A giant step forward for the Irish language was taken this week with the, eventual, passing of a new policy which will embed An Ghaeilge into every aspect of Council life.
GIVEN the generous approach of nationalists to the peace process – the other cheek turned, the open hand proffered – there may be a temptation to simply ignore the ongoing and desperate efforts by unionist spokespersons to restore the tarnished reputation of the RUC.
EXTRAORDINARY scenes in Glasgow on Sunday as Celtic lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy with the usual huge compliment of Irish fans there to experience the excitement.
SINCE its inception in May 2024, most victims’ groups and relatives of people who were killed during the conflict have refused to deal with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
THE war of words over the axing of funding for an English-Irish placename project is another depressing example of the determination of unionism to keep scoring petty points that delight their staunchest followers but mean a drearily familiar round of division and anger that exhausts and dispirits the rest of us.
For sure, Saturday night's bombing took place outside the largely redundant Dunmurry police station but for anyone watching the machinations of dissident republicans, it's clear the real target was Sinn Féin not the PSNI.
IF only staunch unionists put the same amount of effort and passion into making this place work for all as they do obsessing on the Irish language.
BELFAST’S not renowned for its large farming community, and since the protests that took place across the north this week consisted almost entirely of farm vehicles, disruption in the city was kept to a minimum. Sydenham in East Belfast saw a small convoy of tractors cause disruption around the City Airport, but not only was the Westlink kept open, even the usual rush-hour traffic jam failed to materialise.
Back in 2015, the late Pope Francis, upbraiding US politicians, insisted that "there is no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for the lack of housing".
WE’RE off again – and it’s still only March. The crazy flags, marches and bonfire season is well and truly under way and in the time since the last one nothing has been done to suggest that things are about to change any time soon.
It was an open goal for deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly in Washington DC this week.
With every passing day, the evidence of two diverging economies on the island becomes all the clearer - a Southern Government awash in money looming over a Northern Executive which is effectively bust.
WE don't know as much about St Patrick as one might think considering he is our national saint.
THE White House will once again have a peculiarly unionist feel on St Patrick’s Day as the DUP and UUP cross the pond to accept a bowl of shamrock from President Donald Trump in a green tie.
IT'S a striking reflection of this era of misinformation, disinformation and non-information, that, in their reporting of the death of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, none of our mainstream media reported on several consequential visits he made to this benighted backwater.