Another Monday, another week

They buried Robert Dunlop yesterday, another Irish hero dead. Billy Blease passed away too this weekend. An honest trade unionist and a working class leader now gone from ‘the other place’ to another place in the sky. We had a grand old party on Saturday night. Stu Bailie spoke eloquently about the day rock and roll mixed with politics in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. He also made a lovely radio documentary which you can hear here.
South of the Border the country is dividing in a referendum campaign over the Lisbon Treaty. Sinn Fein is trying to convince the country the 26 counties should reject Europe. The farmers are on the fence looking for a side deal from the government and the new Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, is making it his business to ensure there is a solid yes vote. O’Conall Street is right behind him on this one.

There was an interesting debate in the Balmoral Hotel in West Belfast last week, hosted by SDLP MLA Alex Attwood. Ruairi Quinn TD (Labour) and Fergus O’Dowd TD (Fine Gael) joined Alex to debate social justice in a new Ireland. They were to be joined by Martin Mansergh TD but his appointment as Minister of State for the Arts the day before made his presence impossible.

I wont go into the details of what was a private meeting expect to say that both TD’s came with a simple message for those gathered. “Don’t think there is a white knight south of the border waiting to save your political souls. Your future is in your own hands and the way to return yourselves to power is through good policies and a strong local organisation.” I have no reason to believe Minister Mansergh would have said anything different.

A big get well soon to the great Senator Edward Kennedy. 

And finally the championship is off. Just one more big soccer game on Wednesday before the summer gets started in earnest. Antrim fell at the first hurdle to Cavan, Galway (a county my late mother proudly played camogie for) got off to a good start. June 8th is the beginning on O’Conall Street with Dublin v Louth. Oisin and I are off to get him a new jersey. They don’t half grow – children.