Slugger O'Toole

5 days ago | sluggerotoole.com | Paul Gosling

When our society discusses Irish unity – as it increasingly does – we need to focus more on the realities of what a united Ireland will be. At present, too much conversation considers the question of identity and too little on how this new country will function, what it will feel like, how it will integrate those who do not want to belong and how we will get there. This is the purpose of my new book, ‘A New Ireland – A Five Year Review’.

3 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | John Mooney

“The Difference Between Men and Boys…is the size of their shoes and the price of their toys”. So sang Billy Dean in a country music song about thirty years ago. It must be true because, to quote songwriter Harlon Howard, “Country Music is three chords and the Truth”. What a horrible thing to say about Men. It implies that we never really become adults…and that maybe women become adult earlier in life. Today I asked my wife if she had any hobbies.

1 month ago | sluggerotoole.com | Fionnbharr Rodgers

‘We took tough but right decisions in the budget… because we inherited a broken economy,’ said Starmer today after a close defeat at the Runcorn by-election, and more losses in the council elections. ‘Tough decisions’ is also the phrase Starmer invoked two months ago, defending the announcement that his government would reduce the already minuscule foreign aid budget to 0.3% in favour of raising defence spending.

1 month ago | sluggerotoole.com | Fionnbharr Rodgers

Last night I had a vision. A premonition of approximately twenty years into the future: DJ Próvai, his balaclava thrown aside, has just been appointed to Seanad Éireann after previously serving a single term as TD for the newly created constituency of Belfast West.

2 months ago | sluggerotoole.com | Mick Fealty

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently released an interesting comparison of the economies of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and there’s some pretty striking stuff in the report. According to their figures, disposable household income per capita in Ireland is around €25,334, way above Northern Ireland’s €19,603. Productivity levels are miles apart too—Ireland’s productivity per worker clocks in at €99,600 per year, compared to just €55,900 in Northern Ireland.