The announcement that the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) is to be effectively disbanded over a two-year period came one day after the 30th anniversary of the Miami Showband Massacre in which three members of the popular band were murdered in a sectarian attack. It was a poignant coincidence because three members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) - the predecessors of the RIR - were convicted of involvement in the massacre, a prime example of how the loyalist militia operated hand-in-glove with unofficial unionist paramilitaries. Free article

ROBBIE SMYTH assesses how the IRA's historic announcement was reported in over 30 papers from Ireland, Britain, the USA and even as far away as Japan to gauge whose agendas were being carried in our print and internet news media and how was the IRA's statement being interpreted. His findings show everything from bias to the bizarre, and that in some cases reality should never be let get in the way of journalists with deadlines to meet and corners to cut. Free article

A 26-County General Election is due in less than two years. Here, Máirtin Mac Eoin, writing in a personal capacity, predicts that on present figures Fianna Fáil will remain in the driving seat but that Sinn Féin could have considerable influence when the results are counted. Free article

A clear link can be discerned with increased alcohol consumption and the pressures of modern day life. Similar parallels can be seen with alcoholism and oppression most starkly seen with the native peoples of the Americas and Australia. All kinds of social disorders and deteriorating quality of life are associated with the ongoing march and development of capitalism. Free article

An Irish Jacobite highwayman of the late 16th and early 17th Century known as 'Ned of the Hill' not only was immortalised in song but also has quite a folk history. Free article

This week Micheál Mac Donncha, editor of Sinn Féin - 100 years of struggle, spoke to An Phoblacht's Cathal Ó Murchú about this important new book Free article

It is an unforgettable moment. I listened with comrades of 30 years standing, to the words that formally ended the IRA's armed struggle. I could hardly take in what I was hearing as I hurriedly wrote them down. My verbatim record reads: The leadership of Oglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign... All IRA units ordered to dump arms... All Volunteers instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever. Free article

As the 90th anniversary of the death and funeral of O'Donovan Rossa approaches, An Phoblacht's Shane Mac Thomáis looks back at the life of this remarkable Fenian. Free article

I have been struck from an early age at the difference between the official nicknames given to county teams and the more usual expressions applied by fans. Dublin are still referred to in programmes as the 'Metropoli-tans', which has a decidedly Batmanesque ring to it. In actual fact it refers to the original hurling club established in the city by GAA founder member Michael Cusack. Free article

THE IRA's ground-breaking declaration last week saw a host of DUP leaders clamouring to get on the telly to pour scorn on the initiative. Ian Paisley Snr, Ian Paisley Jnr, Peter Robinson, Gregory Campbell and even Nelson McCausland were all on the box to hold forth on the IRA. In a pretence of balance, the DUP heads tut-tutted about the unionists' own ongoing UVF-LVF feud. But where was Willie McCrea? Free article