Brian O'Neill

From the BBC: Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley quit at the weekend just days after it emerged the pair had given references for former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle for a job at a charity. Earlier this month, McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Londonderry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Sinn Féin say the references were provided without clearance from the party and described their actions as wrong …

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Looking at the news this morning, I see that everything is bleak as feck. The Middle East is in flames, and Ukraine is still grinding on. Locally, Belfast is dark and wet. For those of us seeking refuge from the world. I am declaring a duvet day. Go back to your digital bed and pull the covers over your head. Take it easy and have a chat. Keep it light, no politics.   Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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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. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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As the famous philosopher Homer once said, “To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”. That is Homer Simpson, by the way, not the Greek fella. We love the booze in Northern Ireland. Stressed after work? Pour yourself a glass of wine. Watching the footie on the tele? Have a few beers. Ready for bed? What about a whiskey nightcap? Looking to deal with your suppressed troubles trauma? Reach for the bottle. Most people can handle …

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I can but assume George must read Slugger as we elevate complaining to an art form here. Speaking to John Manley in the Irish News, he had this to say: “I love Northern Ireland, and I really like the people here, but I think that they’re way too self critical. I think the comparisons people make here are not between Northern Ireland and some other society, but between Northern Ireland and some abstract notion of a perfect society that doesn’t …

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The BBC reports that the police took down anti-immigration posters in Rathcoole. From the article: Anti-immigration posters that were put up in the Rathcoole estate should have been removed by the Department for Infrastructure, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said. Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton told BBC News NI it had taken “far too long to have them removed” and police “needed to intervene”. The posters in the estate in Newtownabbey issued a threat to anyone “facilitating …

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I read the Draft Programme for Government, so you don’t have to. It is 88 pages of vacuous waffle. Vague generalities like ‘Our Plan is an ambitious agenda of change for Northern Ireland. We will make it happen by working in partnership.’ The core issue is there are no specifics on anything, just vague aspirations. I give you the strategy for solving homelessness: We will focus on preventing homelessness, making it brief, rare and non-recurrent by working collaboratively, prioritising housing …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am …

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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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of …

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This press release dropped into my inbox: On Friday 20th September, the Free Speech Union (FSU), a non-partisan, mass membership organisation that stands up for the speech rights of its members and campaigns for free speech more widely, will launch a dedicated Northern Ireland Advisory Council at the historic Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast. Free Speech Union General Secretary Toby Young said: “Now that Stormont is sitting again, we need to be ready to push back against any legislative assault on free speech, starting with next year’s Sentencing …

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From the Guardian: Institute for Employment Studies says UK has 800,000 fewer people in work or looking for work since before Covid he UK has suffered the biggest contraction in its workforce since the 1980s, costing the public finances at least £16bn a year in lost tax receipts, according to a study. Hundreds of thousands of people have quit the labour market since the pandemic and never returned, undermining the strength of the economy and leaving the government out of …

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From the Guardian: Consuming more food and drinks rich in flavonoids, such as berries, tea and red wine, could lower the risk of dementia by 28%, a study suggests. The number of people living with the disease globally is forecast to nearly triple to 153 million by 2050, which presents a rapidly increasing threat to global heath and social care systems. Age and genetics remain the biggest risk factors, but experts say almost half of cases could be prevented or …

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Last Friday the 13th September, hundreds of people from across the UK gathered at Queen’s University Belfast to call on the Northern Ireland Executive to extend the right to vote in elections to 16- and 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland. The grassroots, youth-led campaign is supported by Politics in Action. Northern Ireland is the only devolved region where 16 and 17 years olds can’t vote in local elections. The Labour Party have committed to extending the franchise to 16 and 17 …

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As Auntie celebrates 100 years in Northern Ireland, The BelTel bursts the party with a story of how they spent over 600k on legal fees for just two workplace disputes. From Adrian Rutherford: The BBC’s legal bill for settling two high-profile workplace disputes has now topped £600,000. Donna Traynor and Lena Ferguson took separate cases against the broadcaster. Both were settled in 2023, with undisclosed payments made to the claimants, without the BBC admitting liability. However, the broadcaster was left …

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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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of …

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am …

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From Mark Simpson at the BBC: The chances of Northern Ireland hosting matches at the Euro 2028 football tournament appear to have gone. The UK government announced on Friday night that the estimated cost of rebuilding Casement Park stadium in Belfast has “risen dramatically” to more than £400m. The government said it will not be providing funding to redevelop the stadium in time for the tournament. It said there was a “significant risk” that the stadium would not be built …

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The BBC are reporting that the new Labour government has paused the City Deals. From the report: The deals are bespoke packages of funding and decision-making powers negotiated between central government and local authorities. The implications of the pause are not yet clear, but Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill described it as “unacceptable and deplorable”. There are four deals in Northern Ireland: the Belfast City region, Derry City and Strabane, Mid South West region, and Causeway Coast and Glens. …

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The BBC reports that Staff at The City Hospital were disciplined after a plaque marking its formal opening by the Duke of York went missing. From the article: The plaque sparked an investigation by health officials after it was removed without permission from Belfast City Hospital in January 2022. It came after Prince Andrew faced civil action in the US over sexual assault allegations – claims he has denied. The Belfast Trust said the plaque has since been recovered, staff …

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