Belfast

Parliament buildings over looks the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oct. 28, 2022. 

State reformation: Part I

This week's Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive into what might happen should Ireland and Northern Ireland fall under one government again.

State reformation: Part I
a lineup of the girls in the show

Why ‘Derry Girls’ has become an international cult hit

Why ‘Derry Girls’ has become an international cult hit
Areas of west Belfast are dominated by vivid murals depicting armed Loyalist and Republican paramilitary figures.

Is Brexit destabilizing Northern Ireland?

Is Brexit destabilizing Northern Ireland?
A large military vessel is shown in the distnace amid foggy weather conditions.

China’s military exercises near Taiwan raise concerns in the West

China’s military exercises near Taiwan raise concerns in the West
A man with silver hair stands outside with backdrop of border wall behind him.

Northern Ireland still divided by peace walls 20 years after conflict 

Northern Ireland still divided by peace walls 20 years after conflict 
an unmarked border between Ireland and Northern Ireland

Brexit uncertainties cause Irish border communities to fear the worst

Political and economic uncertainty over Britain’s decision to leave the European Union is making people on the Irish border fear for the island’s fragile peace

Brexit uncertainties cause Irish border communities to fear the worst
Orangemen march down Conway Street, off Shankill Road, in Belfast.

What the UK's new power deal means in the DUP's Belfast heartland

The Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland emerged as kingmakers in London. We spoke to ardent loyalists in Belfast about what it means.

What the UK's new power deal means in the DUP's Belfast heartland
Football Soccer - Euro 2016 - Northern Ireland Training

Northern Ireland is divided over its national soccer squad. But not as divided as it used to be.

Not everyone in Northern Ireland roots for the national team. Plenty will support The Republic of Ireland during the 2016 European Championship.

Northern Ireland is divided over its national soccer squad. But not as divided as it used to be.
Pro-life protestors demonstrate in Belfast 2012. Even after today’s ruling abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland in most circumstances.

Despite ruling, abortion is mostly illegal in Northern Ireland. And clinic protests are common.

In most of the United Kingdom, abortion has been legal since the 1960s. But in Northern Ireland it is still banned in almost all circumstances. But a new high court ruling says some of those restrictions violate human rights

Despite ruling, abortion is mostly illegal in Northern Ireland. And clinic protests are common.
A woman leaves Ashers bakery in Belfast, Nothern Ireland, on March 26, 2015. Ashers will face a discrimination case from the Equality Commission after it refused to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan.

Indiana meets Ireland as a Belfast bakery refuses to make a gay-friendly cake

When Ashers Bakery Company refused to make a "pro-gay marriage" cake, it sparked a legal battle of the kind now familiar in the United States. Now a court has ruled in favor of the customer who brought the suit, but many people are unhappy with the ruling.

Indiana meets Ireland as a Belfast bakery refuses to make a gay-friendly cake

A Canadian politician remembers the day he survived a flight with a bomb on board

Bob Rae was on a flight from Belfast to London in 1974. But there was an extra passenger on that flight — a bomb planted by the Provisional IRA.

A Canadian politician remembers the day he survived a flight with a bomb on board
A sheep with dyed pink wool grazes in a field near the village of Balintoy. It's been painted pink to welcome the arrival of the Giro d'Italia cycle race whose race leader wears a pink jersey.

Why they're dyeing local sheep pink as the Giro d'Italia gets underway

The Giro d'Italia is one of the world's biggest races after the Tour de France. It gets underway Friday. 198 riders will cover nearly 1,990 miles over 21 stages. They'll cross the finish line in the Italian port city of Trieste. But can you name the city where the race begins?

Why they're dyeing local sheep pink as the Giro d'Italia gets underway

A 1972 IRA murder of a Belfast woman has come back to haunt Gerry Adams

In 1972, a West Belfast widow was abducted in front of her family, taken off and killed. The IRA admitted to the murder 27 years later, and now, newly-released interviews implicate Irish politician and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.

A 1972 IRA murder of a Belfast woman has come back to haunt Gerry Adams
Lenin statue in Minsk, Belarus

Where in the world is Lenin these days?

Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine took down a statue of Lenin over the weekend, but many of his statues remain around the world decades after the end of communism.

Where in the world is Lenin these days?

Irish and out of luck? Come to Canada, says the construction industry

What do you do when you have too many jobs? In British Columbia, construction companies are recruiting Irish tradespeople to fill thousands of vacant positions.

Irish and out of luck? Come to Canada, says the construction industry