The Debate

The Debate

I don’t agree with everything in this feature by George Madden but it makes some interesting points. Over the years I have come to object to the way that some – including some Irish republicans – still assume a privilege of Irishness. There is a...
A Little Town

A Little Town

This Penguin Modern Classic could have been made more accessible in a larger font. I struggled through it because I love Hrabal – and, of course, I was eventually rewarded. Not as funny as Closely Observed Trains, or, Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age, but...
Belfast Rally in Support of Palestine

Belfast Rally in Support of Palestine

At least thirty four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since they began holding Land Day protests on March 30th. This afternoon, at the gates of Belfast City Hall, members of a number of organisations held a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian...
‘The Fog Of War’

‘The Fog Of War’

I wrote this feature in May 2005: some thoughts about perennial war and how people rationalise their justifications for their actions. I was reminded of it when I saw on Twitter today a reference to Robert Oppenheimer (the American theoretical physicist in the...
Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing

Really enjoyed this novel, a crime/political thriller set in Cuba and written by former Uruguayan Tuparmaro guerrilla Daniel Chavarría. It is stylish, intelligent, dark, amusing and a bit raunchy. Aldo Bianchi and his girlfriend Teresita were once arrested by Alberto...