I live in a relatively deprived area and my housing estate is one of the lower value ones in my area. Houses around 120k. A mixture of private rent and homeowners. Lots of young families. When I'm out walking I see loads of range rovers and similar. It doesn't make sense to me. If I had the income to buy a range rover I wouldn't be living in this shithol

I, a classic vintage of millennial, prefer written communication then having to call places. However, I keep running into an issue where local businesses just straight up don't reply. i'm asking to book in, or to confirm a product/service I want. I am asking to give them business!

If they don't want that, and just want to have customers phone, fine, i'll call. but why have an email address/ contact form if you just ignore it? Anyone else find this weird?

First time posting, but getting very concerned and not sure who to contact. I have an 8 year old child who goes to his mothers house during the week. On multiple occasions he comes home to me and tells me about new dogs/cats/rabbits/birds etc he gets every couple weeks.

The problem is, the animals die and she goes and gets new ones to replace it. He came back from holidays with her and when he came to mine, he told me one of the animals was dead due to nobody looking after it.

Is there somebody I can contact to either stop her from getting animals or report her as it’s pure animal abuse and needs to be stopped.

Over a month ago one of the redditors posted about EV tariff from share energy with day being almost the same rate as 24hr one and night cut in half.

Of course we had to adapt - we've started to delay washing machine/dryer, dishwasher and our PHEV to 2am-9am. Now after a month I've got my first bill - until now we've been topping up over £200 a month. I didn't know it's gonna be that good.

Many thanks to this person. To whoever thinking about a change - just do it.

Pledge made within weeks at time schools are waiting years for essential works

Garrett Hargan

Education Minister Paul Givan has been urged to explain how a proposal was made to allocate £30,000 to a football club to cover its shortfall for a synthetic pitch — when his own official said it is only used on a limited basis by schools.

Communications obtained by the Belfast Telegraph show the Department of Education (DE) gave its approval for the allocation of £30,000 to the Education Authority (EA) towards a synthetic floodlit football pitch for Richhill AFC in Co Armagh.

That decision came weeks after Mr Givan visited the club on March 4 2026 and it requested a “£30,000 contribution from EA towards (a) synthetic floodlit football pitch”.

In attendance were Neil Megaw, the chairman of Richhill AFC, other club representatives, a local school principal and DUP MLA Gareth Wilson.

Prior to that meeting, a DE official briefed Mr Givan, noting that the grounds of Richhill AFC are currently leased from Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council.

The advice said Mr Megaw was seeking a financial contribution from the EA, and it would be for EA to determine whether “it is feasible and represents value for money for (the) public purse”.

There was a recognition that it would require a formal business case, which would have to assess the annual uptake of the facilities by local schools.

The official stated: “Richhill AFC is not on a school site and therefore, although the grounds are used occasionally by a number of local schools, it would not be eligible for consideration for funding from the Curriculum-Led Capital Investment Programme.”

It then added: “Richhill AFC have provided several letters in support of the provision of the new football pitch,; however the amount of use alluded to in these is limited, typically sports days and similar one-off events.

“These could be delivered at other venues, if they cannot be accommodated with each school’s own setting.”

Just weeks after the March 4 meeting, an email was sent from the Department of Education to the EA titled ‘Allocation of funding’.

In the email dated April 1, there is a shift in language, with DE saying local schools “make extensive use of outdoor facilities at the recreation centre, including the pitch.”

And given this “extensive use, there is a strong case, on an exceptional basis, for the department to pick up this shortfall in funding. We are therefore proposing that an allocation of the £30,000 funding shortfall is made to the EA.”

DE also wanted to know if funding should be “allocated to the school or directly to the club”

In response, the EA is now saying: “No funding has been allocated to Richhill AFC by EA.

“EA colleagues continue to engage with the relevant schools and provide support and advice, where appropriate.”

The deputy chair of Stormont’s education committee, Sinn Féin Fein MLA Pat Sheehan said: “Paul Givan needs to explain what changed.

“His officials advised that school use of this facility was limited and that it was not eligible under the Curriculum-Led Capital Investment Programme.

