A Christmas week which was largely dominated by Christmas – not always the case in Green Field Number 4. Yes, Richard Haass did host talks but whatever excitement there may had been at the commencement of his mission had largely given away to muted embarrassment at his departure before Christmas.
Even the indefatigable (and excellent) BBC’s Mark Davenport, who had to don his big overcoat atop his political anorak and sit patiently outside buildings various and await news of non-developments couldn’t convey any sense of anticipation or interest when it was announced that Ricky and Meg had gone away empty handed – and then reported that they would be back after Christmas.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/markdevenport/
If there was little of political interest in the current affairs of Green Field Number 4, then perhaps the past, in the shape of the newly released papers on both sides of the border, offered more hope?
But, if the summary provided by the BBC with its exciting (not) headline “Thatcher pressed on plastic bullets” is anything to go by – then PRONI are keeping the interesting stuff to themselves.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25501816
Papers released under the 30-year rule by the (Irish) Department of Foreign Affairs are a bit more worthy of attention, with the gen on Garret’s (Fitzgerald) attempt to lure Maggie (Thatcher) gently down the path to joint sovereignty (of Green Field Number 4), via John Hume’s policy of “Not Brits out, but Irish in”.
The papers providing the detail on the early manoeuvres which led, a couple of years later, to the Anglo Irish agreement(AIA). (Arguably Garret managing to convince Maggie to accept the AIA was the greatest Irish post-war diplomatic achievement – and the AIA was surely the key building block for the ‘Peace’ of 1998.)
Other Irish government papers which were released reminds us that history does indeed like to repeat itself and that in Ireland there seems to be a resolute determination not to learn from past mistakes – with the details on the coalition government (Fine Gael and Labour) of 1983 wrestling with the economic crisis – following a period of Fianna Fail recklessness.
What is not quite as predictable though, is whether Haass has kicked the Union flag controversy into long enough grass and whether the DUP can both go ahead with, and then live with, a reorganisation of Council boundaries that will inevitably lead to the further greening of Belfast (as seems inevitable) in the forthcoming Council elections.
*carrickally – Can you be so good as to add the appropriate Ulster Scots?
Sammy
carrickally said:
Happy New Year to one and all. Whilst far from proficient, I’d presume that the greeting in Ulster Scots would be similar to the Scots blithe ne’er. No matter what language chosen, here’s hoping that there’s nothing lost in translation and that everyone and their families stay safe and sound.
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sammymcnally said:
blithe ne’er to you amigo.
How many people or % in Scotland speak Ulster Scots ? and if there are any, I wonder if any are in favour of Scottish independence.
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carrickally said:
I would say none to negligible in Scotland would speak US. However, there would be people wha spake tha’ Scots leid. We’ll all find out this year coming how many of all ilks and tongues are in favour of Scotland alone.
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Ceannaire said:
Blithe ne’er, carrickally. Athbhliain faoi mhaise do gach duine anseo.
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sammymcnally said:
Just read this from the ‘indefatigable’ Mark Davenport who it seems did eventually tire of the whole malarkey
‘First Haass talks ruin my Christmas Eve with overnight talks. Now New Year’s Eve going same way.’
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carrickally said:
Can you blame the fella. He knew as well as the rest of us that the deal was either done in advance between the major parties and govts and needed a last minute rubber stamp or it wasn’t. His time was wasted with stage-managed drama.
It’ll be interesting to hear over the next few days what the outstanding issues were.
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sammymcnally said:
re. “It’ll be interesting to hear over the next few days what the outstanding issues were.”
What may be ‘interesting’ (in so far as it goes) is that Alliance seems to have objected to something in the final draft???
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Teri said:
A guid new year tae ane an’ aw’
as we say here in Scotland.
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RJC said:
A disheartening yet grimly predictable end to 2013 for us all in this sorry corner or Europe. Let’s hope for better things ahead in 2014. Happy New Year to you all.
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Political Tourist said:
Love the Scots, Ulster or otherwise.
Not too sure if it’s just a cross section of faintly Viking and Old English words mixed up with local slang.
Probably gibberish if we’re honest.
Good New Year to you and yours.
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