Messages

No doubt making a very positive contribution to their communities............

As with any organisation it has its bad eggs (IRSP has more than most tbf) but they have a few hard working and respected activists in Derry

In terms of few they must be in the 'count with one hand territory'. Most of whom I have heard of / have come across would not have a proper day job (heaven forbid), instead of the they are on the community worker gravy train.  In relation to being 'respected' well lets just say they are not sort of people you would want to fall out with.

https://news.sky.com/story/mps-awarded-pay-rise-to-91-346-by-independent-body-13094588

When I think about people I have come across in the private sector earning in the £90k territory in terms of competencies, skill set / attributes and compare them to the MPs across all parties in NI it is night and day.  Our MPs are similar to our MLAs in that their career options / earning potential would be very low in the real world.

No doubt making a very positive contribution to their communities............

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68556099

Regardless of having the wear with wall to buy one of these sought after apartments at the time this seems very unfair.  Could not believe the legislative difference between here and the mainland, claims must be made within 6 years here whereas across the water it is 30 years.

[In the north it's over 1 in 4 not looking work]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68534537

1 in 5 not working or seeking work. Mad.

Working age. I don't see it accounting for students from ages 16 to 24 or early retirement for late 50s.

Students and retirees make up about 40% of the figure. 50% is ill-health and carers.

In the north it's over 1 in 4 not looking work, with 60% of that due to ill-health or caring responsibilities. In other words, about 1 in 6 working age people out of action directly/ indirectly due to ill-health. Huge obstacle to ever making this place pay it's own way.

The rate is probably greater in the 'working class areas'.  Such people take pride in their working class background only thing is they don't actually want to work. 

[It's incredibly over hyped in Ireland by Dublin (rugby schooled)media]

Whilst on one level, I admire how the IRFU have embraced the professional game , let's consider these facts. Our 3 best players weren't good enough to play for NZ . Even rugby aficionados would say the game is boring and difficult to watch, the enjoyment is in having a few beers and cheering on the green jersey. It's a highly dangerous and often cynical game cf targeting Sexton's head.
It's incredibly over hyped in Ireland by Dublin (rugby schooled)media . Overseas  players with no apparent Irish connection are coming here as a career move and are taking jerseys from potential home grown talent .
We are brilliant at winning stand alone "test matches " many of dubious significance, but when it comes down to the "clutch" in the really big games eg WC or England in Twickers, we fall short. Could this be because most of our players are either overseas mercenaries ( I accept that appears harsh on great characters who have contributed enormously) or private school privileged?

Fair play to the IRFU for making the most of the rules to get a strong team on the field, and hyping us as "the best team in the world" but Rugby clubs are struggling and Irish players aren't developing . It may seem great to be appearing to be at the top table , but in reality we're really only there because we're playing ringers, and we're still only getting the crumbs . Harsh maybe but that's reality.

+1

Fair play to Pat Spillane post last years World Cup calling bullsh@t on Johnny Sextons retirement statement (no doubt prepared by some PR Agency). We lost but we won, what a load of tosh.

Could you imagine a manager of even a Junior B team standing up at the club convention saying guys don't worry I know we got knocked out at the semi-final championship but deep down I believe we won.

He would be laughed out of the room and rightfully so.

My spidey senses tell me there's pockets getting lined to incentivize these recent pr initiatives. Just so out of character for the likes of Poots for it to feel real real

Red white and blue or green, white and gold our local politicians soon throw their principles out the window when it comes to the £££.

Doubt Dooher have much time for Tyrone next year saying he appointed NI chief vet.

Fair play to him, I see he already was the deputy so probably had a fair bit on his plate.

Not too often you would see an inter county manager operating at a very high level also in their professional career, obviously not in it for the mileage money.  The only similar example I can think of would be Pat Gilroy.

Diverging slightly but I know there are very few 'natives' on the Magherafelt senior side in terms of players whose family have been involved down the years. Most are first generation where parents have moved to the town and wee Johnny has now progressed to senior level. Cookstown will likely see the same thing in a few years.

I think current All Star Conor McCluskey is a good example of this, Antrim Father and Tyrone Mother.

Big day for the DUP yesterday. Givan speaking Irish and ELP proving to be better with camog than Michelle. It was nice to see.

A real 'love in' at the minute between DUP and Sinn Fein.

What's next, M O'N to make a guest appearance in Moygashel on the 11th night?

On the presumption they can get a Main Contractor on board in the next 6 months whoever that Contractor is will hit the jackpot. They will be working for a Client who is under immense pressure to get the project over the line ahead of Euro 2028 so whatever commercial / contractual disputes that may arise the Contractor will always have the upper hand so will  stick the arm in accordingly because they know the Client has to keep the job moving no matter what.

Genocidal regimes don't tend to have a long shelf life in the modern era. The Khmer Rouge, Interahamwe and Nazi Party were all removed from power.

Unless some prominent nation has the balls to call out the Israeli Government / IDF for the shower of absolute tramps they are hard to see things changing soon.  Everyday goes by Netanyahu makes Putin look like Mother Teresa.

I sit on interview panels at work sometimes and the amount of people applying for Band 3 / Band 4 jobs were top salary would be approx £25k with Degrees, PGCE and Masters is unbelievable.  Some could be graduated post 5 - 7 years and seem to have drifted from one job to another.

A lot of the time the degrees they did were an absolute waste time as there is no direct link in terms of profession.

Unless you put your degree to use in 1, 2 years max you may as well have left school at 16.

If the scenario was that you and your other half both went to Uni you are looking at a possible situation when you go to get married / buy a house that between you could have in the region of a combined debt hanging over you of £60k - £80k.

I graduated in late 90s with £5k of loans and the missus graduated 3 years later with £12k and were more than glad to see the back of that when it was paid.

Changed times.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41341502.html#:~:text=Former%20Derry%20manager%20Rory%20Gallagher's,precluded%20him%20from%20coaching%20teams.