It has been a week of comparisons, some hilarious, some tragic. Free article

The new Assembly should increase its cabinet to include a Minister of Arts - and I think our Sinn Féin Assembly members should be making a pitch now for that important cabinet role. Free article

On Sunday 12 July, delegations representing Colombian civil society and the country's insurgents will meet in the German town of Mainz. The meeting is considered vitally important in the process of securing peace and a negotiated solution to Colombia's long-running conflict. Free article

Is léir go bhfuil iarracht ag roinnt mhaith tuairisceoirí i measc na dtuairiscí ar scríobhadh fa' dtaobh champa na nOraisteach ar an Bhóthar Garbh Achaidh `dea-scéal' a chumadh faoi rud seicteach agus bearna a chruthú idir an Ord Oraisteach agus locht do na círeibeacha atá ar súil ar fud na Sé Chontae. Free article

Housing crisis ignored and Minimum wage march Free article

The Tour De France, the biggest sporting event in the world after the World Cup and the Olympics, comes to Ireland this weekend. Admittedly I know shag all about the sport, bar Stephen Roche won it some years ago, and find it as interesting as tennis - and that's not very interesting. While accepting it was Stephen Roche and Seán Kelly who originally pushed for the event, the role of the 26-County government has been called into question by an investigation by the Sunday Tribune. An intriguing article in the paper shed some light on some facts surrounding the sport. Firstly, a lot of people, particularly traders, feel the £8 million in public money being spent on the event will not reap the dividends promised by the 26-County government. Free article

The risings of 1798 have many forgotten heroes, anonymous men and women who gave up what little they had to fight for a more equal society in which the worth of labour would be recognised and rewarded, where privilege was a thing of the past. As in most of historical research the history of these people was neglected for years. It is fitting therefore that that wrong is being righted by much of the historical research and reappraisal occurring at present. Free article

An array of well-known entertainers, including Robbie Coltrane, Julie Christie, Emma Thompson, and Pete Townsend, have put their names to a charter for British withdrawal from Ireland launched last Thursday. Free article

Prime Time (RTE1) Ulster Live (UTV) Questions and Answers (RTE1) Tonight With Vincent Browne (Radio1) Home Ground (BBC2) Ruby (BBC2) Free article

Why does it not surprise me that Stephen McAllister, former RUC man and organiser of the Tour of the North parade through nationalist areas of North Belfast, was on the Drumcree march last Sunday? After all, it was he who said, ``What's the point of marching if it's only in our own areas?''

Stephen is a guy who likes to express his culture where he's not wanted. P


The Down Democrat... Free article