A Pint of Unionist Lite

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60080376331210355792009-11-30T21:13:55.056+01:00A Pint of Unionist Lite"Resignation is our biggest enemy"O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.comBlogger1409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-72530920425607133662009-11-30T13:09:00.005+01:002009-11-30T21:03:40.455+01:00Oops, did he really mean to say that?

Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin member of Carrickmacross Town Council and Monaghan County Council, speaking yesterday at the Sean O'Carroll and Patrick Tierney Commemoration:Take the issue of policing, for example. A tough decision for many republicans, myself included, was taken. But witnessing the crisis caused with unionism and elements of the British establishment it is clear that the republican

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-2927731485189570372009-11-30T03:45:00.000+01:002009-11-30T03:45:00.666+01:00O Caledonia!

A Happy St Andrew's Day to any Scots reading; instead of marking it with the traditional Saltire, here instead is an extract from "Lay of the Last Minstrel" by Sir Walter Scott:O Caledonia! stern and, wild, Meet nurse for a poetic child! Land of brown heath and shaggy wood Land of the mountain and the flood, Land of my sires! what mortal hand Can e'er untie the filial band, That knits me to thy

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-52019170289680028012009-11-29T20:52:00.010+01:002009-11-29T22:40:34.614+01:00A second Cybernat falls on his keyboard...

Blimey, they're dropping like flies at the minute:The SNP Government was last night embroiled in a dirty tricks row after an aide to a senior minister quit over smearing political opponents on the internet.Mark MacLachan, who worked in Constitution and Culture Minister Mike Russell’s constituency office, had attacked rivals on his blog since February.The blog in question, "The Universality of

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-75860125055665504232009-11-29T01:19:00.001+01:002009-11-29T01:19:00.120+01:00Another good man bites the dust

Sad to see (and not just because he once described me as a Unionist with a "smidgen of intelligence"!) the Miserable Oul Fart hitting the high road. His blog was a darn good read, veering off as it did in many varied and interesting directions and I’ve also got to say that Alwyn’s scripture-based argument against the UK’s new Supreme Court was probably the most jaw-dropping comment I’ve had on

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-2905895895886049922009-11-28T15:07:00.002+01:002009-11-28T15:10:34.028+01:00A little English for the road sir?

Looking for something a bit different to toast St Andrew with on Monday?How about a wee dram of "St George’s" from the English Whisky Co:The distillery produced its first 'run' in November 2006 and it was with much excitement and with an enormous sense of achievement that we filled the first barrel of 'St. George's whisky'. We now produce on average 13 casks a week, building up a good stock of

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-85214972490265183862009-11-27T17:50:00.002+01:002009-11-27T22:42:27.633+01:00Forsyth throws down the gauntlet, Russell looks sheepishly at the floor.

An interesting suggestion from Lord Forsyth:Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said Scots should be handed two ballot papers when they go to the polls next spring, one for electing their MP and the other on separation. The Tory peer predicted there would be an overwhelming vote in favour of remaining part of the Union, thereby taking the “wind out of the Nationalists’ sails”. This would force Alex Salmond

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-62281807479006916022009-11-27T16:38:00.000+01:002009-11-27T16:38:00.754+01:00Quote of the day

Philip Davies MP: "The biggest threat to the UK does not come from Scotland, but from England. If the Secretary of State does not do something to stop Scottish MPs voting on legislation that applies only to England whereas English MPs have no decision-making influence on Scotland, or something to make the funding formula fairer to England, the threat to the UK will come from England."And on

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-20459281251445424652009-11-27T14:03:00.014+01:002009-11-27T21:57:39.150+01:00Civic Unionism drifts over the dreary spires of Fermanagh and South Tyrone?

