Conor J. Kelly
@conorjkelly.bsky.social
Bingham Early Career Fellow in Constitutional Studies at Balliol College, University of Oxford | Researching Irish, UK, & EU politics focusing on Northern Ireland | Usual disclaimer From Donegal. Profile: https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/person/conor-j-kelly
The stand off in Drumcree continues and threatens the stability of Stormont. I’m quoted a few times in this @financialtimes.com article by @judewebber.bsky.social on the growing debate around political reform. www.ft.com/content/9297...
Stand-off over Protestant march pushes Northern Ireland politics to the brink
Crisis over attempted march down Catholic road may hasten reform of Stormont’s political institutions
ft.com
The stand off in Drumcree continues and threatens the stability of Stormont. I’m quoted a few times in this @financialtimes.com article by @judewebber.bsky.social on the growing debate around political reform. www.ft.com/content/9297...
Stand-off over Protestant march pushes Northern Ireland politics to the brink
Crisis over attempted march down Catholic road may hasten reform of Stormont’s political institutions
ft.com
There *may* be some progress on the Garvaghy Road parade. If the Orange Order accept whatever is on the table, we might get an agreement.
Immediate thoughts on Andy Burnham's announcement today of a national commission on electoral reform. Doing this process well will be really important. theconversation.com/if-he-wants-...
If he wants to secure legitimacy for electoral reform, Andy Burnham must stick to these rules
Involving both the public and all parties in shaping reforms on how they vote will be crucial.
theconversation.com
With tensions running so high in NI, here's @conorjkelly.bsky.social and my account of what happens if the DUP or Sinn Féin walk out of the Executive, and why the arrangements put in place in 2022 will not lead to an early election unless those parties work together: ukandeu.ac.uk/what-happens...
What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? - UK in a changing Europe
Conor J. Kelly and Colin Murray discuss what would happen next if one of the major parties pulled out of the Stormont...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Andy Burnham has announced a National Commission on Electoral Reform. The voting system is the heart of our democracy: this will be a vital debate. The Constitution Unit will work to ensure it’s an informed debate. Look out for our project launching next week examining the options and their effects.
1/4 🧵 What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? @colinmurray.bsky.social and I have taken a look for @ukandeu.bsky.social. The answer is perhaps less straightforward than you might think. ukandeu.ac.uk/what-happens...
What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? - UK in a changing Europe
Conor J. Kelly and Colin Murray discuss what would happen next if one of the major parties pulled out of the Stormont...
ukandeu.ac.uk
"The crisis underscores the precarious nature of the power-sharing settlement in Northern Ireland". @conorjkelly.bsky.social and @colinmurray.bsky.social consider how the recent events at Drumcree could impact the functioning of the Executive in Northern Ireland. ukandeu.ac.uk/what-happens...
What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? - UK in a changing Europe
Conor J. Kelly and Colin Murray discuss what would happen next if one of the major parties pulled out of the Stormont...
ukandeu.ac.uk
1/4 🧵 What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? @colinmurray.bsky.social and I have taken a look for @ukandeu.bsky.social. The answer is perhaps less straightforward than you might think. ukandeu.ac.uk/what-happens...
What happens next if power sharing at Stormont collapses over Drumcree? - UK in a changing Europe
Conor J. Kelly and Colin Murray discuss what would happen next if one of the major parties pulled out of the Stormont...
ukandeu.ac.uk
The next election will now be the Drumcree Election one way or another. But it won't come in a month even if one party leaves the Executive. Other ministers remain in post for 24 weeks under the 2022 Act, so we'd still be looking at a Spring 2027 election. But will that lead to any "cooling off"?
Gavan Reilly@gavreilly.com · 7d agoDon’t be at all surprised if Stormont collapses one way or another this week – SF because the present-day structures don’t serve the interest of nationalists; DUP because the First Minister participated in an unlawful protest gathering – and for another stalemate that last for *years*.
‘Too much is at stake’: Catholic and Protestant Archbishops issue joint call for people to ‘be good neighours to each other’ www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
irishtimes.com
‘Micheál Martin described the decision by the Parades Commission of Northern Ireland to allow an Orange Order parade to go down the Garvaghy Road as "incomprehensible and wrong". www.rte.ie/news/ulster/...
