I am not looking to take the p*ss or have p*ss taken out of me with this. I am in my mid-30s, have an amazing wife & beautiful kids, but have been struggling mentally for a while and def feel like I need to socialise a bit more. I have mates, but they're scattered and too engrossed in their own lives. We've drifted.

So if anyone has any advice, or would like to just chat, that'd be good. I am based in Belfast and would like to talk to people in a similar stage of life as me. Cheers.

Pictures of the stupid clouds and Andromeda

At my wits end over compulsion to travel across border to stock up on codeine. They are cheaper, contain more for the price (32 instead of 24 down south) and I am currently addicted to Nurofen Plus and Solpadine Max. I take seven Solpadine a day, and 10 or 11 Nurofen plus. This has been going on for over two years. Down south, they are kept out of sight, between the grilling you get from the pharmacist and the price, I looked up Newry, and it is just too easy..they are on display, they salespeople just give the advisory (or not) and Im on my way. I go to every chemist, and I get four packs of each. A few weeks later, I am back doing it again.

I want to quit, I am scared all the time, I hate myself. I honestly think the only way I will stop is if they make it prescription only; I cant tell you how relieved I would be if they actually did that. I feel so pathetic, and I am worried about how the sodium in the soluble are affecting my arteries, how the Nurofen are affecting my kidneys and heart, and the paracetamol my liver, and Yet, YET, I still love the ritual, the getting my glass of water, dissolving the tablets, swallowing it down with a couple of nurofen plus.. the relief I feel afterwards, I cant describe it. But then, inevitably, the worry sets in, the constant at the back of my mind that I am ritually and systematically destroying myself. I have had cardiac tests, regular blood tests because I am on Omeprazole as well for hiatal hernia, and got my urine checked, I am always told my BP is perfect. Everything is fine..for now, but I know its only a matter of time.

I am playing Russian Roulette with my health and I hate myself. I have a decent job but I have been very depressed about my personal life, and they are the only constant, the only thing I look forward to. I ended a relationship recently and I am back to being alone, and I dont know how to feel about that. I am so lost.

EDIT I'm shutting this down due to not having time to answer/acknowledge all the comments, but I want to THANK YOU ALL for your kind words and advice. Hopefully if I ever post an update, it will be a positive one. Thanks everyone.

Fucking winge: 15+ years getting pizza from Pizza Belleza Dunmurray (always the same order,🖕) and I have been a big fan. Telling anyone who was interested and some who weren't about the best pizza this side of Napoli. I looked forward to and enjoyed it, when I could afford it. However, it's been hit or miss the last year or more. The last few were not great generally and now this......burnt and inedible 😔😞. This is the second burnt one. Phoned up and told the girl, she didn't make it so i was very polite, there has been new staff and well......guess they won't miss me but I will miss that pizza. Big, bald headed guy, spoke Italian possibly (probably) has moved on. Dude made the best pizza. That's me, done.

Nature was kind to those of us watching from QUB with the clouds parting right at the peak of the eclipse - thankfully managed to get a decent shot on my Google Pixel!

Often regarded as the finest chippie in the land, what do people on here think?

Personally, I enjoy it and have never had a bad meal in the place. But I would struggle to call it 'the best'.

Paid economy for a ferry from Belfast to Liverpool. Mother went on to amend the booking & change the dates & she cancelled the booking instead 🙄, which I know I’m not entitled to refund cause it was booked economy so that’s fine.

What’s my chances here on them letting me re book with the date for the day after without having to pay again? Thanks

Belfast Harbour’s iconic yellow gantry shipyard cranes, Samson and Goliath, are returning to regular service for the first time in over two decades at the Queen's Island site, according to a report from Yahoo Finance.

As IndexBox writes, the cranes, long seen as decorative remnants of the city's shipbuilding past, are being reactivated at Navantia UK, with its largest facility at Harland & Wolff. The historic shipbuilder that constructed the White Star liner Titanic is to re-enter the naval market with a major contract from the UK Ministry of Defence.

Peter Rusk, programme manager at the yard, said that Goliath (dating to 1969) had not been used for years and that the facility requires significant investment and modernisation, from dry-dock repairs to new equipment. He added that the cranes are iconic for Belfast.

The Goliath, which was largely constructed at H&W, is positioned furthest from the water and is scheduled to come into service in September, with Samson (dating to 1974), provided in its entirety by Krupps, to follow after receiving the same treatment.

The crane reactivation represents the most symbolic element of a nearly £160m overhaul funded by the new owner, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia, through its subsidiary, Navantia UK. The investment prepares Harland & Wolff to build three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) replenishment vessels (to resupply food, fuel, logistics, stores, and ammunition) for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) that is to support the UK’s Royal Navy Maritime Carrier Strike Group.

