I don't want to visit the Gulag of pumpkin patches. They buy these from Tesco every year and showcase this bizarre enclosed yard for £12pp.

Anybody see Jim Wells on the UTV news there talking about Jeffrey? He said that if he had the "baggage" Jeffrey had, he'd have "ended up as low down the pecking order as a street sweeper or a bin collector"

Now, I'm not in either of those jobs, but it's sure to say bin collectors play a much more important role in our society than Jim Wells. I know he isn't very bright, but isn't it a bit insulting?

Driving past Belfast city hall and there’s about a dozen pro life folk with big photographs of dead babies. Nobody challenging them, does that mean if I showed up with a large photograph of a dead adult nobody would bat an eyelid and Dave from PSNI city beat wouldn’t come over to at least have a chat. I think we are far too tolerant of these cunts.

Also considering we lost a baby through no fault of our own a few months ago. Do these so called compassionate Christians not have a single ounce of sympathy for women who might be going through a baby loss or miscarriage and whom their big posters might trigger.

To hell with these people.

Just to give some personal context, I work in IT in Belfast and am completely miserable and recently I've been looking for a way out from this AI shit hole, and applied for dozens of jobs and have had basically no response. My wife work in graphic designer / media and is getting squeezed from every direction and with the amount of hours she puts in just to scrape by, she’d be better off stacking shelves in Tesco. AI is completely wrecking both our jobs and I’ve been talking to mates in IT and the creative sectors and they’re all in the same boat too.

The problem is just don't see how things here are ever going to improve. We are a tiny, service reliant economy basically propped up by the public sector. The second you step outside Belfast, the lack of investment and poor infrastructure is an absolute terrible. The roads are falling apart and our rural towns are just slowly rotting away. Where are our future industries? Where are all the future jobs actually coming from? We are miles behind everyone else.

Don't get me wrong because I know there is a lot of wealth in this country, but it's mostly tied up in property, land or is generational money and that wealth is going to drain very fast when the cash flow across the economy dries up.

I have very middle class friends who have whose kids have just graduated from uni recently with good degrees, and they are sitting in their childhood bedrooms staring at the walls because there is no work out there.

Given all this do we need to seriously consider Universal Basic Income before this place collapses in the next couple of decades? I'm talking about a guaranteed money for everyone that covers the essentials to keep people alive. The idea is that the cost secures your basic survival (food, housing, heat/energy) , then if you are actually able to get a job in whatever market is left, you work to improve your lifestyle etc. This would replace the benefit system bascially.

They said nationalism doesn’t have a Bryson. We don’t want or need one but brolly is probably it no?

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-doctors-announce-fresh-strike-dates-and-warn-they-are-fully-prepared-to-escalate-action-JNNYDNRVHVCVHAS3RXAOLDODVU/

Hospital doctors in Northern Ireland are set to stage two days of industrial action next month over pay.

Resident doctors will begin their 24-hour strike from 7am on Friday, November 20, with consultants and ‘SAS’, or specialist, doctors providing Christmas Day cover only for 24 hours from 7am on Monday, November 23.

All three branches of hospital doctors previously staged strikes in June.

This week, the Royal College of Nursing also announced their members would be balloted for strike over “despicable” pay conditions.

Dr Clodagh Corrigan, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland SAS committee, commented: “We have been clear: to avoid further industrial action we need a credible offer from government that makes meaningful progress towards full pay restoration.

“We met with the new Health minister recently, hopeful that we could begin fresh discussions on agreeing a credible pay offer. Regrettably, this did not happen.”

She said the minister was also unable to confirm if the minimum annual pay uplift for 2026/26 - one already paid to doctors elsewhere in the UK - would arrive before Christmas.

“We were informed that the decision ultimately lay with the Executive,” she said.

“Therefore, we have been left with no alternative but to announce more dates for industrial action and we are fully prepared to escalate action if no progress is made.”

Dr David Farren, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland consultants committee chair, said there was “palpable anger” among members over continuing sub-inflationary, late pay awards while medics worked beyond capacity in under-supported services.

“This annual uncertainty over when we will actually receive our pay award reinforces the widespread feeling that we are not valued, and leads to doctors seeking better paid roles elsewhere,” he said.

Dr Farren said this impacted service delivery, pointing to the difficulties in recruiting consultants in Daisy Hill hospital and the expected withdrawal of maternity services.