Taoiseach appeals for 'calm on all sides' in Portadown
The Taoiseach has said he is very concerned about the situation in Portadown and called for "calm on all sides".
rte.ie
Don’t be at all surprised if Stormont collapses one way or another this week – SF because the present-day structures don’t serve the interest of nationalists; DUP because the First Minister participated in an unlawful protest gathering – and for another stalemate that last for *years*.
Assuming there is an English language requirement, but ‘Dark’ is easily in the top 10 best shows of the 21st century.
Jonas Kahnwald's Intense Stare
ALT: Jonas Kahnwald's Intense Stare
static.klipy.com
Phil Lewis@phillewis.bsky.social · last wk.Here’s The New York Times 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Thanks to @irishtimes.com for publishing this article by @dkennytcd.bsky.social and me on the criteria for calling a border poll. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202... #BorderPoll #Ireland #BorderPoll #SpéirGorm #NorthernIreland #UKPolitics #IrishPolitics
How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?
The Belfast Agreement sets out rules for calling a unity referendum, but is vague on some details
irishtimes.com
ARINS commissioned article in today's Irish Times from @conorjkelly.bsky.social and David Kenny: 🗞️How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?🗞️ www.irishtimes.com/politics/202... @ndirishstudies.bsky.social @ria.ie
How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?
The Belfast Agreement sets out rules for calling a unity referendum, but is vague on some details
irishtimes.com
How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?
How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?
The Belfast Agreement sets out rules for calling a unity referendum, but is vague on some details
irishtimes.com
Thanks to @irishtimes.com for publishing this article by @dkennytcd.bsky.social and me on the criteria for calling a border poll. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202... #BorderPoll #Ireland #BorderPoll #SpéirGorm #NorthernIreland #UKPolitics #IrishPolitics
How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?
The Belfast Agreement sets out rules for calling a unity referendum, but is vague on some details
irishtimes.com
Final call for tomorrow night's book launch. 6 pm at Malet Street in Bloomsbury and online. More details via the sign up link below!
Conor J. Kelly@conorjkelly.bsky.social · 3w agoThe sign up link for my book launch on 23 September can be found below. We have a fantastic panel with @timbale.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social and Giada Lagana due to contribute. Please join us online or in Bloomsbury :)
The people voted almost 50 years ago to widen the Seanad electorate - and only 13 years ago to save it from extinction. But now that the electorate HAS been widened, only 9% of potential voters have signed up. That says many things - including that the upper house is out of favour again.
A million people can now vote in Seanad elections, but they're not signing up
The biggest reform to Seanad elections in a generation has opened the university panels to graduates from more than 80 institutions. So far, it’s not gone to plan when it comes to the numbers.
jrnl.ie
We live in a poll-driven political age, but it's important for all politicians to remember that they can lead/influence public opinion through leadership and communication.
Taoiseach to become first foreign leader to visit UK prime minister Burnham at No 10 North
Taoiseach to become first foreign leader to visit UK prime minister Burnham at No 10 North
Irish-UK relations and post-Brexit reset to be on agenda for first meeting in Manchester
irishtimes.com
'Israeli prime minister to pursue new laws as directors of Guardian-produced film face threats from far-right officials and activists' www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
Netanyahu seeks to strip citizenship from Israelis as threats to NAZA film directors intensify
Israeli prime minister to pursue new laws as directors of Guardian-produced film face threats from far-right officials and activists
theguardian.com
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted today while driving his car through Dublin city. His brother, Danny Healy-Rae, told the Dáil he hoped his brother would be out of hospital tomorrow. www.thejournal.ie/michael-heal...
The sign up link for my book launch on 23 September can be found below. We have a fantastic panel with @timbale.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social and Giada Lagana due to contribute. Please join us online or in Bloomsbury :)
Conor J. Kelly@conorjkelly.bsky.social · last mo.1/4 📚 I’m delighted to be launching my new book, Explaining Northern Ireland Party Stances on the EU: Dividing Lines Before and After Brexit, at Birkbeck on 23 September. It starts at 6pm and you can join us in person or online: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Warning: our democracy won’t survive the death of reading. Read on if you still can | John Harris
While fascists protest in UK ports and purvey nonsense and poison online, ever fewer people have the perspective or analytical tools to challenge them, says Guardian columnist John Harris
theguardian.com
A campaign for *MSF* to be banned as a terrorist group (on the paper thin basis of claims about 2 past employees) is the product of the UK Govt being willing to divorce any meaningful conception of societal threat from its use of proscription powers. Govt needs to wake up to the madness of this:
