It is over two-and-a-half years since the Northern Ireland Assembly last sat. In that time, many issues have come and gone, and many more are threatening the public services in Northern Ireland through the inaction of the main parties in … Continue reading Assembly gathers to pretend to care about Northern Ireland
With a new Northern Ireland Executive in office at Stormont following the recent election, it was hardly a surprise that there would be policy changes forthcoming. The new Health Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill has taken a bold step and reversed the former policy … Continue reading Gay blood ban lifted by Sinn Féin Minister for Health
The simple question for all members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is: Do I support the achievement of political ends by purely peaceful means or by terrorism and acts of violence? Continue reading Time for the politicians to decide: in or out of the Executive?
Following a report of an alleged suspicious approach in East Belfast on 21st May 2013, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has determined that there was nothing untoward in this instance. However, the PSNI has said, If parents are concerned … Continue reading Suspicious Behaviour? If you’re concerned please report to Police
The prosperity of Northern Ireland is dependent on the skills of its workforce and its ability to meet the needs of the local economy, to support a strong export-oriented marked, and to secure the wealth creating opportunities of the future. … Continue reading Moving Northern Ireland plc forward: developing leaders for tomorrow
We all know how much we in Ireland like to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, coming up soon is the Breton equivalent: Gouel Erwan, St Yves. Well this year, the Breton Association in Ireland has chosen to celebrate it in Belfast. Breizh Eire, association des Bretons d’Irlande a choisi de faire cette année la Gouel Erwan à Belfast. Ca va donner ! Slante ! The event came to my attention this afternoon when there were two buskers in Castle Lane in Belfast city centre who were sounding distinctly rustic. Having passed them walking towards Waterstone’s I asked them on the way … Continue reading Celebrating our Saints: it’s one way of celebrating our European identity
Two hundred years ago, the foundation stone of the new Parish Church of St George on the site of the old Corporation Church beside the River Farset in Belfast was laid. Three years later, it was duly dedicated and opened. Two hundred years of witness to the city have passed with an emphasis through most of that on quality Church Music, so it was unsurprising that the opening concert of the Bicentenary Celebrations would be a fantastic display of church music.
The choir of St George’s was joined by the Schola Cantorum of St Peter’s Cathedral Belfast and from Worcester Massachusetts the choirs of All Saints’, Worcester and Notre Dame Academy, Worcester.
The four choirs combined to open the concert with the Magnificat in C by C.V. Stanford followed by Mozart’s Ave verum corpus. Hearing these pieces took me back to singing as a boy Continue reading “Bicentenary Celebrations begin with fantastic concert at St George’s Belfast”
We all know the traditional red brick terraced houses found in Belfast. Many have been demolished in recent years, but there are ways to retain them and make the fit for twenty-first century living. The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society has created a short film which demonstrates how our undervalued stock of traditional terraced houses can be retrofitted using energy–efficient measures. Using the retrofit scheme carried out by Hearth on the 19th century terraces on McMaster Street as an example, the film highlights the importance of harnessing the embodied energy in existing buildings and aims to unmask the concept of retrofitting. PLACE are holding … Continue reading McMaster Street terraces transformed: ‘Quality Streets: Retrofitting Traditional Terraces’
The streets of Belfast city centre and the Cathedral Quarter are set to come alive for five days in May to the sounds of laughter and the sights of acrobatics, music, and comedy as the Festival of Fools celebrates ten … Continue reading Belfast streets to come alive to laughter, acrobatics, music, and comedy
Now any observer of flags in Northern Ireland will tell you that there are many variations in the flags that are seen around the Province. But this one, first seen by me on a Facebook page, is a new one even for me. It is placed on a page somewhat dedicated to so-called Loyalism that appears to have sprung up following the decision by Belfast City Council to fly the Union Flag from City Hall on the designated Flag-flying Days. Most of these pages want to see the Union Flag replaced, that is hoisted once more on City Hall, not … Continue reading Is St Patrick to be expunged from Union Flag?
Gyronny Herald 