Dr Steven Montgomery, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland resident doctors committee, added: “If the health minister is serious about transforming the health service, addressing our waiting list crisis and meeting growing patient demand, then he needs to value doctors by paying us fairly for what we do.

“We would again call on the health minister to step in and resolve this dispute with a credible offer to avoid more strikes over the festive period and into next year.”

Anyone know if it's true that you can only leave the UDA if you pay a £5000 exit fee. The only exception is if you have 'found religion'.

Who does this money go to?

There were two Pro-Palestine protesters that attempted to storm the Big Data Festival today at the Waterfront.

One was aggressively carried out, whilst they shouted "Amazon is complicit in funding genocide in Gaza." (Amazon is a sponsor of the event).

This happened, ironically, after one of the speakers was talking about the responsibility we have in AI and data.

The rest of the room's reaction was just quiet. The host got on stage and said there is a time and a place for these type of demonstrations - as if a genocide should be discussed at our convenience.

I felt like a coward. If you see this, I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough to stand up with you or at the least join you in walking out.

Planned march not notified to Parades Commission

The Orange Order in Portadown is planning to hold a ‘support’ parade and rally in the town after members were banned from marching along the nationalist Garvaghy Road.

The march, which is planned for Saturday, October 24, has not been notified to the Parades Commission.

Details of the parade plan emerged after an unnotified loyalist parade took place in the Shankill Road area of Belfast on Monday.

Last week Secretary of State Chris Bryant banned members of the order from marching along the Garvaghy Road after a request from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

The unprecedented intervention has sparked an angry reaction in sections of the unionist community.

Garvaghy Road residents had earlier blocked the route of the controversial Drumcree march after the Parades Commission gave it the go-ahead last month.

In a message posted on social media Portadown Orange District LOL 1 urged unionists to attend the parade and rally.

“We encourage the wider Unionist family to come out, stand together and show their support,” it said.

“Your continued solidarity and encouragement are greatly appreciated.”

During the recent dispute several support rallies in loyalist areas of Portadown failed to attract large numbers.

In its social media post Portadown district added that over the past three weeks it has been “deeply encouraged by the support shown to us by our local community, the wider Orange family and the Unionist community as a whole”.

The Orange Order was contacted.

Former SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Dolores Kelly, who has been vocal in her support for Garvaghy Road residents, said people in the area remain anxious.

“I was over on Tuesday at Garvaghy Road and the people are still ‘up to high doe’ with all the hype and rumours,” she said.

“They just want to get back to normal.

“It seems that unionist/loyalist ‘leaders’ and Portadown Orange Order are tone deaf to the fear and anxiety of their neighbourhood.”

Ms Kelly said was critical of the organisers.

“It is very sad to witness how marching through a nationalist area overrides any concerns people have for our public services and community relations,” she said.

“The entrenched views and emotional blindness of those behind these constant rallying calls are deeply troubling.”

The former SDLP woman called for leadership to be shown.

“There is an urgent need for sensible voices to be heard,” she said.

“The two governments and political unionism in particular need to get a hold of this and not allow those with a wreckers agenda to destroy what hope we all had.”

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/orange-order-to-hold-parade-and-rally-in-portadown-U7QXOG2C4BDN5IGORJLGMY6LLM/

ANOTHER bilingual street sign has been vandalised in Belfast, just days after the defacing of the Irish wording on a dual-language sign in the centre of the city.
The sign for Grangeville Gardens/Gairdiní Bhaile na Gráinsa at Finaghy Crossroads was pulled out of the ground and left lying on the road.
This latest effort at vandalism comes following the spray painting of a sign on Marcus Ward Street/Sráid Mharcais Mhic an Bhaird in the city centre.
Sinn Féin Councillor for Balmoral Natasha Brennan said that the damage created a "hazard for passing motorists".

“Damage was caused to a dual-language street sign on Grangeville Gardens late last night, with the sign ripped from the ground and thrown across the road, creating a hazard for passing motorists.

“A local resident removed the sign to make the area safe, and I have reported the damage to Belfast City Council and requested that repairs are carried out as soon as possible.
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and deeply disappointing. 
“I would urge those responsible to stop this behaviour. Everyone in Finaghy should be able to feel welcome and have their identity and language respected.”

https://belfastmedia.com/damage-to-bilingual-sign-a-hazard-for-passing-motorists

45 minutes of 'discussion' out of Big Gav thinks there was the potential that guns and petrol bombs could have been used at the Garvaghy Road.

