Anthony Neeson began his career in journalism with the Tyrone Times in Dungannon in 1995 before freelancing with Belfast daily and Sunday titles in both news and sport. He joined the Andersonstown News as Sports Editor, before moving across to the News Desk as a reporter, eventually becoming Deputy Editor. Anthony also spent time as Deputy Editor of Daily Ireland and was appointed Editor of the Andersonstown News in 2016. Anthony is also the Ireland correspondent with the Irish Echo in New York.
FAMILIES are set to have their say on the controversial Legacy Act at a conference in Belfast this Saturday.
Belfast and Birmingham, Alabama strengthened business, academic, and tech links last week at a groundbreaking transatlantic AI Roundtable in the US.
TG4 is back as a sponsor for next month’s Aisling Arts and Culture Award.
FORMER Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has revealed he is the Sinn Féin member who stepped down after sending inappropriate messages.
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan has met with an Irish language organisation at Stormont to discuss Irish medium youth services.
MORE taxis will be able to use the bus lanes in Belfast city centre to help ease traffic congestion while road works associated with Grand Central Station are carried out.
BI-LINGUAL traffic signs are set to be introduced on the Falls Road as part of a pilot scheme announced by Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd.
THE SDLP’s new leader Claire Hanna has told the party’s annual conference that the problems that the North of Ireland face “are a result of the fundamental structure of the UK”.
THE school community at De La Salle College have come together to celebrate the school’s recent successes. Joining staff were parents, representatives from the De Lasallian Order, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People Chris Quinn, Paul Maskey MP, Pat Sheehan MLA, Councillor Paul Doherty, as well as CCMS and EA representatives and a range of community partners who work with the school. One of the major successes highlighted was the outcome of the most recent ETI inspection report, which highlighted the excellent educational opportunities offered and praised the positive relationships between teachers and pupils. Speaking on behalf of the school's Board of Governors, Vice Chairperson Jennifer Ferguson, said: "We have a special mission to nurture and support our most vulnerable children. In keeping with the school’s Lasallian ethos, we welcome and will continue to welcome boys of all abilities. “As our Mission Statement acknowledges, the staff of De La Salle College believe in each and every one of our young men and work collectively to create a ‘place of opportunity’. Our staff understand that they are working with young people who are still developing and growing, and as a whole school community we encourage and support every pupil to grow and excel in everything they do. It is most welcome that the latest ETI Inspection report recognises the excellent work of all our school staff and this positive report is a worthy cause for celebration."
NIALL McKenna’s journey to become one of Ireland’s leading chefs and restaurateurs began at De La Salle College in Andersonstown in the late 1980s. “We were the first boys’ school in Ireland to do what would have been called Home Economics,” he says, as we paid a visit back to his alma mater. “Bro Dominic was very much behind the move to introduce the subject but we didn’t have any cooking facilities in La Salle and had to go to Cross and Passion on the Glen Road. Out of our class I know five of us are still cooking and that’s where it all began. “When the school was putting on events at night, like prize-giving, we’d be in the cleaners' room next to Bro Dominic’s office cooking on an old gas hob. The cooking skills started in La Salle and I just knew I wanted to become a chef.” From those humble beginnings Niall went on to study professional cookery at Belfast Metropolitan College, before moving to London, where he spent 12 years training under Michelin-starred chefs including Nico Ladenis, Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White. On returning to Belfast he has gone on to open five restaurants with James Street and Waterman still going strong and a reincarnation of former favourite Hadskis on the horizon. This month he brings all that culinary knowhow and skill together as he launches his first cookbook ‘What’s It All About?’. “It’s one of my sayings: What’s it all about?” he laughs.”I started off with about 500 recipes and whittled them down to about 140 and they are ones that people are capable of doing. So, it’s 20 years, 140 recipes, five restaurants and one question – what’s it all about? “It’s simple food, done well with local produce.” Niall began working on the book during Covid when he had more time on his hands and says the recipes are easy to follow even though they are all dishes from his restaurants.
THOUSANDS of people are expected to take part in a march to the US Consulate in Belfast on Saturday to demand an end to the Israeli war in Gaza.
PARENTS and young people have been urged to be vigilant following reports of an attack on a teenage girl on the Upper Suffolk Road. It was reported that on Wednesday evening two girls were walking from the Suffolk Road into Glenveagh Drive when a man dragged one of the girls towards a derelict house and assaulted her. In a joint social media appeal Glen Community Parent Youth Group and Lenadoon Women’s Group urged parents and young people in Lenadoon to be vigilant. “At approximately 8.30pm as the girl and her friend were walking home from the Suffolk Road into Glenveagh Drive, a white male in dark clothing emerged from behind the girls and dragged one of them towards a derelict house in the street,” the appeal read. “As he was assaulting the girl her friend began screaming and a passing car came to their assistance as the assailant ran off. “Lenadoon Community Forum and Suffolk Road Residents' Network are demanding an urgent meeting between themselves and the Housing Executive to have this derelict property adequately secured to prevent further assaults. “Both groups are also urging parents to make their children aware of the potential dangers and to ensure that they are not out on their own whilst this dangerous individual is at large.” Police are appealing for information. “It was reported that a man approached two teenage girls as they walked along the road and pulled at the clothing of one of the girls and then pushed her to the ground. The man then made off on foot, possibly in the direction of Lenadoon. He was described as being aged in his 20s or 30s and was wearing a black coat, black trousers and black shoes. Both girls were left badly shaken following the incident.
THE Irish language revival in West Belfast received a massive shot in the arm today with funding from the Irish government to help strengthen connections between the GAA and the language.
A UKRAINIAN woman who learnt Irish by attending classes at the Cultúrlann on the Falls Road is the subject of a new documentary about her flight from war-torn Ukraine, and her family's new life in Ireland.
COUNCILLORS in Belfast have voted in favour of bilingual signage at Olympia Leisure Centre.