So much of the news this year has been hopeless, depressing, and above all, confusing. To which the only response is to say, “oh dear.”

The one highlight in the otherwise terrible Christmas TV was Charlie Brooker’s 2014 Wipe. It is well worth a watch. A segment of the show was from the acclaimed documentary maker Adam Curtis.  In the piece Curtis explores the idea that our current political apathy and disillusionment with politics is a deliberate strategy by our ruling class to keep us all in the dark while they get on with plundering the wealth of the nation. I don’t normally believe in conspiracy …

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The results of our 2015 predictions survey!

More than 270 people filled in the survey over the past day and here are the results: Bad news for big Al but not entirely unexpected. Who will be the new SDLP leader? The favourite is Colum Eastwood, but can he reverse the party’s decline or are they beyond all hope? As Gerry Adams begins his 32nd year as President of Sinn Fein it is no surprise that many think he will hang on for another year.   As with …

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Get out your crystal balls, and take our 2015 predictions survey…

The survey is now closed. You can view the results here… 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 …

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Merged photos of Belfast old and new…

Someone in The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has been busy with the aul photoshop. They have merged old photos of Belfast with modern views and the results are pretty cool. Whenever I see old photos of Belfast in its Victorian splendour I can’t help thinking it’s been downhill ever since. But I suppose we can console ourselves with indoor plumbing, antibiotics, the internet, Poundland and all the other wonders of the modern era. See all the photos on …

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A Belfast Christmas Carol Video

I know what your thinking. A video shot in Belfast featuring child actors, how bad can it be? It is actually pretty good and well worth a watch. Well done to Colin Williams and CFC. 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 …

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Photo of the day – Belfast City Hall at Christmas

Photo by Belfast Snapper, Taken on December 18, 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 a …

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Photo of the day – Ian Paisley Cuckoo Clock

One of Anto Brennan’s creations. 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 a screen, I …

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Photo of the day – Six Mile Water, County Antrim

Photo by billy Mol, taken November 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 a screen, …

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Photo of the day – brakes!

Photo by James Hislop. Taken on May 16, 2014 Dan Kneen fails to control his bike during the Thursday practice session at the NW200 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, …

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Traffic Today, Gondola Tomorrow – A proposal for a ski lift between Belfast and Lisburn

Anthony McNamee is proposing  this radical transport idea to ease congestion and make life easier for commuters. The idea is not as crazy as it sounds. There is a 1km Gondola system over the river Thames in London.  For over 10 years I drove the road from Newry to Belfast and back, a daily commute of anything up to two hours in each direction. I was there in 2006 and 2007 for the full pain of the M1-widening project, and …

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How can we fix the Belfast traffic gridlock?

If you were one of the poor sods stuck in yesterday massive traffic jams  in Belfast you have my sympathies. It took the wife an hour to move 2 miles on the Westlink. A quick recap. A suspicious object was discovered about 3pm close to the M1 at Lisburn’s Saintfield Road junction. The country-bound section of the motorway was then shut from Blacks Road in west Belfast to Lisburn until 5.30pm when it declared a hoax. The interesting thing about …

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Photo of the day – Milltown Cemetery at dawn

Photo taken by Stuart Borthwick, shortly after dawn, 18 October 2014 Stuart says: I am fascinated by the quality of light at dawn in Milltown Cemetery, West Belfast. For those who do not know it, the entrance to the cemetery is at the junction of Falls Road and Glen Road, with the cemetery itself sloping downwards, towards the M1 motorway. The sun rises over the silhouetted horizon of East Belfast, and shines its first light on the Divis Mountain to …

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Photo of the day – SS Nomadic

Photo by: Andrew Palmer, Taken on November 17, 2014 The ship is now open to visitors, click here for details… History from wikipedia… Nomadic was commissioned by the White Star Line in 1910, to tender for their new ocean liners RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, which were too large to dock in Cherbourg harbour. She and her running mate SSTraffic ferried passengers, their baggage, mail and ship’s supplies to and from large ocean liners moored off-shore. The keel of Nomadic was laid …

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Photo of the day – Manannan Mac Lir

  Photo by: Stephen Wallace Manannan Mac Lir is an Irish Sea God overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from the slopes of Benevenagh Mountain, County Derry/Londonderry 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 …

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Join us for the Slugger end of year review show, Monday, 15th Dec 2014

Join us for an evening of debate and entertainment as we look back on the political year in 2014. Our panel of expert speakers is sure to provide lively conversation and analysis. Never mind the Christmas shopping, this will be far more entertaining.     The venue The venue is the beautiful Dark Horse Bar. This is directly opposite the Duke of York Bar in the Cathedral Quarter. Here is the location on the map… A full bar will be available and …

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Photo of the day – can you guess this Belfast landmark building?

Not Italy but sunny Belfast yesterday. Can you guess where it is? Let us know if the comments below. 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 …

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‘Deprivation’ fund gives grant of £350,000 to Lurgan Golf Club

Another cracking exposé by the one man opposition that is Jim Allister. The Department of Social Development gave a grant of  £350,000 to Lurgan Golf Club under its ‘Neighbourhood Renewal’ scheme. It gets even better. A member of the club, who is a senior official in DSD, was involved in processing the application. But he failed to disclose his interest, contrary to departmental guidance on conflicts of interest. Jim Allister said: “The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund exists, surely, to regenerate and help deprived …

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Photo of the day – Milky Way Ablaze over An Port, Donegal

Photo by Brendan Alexander, Taken on November 15, 2014 Brendan says: The final shot from my trip to the enchanting famine village of An port in southwest Donegal, Ireland (15th November 2014). In the image the Milky way shines over the the lobster pots, boats and a solitary cross commemorating the passing of a Scottish man in the late 1800’s. Brendan has some fabulous photos on his site, well worth a look. Brian O'NeillI help to manage Slugger by taking care of …

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Photo of the day – Continental Market, Belfast City Hall

Photo by Roger Bradley, Taken on November 18, 2014 The Continental Market is back at Belfast City Hall. Depending on your view either it’s an English company bringing outside traders in to hoover up the Christmas cash at the expense of local traders or a wonderful chance to experience a wide range of foreign delicacies and crafts. Either way the punters love it and it will be jammed.   Brian O'NeillI help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well …

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Photo of the day – The Spire At St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

Photo by Brian O’Neill, taken 14 November 2014 The Spire on top of St Anne’s has been there for seven years but it was only last Friday that I realised the spire actually goes inside the church. The next time you are in there have a look above the altar to see the bottom of the spire. It is very cool, like something from a bond movie. Brian O'NeillI help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as …

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