2 March 2012 Edition
Sinn Féin Poll Surge
2 March 2012
THE Behaviour and Attitudes survey for the Sunday Times shows Sinn Féin support in the 26 Counties jumping four points to 25%, making it the biggest challenger to Fine Gael (32%), ahead of Fianna Fáil (dropping four points to 16%) and the Labour Party down to 10%. (Independents — ranging across the political spectrum from Left to Right — stand at 17%.)
Gerry Adams remains the most... Free article
A challenge for us all that we cannot afford to lose
2 March 2012
AS I SIT DOWN to write this, the Vita Cortex workers have entered the 70th day of their sit-in. There have been a lot of words used to describe their story over the past few months, including ‘dispute, struggle and fight’. One word which has not been used as often is the word ‘challenge’. This is surprising since this situation does indeed represent a challenge on a number of levels within Irish society. Free article
The Mother of all victories beckons?
2 March 2012
THERE COULD BE the mother of all victories for the Northern half of the country in Gaelic games come St Patrick’s Day at GAA HQ. Free article
Reject 'fracking'
2 March 2012
AS THE DEBATE on the controversial oil and gas exploration technique hydraulic fracturing (known as ‘fracking’), heats up, the newly-formed Good Energies Alliance Ireland (GEAI) has urged communities across the island to oppose the practice. Free article
Collective effort, not individual greed, is the only way forward
2 March 2012
WE LIVE in a world of free market economics. And the big theory behind all this is that if individuals are freed from ‘sectional interest’ restraints (which is how the free marketers describe state controls or trades unions) then the economy will flower. Free article
Uncomfortable conversations are key to reconciliation
2 March 2012
MANY YEARS AGO, unionists told republicans that our words could not be heard over the sound of guns and bombs. That was in a period when republicans sought contact and dialogue with unionist and Protestant people against the backdrop of the IRA’s ongoing armed struggle. Free article
Neck-and-neck between Johnson and Livingstone
2 March 2012
THE London Mayoral election on 3 May looks set to be a neck-and-neck contest between Tory incumbent Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. Polls in January put Livingstone two points ahead following a boost in his support, largely as a result of his focus on the need to cut public transport fares; a February poll put Johnson two points ahead, showing just how tight this fight will be. Free article
More than just a stadium
2 March 2012
McATEER’S FIELD was our Colosseum. On the shores of Lough Neagh, this was the home of Creggan Kickhams GAC. Behind the goals at one end was McLarnon’s grocery store. On the far sideline, was a stone tearmann cross, marking the boundary of the ancient monastic settlement at Cranfield connected with St Olcan. Free article
Willie Frazer plans Easter Week demo at GPO
2 March 2012
WILLIE FRAZER has claimed he cannot be held responsible if he provokes violence at a demonstration his ‘Love Ulster’ group is planning for Dublin on Easter Saturday. When Frazer tried to lead a loyalist parade through Dublin City Centre in 2006 there were running riots across the city which cost taxpayers an estimated €10million in damages and lost revenue. Free article
The politicisation of Pádraig Mac Piarais
2 March 2012
PÁDRAIG Mac PIARAIS (PH Pearse) grew up in a comfortable middleclass family in Dublin but one which influenced the revolutionary direction of his politics. From an aunt in County Meath he heard stories and songs of Irish nationalism, 1798 and the Fenians. His father, an English sculptor, was radical in politics. And the young man matured during Ireland’s cultural revival, quickly becoming a leader in the Gaelic League. Free article
Commemoration threatened by loyalists and neo-nazis
2 March 2012
MERSEYSIDE POLICE allowed a mob of 300 loyalists, neo-Nazis, British Army veterans and soccer hooligans from ‘Casuals United’ to block a road and threaten people attending the annual commemoration for a Liverpool-born IRA Volunteer killed at the famous Upton Ambush of 1921. Free article