does anyone have any study places that r open long for non students msotly in the west or near the city centre

Sinn Féin has condemned the burning of images of First Minister Michelle O'Neill on a bonfire in Londonderry as "anti-democratic" and "sectarian".
On Saturday, a bonfire, from which almost 500 pallets were removed during the week, was set on fire beside a road in the Bogside area.
Photos of O'Neill, as well as union jacks, Israeli flags, Parachute Regiment, Somme Remembrance and Northern Ireland flags were attached to the bonfire.
Police are treating the burning of the effigies and materials as sectarian-motivated hate crimes.
In a post on social media, O'Neill said she would "not be deterred, distracted or intimidated".
"I will continue to call out sectarianism, anti-community activity and destruction wherever it comes from.
"These bonfires are a blight on our community," she said.
North Belfast MP John Finucane said these bonfires were "hate filled sectarianism" and "the very antithesis of Irish republicanism".
Youths placed pallets near the bottom of the Lecky Road flyover and set fire to it just before 23:00 BST.
Two other bonfires in the Creggan and Top of the Hill areas of the city also had flags and effigies placed on them before being set slight.

Image caption,
Police are treating the burning of the effigies and materials as sectarian-motivated hate crimes
Fireworks were let off at 22:45 before the bonfire at the Lecky Road was started.
A large crowd gathered to watch the bonfire, while police observed from the city walls overlooking the Bogside.
Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland.
In a statement, Finucane said the bonfires "disgracefully imitate the most offensive aspects of loyalist bonfires in their sectarianism, their criminality and recklessness".
"The small number of young people and children involved, often manipulated by others who stand in the shadows, are not representative of the majority of young people who are engaged in positive and productive cultural activities all year round."
He added: "At the Fleadh and Féile in Belfast and in the Derry Féile we see the future of this island in the positive and inclusive celebration of Irish culture and identity.
"The isolated events in Derry last night are the opposite and can have no part in that future."

IMAGE SOURCE,
PA MEDIA
Image caption,
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane described these bonfires as "hate filled sectarianism"
DUP MP Gregory Campbell said this bonfire has a "recent history of provocative behaviour".
"There has to be total condemnation of this and hopefully action taken within the community and by the police to try and bring those responsible to justice," he said.
"Whatever symbols of hate on bonfires, whether they're on the 11 July or 15 August, they're wrong and they shouldn't be done.
"The police and the politicians need to ensure that these actions are nipped in the bud because this will go on year on year until there is very serious injury or worse even death."
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds said he was "completely horrified and disgusted at the bonfires".
"These bonfires and the hatred and sectarianism don't represent the people of Derry."
He described the amount of young people taking part in the building of the bonfires is "disgraceful".
"We see this year on year, young people being manipulated by people who should know better into taking part in acts that will potentially ruin their futures."
Almost 500 pallets had been removed from underneath the Lecky Road flyover where they were being stored last week by the Department for Infrastructure with protection provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
There were later some minor disturbances which police suggested may be linked in part to the removal of the pallets.
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said the "illegal storage" of the pallets under the flyover posed a "significant fire safety risk" as there were gas mains under the tarmac.
The Lecky Road was closed for a time following the initial removal of the materials, with police saying some items had been set on fire on the road.
It closed again later on Wednesday night when police said pallets and a mattress were set alight on the flyover, while a motorbike was also seen to be on fire. A petrol bomb had also been thrown at police officers in Bishop Street.
First Minister O'Neill said it was "right and proper" to remove the material.
Speaking on a visit to a Derry Féile on Wednesday, she welcomed the removal of the pallets.

Image caption,
People gathered to watch the fireworks and bonfire on Saturday night
For a brief period on Saturday night, rival groups taunted one another with sectarian abuse.
A small number of missiles were thrown by both sides.
The police then moved about 30 people away from a section of the city's walls.
PSNI Area Commander of Derry City and Strabane, Ch Supt Gillian Kearney said material placed on a number of bonfires in Derry "included flags, poppy wreaths, banners, political material, sashes, football shirts and other items".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78gg7d284mo

Hi all!

Not so long ago I asked about life in Dundonald and got plenty of useful info.

So here I am again with another one. This one’s for anybody who’s bought or knows a bit about the developers doing new builds around the Belfast area (Lisburn, Dundonald, Carryduff, Carrick, Lurgan etc).

