It's a sign of how far right of the centre UK politics is that Andrew Rawnsley can offer the following analysis in the Observer (by the by, what to make of that paper being detached from the Guardian and going solo? Difficult to understand the rationale. The Guardian is now printing news stories on a Sunday and the Observer lacks the sense of being a paper with a daily counterpart.

A really good politics podcast from the Journal on the dissidents from the Labour Party and Green Party who have refused to vote for Catherine Connolly, and/or left their respective parties. They analysed their complaints forensically and found them lacking. The point was made that firstly it makes little sense for a Green Party person to vote Humphreys over Connolly given Fine Gael’s approach in the last government of using the GP as a mudguard. 

So, a debate last evening. Strange notes struck in it, but no question that Connolly emerged the more calm and clear of the two. Humphrey's tried the attack line yet again on Connolly's work as a barrister - surely that's not worth it given the weight of opinion against it. Too late for any polls, presumably? RTÉ felt: Ms Humphreys engaged in intense discussion over the 70-minutes, but there was no clear indication by the end of the programme that she had changed the dynamic of a contest which polls suggest favour Ms Connolly.

As always, following on Dr. X’s suggestion, it’s all yours, “announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose”, feel free.

You can watch it on television or online or follow it here.

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One of the key elements of Tony Gregory's political work was a deep aversion to the Special Criminal Court. Every year when the Dáil sought to vote on continuing the use of emergency powers under the Offences Against the State Act he would vote against. Paul Hosford in the Examiner makes a point about this and the way Catherine Connolly's criticism of the court was used against her, albeit to little effect.

So, the last debate is this evening? Wonder how many will be checking in on it. If Fine Gael continue on their present course it could well be very ugly - and indicative of the deep dive into negativity they have chosen. Cannot imagine that will work well for their candidate but they seem indifferent at this point to that. …

Just preface this by saying that whatever else this has not been a dull contest, even in its closing days. Yesterday Catherine Connolly was faced with a publicity seeker, and Heather Humphreys got a somewhat surprising endorsement (or was it? Maybe it wasn't?). But what is the feeling at this point, any thoughts or observations on the overall shape of the campaign?

It's difficult to overstate how interesting the poll from Irish Times/IPSOS B&A is that landed this weekend. Headline figures will be well known to most of us: The state of the parties, when undecided voters and those unlikely to vote are excluded, is: Fianna Fáil on 17 per cent (down five), Sinn Féin on 27 per cent (up five), and Fine Gael on 18 per cent (up one).

Tributes have been paid to journalist Ed Moloney who has died aged 77. Mr Moloney was known for his coverage of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the activities of the Provisional IRA, writing for publications including Magill, the Irish Times and the Sunday Tribune. Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Séamus Dooley said Mr Moloney was one of the most consequential journalists of his generation.

To download the above please click on this link.  ISOC CPI copyreducegoDownload Please click here to go the Left Archive. Many thanks to Fergus White for forwarding this to the Archive. An edition of Irish Socialist from the Communist Party of Ireland, this dates from June 1973. As noted previous Irish Socialist was published initially by the Irish Workers’ Party and later the Communist Party of Ireland, after the former merged with the Communist Party of Northern Ireland.

gregtimo proposed in comments some while back the idea of a Culture Thread. It’s a great idea. Currently culture is a bit strange, but people read, listen to music, watch television and film and so on – spread the net wide, sports, activities, interests, all relevant – and any pointers are always welcome. And it’s not just those areas but many more. Suggestions as to new or old things, events that might have been missed, literally anything.

Nice to see this in the Examiner this week, a piece by Mick Barry of Solidarity on his cultural 'touchstones' including "The Clash, Corcadorca, and chess matches among his selections". He's got a monthly radio show here: The Mick Barry Radio Hour, where he DJs music, is recorded monthly and available online on Cork-based online community station Éist.  The next episode will be broadcast 10pm, Wednesday, October 22.

All examples welcome. The Independent opinion pages are filled this morning with pieces on one topic. Eilis O'Hanlon doesn't appear to understand the processes of nominating Presidential candidates (or party politics either) seeming to believe it's all about 'government parties' offering 'choice': It is hardly a secret that voters are discontented and rebellious and in the mood to deliver a kick in the pants to their lords and masters whenever they get the opportunity, but Tweedledum and Tweedledee still concluded that voters would be forced to suck it up and fall into line if all their other options were systematically shut off, one by one.

PDF here.

Another effort to address the Fermi paradox. That is The Fermi Paradox is that given the probability there is life in the universe as of yet we’ve found no evidence of same. There's no end of possible reasons for this - as noted here. There have been many attempts to resolve the Fermi paradox,[4][5] such as suggesting that…

Was at Robert Forster in the NCH the other night - a much appreciated early 60th birthday present - and it was an excellent gig - seen him, solo and with the Go-Betweens, almost too many times to count now. He's been loyal to the fans and they've been loyal to him. His latest album Strawberries sees him play with a younger Swedish band who are excellent in every respect, and it really added to the sound.

Was at the wonderful Common Threads festival last weekend, a few days of music between venues in Ballyvaughan and Fanore. My son was with me and it's an area that is special to all of us as it's where he holidayed with his Grandparents for many years. His Grandparents were Dublin based, so there was never trips down the Country to see them, instead they hired a house in Ballyvaughan village for a fortnight for 10 years or so until my Father in law got ill.

Can't recall a more disingenuous leaflet than the one here from guess who: I am asking people to come out on the 24th of October and spoil their vote as an act of defiance against an incompetent government and an inept opposition. We are being presented with two candidates that both agree with every major government policy over the past 10 years.

Matt Cooper was doing his best in the Business Post to fret about the latest budget. For him state expenditure was the issue, at least at first in his piece. Back in October 2018, the budget for 2019 promised total gross expenditure for that year of €66.5 billion. Tuesday's budget provided for €117.8 billion in government spending during 2026 of which capital spending accounts for €19.1 billion.

Useful and timely overview here from Dublin Communities Against Racism of the people behind Spoil The Vote.

Out and about this morning and what do I see but small mini-posters announcing that people should Vote Humphrey's for Experience or something along those lines. They're in a variety of colours including a very Fianna Fáil green and a very Green Party green too. Subtle, I think not. There was a Morning Ireland presentation from both this morning, with no interaction between the two of them.

So let's get this right, Tylenol is a problem, perish the thought of vaccines let alone hormone therapies of various sorts for some people. But this is okay? According to its website, the Enhanced Games are privately funded and will operate independently of taxpayers' money. Some big hitters have put their weight behind the games, including 1789 capital, a US venture capital group based in Florida, which lists Donald Trump Jr among their partners.

Worth reading what Mike Nesbitt, UUP leader, told that party's conference this last weekend. Slugger O'Toole has the transcript in full in a very useful piece on the conference and it makes for fascinating reading. He certainly seems aware of where the main threat to the union is coming from these days in the following: “So to talk of a border poll.