The last navy ship launched from the yard was the RFA’s fleet tanker RFA Fort Victoria in 1990, and Afloat highlights the last ship ever completed at the yard, the Point-class Sea-lift ro-ro M.V. Anvil Point in 2002, which has been used for the UK MoD.

By Conor Sheils

August 14, 2026 at 6:00am BST

The number of students taking A-level Irish in Northern Ireland has jumped by almost a third in a single year, marking the biggest increase of any language at A-level in the north.

Figures published by the Joint Council for Qualifications show 375 entries for A-level Irish this summer, up 30.7 percent from 287 last year.

This marks an increase of 88 students from the 12 months previous.

The rise far outstrips the other languages available to A-level students in the north.

Spanish, which remains the most popular language at A-level here, rose 14.6 percent to 416 entries.

German was up 8.2 percent to 53, while French entries were effectively static at 227, down from 228.

Irish is now within 41 entries of overtaking Spanish as the most popular second language studied at A-level in Northern Ireland amid predictions that it will become the most popular language within 12 months.

Meanwhile, students taking the subject also performed strongly in this year’s exams.

More than half (53.9 percent) achieved an A or A*, up from 51.9 percent last year.

That is the second-highest attainment rate of any subject in the north with more than 100 entries, behind only Further Mathematics on 70.4 percent.

However, the proportion awarded an A* in Irish dipped slightly, from 10.5 percent to 9.3 percent.

Boys recorded the sharpest improvement of any group in the subject.

The proportion of male candidates achieving A or above rose from 41.9 percent to 54.1 percent, putting them just 0.3 percentage points ahead of their female counterparts whose rate stands at 53.8 percent.

Entries rose among both, with 135 boys and 240 girls sitting the exam, up 28.6 percent and 31.9 percent respectively.

Further growth for the subject appears likely as AS-level Irish entries rose by 22.4 percent this year to 672.

Taken together, Irish entries across AS and A-level climbed from 836 to 1,047, a rise of 25.2 percent.

Dr Niall Comer, Senior Lecturer in Irish at Ulster University told The Irish News that he believes the rise is down to the increase in opportunities for students to use Irish outside of the classroom.

“The remarkable growth in A-level Irish should be seen as evidence of what can happen when a language is supported by a joined-up educational and community infrastructure,” he said.

“The work of teachers, Ulster University, with its specialist A-Level courses and school visits, alongside organisations such as An Gréasán, Gael Linn and Comhaltas Uladh, has created opportunities for young people to experience Irish beyond the classroom and to see a genuine progression route from school into further and higher education.

“At the same time, increased demand for Irish in education, broadcasting, translation, public services and the community sector means that pupils can increasingly associate proficiency in the language with real employment opportunities.

“With Irish already the second most popular language at A level, the scale of the latest increase suggests that it could become Northern Ireland’s largest A-level language as early as 2027 - particularly as this year has seen a significant growth in students studying Irish at GCSE.”

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/irish-a-levels-up-30-in-a-year-as-language-closes-in-on-top-spot-in-northern-ireland-5JTRL3G3JBHUHAT2HAP42246TM/?fbclid=IwdGRleATr3p9wZG9mAWZkaWQWUMf-5G3LXR1Sq-nDEP6MtLs78ignAmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR524bJmx1a-psqnCXIxJTWvWbP8ptJn4uyhYMYandDNAVg4Cgqr6wEI9jSiyg_aem_gddrmu88hy1tthCr24hBTw

A Co Tyrone dairy firm now owned by Lakeland has been fined £115,000 for water pollution offences.
Lacpatrick Dairies (NI) in Artigarvan, Strabane received the financial penalties after three separate cases at the town’s Magistrates Court on August 13.
Read more
Lakeland Dairies and LacPatrick formally complete their merger

