This small junction creates an unbelievable traffic jam twice a day. Every day. Surely it could be engineered better to relieve the tail-backs it causes

An excerpt from a German news programme discussing Northern Ireland in 2017 translated to English:

"Northern Ireland is electing a new Parliament. The governing coalition of the Catholic Sinn Fein and the Protestant DUP broke down in January. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Of the approximately 1.85 million inhabitants, 41% are Catholic and 41% are Protestant. In 1969, a civil war broke out between the two camps in which more than 3600 people lost their lives. The conflict officially ended in 1998 with the so-called 'Good Friday Agreement'. According to this Catholics and Protestants must share power.

The memories and reminders of the past are omnipresent in Northern Ireland. It is a fragile peace that exists between the pro-Irish Catholics and the pro-British Protestants. This is also demonstrated by the crisis in the Northern Irish Parliament. Citizens are voting for the second time in 10 months because the republican Sinn Fein Party has left the coalition with the unionist DUP Party. The point of contention was a failed programme to promote renewable energies, which Arlene Foster of the DUP had initiated".

Do you think this accurately presents the situation of your country (or at least in 2017) or do you feel like foreign media - as exemplified by this - may not understand you?

I didn't think people in NI considered the Troubles to be a civil war.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c790dxzl5y0o

The Orange Order in Portadown has insisted it will not make any deals to try to walk down the Garvaghy Road in the town.

Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson spoke after a meeting at Carleton Street Orange Hall in the town, which lasted two and a half hours.

The Order plans to apply for another Drumcree parade after restrictions imposed on its planned parade last month by the Parades Commission were quashed in court.

It said it will make a significant announcement about this on Thursday morning. A wide view of Drumcree Church and its surroundings. The building, which has a tall spire, stands at the edge of a large graveyard and in front of an almost empty car park. There is a small collection of houses lining the road close to the church and there are fields in the foreground and stretching out into the distance. Image source, PA Media Image caption,

Since 1998, the Parades Commission has imposed restrictions on the local Orange lodge's route back from a service at Drumcree Church outside Portadown

Dawson said: "We have a legal right to complete this parade and we go to enforce that right using the law.

"Secondly, there will be no deals made by Portadown District with the government or anyone else.

"To be clear there have been no offers made but should anyone be considering making one we wish to make clear there is no amount of funding, investment or inducements that would buy Portadown district."

The High Court was told last week that the Parades Commission conceded the case and requested the court quash its determination before a full hearing.

The commission conceded a procedural error in how it dealt with the annual application for permission to walk along the Garvaghy Road.

Not all six members of the public authority had signed off on the final determination before it was issued last month.

Meanwhile, the future make-up of the Parades Commission remains in doubt while the Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant, considers whether he believes they can rebuild confidence lost as a result of the court case.

The Order in Portadown has called for the remaining commissioners to resign and for a judge-led review be held.

This would include looking at the governance and legislative framework of the Parades Commission. The front view of the exterior of an Orange Order building on Carleton Street, Belfast. The large, symmetrical three-storey building is constructed of red brick with ornate cream detailing around the arches of its windows on the ground and second floors. A sign above the main entrance says "Orange Hall" with 1908 written above the door. Three flags including the union flag fly from flag posts on the building. Image caption,

The meeting took place in an Orange Hall in Carleton Street, Portadown

"The review must include an investigation into the events surrounding this court case," Dawson said.

"The person charged with conducting the review should have full access to all commission documentation and the review should be conducted over the shortest period of time with a public-facing report."

Monday night's meeting in the Carleton Street hall involved the order's Portadown district, with 28 lodges invited to send representatives.

Among those who attended were Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Carla Lockhart, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, TUV leader Jim Allister and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

When the Order applies for another parade it would include walking along the largely-nationalist Garvaghy Road on its return from a service at the Church of Ireland at Drumcree.

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson last week said such a parade was "off the table" as residents would not agree to it.

Breandan Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition has said the Orange Order parade "finished" in 1998 and it "will not be repeated". When did the Drumcree dispute begin?

In 1998, the Parades Commission ruled that the Orange Order should not march down Portadown's Garvaghy Road on the end leg of its annual march from Drumcree Church.

It was a move that sparked some of the most serious public disorder in Northern Ireland's history and led to a decades-long parading dispute.

Stand-offs continued in subsequent years as members of the Order walked to police barricades in protest at the restrictions. Protests were also held by residents living along the Garvaghy Road.

Wee rant.

