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.
AS Christmas approaches, our towns and cities transform into bustling hubs of activity. Streets are gridlocked with vehicles, their exhaust fumes forming an invisible haze. Cars and buses sit idle, their drivers growing increasingly impatient. Pavements teem with shoppers in a frenzy, scouring the city centre for the perfect gifts and bargains.
THE challenges of judging the prestigious Aisling Health and Wellbeing awards are legion.
WHEN I first noticed the sign outside Belfast City Hall advertising a new day in the calendar I had to pause. There it was in big, cheerful letters: 'Nothing Day', encouraging all of Belfast to stop, take a breath and, quite simply, do nothing.
MY recent trip to Dublin to visit my dear friend Patrick McAteer, who's over visiting from sunny California, was truly an exciting adventure. We had set out with the purpose of preparing for next year’s Friendly Circle Berlin conference on addictions, which will be held at the illustrious Trinity College Dublin.
WHAT a wonderful and inspiring week I had as I witnessed and participated in the celebration of World Mental Health Day in our city. The event was not just a day, but a full week of engagement, support, and connection.
AS a young boy of seven years of age, I experienced a moment of profound separation and reunion that would shape my lifelong connection to Glendalough in County Wicklow. It was during a family picnic amidst the tranquil greens and blues of the Wicklow Mountains that I unwittingly embarked on an adventure of my own.
AS we officially step into the golden embrace of autumn, the landscape of Belfast transforms. The air turns crisp and the trees wear their finest colours of amber and gold, reminding us of the natural beauty that surrounds us and the richness that lies within us.
AS I reflect on my recent milestone birthday, reaching the venerable age of three score and ten, I find myself both savouring and enduring the richness of this moment.
ON a crisp, bright morning, I recently lead a group of 18 Texan students through the historic streets of West Belfast, a journey through the heart of a community which is marked by both resilience and memory. These young Americans, wide eyed and eager, were about to encounter a piece of history that, to me, was not just a museum but a living testament to the stories of our people – the Eileen Hickey Republican Museum.
Last week, I had the privilege of guiding a group of 17 curious Texan students on an enlightening tour around Belfast. The journey was designed to provide an authentic glimpse into our city's complex history and ongoing transformation.
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.