Schools close and GAA clubs merge: The decline of rural communities Nearly 50 small primary schools in County Tyrone have closed their doors over the last 20 years.

'The only thing growing in rural communities are the graveyards'

Small schools close, GAA clubs merge, and marching bands fold.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NI fuel protesters 'stand in solidarity' with Irish counterparts A convoy of vans, lorries, tractors, and even a limousine took part in a slow moving protest around the town centre on Saturday afternoon.

Paddy McLaughlin owns a limousine and a vehicle recovery company in Strabane.

He told BBC News NI that his fuel bill increased by more than £5,000 in the past month and he would be taking his lorries off the road from today.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NI fuel protesters 'stand in solidarity' with Irish counterparts A convoy of vans, lorries, tractors, and even a limousine took part in a slow moving protest around the town centre on Saturday afternoon.

Paddy McLaughlin owns a limousine and a vehicle recovery company in Strabane.

He told BBC News NI that his fuel bill increased by more than £5,000 in the past month and he would be taking his lorries off the road from today.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Rostrevor: Death of 13 lambs 'worst thing' farmer could imagine Police say they were found dead on a farm on the Drumsesk Road and that their necks had been deliberately broken.

Death of 13 lambs 'worst thing I could ever imagine', says farmer

Kevin McGivern told @BBCNewsNI “at least 11 had their necks broke, the others were probably strangled,".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Social media ban: Paul Givan 'sympathetic' to call for change in Northern Ireland The education minister says it is important to keep a

Is it time to ban social media for under-16s in Northern Ireland?

Education Minister Paul Givan has said he is "very sympathetic" to calls for a ban.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“There are people in their graves today who wouldn’t be there had there been an upping of the price of cheap alcohol.”

Former Health Minister Jim Wells wanted to introduce minimum unit pricing in 2014.

Read more:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“120 fewer people are dying each year in Scotland as a consequence of Minimum Unit Pricing.”

NI Chief Medical Officer Prof. Michael McBride says evidence from Scotland shows the policy can reduce hospital admissions & alcohol related deaths.

Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Time running out to introduce alcohol minimum pricing, says minister The pricing structure is already in place in Scotland and Wales where alcohol cannot be sold for less than 65p per unit.

The health minister has said time is "quite rapidly" running out for the executive to introduce alcohol minimum pricing in Northern Ireland.

And he says a failure to introduce it back in 2013 “inevitably” means some lives have been lost.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Belfast: Residents 'traumatised' by racist graffiti inside flats Graffiti containing a racially offensive slur was sprayed on a wall inside a residential building in Belfast on Saturday.

An Indian woman who has been living in Belfast for 23 yrs said racist graffiti and anti-social behaviour near her home has forced her to change how she lives her life

Another resident says his children are “shattered” and afraid to go to their room alone.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Nicola Sturgeon: Trump, Farage, Independence and Trans rights YouTube video by BBC News NI

You can now watch our entire interview with @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social on the BBC News NI YouTube channel.

Scotland's former First Minister talks to @markcarruthers7.bsky.social about the rise of Reform, Scottish Independence, and culture wars.

#indyref #politics

youtu.be/04sxx9si4Bs?...

The #Allianz logo was behind both goals for the first half of tonight’s televised @TyroneGAALive @KildareGAA #GAA league game in Omagh but was removed at halftime.

Not a single reference to Allianz - or appearance of its logo - in the 23 page programme for tonight’s #Tyrone #Kildare league game

Tens of thousands of rodent reports plague NI There have been more than 66,000 pest reports across Northern Ireland since 2020.

There have been more than 66,000 pest reports & complaints made to councils and housing authorities across NI since 2020.

