Very sorry to hear about Charlie Warmington. He was the most decent of people, whose reputation went before him. I’ll miss his regular and many kind messages, encouraging me and others in our work- particularly in radio, a medium he seemed to especially love.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Esther Page has got the right idea on a sunny Caturday….
If you're in the mood for some weekend listening - here's the documentary telling the story behind the stories, presented by me and expertly produced by Camellia Sinclair for Radio 4 - a look at the legacy of Joan Lingard's novels which sold 1.3m copies
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
If you’re one of the many thousands who read the novels - you’ll know who “Kevin and Sadie” are. I’m presenting a documentary on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday on the legacy of the books by Joan Lingard, featuring two teenagers’ relationship in 1970s Belfast. Here’s a preview www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The excavators of the former mother-and-baby institution at Tuam have issued their second update. They’ve found more personal items - shoes, spectacles, baby bottles - from the time the institution was open, and five sets of skeletal remains from an earlier period www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Later this autumn, Ireland will haveca new President for the first time in 14 years. I’ve been taking a look at the race so far - plenty of time for unexpected shifts though! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I’ve been hearing about the interesting work to gather, preserve and digitise more than 5000 records from mother-and-baby institutions in Northern Ireland - with the aim of creating a permanent archive, to help relatives and survivors find out information www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The team carrying out the excavation of the site of the mother-and-baby institution at Tuam have given their first public update after beginning work in July - I have a summary here www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Singing and strumming their way to a world record - Marty Rafferty and the Orchard County Band have been on stage in Armagh for more than 19 hours, aiming for the longest Buskathon ever - 30 hours is the target. We’re live here this morning on BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 Live and Radio Ulster
Congratulations to alma mater @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social for their win on University Challenge tonight. You are already a step ahead of this vintage team from 2004, which lost (narrowly) in the first round. The bloke on the left of the picture let the side down.
Ground was broken in the Tuam excavation at 1038 this morning. Here is a radio report featuring the remarkable testimony of people who've campaigned for this to happen. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Thanks to the relatives, survivors and campaigners who shared their stories with us for this long read ahead of the start of the excavation at the site of the institution at Tuam. Profoundly moving testimonies. More on BBC TV and radio today and tomorrow.
An extraordinary and moving interview on the new BBCNI podcast "The State of Us - with one of the best-known voices in rugby www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Visitors to the World Heritage site on NI’s north coast are being asked to help take care of it - by not jamming coins between the famous basalt columns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Incredible end to the weekend - Bernard Butler at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Spellbinding.
Gardaí have reclassified the investigation into the disappearance of the farmer Michael Gaine in Co Kerry to a homicide inquiry www.bbc.com/news/article...
It’s been announced that the excavation of the site of the former mother-and-baby institution in Tuam is set to begin in the second half of June www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Edge-of-your-seat episode of University Challenge tonight… congrats Queens Belfast for nailing the tie-breaker!
Rather wet and blustery in Westport tonight for BBC1 News at 10. But this bad weather is pretty minor compared to what’s coming. Red warnings begin to come into force from 0200. For the first time - the most serious level of weather alert covers the whole island of Ireland tomorrow morning.
New Irish Cabinet appointments so far:
Jim O’Callaghan (FF)- Justice, Integration
Helen McEntee (FG) - Education
James Browne (FF) - Housing
Patrick O’Donovan (FG) - Arts, Media, Sport
Darragh O’Brien (FF) - Transport, Environment, Energy
James Lawless (FF) - Higher Education
Northern Ireland Department of Education has advised all schools to close tomorrow - red weather warnings in both NI and Republic of Ireland for the first time www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, with other Dáil opposition leaders, says what happened today was “farcical” and government is responsible for the “mess”. They have asked for meetings with the coalition party leaders. Earlier Michéal Martin said the constitution had been “subverted”
Rowdy start to the 35th Dáil - proceedings suspended for 15 minutes amidst a dispute about speaking rights.
The Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker has given members a dressing down over dress standards www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
