Frank Liddy was a driving forces in the Twinbrook Residents Association in the seventies and eighties, taking a break for a short period to try his hand as a saxophonist in a punk band, before embracing the study of Zen Buddhism and mindfulness.
He has over 35 years’ practice-based experience with mindfulness programmes that have helped to transform the lives of many people across Ireland.
Frank is the co-founder of the Black Mountain Zen Centre and Compassionate City Belfast. He now lives in North Belfast but a return to Twinbrook is on the cards.
It was a crisp cold clear morning in October 2000 when I first met His Holiness the Dalai Lama up at Belfast International Airport. The air was sharp, and the anticipation of meeting such an esteemed figure made the chill sink deeper into my bones.
RECENTLY I had the great pleasure of meeting Dawn Watson, the poet, writer and author from North Belfast, at the new Seamus Heaney Centre over on University Road.
THIS is a time of year for deep reflection for me. It was on June 23, 1993, that I hit rock bottom with alcohol.
THURSDAY evening was the last class of term that I teach at Queen's University and signals the summer holiday break.
AS a founding member of the Northern Ireland Mental Health and Arts Festival (NIMHAF) I was pleased to to be part of our tenth anniversary festival celebration.
STANDING on the Friends House stage in London where Mahatma Gandhi once delivered his powerful words was an immense honour, one that I will forever cherish. As I took my place among the guest speakers at the Emotional Sobriety Conference, I couldn't help but feel a sense of profound gratitude for the opportunity to share my thoughts on a topic so close to my heart.
WHAT an honour it was for me to read one of my favourite poems, 'Love after Love', by Derek Walcott at the New Script Travelling Apothecary event at the Kennedy centre as we celebrated Poetry Day.
I HAVE so many precious memories of the Lower Whack, i.e. down the Falls.
MY good friend and esteemed woodcarver Michael Quirke of Sligo city has taught me over my many visits to his shop in Wine Street, Sligo to look no further than our own history for the origins of our ancient traditions.
OVER the weekend, amidst the bustling streets of Belfast, I bore witness to a stark contrast in human behaviour that left me pondering the dire need for unity over division.
IN the lead-up to Mother's Day, my thoughts are drawn to a recent visit to a young offenders' centre that left an indelible impression on me. It became evident during my visit with the group of young people that a mother's love is a profound blessing, a sentiment echoed in the subtext of the language shared within those walls. Without prompting any stories, I heard the word mother many many times like a reassuring mantra.
I ATTENDED a Zoom meeting last week which was all about the science of randomness, a topic which is very close to my heart.
IMBOLC, the Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring, holds profound significance in the ancient Celtic traditions and continues to resonate with a timeless message of hope and renewal. As winter's grip begins to loosen, Imbolc emerges as a celebration of the transformative power inherent in the cyclical nature of life.
IN the words of the great singer Gerry Rafferty, 'If you get it wrong, you’ll get it right next time.'
I HAD the wonderful opportunity to be invited to talk at a one-day workshop hosted by the Aisling community in Enniskillen. The day began with an introduction from their patron, the bard of Enniskillen and proponent of local vernacular such as 'Suckin' diesel', our very own Adrian Dunbar.