Wear an Easter Lilly | Micheál Martin and Moore St. | Two different Voices on Unity

Together we Can Ireland’s Future is well named. Its landmark event last Saturday in Dublin was all about the future. Saturday’s conference was an ambitious project. Over thirty participants addressed 5,000 citizens. Ten political parties with five party leaders along with leaders from civic society and the Arts talking about their desire to achieve a united Ireland. And music and dance as well. That’s a remarkable achievement. Belfast Peoples Assembly. If you want to con...

9 Okt 202218min

2 Okt 202216min

We are not invisible” – Springhill families Last week the family of Loughlin Maginn settled a case against the British Ministry of Defence and the PSNI over his murder by the UDA in August 1989. While it had been widely accepted for the previous 20 years that collusion between the British Army, RUC and unionist paramilitaries was an integral part of Britain’s dirty war in Ireland it was the murder of Pat Finucane in February 1989 and then of Loughlin Maginn in August that year which focussed...

25 Sep 202216min

The English Monarchy: A Tolerance of Differences At the same time I have no time for hierarchies, aristocrats or royalty, whether they are political, religious, secular or industrial. They are all about power for elites. No one should have an entitlement to a life of privilege and wealth because they are deemed to be divine rulers. I believe in equality. In community. In citizenship. In self-determination. None of us should ever be anyone’s subject. Working people sho...

17 Sep 202213min

Another British PM closer to Unity Liz Truss is now the leader of the Conservative Party and British Prime Minister. No real surprise there. She is the fourth leader of the Tories in six years. And as each has tried and failed to reshape Britain to a post Brexit world Tory government policy – especially under Johnson - has shifted further and further to the right. ON DANGEROUS GROUND. This is not a book review. It is a book recommendation. On Dangerous Ground is a memoir by Mái...

11 Sep 202219min

Belfast People's Assembly Last summer Sinn Féin announced the setting up of a ‘Commission on the Future of Ireland.’ The Commission is a unique and ambitious initiative which includes a series of Peoples’ Assemblies under the broad slogan - ‘The New Ireland is for Everyone – Have Your Say.’ On 12 October - the inaugural first public meeting of the People’s Assembly will take place in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall between 7 and 9pm. Prison Privileges. On my occasional vacations at h...

4 Sep 202213min

National Hunger Strike March Comhgairdheas to all of those who organised and participated in Sunday’s Belfast march to remember the hunger strikers of this and previous phases of struggle. Thousands came from all over Ireland to take part. I met comrades from Meath and Mayo and Dublin and Derry. The families of the hunger strikers had pride of place and many former blanketmen – wearing their grey blankets – and Armagh Women POWs helped lead the event. An Dream Dearg - Cearta Teanga. Last M...

28 Aug 202215min

The Women of Antrim. Congratulations to Antrim Ladies All Ireland Football Champions 2022 and Antrim’s All Ireland Camogie Champions. Na mná abú. The Women of Armagh. Last Friday, there was standing room only in The Felons as Richard McAuley and I were joined by former Armagh POWs Síle Darragh, Máire Cush and Martina Anderson for the launch of a new book, The Armagh Women during Prisoners’ Day. The Armagh Women – The Story of Protests in Armagh Women’s prison -is a tribute ...

21 Aug 202219min