Messages

I'd say they'll be a unionist pact this time. They are getting nervous so it'll happen this time with wee Seamy pulling the strings.

DUP want the 'First Minister' position back. Winning it back would be a big PR 'victory' for them. That's what they're gunning for now. You can see this is what they're gearing up for...from yesterday.

Nationalists could take aseat in Strangford and Lagan Valley maybe? But need to work together.

If they have any sense they will vote down the list anyway so a pact is counterproductive, if anything the more parties/choice the more likely people will turn out to vote just as long as they remember to then transfer wisely. The pacts only really work in the general election.

Can't see SF losing first minister position unless there is huge collapse in interest among nationalist voters

I can't see any Unionists packs in an assembly election. They will 100% do one in a Westminster election - don't rule out a UUCC style like 70s one Unionists running in each seat.

Correct me if I'm wrong folks is the DUP only one seat behind SF - I think Alex Easton once he became MP give his assembly seat to DUP even tho he was Independent.

SF don't look in any position to lose any of there seats - DUP claim they can win a seat in Belfast West. That final seat could have a say on the First Minister.

For today's attacks on Doha - Israeli Jets would had to fly over Arab airspace, possibly Saudi? When can these countries not allow Israeli to use there air space?

Don't rule out another attack on Iran soon again.

If Qatar anything about them they get United States out of there country quick and fast.

[Swatragh Reserves 7 8]

Conceding Team    Number
Swatragh Reserves    7  8
Magherafelt Reserves    3  5
Castledawson Reserves    3 
Slaughtneil Reserves    2
Ballinascreen Reserves    2
Lavey Reserves            1
Dungiven Reserves    1
Kilrea Reserves            1

A couple of corrections at the top. Is reserve football close to dead?

I'm afraid it is, so sad to see this but the writing has been on the wall for the past couple of years.
Imo i honestly think it's a generation problem. Young fellas (not all) these days simply don't want to play but they happy to train and stand in gyms. But minute there a game there unavailable for selection, on the flip side 20 years ago you hated the site of training but never missed a game.
Also the recreation league should only be for players over 30.

1st surprise of the weekend... What happened Castledawson?

Hardly surprising Vale are going well 50percent of the time...

I didn't find tonight's result a surprise, Faughanvale have been an inform team all season. Finished 2nd in the league (Lavey was only defeat).

My prediction for this election in the North is that Nationalists will outpoll Unionists. This happened for first time ever at the local elections last year.  The trend cannot be reversed and Unionists will never outpoll Natiobalists ever again,  including in a Unity Referendum.

They should but may also be giving up a few percentage points to help Farry in North Down and Long in East Belfast, whereas Unionists will step aside to help another Unionist and overall won't give up Unionist percentages.

I wonder, for all the talk of infighting within unionism currently, will they come together and have a pact?

Belfast East : Alliance GAIN (only if Long candidate

Belfast West : SF HOLD
Belfast North : SF HOLD
Belfast South / Mid Down : SDLP HOLD
Strangford : DUP HOLD
Lagan Valley : DUP HOLD
North Down : INDEPENDENT GAIN
South Down : SF HOLD
Upper Bann : DUP HOLD
Newry Armagh : SF HOLD
Mid Ulster : SF HOLD
West Tyrone : SF HOLD
FST : SF HOLD (50/50 candidate massive)
Foyle : SDLP HOLD
East Derry : DUP HOLD
East Antrim : DUP HOLD
South Antrim : UUP GAIN
North Antrim : DUP HOLD

SF : 7
DUP : 6
SDLP : 2
ALLIANCE : 1
UUP : 1
IND : 1

The SF representatives mentioned are stepping down at the next election so again no bye election required.

Gildernew is contesting the European seat in June. Will she step down if elected? She should, but with Westminster election one a few months later I wonder would there be any point.

My understanding is dual mandates are not permitted so she would have to resign. Bye election would depend on if a general election was to be within the 3 months of resignation.

With General Election looming surely now the DUP are looking over there shoulders in South Antrim, East Belfast and now Lagan Valley.

Regarding FST - Sinn Fein will need a strong candidate to hold that seat. No doubt they face a unity Unionist Candidate with it going to the wire.

Will they just wait till the next election or will him stepping down generate a by-election ?

It should generate a by election but will anyone be in a hurry to do this?
Sorcha Eastwood's chances much improved.

If the DUP lose 2 Westminster seats and presuming the Shinners don't a single unionist party will be imperative 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MPs_for_constituencies_in_Northern_Ireland_(2019%E2%80%93present)

Can someone correct me if I am wrong that they can survive a by-election being called as we are in Election year? Michelle Gildernew, Micky Brady and Francie Molly all stepping down there seats but no by-elections.

However if a by-election is called in Lagan Valley Alliance will need lot to go there way - turnout would need to strong and most by elections turnout figures aren't great.

Want to get a present for someone. Tickets to punchestown in April. What is the best day of the festival?

The Punchestown Gold Cup day or Champion Hurdle usually good days and also you have chance to see some top class horses if they stay fit and well which will feature in those races.

Hard to know if independents will make any impact apart from Sugden and Easton?

Any others?

But could take votes away from the maon parties to make a difference in them not getting the fifth seat.

A lot of momentum behind the Easton campaign in North Down, But would he return to the DUP if they ended on equal seats with SF?