Anyone else have an absolute nightmare trying to get anything delivered these days?

Next day delivery is already a 2 day job just for the sake of the water, but I'm currently on day 6 of a next day delivery and it's not even been handed off to the courier!

Why did we all think online shopping was going to be better than highstreet? I'm so flipping tired of the sub par service rife with all of them 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Anywhere else I should avoid while visiting?

Hi guys, I am a banknote enthusiast and I will be visiting Belfast 3 weeks later. I live in England and I do not have any bank account with the Bank of Ireland UK (I only have Ulster Bank).

May I know if it will be easy for me to get my hands on a bank of Ireland £100 banknote please? I am aware that if I don't have a bank account with BOI it might be tricky. If so, do you guys have any other suggestions for me than going to the post office? Thank you!

Still trying to find this girl I met at EMERGE on Saturday😂
We took these photos and I stupidly forgot to ask for her Instagram.🤦🏼‍♂️

Another death on our roads today just outside Lisburn on the Belfast road. Cars speed down that road every single day and today’s death will not be the last. How can we get more speed cameras or traffic lights put up?

I’ve been told online assessment results have been emailed out. Is this true? A friend of mine applied but hasn’t received anything so checking if it’s maybe because they didn’t pass etc.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently looking for part-time marketing opportunities following the redundancy of my previous role due to a restructure.

I’m a marketing professional with over 5 years’ experience, primarily working across the hospitality and retail sectors.

I’m passionate about helping businesses improve their online presence and would love to find a part-time role where I can put my skills to good use.

My experience includes:
📱 Social media management
🌐 Website management
🔍 SEO
📈 Paid social media advertising
🎨 Content creation
📰 Newspaper advertising / leaflet drops
📍 Billboard / outdoor advertising
📣 General marketing and campaign planning

I’m based in Belfast/Lisburn and I’m open to a range of opportunities, including part-time employment, freelance work or helping small businesses with their marketing on an ongoing basis.

If you’re a business owner who needs some extra marketing support, please feel free to get in touch. I’m happy to discuss your needs and agree reasonable rates depending on the work involved.

Equally, if you know of any part-time marketing roles or opportunities that might be suitable, I’d really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks! 😊

Someone suggested I tried paddy’s power drink to help with tiredness - has anybody here tried it? Feels like it’s talked about like a magic potion CD- but would love reddit’s thoughts before handing over 13 quid

Can someone please explain to me like I'm thick why there's a Denmark flag flying outside of Rushpark? Just went past it on the bus

Like me you hear the Orange Order gloating about a major win but don't actually know what is what?

Here is what you need to know:

- Not all 6 members in the Parades Commission had signed off on the final determination to block the parade. I very much doubt the people who didn't sign off would have been for the parade anyway.

- So for the Judge it was a very straight forward decision because procedure wasn't followed.

- Bryson's legal argument was that it breached their rights for "expression and peaceful assembly". Which is an extremely poor argument after the murder and riots last time they tried to march.

Very important:

- The judge did not rule that the parade should go ahead, nor give permission for one.

- Orange Order must make a new application.

- The parades commission voted unanimously last time for the parade to be blocked, with nothing new to bring to the table it is hard to see that it will get the go ahead again.

- Calling for them to be sacked is going to do nothing to get these people on these side!

Did the Parades Commission make mistakes? Not really, they just get everyone sign off, but ultimately makes no difference as they voted unanimously.

Nothing is going to change here, expect some disappointed Orange people from their poor leadership focusing on something so irrelevant to the real problems we have.

Call for courts to send 'clear message' after seven PSNI officers hurt in 'shameful' attacks | UTV | ITV News

Officers made arrests

Northern Ireland's courts must send a "clear message" to anyone who assaults PSNI officers, the Police Federation has said.

PFNI Chair Liam Kelly was speaking after an officer was bitten and another needed hospital treatment for a leg injury after a series incidents in Belfast on Sunday evening.

They were among seven who were were hurt as they carried out their duties in and around the the city centre.

Mr Kelly said: “To be blunt, there is a terrible disrespect among some people for the men and women I represent who do a fantastic job on behalf of the whole community.

“Officers work in dangerous and dynamic situations, countering violent and lawless individuals. 

“They put their bodies on the line when dealing with attackers. They sustain injuries, some of them forcing them to take time off work to recover. They have to confront constant dangers and all in the name of keeping society safe from mindless thugs.

“They most definitely do not deserve to be bitten, punched, slapped and attacked from behind in a cowardly manner. 

