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BRAVE HEARTS?
I don't know a lot about Scotland. I like the accent and the music and Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor, Kenneth McKeller and an occasional wee dram. I was only there twice. The first time I had to be...
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Annual Meeting 2014 of the Clinton Global Initiative
Two weeks ago I was pleased to visit New York and the 10th Annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative held in the Sheraton hotel, in mid-town Manhattan. The event, organised by the Bill, Hilary...
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Ceád Míle Fáilte??
There was a time when the Holiday Camp at Mosney was host to Joe Dolan and Dickie Rock. Thousands danced the night away to 'Oh Me Oh My' and 'The Church with the White Washed Gable'. Sadly Joe is no...
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Commemorating the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising
The Centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising is now less than two years away. This hugely significant date in the history of the Irish nation should be marked in an appropriate, sensitive and...
View ArticleHow republicans dealt with allegations of child abuse
The recent allegations made by Maíria Cahill are of serious concern to myself and Sinn Féin. While I refute completely Maíria’s allegations against myself and Sinn Féin it does raise the significant...
View ArticleAction not point-scoring needed for victims, a Thaoisigh
The allegations of Maíria Cahill have been at the centre of the media and political system North and South, in recent times.Nobody doubts that Maíria has been through great distress. I have never...
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Taoiseach Out Of His Depth
Last Monday night this column was in Dundalk at a Right2Water public meeting. There was a good turnout and a lively discussion. Local Councillors and former Executive Minster Conor Murphy joined us. On...
View ArticleStill I Rise
Certain media commentators have recently made an issue of the fact that some time ago, I tweeted Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise. They seem not to have the slightest appreciation of the nature of...
View ArticleThe Good Old IRA
Last Saturday was the anniversary of the execution by the British of 18 year old Kevin Barry. He was hanged on November 1st 1920. Kevin Barry was one of the ‘Forgotten Ten’ – IRA volunteers who were...
View ArticleEngaging successfully with the Irish diaspora
Last week Mary Lou McDonald took Tánaiste Joan Burton to task during Leaders questions in the Dáil over the government’s failure to resolve the crisis in Irish Water; the continuing debacle around...
View ArticleSindo hysteria fools nobody
Hysteria is defined as an extreme emotion which cannot be controlled. A person so afflicted is described as hysterical. And we often describe things as hysterically funny.The latest round in the...
View ArticleBigot is a B word also.
Some unionists have seized upon my remarks in Fermanagh when I described bigots as b****rds. My use of that word was inappropriate. Some of have said that I was speaking about unionists. I wasn’t....
View ArticleRecognising the Palestinian State
As you read this I will be in the Middle East. The purpose of the visit is to meet key players in the region, and to receive first hand information about the current conditions there. I have an...
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Oireachtas recognises Palestinian State
Last night the Dáil concluded a two day debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling for recognition of a Palestinian state. This means that both houses of the Oireachtas now support the right of the...
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Niall Vallely – an idealist, an activist, a family man, a musician
Niall Vallely died on Sunday. His funeral took place in Newry this morning and I was asked to give a eulogy during the mass which I was honoured to do.Below are my remarks: Niall Vallely – an...
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Amateurish and ham fisted negotiation
Invariably the British government likes to spin that its role is that of a facilitator – a neutral chair trying to persuade the obstinate northern parties to see sense and agree a deal. There is a...
View ArticleEnd the slaughter in Gaza
It is unusual for this column to deal with the same issue three weeks in a row. But the Israeli assault on Gaza makes this a very special case. The scenes of desolation and destruction, of whole...
View ArticleArd Chomhairle ratifies Stormont Agreement
The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle today met to discuss the agreement reached at Stormont on Tuesday December 23rd.There was an informed discussion. The Ard Chomhairle recognised that progress has been made...
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Supporting dialogue to resolve conflicts
With President Abbas For those who doubt the imperative of dialogue in advancing negotiations the two historic international decisions in respect of Cuba and Palestine just before Christmas are clear...
View ArticleThe Rise and Rise of Negative Politics
As regular readers of this column will know I have been known to ‘tweet’ – occasionally. It’s an enjoyable and relaxing process made all the more pleasurable because I can escape the Sinn Féin thought...
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