COLIN Neighbourhood Partnership (CNP) is an award-winning Neighbourhood Renewal organisation based in the Colin area of West Belfast. The Partnership consists of local people and organisations, elected and community representatives, and government bodies. 

Recently retired after a lifetime of community service, North Belfast bridge-builder Liam Maskey has has time to catch up on his reading. One book he stumbled upon, first published in 1991, brought him back to his own teen years in the war-torn New Lodge and the extraordinary exploits of one of his neighbours.

BOOK REVIEW

I HOPE you all had an enjoyable Easter. Across the island and further afield commemorations were held at countless locations to remember those who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and in all of the generations of the freedom struggle. The Belfast turnout was big and Pearse Doherty, who made an exceptional speech, was given a very warm welcome. I saw no mention of his remarks or those of other republican speakers on RTÉ, BBC or other broadcasters. So much for public service broadcasting. 

In a changing Ireland, the passing of Pope Francis is giving pause to many to reflect on the island’s relationship with the Catholic Church. With his death occurring on Easter Monday there was perhaps more concentrated attention to questions of his ministry, his version of the church and his impact.