Léargas

  Garvaghy Road – No Going Back.  As I write this column the situation on the Garvaghy Road is no closer to resolution. The Orange Order wants to walk through a nationalist community. The residents say no. Outside of political unionism there has been widespread anger and shock at the decision of the Parades Commission to make a determination to facilitate that march. In July the Commission had said no to a march. What changed? If it was wrong for the Orange to march in July, or for the last 28 years, why is it ok in September? The Commission needs to explain this. Clearly and publicly. The PSNI also needs to publish and explain its advice to the Parades Commission. The PSNI Chief Constable has a case to answer. So too with the British Secretary of State. Flying in from Wales to his Castle here to treat us to meaningless NIO double speak is insulting to us all. Including the Orange. The sooner we get the British government out of our affairs the better.  But in the meantim...

  Buíochas   I consider it a great honour for me to have a column  published by the Belfast Media Group. I don’t know how many people pay heed to my musings but I am grateful to have a platform to write about whatever takes my fancy. Thats’ what the Andersontown News and The Irish Echo do. They provide an alternative viewpoint to the line  promolgated  by the establishment media. An inclusive community based response. You don’t have to agree with the editorial line all the time but I for one, and many many others have an affinity with our Andytown News that we will never have with other newspapers.  A newspaper of its own is a mighty asset for any community to have. It was particularly so when this community was denied a voice. Belfast Media back issues give an insight into all the twists and turns of over fifty years of our recent history. As well as a record of events and developments that were ignored by other media.That voice is...

  The Dis-United Kingdom. Several weeks ago British PM Andy Burnham sparked a furious debate over future constitutional change and Irish Unity with his crass comment that it was ‘off the table.’ The Unionist parties were delighted. Fast forward two weeks and an endorsement of a united Ireland by US President Donald Trump has ignited another energetic conversation around the issue. Speaking during his visit President Trump, sitting beside An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, whose opposition to planning for unity is well known, said he would love to see a united Ireland – it would be a ‘ fantastic thing. ’ He repeated this several times over the following two days. The unionist parties were not delighted. President Trump’s remarks are welcome, even though this column profoundly differs with him on many other matters, especially US foreign policy including the genocide against the Palestinian people.  President Trump’s comments reflect broad north American sentiment and particularly tha...