Slugger O'Toole

Slugger O’Toole is a recognized news and opinion platform that offers insightful commentary on political issues in Ireland and Britain. The site aims to provide its audience with "open source analysis," drawing from both traditional media and blogs. We are always seeking ways to enhance discussions on topics that affect our regions, nations, and the world at large.

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New ESRI analysis of the economies of Ireland and Northern Ireland…

1 week 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.
Was It Really the Protestant Work Ethic?

1 week ago | sluggerotoole.com | Arnold Carton |Mick Fealty

Why did Britain (or England) prosper in the late 1700’s and lead the way in the Industrial Revolution? Was this in part due to the earlier Glorious Revolution when our own ‘King Billy’ defeated the Catholic King James and ensured that Britain was a ‘Protestant State’ and had a Protestant work-ethic? Why do some countries like the USA become rich, while nearby countries like Mexico remain poor; what makes one country successful and another fail?
Rory McIlroy: Love, beauty, trust and love all wrapped up in one hectic, thrilling and desperate game of golf

1 week ago | sluggerotoole.com | Mick Fealty

There’s two things I love about golf. One is the sheer beauty and multigenerational memories of the greats playing the Masters course in Atlanta, Georgia. The other is the boundless courage, natural decency and outrageous genius of Rory McIlroy.
Are we divided or diverse? (“Often, it’s not what we say but what people hear…”)

2 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Terry Wright

A few weeks ago, nationalist parties who raised procedural issues regarding the decision to fund a sports pitch for a controlled college were accused by the DUP of being ‘sectarian.’ Now the DUP, on procedural and squandering money grounds relating to the decision to fund Irish Language signage in the new Belfast transport hub, is calling foul. Is it also, in its expression of limited cultural democracy, open to the charge of adopting a prejudicial position with regard to the language?
Weekly Bulletin. What you need to know this week…

2 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Mick Fealty

Ministers describe Trump tariffs as “deeply regrettable” and warn that NI must not become “collateral damage” This week, NI politicians reacted to Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariff announcement. UK exports to the US will face a tariff of 10%, while EU goods have been hit with a 20% tariff.
How will the NI Executive handle its response Trump’s opening gambit in tariff negotiations?

2 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Mick Fealty

The old Chinese curse that runs ‘may you live in interesting times’ holds today much as it ever did. Two days after Donald Trump announced his new tariff rates (and the international stock market when into meltdown), the air has yet to clear. Since the Second World War, the average US tariff has sat at around 4%, so what we are seeing is a remarkable shift in post war norms. World wide it is thought likely to affect around $700b of trade. Long established trade arrangements are up in the air.
The Republican Party has a moral duty to speak up against swingeing cuts to USAID…

3 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Brian Clifford Pope

Time is running out for millions of people in the world’s poorest nations as the US takes a step closer to making drastic cuts to its international aid budget. Tariffs, Ukraine and Gaza have dominated the headlines, for good reason, but we should not forget Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plans for USAID and the Republican Party’s complicit role in its destruction.
Portrait of a happy man…

3 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Felicity Graham |David McCann

I was sorting through some of the paperwork left behind by my mother a few years ago and came upon a book – a compilation of writings by authors aged eight to eighty-eight from throughout Northern California. I was about to discard it when I noticed a piece written by my father. As he rarely got a word in edgeways I found this extremely comforting. Maybe others might too.
“The full story has not been written. Who will be the last person to hold the pen?”

3 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | Terry Wright |David McCann

Selfies with the POTUS and his decisions spreading panic in Dublin, or so the DUP hopes, Northern Ireland gifted special status as the USA celebrates 250 years of the Declaration of Independence and the Deputy First Minister, Emma-Little Pengelly MLA, by all accounts scoring a ‘home run’ during the St Patrick’s Day jamboree in Washington and with President Trump’s tariff tactics judiciously ignored, the DUP did not hide a feeling of it being a good period for the party; an opportunity to...
Abuse of our MLAs

3 weeks ago | sluggerotoole.com | David McCann |Mick Fealty

The View had an excellent report last night highlighting some of the threats and abuse faced by our MLAs.An Electoral Commission survey on the 2024 UK general election found that many candidates continue to experience unacceptable levels of intimidation and harassment. A group of leaders from the Centre for Democracy and Peace’s Fellowship Programme have called for action to tackle the abuse.