2017 NI Assembly Election

Seeing as we've been discussing the Irish language, here's an interesting subtitled mini-documentary (less than 25 minutes in length) on the community-driven establishment of the Belfast Gaeltacht on Bóthar Seoighe (Shaw's Road) in 1969: http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/02/22/...ars-a-growing/

The project still survives and flourishes today.

In the context of the upcoming election and the debate over an Irish language act, Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole has the following to say about the documentary:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mick Fealty

This subtitled documentary on the setting up of the west Belfast Gaeltacht should be compulsory viewing for almost everyone in Northern Ireland (and beyond). It’s a real antidote to the cheap rhetoric currently being indulged in about the language, its speakers and what drives them.

As a personal aside, this project, its extraordinary mission and the many very ordinary folk who’ve been behind the setting of its enduring fruits remain one of the most enduring sources of inspiration “i mo shaol”, as they say…

It deserves a wide viewing…

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Some of the founding families moved from my old Loiste Nua manor ;)

Time for a prediction:

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/a...redict-nia.jpg

And here's some voting trends since 2000:

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/a...1stcentury.jpg

Seems a bit more like it.

Attachment 2525

I'll have a go. The last seat is a lottery almost everywhere.

That the DUP can be this criminal and still get that many seats is a sickener.

Please God be under 30 though!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by culloty82

The Alliance have become embroiled in a "mini-controversy", after admitting to lining up fake callers for BBC Ulster's version of Liveline. None of which will be news to Southerners, given the grand tradition of planting audience members in RTE current affairs shows.

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Fake callers is a different issue.
Afaia, in RTE current affair programs, the program's production team invite audience members from the relevant political parties.
Except on that famous Late Late Show when RTE planned to ambush Gerry Adams and it backfired spectacularly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

That the DUP can be this criminal and still get that many seats is a sickener.

Please God be under 30 though!

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It really needs to be 27 or less. Jim Allister can be flattered. Sugdon and a few others can be bought.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by geysir

Fake callers is a different issue.
Afaia, in RTE current affair programs, the program's production team invite audience members from the relevant political parties.
Except on that famous Late Late Show when RTE planned to ambush Gerry Adams and it backfired spectacularly.

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Vintage television:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kS-4tpsXsU

Quote:

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

It really needs to be 27 or less. Jim Allister can be flattered. Sugdon and a few others can be bought.

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Can they sign up to petitions of concern and take it over 30? Didn't know that.

I think psychologically though, being under 30 would do a lot. Chip chippety.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Vintage television:

[video=youtube;8kS-4tpsXsU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kS-4tpsXsU[video]

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Gay Byrne: "...leader of a small minority party..."

Gerry Adams: "I'm not a career politician"
And Gerry in 1994 talking about gender balance. WAN!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I think psychologically though, being under 30 would do a lot. Chip chippety

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Is that like tick tock for slow laners?

No.
:confused:

Last scores on the doors:

DUP 26.3% (-2.9% v 2016)
SF 25.3% (+1.2%)
UUP 13.9% (+1.2%)
SDLP 12.16% (+0.16%)
Alliance 9.46% (+2.46%)
TUV 4.4% (+1%)
Green 3.4% (+0.7%)

Last night's BBC debate between Foster, O'Neill, Nesbitt, Eastwood and Long is on iPlayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...leaders-debate

Did anyone watch it?> How was it?

Ill tempered according to RTE - https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0228/85...sembly-debate/
Not had a chance to watch it yet.

Weather forecast is dry in the morning, with rain in the evening.

Likely to give a slight advantage toward unionism, but only slight

Quote:

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

Weather forecast is dry in the morning, with rain in the evening.

Likely to give a slight advantage toward unionism, but only slight

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That sounds like a strange reason?

Why would the weather favour a particular ideology?

The demographics of NI are that Protestants/Unionists tend to have an older age profile. More pensioners.

Attachment 2531

By virtue of not having to go to work during the day pensioners are more likely to have voted early on before the rain comes in. The Catholic/Nationalist population being younger on average are more likely to be restricted to voting in the evening, and therefore more likely not to bother if it is lashing down.

Catholics are also more likely to be unemployed, which partially offsets the advantage, but the unemployed don't tend to vote at all.

It won't make much of a difference, but it might be enough at the margins in the odd seat.

Given the psychological boon I would have thought that SF would have been hammering home the message to the youth that the more of ye get out the more likely we will have an FM.

They won't... but it would have been nice for Arlene to face some squeaky-bum time. Apologies for that vision.