Opinion Pieces | Belfast Media

THE WEEK IN VIEW: United Ireland: The experts have their say

BBC Ulster performed an interesting experiment on Thursday night’s The View in an attempt to test the contention of new Taoiseach Simon Harris that young people in Cork know Berlin and Paris better than they know Belfast and Derry.

MOVIES AND STREAMING: Child vampire leads a merry, bloody dance

CinemaAbigailDirectors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett won over global audiences with their recent reboots of the much-loved Scream franchise, and now the directing duo go back to their spooky roots by giving us a devilishly gory and entertaining vampire flick that's sure leave horror fans gasping for more.

WE SAY: Another day, another insult from An Taoiseach

IF YOU thought that new Taoiseach Simon Harris was finished with us Nordies for a while when he said on taking over the top job that the unity of the island would not be on his list of priorities then think again. One insult to the people that his predecessor Leo Varadkar vowed never to leave behind again might have been put down to a rookie error – a second in a matter of days suggests that he may think there’s political mileage in it.

EYE ON THE PAST: April 1983 – First election contest between SDLP and SF?

We look back at the stories that were making the headlines this week in 1983

REVIEW: Bushmills whiskey tasting at Ben Madigans Bar a success

BEFORE the Covid pandemic I have to admit that I wasn’t really a whiskey drinker – apart from the odd Irish Coffee. Ever since, I have sampled and enjoyed many types of whiskey and expanded my knowledge in an industry which is growing year upon year.

THE WEEK IN VIEW: Sing up, Cliftonville – the IFA thinks your king and country demand it

THEY’RE going to play the English national anthem, God Save the King, at Windsor Park before the eagerly-anticipated Irish Cup Final clash between Linfield and Cliftonville. (Yes, Stewarty, it is the English anthem: the Jocks and Taffs have both booted it into Row Z.)

SQUINTER: Fans stunned after Bryson dropped for crucial six-pointer

THE Loyal Ulster team for the next anti-Protocol fixture has been announced, and there’s sensational news about the star striker, Jeff.

EYE ON THE PAST – April 1983: Poleglass Library versus Lisburn Council

We look back at the stories that were making the news this week in 1983

DÚLRA: Why I'm looking forward to the dawn chorus walk

OK, a stupid question – but why does a dawn chorus walk have to be so damn early?People are being asked to meet at 5am at the gates of Belfast Castle next month (Saturday May 18) where Black Mountain champion Aaron Kelly will lead the Dawn Chorus Dander on Cave Hill.

MOTORING: Don’t pay fines for other drivers’ offences

WITH the cost of car, maintenance and repair and insurance going through the roof, a worrying trend of cloned registration plates is spreading.

MOVIES & STREAMING: Bringing Amy's bitter sweet story to the big screen

CinemaCivil War

WE SAY: New Taoiseach's indifference is no big deal

IT WAS disappointing that outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar left it to the last minute of his time in power to issue his most passionate and stirring statement of support for a united Ireland. The departing Fine Gael leader, responding to a recent debate about the cost of reunification, said no price could be put upon the desire of the Irish people for independence.

JUDE COLLINS: Differing analyses on Irish unity converge on the same conclusion

THERE'S good news and bad news. First, the good: all of the political parties in the South aspire to a reunited Ireland (Hooray!). The bad news: the past century and more has seen those same parties mouthing platitudes, presenting the Northern Troubles as sectarian blood-lust, and since the Good Friday Agreement focusing on the need to win unionists over to the notion of a reunited Ireland before holding any border poll.

ANDREÉ MURPHY: Leo's last word a powerful message to begrudgers

NEVER in my lifetime has a Taoiseach been on Teilfís Éireann talking about the aspiration to Irish unification and put the case for its desirability. On his way out the door, Leo Varadkar managed to pull off the unlikely and the exceptional – he became the modern Irish patriot we needed in a week when small-minded begrudgers tried to reduce the national debate to the last farthing and tell us our boundaries for self-determination.

ARTS: Ted's modern masters are making their mark

WEST Belfast born and bred Ted Pim is currently exhibiting in London's Almine Rech Gallery. 'Never Odd or Even' focuses on mirrored images and the work is inspired by Dutch old masters, Baroque and Renaissance paintings. But as Ted creates his own reality the colour and echoes of modern life sneak into them.

Soccer: Reds return to Cup final with Larne victory

Boxing: Wonderful Walker enjoys Beech party to land first title

Boxing: Farrell overcomes Kerr in title thriller

Gaelic Games: St Gall's see off Tír na nÓg in hurling opener

MINDFULNESS MOMENT: Unveiling the ancient origins of Easter

GERRY ADAMS: UN rep was right to censure Irish government 'zero' response to Gaza genocide

DÚLRA: How childhood spawned a love of spring

HEALTHWISE: Enjoy your Easter pleasures

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