Blowing the whistle.

Kieron Brady, the Scottish-born ex-Republic of Ireland internationalist, today launched an attack on those tasked with eradicating racism in Scottish soccer. Brady himself an Anti-racist Educationalist called on Irish players in Scotland to disassociate themselves from anti-racist publicity campaigns.   “In light of the inaction of certain bodies to comprehensively challenge the ongoing anti-Irish racism in Scotland I would ask Irish players to disassociate themselves from the Show Racism the Red Card organisation until such time as more efforts are seen to be made in relation to this ongoing racism in Scotland   James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady, two Scottish …

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A great headline

 It was a great headline for a great story in the Irish Times. “GAA and Rangers unite to promote Gaelic games.” The piece was by John Fallon and Paul Cullen. The piece was breathless in its enthusiasm. An almost identical piece was in the Indo the same day by Brian MacDonald.  “The GAA and Glasgow Rangers had joined forces to promote Gaelic games in the Rangers heartlands of the West of Scotland!” It gushed about the Glasgow club’s army of community workers opening doors for Gaelic games in what had been, heretofore, hostile territory for the Gah. It seemed a …

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Admiration in Omagh

Recently I had cause to travel to Omagh on consecutive nights. My daughter Aislinn was on stage at the Omagh arts centre in the Lyric theatre’s production of Brian Friel’s play  “the Home Place.”  My little one was, of course, brilliant in the part of little Maisie McLaughlin. It was-at the tender age of 12-her first professional role.  Despite working alongside luminaries like Ian McIlhinney and Aislin McGuckin my princess wasn’t out of place. There are no thespians in either familial line. The kid, however, seems “to have it”.  As every parent has to, by dint of having issue, part …

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Celtic Underground Podcast

The following audio file is a Podcast Interview Phil done with Celtic Underground on 26th February. [mp3]http://media.libsyn.com/media/celticunderground/cu36.mp3[/mp3] Here is Celtic Underground’s introduction to the piece; “A slight change in format this week in that we completely ignore the previous week’s game. Having endured it once was probably more than enough for you. It certain was for us. Instead this week Eddie Pearson is joined by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, the noted Irish journalist who has worked tirelessly to shine a spotlight on the Famine Song and those that continue to sing it. We discuss Phil’s efforts to date, the reaction …

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The Unreal IRA

I have deliberately held back this blog until my anger subsided to the point that I could focus on what was important and relevant. I had originally written a blog in response to the killings in Antrim. Then two good young men lay dead. Then came Craigavon. Now three good men are dead who should be alive. The people who planned and executed these operations clearly have a high degree of technical proficiency. The security forces on both sides of the border are, as these words blink to life, hunting for them I know where they reside. I know where …

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