| | | | | | Dec 31, 2023 | | | | | | On Christmas Eve I was on the blustery Co Down coast, then Christmas Day was mild, then Storm Gerrit came in It has been cold then wet then grey then sunny then mild again. But it is wrong merely to say Northern Ireland is always changeable, this year was particularly so A week after the solstice, today and tomorrow have the latest sunrises of the year A couple from Fermanagh have won £3.8 million, which perhaps fires our imagination because it is a huge but not limitless sum. The full local new year honours list is here, a summary of it including Pamela Ballantine and James Martin is here and among the recipients is a farmer who is also a mental health champion We have run reflective pieces by Canon Ian Ellis on journalism, Rev Norman Hamilton on integrity in politics and Alf McCreary, who wishes everyone a happy new year Lots of interesting newly released government papers such John de Chastelain wanting to quit over tardy IRA decommissioning and Irish officials querying the term Republic of Ireland rather than Ireland on extradition papers Meanwhile, an Ulster Unionist politician has criticised the loyalist Jamie Bryson for misusing the Biblical quotation "they know not what they do" There have been three road deaths in recent days including this tragedy, which sadly brings us to at least 70 dead in the province this year, the worst since 2015 Queen's University orders everyone on campus to comply with transgender names and pronouns Here I say how Northern Ireland should look to Dublin Airport and tolled Irish motorways as an example of how taking hard decisions could lead to better infrastructure here And Tom Elliott MLA shows that not everyone in the UUP backs a fox hunting ban It has been a year full of drama, as all years are, our very first full News Letter year of publication 285 years ago, 1738, was dramatic Happy new year! --
Ben Lowry Editor | |
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