Niall Ó Donnghaile

Niall Ó Donnghaile to run for the Seanad

David McCann on March 21, 2016, 5:39 pm | Readers 1781

Former Mayor of Belfast and serving Titanic Quarter Councillor, Niall Ó Donnghaile is to run for the Seanad on the Administrative Panel for Sinn Fein. Speaking about the decision to run he said; This is an ideal opportunity to give a voice to Belfast and its citizens in the heart of the Oireachtas. Ending partition, building economic prosperity, protecting & promoting the rights and entitlements of Irish citizens in the north and promoting peace-building and reconciliation will be to the …

Cartoon – “Do you do big Mács”

Brian Spencer on June 13, 2015, 1:29 pm | Readers 2261

Former Mayor of Belfast and Sinn Fein councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said not being able to place an order in Irish at McDonalds is an example of where equality of rights of Irish speakers isn’t being met. Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, artist, political cartoonist and legal blogger. Actively tweeting from @brianjohnspencr. More information here: http://www.brianjohnspencer.com/ www.brianjohnspencer.com/

Looking back on an eventful year with Niall Ó Donnghaile at the unveiling of his portrait by muralist Danny Devenny

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 5, 2012, 4:59 pm | Readers 174

It’s unimaginable that even ten years ago a DUP Lord Mayor could have spoken warmly about his Sinn Féin predecessor on the occasion of the public hanging of the mayoral portrait. But this afternoon the Lord Mayor, Alderman Gavin Robinson was warm and gracious in his comments about Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile at the unveiling of Danny Devenny’s painting. Normally a muralist more used to thick brushes on gable walls – the Bobby Sands mural on the side of Sinn …

The misunderstood Lord Mayor shuffle – timing, facts & Sinn Féin tying themselves in knots over friendship

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 28, 2012, 3:22 pm | Readers 90

Once a month, the postie delivers a bulging A5 envelope. Stuffed inside is a twice-folded copy of An Phoblacht, Sinn Féin’s 32 page monthly newspaper. The May edition’s back page is devoted to a story that broke in the Belfast Telegraph last Monday. Niall Ó Donnghaile is “leaving his post a few days early to allow a DUP Mayor to take up office in time for the Jubilee celebrations”. The newspaper story explained that the new mayor would be “elected …

For what purpose will the special Belfast City Council meeting go ahead on Monday evening?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on December 4, 2011, 6:59 pm | Readers 10

Belfast City Councillors took their opportunity on Thursday evening to scold and support the Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile, following his decision to only present half of the Duke of Edinburgh awards at a ceremony last Monday night, and in particular to avoid presenting the award to a young woman who was down in the programme as belonging to an Army Cadet Force. A summons signed by 21 unionist councillors was submitted on Thursday and a special meeting is still …

“bright colours and/or striped materials should not be worn as these may distort the images” … a summons … and a protest … it’s democracy live

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 30, 2011, 11:28 pm | Readers 42

Tomorrow could be an interesting day – and night – around Belfast City Hall. A rally is being planned to protest at the Lord Mayor’s actions at Monday night’s Duke of Edinburgh Award ceremony. Facebook suggests: [click on the thumbnail to expand] The people of Belfast will emerge on the City hall tomorrow night at 6pm [or 5pm depending on where you look] to express their anger. We would hope that Citizens from all over Northern Ireland will join for …

Late night stroll with Niall Ó Donnghaile around Short Strand

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 12, 2011, 1:00 am | Readers 47

To get a different perspective on the Eleventh Night and the Twelfth Day, I went for a late night walk with Niall Ó Donnghaile around Short Strand about half an hour before midnight. While some young folk were congregating around the Mountpottinger/Albertbridge Road junction, the area was largely deserted – the only noise being the PA belting out music in Pitt Park, about a hundred yards away over the wall. Now a Sinn Féin councillor, and this year Belfast’s Lord …

Mayor Ó Donnghaile: Sinn Fein’s breath of fresh air?

Mick Fealty on June 7, 2011, 5:17 pm | Readers 14

Nuala McKeever welcomes Sinn Fein’s new Lord Mayor of Belfast, not least because of his youth and lack of baggage: Niall O Donnghaile’s year in office is a fantastic opportunity for Belfast to tackle in a meaningful way the problem of suicide among young people. He has spoken already about his desire to work in this area to give young people a sense of hope and optimism that life is worth living. Shame on the old fogies who profess a …

Did Ruth Patterson not get Peter’s memo?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on May 27, 2011, 1:30 pm | Readers 207

The general opinion on Slugger – never mind media commentators and conversations in pubs and livings rooms – has been that the DUP have been edging towards the centre ground. Throughout the election campaign, Peter Robinson avoided criticising the deputy First Minister and generally avoided needling Sinn Fein – and Martin McGuinness reciprocated with his frequent references to “Peter and I”. While pockets remain in the DUP that still articulate their distrust and discomfort at working so closely with Sinn …

Sinn Féin select 25 year old Niall Ó Donnghaile to be Lord Mayor

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on May 26, 2011, 7:58 pm | Readers 176

Niall Ó Donnghaile was only elected to Belfast City Council three weeks ago, but tonight was confirmed as Sinn Féin’s choice for Lord Mayor. He turns 26 at the weekend and is the city’s youngest ever first citizen. Under the d’Hondt rotation, Sinn Féin will get three two Lord Mayors during the next four years. The DUP’s Ruth Patterson will be deputy Lord Mayor. Niall is a press officer with Sinn Féin up at the Assembly, and councillor for Pottinger. …

POTD – Mountpottinger Police Station and smiling SF representative

Moochin Photoman on January 15, 2011, 12:30 pm | Readers 238

Sinn Fein representative Niall Ó Donnghaile pictured yesterday outside the partially demolished PSNI barracks on Mountpottinger Road. Internal stripping of the building has been going on for the last few weeks and this week saw the start of the building itself being demolished. For years the Police station which is located in the centre of the Nationalist Short Strand has dominated the sky line. The need for social housing in the Strand means that in all likelihood the site will be …