NEW: No mention of this last week during two grilling sessions in front of the Assembly & Education Committee. Now, the Education Department says Givan wrote to Lisneal College to say its £710k pitch plan was on hold - but EA approved it anyway. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

Pupils forced out of school building due to fears over 'structural integrity' of roof Without question, an 'unavoidable work'. EA claims Lisneal's pitch deemed serious risk/unavoidable work in 2019 - yet children played on it continuously for 6 years. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

A Stormont committee has agreed to write to the Department for Communities seeking clarity on its role in the decision to allocate £710K for a state-of-the-art pitch upgrade at Lisneal College in Derry. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Education Minister Paul Givan still has questions to answer over equality after Lisneal football pitch row 'Why are our children not important?' - Sinn Fein MLA Cathy Mason said at yesterday's committee meeting, relaying a message from school principals. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...

Councillors in Derry and Strabane have called for new facilities at Altnagelvin Hospital’s A&E department, which only has “one toilet between upwards of 100 sick patients”. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Red-faced education chiefs make U-turn over false Lisneal College pitch claim The Education Authority has admitted to releasing a statement falsely claiming that a school pitch which was deemed a health and safety risk has not been operational since 2019. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

Fair play to @garretthargan.bsky.social for uncovering scandals like this, but sadly they’re par for the course in this place. What’s most frustrating is they’re rarely greeted with more than shoulder shrugging.

EXCLUSIVE The Department of Education is facing calls for full transparency after £710,000 was awarded to a school in Derry following a private meeting with DUP ministers — despite it not making a direct application for the money. (Lengthy 🧵🙂) www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

Conor McGregor insulting @paulhughesmma saying that the Derry man should not have an Irish flag because he's a 'c*** from up there' (North of Ireland). www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/derry-...

The Meenan Square saga continues. Further delays to a project aimed at addressing historical deprivation in the Bogside area of Derry have been described as “deeply frustrating”. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

'Northern Ireland councils to get £45m for regional development' The Economy Department and Minister do an awful lot of talking about regional equality. It is tinkering around the edges so far. Take this one for example... www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/nor...

Utter madness’: MLA hits out as Minister reveals no NI pensioner has yet received £100 Winter Fuel Payment A WINTER fuel payment for pensioners looks set to roll out in Spring. It comes as NI is experiencing a colder than average Winter. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Israeli forces kill 15 after firing on protesters demanding withdrawal in southern Lebanon

Renewable electricity generation as a % of all electricity generated in Northern Ireland has been stagnant now for over 6 years, and the lead over GB has largely evaporated. Meeting the 80% target outlined in the 2022 Climate Change Act by 2030 looks implausible.

Hear of widespread storm damage to NI schools. I sincerely hope Derry schools aren't badly impacted. If any roofs have blown off they could be operating in open-air classrooms for a while. None have received major funding for at least 10 years. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

Sinn Féin, a party that prides itself on its all-island credentials, ‘failed’ to consider the all-island impact of a Co Tyrone goldmine, campaigners say. The public inquiry collapsed for a second time because the Irish Government had not been consulted. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

St Columb’s Park House in Derry: New book explores links to Irish Saints, a British Prime Minister, the Famine and WWII across 250 years of ‘hidden history’ www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

A Stormont body set up to tackle homelessness met more often when the institutions were collapsed than it did last year when a minister was actually in place. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

Derry university expansion pledge questioned as Ulster University reveals new vet courses in Coleraine alongside ambitions for a £5m per year Northern Ireland vet school. Magee Taskforce gave assurances of all ‘extra students and courses’ going to Magee. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

‘Astonishing!' Disbelief as every Derry city school seeking major funding in past 10 years rejected Let this sink in and think about how this is disadvantaging children in our city. When is Derry going to demand better?! Quick🧵 www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/educati...

A public inquiry into a controversial gold mine in the Sperrins has been suspended for a second time to await submissions from the Irish Government. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Buses have been suspended in an area of Derry following “repeated attacks” by young people. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

The Waterside Theatre in Derry, once a hub for the arts on the east bank of the Foyle, is now occupied by an evangelical church. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainmen...

Councillors have voted decisively to reject plans for a fee to access Halloween events on Derry’s Walls saying there was public anger and it would set a bad precedent. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

The blackout on Derry’s iconic Peace Bridge and Mute Meadow artwork look set to persist as the council has revealed that repair works will be subject to budgetary approval. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politic...

