• About

"We in coming days may be"

~ How the future may unfold

"We in coming days may be"

Monthly Archives: June 2012

The Handshake

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments


Well, what was that all about?

For many people it was about an elderly lady who has served her country well visiting a part of her “Realm”

For me it is not about the woman. I Have great respect for her and the job she does. It is about what she represents.

In particular it is what she represents in Ireland. I have not fully figured out what Martin McGuinness is seeking to achieve by the big handshake yet. I’m open to suggestions. I still have to say that the idea of an unelected head of state is an anachronism as far as I am concerned.

By the way, thank you for reading my meandering thoughts. My “Hits” are increasing every day and it is very encouraging.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

A lesson for us all

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment


Mná na hÉireann

Tá bean in Éirinn a phronnfadh séad domh is mo sháith le n-ól
Is tá bean in Éirinn is ba bhinne léithe mo ráfla ceoil
Ná seinm théad; atá bean in Éirinn is níorbh fhearr léi beo
Mise ag léimnigh nó leagtha i gcré is mo thárr faoi fhód

Tá bean in Éirinn a bheadh ag éad liom mur’ bhfaighfinn ach póg
Ó bhean ar aonach, nach ait an scéala, is mo dháimh féin leo;
Tá bean ab fhearr liom nó cath is céad dhíobh nach bhfagham go deo
Is tá cailín spéiriúil ag fear gan Bhéarla, dubhghránna cróin.

Tá bean a déarfadh dá siulfainn léi go bhfaighinn an t-ór,
Is tá bean ‘na léine is is fearr a méin ná na táinte bó
Le bean a bhuairfeadh Baile an Mhaoir is clár Thír Eoghain,
Is ní fheicim leigheas ar mo ghalar féin ach scaird a dh’ól

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpMGWOAAKs4

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Bangor Road……

24 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment


OK

It’s my grumpy old man moment….even if I’m not that old. They are digging up the A2 Belfast to Bangor Rd. AGAIN !!!!! For five bloody Months. This follows on from the last major dig up where they relaid the footpaths and road surface a few months ago and, and, and, etc. It never stops.I have lived in Bangor for quite a few years and the road is in a semi permanent state of Trafficonitis. I’m Furious.

This road handles about 50,000 journeys a day! It’s Summer. Bangor is a seaside town in prime season and some nutter has agreed to this at, wait for it, the weekends for the entire Summer. And to cap the lot, as I crawled past this shambles today at 3 miles an hour after a twenty minute delay there was a flipping SPEED CAMERA VAN sitting in the middle of it. I honestly am not making this up.

Ok, Deep breath. What T.F. (excuse me, i’m a bit annoyed) are North Down Council up to here? Who authorises these works? Who co-ordinates the different utility companies? Who is RESPONSIBLE?

The answer is easy, anyone wants to dig up the frigging rd has to inform all other interested parties prior to work commencing in order to gain Council approval. If the other parties don’t avail of the opportunity to co-ordinate the works, costs, etc, tough luck. Two year deferral and/or a fine. (or pay all Bangor residents road tax for the duration of the works).

Am I the only one?

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Listened to this live last night…

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments


Not by Sinéad, two hairy fellas sang it but I like this version!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

16 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment


Ahh, wonderful news at last. Greece have done it. A Trojan horse delivered beautifully by the Greek football team. I’m absolutely delighted for them.

My new favourites to win the damn thing! I’d absolutely love to see them up against the Germans in the final. Not that I think politics and sport should mix of course, ahem.

I

I should, of course add, that sport is merely politics, or war, by alternative means (Machiavelli)

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

We live in hope!

14 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments


ImageUpdate: Ah well, comprehensively outplayed……I can’t complain. Still, one more game to go. I hope we give a better account of ourselves!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Young Life and Times Survey

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Demographics

≈ 3 Comments


Horseman had an interesting analysis of the 2009 Young life and times survey on his site posted in June 2010. This is based on the “Young Life and times survey” a favourite of the Slugger O’Toole website. The sample is taken from 16 year old’s across Northern Ireland and therefore is not necessarily indicative of actual voting intentions.

We have since had two subsequent surveys as can be seen below. Again the general thrust of Horsemans opinions are reinforced although there are some caveats.

