Mary Lou McDonald has that intangible X-factor that few others in politics have and has used all of her considerable skills — including her attractiveness — to climb the ranks of Sinn Féin in a relatively short time. Like Margaret Thatcher she has exploited her gender positively, making herself the obvious choice to succeed Gerry Adams, writes Daniel McConnell

THIS week, I learned on social media that a religion is like a penis. It’s fine to have one, and fine to be proud of having one, but it’s not fine to get it out in public, especially near children. Nor is it fine to write laws with it, nor to think with it.

Mortality

ANOTHER day, another existential crisis.During the week we were struck down by one of those periodic ‘what’s it all about, eh’ phases, the kind that forces you to evaluate what you’re doing.