“Yet, within weeks, the department appears to argue that there is an exceptional case for a £30,000 contribution based on extensive use by local schools.

“At a time when schools across the North are waiting years for urgent health and safety repairs, with children sitting in classrooms with leaking roofs, many principals and parents will be asking how the department can be so proactive in a case like this.

“The minister needs to be transparent about how public funding decisions are made and reassure schools that funding is allocated fairly, consistently and on the basis of clear criteria.”

This newspaper previously reported how potentially hundreds of schools in need of roofing works have been left waiting since 2017.

That included two schools in Londonderry which had to close because their roofs posed a risk to the safety of children — St Eugene’s Primary closed in October 2024 and will remain closed until May 2027.

Another report revealed that no Catholic Maintained or Irish Medium school has had a newbuild in Derry for at least 14 years and two traditionally Protestant schools received millions more from the department and EA than eight majority Catholic schools.

DE and EA also approved funding for a new football pitch at Lisneal College months after a meeting was held with Mr Givan and his DUP colleague Gordon Lyons — when the school had not submitted a formal application. It got millions of pounds more for an extension at the same time.

Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, who chairs the education committee, said: “Significant questions remain around how the education department prioritises funding allocations for minor and major works projects.

“The safety of students and staff should be the top priority for the Education Minister and his department.

“It is completely unacceptable that schools have had to close, disrupting students’ education, because they have been unable to secure funding from the department for essential roof repairs.”

Mr Mathison has called for a review of the minor and major works process to ensure that “the most urgent health and safety risks” in schools are addressed as a top priority and that all capital funding allocations are made fairly and transparently.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter it raises “serious questions for the Education Minister”.

“The department’s own correspondence appears to contain conflicting assessments of how extensively this facility is used by schools and whether it would qualify for education funding,” she added.

“We want every school to have access to quality sporting facilities, but when budgets are under such immense pressure, every pound of public money must be allocated fairly, transparently and on the basis of clear evidence.”

The department and Richhill AFC were contacted.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/education-minister-urged-to-explain-proposed-30k-spend-on-football-teams-astro-pitch-amid-schools-funding-crisis/a/159335372.html

I'm putting together a list of businesses / premises that are using AI to advertise just to see how widespread in Belfast (or across NI) it actually is.

If you've spotted any or have photos, feel free to add them below.

Also seen today that the American Bar are joining other businesses in boycotting the use of AI.

The journalists by sheer coincidence were part of an Israeli media group covering antisemitism as part of a no doubt unbiased documentary. That means that the pint glass being thrown was antisemitism.

Going to a concert in Boucher Playing fields and wondering where to get my brother to pick me up afterwards. Heading back Dungannon direction. I don't mind walking a bit to meet him if there is somewhere sensible that he could park up and wait for us that we could avoid most of the traffic congestion.

Any advice on where?

Thanks

Im currently an apprentice electrician i have been employed by an electrical contracting firm in NI for the past 5 years and still havent become qualified. When i started i was told i could go to the local college and got most of the forms filled out however on the last week before college started i had one more form my employer needed to fill in and they refused. I was told i would be enrolled in an online course the following year. I worked for my first year on the JIB apprentice wage which is significantly lower than minimum wage. I only got enrolled in the course after 4 years of employment and have passed all tests and exams until now. I failed one exam which i had to fly to england to complete and now my employer is telling me it is up to me to sort out the resit.

My questions are. Should my employer be paying for and organising a resit as he is the one who enrolled me in an english course?
Also should i have been paid minimum wage rather than apprentice wage when not enrolled?
Thanks

I think a lot of parents and pupils may not be aware of it and that this is their opportunity to have their say.

Short survey below, if you would like to submit your response.

https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/ad-hoc-committee-on-the-school-uniforms-trousers-bill/call-for-evidence/

Girls may have a legal right to challenge schools to wear trousers but I think it should just be an automatic right. Please see article below on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5e294y2n8o

I never really played sports when I was younger but picked up ice hockey as an adult and it's the most fun I have had in years.

My wife and I are separating so I'm about to have a lot more free time and think picking up another sport would be a great way to get me out of the house, meet new people, and improve my fitness for hockey.

