A thoughtful reply, Alexia, cheers. I'm glad bombs aren't going off regularly in Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK, who wouldn't be? I still want proper scrutiny of our politicans, though. We'll have to agree to differ.
Meanwhile, while the Sunday Life is full of garbage, hard not to snigger at this.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda ... 54766.html
Altogether now: "There's a girl works down the chip shop swears she's Iris...."
The All New Northern Ireland
Should probably go into one of the general threads, but I have to admit in this day and age, it's welcoming to see a "Unity"* candidate standing in Fermanagh and South Tyrone with the backing of the UUP and DUP.
I am even disappointed it means Arlene Foster, who has gone up a lot in my estimation this year and TBH should be the next DUP leader** once Robinson leaves/is disposed of, has stepped aside.
I think it could seal the seat for the highly-regarded Mr Connor now, as Fearghal McKinney and Michelle Gildernew will split the Catholic vote and only tactical voting among the Nationalist electorate will save them.
*Don't you just love the irony of Mr Connor being referred to as "Unity"?
**Yes, I now regret comparing her to Ann Widdicombe earlier in this thread.
I am even disappointed it means Arlene Foster, who has gone up a lot in my estimation this year and TBH should be the next DUP leader** once Robinson leaves/is disposed of, has stepped aside.
I think it could seal the seat for the highly-regarded Mr Connor now, as Fearghal McKinney and Michelle Gildernew will split the Catholic vote and only tactical voting among the Nationalist electorate will save them.
*Don't you just love the irony of Mr Connor being referred to as "Unity"?
**Yes, I now regret comparing her to Ann Widdicombe earlier in this thread.
The Northern Ireland Minister for Culture has asked the province's museums to give more prominence to creationist theory in their displays.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 159667.stm
In other news, the new MP for Strangford (replacing The Lovely Iris, who, incidentally, a friend spotted shopping happily on Marylebone High Street last week) is the DUP's Jim Shannon, a local purveyor of meats who likes to fly to Argentina to shoot doves. He's proposing to make part of his maiden speech in the Commons in "Ulster Scots".
Ulster Scots is an old-fashioned dialect from north-east Ulster which certain sections of society here have managed to elevate to the status of a language in order to try and maintain equal funding to that given to Irish. It's an excellent use of funding given the state of our economy (!).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 159667.stm
In other news, the new MP for Strangford (replacing The Lovely Iris, who, incidentally, a friend spotted shopping happily on Marylebone High Street last week) is the DUP's Jim Shannon, a local purveyor of meats who likes to fly to Argentina to shoot doves. He's proposing to make part of his maiden speech in the Commons in "Ulster Scots".
Ulster Scots is an old-fashioned dialect from north-east Ulster which certain sections of society here have managed to elevate to the status of a language in order to try and maintain equal funding to that given to Irish. It's an excellent use of funding given the state of our economy (!).
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GavBelfast
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 22.13
- Location: Dundonald, Co Down
Mr Shannon missed his first day as an MP at Westminster - because he was speaking as an elected member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Double-jobbing at work!
One of the more amusing reports was that Shannon allegedly thought that, as a newly elected MP, he couldn't go to Westminster until he was sworn-in. Of course, new MPs can only get sworn-in in Westminster.
Not an encoraging start, though he is good at filling-in forms (he says so himself) and also says he won some EU recognition for the Comber potato.
Bravo!
Double-jobbing at work!
One of the more amusing reports was that Shannon allegedly thought that, as a newly elected MP, he couldn't go to Westminster until he was sworn-in. Of course, new MPs can only get sworn-in in Westminster.
Not an encoraging start, though he is good at filling-in forms (he says so himself) and also says he won some EU recognition for the Comber potato.
Bravo!
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GavBelfast
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 22.13
- Location: Dundonald, Co Down
A further update on Strangford's new Honourable Member ....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 274985.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 274985.stm
Instead of laughing at politicians or my hatred of blonde UTV women (excludes Gillian Porter), I have found the events of the last few days in the City in the North West has shown a more positive, human side to Norn Iron.