Then big Jim 'Sanitise' Allister spouts this all as gospel they were there. Level of Unionist leadership right now, fuck me

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/diesel-in-northern-ireland-creeps-closer-to-ps2-per-litre-after-yet-another-weekly-rise-in-price-though-home-heating-oil-dropping-9256661

Diesel prices in Northern Ireland are approaching the £2-per-litre mark. The highest recorded this week was **199.9ppl** at a station in Newry. The provincial average stands at **193.3ppl** (up 3.4p on the previous week and 38.7p higher than the early-July low). Petrol averages **167.2ppl** (up 1.2p week-on-week and 22.5p above its July low).

Prices have been rising since mid-summer after an earlier spike and subsequent dip linked to the Iran war. Diesel has been at its highest level since the war began from 24 September onward; petrol surpassed its April peak earlier in September.

Red diesel is around **115.98ppl** (ex-VAT). In contrast, home heating oil has fallen for a second consecutive week:

- 900 litres: £973 (down from £996)

- 500 litres: £547 (down from £562)

- 300 litres: £336 (down from £347)

SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole called the near-£2 diesel price “extraordinary,” noting Northern Ireland’s heavier reliance on diesel vehicles (especially in rural areas) and the knock-on effects for hauliers, taxi drivers, tradespeople, farmers and small businesses. He urged the Executive to press the UK Treasury for intervention while examining any local measures possible, while acknowledging Stormont cannot control global oil prices or fuel duty.

Separately, G7 countries agreed to release 100 million barrels of petroleum reserves over four months. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the move as coordinated action to stabilise supplies and shield households and businesses from price shocks.

Data comes from the Consumer Council’s weekly survey of stations across 30 towns and cities in Northern Ireland; heating-oil figures are from Boilerjuice.com.

All of Sainsbury’s petrol stations in Northern Ireland are being sold after a deal was signed between the supermarket and the company behind the ‘Go’ forecourts.

LCC Group, which operates the Go brand, will take ownership of, and operational responsibilities for, the eight existing Sainsbury’s petrol stations.

These sites will be rebranded as Go stations in the coming months, and are set to undergo “significant investment” as part of the purchase.

Sainsbury’s currently runs petrol stations in West Belfast, Forestside, Holywood Exchange, Sprucefield, Bangor, Ballymena, Coleraine and Dungannon.

All eight will be converted into pay-at-the-pump stations which Sainsbury’s say will be “convenient” and “accessible.”
Sainsbury’s say the sale does not include any proposed redundancies, with the staff set to stay employed by the supermarket “at existing nearby stores”.

Caroline Holroyde, Sainsbury’s director of petrol and kiosk, said: “This agreement represents a major opportunity to upgrade and modernise these sites with the investment that the acquisition will bring.

“Over the coming months, we will prepare for our petrol stations in Northern Ireland to transfer to the new owner — in the meantime, they will continue to operate as normal for customers.

“We’re pleased to confirm that all affected colleagues will remain employed by Sainsbury’s at nearby stores and we are not proposing any redundancies as part of today’s announcement.

“We believe this deal represents the best possible outcome for our petrol station estate in Northern Ireland.
“We’re looking forward to realising the benefits it represents, while at the same time bringing more of the best Sainsbury’s has to offer to Northern Ireland as we invest in opening two exciting new supermarkets here.”

The supermarket says that it is continuing plans for “a major multimillion-pound investment” in opening two new stores in Northern Ireland.

It says the new stores in Omagh and Derry will “create hundreds of jobs for local people.”

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/sainsburys-to-sell-all-its-northern-ireland-petrol-stations/a/163123994.html

Hi everyone,

I’m interested in learning to speak Irish. Has anyone really learnt it from scratch as an adult? Any ideas on where to start or the best way to do it?

I’m a student at QUB if that helps at all? Can’t see anything about classes or anything though.

Thanks!

A new emergency department (ED) at Altnagelvin hospital remains a priority project but there is currently no funding for it, Northern Ireland's health minister has said.

Robbie Butler, who visited the Londonderry hospital on Wednesday, said a new ED would be "incredibly high on the project list if the money becomes available".