Co Tyrone gold rush: The mining bid dividing a community An all-encompassing matter about family, historic ties to an area, environmental concerns, business interests and the economy in a rural community. It has even reached the heights of King Charles. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

A touch of Irish magic amidst the winter wonderland at Grianan of Aileach ☘️ Someone creatively carved the perfect shamrock into the snow. Hoping for a swift thaw at the weekend and a goodbye to these wintry pics ❄️ #inchisland

‘A danger to democracy’ MLA targeted by ‘terrifying’ online sexual harassment and deepfakes pushes for a new law to protect women and girls. Appreciate Cara's willingness to speak openly and honestly about online abuse that still impacts on her life. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

If UU can't stand firm on a photo of people wearing GAA jerseys, what are they going to do when the momentum inevitably builds, AGAIN, to deny university expansion in Derry? Because for now it's all talk, obstacles are coming when money has to be paid out, that's a cold fact!

The sun-palace in winter. Great picture of a Grianán by photographer Chris Gallagher.

The PSNI has confirmed that a man was hospitalised after climbing to the top of a Christmas tree in Derry and falling.

The level of ammonia emissions in the North have been described as a 'national emergency' - with the dangerous gas responsible for damaging every 'protected habitat'. These details were presented to the DAERA Minister during a private meeting last June. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environ...

WATCH: Very informative analysis and visualisation based on data collected since October 2023 which 'reveals the near-total destruction of civilian life in Gaza'. forensic-architecture.org/investigatio...

Via @news.rte.ie The Northern Lights were visible across parts of Ireland last night, with one photographer capturing the display over Buncrana, Co Donegal

Happy New Year to the real ones 🙂. As I use social media mainly for work I'd like to thank the sound people who have taken the time to share a story or interact with me on here. I genuinely value and appreciate it. Let's strive for a 2025 where all lives are valued equally.

As we approach the New Year, I end 2024 highlighting an issue I've covered extensively in recent times, that of regional equality. If you want to know why the city/NW languishes at the bottom of economic league tables, read this as a shining example. 🧵 www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/job...

Dún na nGall One of those days where you get the winter coat on for a walk on the beach and hold onto your woolly hat.

— solace of winter ❄️

"An inquest was told that the driver ‘could have done nothing’ to avoid the two-vehicle crash" This was an inquest that makes you realise how lives can change in an instant. A difficult and emotional day for those involved to give evidence. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

The Executive has been criticised after new figures showed that 82% of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is based east of the Bann, with the vast majority of workers in Belfast. ✍️ @garretthargan.bsky.social

Details of physical trauma to Derrys courthouse. Would wage a guess it’s second most bombed building after europa hotel in Belfast. Growing up in Protestant waterside I had friend whose dad was policeman and daily job to stand here on guard. He died quite young, also ruined by trauma.

Latest progress on the new stand at Brandywell 👇🏼The photos don't do justice to how different it makes the place look. I'm still amazed at what @derrycityfc.net have managed to fit in that space - it's genuinely impressive. Almost all the roof is on now - presumably the side & back panels go in next.

One of the most heartbreaking scenes I've seen. Syrians crowd around a former detainee on a bed who cannot speak (likely due to psychological consequences of torture) to figure out who he may be. At least two different women say he's there's son. 😪 youtu.be/IInMM9pRwDQ?...

This lady really depresses me! She's like some sort of cautionary tale about capitalism and fame. Really well written article.

Finding time to sit down and enjoy a few records is limited these days. I'm reminded of the brilliance of Led Zeppelin III. Like finding treasure when I happened across original 1970s records of my da's in the attic. No idea they were above my head for years. m.youtube.com/watch?v=KaFj...

@garretthargan.bsky.social and @colmcille.bsky.social have done some brilliant work on this, but I'm really pleased to see Tom fight the good fight as well.

The 120 Top 24 of All-Time… of 2024 #1️⃣6️⃣ The White Stripes “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” White Blood Cells Sympathy for the Record Industry (2001) Director: Michel Gondry Forget the Lego video. This is the one.

The Executive has been accused of “gaslighting the public” over social housing figures after claiming that 1,400 new homes would be built this financial year. It follows comments made by the Finance Minister during the October monitoring round. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

The Christmas box is down and the tree is up. 🎅🎄 #Derry Christmas

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