Is there one place that whenever you hear its name, you automatically associate with Protestantism, loyalism and unionism?

WE love our kids, right? We’d do anything to protect them from harm, and all we want for them is to grow up right. We want them all to get the best possible start in life, don’t we?

IN order to prevent Napoleon landing in Dun Laoghaire, the Fortieth Regiment of Foot was sent by the British Army to build fortifications to the north and south of the town — and they built strong and lasting defences.

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!

FOR a while last Sunday it felt as if the entire population of Ireland was in Croke Park. I had hunted for a month for tickets, and just when it seemed the mission would fail a decent man from Kerry (he’s owed a big one) came up trumps.

LAST week I wrote a column about a Government proposal to introduce a network of detention centres for asylum seekers.

I SPENT last weekend meeting and talking to primary school principals.

I REMEMBER an old and wise politician telling me once that you could sum up the difference between the three largest political parties in Ireland this way.

I DON’T know whether you heard former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds on Marian Finucane’s radio programme last Sunday.

I THINK it was US politician Adlai Stevenson who once said that a statesman approaches every issue with an open mind and a politician approaches every issue with an open mouth.