“Which of these best describes the way you think of yourself?”
2009 2010 2011
% % %
British 28 26 26
Irish 36 38 35
Ulster 3 2 2
Northern Irish 30 29 34
Other (Please write in) 2 3 3
Don’t know 1 1 1

In 2009, Horseman’s point was that 2/3 (or 66%)of 16 year olds viewed themselves as either Irish or Northern Irish, rather than British. This view has hardened marginally by 2011 (69%)

The split between different backgrounds is also worth examining:


%
Catholic Protestant No religion
British 5 47 30
Irish 73 2 16
Ulster 0 5 1
Northern irish 20 43 46
Other (please write in) 2 2 6
Don’t know 1 0 1

In 2009 the point is made that, amongst Protestants, “Only a bare majority- 51% saw themselves first and foremost as British” By 2011 this has dropped by 4%. Astounding in only two years. There seems to be a correlation with the increase of 3% who now view themselves as primarily Northern Irish.

Interestingly this movement is evident among Catholic 16 year olds also, where the “Irish” identification has dropped by 3% to 73% and the “Northern Irish” increased by 4%.

The movements in general are small but unquestionably heading in the direction as indicated by Horseman. On another note, the nakedly sectarian actions of certain District Councils over the last few days are likely to only harden attitudes amongst Nationalists and increase turnouts in future elections.

Are these people completely mad?

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Update

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment


New post coming tomorrow on the Horseman theme.

It would have been today except for the post match recovery period and work stuff!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Ah the memories….

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments


Ah, those were the days…………. Will never forget Rosie O’Grady and the way she might look at ye. Having a sentimental moment

(By the way, I know i’m mixing my metaphor’s, Rosies was the pub i passed out in after the 1st game)

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Monitored Workforce

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by bangordub in Demographics

≈ 6 Comments


To kick me off on this pet project of mine I’ve chosen a simple extension of Horsemans last post on this subject. His data was taken from the NI Equality commision website as is mine. His data included the available information inclusive of 2008. I have the benefit of a further 2 years information which merely confirms the trends identifiable in 2008.

View this document on Scribd

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Protestant 59.7% 59.2% 58.3% 57.7% 57.0% 56.3% 55.4% 54.8% 54.6% 54.1%
Catholic 40.3% 40.9% 41.7% 42.3% 42.3% 43.7% 44.6% 45.2% 45.4% 45.9%
Diff 19.4% 18.3% 16.6% 15.4% 14.7% 12.6% 10.8% 9.6% 9.2% 8.2%
Diff P -0.5% -0.9% -0.6% -0.7% -0.7% -0.9% -0.6% -0.2% -0.5%
Diff C 0.6% 0.8% 0.6% 0.0% 1.4% 0.9% 0.6% 0.2% 0.5%

Some key points here are worth observing:

  • Over a 9 year period there has been a 5.6% drop in Protestant background participants in the Labour force and a corresponding 5.6% increase in the Catholic partcipation rate
  • This represents an average swing of 1.2% each year.
  • At that rate parity will be achieved in 8 years time. ie: 2018

There are numerous talking points contained within these raw figures such as the influence of Equality legislation, the liklehood of a younger, Catholic demographic generally and the reduced public sector element of the workforce.

I hope to examine these in a future post in more detail

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

Readers Thoughts

Antain Mac Lochlainn… on Recent Polls, Results, Demogra…
Feckitt on Recent Polls, Results, Demogra…
PaulG on Recent Polls, Results, Demogra…
PaulG on The Border Poll
PaulG on Recent Polls, Results, Demogra…
Gaygael on Recent Polls, Results, Demogra…

Recent Posts

  • Recent Polls, Results, Demographics and 2022 election implications
  • Endgame approaches
  • The Border Poll
  • What if? – Assembly Election 2020
  • Final Westminster Polling

Archives

  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012

Categories

  • Demographics
  • General
  • History
  • Norther Politics
  • Northern Politics
  • Southern Politics
  • Uncategorized
  • Wildlife

Blogroll

  • Amgobsmacked !
  • An Sionnach Fionn
  • Barton Creeth
  • Benmadigan
  • Endgame in Ulster
  • Footballcliches
  • Hoboroads Politcal Highway
  • Jude Collins
  • Keeping an eye on the Czar of Russia
  • Slugger O'Toole
  • Ulsters Doomed

Archives

Blog Stats

  • 667,315 hits
June 2012
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« May   Jul »

Bangordub on Twitter

My Tweets

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: