Less heat, more light: surveillance, peace treaties, and bonfires…
1610
The recent “industrial scale” data blunder by the Police Service of Northern Ireland has brought a renewed topicality to a piece of writing I set aside in the run-up to last May’s Local Government elections. Espionage has rarely been made …
From Craigavon to Copenhagen: NI’s Failure to Build Soft Bike Infrastructure…
3044
The draft for a Belfast Bicycle Network was launched in 2017 by the Department for Infrastructure. In 2022 the delivery plan finally arrived. It’s due for completion in 2031. The £100 million project is currently decades off schedule and nothing …
Active travel progress a long time coming
1327
Change to the cycling infrastructure in Belfast comes at a pace akin to the Ents in the Lord of the Rings books. Eons seem to pass before even straightforward decisions are made and implemented. The Lagan Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge …
Rugby World Cup 2023 Week 1 review and looking forward to Tonga…
1816
The world Cup has kicked off with some fantastic matches, great play, and some intriguing results. France 27 New Zealand 13 Italy 52 Namibia 8 Ireland 82 Romania 8 Australia 35 Georgia 15 England 27 Argentina 10 Japan 42 Chile …
Why do we still have ‘peace walls’?
2274
Why, a quarter of a century after the Good Friday Agreement, do we still have peace walls and interface barriers? The truth, of course, is that the peace deal ended the conflict, but failed to end division and embed reconciliation. …
A few thoughts on the “inevitability of a United Ireland”…
10394
My first memory of a political statement was that “a United Ireland was just around the corner”. It was said by an elderly Unionist with an air of resignation to a fate that was both dreaded and unavoidable. Throughout the …
I simply will not allow Northern Ireland to become, or be viewed, as a failed part of the United Kingdom
19863
Doug Beattie is the Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party As we move into the second week of September and Westminster have a week under their belt, following recess, the problems facing Northern Ireland mount. Education is facing major problems, …
Open Sunday – discuss what you like…
7289
The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing.
Open sunday – politics free zone…
1444
In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics.
The start of the Rugby World Cup…
1114
Originally from Belfast, John Connolly now lives in Dublin and is retired… It began last night with a game between the hosts, France, and New Zealand. Buoyed on by the home crowd, France had an easy win 27 – 13. …