It comes as some business owners in Dungannon are calling for action to be taken over the presence of rats in the town.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ireland facing 'grave moment' in US relations - Taoiseach Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland is facing a "grave moment" in terms of our relationship with the US.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland is facing a "grave moment" in terms of our relationship with the US.

www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

Trump says 'no going back' on Greenland plan as EU chief vows 'unflinching' response - live updates The US president says

'No going back' on Greenland plan, Trump says, as EU chief vows 'unflinching' response.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Colin Howell's confession tapes to be aired for first time Dentist-turned-murderer Colin Howell confessed to killing his wife and his lover's husband 18 years after the crime.

The confessions of one of Northern Ireland's most notorious killers are to be broadcast for the first time.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pro-Palestinian activists acquitted of damaging Israeli-made Sodastream products Three people were alleged to have placed BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) stickers on the fizzy water goods in a supermarket in Belfast.

Three pro-Palestinian activists have been acquitted of causing criminal damage to Israeli-made Sodastream products in a west Belfast supermarket.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ulster GAA says site enabling works will resume at #CasementPark next Monday.

It involves site clearance and demolition of existing structures within the stadium’s boundary, including the old stand.

Expected to last until April 2026

Family of man whose remains went unidentified for 13 months meet Garda Ombudsman Jim O’Neill’s father hopes lessons will be learned from errors that led to nine forms of ID being missed in postmortem

The family of a Belfast man whose body was found in Dublin’s Phoenix Park but not identified for 13 months, has met the Garda ombudsman as part of its investigation into the case.

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Greenland: Michelle O'Neill 'deeply concerned' by Trump tariffs threat Michelle O'Neill says she is

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she is "deeply concerned" about the potential impact of Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on countries opposing his proposed takeover of Greenland.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Royal School Armagh: Pupils behind explicit AI images tracked down, says principal Principal Graham Montgomery said it has been a

Pupils behind explicit AI images tracked down, says principal www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Trump says he will '100%' follow through on threat to impose tariffs over Greenland demand The US president says

Trump says he will '100%' follow through on threat to impose tariffs over Greenland demand

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Dublin players planning Allianz protests for leagues Dublin players are set to refuse to appear in front of Allianz-branded signage during the forthcoming National Leagues.

Dublin players are set to refuse to appear in front of Allianz-branded signage during the forthcoming National Leagues.

www.rte.ie/sport/footba...

Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK

Conservative shadow minister Andrew Rosindell has defected to Reform UK, becoming the seventh Tory MP to do so.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

European countries threaten €93bn tariffs on Trump - FT Keep up to date with the latest developments and reactions after Donald Trump stepped up threats of taking over Greenland and announced a series of tariffs against European countries

European countries threaten €93bn tariffs on Trump - FT www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

I’ve updated this #StarterPack as more people join #BlueSky.

This one has Northern Ireland politicians, journalists & political commentators.

Send through any recommendations or anyone you spot that I should include.

go.bsky.app/SGhfVQV

'Europe won't be blackmailed,' Danish PM says as Nato allies unite over Trump's Greenland tariff threat - follow live Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the country wants to co-operate, adding

'Europe won't be blackmailed’

Danish PM says as Nato allies unite over Trump's #Greenland threat

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Royal School Armagh: Police investigate 'explicit' AI images The principal told a Sunday newspaper that as soon as the school became aware of the issue it had referred the matter to the authorities.

Police investigate reports of 'explicit' AI images at County Armagh school www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Coalisland: Evri dumps parcels for customers miles away on driveway Evri says they are

A pile of 14 #Evri parcels has been discovered on a driveway in Coalisland.

The addresses on the parcels span across parts of Mid-Ulster, with some of the packages being for shoppers 45 miles away.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘Irish police on loyalist streets?’ Key questions in the Irish unity debate YouTube video by BBC News NI

🇮🇪 🇬🇧

Will the Gardaí police the Shankill Road in a United Ireland?

What are the strongest arguments for a #UnitedIreland? And what are the best for remaining part of the #UK?

@sjamcbride.bsky.social & @fotoole.bsky.social debate #BorderPoll issues

Watch on YouTube👇

youtu.be/86_mtnxYugU?...