Opinion Pieces | Belfast Media

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: We all claim Rory – and that’s the trouble

robin livingstone

SQUINTER: Short back and brain infection, please

SQUINTER’S first unaccompanied haircut was at what is now Bradley’s barber’s beside the Gravediggers on the Glen Road. It was around 1971 and if memory serves it was known as Peewee’s at the time, although Squinter can’t remember if that was the name on the shop front or a nickname.

DÚLRA: Teatime once again for those busy garden robins

THESE four beautiful eggs tell us beyond any doubt that winter is over – despite the awful weather!

HEALTHWISE: The male menopause: Healthy eating is crucial

THE male menopause? There is such thing – yes, there really is!

GERRY ADAMS: Fuel protest has been disastrously handled by FFFG

THE blockade of fuel depots, motorways, towns and Dublin city centre was entirely avoidable if the FFFG government had taken the growing crisis around the cost of living and increasing fuel and energy bills seriously months ago. Instead, Micheál Martin and Co stuck their heads in the sand and ignored the mounting anger.

PLATING UP: Curried couscous with bacon medallions and fried egg

We hope you enjoy our cookery column with chef Paul Watters who each week will take the fear out of cooking with his easy to follow recipes...

PLATING UP: Prawn and mussel salad with a curry powder sprinkle

We hope you enjoy our cookery column with chef Paul Watters who each week will take the fear out of cooking with his easy to follow recipes...

EYE ON THE PAST: April 1985 – Calls for nationalist council pact

WE look at the stories that were making the headlines in the Andersonstown News this week in 1985...

WE SAY: Fuel protesters must exercise caution

BELFAST’S not renowned for its large farming community, and since the protests that took place across the north this week consisted almost entirely of farm vehicles, disruption in the city was kept to a minimum. Sydenham in East Belfast saw a small convoy of tractors cause disruption around the City Airport, but not only was the Westlink kept open, even the usual rush-hour traffic jam failed to materialise.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: As the far-right tide begins to ebb, where now for the decent people?

This has been a week of hope, despite the desperate loss of life and irreparable crimes against humanity. Simultaneous to the horror and fear we all see and feel, we are starting to see the turn of history arching, at last, towards better days.

JUDE COLLINS: Iran deserves our thanks for teaching some people a lesson

Will the Israelis ever escape the label of genocide enthusiasts? Probably not, but that won’t worry them. Most of us like to have a reputation that allows others to think kindly of us, but Israelis have a thick skin .They also has an appetite for blood that would match any vampire.

CELTIC STORIES: Scrimping and scraping victories – the new Glasgow Celtic way

SO, where do we begin with the week that has passed eh? From joyous harmony in the stands once more, to an absolute dogged performance, I don't know how much more I can take in all honesty.

MINDFUL MOMENT: Finding Moriarty: A journey to the spiritual soul of Ireland

I attended an event with good friends recently, at St Comgall’s, Ionad Eileen Howell, as part of the Belfast Imagine Festival that truly opened my mind to the philosophy and imagination of John Moriarty, an Irish mystic and thinker and I am almost ashamed to admit I had never heard of before the evening. What unfolded between 7.30pm and 11pm was not simply an event, but a deeply moving exploration of Ireland’s spiritual and cultural landscape through story, music, poetry and reflection. The event was called ‘ Invoking Ireland “ based on one of Moriarty’s books which was highly recommended, by all the performers.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Weaponising culture isn’t a two-way street, it’s a motorway at rush-hour with one lane closed

I CAN’T say for sure if the Irish language has been hijacked by violent republicanism. Personally don’t think it has, but I can’t – even as someone with as fine a Planter name as mine – put myself in the shoes of a Protestant or unionist who thinks it has. I’m going to accept that’s how they feel about it if people who I know to act in good faith tell me so. Although of course I retain the right to exercise extreme scepticism in the case of bucketmouths, louts and microphone-chasers.

SQUINTER: Loyal Ulster parades its Easter hypocrisy

LOYAL Ulster is united in its disgust at the Irps and the dissies dressing up for Easter. Again. As the Keepers of the 1916 Flame stomped up and down the place in their eBay camouflage gear and Poundland sunglasses, the DUP, the UUP, the Belfast Telegraph and the News Letter made it clear that this was such an egregious declaration of violent intent that a latter-day Tet Offensive couldn be far off.

Soccer: Reds enjoy back-to-back wins after victory at Ports

Gaelic Games: Lámh Dhearg host Senior Awards night at Beechlawns

CELTIC STORIES: German pints and derby drama in what may be a season-defining week for the Hoops

Soccer: Cliftonville earn huge win over title chasing Linfield

Trócaire condemns acts of war in the Middle East

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: DUP: Why the hell didn’t the Chucks come with us?

SQUINTER: I'm back in Dougie’s good books

DÚLRA: Five-star peregrines look down on us from above

Opinion

Most Read