NICVA hosted a Twitter “Tweet Up” for its members, to review various aspects of social media and its relevance for the sector. The Twitter hashtag for the event was #NICVATwtUp The host was UTV’s Marc Mallett (@MarcMallett_UTV), an informal, sofa chair style panel containing Chris Brown (@CB_PRandPA), Susie Brown (@Brownturf) (“I am not Chris’ partner, [...]

When I arrived in Belfast in 1994, one matter that struck me as peculiar was the near neglected Titanic Memorial statue on the east lawn of Belfast City Hall. The situation became blasphemous when the Big Wheel was erected practically right on top of it a few years ago. If I remain circumspect of some [...]

At a service of thanksgiving for the life of Addie Morrow, his nephew Duncan Morrow gave a thorough tribute. Duncan described his uncle as a great oak tree: “We grew in his shadow and we got courage from his strength. In the time of characterlessness, Addie had character. Enough to stand up to bigotry and [...]

Somehow I escaped reading this essential school text, with its story of racism in 1930s American South. Living in Northern Ireland, I draw parallels with sectarianism, with its similar bigotry and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird was part of a Unite Against Hate campaign event at Parliament Buildings in Northern Ireland, which I’ve written about [...]

At the Brian Friel Theatre (Queen’s Film Theatre) was an arts conference hosted by The Playhouse ICAN Project and the School of Creative Arts at Queen’s University. “Nine Tenths Under: Performing the Peace” explores how the arts can cast light on the hidden face of the peace, represented symbolically by an iceberg (stylised in the [...]

My first street photography shot of the day. I noticed this man stopping a young female shopper. Right after this shot she opened her purse and gave him some money. Victoria Square Mall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This image a little more daring for me. I noticed this woman with her umbrella on the other side [...]

At a seminar hosted by the Institute for Research in Social Sciences and the Inter-Institute Peace and Conflict Cluster, Dr Jonny Byrne of the University of Ulster presented his findings of three years of research in regards to public policy on peace walls (interface barriers) in Belfast. His presentation drew upon his 100,000 word PhD [...]

In a work capacity, I was invited to attend the Spirit of Enniskillen’s annual Together schools conference at the Wellington Park Hotel, which brought together over 100 Year 13 pupils from 20 schools across Northern Ireland, to explore and discuss 6th Form leadership for the Sharing in Education programme that is supported by the International [...]

As part of NICVA’s series of masterclasses from its Centre for Economic Empowerment project, there was a morning seminar on the topic of the “creative class” (as popularised by Richard Florida) and its applicability to Northern Ireland. The agenda was to: Explain Richard Florida’s idea of the “creative class” and the link between economic outcomes [...]