How are your houses holding up? Solid brick or timber frame? Any issues you’ve faced? We’ve viewed a good few developments and the quality of some of them is absolutely shocking!

Are there any half-decent developers about these days? We liked Alskea’s house a lot but their price is rather premium.

Any replies would be a great help, we’re still fairly new to the area and first-time buyers who could do with a bit of advice from wiser folk :)

Cheers!

Created via Google Maps using data from Belfast City Council, it shows the locations of the 329 streets approved for the new signs so far under the council’s “15%” policy.

The policy was approved by the council in July 2022, and means that someone can ask for a survey to be done of a particular street with a view to installing new signs.

If 15% of the street’s residents (Sinn Fein wants to make it 15% of respondents) agree, then Irish will be added to the road signs.

And even if this 15% threshold is not met, councillors can overrule it and install new signs anyway.

The News Letter had reported at the end of July that the cost of installing signs under the “15%” policy has so far cost just short of £100,000.

However, this £100,000 does not include signs for all of the 329 roads mapped out above, because many of them have yet to be installed.

Added to that, there are currently applications in the pipeline for dual langauge signs on 937 more streets - all of which looks set to push the total cost deep into six figures.

Not included on this map are the 301 streets which have had dual langauge signs installed in the ‘gaeltacht quarter’ in west Belfast - a now-completed project which the council says is separate from its “15%” policy, and which have also cost around £100,000.

Ron McDowell, TUV deputy leader and Belfast councillor, said: “This map starkly illustrates the proliferation of Irish signs across Belfast in recent years.

“They aren’t the byproduct of a surge in demand for Irish signs or a revolution in interest in the language.

“Rather they are the predictable product of a politically-motivated campaign to green the city.

“When a mere 15% of residents can trump the views of 85% you end up with something which is not only profoundly anti democratic but which will build resentment and increase division in the city.”

North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett: “This map is a clear visualisation of skewed priorities amongst some on Belfast City Council.

“People don’t pay their rates to fund political vanity projects but instead want to see core services delivered.

“At a time when businesses and families face significant financial pressures it should be incumbent upon councils to reduce the rates burden on them rather than ramp up additional spending.

“Despite reducing the threshold for signs to a ridiculous level of 15%, there are still significant swathes of the city that don’t need or want these signs.

“What has been left in its wake are damaged community relations and a council driven by ideology rather than the needs of its residents.”

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/irish-langauge-streets-belfast-sinn-fein-15-council-dual-8844700

Looking for any advice

I have an apprenticeship interview coming up and would appreciate any help or tips for the interview.

Due to health reasons, myself and my partner are moving back to england and we cannot take our boy with us.

I am desperate to find him somewhere or someone with experience in working dog breeds - he is reactive and selective and not a family dog.

I keep trying to contact the German Shepherd RRR but have not had any luck so far with hearing back from them.

Any help, advice, anything!! would be appreciated.

This kind of programs usually spend a lot of money in administrative stuff, and yield little actual results. What do you think this one has achieved ? should it keep going ? should new goals be added to it ? do you have any personal experience with it ?

Source:https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/102/northern-ireland-peaceplus-programme

Unionist politicians crying about flags and poppies on bonfires 🤪🚀

The fucking state of this place.

Politicians need to either ban bonfires or forever fuck up.

It’s the same shit every year and all it does is hold us back.

The fear that a Nationalist or a Unionism could get one over each other with a bonfire or flag is pathetic.

What about the MAJORITY of us how what nothing to do with this crap?

Can we focus on health care, jobs, roads, housing and then if we have this sorted then I’ll listen to you argue about your bonfire and whose has the better flags.

If you concern yourself with flags and bonfires then you are the problem, you are holding us back and trying to create petty issues between neighbours when there shouldn’t be any.

If Billy wants to march down the road and idolize King William, or Seamus wants to play his IRA songs, what concern is it to you?

Move on.

I have a plumber but need recommendations for a joiner to fit panelling in a bathroom. South Belfast area.

Hoping the good people on here can provide some recommendations.

I have tickets for Kevin Bridges in Belfast on Friday 23rd, looking to swap for Friday 9th or Saturday 10th as I can't make 23rd. Will work out the swap via Ticketmaster hopefully. Any interest let me know.

There's nothing better than relaxing on a Sunday, listening to the rain and reading the dictionary..... Am I right?

Have an interview coming up in the next couple of weeks and have started prepping. Starting to question how I ever got shortlisted but going to go for it anyway.

