Category Archives: Irish Times

Irishman’s Diary: TP O’Connor

Posted on August 14, 2012 by admin

‘HIS PEN could lay bare the bones of a book or the soul of a statesman in a few vivid lines”. These words were written in praise of the man who founded the Sun newspaper: journalist, politician and Irish nationalist, … Continue reading →

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Sean O’Casey in Tahrir Square

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin

In 1936, Robert Merton published a seminal paper entitled “The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action” in the American Sociological Review . Seemingly minor events, the then 26-year-old argued, can have profound, unanticipated implications. The “law of unintended consequences” was born. … Continue reading →

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Easter in Alicante

Posted on April 3, 2010 by admin

Feature on the spectacular Easter celebrations in the Costa Blanca from todays Irish Times. IT’S ALMOST midnight, but the street lights are off in El Barrio. Thousands of people line the narrow backstreets of this part of Alicante, creating a … Continue reading →

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Could Direct Rule be the Answer to North’s Problems?

Posted on February 5, 2010 by admin

This comment piece appeared in The Irish Times on Thursday 4 February. It was intended as an attempt to start a discussion about what needs to be done to move Northern Ireland forward. In it, I advocate a possible temporary … Continue reading →

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Lough Rynn Hotel, Mohill

Posted on January 27, 2010 by admin

This review of the Lough Rynn Hotel in Mohill appeared in The Irish Times on Saturday 16 January ’10. I first visited Lough Rynn well over 20 years ago. It was the day of my first communion. We squashed into … Continue reading →

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An Irishman’s Diary

Posted on January 7, 2010 by admin

In response to the awful fire that ripped through St Mel’s cathedral on Christmas morning I wrote this piece for An Irishman’s Diary in The Irish Times. The piece appeared 04/01/2010. ‘THE ONLY thing the town has had to be … Continue reading →

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Hotel Chelsea, New York

Posted on November 30, 2009 by admin

This review of the (in)famous Hotel Chelsea appeared inThe Irish Times on November 21. Few hotels have influenced popular culture like the Chelsea. Jack Kerouac stayed here when he wrote On the Road ; Brendan Behan, Jean-Paul Sartre and Frida … Continue reading →

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Review of Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh

Posted on August 25, 2009 by admin

From Irish Times 15/08/09: ‘I’D WORK here just for that jacket,” my girlfriend declared after we finished checking in. As I’m a man who shops twice a year, and even then does it under duress, the receptionist’s sartorial style had … Continue reading →

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Racist attacks on Roma are latest low in North’s intolerant history

Posted on August 6, 2009 by admin

ANALYSIS: Can recent violence towards immigrants in Belfast be linked to the BNP’s success in European elections, writes PETER GEOGHEGAN. (The Irish Times 18/06/09) WITH ITS new, purpose-built Chinese centre, popular Asian supermarket and plethora of speciality shops, the Ormeau … Continue reading →

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My Starring Role in the Mourne Supremacy

Posted on August 6, 2009 by admin

A piece on an exhilarating weekend in the Mournes, first published in The Irish Times: ‘I’VE BEEN CLIMBING since I was six,” says Ian, our amiable instructor at Tollymore Mountain Centre, as my girlfriend takes her first, tentative steps on … Continue reading →

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