Belfast – Page 6 – Slugger O'Toole

Inaugural Margaret McCoubrey lecture on Thursday evening – Women, War & Welfare

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 3, 2014, 9:13 pm

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An illustrated lecture on Thursday evening in the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts (Duncairn Avenue, Belfast) will explore Women, War and Welfare: the Co-operative crusades of Margaret Taylor McCoubrey (1880-1956). Margaret played a crucial role in the Suffrage movement, Pacifism, the Co-operative movement and Labour politics in early 20th century Belfast. Dr Myrtle Hill will deliver this inaugural lecture exploring the dynamic engagement of women in the social and political history of Ireland. Thursday 6 November from 7pm to …

Maíria Cahill – A statement

The Firemen on October 26, 2014, 11:30 pm

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The following statement has been given to many news sources including Slugger and we reproduce it here without any commentary. It is very strange to see myself being described as a dissident republican, when I would not even consider myself a republican anymore. The Irish Mail On Sunday story correctly states that I was, involved with a group going by the name “Republican Network for Unity”. The story however, was inaccurate and slanted. I was indeed the National Secretary of …

“Assertion in blog is shameful and cruel” – McDonald

The Firemen on October 23, 2014, 8:44 pm

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has posted a twitter response to a blog circulating on social media which describes Maíria Cahill’s alleged rape ordeal as “a year long sexual liaison”. The blog describes the alleged rapist as a man “whom many a 16-year-old would likely fancy”. The blog prompted a twitter question from Maíria Cahill to Ms. McDonald who replied two hours later. The anonymous blogger who reportedly resides in West Belfast and calls himself “Ruaidri Ua Conchobai” …

Maíria Cahill: “Issue transcends petty politics to put the safety of children first”

The Firemen on October 18, 2014, 8:00 am

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Maíria Cahill who claims she was raped as a teenager by a man believed to be a member of the IRA and later “interrogated” by the IRA about the incident, appeared on RTE Six One News last night to further clarify allegations of a cover up by Sinn Féin and suggested sexual abuse was more widespread than she originally feared. She claimed her situation is not an isolated case and appealed on the show for members of Sinn Féin who …

Gerry Adams’ ‘delinquent’ story on the Cahill case?

The Firemen on October 15, 2014, 10:17 pm

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UPDATED Alleged ‘abuse’ victim Maíria Cahill took to Twitter to reject a statement issued by Gerry Adams via the Sinn Féin website. Adams was reacting to allegations made on BBC Northern Ireland’s Spotlight: In his statement Adams said: In the Spotlight programme, broadcast last night, Mairia Cahill made an accusation relating to a meeting with myself. I totally refute the allegations Mairia made about our conversation. I met Mairia in good faith, at the behest of her cousin and my …

Pentecost at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast

W[r]ite Noise on October 15, 2014, 8:30 am

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Unpopular opinion time. I think I might like Stewart Parker’s work more than that of Brian Friel. I know. It’s basically heresy to say that. Here in Belfast where the local theatre-going populace breaks out in a cold sweat if one of the local theatres doesn’t stage Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Dancing at Lughnasa or Translations on an annual basis. Where 1 in 5 adults, having had to study Philadelphia at GCSE some years ago, can still tell you …

UPDATED: Spotlight investigation to explore republican treatment of ‘abuse’ victim

The Firemen on October 14, 2014, 12:16 am

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BBC NI’s Spotlight programme tonight investigates the republican movement’s handling of sexual abuse allegations against a suspected IRA member. Maíria Cahill has waived her right to anonymity to tell how the republican movement responded to her allegations by first investigating them, then burying them and imposing a code of silence to protect the movement. She is from one of the republican movement’s most famous families. Her great uncle was Joe Cahill, one of the founders of the Provisional IRA and …

“Are you going to pay your water charges, Gerry?”

Pete Baker on October 10, 2014, 5:37 pm

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To pay or not to pay water charges was the question of the week for the southern wing of Sinn Féin. In the north, things are completely different… Under pressure from former MEP Paul Murphy of the Anti-Austerity Alliance, the party’s candidate in today’s by-election in Dublin South West, Cllr Cathal King, had majored heavily on his opposition to the charges during the campaign – telling potential voters that he won’t pay, and would fight his bill in the courts. His party …

Facebook: A Breeding Ground For Racism

The Firemen on October 6, 2014, 8:35 pm

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UPDATED In the past twelve months racist attacks in Northern Ireland have increased by 50%. In the early hours of Sunday morning yet another home was attacked in South Belfast – an attack that the PSNI described as a ‘hate crime’. A bottle was thrown and smashed the living room window of a house owned by a Bangladeshi family on Ulsterville Avenue and a car owned by a Kuwaiti family was set alight. The attacks have been widely condemned by …

Robinson: Will he stay or will he go?

The Firemen on September 24, 2014, 11:14 am

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Following yesterday’s ministerial reshuffle and the axing of Edwin Poots and Nelson McCausland, the DUP appears to be in crisis today following the former Health Minister’s appearance on the Stephen Nolan radio show. When questioned about Peter Robinson’s long term prospects as party leader Edwin Poots effectively announced the First Minister’s resignation by claiming that “Robinson stepping down is public knowledge.” However within minutes the First Minister issued a rebuttal to local media and on Twitter denying that he …

#BlockedbyWells ?