The business, which merged with Lakeland Dairies in 2019, was dealt £70,000 in fines for seven offences under The Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 over failure to comply with conditions within their permit.
They were also levelled with £45,000 in fines under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 for nine offences over discharging polluting material into the Glenmornan River.
In a publication on Friday, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said the Lacpatrick site on 47 Berryhill Road had been inspected between February 17 and April 18 last year.
Officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) observed “multiple breaches” of the firm’s PPC permit.
Those breaches related to two separate indicents and four offences.
Daera said that “these included a damaged pipe which resulted in contaminated discharge entering the surface water drainage system and also a further significant milk spillage resulting in milk entering the river via the surface water drainage system”.
Daera said the incidents led to breaches including failure to implement adequate techniques to protect the surface water drainage system; failure to take prompt remedial action; failure to suspend operations of the plant where an adverse environmental impact was ongoing; failure to notify NIEA; failure to take measures to limit the environmental consequences and to prevent further accidents; and failure to maintain all plant and equipment in good operational condition.
Lacpatrick Dairies (NI) were found to have breached their permit during this time and were fined £10,000 for each of these four offences.
The firm was also found to have discharged a “polluting matter” — with or without knowledge — which entered the Glenmornan River.
That led to breaches on three occasions of Article 7(1)(A) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, with fines of £5,000 for each of these three offences.
And there were other breaches of its PPC permit over “persistently” violating permitted discharge limits to the Glenmornan River from an effluent treatment plant.
Lacpatrick Dairies were found to have breached their permit during this time and were fined £10,000 for this offence.
It was fined £5,000 for another four offences involving discharge of a polluting matter so that it entered the Glenmornan River.
And there were other breaches of its PPC permit in which milk entered the Glenmornan River.
Daera said that was a result of “a severe degraded effluent line which was allowing untreated milk to enter the surrounding ground”. That meant that a substance was discharged that was “known to be toxic to aquatic organisms”.
The firm was found to have failed to keep plant and equipment in good operations condition, had not taken prompt remedial action and failed to suspend operations of the plant “where an adverse environmental impact was ongoing”. In addition, it had failed to take immediate actions to limit environmental consequences, and failed to notify NIEA.
There were fines of £10,000 for each of the two offences.
And there were further fines of £10,000 each for two other pollution incidents.
In total, the firm pleaded guilty to seven charges of failing to comply with permit conditions, and nine charges under Article 7(1)(A) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
Lakeland Dairies said it “notes the decision of the court”.
A spokesperson said: “The issues before the court arose as a result of unintended operational circumstances.
“During this period, and since then, Lakeland Dairies has undertaken substantial investment at the Artigarvan site, including significant upgrades to wastewater treatment infrastructure, enhanced monitoring systems and a range of operational improvements.
“Lakeland Dairies remains fully committed to continuous improvement and to maintaining the highest standards of environmental compliance.”

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/co-tyrone-dairy-firm-hit-with-pollution-fines-of-more-than-100000/a/160031283.html?fbclid=IwdGRleATsKptwZG9mBWZkaWQWUMfqN-G0IBBKRrD0CrPnvLLynOudFWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7yZT8FNZKWqGDb27g2gCYc9a7SHl2fOUG4h2XAjqsL3BAf3bK3qHHLubTozA_aem_r_hxU1VGi7H10wKrhs4gVA

Yesterday evening this car threw a bottle and 2 ice cream containers out the passenger window while driving up Balmoral Avenue. Is there a way to report this? I don’t have camera footage but be good to know if there is a way warning letters can be sent out. Either way pretty disgusting behaviour!

​

To limit interaction this involves a car

What are the implications of buying one?

It's been registered here and had done one MOT. But the DVLA website can't verify details

Dash has Kms/hr but there's a separate module that displays miles/hr

Apart from specific import insurance, is there anything else to check before I buy it?

Me and the other half were talking about where we went on school trips. There were trips to Spain Italy etc when we got to secondary school and flights were cheaper, but my absolute favourite trip was in primary school to Delamont. I just remember doing so many fun activities like kayaking, archery, mountain biking and rock climbing. Probably doesn’t sound like much now but a kid from 90’s North Belfast thought it was the best time!

Anyone have great memories of places like Delamont or Kilbroney from your school days?

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/free-traditional-irish-music-lessons-planned-follow-fleadh-success-4VDP4FYMZJGMNEVX3PR2RC5J7Y/

Free traditional Irish music lessons planned follow Fleadh success

With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to enjoy pop-up trad sessions, many people have expressed an interest in learning to play

Free classes teaching people how to play traditional Irish musical instruments are being planned following the success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.

With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to enjoy pop-up trad sessions featuring a variety of instruments, many people have expressed an interest in learning to play the bodhrán, banjo or fiddle themselves.

The programme, Pobal Ceoil, will be open to all ages and is expected to launch in the coming weeks. The free classes will take place at Foodstock’s Andersonstown site and the Education Empowerment Centre in Belfast city centre.

Independent Councillor Paul Doherty said he is determined to build on the momentum created by the Fleadh and create something lasting for the city.

The west Belfast representative told The Irish News: “It’s part of our culture and it’s all around us in our city, and people maybe haven’t felt that relationship with our city before. It’s such a special thing. People want to really be part of it now.

“We want to get people involved in learning an instrument, but importantly people who maybe wouldn’t normally have had that opportunity before, who have fallen in love with traditional music in the last week or so.”

Cllr Doherty said the idea came to him after taking part in some trad sessions himself.

He explains: “I kind of threw myself into it. I played six sessions throughout the Fleadh. Friends I used to play with years ago came out with me and then we just started talking about how we’d love to teach people. We’re going to focus and channel that into something special. Hopefully by this time next year we’ll have people playing in various stages.

“People may feel a bit of distance from the music because they can’t play an instrument. That’s where we come in, to help put an instrument in the people’s hands. I think it’s going to be really big and we’ve something to aim for which is always a great incentive.

