Messages

One out of leftfield:

If this halfway house is such a good deal but the DUP too blind to play ball, why don't the Republic offer to align as soon kind of halfway house? 

Leo and the boys are saying we are well in with the Europeans so we could say that we will have an regulatory alignment with Brits, keeping the island border free and skelping a rake of business out of London and the like.

A sort of Hong Kong of Europe.

/Jim.

What happens when the British start "tearing up the EU red tap that is stifling business" do we continue to align with them and move out of alignment with the rest of the EU?

No idea, but if the North could be a halfway house with the best of both worlds I am wondering if it could be inverted.

As for cutting the red tape.  I worrying hear a brexiteer on Newsnight extolling the virtues of cheap meat from South America.   I don't know about the average Brit but I am happy to pay a little bit extra for the quality regulations (in particular around steroid and antibiotic use) the EU enforce.

/Jim.

One out of leftfield:

If this halfway house is such a good deal but the DUP too blind to play ball, why don't the Republic offer to align as soon kind of halfway house? 

Leo and the boys are saying we are well in with the Europeans so we could say that we will have an regulatory alignment with Brits, keeping the island border free and skelping a rake of business out of London and the like.

A sort of Hong Kong of Europe.

/Jim.

Very funny. What is the anti NI abuse the ROI fans dished out? I didn't watch any of the game so I didn't hear any.

Last night, Sky Sports News reported that ROI fans booed the NI "national anthem" and that NI fans booed James McClean. Then they showed clips of the booing by both sides.

If someone regards "booing"as abuse they need to stop going to sawker matches.

A more important reflection is that in no way shape of form could Northern Ireland be seen as having superior playing resources that the Republic.  Yet they played far superior.  To me it highlights that Martin O'Neill is a bluffer.  It's one thing to claim poverty when playing teams like Germany, France etc.., even Denmark.  However against Northern Ireland? 

The difference in organization was hugely apparent last night.

I think Martin O'Neill realized this comparison himself as he threw himself on his sword in post-match interview, saying he had let team down last night.

/Jim.

The Brexit minister Raab has resigned.
It is rather alarming that he is using NI as an excuse, rather than his own stupidity.

I think it's more of an issue that Labour have said this doesn't meet the 6 tests.  May has proven a wily political operator but it's hard to see her picking up the numbers now.

She can't do it with a few Labour strays, she needed them as a party to support or even abstain.

/Jim.

They don't know who they are. They need to distance themselves from the Tory party and they can't because there is nothing else for them to hold onto.

They are being very careful to personalize the Brexit draft to Theresa May. 
They can't have the narrative that the Tories fcuked them over because they would have to distance themselves then.

Also once Brexit is dealt with, the will be payback from the scrutiny the have gotten in the UK.  They will need Stormont back because unlike previous direct rule, there is not conflict to distract legislators.   There are too many British politicians aware of social policy divergence in Northern Ireland now.  Unless they get back into the balance of power I would forsee SSM, abortion and language reform.  Last vestiges of Sunday closures will be ended etc.

Ironically a dose of "britishness" could make the North more in tune with Nationalist outlook than DUP outlook.

All speculation of course but it's hard to see anything but that the DUP played badly during the moment in the sun.

/Jim.

Sammy Wilson spitting feathers on tv and letting the cat out of the bag by using the old 'no deal is better than a bad deal' phrase. Which is really what they yearn for despite their public utterances to the contrary.

Ignoring the fact that economically it's not a bad deal at all for the north given the 'foot in both camp' scenario. Nicola Sturgeon even complained about preferential treatment for the north but Sammy see's it completely differently. Even managing to bring the IRA into the conversation.

There is a delicious irony that after years of saving Ulster from sodomy, the DUP have taken a massive one up the hole.  They propped May up long enough to do a deal.  Now she will play the spectre of no deal to get some new allies and as cabinet says "make tough decisions about Northern Ireland".

