The Handshake

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.

A lesson for us all

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

The Bangor Road……

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?

Listened to this live last night…

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

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

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)

 

We live in hope!

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

Young Life and Times Survey

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?

Update

New post coming tomorrow on the Horseman theme.

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

Ah the memories….

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)

Monitored Workforce

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