When culprits are brought before the Courts, they should be given meaningful prison terms to let them know there is zero tolerance for what they do.

“Assaulting our officers is becoming commonplace. It is a trend that needs to be halted in its tracks and that requires a no-nonsense approach being taken by our Courts.

“A clear message has to be handed down that assaulting police officers will no longer be treated with kid gloves. There is no mitigation or excuse for lashing out and assaulting officers.”

A Chief Inspector vowed the incidents would be “investigated rigorously”. Chief Inspector Andy George said in two of the incidents, officers sustained serious injuries that prevented them from continuing with their duties.

He added: “While officers were policing a music festival at Boucher Road Playing Fields, a teenage boy was observed with bottles of alcohol.

“When spoken to by officers he became aggressive – kicking one officer to the leg and another in his groin area.

“A third officer was also kicked in the struggle while the teenager was being arrested for assault on police and disorderly behaviour.

“A report will now be submitted to the Public Prosecution Service in due course in respect of the teenager.”

He added: “In the same area a 22-year-old man was suspected of concealing drugs.

“When challenged – an officer was struck to the face and knocked to the ground where he sustained further injury to his arm.

“The suspect was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including assault on police, obstructing police, and possession of a Class A controlled drug.

“Despite his injuries the officer remained on duty.”

The chief inspector said another man was charged with assault on police following an incident in the Custom House Square area as officers policed another concert.

He said: “He became aggressive and verbally abusive towards the officer – attempting to punch him – and appeared intoxicated at the scene.

“Another officer was also bitten on his arm by an aggressive male in the same area.

“The officer’s skin was broken – causing significant injury – and he was unable to continue on duty.

“Officers were also assisting with two males in the Custom House Square area when an officer was assaulted from behind – sustaining a serious injury to the back of his knee.

“The officer required hospital treatment and was unable to continue with his duties.”

Mr George said all of “these shameful attacks on our officers will be investigated rigorously”.

He added: “We have two people charged to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court next month as a result of their disgraceful actions.

“Officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe – they do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job.

“We are supporting these officers following a difficult 24 hours in the city.

“They are receiving the appropriate care and our welfare support has been set up.

“However, assaults across 24 hours from just one policing district in Northern Ireland, shows the often grim reality of what our officers on the ground are facing each and every day, and the courage and professionalism with which they serve our communities.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m314lrywno

The priest who helped shield schoolgirls during the 2001 Holy Cross dispute has said the "hurt" of that ordeal could happen again.

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of Holy Cross, Fr Aidan Troy said that possibility is what keeps him "devoted to dialogue, to conversation, to searching for justice and to caring about people".

Fr Aidan said the sectarian dispute was "hatred at its worst".

It happened in north Belfast when loyalist protesters tried to block the route taken by Holy Cross school pupils and their parents, who were from a Catholic background, on their walk to class.

Following the initial violence, the police and Army put up crash barriers to keep a corridor route open for the Holy Cross pupils.

The images of terrified schoolgirls having to run the gauntlet between lines of armoured police officers in order to get to their primary school were beamed around the world.

Protestants claimed that Catholics were attacking their homes and said the school protest was their way of highlighting their concerns.

Stones, bottles, fireworks and even a blast bomb were thrown during weeks of unrest.

Fr Aidan, who was parish priest in Ardoyne at the time, told BBC News NI that "none of us want to see hatred". Police officers in riot gear escorting a young child. There is a crowd of people around them.Image source, Getty Images Image caption,

Police officers in riot gear escorted schoolgirls and their families past the protesters

"Hatred is the rawest, smelliest, most awful thing that anyone stood in the middle of," he said.

"We tell this story, not to blame, but to say we are capable of doing this to each other but let's make a commitment that we never will and we'll not do anything that would ever demean the way those children were demeaned."

He said people come up to him and thank him for what he did.

"I am embarrassed because I didn't do anything really worthwhile," he said.

"People say their children were given dignity. They were worth going in the front door and they were worth fighting for, and you stood in the middle of the road and said so."

He added that "it could happen again".

"The shock of Holy Cross, even 25 years later, probably means that it probably would not happen [again] in the exact same form, but the hurt is always possible," he said. A soldier with a gun. He is stood next to two army vehicles. It appears to be in a residential area. Image caption,

The police and Army put up crash barriers to keep a corridor route open for the Holy Cross pupils

About 100 pupils needed counselling due to their daily ordeal, according to principal at the time, Anne Tanney.

