17 h. ago Blue Lights is more than great TV. It might be the best chance Britons have of reckoning with the Troubles | Jonathan Freedland

The reaction to the Bloody Sunday trial makes it clear: those of us outside Northern Ireland just don’t understand the painful legacy of this brutal conflictForgive me if I’ve mentioned him before, but at moments like this I remember a news editor I worked for as a young reporter at the BBC. When it came to the interests of our audience, he said, there was a key fact to bear in mind: “The two most boring words in the English language are ‘Northern Ireland’.”It was an attitude with a long history. In 1924, Viscount Cranbourne, the fifth Marquess of Salisbury, mused that the average English voter has “little interest in, and less understanding of, Irish affairs”. This week brought some evidence that, 101 years later, much of his observation still holds true. But a challenge to it has come from an unlikely quarter, via what might be one of the most compelling TV dramas of recent years. Continue reading...

Events

18 h. ago Jack Lisowski told Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins how he really feels about them

Jack Lisowski has made his feelings clear about snooker legends Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins as he goes for glory at the Northern Ireland Open

Politics

19 h. ago Northern Ireland veteran says 'a line has to be drawn' on Troubles prosecutions as paratrooper is cleared of two Bloody Sunday murders

Delivering his verdict, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said the evidence against Soldier F fell 'well short' and 'failed to meet the high standard of proof needed' to convict.

Events

19 h. ago Avian influenza prevention zone to be introduced in NI from Saturday

It will place a legal requirement on all bird keepers in the region to follow strict biosecurity measures.

Politics

23 h. ago Snooker news: Jack Lisowski speaks out about family tragedy as star makes £500k admission

Snooker news round-up from the Northern Ireland Open as Jack Lisowski speaks about the loss of his father and Kyren Wilson makes a bold prize money claim

Economics

23 h. ago Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2025 Friday Order of Play: Quarter finals schedule, prize money, format, where is Ronnie O'Sullivan?

It’s quarter finals day in Belfast.

Politics

38 h. ago The Bloody Sunday trial of Soldier F was a failed attempt to look at history through modern eyes. Prosecutors couldn't even prove he shot the victims on the charge sheet...

Yet the events of that day, played out in a Belfast courtroom more than half a century later, were among the most momentous in the 30 years of violence that once gripped Northern Ireland.

Events

44 h. ago British army veteran known as Soldier F not guilty of Bloody Sunday murders

Soldier F was on trial in relation to events in Derry in 1972 when Parachute regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protestersA British army veteran has been found not guilty of murder in relation to Bloody Sunday, when the Parachute regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters in Derry in 1972.Soldier F was on trial for two murders and five attempted murders during a defining event of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Continue reading...

Events

47 h. ago Northern Ireland Open Snooker Day 5: Thursday order of play, prize money, format, why is Ronnie O'Sullivan not playing?

There’s only one Scot left standing in Belfast.

Politics

52 h. ago Judge to rule in 1972 Bloody Sunday murder case against former British soldier

The only British soldier ever charged in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre is set to learn his fate in a Northern Ireland courtroom

Events

66 h. ago Second candidate to chair grooming gangs inquiry withdraws after survivors quit

Former police officer Jim Gamble is reported to have pulled out of the process.

Events

67 h. ago Connolly and Humphreys make late push for votes in presidential campaign

Voters will go to the polls on Friday to elect a successor to Michael D Higgins as president of Ireland.

Politics

68 h. ago Benn pressed on potential ‘collapse’ of motor industry due to incoming EU rules

DUP MP Gavin Robinson said new rules coming on emissions and sales of cars will have a significant impact.

Politics

3 d. ago Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2025 Wednesday Order of Play: Day 4 schedule, prize money, format, is Ronnie O'Sullivan playing?

There are still two Scots left in the competition.

Politics

3 d. ago The Spin review – laughter and vinyl in wacky Irish road movie as pals try to save their record store

Bizarre dialogue riffs add flavour to this likable film about two friends on a road trip to track down some super rare recordsHere is a goofy road movie comedy with some cheeky borrowings from Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity; it’s a bit broad, and the ending doesn’t exactly gel, but it’s likable all the same. Dermot (Brenock O’Connor) and Elvis (Owen Colgan) are a couple of guys from Northern Ireland who run a record shop in Omagh, County Tyrone, dealing in old-school vinyl, but they are terrorised by their mean landlord, Sadie (Tara Lynne O’Neill), who owns the lease. They desperately need cash for rent arrears when Dermot discovers online that a farmer in Cork is offering what appear to be hugely valuable records by the blues legend Robert Johnson for just £30 – not realising their real value.Our two amigos go on a desperate southward journey to trick the poor guy with a paltry 30 quid – or the equivalent in euros – and then sell the precious discs on for what they figure will be a mo...

Politics

3 d. ago Northern Ireland Open Snooker 2025 Tuesday Order of Play: Day 3 schedule, prize money, format, when is John Higgins playing?

It’s time for the last-32 matches to start - but there are a few last-64 matches to get out of the way first.

Politics

3 d. ago Covid inquiry live: Boris Johnson questioned over impact of pandemic on children

The former prime minister is appearing at the UK’s Covid-19 inquiryClair Dobbin KC is questioning the former prime minister. She is counsel to the Covid Inquiry. She leads its work in Northern Ireland and, separately, its work in relation to children.She has opened by asking about Gavin Williamson’s evidence which suggested there had been very little preparation for the closure of schools. She says his evidence was that “he didn’t seek assessment of the impact of school closures, and nor did he seek to develop planning for mass school closures because, and these were the words he used in his oral evidence, the steer I was hearing – whether it was in cabinet or anything else – was to keep things open, not about closing things.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago A weekend break in Northern Ireland: what to do, see and eat

Explore Belfast, drive the scenic Causeway coastal route and visit the Giant’s Causeway on this three-day Northern Ireland itinerary

Politics

5 d. ago Stormont minister faces legal challenge over stance on trade with Israel

Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald issued instructions to officials about not engaging in UK/Israel trade talks.

Politics

5 d. ago Cabbage divination and turnip lanterns revived ahead of Halloween

The Ulster Folk Museum in Co Down has used its archive of history gathered from local people to bring the old Samhain traditions to life.

Politics