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.
WEST Belfast actress Antoinette Morelli is set to make her Lyric Theatre debut this August with the return of Marie Jones’ The Blind Fiddler.
Keencap’s album Fenian has reached number 1 in the Irish album charts Earlier the band said it was donating all of the royalties from Fenian this week in Wales, England, Scotland and the Occupied 6 to Irish language organisation in West Belfast, Glór na Móna, the Irish language cultural centre on the Falls Road, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, and Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Tweeting this afternoon when word broke the FENIAN had reach number one in the Irish charts, Kneecap posted: “Muintir na hÉirean, is grá linn sibh. “We’re buzzing to be number 1 in the Irish charts. A big part of Kneecap has always been bringing the Irish language into the contemporary space, so young people see the language iso f value and on par with any other language. “And with this also comes showing solidarity with those who need it most around the world and at home.” “This past year though, as the British state witch-hunt came for us, we got solidarity from across this island – electric picnic being one of our highlights this year with 50,000 of us in a field. “GRMA to everyone who got the album and we’ll see you this summer to celebrate FENIAN.” Later this afternoon when the UK album chart was announced, the band said: Kneecap's first album release, 2024's Fine Art, went to number 43 in the UK and number two in the Republic of Ireland.
THE National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) – who has been in Belfast visiting a number of projects this week – has condemned a new mural in East Belfast which includes an image of a loyalist band marching past the scene of the Sean Graham bookmakers massacred. Five Catholics, including two teenagers, were shot dead by the UDA in the sectarian attack on the Ormeau Road in 1992. The mural, which was unveiled this week, shows a loyalist band marching past the bookmakers in the aftermath of the atrocity, where a banner had been erected by protestors reading ‘No sectarian marches’. Yesterday, Sean Pender met with relatives of the victims of the massacre during a visit to South Belfast. It was only afterwards that learnt of the mural which had been unveiled in the London Road and My Lady’s Road area of East Belfast. Funded by the Housing Executive as part of its ‘re-imaged’ project aimed at replacing paramilitary murals on its property., the housing body has now asked for the mural to be taken down. AOH chief Pender said he was shocked when saw images of the mural.
A REPORT is being launched today into the sectarian murder of a 26-year-old Catholic man who was shot dead in March 1988 as he arrived for work in Dunnes Stores at Annadale Embankment. Charles McGrillen had a young wife and a toddler at the time of his killing. In the years that followed his murder his family faced ongoing intimidation, including threats, attacks on his grave as well as a complete absence of a meaningful investigation into his murder.
SEVEN Irish citizens have been detained after Israeli forces stormed several vessels among the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to an Ardoyne man who is part of the humanitarian mission to Gaza. The Irish Times have named those who were taken and and later handed over to Greek authorities as Catriona Graham, Fiacc O’Brolchain, Robert Murphy, Colm Byrne, Martin Guilfoyle, Michael Fix and John Connellan. There are concerns among those who remain on the flotilla over the whereabouts of two men who organisers fear are being held “hostage” by the Israelis. Fra Hughes joined the international flotilla this week. It is is aiming to break the seize of Gaza by sea. He departed from Sicily in the convoy of 65 vessels on Sunday, with the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for the besieged Palestinian population. Speaking from his vessel Fra said: “A total of 22 boats were boarded off the global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza. 170 participants were kidnapped in international waters illegally by the Zionist baby killer forces. All of those boats were left at sea. The rigging on the sales were damaged. Some of the engines were damaged. They are a threat and a danger to maritime traffic.” Fra said that they have been informed that the those taken have since been released in Crete. “These people have not committed any crime. They have been kidnapped illegally in international waters while sailing under legal maritime law, delivering humanitarian aid during a humanitarian crisis. The people on the flotilla are acting within the law.” Fra said the concern for those on the flotilla now are for Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila who have not been released to the Greek authorities and are still being held by the Israelis.
POLITICANS have welcomed the inquest verdict into the killings of five people in the Springhill/Westrock massacre.
STARRING world-class trad musicians Cathal Hayden (fiddle & banjo), Máirtín O’Connor (button accordion), plus a stellar cast including Kerri Quinn and Antoinette Morelli, The Blind Fiddler takes place at The Lyric Theatre from Friday 31st July until Sunday 16th August 2026.
AHEAD of tomorrow's inquest verdict into the Springhill/Westrock massacre of July 1972, West Belfast MLA Aisling Reilly has said that the families of those who died are an inspiration to others who lost loved ones during the conflict.
SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has told the party’s Ard Fheis that referendums on Irish unity can be held as early as 2030.
WEST Belfast MP Paul Maskey has condemned those responsible for the car bomb outside Dunmurry police station last night.
PAUL Doherty has sensationally quit the SDLP.
The top civil servant who penned the report which led to the demise of British PM Boris Johnson returned to Belfast this morning to address a business gathering.
A PLAQUE unveiling has taken place on Divis Street at the spot where a student teacher was gunned down by the British Army over 50 years ago and another trainee teacher was seriously injured. During a poignant and emotional ceremony, family and friends of Patrick Magee (22), who was shot dead by the Royal Anglian Regiment in 17 April 1972, were joined by Frank McGuinness who survived the attack, along with his family. Patrick died at the scene while Frank was critically wounded. Following the shooting the ambulances that the men were being carried in were hijacked by the Parachute Regiment – who had arrived on the bloody scene – and driven onto the Shankill. An angry crowd mobbed the ambulance carrying the seriously wounded Frank and tried to overturn it. When the ambulance carrying Patrick’s body arrived the mob opened its doors and dragged his remains into the street. The harrowing images were broadcast on the evening news that night.
THE British government has shown “contempt for victims who suffered at the hands of its state forces”, North Belfast MP John Finucane claimed after the Secretary of State announced what he called a “substantial package of amendments” to its Troubles legacy legislation. The Sinn Féin MP made the claim after Hilary Benn said the new amendments to the bill would “improve the process for victims and families” and “further safeguard veterans”. He said unlike the previous Conservative government's controversial Legacy Act, the new bill “does not offer immunity”. Hitting back Mr Finucane said the bill “displays no thought or empathy for families, but rather is designed to placate the British military lobby and the interests of security and intelligence agencies”.
THE Westlink in Belfast is one of several locations signposted for fuel protests this afternoon.