Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society
Songs of the blackberry path: Tia Bow maps a journey from the Troubles to discoveryby Allan LEONARD30 July 2026 Blackberry Path is a forthcoming album by Belfast-based songwriter Tia Bow (Fionnuala Fagan-Thiébot), with her bandmates Clare Galway and Danny Trouton. Their one-hour live performance of all of the album’s songs delved into Fagan-Thiébot’s personal narrative, exploring themes... Continue Reading →
UTMB Speedgoat 32k reviewby Allan LEONARD24 July 2026 Driving the 9% climb up the mountain indicated what was in store for my attempt to climb 2,000m over the Speedgoat 32k course, with a maximum altitude of 3,337m at Hidden Peak. I have been training for this event for several months, as well as heat and... Continue Reading →
Mr Ulster | Belfast, Northern IrelandGrateful for this article highlighting Bending Spoon's modus operandi. While I recognise the improvements they brought to Evernote, their destruction of the Komoot team was pretty ruthless, beautifully reflected in this heartfelt video made by the redundant staff: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qLJkK4Wn1HI And post-acquisition, Komoot isn't so compelling; here the community vibe added value that is now... Continue Reading →
At a café in Llanberis, I met up with Duncan, who told me that he has had his kit officially inspected for his UTMB Snowdonia 100k race, with the exception of a mandatory cold weather item of “clear glasses” that have to cover his eyes. We returned to the UTMB Snowdonia village, where I took... Continue Reading →
‘Productive discomfort’: artists grapple with identity’s contradictions in live ARINS podcastby Allan LEONARD8 May 2026 Belfast Exposed gallery on Donegall Street hosted a live recording of the ARINS “My Identity” podcast on 8 May 2026, as part of the BIEN programme — an ongoing series of exhibitions and events under the title “British? Irish? Either?... Continue Reading →
"And so analysis matters but argument matters more. Evidence matters but so too does emotion. Stories beat spreadsheets." Source: Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer’s speech in Central London (11 May) – The Labour Party
‘The violence is continuing’: scholars examine embodied memory of conflictby Allan LEONARD6 May 2026 The International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) at Ulster University hosted a seminar to mark the exhibition “Aftershocks: The Sensory Afterlives of Violence”, on display at the university’s Belfast campus until 13 May. The seminar brought together Professor Roísín Higgins (Maynooth University), who organised the event... Continue Reading →
WordPress.com has unveiled a theme that focuses on shortform content, a la #socialmedia sites. I’m experimenting with it, to see if it could serve as a feasible alternative. Certainly more straightforward than Fediverse offerings. Although I am skeptical of mass public takeup via new WordPress users and/or RSS subscriptions (ah nostalgic 2000s). At least I... Continue Reading →
"Ours is called a Christian country. We could have enriched our politics with our Christianity, but far too often we have debased our Christianity with our politics." —Terence O'Neill, 28/4/1969, as Northern Ireland Prime Minister, resigning because of lack of support in the Ulster Unionist Party. Marrinan, Patrick, Paisley, Man of Wrath, Anvil, 1973, p.... Continue Reading →
From tartans to Guinness: Identity in Northern Ireland and beyondby Allan LEONARD21 April 2026 Belfast Exposed photography gallery on Donegall Street hosted "Why Is Identity So Difficult?", a public lecture and discussion delivered by Professor Dominic Bryan of Queen's University Belfast. The event was organised by the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression (OICE) and... Continue Reading →
@AlexKane221b I still see a Rhodesia-effect of much of political unionism: remain loyal to the Union while wider UK political life evolves away. Labour is conjuring a post-divorce reconciliation with the EU, and Reform could rip up the Protocol (but still shaft NI).
“Our task will be literally to transform Ulster. To achieve it will demand bold and imaginative measures.” —Terence O’Neill, as Northern Ireland Prime Minister, to Ulster Unionist Council, advocating more liberal attitude towards the Catholic minority, 1/4/1963. Bardon, Jonathan, A History of Ulster, Blackstaff Press, 1992. p. 622. #northernireland #otd #politics #qotd