March 2023
St Patrick’s Day hootenanny
It’s that time of year, folks, when the great and the good gather State-side to mark the patron saint of this island.
Gatherings in Washington, New York, Chicago, Boston and scores of other cities in the USA proudly proclaim their Irish roots, enjoy the holiday and, through misty eyes, wish the ‘auld sod’ the best of Irish.
For millions of Americans, the coast-to-coast hootenanny is about partying. In Washington and New York, it’s got more to do with politics.
Politicians from here are there in force, rubbing shoulders with Irish-America, jockeying for a ticket for the White House bash and some are even chasing potential donors at mega-dollar dinners.
Against this jovial, back-slapping backdrop we have the Windsor Framework, a cost-of-living catastrophe and no local government.
President Biden’s going to try to change some of that negative narrative. The President will touch down in the Emerald Isle to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
Joe and his canny advisers will work on ways to break the logjam. Can he persuade, cajole or bully the DUP into a return to Parliament Buildings? The jury’s out on that one!
His chances of success are in doubt because 73% of DUP voters would vote ‘no’ on the Protocol deal. It matters little that according to a ‘Belfast Telegraph’ LucidTalk poll that 67% of people would say ‘yes’. If the DUP can’t extract further concessions, it’s a non-starter. Right now, there’s little or no prospect of the EU or the Government doing that to secure a return to devolved government.
Back to St Patrick. Only a miracle by the great saint himself could produce a result and, let’s face it, there’s not much chance of that happening.
Rishi Sunak, who supported Brexit and leads the Conservative and Unionist Party, went into overdrive to persuade doubters and detractors that the Framework was as good as it got. As days and weeks slipped by, any early optimism disappeared as quickly as a March snowfall.
We thought it was all over … well, not quite yet!
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Icing on the birthday cake
If you stayed up late to watch the Oscars in Los Angeles, you won’t have been disappointed.
Northern Ireland-made ‘An Irish Goodbye’ lifted the coveted statuette for the best live action short film. Step up actors, James Martin and Seamus O’Hara and directors and writers Ross White and Tom Berkeley.
For James, it was an extra special night. He became the first actor with Down’s Syndrome to win an Academy Award. A second first was to have the star-studded audience sing ‘happy birthday’ to mark his 31st birthday.
Bet they partied long and hard. Back home, the superb Paddy Jenkins, who also starred in the black comedy, toasted the success too.
Paddy, who plays Pastor Begbie in ‘Give My Head Peace’, did not splash out at the Kneebreakers!
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Mystic Meg
Famous astrologer Mystic Meg would be hard-pressed to predict what’s going to happen next to our clapped-out political system.
Sadly, Mystic Meg passed away recently at the age of eighty. She was a columnist for ‘The Sun’ and was also a regular on BBC One with her National Lottery predictions in the 1990s.
Mystic Meg was also a clairvoyant who commanded huge popularity.
But even her undoubted skills would be tested to the limit here. Will we get Stormont back? What will happen the Windsor Framework – we think we have that one cracked already? When will we see an economic package to sweeten the Framework deal?
The lovely lady would have had a field day.
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Dáithí’s Law
Dáithí’s Law is finally approved. Westminster did the needful in the absence of a functioning Assembly and Executive in Northern Ireland.
Dáithí is a fighter and, with his determined and articulate mum and dad, fought until the legislation was approved.
Well done, wee man!
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Joint authority is no alternative
Sinn Fein floated the idea of joint authority between London and Dublin if power-sharing couldn’t be restored.
The NIO responded at the speed of light. A spokesperson insisted joint authority was not an option. Their sole focus was a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government in line with the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
Michelle O’Neill is First Minister designate and she urged Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to return to the institutions where his nominee would be called deputy First Minister.
Playing second fiddle to Sinn Fein might well be more of a roadblock than we think.
In effect, the first and deputy are Joint First Ministers but it’s some time since that label was used anywhere.
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Stamping it out
Royal Mail is about to break the £1 barrier for the first time. From early April, a first-class stamp will rise by 15p to £1.10. A second-class will jump by 7p to 75p.
Messed up postal delivery performance figures and repeated strikes have all contributed to a business in trouble. Analysts expect Royal Mail to make an operating loss of up to £450 million this year.
Royal Mail is also seeking Government approval to cut deliveries from six a-week to five.
The 507-year-old service is in need of a pick-me-up or a shake-up. We’re not posting as we once did and will do even less when these new prices come into force.
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Titanic Belfast and the Strangford ferry
Now, for two yarns with a nautical theme.
The first is the re-opening of the world-class visitor attraction, Titanic Belfast, after a refurbishment costing £4.5 million. There’s a 7.6m scale model of the ill-fated vessel that fully rotates and four new themed spaces. There’s a collection of artefacts including an original lifejacket and a deckchair…all contributing to greater ‘wow!’ appeal.
Titanic Belfast is a huge draw. Since opening its doors in 2012, seven million visitors have crossed the threshold and that has meant big business estimated to be worth £430 million to the local economy.
Down the coast from Belfast, a mother of two has made maritime history by becoming the first female skipper of the Strangford ferry. Lorraine McLean from Downpatrick is the first senior female purser in more than fifty years. For Lorraine, who studied for a PHD in marine biology at Queen’s University Belfast, this is the job of her dreams.
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