Twenty Questions to a Fellow Blogger Part LIX: O'Neill

O'Neill: No picture I’m afraid- imagine a much younger and cleaner Micky Rourke and you’re not far wrong! I’m married, have a dog and seventy fish. I’m presently self-employed, working within the education field. Been blogging for three years.My blog is A Pint of Unionist Lite.

What made you decide to start blogging?

Feeling that I had something to say and finally the technology being available to enable me to say it to a wider audience.

What is your best blogging experience?

Discovering there are pro-Union blogs in all four parts of the United Kingdom; there are now over 35 blogs in my “Friends of the Union” links.

And your worst?

Being forced to put on Comment Moderation due to the persistence of a couple of abusive idiots.

What do you regard as your best blog entry?

The entry which affected me the most whilst writing it; a post I did in memorial of Edgar Graham who was a Unionist law professor murdered by the IRA in the early 80s. Halfway through the post, it suddenly clicked how lucky I was to have the freedom denied to Edgar Graham and many others still in the world today, the freedom to express my opinions and political views without the fear of taking a bullet in the head for doing so.

Favourite blogs?

Three Thousand Versts, The Croydonian, Mr Eugenides, Our Kingdom, Redemption’s Son, Slugger O’Toole and Scottish Unionist.

What inspired you to go into politics?

The firm belief that my nation is worth preserving.

As a Unionist, what strengths do you think there has been with regards to devolution?

None. I believe that devolution has not only weakened the links between the various peoples of the United Kingdom, but has also produced a constitutional and governmental mess.

How do you see the future of Unionism in the UK?

I’m more confident now than I was 18 months ago about the future of the Union but I think Unionism must develop and organise more on a UK-wide basis as opposed to it present regionalisation. I suspect nationalism as a political force has peaked in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales- and I believe it would be in the longterm interest of Unionism to press for referendums to prove this fact. What Unionists must be wary of, however is the increasing resentment felt in England over the inequities which have naturally arisen from the assymetrical form of devolution we’ve been lumbered with.

Is there anywhere abroad which you haven't been to, that you would like to visit?

Vietnam and Cambodia. Hopefully going there next winter.

Is there anywhere abroad you have visited, that you would love to revisit?

Jerusalem.

Who, excluding the present leader and Prime Minister, do you regard as the best British Prime Minister, and if different, the best Conservative leader?

The architect of One Nation Conservatism, Benjamin Disraeli was the best ever Conservative leader. The best ever PM is much more difficult; the best ever leaders we’ve had have always fortunately arrived at the most traumatic points in our history, Churchill being probably the best example, so I’ll plump for him

Which political figure has been your greatest inspiration?

Sir Edward Carson, who saw no contradiction in terms when describing himself as an Irish Unionist.

Favourite Bond movie?

Any by that bloke from the Bahamas, Sean whassisname!

Favorite Doctor Who?

Er….

Chocolate, vanilla, or mint?

Vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce, polished off with an After Eight mint, if you can manage it.

Which Band, past or present, would you most like to see in concert?

The Smiths

In terms of visiting for the weekend, Oxford, Cambridge, or Barsby, Leics..?

Never heard of the place, but I’m making a guess that I’d be much more likely to have a good ole after-hours lock-in there, so Barsby.

Favourite national newspaper?

Guardian for the news and Comment Free, Telegraph for the columnists and sport.

What would you say your hobbies were?

Football (watching), running (very slowly), butchering tunes on the guitar, walking the dog and the tropical fish.

And what would you say were your three favourite songs and three favourite books (Bar the Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare)?

Songs: Can’t limit it to three!

John Barleycorn by Traffic,

How Soon is Now by The Smiths

The Wanderer by Johnny Cash.

Best ever live song heard: Whiskey in the Jar by Thin Lizzy.

Books:

A Strange Kind of Glory- Eamon Dunphy

A Star called Henry- Roddy Doyle

The Thought Gang- Tibor Fischer.