Derry University Group
@derry-group.bsky.social
720 followers 2.6K following 55 posts
Championing an independent cross-border university for the North West - the last-remaining North Ireland Civil Rights campaign. Garrett Hargan's investigative history of the 60-year fight, A Scandal in Plain Sight, is available from colmcillepress.com.
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derry-group.bsky.social
Anyone who wants to know the full story of why Derry needs, deserves and will have its own university must read
@garretthargan.bsky.social's acclaimed investigative history, A Scandal in Plain Sight, available below.
A great Christmas read - indeed, a great read anytime.
A Scandal in Plain Sight (2024) by Garrett Hargan | Colmcille Press
Sixty years after John Hume's University for Derry campaign brought tens of thousands of protestors to the doors of the Northern Ireland parliament of Stormont, how is Belfast still allowed to corral ...
www.colmcillepress.com
derry-group.bsky.social
Alt iontach le @jackmaciomhair.bsky.social san @anpaipear.bsky.social inniu.

Excellent article on Dublin's £40m investment in Magee.

@caoimhearchibald.bsky.social must set up an Oversight Commission to protect this.

We also must ensure bilingual signage is erected across the campus immediately.
derry-group.bsky.social
UU’s trip to the US cost more than Stormont’s.
Its spending - all centred on trying to make its white elephant Belfast campus viable - is out of control.
@RIAdawson has twice now demanded a Scrutiny Commission.
It’s time to act, Minister Archibald.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...
Ulster University urged to justify its ‘staggering’ £61k trip to US
Ulster University spent more than £61,000 on a trip to Washington, DC for St Patrick’s Day, prompting questions as to whether the institution has a “limitless” marketing budget.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Reposted by Derry University Group
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
This weekend on Highland Radio's Business Matters programme, @paulgosling1.bsky.social will be talking to presenter Chris Ashmore about his just-published book 'A New Ireland'.
The book investigates the economic case for Irish unity and the work needed to prepare for a referendum.
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
Our weekly reading from Paul Laughlin's poetry collection, Dorn San Aer. Today, it's Siubhán Nic Amhlaoibh from
the Derry Cultúrlann. Tá brabúis ón leabhar á bhronnadh ar Chumann Faoisimh Leighis na Palaistíne. Nasc anseo: wix.to/4el7OQ9
derry-group.bsky.social
Good to hear.
Fees in Derry are still too dear - twice those in Donegal. The goal must be to harmonise fees North and South - and to implement The Royal Irish Academy's plan for an independent cross-border university, centred in Derry, and full oversight for Ulster University.
Tuition fees increase in Northern Ireland is ruled out
Northern Ireland's five universities and university colleges had called for tuition fees to rise by more than £1,000 a year.
www.bbc.co.uk
derry-group.bsky.social
As damning an indictment of UU, Stormont and the Northern Ireland Civil Service as has ever been published outside Derry.
Thank you Brian Feeney and @irishnews.com.
Enough is enough.
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
Thursday May 1 at the Guildhall, the City of Derry Jazz Festival kicks off with the launch of broadcaster Colum Arbuckle's musical memoir.
MC is @markypblue.bsky.social with Guest Speaker @lilianseenoibarr.bsky.social.
Starts at 5pm - and the former Toejam man is bringing his guitar!
Radio, Romance & Rock'n'Roll | Colmcille Press
In the captivating autobiography Colum recounts his extraordinary experiences, starting, as a very young boy, at The White Horse Inn outside Derry, where his father was the last tenant barman in the old coach house.In the early days of rock‘n’roll he learned to play the guitar and soon became a professional musician, touring with the Gay McIntyre band, in the company of his best friend Gerry Anderson, who shared a small bed sit with him in Manchester, when the band was resident there for a year. Colum then went on to play with Ireland’s first Showband, The Clipper Carlton, Derry band The Woodchoppers and then across the Atlantic with the Emeralds who pioneered the Irish showband scene in America.Returning home, he formed the rock band Toejam with Gerry Anderson and Jim Whiteside. With their hard aggressive style accompanying Gerry’s soaring high pitched vocals, they very quickly became a musical force which attracted many fans both North and South of the border. They played live on radio and TV programmes and in Dublin a fledging U2 played support to them, Colum started Derry’s first recording studio which became an instant success with local bands and soloists. When BBC Northern Ireland heard about this, he was invited to present a programme using some of the material he had collected on BBC Radio Foyle, which had just started broadcasting in the Northwest. This was the start of his radio career which has lasted over forty years and continues to this day. He presented many programmes on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Ulster and when he progressed to the role of producer his long list of achievements includes a two-hour documentary for BBC Radio 2 on the history of Irish Showbands.In the book there are many stories of intimate behind-the-scenes moments of radio broadcasting for BBC Northern Ireland.
www.colmcillepress.com
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
Heartiest congratulations to ‘War, Peace and the Derry Journal’ author, Pat Mc Art, on this much-deserved award from the new Atlantic Technological University. Comhghairdeas leat from all at Colmcille Press!
Pat McArt among recipients of first ATU alumni awards
Pat McArt, a native of Letterkenny joined the Derry Journal in 1981 and worked for the paper until his retirement in 2014
www.donegallive.ie
derry-group.bsky.social
The straw that breaks the camel’s back? @wonkhe.bsky.social
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
Lots of Northern names mentioned here - Jarlath Burns, Michelle O’Neill, Peter Casey, John Finucane and Frances Black.
High time we were allowed to vote for them.
derry-group.bsky.social
Important intervention from top Derry academic.
Three quick goals:
Stormont to adopt Royal Irish Academy plan for a cross-border university in NW Ireland.
Set up independent scrutiny commission for HE in NI.
Set up new North-South body to align education systems on the island (and with EU models).
cjharvey1.bsky.social
The North/NI must map out its own way forward for higher education.

A strategy designed to meet our regional needs and ambitions.

The disastrous unfolding implosion of the British university system provides all the required lessons on what to avoid.
gsoh31.bsky.social
NEW from me in the FT... The existential crisis of Britain's universities has now reached the point of no return. How did all go so wrong? I've tried to explain: www.ft.com/content/0ec7...
derry-group.bsky.social
Sorry to see this but admire the grace, humility and integrity Mike Amesbury is showing here.
He has always been a supporter of Derry - visiting, raising issues in the House of Commons, and hosting meetings for DUG with Lord Adonis and Angela Rayner at Westminster.
Hope this isn’t the end for him.
Reposted by Derry University Group
colmcille.bsky.social
Ag súil go mór leis an seoladh anocht, 7.30i.n sa Chultúrlann Dhoire.

Very much looking forward to the launch tonight at 7.30pm in the Derry Cultúrlann.
BOOKS: Filíocht ó Dhoire go Gaza
Dorn San Aer by Paul Laughlin
belfastmedia.com
derry-group.bsky.social
With fees dropping in the South, a hike in NI will wreck Derry's prospects of growth.
In today's THE, we call on Stormont to support 'a new North-South body to coordinate, structure and formalise a [cross-border] North West University' and to begin all-island, Higher Education alignment.
English-level fees ruled out as Northern Ireland reviews funding
Vice-chancellors say ‘unsustainable’ model needs fixing but changes must be balanced against goals of increasing access and stopping brain drain
www.timeshighereducation.com