Hercules Street
Hercules is a name I’ve always liked. There was of course that big bloke of Roman mythology fame, son of Jupiter and all that, but it was also the name of the long-suffering horse in Steptoe and Son and that [...]
Can Rugby Resolve Our Sectarian Woes?
Spoiler alert – of course it can’t, don’t be daft. But indulge me for a few short minutes please…. I went to Methody which of course has been hugely successful on the rugby field over the decades, but given I [...]
Sir Arthur Chichester (1563-1625) – Belfast’s Blackadder?
Next time you’re walking, cycling or driving along Chichester Street, Donegall Square, Place, Road, Street, Quay or Pass, cast your mind as to who or what these vast tracts of Belfast city centre are named after. If you’d thought they’re [...]
The Etheromaniacs (not a 1980s synth band but should have been)
Since the 16th century, the Irish and the British, along with the rest of western Europe, were drinking a fair bit of alcohol and thanks to improving trade routes, we could get our hands on some tasty beverages too. Among [...]
Constable Willie Barrett – No Ordinary Peeler
Policing has never been easy in the north of Ireland, in fact, even describing this place as “the north of Ireland” isn’t easy since you might then assume I kick with a certain foot! However you can relax, as I’m [...]