Brian O’Neill – Page 64 – Slugger O'Toole

Why lowering the Corporation Tax rate might be the biggest mistake Stormont ever makes…

Brian O'Neill on November 3, 2014, 1:02 pm

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Before reading this post please note I am not some raging lefty. I have worked for myself my whole life. I personally would benefit from a reduction in Corporation Tax, but as a citizen I think it is completely the wrong strategy. On the Nolan Show this morning it disclosed a DUP proposal to slash public sector jobs and use the savings to fund a cut in Corporation Tax. The idea is that this will boost private sector jobs and …

Photo of the day – Remembrance Garden, East Belfast

Brian O'Neill on November 2, 2014, 1:32 pm

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Photo by Roger Bradley, Taken on November 1, 2014 Brian O'NeillI 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. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in daily politics, preferring to write about big ideas in society. When not stuck in front of …

Photo of the day – Strabane Halloween Fireworks Show 2014

Brian O'Neill on November 1, 2014, 11:04 am

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Photo by Gareth Wray, Taken on October 31, 2014 This stunning photo from Gareth, captures all the colour and splendour of last night fireworks in Strabane. Brian O'NeillI 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. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in …

Photo of the day – Deli Dealer, St Georges Market

Brian O'Neill on October 30, 2014, 3:57 pm

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Photo by Davymac, Taken on October 25, 2014 St Georges Market Belfast is going from strength to strength and was recently named the UK’s Best Large Indoor Market 2014 by the National Association of British Market Authorities, beating off stiff competition from internationally renowned markets like Spitalfields, Billingsgate and Borough. A common complaint with tourists is that there is nothing to do in Belfast on a Sunday morning. Is it time for the market to open on Sunday morning? What do you think? …

Photo of the day – Coffee with a cop

Brian O'Neill on October 27, 2014, 4:53 pm

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Photo by Glenn Jordan, taken at Costa Coffee, Holywood, Co. Down. I look forward to the pint with a peeler scheme. Brian O'NeillI 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. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in daily politics, preferring …

Photo of the day – Travelling in style

Brian O'Neill on October 26, 2014, 1:57 pm

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I passed this guy on the M1 motorway on Friday. I do hope he was holding on tight, they were going about 50mph. I was on a bus if you are curious. Brian O'NeillI 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. Oddly for a member of …

Photo of the day – Colonel Gaddafi’s slippers

Brian O'Neill on October 25, 2014, 7:52 pm

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The Roddy McCorley Club in Belfast has a very interesting Museum containing a range of materials relating not only to our recent troubles but also previous Irish conflicts. One of the more bizarre exhibitions is a pair of Colonel Gaddafi’s slippers presented to none other than Joe Cahill. The museum is free and well worth a visit. Brian O'NeillI help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in …

Photo of the day – Autumn leaves in Lurgan Park

Brian O'Neill on October 23, 2014, 4:20 pm

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Photo by Mark Ferguson, Taken on October 18, 2014 As the nights darken and the temperature drops we ready ourselves for winter. Mark’s lovely photo shows the leaves changing to brown, but also the simple pleasure of walking the dog. Brian O'NeillI 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 …

Do you love Larne?

Brian O'Neill on October 22, 2014, 4:44 pm

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On Monday night the BBC broadcast ‘True North – I Love Larne’ and it is fair to say the good people of Larne are not best pleased at how the show depicted them. The Larne Times Facebook post about it has over a 100 comments so far with gems like this: “Surely someone in council buildings should of vetted the content before airing. On the upside we now have 1 of the 7 wonders of the world on our doorstep. …

Photo of the day – The Crown Bar

Brian O'Neill on October 22, 2014, 3:56 pm

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I found myself on the 12th floor of the Europa Hotel the other day, and I must say you get a great view of Belfast. For the tourists they have helpfully marked out relevant sites on the windows. Brian O'NeillI 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. …

Photo of the day – The Crossfire Hurricanes

Brian O'Neill on October 21, 2014, 3:22 pm

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Photo by Neil Carey Where was this photo taken? A club in Soho? Nightclub in Manhattan? Er not quite, its Love & Death in Anne Street, Belfast. Local band The Crossfire Hurricanes have launched their début single ‘THE DEVIANT’. You can watch the video below. Best of luck lads 🙂 Brian O'NeillI 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 …

