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All Antrim schools now out of the McLarnon Cup. Can't be a good thing.

Then you look at that game this evening and wonder why they are making the referee fitness tests more difficult. He could bring a deck chair with him.

Whiskey in the Jar

All versions.

Good to see St Malachys back playing a level colleges.. any reports how they getting on in the Oisin McGrath? 

Be interesting. They won the C competition last year which they should never have been in and decided to entirely bypass the B competition.

What should they do then?

A good start might be to call on the DUP to go into government rather than aiming their anger at CHH.

They don't need the DUP in Government to get a pay rise. CHH has it in his power.

What should they do then?

A good start might be to call on the DUP to go into government rather than aiming their anger at CHH.

They don't need the DUP in Government to get a pay rise. CHH has it in his power.

I actually don't think he has. He would have to suspend Stormont to do that, AFAIK... but not 100% on that.
But playing devils advocate for a moment, if he does have the power then what's the point of Stormont? Surely then we just move back to direct rule? We're kind of riding two horses.... if you get me. That would be his argument I suppose. 

That wasn't an argument when the British government gave Brandon Lewis the authority to implement abortion laws here.
Of course they can sort these pay deals and public funding without the Stormont executive. Unfortunately people don't matter to these hoors. It's all a game.

[probably trying to avoid the usual sectarian trap]

What should they do then?

A good start might be to call on the DUP to go into government rather than aiming their anger at CHH.

are they not blaming both?

Not really, the DUP have gotten away quite lightly from the unions IMO, probably trying to avoid the usual sectarian trap, but in this instance it's either CHH who doesn't give a flying fúck about this place or the DUP who believe if they hold out for long enough the UK Government are going to magically change an international trade agreement they have with the EU!

I could see how that is the case but there is more to it than that as well. The reason for the DUP not going into Stormont (the reason they are giving nor the real reason) is totally unrelated to the public sector pay increase and today's strike. The only person trying to link them is CHH. He is holding the DUP to ransom with another man's money. The other man is protesting about that today.
So, while the majority on this forum believe the DUP are wanchors and should return, it could still very well be a legitimate position for someone to feel that they are right not to return until "Act of Union blah blah" AND believe that public pay increases should be implemented.

Well he and the Tories know the DUP can be bought and paid for (ala Teresa May and the confidence and supply agreement) and if you think the Tories somehow magic'd another few billion out of their arses just for NI workers then you're as gullible as the next.
The extra few billion was the carrot for wee Jeff to sell going back into Stormont as a win to his base, he failed to do so and there's no way CHH is going to stump up on that money if they don't.

Why do you think no other party has been able to see this "deal" other than the DUP?

The ordinary worker is indeed the pawn in all this, that's not right, but these are dirty feckers when it comes to politics.

And that's why they are the focus of the anger.

[probably trying to avoid the usual sectarian trap]

What should they do then?

A good start might be to call on the DUP to go into government rather than aiming their anger at CHH.

are they not blaming both?

Not really, the DUP have gotten away quite lightly from the unions IMO, probably trying to avoid the usual sectarian trap, but in this instance it's either CHH who doesn't give a flying fúck about this place or the DUP who believe if they hold out for long enough the UK Government are going to magically change an international trade agreement they have with the EU!

I could see how that is the case but there is more to it than that as well. The reason for the DUP not going into Stormont (the reason they are giving nor the real reason) is totally unrelated to the public sector pay increase and today's strike. The only person trying to link them is CHH. He is holding the DUP to ransom with another man's money. The other man is protesting about that today.
So, while the majority on this forum believe the DUP are wanchors and should return, it could still very well be a legitimate position for someone to feel that they are right not to return until "Act of Union blah blah" AND believe that public pay increases should be implemented.

What should they do then?

A good start might be to call on the DUP to go into government rather than aiming their anger at CHH.

I think there is certainly anger towards both but as pointed out above, CHH has the money in his hand and instead of giving it to those who he "agrees need it", he's playing politics with it against a bundle of backward buffoons. Quite obviously there's going to be a heap of anger coming his way.

Because "agreeing that they need fair pay" isn't much use to those who need it?

4 Belfast schools in McLarnon 1/4 finals. Surely that's a good sign?

Are you including Knock?

As a Belfast school? I imagine so...

What did your wife say when you asked her?

Sort of the reverse of what Enda Gormley was at 10-15 years ago. Stopped Glen minors playing for their school as they were preparing for the Ulster minor tournament.