Ironically enough after I had just finished Owen Polley's article, arguing eloquently the case for civic Unionism, I came across, again, Tom Elliott, the Conservative and Unionist candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, giving his opinion on Unionist "pacts" last night, this time on BBC NI's Hearts and Minds programme.He remains "open to discussions" apparently, although if that is also the

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-3860909617662089912009-11-26T20:56:00.007+01:002009-11-26T21:22:40.337+01:00"Senior Tory activist rocked by Cameron"

Bit late in the day for this, but not to worry:"Pro-Union coalition rocked by the Tories"...hollers yesterday’s Times:Cross-party plans to give Holyrood sweeping new tax-raising powers suffered a big setback yesterday after David Cameron refused to commit to a timetable for change. The Conservative leader backed the principle of more financial accountability for MSPs, but indicated that a Tory

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-91096498539099520342009-11-26T13:52:00.007+01:002009-11-26T15:03:56.848+01:00Gerry Adams, your 100% MP?

From the Northern Ireland Assembly's latest Members' Interest list, the entry for Gerry Adams, West Belfast's most famous (and unsuccessful) travelling salesman, raconteur, blog and apparently also "Open All Hours" Member of Parliament:Elected/Public Office:Member of Parliament. Unremunerated (expenses only). Average hours worked: 24/7I daresay the more mean-spirited/literal minded amongst you

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-21873749886615593192009-11-25T13:39:00.004+01:002009-11-25T13:51:01.682+01:00Unionism- "made in the UK and made FOR the UK"?

A well-worn journalistic maxim is "three times a trend". From the DUP Conference at the weekend:Time 1. Arlene Foster: ""The DUP is the party for economic policies "made in Northern Ireland"" Time 2. Ian Paisley Jnr: "The DUP are the only party with an agri-food policy made in Northern Ireland and made FOR Northern Ireland"Time 3. Alex Salmond: "This is a people's manifesto for a free Scotland.

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-63207848888937222522009-11-25T08:54:00.001+01:002009-11-25T08:54:00.388+01:00David girds his loins...

In the wake of The All Wales Convention report issued last week, curiously enough I was wondering about the True Wales' reponse. Despite Goliath's massive financial and logistical resources pitted against him, I'm pleased to report that the plucky David is continuing his struggle:This website is financed, produced and maintained by volunteers in Wales. No taxpayer, charity or trades union money

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-74547745629621315912009-11-25T04:15:00.000+01:002009-11-25T04:15:00.446+01:00Free the bloggers

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty NI, is asking for help to publicise the plight of bloggers "locked up and bruised for real" by oppressive regimes throughout the world.You can read more about how you can assist here.

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-18885742020213562552009-11-24T17:44:00.002+01:002009-11-24T17:46:14.540+01:00Bertie's autobiography available at all good bookstores. And Unionist Lite

Advance warning for any of you in Belfast next Thursday:The Bookshop at Queen’sinvites you to meet Bertie Ahern Who will be signing copies ofBertie Ahern, The Autobiography In the Bookshop,Thursday 26th November 200912.45– 2.00pm All welcome.Just make sure he gives you back your pen, that's all I am saying;)For those unable to get to the Bookshop at Queen's have no fear, Mr Ahern's biography now

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-18003093725506982212009-11-24T11:55:00.001+01:002009-11-24T12:34:52.046+01:00Call the bluffer's bluff

From "Bagehot", one of the few commentators at The Economist still worth reading:There is a good reason why Scotland’s other politicians fear Mr Salmond: he is more charismatic and cleverer than them. He is clever enough to realise his chances of getting his referendum are slim and of winning it slimmer; he may well be content to see his adversaries vote it down, furnishing just the sort of

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-54533492931425152902009-11-23T19:55:00.001+01:002009-11-23T20:37:04.737+01:00Wade through the "quiet news day" hysteria and the warning signs are still there....

"SNP hails Cameron hint over election", another bewildering headline in The Scotsman."Hails" is surely a bit strong for the SNP merely acknowledging the fact that David Cameron (post the Ipsos MORI poll) reckons an outright Conservative majority is not a foregone conclusion; this wasn't really that much of a hint either: "I think, frankly, anything is better than another five years of this Labour

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-1480499167133348242009-11-23T07:56:00.003+01:002009-11-23T13:15:37.889+01:00Quote of the day

The perfect DUP conference on Saturday for The Dissenter...: Impressed at Robinson's speech and at conference organisation. And then McCrea started to sing. #DUP09...almost.

