NI sends a tricolour to the EU
Comment: Unionists aren’t happy!
They lost a seat they had held for 40 years.
The psychological impact of that should be lost on no-one.
NI was set up to placate Ulster Unionism
Now 57% in NI don’t vote for Unionist parties.
Remain and the backstop have been given majority support by the people of NI.
AND . . . .
the EU and Ireland stand firm. No hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland
We need a legal Treaty guarantee of that. Backstop ahoy!
Scotland elects an international SNP trio
One grew up between Scotland and Saudi Arabia
One is a French citizen
The other worked in Brussels for years
Comments: Just to underline they are Scots, not Brits
And Scotland has an international outlook
And will be Independent
English Query: At this crucial time of Brexit,
How could Scotland possibly do this?
Easily!
The Brexit Party swept the boards in England,
demanding a “No Deal” Brexit,
They have nothing further to discuss with the EU
And then Nigel Farage announced they should be part of the UK negotiating team
BUT . . . .
The EU has said negotiations are closed
“There will be no further negotiations”
Comment: For the series
“No Deal Party is better than a Bad Deal Party”
The British Conservative and Labour Parties lost votes hand over fist
Comment: The Tories hadn’t managed to deliver Brexit
Labour hadn’t managed to position itself on Brexit
Verdict:
Query: Isn’t it time the UK parties realised they can have either
Brexit or the UK?
Either. Or.
They can’t have both.
And triangulating is a waste of time
As we have seen to date
Remember: No law says the UK has to have a Labour or Tory Party
Comment: Maybe their time is drawing to a close.
Ireland’s still counting . . . .
PS An ex-RUC piper led an INLA (Irish National Liberation Army)
Volunteer’s funeral
Up the Falls!!! To the Republican Plot!!!
Comments: I think that is what the Volunteer wanted.
Otherwise whoever organized the funeral could have opted for a republican piper
Bet that was the piper’s first time!
Up the Falls. Into the Republican Plot!
How our worlds have shifted .
Well done the organisers and piper!
“She played very well” said a mourner
“Her “Amhran na Fiann” was lovely”
Piper: “Every half-crown counts in these straitened times!
I play for all communities
Even Themmuns!”
Comments: He who pays the piper . . .
Music and Funerals know no boundaries .
the mirror@wordpress.com 
When N Ireland leaves the UK, what’s left is the Kingdom of Great Britain; and when Scotland leaves that, what’s left if the Kingdom of England. No more, no less. Wales is a principality within the Kingdom of England. No “united” anywhere.
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and eventually Wales itself may leave. And maybe even Cornwall
For Scotland and NI it’s just a question of time.
The writing’s on the wall
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Nice article Ben . I’m not from NI, in the absence of discrimination prior to the 1960’s, what might NI look like today?.
If the Catholic population were treated equally and respectfully, would 95% of NI be British today
Did anti Catholic feeling create the republic and a divided NI?
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Thanks for commenting Ted and welcome to the site. Enjoy yourself as you look around.
Briefly in answer to your questions,
1) Since Northern Ireland is governed by Westminster, it would today look like other remote, de-industrialised areas of England, that is poor and deprived, low wages, food banks and few job opportunities-As indeed it does. NI also has to cope with the additional effects of persistent anti- catholic, nationalist and republican public rhetoric, 60+years of discrimination and 30 years strife
2) Possibly, even probably. Hardline Republicans have always been relatively few in number throughout irish history.
3) Again yes, Unionists/Loyalists have always used loyalty to the crown to mask their anti-catholic/ anti-Irish people ethos. The UK Government ceded to their demands for their own fiefdom in the 1920 Govt of Ireland Act
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Just to make a point here Ted, if there wasn’t anti catholic/ anti Irish discrimination they would be no “Northern Ireland” in the first place. The northern statelet is basically founded on discrimination and the “gerrymander” which is partition.
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well said Gerard
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He who pays the piper calls the tune.
Something slightly surreal about that story.
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yes, there was, wasn’t there? Yet it was all over the local Belfast news at the time.
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