Tag Archives: northern ireland politics

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 →

Posted in Europe, Journalism, Northern Ireland, UK | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Northern Ireland is too Divided to Function

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 →

Posted in Europe, Ireland, Journalism, Northern Ireland, UK | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Strange outbreaks of positivity over Northern Ireland

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 →

Posted in Journalism, Northern Ireland, UK | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on On Current Trends, Northern Ireland Will Leave the Union

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 →

Posted in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poetry | Tagged , , | Comments Off on IN MEMORIAM GERARD BENEDICT NEWE 1907-1982

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 →

Posted in Northern Ireland, UK | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Who Benefits from the Collapse of Power Sharing?

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 →

Posted in Elections, Journalism, Northern Ireland | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on First Past the Post is now harming unionism because it is concentrated around Belfast

“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 →

Posted in Northern Ireland | Tagged , | Comments Off on “A Battle A Day” Is Creating A Political Wasteland

Anna Lo, and the Myth that Northern Ireland Politics is about the Border

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Cross-posted at Slugger O’Toole… I very much doubt Anna Lo’s Irish News interview was in the Alliance Party’s 2014 elections gameplan. While almost all members of the party will remain loyal to her in public, I have equally little doubt … Continue reading →

Posted in Northern Ireland | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Anna Lo, and the Myth that Northern Ireland Politics is about the Border

Steven Agnew cleans Arlene Foster’s clock on gay marriage…

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Gerry Lynch

Well done to Green Party MLA Steven Agnew for setting DUP Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster straight that civil partnerships are NOT equal to marriage and that all religious symbolism or language in civil partnership ceremonies in the UK is banned … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, LGBT, Northern Ireland, UK | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Steven Agnew cleans Arlene Foster’s clock on gay marriage…

The youth vote: Cynicism of the first post-Troubles generation of voters

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Gerry Lynch

This article appeared in the Belfast Telegraph of 16 June 2012 Northern Ireland’s youngest adults have no memories of the worst of The Troubles. From September, new voters coming onto the electoral register will be people who were not even … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Journalism, Northern Ireland | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The youth vote: Cynicism of the first post-Troubles generation of voters