Strikers return to work, but how much has the strike contributed to the decline of the postal service? The illegal strike by Royal Mail workers in Belfast is due to end as the company promises to allow a third party to look at relations between manage… more »

Local politicos argue over Ulster's links, but would either Scotland or the Republic be that worried about co-operation with Northern Ireland? Not for the first time, our local politicians (of both hues) have today failed miserably to see the big pict… more »

A man was bundled into a van near Ballymena Rugby Club, taken to a layby and sexually assaulted. It seems the man was held down by one man while 2 other men raped him. The sexual assault lasted 10 minutes and left the man needing hospital treatment. Poli… more »

I attended the comedy night in the empire to find myself wondering (before alcohol severely reduced my ability to reason) why there always seem to be so many more catholics/culchies in there than regular normal run-of-the-mill prods? I understand that st… more »

Europe has become the latest target of radical islamic protest. People are boycotting Danish produce and have closed what is effectively an EU embassy in Gaza. Why? Because of a cartoon. No, it's not 1st April. I'll ignore my own confusion over fundam… more »

One of many Socialist Youth posters plastered on public property in the University area of Belfast On my way to Belfast city-centre today I couldn't help but notice posters proclaiming "Why you should be socialist" in big red letters. Why could I not… more »

No I'm not getting commission for this, but they're so good I have to pass it on. Consider it a thank you for reading my wee blog. Call UK landlines for 3p/call any time - register at 1899.com (free registration, no monthly fee, no catch) Call UK… more »

There's no escaping the "big news" of the day, and yet there weren't many big surprises in the IMC's report (summary and full text at the BBC), nor in the reactions of the various political people. The least surprising of all the day's news is: Loya… more »

Brilliant quote from Sinn Fein's education spokesman today. Bare in mind that his party colleague Martin McGuinness was largely responsible for the demolition of Ulster's grammar schools with his last act as Education Minister. Bare also in mind that sam… more »

Last week the GAA Tyrone County Board Chairman Pat Darcy, while playing down the significance of his organisation's practice of naming clubs and trophies after terrorist murderers, let slip a simple prejudice all to common among the GAA fraternity and of… more »