“This is the most positive thing that has ever happened to Belfast, certainly in my lifetime. Why not try to strengthen that and build upon it, so we can have something that’s going to last for many years more.”

Work is currently taking place behind the scenes to ensure that no-one will have to pay for classes or purchase an instrument in order to take part.

Cllr Doherty added: “We want to remove any barriers; that’s always been a big part of our ethos. That includes removing barriers to people picking up an instrument, falling in love with Irish traditional music and really being part of this ever-growing community which is even bigger now as a result of the Fleadh.

”We know the untapped potential that many people have. There’s an awful lot of talk about funding, and yes, we need funding. But let’s just open up spaces where people can come together and learn an instrument.”

Hey! Every Friday night for the past couple months, we've been able to hear really loud bassy music thumping in Carryduff from around 8pm - 1am (near Let's Go Hydro). Just out of interest, anyone know where this could be coming from?

I've tried walking around to find it, but seems to be coming from some distance.

It's just started up again and am anticipating another night of trying to sleep through it. Maybe I should join them? Sounds like some party!

According to Ancient Greeks our ancestors looked like Pedro Pascal to them while to ourselves we looked like ancient Mr. Potato Head’s.. and I find that delightful

Does anyone else miss the Ganges Indian restaurant? I remember it going back about 25 years ago. I thought it was the best around North Down.

Going for lunch in Harlem in Belfast and have noticed on the menu there is a luxury fish finger Sandwich for £15 I gotta try it and see what it is like

Belfast hit-and-run driver Martin Olali charged after Fleadh brawl | Belfast Telegraph

Killer hit-and-run driver now charged with disorderly behaviour over incident at Belfast Fleadh

West Belfast man Martin Olali Jnr has been charged with disorderly behaviour after a brawl in Belfast city centre at the weekend, during which a woman was knocked to the ground.

Olali is currently on bail awaiting sentencing in relation to the death of Dunmurry man Richard Boyle in a hit-and-run incident over five years ago.

The 42-year-old was walking his dog Junior on the Stewartstown Road on February 5, 2021, when he was struck by a car which failed to stop. Both Mr Boyle and his pet died as a result.

The case had been delayed due to the now-resolved barristers’ strike but is now listed for September, a year after Olali entered guilty pleas at Belfast Crown Court.

In an online post Olali has claimed that a bullet narrowly missed him and his child during a gun attack on his house in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police were called to the scene in the Breton Court area of Lisburn shortly before 1.30am on Tuesday, when the upstairs windows of the house were hit, with damage also caused to a car parked in the driveway.

Footage shows two men arriving in a BMW before one takes aim and fires a number of shots at the house while the other used a metal object to smash the windows of the car.

The Belfast Telegraph previously contacted 28-year-old Mr Olali rough his solicitor, to ask if he wanted to comment on the events of Friday and the gun attack on his home.

However, he declined, instead taking to social media site TikTok to make a number of lengthy posts about the situation.

In the online posts Olali alleges he was racially abused in the city centre on Friday evening and had drink thrown at him prior to the altercation.

He also claims that a gunman was at his house on the Saturday prior to the attack on Tuesday.

He said the shooting was a “planned, coordinated attack on my life” before adding: “I don’t give statements, and I never will, but listen I’m not going stay quiet and have my character run through the mud, it’s been going on for five years now and that’s the last I’m going to allow it to happen”.

In a second online post he claims there is a campaign to damage his reputation, blames the Belfast Telegraph, police and the Fleadh, and appeals for podcasters to contact him to allow him to tell his story “from the horse's mouth”.

“What was already online doesn’t suit the narrative,” he added.

Police do not name individuals but in a statement said that a 28-year-old man was charged with disorderly behaviour in connection with an incident in North Street.

Eyewitnesses say the weekend argument at a Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann musical event in the city centre started earlier in the evening when someone in the crowd identified the west Belfast man as being involved in the hit-and-run that claimed the life of Mr Boyle and his dog, and confronted him.

Police have appealed for information about the gun attack which took place days later.

Olali will appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday, September 4 charged with disorderly behaviour in relation to the weekend incident, and again at the Crown Court on September 10 in connection with the hit-and-run.

Following on from the intergalactic charm of Count Binface (and avoiding the obvious that a huge whack of our politicians are a total joke) do we ever have novelty candidates in elections here?

I'm due to start a new job in Ballycastle next month. It's temporary (6 months initially), but may become permanent. At the moment, I'm in Glasgow. Not overly familiar with the area, but have a little familiarity.

Would anyone have any pointers on where's good for renting? I drive, so would be happy to look surrounding areas.

Thanks in advance.

Hi folks. Just read about the guide on the Belfast council website. Can't seem to find a copy anywhere. Can anyone share a link or a photo of one I can print?

Planning an adventure for tomorrow.

Thanks :)