Bits & Pieces

Was in town on Sunday mooching around when the sound of badly played flutes punctured the air in the vicinity of O'Connell Street.It turned out to be a procession of no more than about two dozen of National/Independent/Socialist/Republican/Continuity/Real/Army/Gombeens.They were busy making fools of themselves and no one was paying a blind bit of notice. They'll probably be lucky if they get 20 seconds on the last item on RTE News. What a waste of time: Throwing a peanut into the Atlantic ocean would have more of an impact.Irish politics has moved on from this stupid ideology. Obviously our equivalent in Ulster hasn't.No one follows this sort of out-dated creed in the republic. Indeed the cheers that went around O'Connell street were the sounds coming from pubs where a premiership match was being broadcast. Enough said.

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Big up to Andy Burnham MP. The UK's sports minister recently went up to Liverpool FC's home ground, Anfield. It was the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough football disaster. Apologising, (something his government is now getting more accustomed to doing)for the inadequate inquiry into the death of 96 fans, Burnham found himself facing an angry 'Kop'. Manchester United would have had a more welcoming reception. The crowd poured their vitriol and insults down on the Labour minister, at full volume after he finished his speech. Many people bawled at,like that, would recoil or leave the scene. But instead he just bowed his head. Whatever you think about Mr Burnham, or his government,he showed he has balls, without removing his trousers.Btw it's good to see that Liverpudlians are still boycotting the 'Sun' - a disgrace to journalism.

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Gordon Brown's extremely false smiling is making the UK Prime Minister seem silly. Even if he depresses the shit out of viewers, he simply shouldn't pretend. It's most unlikely that Labour will win the upcoming general election (forecast for next year).It's fair to say that David Cameron's Conservatives will be the next British government. Cameron's economic policies will come under intense scrutiny as time goes on. Not enough to just ly back and let Brown wallow in the manure. When he retires, the Labour PM will busy himself with lecture tours.But Gordon, be yourself and stop grinning inanely. It won't win you an election. Instead keep them for intimate moments with your wife and don't share them with us. Politicians that go for fake sincerity do not endear themselves to the public. A lesson for Enda Kenny perhaps.


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Last week I interviewed Councillor Maria Bailey (FG)as part of one of my Print Journalism assignments. I made it clear that her interviewer was non-partisan (I even refused to let her buy me a drink). What's the difference between the parties anyway? None! The theme of my questioning was based on the health service, nationally and locally. She seems genuinely concerned about the health of those she represents and mentions Dr.James Reilly's, her party's speaker on health, carefully drafted policies. The interview went well and I felt healthier than normal afterwards. I left the Councillor to resume her canvassing for the local elections - never keep a politician from their work!
© Ian Callagy 2009