Photo of the day – Mourne Skyline Mountain Race

Brian O'Neill on October 20, 2014, 1:42 pm

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Photo by Billy Mol, Taken on October 18, 2014 Last Saturday over 120 runners took part in the gruelling Mourne Skyline Mountain-Trail Race. The Mourne Skyline Mountain-Trail Race route comprises mainly of forest paths, fire roads and single track grass and granite trail, with approximately one mile on the road. The course measures 35k and there is approximately 11,056ft of ascent and 11,024ft of descent. The highest point was at 2,801ft and the lowest point was at Sea level. Basically you have to run up and …

Photo of the day – Noodle Bar

Brian O'Neill on October 19, 2014, 1:38 pm

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Photo by: Roger Bradley, Taken on October 14, 2014 The history of the Chinese Community in Northern Ireland traces its roots to the early 1960s, when the first Chinese arrived here. Since this period their numbers have evolved progressively. Currently there are around 8000 Chinese resident in Northern Ireland, representing 51% of the total ethnic minority population. The Chinese community is currently the largest and most dispersed ethnic minority group living in the North. The majority of this community lives in the …

Photo of the day – Gerry Anderson & Stormtrooper

Brian O'Neill on October 18, 2014, 12:06 pm

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Photo by David Reid, Taken on January 14, 2012 The thing about Gerry Anderson was we are not in the least bit surprised to see him in a photo with a Stormtrooper. His show was a surreal world of hypnotic chickens and phantom fake leather jacket salesmen, nothing he done could ever surprise us. Now we have nothing to talk us down from the ledge after Nolan depressing us all – we miss you Gerry. Last year Gerry wrote and narrated a film …

Photo of the day – scarecrow

Brian O'Neill on October 17, 2014, 4:06 pm

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Photo by Rodney Harrison, Taken on October 13, 2014 Skainos Square has been populated by a band of scarecrows all created by local people and installed in the Square in anticipation of Harvest Celebrations. The congregation at East Belfast Mission are inviting everyone to join them on Sunday, 19th October from 11am to 1pm to celebrate God’s good gifts. Pumpkin soup and light refreshments will be served in the community garden. What your photo to be featured on photo of the day? Just …

Photo of the day – (LEGO) men at work

Brian O'Neill on October 16, 2014, 4:45 pm

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I visited Durham Cathedral yesterday. While the Cathedral is very grand and imposing, I was more interested in the LEGO recreation they are building. They are building a model of the Cathedral in LEGO as a fundraiser. You buy a LEGO brick for £1 and you can even add it yourself. The model will be composed of 350,000 bricks. Even more fascinating is they had to hire special LEGO modellers to create the plans, Bright Bricks is the company. Bright Bricks send the …

Photo of the day – no flags

Brian O'Neill on October 15, 2014, 3:45 pm

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I saw this bin in Portstewart at the weekend. No idea why they do not accept flags. All suggestions welcome. Brian O'NeillI 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. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in daily politics, preferring to …

Photo of the day – Arbour Hill

Brian O'Neill on October 14, 2014, 4:36 pm

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Photo by Redmum, taken 12 October 2014 The military cemetery at Arbour Hill prison is the burial place of 14 of the executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Among those buried there are Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and Major John MacBride. The leaders were executed in Kilmainham Gaol and their bodies were transported to Arbour Hill for burial. Brian O'NeillI help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is …

Photo of the day – mountain rescue team

Brian O'Neill on October 13, 2014, 12:17 pm

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Photo by: Marty O’Connor The North West Mountain Rescue team coming of Croagh Patrick on reek Sunday. Every team on the island attends to provide cover for up to 20,000 pilgrims climbing the mountain on the last Sunday of July. The exercise starts around 3.00 the night before when the teams deploy, A team can deal with three or four causality’s on the day who are either air lifted off or carried depending on the injury involved. What your photo …

Photo of the day – “The Milky Way” above Moor Lough, County Tyrone

Brian O'Neill on October 12, 2014, 8:00 am

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Photo by MNM Photography, Taken on September 26, 2014 The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy some 100,000–120,000 light-years in diameter, which contains 100–400 billion stars. It may contain at least as many planets as well. As we all worry about if Stormont will collapse, who can march where etc etc it does no harm to remember that we are one of 7 billion people on a little planet in the infinite universe. Is …