – Adams is gone so their vote management strategy …

Gerard Adams, Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead – Updated

Pete Baker on January 26, 2011, 3:05 pm

| Readers 100

The UK Treasury confirms what the Prime Minister, David Cameron, told the Commons today. From the Treasury’s press notice The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Gerard Adams to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. And, while Adams’ spokesman may be suggesting otherwise to the BBC and to UTV, here’s the significant section of the House of Commons Disqualification Act – which I linked to previously. 8 — (1) No person being a member of the House of …

Gerry Adams: “We would negotiate with the bond market…”

Pete Baker on January 25, 2011, 2:46 pm

| Readers 8

Politics.ie characterised it as a “ding dong” between Fine Gael spokesman Leo Varadkar and the still MP for west Belfast, Gerry Adams, on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. But it’s probably not as bad as that 2007 debate… It’s towards the end of the 13 minute clip [RealPlayer audio file] that Adams displays what Leo Varadkar refers to as “his ignorance of economics”. “We would negotiate with the bond market after we have straightened out the crisis in our own economy,” [Adams] said. That would …

The resignation that never was…

Pete Baker on January 24, 2011, 9:10 pm

| Readers 11

I had suggested, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that the numerous reports of Gerry Adams’ “formal” resignation as the MP for west Belfast meant that he had applied to become a paid officer of the Crown. That was because an MP cannot simply resign. A parliamentary seat is deemed to be a position of trust which can only be vacated by death, expulsion, or disqualification. But Sinn Féin sources evidently told Mark Devenport otherwise… Although it’s worth noting that becoming a TD is not grounds for …

SF MLA Paul Butler to stand down

Pete Baker on January 13, 2011, 2:35 pm

| Readers 444

Sinn Féin MLA for Lagan Valley, Paul Butler, has announced that he will not contest the May Assembly elections after only one term as an MLA. He resigned from Lisburn Council last month, as the Antrim Times reported. “I am standing down,” confirmed Mr Butler. “The Party’s position on this is that anyone who is a councillor and an MLA should only have one job.” The BBC reports that Paul Butler has “denied he was retiring from party politics because of disappointment …

Pat Sheehan

Dewi on January 3, 2011, 8:21 pm

| Readers 34

McKittrick in the Independent profiles Pat Sheehan, who is following Gerry Adams as MLA for West Belfast. A reflective piece: Then he came up with an unusual description of the Irish conflict: it was, he remarked, “probably quite civilised, if that’s a proper description to use”. Civilised? Was the IRA civilised, was it a civilised conflict? “If you look at it in the round,” he contended, “the type of mass killings and genocide in other conflicts didn’t happen here. The …

A rumour too far? New MP for West Belfast?

Blank on December 6, 2010, 7:49 pm

| Readers 62

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALuHAd3SnYw&feature=related Surprisingly one of the first people to publicly declare that Máirtín Ó Muilleoir had decided to return to electoral politics for SF was Mairtin og Meehan of the RNU (in the irishrepublican.net forum which can’t be linked). As that rumour mill seems similar to the one that allowed Slugger to announce Gerry Adams would use Edentubber to declare his intention to run as TD for Louth I think the latest rumour deserves early airing. Is Seanna Walsh the as …

“I know there is a lot of genuine people who feel abandoned”

Pete Baker on November 23, 2010, 4:11 pm

| Readers 21

When the [soon-to-be] former International Representative for west Belfast announced his intention to disappear over the border to Louth, he assured the Dundalk Democrat that GERRY Adams will reside in County Louth if elected to Dail Eireann in this constituency. The Sinn Fein leader made the admission on a visit to The Dundalk Democrat on Monday. Many people had questioned his decision to run in County Louth despite not being from the area but Mr Adams said he will happily relocate …

“There is a bit of a split in the camp over it”

Pete Baker on November 16, 2010, 4:14 pm

| Readers 8

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has denied reports of dissent in the party being imposed as a candidate in Louth following his sudden decision to leave west Belfast, and the UK, in a bid to hold onto the Dáil seat to be vacated by Arthur Morgan. He’s telling anyone who will listen that “The idea for me to stand . . . came from within the constituency. If you elbow yourself in somewhere you create havoc and it doesn’t help the party.” …

Two police officers injured in west Belfast explosion

Pete Baker on November 5, 2010, 10:30 pm

| Readers 14

Two police officers are reported to have been injured in an explosion in west Belfast after a device was thrown at them as they investigated reports of a robbery at a bookmakers on the Shaws Road. According to the reports the injuries are not life-threatening but one officer sustained serious arm injuries. Adds “ONH and the other dissident groups cannot succeed where, as they point out themselves, the Provos failed” Update The BBC are now reporting that three officers were injured …

“and the role that they have played in creating the conditions in which anti-social behaviour thrives.”

Pete Baker on August 13, 2010, 6:31 pm

| Readers 239

The BBC report on the fire which destroyed the Twinbrook Social Club last night says “that the facility was extensively used by the local community but that people there had already vowed to rebuild.” But the UTV report notes this comment from Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann – who claimed that the club had, at times, been a centre for anti-social behaviour. “The fire has led to several people having no employment as a result which, in this economic climate, is extremely unfortunate,” [Jennifer …

“We’re here to give you your area back…”

Pete Baker on July 29, 2010, 10:31 pm

| Readers 470

There was an attempted punishment shooting in the Falls Road area of west Belfast last Thursday – 4 men and a 16 year old boy have been charged. Yesterday an 18 year old was shot in both legs after he was abducted by four masked men, also in the Falls Road area. Meanwhile the Irish News reported today that More than 40 members of dissident republican group Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) are believed to have been involved in attacks in the troubled St James’s area …

Photograph of the day – Monagh By Pass 1999

Moochin Photoman on July 8, 2010, 9:22 am

| Readers 3

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 …

Second night of rioting in west Belfast

Pete Baker on July 4, 2010, 2:50 pm

| Readers 28

Five police officers have been injured during a second night of disturbances in west Belfast. On Friday night police were attacked by rival crowds throwing bricks, bottles and petrol bombs in the Broadway area. Last night police were attacked in the same area by a crowd of about 100 people. Stones, fireworks, paint and petrol bombs were thrown and a number of Land Rovers were attacked by men using sign posts, masonry and in one case an axe. The officers …

A smashed in face – blame the parents?

Blank on June 23, 2010, 8:44 pm

| Readers 9

The brutal assault of 13 year old Shannon Smyth with a brick (at least) in Moyard is currenty being investigated by the PSNI and is considered a possible sectarian attack – she required 14 stitches to her face, lost teeth and suffered numerous cuts. Almost as disturbing as the actual incident is the response from some to it here on Slugger and elsewhere. Since outlets such as the BBC, Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and even PSNI stated the assault took place …

Adams, SF, West Belfast and a missing 10%?

Blank on May 9, 2010, 12:03 am

| Readers 17

Gerry Adams was always guaranteed to take West Belfast and he did at a canter – 71% of the vote. I will attempt to delve into the numbers and forgive me if this gets confusing and correct me if I am wrong.. In 2005 he took 24K votes from 34.5K on a 64% turnout. With the boundary changes he should have expected 27K (+3K) votes from 39.5K (+5K). Turnout was down 10% so to tread water Adams should have received …