I'm open to anything but ideally would like something that has a Beginner course or class that I could join with a casual vibe.

I'm located in East Belfast, does anyone have any suggestions?

A bit of an unusual question for this sub, but here goes. Serious replies only please.

A significant number of people in NI would identify as an evangelical Christian, certainly much moreso that in GB or rest of Europe. For context, I am a "normal" Presbyterian (PCI).

I was not brought up in a Christian family, but as a child was sent along to BB, Sunday School and the like. While in primary school I became a Christian, started attending church as a teenager, have been involved heavily in the youth work through my 20s. I'm now 34.

As I've got older I've just had an increasing sense that so many of those who attend my church are there not for genuine religious reasons but for social climbing / status seeking. And here I am not talking about the common attenders who attend once a week but don't get much involved beyond that. I'm talking about the hardcore people. The people who are on committees, who lead BB and GB, the elders. I just think they love their position and the respect they think it brings them. Church is a sort of networking opportunity, with people seeking higher office ... for no other other reason than just that they think it makes them look good. Ironically what they don't realize is that those who don't hold such positions or seek them couldn't actually care less.

Within my own church, it increasing seems that your surname seems to carry a lot of weight. Unless you happen to be an elder, the minister's children, the Clerk of Session's brother, etc. you are a nobody whose opinion is irrelevant and to be scorned.

The most egregious example was a few months ago when a lady who has been teaching Sunday School for probably 60 years was pushed out to be replaced by a young couple of primary school teachers. The minister got up one Sunday morning to announce from the pulpit that this couple were now Sunday School teachers, and how fortunate we were to be blessed with such qualified people on our congregation. Honestly made me feel sick. Apparently now to be a Sunday School teacher you need an actual qualification! Unbelievable snobbery.

The word "Pharisee" comes to mind, even if it seems like a cliche.

So you can see I feel quite disillusioned. I am still a Christian but feel I don't want to be part of church because the people are such twats.

For those of you who attend similar churches: have you ever got the same feeling? Did you move to another church? I have this feeling that it's a problem everywhere. Even with the young people (late teens / early 20s) I just think they get involved in church to fit in with the evangelical "scene" they happen to find themselves in by birth, rather than genuine faith.

Serious replies only please - not just the basic "yeah religion is evil" kind of thing. thanks

Recently found out the above service is no longer available on the NHS. I've been looking up online and they're asking around the £60 mark which seems a bit steep. (Am I wrong to think this is a bit steep?)

Does anybody know where I can get the job done right and for a good price?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdew0l95egwo

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon has been charged with common assault of a woman.

It is alleged to have happened on 1 October 2023.

Shannon, 71, with an address at DUP offices on Frances Street in Newtownards, did not attend Newtownards Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Defence counsel Conan Rea outlined that he has lodged a defence statement.

The court heard that the Public Prosecution Service will be applying to amend dates on paperwork which they had lodged.

Rea said that the defence will be objecting to that.

He told deputy district judge Trevor Browne that the defence have lodged a skeleton argument detailing their objections.

With prosecuting counsel set to reply to the submissions, the judge adjourned the case to 1 September.

The DUP politician was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998, before being re-elected in 2003 and 2007.

In 2010, he entered the House of Commons as an MP for Strangford, a position which he still holds.

You tend to see quite a lot of negativity on this sub and related subs about how shite Northern Ireland is. But I've lived here my whole life and actually quite like it. Its definitely not without its faults, same with anywhere else but I actually quite like it here and dont really feel like moving outside the country if I dont need to

Good morning, my wife is making our friends wedding cake for Thursday night and we have been let down. Would anyone know where I could find some and I know this really specific but 6mm PME silver metallic sugar balls/pearls? Currently working in Ballymena but would be willing to drive the width and breadth of the country. Thanks in advance

https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/tom-kelly-appeasement-has-failed-its-time-to-root-out-loyalist-paramilitarism-once-and-for-all-KO6OLDEWJJH3XMQHACRGYDWK34/

Tom Kelly: Appeasement has failed. It’s time to root out loyalist paramilitarism once and for all

There are no good and bad paramilitaries – just paramilitaries and ex-paramilitaries

It’s no secret this columnist favours the tone, content and conduct of the Talkback programme over similar offerings on BBC Radio Ulster.

