Category Archives: Northern Ireland

Photo Recharge for Your Soul – NI September 2023

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Gerry Lynch

A baker’s dozen of the best shots I took while back home this month Continue reading →

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Once Again, America Chooses Ireland Over the UK

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Gerry Lynch

Unherd published a piece of mine on US government interventions on Northern Ireland, and why Ireland’s special relationship with the USA usually trumps the UK’s (read more here). Irish influence in America is not just about raw political calculation, nor … Continue reading →

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Northern Ireland is too Divided to Function

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Gerry Lynch

Given the obvious risk of political paralysis in N Ireland, why did the UK govt have no Plan B? Continue reading →

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Strange outbreaks of positivity over Northern Ireland

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Gerry Lynch

I was published in Unherd over the strange emergence of good vibes about breaking the EU-UK bad blood over the Northern Ireland Protocol. “After nearly two years of ugly in-fighting over the Northern Ireland Protocol, there has been a sudden … Continue reading →

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On Current Trends, Northern Ireland Will Leave the Union

Posted on September 23, 2022 by Gerry Lynch

I was published in Unherd on the 2021 Northern Ireland Census figures. Demography isn’t destiny but it contributes powerfully to it. This week’s Northern Ireland 2021 Census release, showing Catholics outnumbering Protestants for the first time, does not in itself doom the … Continue reading →

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IN MEMORIAM GERARD BENEDICT NEWE 1907-1982

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Gerry Lynch

Where Layde’s old tombstones tell the taleOf time before we felt the flailOf England’s “for your own good” yokeYou must have stood on many a mornAnd blessed the day when you were bornIn May’s bright sunshine and turf-smoke.  As the dog … Continue reading →

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The Bright Field

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Gerry Lynch

Late on a summer evening, as I took photos from the summit of Divis (478m above sea level) the highest of the Belfast Hills towards Lough Neagh, suddenly a shaft of sunlight broke through and illuminated the fields on top … Continue reading →

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Who Benefits from the Collapse of Power Sharing?

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Gerry Lynch

Cross-posted at Slugger O’Toole… We’re unlikely to know for a long time exactly why talks on restoring devolved government collapsed in such spectacular fashion last week. It’s always worth asking, in those circumstances, ‘cui bono?’ A long-term collapse in devolved … Continue reading →

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First Past the Post is now harming unionism because it is concentrated around Belfast

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Gerry Lynch

This article appeared in the News Letter of 9 September 2016 With Northern Ireland’s healthy population growth in recent years, the province is set to lose only one of its existing 18 seats. Additionally, some large differences in electorate size … Continue reading →

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“A Battle A Day” Is Creating A Political Wasteland

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Gerry Lynch

This blog was originally posted on Slugger O’Toole… “It will always be a battle a day between those who want maximum change and those who want to maintain the status quo”. Recognise the quote? It came from Gerry Adams’ speech … Continue reading →

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