Mon, 6th May 2024

Image of an IRA 'D Company' flag being circulated on social media

Police urged to investigate after flag row tarnishes thrilling Irish Cup final
A row over the display of paramilitary flags at Windsor Park has detracted from what many fans have hailed as one of the best Irish Cup finals ever.

Five Things To Read

  • 1NW200 practice and race schedule for 2024
  • 2Belfast man accused of breaking mop across his wife's back
  • 3Man held over online threats to black councillor
  • 4Belfast City Marathon 2024: There were so many runners they took 20 mins to pass
  • 5Editorial: Another film crew comes to Northern Ireland to make drama
    • Ivan Hillen, 45, was a family man, farmer and part-time UDR soldier who was murdered by the IRA on his border farm while feeding livestock on 12 May 1984.

    Service for father, farmer and UDR man shot while feeding livestock

    Rishi Sunak celebrates a rare Tory victory after Ben Houchen was re-elected as Tees Valley mayor

    Tories reaping what they sowed in election drubbing - Wilson

    Glentoran pitch pleas ignored by Belfast Council.

    Council snubs Glentoran pleas and ends preferential use of Blanchflower Stadium

    Finisher's medal: Bushmills woman Laura Harpur said she was 'ecstatic' after completing a relay in the Belfast Marathon. A cancer survivor, she helped organise 20 runners to raise money for Macmillan Cancer.

    Cancer survivor Laura 'ecstatic' after Belfast Marathon

    Feature Video: Watch now

    Belfast City Marathon 2024: The crowd of runners was so vast that it took 20 minutes to pass

    View more

    Puzzles

    Quick CrosswordTo test and hone your word skills

    SudokuThe ultimate logic-based numbers game

    WordwheelPit yourself against the clock with our simple anagram game

    Cost Of Living

    Follow our advice to save on car breakdown cover

    Expert shows how to save hundreds on car breakdown cover

    Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly and First Minister Michelle O'Neill speak to the media during a visit to a childcare facility at the Shankill Women's Centre in west Belfast. Picture: Rebecca Black/PA Wire

    DUP and Sinn Fein united on no 15% rates rise as part of fundraising pressures

    On a monthly basis, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices fell by 0.4% between December and January.

    Inflation unchanged in January as food prices fall for first time since 2021

    Traffic chaos on the Cregagh Road during Thursday morning's rush hour into Belfast, with all public transport frozen due to strike action. Photo: 01/02/24 Pacemaker

    Latest public transport strike causes 'considerable disruption'

    Opinion

    Letters to editor

    Letter: There can be only one ultimate winner on abortion - the pro-life side

    A letter from Dr James Hardy:Letters
    A young Kathy Kelly, front middle, holding a violin

    Roamer: Famous Kelly Family sister sings in Ireland next month

    Sinn Fein, which had been most sanctimonious about lockdown, at the helm of the IRA Bobby Storey funeral in west Belfast in June 2020, which was a mass defiance of coronavirus restrictions. Yet between 2020 and 2022 those funeral covid rules were adhered to across Northern Ireland by the loved ones of tens of thousands of people who died

    Ben Lowry: Masked men at Roselawn a reminder of how IRA took over the facility

    Letter: If not for soldiers like Eva Martin, NI wouldn't be as safe as it is now

    Letters

    Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport Lucy Frazer at the Society of Editors' conference in London on Tuesday. Like Rishi Sunak and the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, who also addressed the event, Ms Frazer spoke about the importance of a free press. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire

    Ben Lowry: Amid threats to free expression, UK leaders back an independent press

    In most constituencies it is clear who is the most likely candidate to win. We ask lesser unionist parties to have as their sole objective the maximising of the number of unionist MPs

    Ulster Unionists in plea to leaders: Parties should run joint poll candidates

    Morning View

    Editorial: If Labour won't back veterans then Tories should say so in poll

    Sport

    Limavady United Paul Owens celebrates with his family after lifting the Premier Intermediate League title. Picture: NIFL

    Collective effort helped Limavady United seal treble says Paul Owens

    Perth's Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW) crashed during morning warm-up on the at Oulton Park

    Rory Skinner taken to hospital after crash at Oulton Park BSB round

    Coleraine striker Jamie McGonigle will hope to guide the Bannsiders into Europe as he travels to former club Crusaders this afternoon

    European qualification was always our aim says Coleraine striker Jamie McGonigle

    Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter. PIC: INPHO/Presseye/Stephen Hamilton

    Stephen Baxter not focused on sentiment ahead of potential final match

    Rangers manager Philippe Clement applauds the fans after the cinch Premiership win at Ibrox against Kilmarnock. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

    Rangers' Philippe Clement calls Brendan Rodgers' quote 'not really respectful'

    Alastair Seeley on the Binch Racing Yamaha R6 at Oulton Park. Picture: David Yeomans Photography