The Firemen on September 24, 2014, 10:23 am

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Only hours into the job and new DUP Health Minister Jim Wells is already a big hit on social media. Hundreds of Twitter users reported that they had been blocked by Wells as they attempted to either follow or interact with his Twitter account. The hashtag #blockedbywells was soon trending across Northern Ireland. Many of the ‘blocks’ were prompted by users asking awkward questions of the Minister’s controversial …

Ian Paisley: “Assassinated”

The Firemen on September 12, 2014, 9:48 pm

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Many many words will be written about the late Lord Bannside, the Revered Ian Richard Kyle Paisley. The time for debate on his legacy is later. However on a day in which the First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson said “As a leader of men, a friend of the people, a servant of the state and a voice for the truth Ian Paisley excelled and shone,” and the Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party Nigel Dodds wrote “He …

Scars

The Firemen on August 13, 2014, 8:27 am

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It’s still there if you look closely. Just under my chin. Can you see it? Just zoom in a bit. Ten years ago I was at the top of my game. Money was great, family was great, loved my job, loads of good mates; it was fantastic. Then the darkness. I can’t really remember the first experience but it didn’t seem to creep up on me. It happened suddenly and I was very aware of it. It terrified me. …

“The only thing terrifying about Belfast are the beer prices”

The Firemen on August 11, 2014, 6:02 pm

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These days Matthew Collins is a leading anti-fascist campaigner and a Researcher/Northern Ireland correspondent for the organisation HOPE not hate. But this wasn’t always the case. Back in 1987, aged 15, he was a Mein Kampf-reading Nazi, flogging copies of National Front Newspaper ‘The Flag’ around south London housing estates before becoming a party organiser and touted as a future leader. He was also a volunteer at the BNP’s head office and active with violent neo-Nazi street fighters Combat 18. …

Cyclist beats “embarrassing” train in race from Derry to Belfast

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on June 24, 2014, 1:47 pm

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An SDLP press release issued today reveals the results of a “bicycle versus train” challenge on Sunday, travelling between Derry and Belfast. John Madden and Peter Jack set off from Derry’s General Post Office at 9.15am. John threw his leg over his bicycle and broke the Derry to Belfast record (held by Morris ‘Big Mo’ Foster) as he pedalled down to Belfast Albert Memorial Clock (avoiding motorways) in 2 hours 27 minutes. Meanwhile Peter caught the 09:42 train from Londonderry …

Mr Justice Treacy: “It is evident that ACC Kerr was labouring under a material misapprehension as to the proper scope of police powers…”

Pete Baker on April 28, 2014, 10:09 pm

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The Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, has reportedly said that the police will appeal the High Court decision allowing “an application for a judicial review of the PSNI’s policing of the flag protests in Belfast between 8 December 2012 and 14 February 2013.” From the reported ruling Mr Justice Treacy was less than impressed by Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr’s interpretation of the legal position. As the summary of the judgment notes [added emphasis] The Court heard evidence from [Assistant] Chief Constable Will …

Tenx9-A true story of Belfast

David McCann on March 27, 2014, 1:40 am

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Over the past two years I have constantly heard yarns from all and sundry about the importance of culture. Who belongs to this tradition and what emblems we should back over the other? So, I went along to the most recent Tenx9 event in the Black Box on Wednesday evening to see a cultural event in action. Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with tenx9-its basic premise is that 9 people have up to 10 minutes each to tell …

Live drawing #TweetupNI (and with Ian Knox)

Brian Spencer on March 14, 2014, 4:31 pm

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Local tweeters give Ellen and the Oscars a #TweetUpNI selfie. David McCann kicked proceedings off at around 8pm with a healthy turnout. #tweetupni @dcmbfs kicks off the tweetup in McHughs pic.twitter.com/zJbVp9HPfl — Alan in Belfast (@alaninbelfast) March 13, 2014 Derek McCallan from @NI_LGA launched #participate14.Then the mayor spoke: Belfast Lord Mayor @newbelfast addressing @sluggerotoole #tweetupni – positivity & his Buddhist chaplain! https://t.co/4dRsEz9U0L — Alan in Belfast (@alaninbelfast) March 14, 2014 Then Terry McHugh gave us some stand-up and mixed in …

The Waterfront Hall: Now you see it…

Mick Fealty on January 30, 2014, 9:08 pm

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So here it is. This is what the ‘new’ Waterfront Hall will look like after the £29.5m conference centre is built. The Council is providing £11m, DETI’s European Regional Development Fund is pitching in £14.5m along with £4m from the tourist board. Here’s the architect’s plan with a view from the river: Hmmm… so the Waterside Hall is not going to be so beside the water as it is currently. Although interestingly that’s not where the original idea …

Tony Bailie’s ‘A Verse to Murder’: Book Review

John L. Murphy on October 22, 2013, 12:32 am

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Maurice Burns’ cover merits study–it’s well chosen and ties into this mystery within, as elaborated by an informant. The title, a play off of the ‘murder of crows’, echoes in the name of Barry Crowe, a Belfast journalist (or is it ‘sleazy tabloid hack’?) pursuing the backstory behind the sudden demise, apparently by auto-asphyxiation, of Northern Ireland’s leading poet. The compromising circumstances unfold neatly in this e-book novella. Bailie, whose Lagan Press novels The Lost Chord and Ecopunks delved into …