LIFE IN LOCKDOWN: Quiet anticipation building in Desertmartin and Tobermore There is traffic, but little footfall, in the Mid Ulster villages. Support for the NHS in Desertmartin. Reporter: ); ); In bright sunshine, I m on my way into BT45. Whisper it, but this could be the day the curse comes to an end. Slieve Gallion pans into view to my right, the sun sharpening the image and greening the landscape in between. A decorative sign with what appear to be miniature castle towers on either side, welcomes drivers to Desertmartin, centre of Loughinsholin . There are a handful of cars making their way through the village. A few tractors chug their way through as I park down near the bridge.
Susan McKay: DUP believes chaos is best plan Constructive voices within Northern Ireland’s Protestant community being shut out Fri, Mar 5, 2021, 00:47 Susan McKay First Minister Arlene Foster seems only nominally in charge. She scarcely rebukes the politicians she is supposed to be leading when they engage in uncouth, disruptive and bigoted behaviour. Photograph: Liam McBurney
As the Proud Boys are to Trump, so the loyalist paramilitaries are to the Democratic Unionist Party. They are what you are left with when democracy lets you down. “We will fight guerrilla warfare against this, until the big battle opportunity comes,” the DUP MP for East Antrim, Sammy Wilson, declared last weekend in respect of the Northern Ireland protocol. His comments followed a meeting between First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster and a group that included retired former paramilitary leaders. Deputy leader Nigel Dodd was there as well. The meeting was held because it was important that “all communities have a voice”.
Unionism's dilemma: Eoghan Harris, Pete Shirlow, Sarah Creighton, John Kyle, Graham Gudgin and Philip Orr tell us what its leaders must do next belfasttelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfasttelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Writer Of The Week: Meg Stokes By Your newest “Friend” story, “Winter Of Forgiveness”, appears in our new Special, out on December 30. Tell us about your writing – how long have you written for the “Friend”? I’ve always enjoyed writing and, in my 40s, decided to study for an English degree at Nottingham University as a mature student. This included a module of creative writing under Tom Paulin. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that I plucked up the courage to submit work and my first published piece was a history of Stumpwork Embroidery in a craft magazine. That same year, I had my first story published in the “Friend”.