    Record 29-time winner Alastair Seeley poised to miss North West 200

    Glenn Irwin won the opening race of the bank holiday British Superbike meeting at Oulton Park in Cheshire on the Hager PBM Ducati. Picture: David Yeomans Photography

    Glenn Irwin claims first victory of 2024 at Oulton Park

    Irish League Football

    Linfield manager David Healy says Linfield will need to look at in-house solutions to keep tabs with champions Larne

    Outside investment discussed at Linfield AGM: Healy

    Cliftonville's Rory Hale after winning the Irish Cup. PIC: Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press

    Rory Hale hungry for more silverware success after Irish Cup milestone

    Cliftonville defender Paddy Burns (right) helped the Reds win the Irish Cup for the first time in 45 years after a 3-1 win against Linfield

    Reds defender Burns 'feels lucky' to be part of a 'fantastic group' at Solitude

    Cliftonville midfielder Chris Curran finished his playing career by lifting the Irish Cup against Linfield at Windsor Park

    Cliftonville captain Chris Curran pleased to bow out by lifting Irish Cup

    Coleraine skipper Stephen O'Donnell says the Bannsiders know what the rewards are if they can secure European football for next season

    Coleraine have 'a hunger' to return to the European stage: O'Donnell

    Eating Out

    Susie Hamilton Stubber, founder and managing director of Burren Balsamics at Richhill in Co Armagh, with Bob McDonald, the company’s product development director

    ​​A decade of outstanding success for ​Armagh’s Burren Balsamics

    The Salthouse Hotel in Ballycastle, one of Europe’s most sustainable accommodation providers, has launched its latest venture in collaboration with Basalt Distillery, The Salthouse Spirits Range. Pictured is James Richardson, Basalt Distillery, Carl McGarrity, The Salthouse Hotel and Martha Garbe, Basalt Distillery

    Ballycastle hotel partners with Basalt Distillery to launch its own drinks range

    Crime

    Police have appealed for information

    Man in his 30s subject to serious assault - assailants fled the scene

    Significant damage was caused to the front living room area of the house in Leckagh Drive, Magherafelt

    Police appeal after weekend arson attack at house in Magherafelt

    The PSNI said the victim was found the public car park in the Dundarave area of the town, where, two vans including one belonging to the injured man were on fire.Photo: Googlemaps

    Man in Bushmills nailed to fence with a nail through each hand, says PSNI

    Police investigating criminal damage caused to properties in the Banbridge area have made four arrests

    Man due in court after windows broken at two properties and woman assaulted

    Chief Inspector McIldowney said: “This was a significant planned policing operation by local Police supported by specially trained officers, including the use of the BearCat, our armoured tactical vehicle.

    Police carry out significant operation targeting serious and organised crime

    Veterans protest in Belfast in 2017. Many fear that Labour will return to unbalanced investigations against state forces. Pic: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker

    Labour declines to reassure veterans in their fears on legacy

    Your World

    DIONA DOHERTY

    Diona Doherty - Got MILF? Tours Across Northern Ireland

    Oh Yeah Music Centre Team

    Oh Yeah…We Did It!

    Boyd Hampers gift hamper

    Boyd Hampers sales jump 14% in first quarter

    Retro

    Rathlin Harbour pictured in 2006. Picture: Farming Life archives/Kevin McAuley

    Bygone Days: Urgent need of a harbour for Rathlin Island raised in House of Comm...
    The question of a proposed harbour for the Rathlin Island of the coast of Co Antrim was the subject of a number of oral questions raised in the House of Commons during this week in 1909.
    Darryl Armitage

    Welsh singer Tom Jones was famous for this hairy chest and medallions

    Hairy chests: The demise of the furry front

    A photograph from the News Letter in May 1924 it shows aeroplane starting on its flight to Liverpool from the Belfast Aerodrome. Inset – Major-General Sir Sefton Brancker (left) and Mr Alan J Cobham, the pilot. Picture: News Letter archives/Darryl Armitage

    Air mail service takes off at Malone despite 56 hours rain (1924)

    Ulster Folk Museum farm manager Robert Berry chats during the Country Skills Day. Picture: Darryl Armitage

    Watch: UFM farm manager Robert Berry chats during the Country Skills Day

    The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Steven Callaghan has hosted a civic reception to celebrate the hard work of a retiring Orangeman. Pictured are Wor Bro Andy McLean with the Mayor councillor Steven Callaghan and Andy’s brother Sammy McLean

    Retiring Northern Ireland Orangeman recognised for 65 years of dedicated service

    Homes & Gardens

    Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill offers tips on how to tackle a new garden

    Gardens: How to tackle a new garden
    ​When Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill moved to her two-bedroom stone cottage in Devon, she inherited the biggest garden she had ever owned, at 9m x 10m, with a little lawn, a rose archway, a small pond and a wood store.
    By The Newsroom

    Alan Titchmarsh says he doesn’t  welcome slugs in his garden

    Alan Titchmarsh on slugs

    Bella & Duke launches new product “Ready, steady, raw”

    Raw feeding made easy for Belfast pet owners on the move

    Air Fryer

    Expert Unveils Easy Hack to Keep Your Air Fryer Spotless!

