TRIBUTES have been paid to a Ballysillan teenager who has died after contracting Covid-19. Taylor Reid (15) survived devastating head injuries from a bike accident at the age of ten  in 2016 and had to fight for his life again in 2019. He sadly passed away on Friday after contracting the virus last month. In a tribute, his school, Hill Croft School in Newtownabbey, said Taylor was “loved” by all pupils and staff. “It is with very deep sadness that we have heard of the death of our pupil Taylor Reid,” the school said. “Taylor joined Hill Croft in early 2017. He made progress in ways we could never imagine and his fighting spirit meant that he never gave up, despite the odds, he rallied and came back to us many times. “Taylor was well known and loved by all staff and pupils. He was often seen at the office or in the corridors giving elbow high-fives with that cheeky grin. He had a mighty sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye, he loved nothing more than people having banter and a bit of a joke with him. “Over the last year he has remained at home with his family and his health has been deteriorating. He has enjoyed learning at home when he has been well enough. Sadly, this time, his strength just wasn’t enough. “Taylor’s family are very much part of the Hill Croft Community. Our school family grieves with David, Cheryl, Brooke, Cole, Romi, Shirley and the whole family circle who are very much in our thoughts. “We send them our love and support. “We will so greatly miss this remarkable boy who touched so many lives, we are grateful to have had the honour of knowing him.”

Sometimes the fact that I live in a parallel universe becomes really highlighted, like this Sunday with Churches open I’m back on my odyssey of visiting every church in Belfast for a service.

CRUSADERS and Cliftonville shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Saturday’s North Belfast derby at Seaview. 

WHEN you head up to Colin Glen for a nice late-spring dander, you don’t expect to be caught in a snowstorm. But on Monday we got caught not just by one storm, but by SIX! At one stage our heads were pounded by hailstones the size of pennies, but minutes later the forest was magically filled with a multitude of snowflakes floating like fairy dust, all illuminated by the sun which incredibly was shining at the same time. We had gone there in search of two of the glen’s long-time residents – kestrels and dippers. Kestrels have nested in a quarry here for as long as Dúlra can remember, while dippers are among our earliest nesters and will probably already be incubating their eggs. But in the end it was two other birds which stole our hearts.

THE  birds they sang at the break of day