James Lawless – View from the Tracks

Well I’ve secured one nomination this year at least – I’m on the ‘Long List’ for ‘Best Political Blog’ at the Irish Blog Awards! Next challenge is to make the shortlist in about a fortnight, then fame and fortune await the winner who will be announced at the ceremony on March 1st.

Last time I came near a long list was reading the ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’ last Summer, then under consideration for the Booker prize. Bit of a reluctant fundamentalist myself at times

Still want to read Anne Enright’s “The Gathering”, the surprise Irish winner, but it’s on my to-do. Along with “Judging Dev”, “The Generation Game” and “A history of Nás na Riogh”.. I will get to them soon

Irish Blog Awards – the equivalent of an online Oscar!

But I digress. I’m in good company amongst the pol-blog nominees which includes Deputies (Ciaran Cuffe), Senators (Dominic Hannigan), Councillors (Damien Blake, Eric Byrne), Journalists (Richard Delevan, Harry McGee) and assorted others. Whilst it’s tempting to claim I’m swimming against the tide in the sea of counter-cultural commentary, kudos to Donegal’s Damien who is another real-time Republican.

Here’s the full list (also available here):

Irish Election
Slugger O’Toole
Cedar Lounge Revolution
Damien Blake
James Lawless (Me!)
El Blogador
Mamanpoulet
Bock The Robber
That’s Ireland
1169 and Counting
Harry McGee
Gavin’s Blog
Seamus Ryan
O’Conall Street
Notes on the Front
Dominic Hannigan
Skin flicks
Political Verse
Organized Rage
Ciaran Cuffe
Dublin Opinion
Tuppenceworth
Balrog
Everything Ulster
Richard Delevan
AtlanticBlog
Eric Byrne