    Get your garden looking like this

    Expert Reveals 7 Tips To Get Your Garden Summer-Ready

    Lifestyle

    Northern Ireland manufacturer A.J.Power has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade. Pictured is Ashley Pigott, managing director of AJ Power in Craigavon

    King's Award: NI manufacturer recognised for 'outstanding achievements'

    Londonderry firm, Alchemy Technology Services is awarded on King’s Award for Enterprise. The Alchemy senior leadership team are pictured are Richard Gelson, Erin McFeely, CEO John Harkin, Lauren Baker, Declan Meenan

    Northern Ireland technology firm awarded on King’s Award for Enterprise

    Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, councillor Mark Cooper BEM, congratulates Vyta founder and chief executive officer Philip McMichael on receiving the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Vyta has been recognised for its excellence in sustainability as one of 29 companies across the UK to achieve the King’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category

    King's Award: NI IT disposal and recycling firm wins highest UK business honour

    Leading contractor Henry Brothers has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development. Pictured are David Henry, Ian Henry, Jim Henry and Julie McKeown

    King's Award: NI construction firm honoured with highest UK accolade

    People

    Joseph Bell

    Police appeal for help in search for man missing since Saturday evening
    Joseph Bell was last seen in the north west area
    Michael Cousins

    Henry Cooke’s funeral procession in 1868 stretched for two miles with 154 carriages following the hearse

    The 19th century churchman dubbed ‘the Father of Ulster Unionism’

    Actress Sharon D Clarke with the Best Actress in a Musical award at the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2019. She is the star of the new Channel 5 police drama Ellis, which was filming in Dromore Co Down. Photo: PA

    Surprise filming for Channel 5 police drama in County Down

    Business

    Launching the 2024 Northern Ireland Graduate Recruitment Fair taking place at Ulster University Belfast on 4 June, pictured are Colin Davidson, business manager at nijobfinder; Brian Byers, student and graduate opportunities manager at Ulster University, Sandra Scannell, employer engagement manager at Queen’s University Belfast and Peter Legge, tax partner at Grant Thornton NI

    Over 65 top businesses set for next Northern Ireland graduate recruitment fair

    Council’s Town and Village Management Team is excited to announce a new youth market in Coleraine’s Diamond this May

    Northern Ireland Council to host Youth Market this May

    Paolina Hawthorne, director of Diversity NI, a leading provider of professional interpreting and translation services in Northern Ireland, which has announced a commitment of over £100,000 in the the launch of its new, secure online booking system

    NI firm pioneers with £100k investment in cutting-edge secure booking system

    Despite ongoing war in Ukraine and a newer war in the Middle East, current oil prices of around 65p a litre (900 ltrs costs £580) are among the lowest they have been in the last two years

    Analysis: This is a very good time to fill up your home heating oil tank

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    This is possibly the finest home for sale in Belfast - 10 mins from city centre

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    Look around this converted 1844 church which blends into a living space

    How to grow microgreens

    Learn how to grow your own microgreens in Dobbies’ stores to start New Year

    UK Trending

    Friends: The final scene.

    Watch: Final scene of Friends 20 years after it first aired

    Alpacas spotted taking a stroll down city centre street.

    Alpacas spotted taking a stroll down city centre street

    Baby alpaca receives treatment on her "floppy ears".

    Watch: Baby alpaca receives treatment to straighten “floppy ears”

    Symptoms of hay fever include coughing, sneezing and itchy eyes.

    Watch: Doctor shares advice on reducing hay fever symptoms

    This is how Brits prefer their mattresses

    Fulwell 73 produced Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special for the BBC featuring business partner James Corden (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Jason (ROB WILFORT), Stacey (JOANNA PAGE), Gavin (MATTHEW HORNE), Smithy (JAMES CORDEN), Nessa (RUTH JONES), Pam (ALISON STEADMAN), Gwen (MELANIE WALTERS), Bryn (ROB BRYDON), Mick (LARRY LAMB) - (C) GS TV Productions Ltd - Photographer: Tom Jackson.

    Gavin and Stacey to return for final time

    Must Read

    Garret Kavanagh, Director at Openreach in Northern Ireland and Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber)

    Ad Feature Openreach investment offers 97% of NI properties Ultrafast Full Fibre

    Ad Feature Vrbo announces the UK holiday homes of 2024

    Ad Feature Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal returns to SPAR stores

    Ad Feature Data shows many UK adults are aware of illicit tobacco and vape sales