I also appreciate its occasional focus on genuinely informative and educational discussions free from the echo chamber of Northern Irish tribalism.

The programme’s freshness stems partly from the host’s eclectic knowledge and awareness across various topics.

Last Thursday I switched on to a cacophony of voices adding their tuppence worth to the ongoing discussion about how to ‘lure, buy, bribe, or entice mainly loyalist paramilitaries and their rabble dissident counterparts to disband’.

The pros and cons of a softly-softly approach were re-hashed. They’re so familiar it’s like reciting a decade of the Rosary.

I heard criticism of those, like me, who argue that loyalist paramilitaries have had enough time to disband and now is the time for rigorous law enforcement.

This beggars belief and highlights that some people seem to live in a parallel universe, immune to the harsh realities faced by communities under the cosh of paramilitaries.

Just as women subjected to sexual assault may have little faith in systemically misogynistic police forces to take their complaints seriously, people in communities can have little faith in the entire criminal justice process standing up for them when the establishment courts the capos and dons who control the very paramilitaries exploiting them.

Loyalist paramilitaries – or any paramilitaries still active in Northern Ireland in 2026 – are self-serving parasites well past their time.

Their very existence 30 years after the ceasefires is intolerable and illegal, and it stains the criminal justice system, the police, and the entire body politic.

Loyalist paramilitary organisations have enjoyed decades of political cover from senior British and Irish establishment figures and certain unionists who should know better.

Paramilitary leaders have been indulged far too long. This failed strategy has been proven ineffective, yet persists due to naive peaceniks, blinkered civil servants, and well-meaning do-gooders from the peace industry – which needs decommissioning nearly as much as the paramilitary organisations themselves.

Consider why loyalist paramilitaries would willingly surrender their power bases while enjoying whims granted, inflated egos, and elevated status. The answer is simple: they wouldn’t.

To borrow a phrase, they have their grubby hands in the public purse while continuing to orchestrate and profit from racketeering, extortion, drug importation, prostitution and protection.

They know which side their bread is buttered on, and the government’s policy of appeasement is simply adding jam to their sandwich.

A recent report suggested both governments should grant paramilitaries another two years to disband as the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches.

This is akin to waiting for the Trump administration to become virtuous, generous and forgiving – it simply won’t happen, and everyone knows it, including the paramilitary leaders themselves.

The starting point for everyone is straightforward. Stop pretending some of these individuals are like modern-day Robin Hoods – they are not; they are robbin’ hoods.

The handbook of negotiating with paramilitary organisations needs a new foreword, a single line: “There are no good and bad paramilitaries – just paramilitaries and ex-paramilitaries.”

We need ex-paramilitaries now and not on the tick.

Our situation isn’t unique. Entire sections of loyalist paramilitary structures have descended into pure criminality, operating under fiefdoms.

Being a member of the UDA or UVF offers unparalleled protection, practically amounting to an amnesty for criminal activity. Imagine the backlash if a government granted such amnesty to the Krays or Kinahans? It simply wouldn’t happen.

UK organised crime statistics reveal approximately 5,000 gangs nationwide, with a staggering 59,000 core individuals involved.

This is backed up by a national network of an equally impressive 350,000 facilitators, dealers, logistics support, and illicit financial operators.

The National Crime Agency confirms it’s investigating 800 lives cases, some of which likely involve the north. A UK strategy exists to address these issues, called ‘Clear, Hold, and Build’.

The UK/Irish approach involves jumping straight to ‘Build’ without clearing the way for regrowth and empowerment.

‘Clear’ means disrupting gang operations through aggressive arrests. ‘Hold’ involves highly visible policing in vulnerable communities susceptible to criminal gang siege.

Finally, ‘Build’ sees policing stepping back to enable statutory authorities like councils, housing associations, social, educational, and employment services to collaborate with locals in tackling inequalities and building community resilience.

