Oh, Ian: “A DUP MP has faced criticism from parliamentary counterparts after linking the IRA with Catholicism. Ian Paisley’s reference to the sectarian murder campaign by the “Catholic IRA” drew critical responses from fellow members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Mr Paisley was questioning Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis on legacy issues and was […]
When a snail is threatened, it has one response, and one response only. It cannot run, because it is a snail. It has no weapons, because it is a snail. Unlike some tropical animals that can change colour, or confuse or dazzle a predator, a snail has no ability to use subtlety or disguise or […]
Yesterday, Dr. Anthony O’Connor, a consultant gastroenterologist (the speciality dealing with ailments of the stomach and digestive system and not, notably, dealing with respiratory diseases like Covid 19) announced that he would no longer continue to tweet about the Covid 19 crisis – or indeed tweet at all – after “somebody close to Stephen Donnelly” […]
Three full years of training, it takes, to become a member of An Garda Siochána, and prepare to defend the country from the ongoing threat of criminality. Gardai go through courses in law and procedures, crime and incident policing, and professional competence, to name but a few of the courses required before passing out at […]
If true, this is extraordinarily brutal, bad, and damaging news, not only in terms of the Coronavirus pandemic, and our ability to functionally protect the oldest and most vulnerable citizens – but also for public confidence in the vaccines themselves. Here’s Gavin Reilly with the headline: https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1353828630972026882 But….. is there politics involved? The Daily Mail, […]
Sixty-one per cent of Irish Wine drinkers claim that they only open a bottle at the weekend, according to a new survey by the good folks over at boxofwine.ie: A survey carried out by Boxofwine.ie has revealed that 87% of people decided to ditch Dry January in 2021 and 58% don’t see the point of […]
A notable decision by the Swedes who, after nearly a year of following their own unique path in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, have latterly shifted more in the direction of the rest of Europe. The land border with Norway, they say, is to be sealed: Sweden is closing its border with Norway after the […]
Wonderful news, believe it or not……. For Emmanuel Macron: France (presidential election, 1st round), Harris poll: Le Pen (RN-ID): 26%Macron (LREM-RE): 23%Bertrand (LR-EPP): 16%Mélenchon (FI-LEFT): 10%Jadot (EELV-G/EFA): 10%… Scenario: Montebourg / Bertrand running Field work: 19-20 Jan.Sample size: 976 pic.twitter.com/oTMDXQzwjd — Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) January 24, 2021 The French election will be held next year, […]
One of the main advantages, we’re always told, of European Union membership, is that it affords Irish people the right to travel to and live freely in 26 other European countries. No passport checks, no immigration requirements, no papers – just hop on a plane, land in Vienna or Rome or Bucharest, and you’re as […]
It’s been five years since the last Olympic games, in Rio de Janeiro. That’s already a year too long, because they were due to be held in Tokyo last summer, before Covid intervened. The plan at the time was to push them back a year, and hold them this summer instead. Alas, nope, says the […]
In many ways, this is the perfect first thing for a newly inaugurated Democratic President to do: It can be done at the stroke of a pen; it pleases all his own supporters; it sends the right signals internationally, especially in Europe; and it will have next to no practical impact whatsoever: President Biden: "We're […]
For most of us, September 11th, 2001, was mostly memorable for the attacks by Al-Quaeda operatives on New York and Washington DC, with planes crashing into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon. But for a little-remembered British Government advisor, by the name of Jo Moore, it marked the day her career in Government came […]