Author Archives: Stephen Shellard

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About Stephen Shellard

I am a retired College lecturer, having worked originally in supported programmes but latterly having taught social science subjects, Psychology and Politics, though my degree was in Sociology. I am from Newry in Northern Ireland, but now live in Dumfries in South West Scotland. https://carruchan.blog/about/

Reflections from the Kirkcudbright Book Festival, 2026

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

Poets Fixing the World, A Graphic Novelist, A Pioneering  Musician with Roots in the Scottish Folk Tradition; and a Path of Slime Just the other day, I was talking with a friend about the challenges of appreciating poetry.   I think … Continue reading →

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A Glimpse Through the Concrete Window

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

Art, Science and the Long  View of our Carbon Future You may have noticed the  recent news that China’s emissions of CO2 have “been flat or falling for 18 months”. [1] Good news surely?  I was prompted to suggest to … Continue reading →

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Unclubbable

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

Political Parties.  Why we need more of them—But not too many! There was a time when, despite my coming of age journey in the 1960s through the First Newry cubs, boy scouts and senior scouts, I  considered myself an unquenchable … Continue reading →

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From Moral Ambition to Moral Yearning

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

A Reflection on the Dangers of Moral Certainty Name the four US presidents who have been assassinated!   That’s a challenge which one might expect in a pub quiz.  Team members, such as myself, who have been roped in at the … Continue reading →

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Brexit Revisited

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

The Democratic Case for Pooling Sovereignty Although I voted to remain in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, this did not reflect an entirely uncritical view of the European project and, in particular, its democratic structures. I was interested … Continue reading →

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In Search of Better Ways to End Our Lives

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

There was  a time when a person who had become mortally ill or who had reached their high old age could expect to die at home amongst family and not far from friends.  In the current era this may yet … Continue reading →

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Language Problems

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Cultural Extinctions or Digital Revival: The Future of Language Learning Mandana Seyfeddinipur, Director of the Endangered Languages Archive, has issued a stark warning: “Of the 7,000 languages estimated to exist, half will have disappeared by the end of this century.” … Continue reading →

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Questioning Identity

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Two Tales from Wigtown In his book,  Against Identity, Alexander Douglas quotes Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”  Douglas goes on to say: “Well, try … Continue reading →

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The Case in Favour of Open Borders

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Opening the national border to all who wish to come is an unfashionable idea. The  last person  I can recall advocating such a policy was Angela Merkel.  “Wir schaffen das” she said with the confidence of a true leader. We … Continue reading →

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Great Lives, The Lisbon Lions, Scottish Landscape and Bohemia in a Small Scottish Town

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

I’d never heard of the  improvisational guitarist Derek Bailey until I encountered his story on BBC Radio’s Great Lives programme. Amongst other things, the programme was memorable for a short and fractious exchange between the presenter Matthew Parris, and comedian … Continue reading →

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