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-10857979309059260202009-11-22T15:02:00.000+01:002009-11-22T15:02:00.271+01:00Young Unionist Chairman at Conservative Future Scotland

Michael Shilliday yesterday became the first Chairman of the Young Unionists for forty years to address the Conservative Future Scotland Conference, Chekov has the speech here.One of the advantages to the Conservative/UUP link up, from a Northern Irish Unionist point of view, is exactly this kind of opportunity to exchange and debate ideas and beliefs with likeminded colleagues across the Irish

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-15805202188002917862009-11-22T11:28:00.007+01:002009-11-22T14:31:08.710+01:00A (War)dog inhumanely putdown?

A salutary lesson for all of us involved in political blogging I suppose:A UNIVERSITY has launched an inquiry into the behaviour of one of its lecturers after he used his pro-nationalist blog to mount a vicious attack on the Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy.Robert Gordon University is investigating the online activities of Bruce Newlands, a lecturer in construction technology at the Aberdeen

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-46114954217753321642009-11-21T13:01:00.002+01:002009-11-21T13:04:12.928+01:00The UKIP and the TUV, a marriage made in heave...Brussels?

The UKIP are putting a line in with "Good guy" Jim and the TUV?Apparently so, more over at Open Unionism!

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-40692872130625070942009-11-20T16:00:00.001+01:002009-11-20T16:00:02.443+01:00I'm back!!!

Yes, I know a bit like Arnie in The Terminator it seems I've never been away but the last couple of months have been comparatively slow here due to work commitments, extended holidays, exploding computers and the like.All now sorted. My three rolling links sections (Friends of the Unionist, Nationalist Insurgency and Other Favourites) have also been updated; they total over a hundred blogs,

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-63349682394895978262009-11-20T14:28:00.003+01:002009-11-20T14:34:07.008+01:00The Future for England?

On Wednesday evening "The Future for England?" conference took place in one of the rooms at the Palace of Westminster.There were four speakers; George Monbiot (Guardian newspaper and environment campaigner) , Peter Facey (Director: Unlock Democracy), Paul Kingsnorth (author of 'Real England: The Battle against the Bland') and occasional communicant of this parish, David Wildgoose (vice-chairman

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-60756776881003818682009-11-19T20:32:00.001+01:002009-11-19T21:04:22.519+01:00The Poppy- what's the Irish language connection?

The Angrytown News is angry. Really Angry. Again. It's November, so obviously this time it'll be the right of people to wear their poppies in public which is disturbing their sense of equilibrium- and obviously,the usual "I've a right to be outraged" mob needs to be requisitioned for their views. But alongside those individuals, the kind who'd complain to the Met Office if the sun set with an

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-17395986134287228602009-11-19T16:25:00.000+01:002009-11-19T16:25:00.275+01:00Quote of the day

An outbreak of honesty from Hugh Henry, the Labour convener of Holyrood's public audit committee:"We all in each of our parties try to outbid each other in promising what we will do, and yet knowing privately that most of that is not possible."A comment followed, no doubt, by embarrassing shuffling of feet, looking at the ceiling, humming and haaing from his fellow committee-members.They'll need

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008037633121035579.post-44644460021614164252009-11-19T13:42:00.007+01:002009-11-19T14:52:19.081+01:00You scratch my back...and the Montblanc stays

Gordon Brown failed to include any of the legislative measures recommended by the Kelly Report in the Queen's Speech; notwithstanding 30 grand lunch allowances and hotel video channels, the main relevance of the Kelly Report to Northern Ireland is, of course, the end of double/triple jobbing- "the banning of MPs sitting concurrently in devolved legislatures".There are presently 16 Northern Irish

O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02531858236570346203ONeill1912@gmail.com0