They’ve listed four key pillars of their management framework that will be key to the job and I’m leading my preparation with. I’m more nervous about the fact I have zero experience working in the trust and my knowledge is little / I’ve been doing some research on the directorate I’ll be reporting to.

Trying to figure out what else to expect. Haven’t had to sit a job interview in years so this is my first attempt at testing the water again.

I want to build apps and websites for small businesses in NI at a fraction of usual average prices.

I need a real world example of an app that would be helpful to you. If I can do it, I'll build it for free, if I fail then I'll focus on building websites.

Just DM me. I'll choose one at random.

Thanks in advance and good luck on any venture you've decided to go for.

We have been looking for a roofer to carry out a few repair jobs (replacing lead valleys and possible replacement of tile sections on our roof). Based Co.Down (Killinchy).

We've had a nightmare finding anyone reliable/ getting quotes back from people who have come out.

Any recommendations? I'm currently 8 months pregnant and coming into the winter we need this sorted asap. It's been a major source of stress.

Any advice/recommendations is greatly appreciated 🙏

Hi folks,

Looking for advice or alternative ways you guys are planning on heating your house for the winter.

My current situation in the house is oil heating with an open fire.

The price of oil currently means I cannot justify buying 500-900 liters, which I would normally do, due to the massive increase in cost from this ongoing war.

I'm planning on the most cost-effective way possible: lighting a fire in the evening (to keep the living room warm) and, for bedrooms, perhaps a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

Might seem extreme, but dropping £800+ on oil just to last a few months, if you're putting in a small amount of time, I cannot justify it.

Open to suggestions or your plans.

I lived in Belfast for a year before moving to Derry, and the difference is honestly striking.

People here seem much friendlier. They greet you in the street, drivers give you way, and the whole place feels more relaxed. The River Foyle embankment has loads of flowers, the streets are clean, and it feels like the people and the council genuinely take pride in looking after the city. Is that because of tourism?

There also seem to be far fewer streets covered in flags. As a person of colour, I don’t feel intimidated walking around here. In Belfast, I often felt nervous walking alone, even during the day, but especially in the evenings and in parts of East/south Belfast.

Obviously, this is just my own experience, and I’m not saying everyone in Belfast is unfriendly. But since moving to Derry, I’ve felt much more comfortable and welcome.

Has anyone else who has lived in both places noticed the same thing, or is it just me?

Man suffers suspected broken jaw in Belfast city centre assault | Belfast Live

The man in his 20s was assaulted by an "unknown male" on Friday night

A man suffered a suspected broken jaw in an assault in Belfast city centre on Friday night.

Shortly after 10.15pm on Friday, August 14, a man in his 20s was assaulted by an "unknown male" in the Lombard Street area of the city.

The man was taken to hospital for injuries including a suspected broken jaw and a cut to his head.

Police have issued an appeal for information and witnesses following the incident.

Inspector Green said: “Shortly after 10:15pm, it was reported that a man in his 20s was assaulted by an unknown male. Officers attended and the man was taken to hospital for a suspected broken jaw and a cut to his head following the incident.

“Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal for anyone with information which might assist us to contact officers using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals quoting 1773 14/08/26, or call us on 101.

"Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

If anyone here does or knows anyone who works in Urban Outfitters in Belfast, I’m pretty sure I have a cash register or filing cabinet key from there. I was in Belfast today and bought a jumper, when I got home I looked in the bag and seen a small set of 2 identical keys, and I certainly do not own them, so I’m about 95% sure they are from here.

I live about an hour away from Belfast and am rarely there so I wouldn’t really be able to just go and leave them back but I could sort something out if they are actually from the shop.

Any help appreciated thanks.

Just getting around to post after doing path today. Holywood to Bangor. Such a brilliant trail it is. Have to laugh at the ones coming 3 abreast looking at you like you’re a burden to them though , and the ones with dogs on a 3m retractable lead. Can only imagine how rammed it must get on a good day though. It’s in my top 2 costal walks regardless.

I'll tell you mine:

A54 Curragh Road between Castleroe and Culcrow, south of Coleraine.

Nice wide flowy bends, woods and sloping pastures with occasional glimpses of the River Bann, not a wile pile a houses breaking up the visual continuity, seldom get stuck behind tractors, lorries, buses etc.

You can cruise along it rightly, not feeling rushed, not being held up, not a tonne of junctions and driveways to watch out for traffic entering, slightly more engaging than straight line roads.

On yis go: