Current Affairs, Politics, Irish Unity, History and Culture.
The role of the Assembly and Executive
If we were to listen to and accept at face value those in the media who criticise the Assembly and the Executive as ineffective, and who question their value or …
Gaza – The Gates of Hell
Last Saturday millions across the world, including here in Belfast, participated in one of the biggest ever solidarity events as part of a Global Day of Action in support of t…
Say No To Farage.
Probably more than any other politician in Britain Nigel Farage was responsible for winning the vote on Brexit in 2016. He exploited racism and anti-migrant sentiment winning new c…
Our 1916
The eight months of the 1981 hunger strike campaign changed the political landscape in Ireland. It was as Síle Darragh, former O.C. of the republican women prisoners in Armagh Women’s Prison,…
‘Hope should never Die’ – Bobby Sands
Wednesday 20th August marks the anniversary of the death on hunger strike in 1981 of Mickey Devine. Mickey was the last of the ten men to die and several weeks la…
Comhghairdeas Féile!!
Well done to all of those who planned, organised, participated in, or generally contributed to this years hugely successful Féile an Phobail. It was a colourful, imaginative, inf…
An interview with Dr Mustafa Barghouti, the founder and leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, Activist and advocate of Palestinian rights.
Up for the Match
Off on Sunday morning to Croke Park. Dark skies. Lots of grey clouds. Our journey was delayed by Féile An Phobail’s 5km and 10km run. Diverted and distracted we eventually got out of …
Planning for the Future
It was Charles Stewart Parnell who said: “No man has the right to say to his country. Thus far shalt thou go and no further.” This was in the 19th century. He also declared; “L…
2005 – Twenty Years On
Next Monday one of the most historic and transformative events in the Irish Peace Process took place. Twenty years ago on the 28 July 2005 the IRA issued a statement which ended…
Defend the GPO and Save Moore St.
There is widespread anger at the decision by the Irish government to convert the historic GPO in Dublin into shops and offices. Last Saturday hundreds gathered in O’C…
No Economic Block on Irish Unity
In recent years there have been encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic changes, contributions from civic soc…
Palestine
The Israeli forces as part of their on going genocide, in the last 24hrs have killed 142 Palestinian civilians, and injured 487.
Internment
A British Supreme Court judgement in 2020 ruled tha…
Ceasefires Now
Should we have been surprised by the decision of the US President Donald Trump to attack Iran? No. Shocked maybe but not surprised. The weapons of mass destruction spin, that was used t…
Stand-Up to Racism
In 1972 Catholic families – who had endured three years of sustained sectarian attacks on their homes – fled Annalee St in North Belfast. Last month - fifty-three years later - Cath…
Jim Fitzpatrick signed Limited Print of Elizabeth O’Farrell
Regular readers of this column will know that I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Moore St. Preservation Trust to preserve the 1916…
Old Farts
As I get older I seem to be farting more than I used to. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t keep a record of my farts. That would be impossible but I do have a notion that my flatuence is more…
Mothers Against Genocide
This column makes no apologies for writing so much about the genocide in Palestine and the urgent need for ceasefires and a peace process. At least 14,000 babies face imminen…
San Francisco – A Ballymurphy Man/A Work in Progress
If you live in the San Francisco area go along to the Vogue Theatre on 1st June to see a sneak preview of Trisha Ziff’s film – A Ballymurphy Man.
It…
PRESIDENTIAL VOTING RIGHTS
In a historic vote in the Assembly last week its members overwhelmingly passed by 46 votes to 25 - a motion calling on the Irish government to implement the recommendation o…