The news reports yesterday of the leaders of the Protestant churches being welcomed into the Bogside, where they presented a gift of the "Hands Across the Divide" statue by Craigavon Bridge with the hands joining together, was a true Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
There's also a heartfelt piece by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe published on the Londonderry Sentinel's website: http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/ne ... 6368819.jp
The news reports yesterday of the leaders of the Protestant churches being welcomed into the Bogside, where they presented a gift of the "Hands Across the Divide" statue by Craigavon Bridge with the hands joining together, was a true Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
There's also a heartfelt piece by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe published on the Londonderry Sentinel's website: http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/ne ... 6368819.jp
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DVB Cornwall
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Fri 24 Jun, 2005 21.42
more developments....
Iris Robinson questioned by police
Iris Robinson, the former MP, has been questioned by police investigating her financial affairs.
The wife of Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, was interviewed in London, where she has been living since she quit politics in shame over her affair with a teenager.
Mr Robinson's Democratic Unionist Party insisted on Friday night that he had not been questioned.
more….
WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/NEWS
Iris Robinson questioned by police
Iris Robinson, the former MP, has been questioned by police investigating her financial affairs.
The wife of Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, was interviewed in London, where she has been living since she quit politics in shame over her affair with a teenager.
Mr Robinson's Democratic Unionist Party insisted on Friday night that he had not been questioned.
more….
WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/NEWS
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GavBelfast
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 22.13
- Location: Dundonald, Co Down
Capital of Culture?
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Founta ... 6387217.jp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 430894.stm
I support the bid, but would winning the title encourage advances towards liberal tolerance, cohesion and a shared future, or be premature reward for a place that still has an awfully long way to go?
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Founta ... 6387217.jp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 430894.stm
I support the bid, but would winning the title encourage advances towards liberal tolerance, cohesion and a shared future, or be premature reward for a place that still has an awfully long way to go?
It's D-Day for Stroke City tomorrow. I am unsure whether it will be a curse or a blessing for the place.*
It doesn't help at all that you have the sickening sight of children as young as 8 (some of whom, BBC Breakfast claimed this morning, were egged on by their parents) rioting on the streets of Belfast leading the national news agenda for the past few days.
It's times like these I'm glad I got out of the place, a view I know many of my generation share.
* - Yes, I can be impartial about matters to do with where I come from...
It doesn't help at all that you have the sickening sight of children as young as 8 (some of whom, BBC Breakfast claimed this morning, were egged on by their parents) rioting on the streets of Belfast leading the national news agenda for the past few days.
It's times like these I'm glad I got out of the place, a view I know many of my generation share.
* - Yes, I can be impartial about matters to do with where I come from...
(London)Derry FTW!
The prospect of job creation and financial investment in the city is exciting and certainly welcome; but what I'd love to see is City of Culture 2013 truly bringing the city's residents, and Northern Ireland, together.
The prospect of job creation and financial investment in the city is exciting and certainly welcome; but what I'd love to see is City of Culture 2013 truly bringing the city's residents, and Northern Ireland, together.
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GavBelfast
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 22.13
- Location: Dundonald, Co Down
Would these murderous bastards ever care to take their death-wish out themselves and leave the rest of us out of it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10853360
The people of both parts of Ireland have voted, overwhelmingly, for a settlement that means the advancement of goals by peaceful methods alone. These savages are hopeless, looking to kill for killing's sake, they are defying the will of the people of this island.
I hate the hatred and misery they seek to visit upon the rest of us.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10853360
The people of both parts of Ireland have voted, overwhelmingly, for a settlement that means the advancement of goals by peaceful methods alone. These savages are hopeless, looking to kill for killing's sake, they are defying the will of the people of this island.
I hate the hatred and misery they seek to visit upon the rest of us.