Northern Slant seeks to encourage positive changes in our politics and community relations in Northern Ireland. We’re grateful to everyone who has helped grow the project throughout 2019 – submitting great content, contributing to events, and sharing our work. With ‘Northern Slants’ we’ve shared a summary of our achievements, and perspectives and topics covered on the website throughout the year. Want to get involved in 2020? Visit our contact us page. You can also sign up to our newsletter here.

 

E-book launch: Don’t Mention the War

In January, Northern Slant author Vicky Cosstick’s launched her e-book Don’t Mention the War: Exploring Aspects of the Northern Ireland Troubles. In the lead up to the event short excerpts from the publication were serialised on Northern Slant. Encompassing research and essays, Vicky’s work sought to interrogate the way that “legacy” of the NI conflict has typically been understood, particularly in light of post-20th anniversary reflections on the Good Friday Agreement. The first of three events we held in 2019, Northern Slant Editor Connor Daly chaired a discussion about her e-book, considering the long-term impacts of the Troubles and what it will take to move the frozen peace process forward. Michael Avila’s round-up of the discussion can be found here.

More events: Politics Beyond Politicians and Making Sense of #GE2019

Who are political leaders? How does politics happen? What are the opportunities to do politics differently in Northern Ireland and how can we, as citizens and not just voters, bring about positive change? These were just some of the questions we asked at our Politics Beyond Politicians panel discussion held on the opening day of this year’s Imagine! Festival of Ideas & Politics in Belfast. We explored how in the absence of the Northern Ireland Assembly civic society can lead. Steve McGookin provided a round-up of the event, held at a packed Pug Uglies bar in Belfast. The event was kindly sponsored by the Linen Quarter BID.

In December, just a couple of days ahead of the Westminster general election, we hosted a Making Sense of #GE2019 discussion on what the opinion polls were saying and what the election might mean for Northern Ireland. You can catch Steve McGookin’s review here: Issues or identity? We appreciated the support of LucidTalk and Lighthouse Communications in sponsoring the event.

Podcast collaboration with Queen’s Radio

During the general election campaign we teamed up with Queen’s Radio to record a series of ‘Election Bulletin’ podcasts. Team members Julia Flanagan, Steve McGookin, Matt O’Neill and Lisa Whitten joined other guests to analyse the online, visual and written aspects of the campaign.

Perspectives on politics

Nationalism, unionism, and the Alliance ‘surge’

In February, the SDLP and Fianna Fáil announced that they would work closer together on a range of matters including Brexit. Various Northern Slant members and guest contributors had their say on this – we set up a specific webpage to facilitate debate on what the partnership could mean for the SDLP, nationalism, and wider NI politics.

With regard to unionism, at the beginning of 2019 Kevin Meagher argued that unionism had never been in worse shape and this was largely unionists’ own fault. In June, Cameron Mack warned that if unionism won’t provide for soft unionists, it would lose them. Later, following December’s general election, Cameron Mack asked if 2019 saw the end of the DUP’s safe seats.

In October, Lisa Whitten analysed LucidTalk opinion polls which suggested that the political landscape in Northern Ireland continues to change, with a growing number of voters no longer considering themselves nationalist or unionist. Given these trends, and the Alliance Party’s ‘surge’ in this year’s local, European and Westminster elections continue, this change to our political landcape could be transformational.

 

Celebrating the life and work of Lyra McKee

Throughout 2019, each Sunday Ruth Foster has made the often complex political week accessible in five points. In April, following the tragic murder of journalist Lyra McKee, the Northern Slant team wanted to honour Lyra’s memory, promote her incredible work and highlight the causes she believed in: human rights, civil liberties, and championing the LGBT community. Ruth led on the article entitled For Lyra.

United Ireland debate

In August, an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told an Féile an Phobail audience that a united Ireland would require a “new constitution”. Reacting to his comments, Aoife Clements argued that women must be present at any such discussions if and when unity comes. On this same visit to Belfast, Mr Varadkar delivered an Ireland Funds Leadership lecture – Matt O’Neill shared some points made on the nature and principles of leadership.

 

Continued absence of Stormont

One of the continued obstacles to preventing the return of power-sharing at Stormont was the issue of a stand-alone Irish Language Act – viewed as one of Sinn Féin’s thin red lines. John Coulter shared his thoughts why unionists should support an Irish language act.

October saw failed attempts from some MLAs to recall Stormont to prevent the passage of Westminster legislation decriminalising abortion provision and allowing same-sex marriage here. In this context, Gerard McDonald asked where were the calls to recall Stormont to prevent current social security mitigations coming to an end in March 2020.

With the Brexit saga in the background, Ruairi McCallan argued that whatever happens with the UK’s withdrawal from the EU Northern Ireland needs more devolution of both economic and political decision-making.

 

International politics

Throughout the year, Steve McGookin and Julia Flanagan have kept us up to date on all things US and wider international politics, helping us make sense of the Donald Trump presidency and continuing Democrat race to select a presidential nominee for 2020’s election. In September, Elizabeth Charash, as she left Belfast to return to the US, reflected on her time in Northern Ireland and on issues that both societies continue to wrestle with. Her article’s entitled: ‘Life is not only tragic’.

 

Thinking of giving politics a go?

In May’s local elections, Heather Wilson was unsuccessful in standing for Belfast City Council. Later, she shared three pieces of election advice that she’ll hold onto for next time, as well as for anyone toying with the idea of giving electoral politics a go. Photo credit (below): Thomas McMullan, North Belfast News. Ahead of the local elections we interviewed a number of first-time candidates across NI’s parties about their reasons for getting involved in politics – you can find these here.

Business, interviews, reviews, and more

As modern life becomes ever more demanding, Eoin Deeney at HENCH gym spoke to us about how eradicating bad habits, and enjoying moving, eating and thinking well can change your life for the better. He had advice for others wanting to make better lifestyle choices. In a similarly inspirational post, Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, shared his journey of embracing Saturday morning Parkruns and the positive impact this has had on his life.

Taking inspiration from Eric Reis’ book The Lean Startup, Niall Crozier shared 5 steps to help new Northern Ireland businesses to survive and thrive. He also reviewed the popular book Essentialism.

During the summer, Northern Slant Deputy Editor Jamie Pow conducted interviews with TEDxStormont speakers Jess Dornan Lynas and Orla Keating. Both interviews, and other TED-themed articles from previous years, can be found here.

Did you know that former US President Jimmy Carter still teaches Sunday School? In April, Matt O’Neill published his experience of travelling to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he went to church with the Carters.

In November, after seeing the band A-ha in concert in Belfast – celebrating an album they first promoted in Northern Ireland in 1987 – in her article Love Songs in Age, Jenny McCullough explored the difference 30+ years have made in NI, and the power of pop music to take us back in time.

Also in November, ahead of Remembrance Sunday Fionnbharr Rodgers wrote that the debate around whether or not one should wear a poppy should not distract us from where our minds should be that time of year.

In our Northern Roots series Michael Avila continued to speak to people originally from Northern Ireland but who are currently living elsewhere – or vice versa.

We continued to share interviews with members of our team throughout 2019 – about them, their interests and hopes for Northern Ireland’s future. You can find our Two Minutes with the Team series here.