A new ED is one of two Western Health and Social Care Trust priority capital projects and has an estimated cost of around £73m.

Altnagelvin's emergency department - the oldest one operating around-the-clock in Northern Ireland - was designed to treat about 40,000 patients a year but is now dealing with up to twice that amount.

The minister said the ongoing work by the trust had helped mitigate the waiting times at the ED but that these were still "much too long".

"People living in this area will know that acutely," he said. "They're messaging me, they're emailing me, and I hear those messages.

"But the senior leadership team of the Western Trust, like me, have an ambition to see that reset and transformed.

"If the money became available, I would say the case has been well made."

A close up of a sign outside Altnagelvin Hospital, which says the name of the building in large lettering. It is a tall building with a mix of facades including brown brick and grey cladding.

Image caption,

Altnagelvin has the oldest around-the-clock emergency department in Northern Ireland

In July 2025, the trust submitted revised proposals for the new emergency department at Altnagelvin to the Department of Health.

At that time, Butler's predecessor Mike Nesbitt told the Stormont Assembly that any progress would depend on the availability of both capital funding and the running costs.

Meanwhile, Butler also told BBC News NI the Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant had fallen short in relation to what is being offered on the budget.

The executive has not agreed a budget for this year, blaming the UK's devolution funding formula for leaving it short.

Extra funding of about £1.5bn would be released in three tranches, with £525m available this year.

Bryant has accused executive ministers of being financially "irresponsible".

Butler said: "I don't agree with the Secretary of State on this because we are not funded at the agreed level of need."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx28jep2l7ro

Another one of those “Didn’t know they were from NI” tracks. I vaguely remember it getting lots of radio play as a child. Didn’t know the deeper message behind it as a kid apparently about the troubles. Had forgotten all about it until it randomly popped up on YouTube. Underrated gem.

I'm exploring the possibility of arranging a regular, paid coffee companion service for personal wellbeing.

The arrangement would involve meeting one person per day, with the aim of establishing a weekly schedule with seven different individuals, each available on a designated day.

The details:

- Duration: 30–60 minutes per session.

- Payment: £10–£20 per session.

- Frequency: Once a week per person, on an agreed day.

- Location: Public cafés around Newcastle, County Down, or nearby areas.

- Nature of the arrangement: Professional, platonic companionship and conversation, with clear boundaries.

I'm not looking for therapy, counselling, dating, or clinical support. The purpose is to establish a consistent routine of face-to-face conversation as part of my personal wellbeing.

I'd appreciate advice on the best way to arrange this in Northern Ireland. Are there established services, platforms, or individuals who provide this type of service professionally?

If anyone has experience with similar arrangements or can recommend an appropriate service, I'd welcome your suggestions.

Thank you.

In what is set to be a race to the finish at this weekend's Premier Car Parts Dogleap Rally, ten drivers are within a mathematical chance of winning the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge, writes William Neill.

Carlow's David Condell and Michael Coady are best placed heading to the Maiden City Motor Club final with a 15-point advantage, scoring consistently across the series so far.

Currently second, in another Skoda Fabia Rally2, Mark Donnelly and Martin Brady are in great form with top points scored last month at both the Lakeland and Bushwhacker rallies to be a real threat to Condell.

Owen Mallon and Keith Hall have been coming up through the leaderboard table in recent Brown & Brown seasons and now the Cookstown businessman sits third, four points behind Donnelly.

Despite going off the road at the Lakeland Vivian Hamill is fourth with good scores at the Fivemiletown opener and again at the last outing. The Ballygawley driver is just a single point from Mallon with the next three drivers on equal points, just a further two points behind.

And it is no less than Premier Car Parts-backed Jordan Hone, the already 2026 NI Championship crowned Jonathan Greer and Subaru Impreza driver Paul Maguire in joint fifth.

Last year's Dogleap winner, Niall Devine is eighth in the standings with top two-wheel-drive runner Shane McGirr ahead of Alan Smyth. All ten drivers will compete on Saturday as part of a 60-plus field.

2024 Dogleap winner Jason Mitchell will join the Brown & Brown regulars to add to the high-level of competition that will play across Cam, Springwell and two Loughermore tests.

The rally, totalling eight stages, will be based in Anaghloo, Limavady with a 10am start ramp followed by the first stage at 10.30am.

Shite pint too