From the simple reading of a book as light relief to his law course, Michael’s thoughts turn to the creation of a lasting memorial to those who have lived (and are living) with HIV in Northern Ireland. Continue reading from a secret edge to a memorial for living…
Nearly everyone would, but only one in four of us in Northern Ireland have joined the Organ Donor Register. With 300 people waiting for transplants, more people in our community need to take action and sign up. UNISON and the Public Health Authority joined forces last April to take forward an initiative within workplaces to promote organ donation. The goal is to ensure that anyone who needs an organ – be it kidney, heart, or liver – gets one. Anyone who wants to sign up today, please log on to http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk ; telephone 0300 1232 323 ; or text SAVE … Continue reading Would you take an organ if you needed one?
It’s the seventeenth day of March so it must be the day we in Ireland usually get off Lent. Yup it is our island’s Patronal Festival. So what are we doing for it? Well I’m off to St George’s for Matins and the Eucharist. Tomorrow they are hosting a service of Urnaí na Nóna with John Budd who I remember being curate assistant in the Parish of Kilconriola & Ballyclug when I was a small boy. I wonder did he speak Irish then. Back to today, I’ll probably stay in the city centre to see what the Belfast parade is … Continue reading Happy St Patrick’s Day to all my readers
It’s has happened again. What? I hear you ask. Nothing simpler than another occasion in which those in Lib Dem HQ in London forget about us in Northern Ireland.
It is often said to me that the Lib Dems don’t make policy on issues affecting Northern Ireland only – that is on issues devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Last time I looked, taxation was not one of them. It may be in the future, but at present it is not.
So why, does Tim Gordon’s great new website asking us what we would do with £60 extra in every month, not allow people from Northern Ireland to answer? Continue reading “It really would try the patience of a saint…”
The long wait is over, no Northern Ireland town will be granted city status by Her Majesty in this the Diamond Jubilee Year. However, the Province will have another Lord Mayor. No longer will we be able to refer to the Lord Mayor and mean The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of Belfast. Armagh has a long and distinguished history as the ecclesiastical capital of the island of Ireland. Both the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church have an Archbishop there. His Grace The Lord Primate of All Ireland, The Most Reverend Alan Harper is the Church of Ireland … Continue reading Armagh wins in Diamond Jubilee competition
Same-sex marriage would eliminate entirely in law the basic idea of a mother and a father for every child. It would create a society which deliberately chooses to deprive a child of either a mother or a father.—His Eminence Keith Cardinal O’Brien in The Sunday Telegraph As a gay man, and a Christian, it really disheartens me to read what His Eminence has written it seems that he has not actually put much thought into what he is writing, and is reacting rather angrily to proposals that could see an end to discrimination. As I understand it, none of the … Continue reading The Cardinal should be thinking about Covenants not worrying about civil marriages
The most unnecessarily underinsured group in the UK is the HIV community, according to specialist advisers Unusual Risks. Research by the advisers through the Terence Higgins Trust, estimates that 82% of HIV positive people in the UK have no Life … Continue reading HIV community is untapped protection market – Unusual Risks – COVER Magazine – Protection and health insurance industry news, commentary and analysis
Once more I am in Bedford. This is becoming quite a habit. As I was walking up Silver Street, I noticed a banner for the Bedfordshire Festival of Music Speech and Dance, mentioned it to Peter, and was told that he didn’t know where or even if the Festival’s Disabled classes were going to be held. You’ve guessed it, it’s the Civic Theatre closure by Dave the Mayor that has buggered it up for them. Where else will the organisers–presumably all volunteers like those who organise the Ballymena Festival (of which I am a member and assist the Membership Secretary, … Continue reading Ballymena Borough could show Bedford Borough and @davethemayor how to invest in the arts
The Tyddyn Bach Trust respite centre in Penmaenmawr in Wales which has provided much-needed respite care for over 2,000 individuals and families affected by HIV since 1997 closed its doors. As a former trustee of Northern Ireland’s leading HIV charity, The HIV Support Centre, I have some idea of how difficult it can be to get funding from health authorities and others to support your work. The MP for Aberconwy, Guto Bebb, said that it was a tragedy the centre had to close. He suggested that the closure is an unintended result of devolution within the United Kingdom. Clients coming … Continue reading HIV Charity closure seems to be result of devolution
Gyronny Herald 