I would feel the same about cornering and all the countries giving arms to Ukraine is not going to help but what do you do. The man is insane. I almost wonder would someone from within stop him too. We can only hope

So truss was the one who made him play the nuclear card. Is there no end to the damage tories do

I am surprised USA hasn't given Ukraine a Iron Dome missile system or THAAD missile defence system which Israel and South Korea have. Also have the Russian not learnt from the invasion of Afghanistan in the 80's??

Jesus what a complete shambles of a season, not even a old firm win to our name and not even a cup. It's now quickly turned from Celts 80% certs to win the league to Rangers 70% going into next season. The longer and longer this Howe decision sits is worrying for us Celts, unfortunately now I have given up hope on getting Eddie. The board should simply be giving Eddie whatever he needs money wise and fresh new backroom team. But again I worry for the Celts with the situation at the minute, we end up with Keane or another useless manager who be gone in year. For all the younger users who may not of supported club through times of Gers 9 in a row in 90s, get ready for history to repeat itself if this mess isn't sorted as the gers are only growing stronger!!

Its very depressing to think that once great venue is now lying how it is.

Theres been lots of faults all along the way in this from the start of the process to now. Closing down Casement while we waited on a planning application to be done and submitted etc was silly. the ground should of been kept open until the last moments.

Was there a public consultation done on the project? Not sure if one was done at that time to gauge the local response to the scheme designs for the ground. I have always got the feeling that the money was there - we all took it and never for once though it all through at all. Just get it done and built seemed to be the thought process.

The balls up made with the health and safety side of things for the fire escapes, large crowd evacuations etc. All signs that the project was just being pushed through to get that public money spent and get it built.

The complete shambles made with the original planning decision. I mean ffs i have a handling sometimes trying to get a house passed for planning through my work and have to jump through hoops just for that to be done lol

The on going mess with the local residents and their concerns. Should of been sorted right back at the very start with a public consultation and meetings for have that all in place before it got into Planning.

There's little can be done with regards to the time and costs going up, thats just a reflection on how things are now, with the GAA being asked to foot more money into this as the money that was ring fenced isn't enough to cover the new costs. As time moves on and nothing happening the cost of construction will also keep rising.

Another smaller scheme would need to go back into Planning and that in itself would just add more years onto a delay in starting. I feel we are where we are now and it wont be changed or reduced down. It will be down to the GAA finding more money as the executive wont be stumping up anymore without a political row.

I doubt anything will ever happen at casement an it is such a pity. I always believed they didn't need this big fancy stadium, tell me why they couldn't of just tidied it up a bit? Surely that's all it needed?! Didn't get over why they didn't build something similar to Owenbeg at Dunsilly, surely that would of done the job.

Conservative majority now at 4/7. No overall majority at 13/8 with Labour majority at 20/1.

As they say, bookies rarely get it wrong!

Oh dear. Border down the Irish sea. The DUP will find this rather upsetting.

Oh won't they just, another Conservative government selling the Ulster men out lol! It just be like 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement all over again. Arlene,Dodds,Wilson,Campbell an co. will take to streets again. What's chances of another NEVER NEVER NEVER speech - Ulster says no campaign be on the cards.

Firstly, best wishes to Sylvia Hermon really sad to see her stepping down. North Down now looks a complete banker for DUP. I heard rumours few weeks ago that Diane Dodds was going to run for that seat, however her name has popped up to run for Upper Bann.

Brexit Referendum 2016
Total electorate: 65,660
Turnout: 44,211 (67.3%)
Votes to REMAIN: 23,131 (52.4%)
Votes to LEAVE: 21,046 (47.6%).

NI Assembly Election 2017
DUP 14,152 (37.5%) 2 seats
UUP 8,115 (21.5%) 1 seat
Alliance 7,014 (18.6%) 1 seat
Green 5,178 (13.7%) 1 seat
Ind 1,369 (3.6%)
SDLP 679 (1.8%)
Con 641 (1.7%)
SF 591 (1.6%)

Westminster Election 2017
Sylvia Hermon (Ind) 16,148 (41.2%)
Alex Easton (DUP) 14,940 (38.1%)
Andrew Muir (Alliance) 3.639 (9.3%)
Steven Agnew (Green) 2,549 (6.5%)
Frank Shivers (Con) 941 (2.4%)
Therese McCartney (SF) 531 (1.4%)
Caoimhe McNeill (SDLP) 400 (1.0%)
Gavan Reynolds (Ind) 37 (0.1%)

After closing analysing the figures for this there is still hope for DUP to be defeated here. Could the Pro-Remain side run a independent candidate?? Does the UUP believe they can gain back this consistency? Finally does Alliance have a chance?? Views folks

Key Battleground of South Belfast:

Brexit Referendum 2016:
Total electorate: 66,664
Turnout: 44,583 (66.9%), 3/18.
Votes to REMAIN: 30,960 (69.5%);
Votes to LEAVE: 13,596 (30.5%).
Third highest REMAIN vote share in Northern Ireland

Westminster Election 2017:
Emma Little Pengelly (DUP) 13,299 (30.4%)
Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP) 11,303 (25.9%)
Paula Bradshaw (Alliance) 7,946 (18.2%)
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir (SF) 7,143 (16.3%)
Clare Bailey (Green) 2,241 (5.1%)
Michael Henderson (UUP) 1,527 (3.5%)
Clare Salier (Con) 246 (0.6%)

Surely the Pro-Remain parties must do a election pack here, but if they do who gets the free run? It either have to be Claire Hanna (SDLP) or Paula Bradshaw (Alliance). Views Folks??