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IN THE blunt-speaking county of Yorkshire they have a saying: Nowt as queer as folk. To that profound observation on the human race I would add the rider “except politicians”. Having worked as a journalist in three parliaments I have encountered them in all their splendour and in all their foolishness, writes WESLEY BOYD
In Stormont in the days when the Unionists under Lord Brookeborough dominated and controlled the assembly there was an easy camaraderie between the press and the politicians. Occasionally a few of us would be offered a lift back to the city centre by a minister in his official car. It was a welcome opportunity to save our bus fares at a time when we were perpetually broke. Even more rewarding, a minister might accompany us into the Duke of York and buy a round of drinks. The Duke of York was the pub favoured by journalists from the two rival Unionist morning papers, the Northern Whigand the Belfast Newsletterand the odd stray from the nationalist Irish News.Like many pubs in Belfast it was owned and staffed by Roman Catholics and was situated down a narrow laneway (or entry in Belfast parlance) called Commercial Court, just off Donegall Street. It was in this entry that Gerry Adams struck his first blow for Irish freedom.
