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Belfast

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

State reformation: Part I

Critical State

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.

a lineup of the girls in the show

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?

Brexit
A large military vessel is shown in the distnace amid foggy weather conditions.

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

Top of The World
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 

Conflict & Justice
an unmarked border between Ireland and Northern Ireland

Brexit uncertainties cause Irish border communities to fear the worst

Global Politics

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

Orangemen march down Conway Street, off Shankill Road, in Belfast.

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

Culture

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

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.

Conflict

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

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.

Health

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

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

Business

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.