Tag Archives: politics

It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This

Posted on November 29, 2024 by fitzjameshorse

There are two things that can be said about the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The first thing is that it has worked out better than we all thought. The second is that it has worked out worse than we … Continue reading →

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History Is Not Dead…But Politics Probably Is Dead

Posted on August 5, 2023 by fitzjameshorse

So it turns out that Francis Fukuyama was wrong. History has not ended. I am not sure I ever wanted to believe that. It always seemed to me that there was just too much unfinished business in the world…the Middle … Continue reading →

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Celebrity Stormont

Posted on September 13, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Now that Fearghal McKinney (SDLP) has joined his former Ulster TV News colleague Mike Nesbitt (UUP) in Stormont…it is surely time to throw out the 106 other MLAs and replace them with our best loved journalists and celebrities. I daresay … Continue reading →

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Four More Years

Posted on November 7, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

It is 3.10pm…..I am exhausted. I stayed up until 6am. I am getting too old for this. I remember the days when I stayed up all night for American Elections and was still able to go out to school, university … Continue reading →

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Stormont…”This Place…It Sucks You In”

Posted on June 17, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

A summer day last year and I walked into the Stormont Assembly Building. Kinda puffed up and proud with my invitation to a Reception in the Long Gallery in my hand. There for the first time in my own right, rather … Continue reading →

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Eligibilty (Political Football) A Guest Post from “Sammy McNally”

Posted on April 3, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

With the DUP turning up at GAA matches, SF ministers turning up at Windsor park and funds from Stormo being allocated to Sports facilities to be shared between Soccer, Rugby and GAA, you could be forgiven for believing that sport … Continue reading →

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Has SDLP Turned The Corner?

Posted on March 6, 2012 by fitzjameshorse

It is now four months since the SDLP Annual Conference and the election of Alasdair McDonnell to replace Margaret Ritchie. Although Alasdair got off to a shaky start…that initial speech will haunt him……..and there was that furore over MLA salaries, things … Continue reading →

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The Public Gallery At Stormont

Posted on December 14, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

The first time I went into the Public Gallery was around March 1969. It was a school trip of sorts. I bunked off/played truant/mitched/went on the hike/played hookey aged 16 with a fellow member of the  A Level “Economics & … Continue reading →

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Sean Rogers MLA Elect

Posted on December 5, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

Sean Rogers has been selected by SDLP in South Down to be co-opted into the Stormont Assembly to replace Magaret Ritchie who will now be concentrating on her role as Member of Westminster Parliament. Seemingly 239 people voted in the … Continue reading →

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Belfast Mayor Makes Eejit Of Himself

Posted on December 1, 2011 by fitzjameshorse

In the summer….Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Féin) succeeded fellow Republican Pat Convery (SDLP) as Mayor of Belfast and as he is only 25 years old was hailed as the new face of Sinn Féin. Niall has had a run of … Continue reading →

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