Opinion Pieces | Belfast Media

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.

DÚLRA: This Falls Park find is one for the reference books

by gearóid ó muilleoir

HEALTHWISE: 300 columns down and much more in the future

I AM excited to announce article number 300. I have been writing for six years since the Healthwise column started in March 2020. The information I have provided has been like doing another degree at university with so much researching involved.

GERRY ADAMS: A fitting tribute to John in a fitting place

I JUST spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the company of my good friend, American trade union leader John Samuelsen, and the staff of Áras Uí Chonghaile and Fáilte Feirste Thiar – the West Belfast Tourist Board. Unbeknownst to John, both organisations had agreed to name one of the Áras rooms after him and a former Transport Workers; Union, (TWU) President, Mike Quill.

PLATING UP: Grilled salmon with bok choi carrots, tender stem broccoli

We hope you enjoy our new 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 – Lisburn Council in the dock over Twinbrook

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

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Cruncher was the voice of resistance when resisting was tough

The first time I heard “Something Inside So Strong” by Labi Siffre was one of those seminal musical moments in my life, when lyrics and melody conjured something more. The pressure on the Apartheid state of South Africa was intense and at last the momentum was with the people of a land brutalised and oppressed as part of Europe’s 19th Century Colonial adventure and shame. Nelson Mandela was still in prison, but when Labbi sang we knew that would end soon.

JUDE COLLINS: Trump has grabbed a tiger by the tail in Iran

It was a neck-and-neck race to recover the airman shot down by Iran in Iran. The Americans won the race, much to their relief. Had the Iranians found him first, he would have been put on display as someone several thousand miles from his home, part of the attacking American forces intent on conquering a country that has faced attack and division for decades. Today Trump’s boast is that they’ll be beaten“back into the Stone Ages”

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: The council, the press and the Toby jugs

THE News Letter on Monday dug up a couple of people who are very unhappy about aspects of a new LGBTQIA+ services centre in Belfast city centre.

SQUINTER: Gallows poster boy has a bit of a history

ITAMAR Ben-Gvir is the poster boy of the Hang-the-Palestinians cohort in the Israeli parliament.

GERRY ADAMS: Micheál Martin has zero interest in pursuing unity

AN Taoiseach Micheál Martin was the first guest to participate in a new six part series of the podcast, ‘How to Gael’ under the title – ‘How to Unite Ireland.’

DÚLRA: Love of birds has conquered Aaron’s fear of heights

WHEN Rathlin Island made the incredible announcement last week that the island was now ferret-free after years of diligent work by environmentalists, one guy from West Belfast appreciated it more than most.

HEALTHWISE: Lion's mane is nothing to roar about just yet

LION’S mane is a mushroom that has long been used in traditional practices and cooking around the world. The mushrooms themselves are a good source of vitamin B1, B2 and B3 as well as minerals like manganese, zinc and potassium.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Brexit aftershock still hitting community groups hard

THE crisis facing community and voluntary organisations as we go into April is not a new story. Following Brexit (remember that?) many groups, organisations and citizens warned that this would happen. Leaving the European Union meant leaving an infrastructure that has been designed to develop innovative and progressive programmes which support conflict resolution and address economic deprivation.

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

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