Le Blogger El Matador Est De Retour

Apologies for my appaling lack of blogging lately. I've been really busy and although had intended posting some stuff on here over the summer, I never quite got around to it.

Since my last venture online we've had the European elections. There were plenty of predictions flying around before the poll, but I don't quite think that anyone expected the DUP to trail in in third place, failing to reach quota. Quite where Jim Allister goes from here remains to be seen, but if he can build a coalition around his particular brand of unionism, then he could potential do quite well in the Assembly. Of course, there's always the chance that it could become a one-man show- after all, how many other TUV members can the average punter name?

Meanwhile, the SDLP failed to make any inroads into the Sinn Féin vote. Indeed, the latter became the biggest party in the north in terms of votes for the the first time, a feat achieved by the former in the 1998 Assembly elections.

Down south, and the Lisbon Treaty Referendum campaign is in full swing. Fianna Fáil, suffering massively in the wake of the financial crisis and stuck in a coalition government that seems to be getting more fragile by the day, will be hoping that the no vote from last time will be reversed.

Apologies again for my absence, but I'll make it my autumn resolution to stay at the helm of good Ship El Blogador.