The first meeting of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council in Armagh on Tuesday was one of the most significant gatherings held in this country for many years. Yet it was not greeted by the world headlines and national saturation coverage that accompanied previous key events in the Irish Peace Process. That in itself tells a tale about the progress which has been made. Free article

The disclosure of Denis O'Brien's €200 million bid for three Irish radio stations, including the flagship company Today FM took many by surprise. The deal to buy Today FM, FM104 and Highland Radio is just the latest episode in a series of buyouts and mergers that are transforming the Irish media landscape. Free article

"The Hunger Strikers of 1981 and the Volunteers from County Tyrone who fell in the struggle are remembered in the new Ireland we are building today," said Sinn Féin Dáil leader, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, on the 26th Anniversary of the death of hunger striker, Martin Hurson. The Sinn Féin TD for Cavan/Monaghan was speaking last Friday evening 13 July in Galbally Community Centre in the course of an indoor commemoration. The decision to hold this year's commemorative event indoors was taken at the last minute because of the unrelenting downpour. The proceedings in Galbally Community Centre were chaired by local Sinn Féin activist Paul Kelly and among those in attendance were members of the Hurson family and other Tyrone families who lost loved ones as a result of the armed struggle and loyalist murders.Brendan Hurson, Martin's brother, presented the Martin Hurson Memorial Cups to the winners of the men's and women's Gaelic football competitions. The Martin Hurson Memorial Band played the National Anthem to end the proceedings. We carry here the oration delivered by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. Free article

Sinn Féin gained a third seat in Cork City Council on Monday 9 July with the co-option of Fiona Kerins. From Ballyphenhane Cork City, the 22 year old is the youngest member of Cork City Council having been co-opted to fill the vacancy left on the death of Independent Councillor Con O'Connell. Fiona is a lively, cheerful young woman with a candid manner and a real commitment to the republican project. Here she talks to Ella O'Dwyer about her respect for the late Councillor O'Connell, growing up in rebel Cork and her desire to 'play her part'. Free article

The General Election has come and gone. It brought some successes, but unfortunately more disappointments. Since the advent of the election much discussion and analysis has taken place within our movement. This analysis has focused mainly on; where we went wrong, where we failed to perform as expected, and where, if at all, we went right. However while this debate has been ongoing, is has done so predominantly, within Sinn Féin as a whole. Ógra have yet to make a detailed, mature and comprehensive analysis from our perspective. Hopefully this article will instigate such a discussion. Free article

Cad a chuaigh mí-cheart nó an bhfuil ceacht le foghlaim ag Sinn Féin ó na torthaí? Dá néireodh go maith le Sinn Féin sa toghchán b'fhéidir go mbeadh siad ag comh-oibriú sa Rialtas le Fianna Fáil, rud a mbeadh deacracht ag go leor dár lucht leanúna glacadh leis. Cén tairbhe a bheadh ann do Sinn Féin a bheith i Rialtas le páirtí a raibh cuid d'a mbaill i gcleachtais mí-mhacánta agus go bhfuil na Binsí Fiosraithe ar siúl mar gheall orthu? Arbh fhéidir le Sinn Féin seans mar sin a ghlacadh? Nach fusa i bhfad bheith ag comh-oibriú leis na hAondachtóirí, tá fhios acu cá seasann siad leo san. Free article

On Tuesday 20 July 1982 the IRA brought the war to the heart of London in a devastating double attack. The first attack occurred at 10.40am. A detachment of the Blues and Royals Regiment, freshly returned from the Falklands/Malvinas war, had just left Knightsbridge Barracks in central London on their way to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.Reaching Regent's Park they drew level with a blue Morris saloon containing an IRA radio-controlled bomb. A Volunteer detonated the bomb, killing two soldiers outright and seriously wounding another four, one of whom later died as a result of his injuries. Free article

I suppose, given that Dublin's performance was almost as good as could be expected and left little room for nit-picking, it was inevitable that many pundits' attention would be diverted instead to the alleged "antics" of some of the Dublin players. If it hadn't been that then it would probably have been the pitch invasion and the audacity of Dublin supporters in celebrating winning a third Leinster in a row when they should have been hurrying home to a meat tea. No-one else ever comes onto the pitch of course. Free article

The Irish Times is a more sophisticated and, it must be said, less reactionary newspaper than the Sunday Independent and has supported the peace process as against the neo-unionist ranting of the Sindo, Tony O'Reilly's largest and most reprehensible creation. However, there are times when hate-filled diatribes from propagandists like Eoghan Harris are preferable (at least Harris does not hide his self-loathing anti-nationalism) than the more disingenuous commentary of The Irish Times in denial mode. Free article

Same old Storey

DUP Assembly member and Orangeman Mervyn Storey has painted himself into a corner over last week’s attacks on an Orange hall in Rasharkin, County Antrim.
Someone broke in and stole an Orange banner.
Nationalists were later complimented by some unionists and the PSNI for helping retrieve it.
But Storey wasn’t satisfied.
“I wonder when the Orange brethren of Rasharkin are... Free article