The furore around Stephen Nolan continues. The Irish News has published a story, following a long investigation, and legal appraisal, which has a number of elements that put the man and the BBC under a microscope. Briefly the story involves the sending of pornographic photographs, staff needing counselling, the promotion of divisive stories, called "ra... Continue Reading →

Eton Boys Preparing for Government. There was a time during the 60's where the times they were a-changing. The old order was being broken down by the baby boomers. Young working class kids creating conversations with millions of other young working- and middle-class kids through music, movies, and television. Universities opening up to families that... Continue Reading →

The Northern Ireland situation is intractable. Yes, of course Nationalists see the future as a United Ireland, as that will be the end of it, but what if that is wishful thinking? Unionists will come round, they will have to accept it, they will have seats in the Dail, the Irish will introduce an NHS,... Continue Reading →

I've been around for 63 years now...and have lived in Belfast all that time. From a small semi at the bottom of Stockman's Lane before the M1 was constructed to the edge of East Belfast. From quiet political Unionism through the political turmoil of the Troubles to end up today with relative peace. I remember... Continue Reading →

Photo by Dan Burton on Unsplash It starts early. A broken plate. The last biscuit from the tin. A homework not done. "It wasn't my fault. It was my sister/my brother/the dog!" Blame. And so it goes for the rest of our lives. Learning to blame becomes a central part of our lives. Late for... Continue Reading →

There is an ongoing debate in N Ireland about our education system, and how it lets down people from working class backgrounds. A letter recently shared on Twitter spoke of how there is a lack of working class representation in the new recruits joining the PSNI, as raised by Jeffrey Donaldson. A major reason is... Continue Reading →

The 20th Century was the media century. In 1900 to hear music or see a drama you had to go to a theatre, but by 2000 we were heading full on into the digital age, when all of us would have the opportunity to be heard far and wide. Film was followed by the phonograph... Continue Reading →

Advertising is powerful. It works. But most people think it doesn't, or misunderstand what is happening when they encounter ads. " I don't get up off the sofa and go and buy a Mars Bar". Nope, that is not the way it works. So let's have a look at breakfast. I was doing a talk... Continue Reading →

Ireland. An island located to the very west of Europe and locked in a past of conflict with little idea of how to get out. Where people react to others with a glance, hear the accent, ask a question or two, their school, where they live. Bingo, that's the basis of the relationship set, just... Continue Reading →