Show Notes
James McClean’s return to Derry hasn’t worked out as anticipated. But beyond the headlines, what was at stake when he was on the receiving end of abuse on social media, in the English media and from the football grounds of England? On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at how McClean was reduced to caricature and how the outrage machine shaped it.
We also have some Free State news. On Sept 3rd, Free State will be live in Belfast with Paul Howard to talk about his brilliant new book ‘A Nation Once Again’. Book your free ticket here - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-free-state-podcast-live-paul-howard-in-conversation-tickets-1998226075984?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning
In 2006, Elif Shafak was charged with 'insulting Turkishness' because of words uttered by a fictional character in one of her novels. She had been born to Turkish parents in France and grew up in Ankara but now she lives in London. On Free State today, Turkey's most widely read woman writer talks to Dion about exile, the age of anxiety and reaching out for home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Arsenal announced they were cutting 60 jobs at the home of the Premier League champions, the manager Mikel Arteta said he had been told it was to "achieve the success we want to create". With the help of management consultants, Arsenal identified savings while simultaneously awarding Arteta a new contract worth £20 million a season. On Free State today we look at what this story of a sporting club tells us about capitalism and inequality. Dion and Joe look at how sport was sold as everything else was sold and they wonder what happens next. Sport has been sold not just to the highest bidder but to those who believe in a version of society which is the opposite of community. What will be next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There was an extraordinary response to Jamie Bryson’s appearance on the podcast. What does that tell us about what people want in the north and what people are talking about in the south? On Free State today we ask if these are significant days for the future of unionism. What does it mean when the Belfast Newsletter, the paper of the unionism, says that Bryson is leading unionism down a dead end. Dion and Joe talk about how communities have emerged that challenge how people felt things would be and they ask the important question: would you surrender to a sea border? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Damien Pearse is a psychologist and he is also a football fan. Why does it affect him so much when his side loses and what does it tell us about the modern world? On Free State today he talks to Dion about why we want to belong and why we identify with the tribes we do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who is Jamie Bryson and what does he want? On Free State today Jamie Bryson talks to Joe and Dion about Garvaghy Road, the Orange Order and a United ireland. His conversation with Joe is heated and contentious as they talk about these and other issues. What aspects of his cultural identity does he share with people in England and what would his view be if there was a violent response to a border poll being called? Let us know what you think - [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.