Monthly Archives: October 2015

Colum Eastwood Launches Campaign For Leadership

Posted on October 24, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

So…”The Hive”, Grosvenor Road, Belfast. Less than half a mile from where I spent the first seventeen years of my life. Once a Westie, always a Westie. In the end, around two hundred people in attendance. A lot from Derry … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The Great North Antrim Sinn Féin Selection Controversy

Posted on October 24, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Let me put a scenario to you. A political party gets less than 13% of the votes in the Westminster Election. Next May, it is defending one seat in a six seat constituency. And it had a Selection Conference two … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

SDLP And Slugger O’Toole…Catch Yourself On, Mick!

Posted on October 23, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

So Slugger O’Toole has issued an invitation for a SDLP Leadership hustings event with local journalists and an audience of SDLP members. Thats awfully decent of Slugger O’Toole. After all, in May this year in East Belfast, Slugger O’Toole did … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Great East Belfast Alliance Party Selection Controversy

Posted on October 23, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

i cant say that I have seen much about the Alliance Party and East Belfast on Slugger O’Toole. And yet Naomi Long is their favourite politician. interesting to note that Judith Cochrane MLA has decided not to seek re-selection. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SDLP Leadership Contest

Posted on October 21, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

If you are travelling over the Glenshane Pass tomorrow afternoon, look out for a bus load of  SDLP “Derry wans” heading to Belfast. They are heading for the official launch of Colum Eastwood’s Leadership Election Campaign. Thursday is of course … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Great West Tyrone SDLP Candidate Selection Controversy

Posted on October 19, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

As soon as we get to the point of selecting candidates for an election, we get some controversy…internal jockeying for position and the inevitable row betweendisgruntled locals and Party HQ. Take the SDLP Selection Convention in West Tyrone last week. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Every Picture Tells A Story

Posted on October 14, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Stormont yesterday. Two Debates. DUP currently disconnected from the Assembly dont show up for a Debate on Autism. But DUP show up to defend the system where Special Advisors get inflated salaries. What is a Special Advisor and why are … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who Dares To Speak Of….1916?

Posted on October 9, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

So the Decade of Centenaries. It was always likely that 2016 would be the key year. And that the Easter Rising, iconic for nationalists and the Battle of the Somme, iconic for unionists would be the key events. And always … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Spotlight”, “Nolan” and SDLP

Posted on October 8, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

At some point before the Leadership vote, I will have to blog on the contest between Alasdair McDonnell and Colum Eastwood….and just as important, other contests within SDLP. The conventional wiisdom is that divided parties do not do well. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who Do I Think I Am…Part Two (Maternal Side)

Posted on October 2, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

For generations…centuries even…. Irish families have lived along either side of invisible county borders….Sligo/Mayo, Armagh/Down, Meath/Dublin. Necessarily each one of the thirty two counties has a border with at least one other county. These lines never split families and family … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments