"Men perish but principles live". James Connolly 1916 🇮🇪🇵🇸
Béal Feirste 🇮🇪
Joined July 2021
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"GAVIN, I KNOW YOU'RE RATTLED TONIGHT..."
And so began the full public implosion of Unionism after a seminal month in the history of local politics.
Last night on BBC's The View, the Leaders of the three main Unionist Party's inadvertently shone a huge, glaring spotlight into the chaos which has now engulfed them.
Gavin Robinson of the DUP, now a 'Leader' in name only, did indeed look "rattled". Carla Lockhart had delivered him a hammer blow just before he went on air.
Gavin is the epitome of a man on "automatic pilot". And he has been for some time... Permanently in fear of the vocal extremes, in particular Jamie Bryson who took over his "leadership of Unionism" by stealth some time ago.
In a bizarre almost surreal moment, Gavin (now in full David Brent mode) declared that he had shared a packet of Haribo's with Carla.
So therefore they must still be mates...
It was a tumbleweed moment...
I was half waiting for big Finchy to come to his rescue by hurling a shoe over the roof of the BBC Studios...
The brilliant Mark Carruthers, (a presenter for whom Christmas had just arrived two months early), stoked the flames of ferment with his customary brilliance.
Jim Allister, red-faced and irate (his default setting in life) poured on the petrol as Gavin bizarrely sat with his back to him, unable to even look at his rival who was setting him alight in full view...
Then there was Jon Burrows the leader of the UUP who was wisely on a video-link away from the ensuing chaos. We all presumed that Jon was at home until Gavin dramatically announced "Jon's in Taiwan!".
Hang on.... Taiwan...?? Yes, Taiwan.... Jon had actually flown all the way off to the Far East to find out if they do things any better over there. It turns out they do...
"I'd like to point out that there is no cost to the taxpayer for this trip!" yelled Jon like a badge of honour... An attempt to steal the moral high ground as the madness ensued around him.
This was now Primetime Box Office viewing. And it got even better...
His interrogation succesfully completed, Mark Carruthers headed over to his three analysts for comment.
And sitting shellshocked. we had Tim Cairns, looking like a slightly older version of his namesake Tim from the Office... "I'm just so sad" declared Tim, "I'm really just so sad...!"
Tim knew the game was up... Unionism was now on life support. Wernham Hogg was about to finally go bust... Where was Dawn last night when he needed her?
As for Big Gavin, he had slipped off out the back door, off to do a charity photoshoot, before planning his next career move as a door-to-door Salesman for Haribo...
"Live fast, die old" as David Brent would say...
HENRY JOY.
@bbctheview @MarkCarruthers7 @GRobinsonDUP @JimAllister @JonBurrowsMLA @duponline @uuponline @TUVonline @timcairns @SuzyJourno
Henry Joy retweeted
LATEST | Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Deirdre Hargey arrive at Belfast police station for interview over Garvaghy Road protest
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
Henry Joy retweeted
5-star commentary from Michael McKernan on todays @StormontSources podcast.
His evisceration of @StephenNolan and his @BBCNolan show in this clip, is a thing of beauty.
Earlier in the podcast he also destroys the Bryson/Lockhart strategy. Cairns didn't know where to look.
Henry Joy retweeted
The family of Sean Brown travel to London next Tuesday to defend the decision by FIVE High Court Judges comprising THREE tiers of our judiciary who have ordered the government to convene a Public Inquiry.
Supported by
• PSNI Chief Constable
• Taoiseach
• First Minster
• GAA
Henry Joy retweeted
Gavin Robinson cant even rein in Carla Lockhart within his own ranks, so his performative threats to ‘punish’ Sinn Féin FM Michelle O’Neill are pure bluster - as hollow as they are laughable
Political realities in the North have changed forever
There. Is. No. Going. Back.
🇮🇪 THIS IS ST COMGALL's BELFAST TONIGHT: @sinnfeinireland
The Nationalist Electorate in the North of Ireland is currently energised in a way not seen for many years. Every night seems to bring a different event with big crowds.
This is St Comgall's tonight as Sinn Fein launch their 2027 Assembly Election campaign for West Belfast.
They are fielding 4 candidates:
Pat Sheehan
Paul Maskey
Órlaithí Flynn
Danny Baker
Keynote Speaker tonight is @MaryLouMcDonald .
@sinnfeinireland
Henry Joy retweeted
🇮🇪 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐗 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐎 🇵🇸
Hoy recibimos a @KNEECAPCEOL en nuestra casa, compartiendo un momento por Palestina 🇵🇸 Gracias por visitarnos, alzar la voz y mantenerse firmes junto al pueblo palestino. Esta camiseta edición especial representa un mensaje claro: basta de genocidio, apartheid y ocupación 🚫
Más que un equipo, #TodoUnPueblo 🇵🇸
Sunday 1st November 12.30pm, Glasnevin Cemetry, Dublin. 🇮🇪
As part of the National Graves Association's 100th Anniversary, a commemoration will be held to remember Ireland's Hunger Strikers.
The main oration will be delivered by the NGA’s County Sligo representative Con Darcy who has recently published a new book titled “Ireland’s Hunger Strike Martyrs”.
This is an NGA event, no party/group flags/banners.
🇮🇪
Henry Joy retweeted
For the tenth consecutive day, the Israeli occupation army has blocked the entry of vegetables, fruits, and food supplies into the Gaza Strip, causing severe shortages in markets, the disappearance of entire food categories, and exorbitant price hikes.
Henry Joy retweeted
Famine casts its shadow over the Gaza Strip once again amid the restriction of basic goods and humanitarian aid, deepening the worsening humanitarian crisis. The footage shows long queues of residents and children waiting for hours just to secure a basic meal, raising urgent calls to open crossings and end the enforced starvation policies.
تُتلقي المجاعة بظلالها من جديد على قطاع غزة وسط منع دخول السلع الأساسية والمساعدات الإنسانية، ما يُعمّق من تفاقم الأزمة الإنسانية. ويوثق المقطع طوابير طويلة من المواطنين والأطفال الذين ينتظرون لساعات للحصول على وجبة طعام تسد رمقهم، وسط صرخات تُطالب بفتح المعابر وإنهاء سياسة التجويع الممنهجة.
Henry Joy retweeted
Tá boscaí bruscair nua Chomhairle Bhéal Feirste I mBéarla amháin i gcroí lár na Ceathrún Gaeltachta.
Why have @belfastcc put new English only bins in the Gaeltacht Quarter, at odds with Council's own policy, NDNA, ECRML & @ForasnaGaeilge #Gaeilge
SEAN GRAHAM BOOKMAKERS KILLINGS - LOWER ORMEAU ROAD, BELFAST (5TH FEBRUARY 1992).
Ahead of next week's ruling by the Parades Commission regarding a proposed march by The Apprentice Boys through the Nationalist Lower Ormeau Road in South Belfast, I thought I would give a particular reminder of the 2 youngest victims who were murdered during the attack by the UDA/UFF in 1992:
Peter Magee was just 18 years old and he was killed instantly after 2 masked Loyalist gunmen walked into the small bookmakers shop and fired indiscriminately at the 15 customers inside, unleashing 44 rounds.
Peter was one of 6 siblings and he had a twin brother Martin.
The youngest victim was James Kennedy, a Secondary School pupil, who was only 15 years old. James was shot at the scene and he was then rushed to hospital by ambulance, where he sadly died on arrival. His reported last words were "Tell my Mommy that I love her".
His mother Kathleen died just two years later at the age of 50 after becoming a virtual recluse. She was heartbroken by his death.
James father said afterwards - "the bullets that killed James didn't just travel in distance; they travelled in time. Some of those bullets never stopped travelling".
The other 3 victims who died in the attack that day were:
Jack Duffin - Aged 66 years.
Willie McManus - Aged 54 years
Christy Doherty - Aged 52 years.
9 other people were injured.
There is absolutely no way that any Loyalist Parade should ever be allowed to parade again past the spot where this sectarian atrocity happened. However there are now growing concerns that the Parades Commission might decide to repeat their Drumcree determination.
A message is being sent loud and clear today to both the Parades Commission & The British Government. We will not tolerate this unwanted sectarian Loyalist parade through a Nationalist area where it is not wanted... It must be banned or re-routed.
🟢 NO SECOND CLASS CITIZENS
🟢 NO GOING BACK...
@RhonddaBryant @andyburnham @NIOgov @10DowningStreet @UKLabour