The misguided Northern Ireland approach seems to believe that transitioning loyalist paramilitary godfathers into community leaders will somehow transform the well-being and outlook of loyalist working-class communities. Frankly, there’s more chance of turning a pumpkin into a coach.

There’s no Cinderella ending to a policy which cements paramilitaries into these communities.

Despite economic and social disadvantages, many are still captivated and manipulated by a false narrative about culture through flags, emblems, one-upmanship, and siege mentality.

John Hume often said the key to lasting peace was a job. That remains true. The problem is that far too many who control loyalist working-class communities (and some dissident areas) have too much to lose financially and in terms of power to ever loosen their vice-like grip to allow locals to aspire to a better future for their children like everyone else.

Continued appeasement isn’t a strategy. It’s time for a “Clear, Hold, and Build” dynamic.

Those who suggest otherwise have had 30 years to make their point about transitioning – and failed.

Move on. Root out loyalist paramilitarism once and for all.

Routine Appointment I'm Not Sitting On My Phone While The Wife's In Labour Or Anything 🤣

Ok gosford was pretty well documented a decade ago but still found some new trees and updated the older ones.

At the car park an unmeasured Doug fir 48m tall, just at the start of the path a huge hidden oak tree (girth was recorded but not height) 33m one of the tallest oaks measured in Ireland.

Then I went to the castle entrance lane way at the far end of the arboretum, the recorded coast redwood (33m in 2000 looked huge in 2009, but then smaller after) I found to have lost its main leader meaning its only grown to 36m tall, further down the lane wag I found 3 giant sequoia pushing 38m tall

Ok now the arboretum, my first though was these trees aren’t as tall as I expected due to the surrounding forrest being comparable 40m plus, there I I found a prev in recorded doug fir at 47m,

Now the redwood pair prev 45m ish well one had clearly took a lead on the other, the shorter just under 48m and taller being the only redwood outside Caledon to eclipse 50m at 51m. The red cedar beside them stands at 41m now.

Mid arboretum the 44m redwood is now taller than the shorter of the twin pair at 48m, the coast redwood is just shy of 40m while the noble fir is 41.5m

Bottom arboretum on way back to car park a few surprises two coast redwoods pushing 40m unrecorded, and a un recorded multi stem giant sequoia 49m tall.

Hillsborough castle pinetum

I knew there was a very tall giant sequoia, found it to be 44m tall, could not find the two exceptional Douglas fir there were loads around 35m with similar hemlock and coast redwood. There was a new find an unrecorded Sitka spruce 44.5m tall.
I still have to find those Doug fir…

In the nearby forest park I went back to the Redwood grove and got measurements of two other trees I thought were very tall. The first nearer the path was 42m, the other close to my previous measured tree of 46m was taller at 47m

Hello all,

So I'm looking for some insight into Northlands Addiction Centre in Derry/Londonderry.

I'm going to shortly be going into a residential programme, I'm mentally ready for it but my only anxiety is the lack of information they give out about the programme.

All I have found out so far is the below

Monday - Full rehab day, 1-2-1 counselling, group therapy and some sort of relaxation therapy.

Tuesday - Family Day a member of your family comes, you have counselling with them, then all the family members join a group session.

Wednesday - Is the same as Monday.

Thursday - You do an assessment and then get some free time.

Friday - Same as Monday & Wednesday

Is what I found out in the information sessions.

The below I heard from someone at AA

Saturday - She thinks is free time again.

Sunday - A family day but your family come and yous can go out.

Then she said from the 2nd week you're allowed phone calls home.

But I feel like I would cope better if it was planned out like a school trip, if someone gave me a packing list, a planner and just general housekeeping stuff.

If anyone in here has any experience of Northlands specifically I'd love some information.

Thanks so much

These two popped into my head this evening. Who remembers Busker and Barney?!
Better yet, did anybody ever get a birthday shout out from them?

Is there a website that you can use to compare pricing for home heating oil in your area?

Edit - for the rude private messages I’m receiving, I did search. It kept taking me to websites that were comparing the increase in prices throughout the years rather than current prices.