Speaking to the BBC in 2004, she said that even as an adult, she was traumatised by the protests .

"There were times when I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep," she said. "I used to bite my lip, trying not to cry in front of the children." Norman Hamilton sitting in a soft chair. He is wearing a purple sweater and shirt. He has grey hair and blue eyes, and is looking off to the right of the image frame. Image caption,

Rev Norman Hamilton was minister of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church at the time and played a key role in mediation efforts

Rev Norman Hamilton was minister of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church at the time of the protests and played a key role in mediation efforts aimed at bringing the dispute to an end.

He described what happened at Holy Cross as a "quagmire" and "one of the biggest events" in his life.

"It was just awful, absolutely awful.

"You couldn't avoid being profoundly affected simply because of the scale and the length and the depth of what was going on."

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Rev Hamilton said he worries that people in Northern Ireland are "finding new ways of dividing our society" and that it takes "very little to spark protests and riots".

He used the recent examples of riots in Ballymena and Belfast and that when "communities become fractured for whatever reason, violence is always a real possibility and sometimes seems inevitable".

"I genuinely feel, in many ways, that Northern Ireland is actually more divided now, albeit on along different lines, than it was 25 years ago." Fr Gary Donegan. He has short white hair, wearing a black shirt and white priest collar. Image caption,

Fr Gary Donegan was one of the priests who walked alongside schoolchildren and parents through the protests

Fr Gary Donegan was one of the priests who walked alongside schoolchildren and parents through the protests outside Holy Cross Primary School.

He described the protests as "an enormous part of" his life and a "life changing experience".

"You kind of realised that something had changed here because children were sacrosanct but this was something different," Fr Gary told Good Morning Ulster.

"It was the tension and the terror on very, very small children – it was just unbelievable at the time, it took everybody by surprise."

Fr Gary said some of the mothers "never ever recovered from the situation".

"The reality of what it was like for those children is so prevalent in their lives to this day.

"You cannot deny what happened, but I think you have to be extremely careful about how you remember things and what people say."

Fr Gary said while people "have moved on", there are people who "can use events like Holy Cross or other things in order to heighten tension because they need tension in order to be relevant".

Hi not sure if this is the right subreddit, but does anyone have any experience with Daisy Dog Academy or McCoubrey k9? Thanks in advance.

Hi all,

A while back I seen a post recommending a charity shop in Belfast that does amazing wedding guest dresses but can't find it anymore. Does anyone know of any charity shops in and around Belfast that would be good to have a look? Really don't see the point of buying a new dress for one day and got a strange body shape so would love to try on rather than order of vinted

Thanks all ☺️

Due to a recent head injury I've found myself reliant on a walking aid. As we all know, NHS waitlists are pretty terrible so getting one off the NHS is probably not happening.

I had a stick I used for hiking but it's broken today. Effectively I can’t adjust it to my height anymore. It slips down whenever I put any pressure on it.

I'm physically okay but due to the head injury my balance is nonexistent and I can suffer from dizzy spells that can happen at random in which case I really, really need the extra support.

I still need to get out and about as sitting in that apartment staring at the wall was not doing my mental health any good (something I do struggle with to begin with but y'know, wait lists).

Now I'm 6'2 and roughly 100-105kg so the average walking stick isn't going to do much.

I know Argos sells sticks but they don't use their own couriers for home delivery anymore and I've had an utter nightmare getting things delivered in the past. So they're out.

I really need it ASAP so my mental health doesn't dip. Feeling helpless due to this injury hasn't helped already but the stick at least gave me some independence back.

Case involving alleged assault on a female mentioned at Ards Court on Tuesday

An assault case against DUP MP Jim Shannon has been ongoing for three years, a court heard on Tuesday.

The Strangford MP has been accused of assaulting a woman. The offence is alleged to have taken place on October 1 2023.

Shannon, 71, with an address at the DUP office in Frances Street in the town, did not attend the latest hearing at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, which lasted just a couple of minutes.

The court heard a defence statement has been lodged, and prosecutors have requested “some further materials from police”, and for a further three weeks for these to be received

A defence lawyer said the case had been going on for three years, and queried why a further three weeks was needed.

“There is an abuse of process application in this matter,” he added.

The case is next to be mentioned at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on September 29 for a check on progress.

Shannon has been the party’s MP for Strangford since 2010.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/an-assault-case-against-dup-mp-jim-shannon-has-been-ongoing-for-three-years-a-court-has-heard-5PNFVNN62NDIPLL5P4R7SJI6T4/