sings Finnegan's wake

while driving a motorbike across the Red River on the airport bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam.

An open letter to Ruth Patterson

Dear Ruth Patterson,

Having voted for you in the recent assembly and council elections can I first congratulate you on being appointed Deputy Mayor of my home city of Belfast. I voted for you to the chagrin of the person responsible for delivering my proxy vote because I support the increased profiling of female politicians, particularly in the DUP.

It is disappointing to hear therefore that you were unwilling to acknowledge my friend Niall 0 Donnghaile following your joint appointment to the offices of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor. I do not consider such attitudes as being conducive to the cohesive, integrated and shared society that the DUP and other political parties purport to be building.

I would be grateful if you could explain your position, and give consideration to taking actions that would lead to a more exemplary outward perspective of the leadership emanating from Belfast City Council.

yours faithfully

Angus Lambkin

when money stops the world going round

Buying petrol the other week, the guy in front of me had his 50,000 Vietnam Dong (2U$) note rejected for being potentially fake.   He had no other money, his tank had been filled and a stalemate was inevitable. Neither side was for moving and no more petrol was being dispensed without a resolution. I took the suspect note, replaced it with one of my own and we all set about getting on with rest of our lives. My own involving the exchange of said note in a suspect bar a few hours later for a suspect whisky and red bull.

So why is this interesting? For the poor, balancing budgets is a constant challenge with often no ability to access cheap credit regardless of the ability to repay. Hence people walk the world mentally counting the money in their pocket against what they need. Shame accompanies this, particularly when a sale is refused for insufficient funds and generally speaking it puts a downer on quality of life.

And the cure can be very simple. A bit of extra cash to smooth over the rough edges of life is likely enough to be highly beneficial to the vast majority who don't own a credit card.

There a plenty of organizations queuing  up to provide those of us with spare cash with opportunities to make the world an easier place for others to live in. And presumably more of these situations exist that are directly accessible and eyes should be live to this possibility.

Both a borrower and a lender be – the alternative is taking the Mail.

A quick word of thanks to my numerous benefactors without whom I would be hungry, thirsty and far from home on a much more regular basis. Special thanks this month go to Adam Kirk @kirkmeister, Alec McCormack and Magdalen Lambkin. A historic debt of gratitude is due to one Haflidi Saeversson, and of course to my parents.

the Peace Process, the IFA and the FAI

So the 5-0 beating of Northern Ireland by the Republic of Ireland is likely to do little to quell the controversy over players born north of the border choosing the Aviva in Dublin as their home ground. According to a FIFA ruling they can choose who to play for and generally there is a tendency for catholics to choose to play for the Republic if they are invited to do so.


I have commented jokingly before that in the event that the ruling was changed, a birthing exodus would likely occur. While this might not be en mass, I think it does reflect the mentality of many that simply do not consider the Northern Ireland football as representative of themselves.


When growing up, and going to Northern Ireland games, I always considered this as an expression of my half-protestant self. Attendance was open to me as a result of mixed marriage rather than a peace process driven decline in sectarianism, though this has taken place. Most catholics continue to support the Republic of Ireland, albeit with some exceptions. The quote below being from a case in point.

 I just have grown up supporting N.I insted of Republic. To say that tho, would never go to an N.I game. Would feel too uncomfortable.

Not necessarily a representative sample but research on this would be interesting. And I do know catholics that go to Windsor Park, but then again the likes of myself would.


The peace process to my knowledge has effectively ignored these issues. While recommendations for catholics to join the PSNI has been given by the SDLP and Sinn Féin, this has not happened for the Northern Ireland football team. I have seen no desire to tackle the issue from any of the political parties, and in the absence of this I think it wrong to oblige young people to play for a team that they do not support.


The argument is often given that the investment in training warrants a return from the player. This obligation is not placed upon other professions. Public sector trained dentists are lost to the private sector. The Philippines loses professionally trained nurses to the National Health Service. And the IFA trains many players that will never represent Northern Ireland (including myself).


Northern Ireland fans are I think rightful to feel snubbed. The problem is that decisions made by individual teenagers are the focus of a much more systemic problem and this should be acknowledged. Reversing the FIFA ruling will not affect the footballing aspirations of many young catholics. Leadership on this issue, similar to that that brought peace might generate cross-community support for any agreement that is reached, but in the absence of this the current situation while perhaps not ideal, does allow choice in national expression; a component integral to the peace process.

By virtue of my grandfather, I would be entitled to represent the Republic of Ireland regardless of FIFA intervention. By dint of age and being unable to kick back doors with the bin men, a call up is unlikely. 


I admit that I would heed this call, but I think that both the current situation and its proposed remedy are not ideal and I would support efforts to bring about a workable solution.

This is the only photo I can find of myself wearing the shirt. It does get worn though, most recently  during a hurling match at the South East Asian Gaelic Games in Ho Chi Minh City.

Abortion and it's malcontents

SA: Safe Abortion
LTFP: long term family planning
STFP: short term family planning
VSC: vasectomy
MAOOC: medical abortion out of centre

This is me presiding over a strategic plan that will involve the delivery of 1.2m abortions in Vietnam in 2015. 


The smile is not connected to the plan, but it is indicative of the office culture in which organisations working on reproductive health including safe abortion find themselves.


I have been trying to write about it for a while but am unsure how best to position it. Coming from Belfast, the issue of abortion is not approached easily and this photo is likely to be seen a highly offensive to the pro-life lobby. I offer it not to antagonise, but to create a fuller understanding of how complex the various activities of human beings make this world.


Apologies to those that are offended, and hope that opportunity is afforded to discuss the issue.

Gaelic Football is alive and well in South East Asia