Happy 90th Birthday Our Wee Country #NornIron

In December 1920 the Government of Ireland Act* was first placed before the House of Commons. It made provision for a split in one of the historic provinces of Ireland. The second paragraph stated:

"For the purposes of this Act, Northern Ireland shall consist of the parliamentary counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, and the parliamentary boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry."

The act was voted through on 3 May 1921 and gained Royal Assent the following day so on the eve of an election to a Northern Irish Assembly we mark the 90th birthday of Northern Ireland, Our Wee Country. Ninety years on we do have Nationalists and Unionists prepared to work together for a shared future. We are looking at a democratic future for all the peoples and communities in Northern Ireland.

Tomorrow between 7am and 10 pm we go to the polls here to elect 108 MLAs, members to all 26 district councils and decide on the referendum on the Alternative Vote.

If you live in Northern Ireland don't forget to turn up at the Polling Station with your ID.

• A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence (photographic part)
• A UK, Irish or EU passport
• An electoral identity card
• A Translink Senior SmartPass
• A Translink 60+ SmartPass
• A Translink War Disabled SmartPass
• A Translink Blind Person’s SmartPass

* Repealed in 1999.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 12: Some Independents #AE11

Already I've covered the media braodcasts that the mainstream media have covered here for the Northern Ireland elections. But we are in a social media age, so some of the many Independent candidates have put up there own videos on YouTube. They don't have the big media budgets of the mainstream parties, so they don't always have the production values if the videos I have posted before. But here are the ones I have found so far.

Starting in East Belfast with Stephen Stewart



Charles Smyth standing in South Belfast on a Pro Capitalism ticket



If you know of any others please let me know in the comments below and I will post them on the blog.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 11: People Before Profit #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.

I've been rather remiss at keeping this up this week, but here is the People Before Profit Alliance broadcast.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 10: TUV #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.

I've been rather remiss at keeping this up this week, but here is the Traditional Unionist Voice broadcast.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 9: Socialist Party #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.

I've been rather remiss at keeping this up this week, but here is the Socialist Party's broadcast.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 8: UKIP #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.


I've been rather remiss at keeping this up during this week, but here is UKIP's first venture into Northern Irish Assembly elections.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 7: Green Party #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.


I've been rather remiss at keeping this up during this week. But here is Monday's offering from the Northern Ireland Green Party.

Who is standing in North Down #AE11

Here is the notice of cadidates for North Down in the Assembly election.

In full they are (with online links and contact details where available):

Steven Agnew - Green Party Twitter Mob: 07706 784 436 Email: stevenagnewgpni@hotmail.co.uk

Colin Breen - Ulster Unionist Party Email: colinbreen.vote1@gmail.com

Alan Chambers - Independent

Leslie Cree - Ulster Unionist Party Mob: 07876 170 309 Email: l.cree726@gmail.com

Gordon Dunne - Democratic Unionist Party - D.U.P Tel: (028) 9042 3046

Alex Easton - Democratic Unionist Party - D.U.P Tel: (028) 9188 9620

Stephen Farry - Alliance Party Mob: 07775 687 152 Email stephen.farry@allianceparty.org

Conor Keenan - Sinn Féin Tel: (028) 9024 3194 (Email: conor.keenan@sinn-fein.ie

Liam Logan - SDLP (Social Democratic & Labour Party) Email: gonoorthat@gmail.com

Alan McFarland - Independent Tel: (028) 9147 0900 Twitter

Fred McGlade - United Kingdom Independence Party Tel: (028) 9146 7707 Email: mail@ukipni.org

Peter James Weir - Democratic Unionist Party - D.U.P.Tel: (028) 9145 4500 Email: pjweir@hotmail.com

Anne Wilson - Alliance Party Tel: (028) 9145 9110 Email anne.wilson@allianceparty.org

Party Election Broadcast Watch 6: UUP #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.


Kicking off the second round of broadcasts this evening is the Ulster Unionist Party.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 5: Alliance Party #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.

This evening's offering comes from the Alliance Party.

Party Election Broadcast Watch 1: DUP #AE11

Over here in Northern Ireland we have a different set of parties, with a different set of policies and a different set of priorities to a lot of the rest of the UK. In the run up to the Assembly Election on May 5th they are going to be prodicing a series of election broadcasts. I intend to, if they are easily available (i.e. on YouTube), embed them here so that people outside of Northern Ireland can see what the parties here are saying. I personally won't be passing comment, but feel free to add you own in the comments thread.

Yesterday to get the ball rolling it was the Democratic Unionist Party




Next up will be Sinn Féin which is airing this evening.