A thneed’s a-fine-something-that-all-people need. -From The Lorax by Dr Seuss, 1971 Culture eats strategy for breakfast they say. I’ve long believed that Alex Salmond knew what a lot of his Scottish nationalist cohort never really did, ie that before movement was possible he would have to tackle the cultural barriers to his party’s appeal. Irish nationalism in Northern Ireland has only fitfully understood that reality, in figures like Curry, Hume, Fitt, McGrady and Mallon and those all plied their trade ... Read more ..read more

News from Derry that the family of the late and legendary John and Pat Hume have distanced themselves from the new “Peacemakers Museum” which has opened in the city. According to Seamus McKinney at the ‘Irish News‘ “The family claim the new museum lacks inclusivity and have also complained that of the three politicians at the centre of the project, including their father, two were members of Sinn Féin. The museum, which opened at the Gasyard Centre is centred on Mr Hume, former deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness and former Stormont Assembly speaker, Mitchel McLaughlin…” McKinney further ..read more

Over in the Newsletter, Ben Lowry is exercised around the issue of citizens assemblies: But there was something else that Ms Gray has been pushing that is potentially of much longer-lasting significance to Northern Ireland: citizens’ assemblies. Such assemblies take different forms in different place but they are, in essence, an attempt to get the public more involved in decision making. A group or ‘jury’ of citizens look at an issue, hear from witnesses, and weigh up evidence that is then put into a report. Politicians might well then act on the recommendations. Critics of the legalisation o ..read more

With the 4 July General Election being called during school holidays in Northern Ireland (and much of Scotland), was there an increase in the number of postal ballots and proxy votes issued? Yes and no. The statistics for 2024 have been published by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland this afternoon. (link to 2019 stats) Postal Ballots The number of postal ballots issued jumped from 16,993 in GE2019 to 25,747 in GE2024. That’s a 52% increase. Not every postal ballot that is issued is returned. 16% were not used in 2019, but that figure declined to just 9% this year. Some of the postal ba ..read more

I confess to never staying in Portrush; I am more of a Ballycastle man. Even Portstewart seems a nicer resort. Still, I know it is a popular resort for many, but now some in the business community are concerned that the resort has become so expensive that it is pricing out their traditional local market. From Eimear McGovern in the Beltel: A business owner in Portrush has criticised the “greed” of other business owners for driving out the core tourist basis who no longer visit the area – saying the north coast is more expensive than anywhere in the UK or Ireland. Ricky Martin of Alive Adventu ..read more

This does sound like a spoof, but according to Connla Young, writing in the Irish News, it’s legit: Orangemen in Co Armagh have pleaded with the Parades Commission to be allowed down the Garvaghy Road while nationalists are distracted by the All-Ireland football final this Sunday. Members of the order in Portadown have notified the Parades Commission of its intention to march from Drumcree Church through the nationalist district. Organisers say the parade, which will include two bands and an unspecified number of participants and supporters, will leave the Drumcree Road before making its way ..read more

Here is something to cheer you up on this grey Monday. Maddie, the golden retriever in Belfast, runs to greet the bin men every week and seems to brighten their day. You can follow Maddie on Intagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maddie? (@maddiethebad.e ..read more

There are all kinds of sophisticated AI computer models you can use to analyse voting patterns, but the best predictor could be good old asparagus. From the Independent: An asparagus fortune teller predicted Joe Biden would step down from the 2024 US presidential race, but also predicted bad luck for Donald Trump. Jemima Packington, the world’s only “asparamancer” and who foresaw Queen Elizabeth’s death and Brexit, appeared on Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 show just four days ago. Ms Bathford, who makes political predictions by reading the way asparagus falls on the floor, was asked to use the ingred ..read more

It has felt increasingly inevitable as more and more Democrats called on the President to end his campaign, and so it has come to pass… Joe Biden has withdrawn from the race for the Presidency, meaning the Democrats will need a new standard bearer to face Donald Trump in November. Despite his agonising over it, and despite the time he took to accept the reality that his campaign had been fatally holed by his debate debacle, in the end Biden has probably done the right thing for his party. Whether the Democrats will utilise his sacrifice wisely remains to be seen. Update 1: A message from Joe B ..read more

I had the pleasure of attending the first two days of the McGill Summer school for the first time this year and listened to some excellent discussions and talks. Friday was headlined by An Taoiseach, Simon Harris who gave a speech and interview proposing to set up a new department of Infrastructural Development to improve the delivery of major infrastructural projects. See report by Mark Hennesy here. He also announced that the Irish Government would not be acceding to the request by the newly re-elected President of the Commission, Ursula Van Der Leyen, that Ireland send two nominations, a ma ..read more