"The Precious Union" indeed.

/Jim.

I see Gemma O'Doherty gurning about the RTE documentary on twitter:

https://twitter.com/gemmaod1/status/1062273160257650690
 
In fairness she has a point.  She met with McCabe and wrote about these things long ago.   If RTE had cutting edge investigative team would have done a Prime Time exposé two years ago.  Now they are sailing in under the umbrella of Charleton results.  Compare it to the work of the likes of Peter Taylor back in the 80s.

The soft focus stuff makes up for any actual new information but at least it hits home to people the reality of what Maurice McCabe and his family experienced.

/Jim.

I see that the Daily Mail has come out with front page headline in support of May's proposal.

Has she yet boxed clever?  The likes of the DUP, Rees Mogg and Boris are all lunatics who were never going to be happy.  So, if she knows her own cabinet well enough, allied with a media campaign that this is the best on offer she could get a Labour rump onside and throw Arlene and co. under the bus?  I am sure the spectre of a no deal will win some over.

Otherwise are we looking at a General election and a no deal, disorganized brexit?

/Jim.

Subject to approval from the Hatch.

In light of the tardiness of Dublin County Board to appoint hurling manager, the Roscommon County Board will appoint Anthony Cunningham as manager.

This can been seen as a small recompense to Brigids after Paddy Neilan giving Clann the County Final.

Frankie Dolan and Cake will join as selectors. Kevin can steer in the background without listening to supporters' crap.

In the event of a general election, cake will stand aside to join Eugene Murphy on Fianna Fáil ticket.

The Hatch will nominate a replacement selector if required.

/Jim.

Ye were given two weeks notice. Just pray now I was only half right.  Actually 2/3 right :-)

/Jim.

And sure the lads were only taking all them Subarus for a rest drive....

There's one less Subaru down Roscommon way this week.  Maybe Roscommon County Board will replace it?

/Jim.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/how-dublins-footballers-found-inspiration-and-perspective-in-the-green-fields-of-france-866047.html
Dosen't sound like a training session to me, but perhaps seeing how an earlier generation of young men were caught up in a teriible event. Time to grow up and stop being petty.

They will be sewing Poppies onto their geansaí next. 

In fairness though it's a far cry from some of the other teams going to "bond" in resorts famous for their warm weather training facilities.

/Jim.

I think he was foolish to use a Bobby Sands quote in his defence. It allows for distraction and arguments about whether Sands was a terrorist etc.. Also using the word **** was inappropriate.

Apart from that he is 1,000% correct to call this bigotry out for what it is.

/Jim.

Why? this is the type of crap that still goes on in NI, its ok for Unionism to laude its various military and paramilitary icons but don't let Mc Clean quote Bobby Sands lest he offend sensitive ears.

Because, when you want to make a point, I always believe less is more.  Highlight the poppy fascism and sheer racism involved you stick to that only.  Throwing in the quote gives people a chance to start a side bar discussion: "One man's freedom fighter", "Is he an IRA supporter", "Is that why he won't wear the poppy".

James made excellent arguments in his letter to Wigan a few year's back.  I believe he is best served to stick to those points, no distractions.

That shows these goons up.

/Jim.

And we saw how that turned out...

I thought all mangers from Roscommon were amazing

Why else would you have a knife sharpened for all outsiders

https://youtu.be/M2ULTkNmIEY

Who would have thought the star above would lead the wise men all the way to Kiltoom. 😀

/Jim.

Have you a hotline to th'oul Hatch
In the stolen sheep poll Cunningham finished 2nd.
1st place went to None of the above

Yerra even the boys uptown in the Central and JJs know about Cunningham at this stage .....

/Jim.

Subject to approval from the Hatch.

In light of the tardiness of Dublin County Board to appoint hurling manager, the Roscommon County Board will appoint Anthony Cunningham as manager.

Stay tuned...Dispatch from the Hatch coming up.

/Jim.