Last week I was in Belfast for the first time in 20 years. The city centre was flooded with tourists, adding a cosmopolitan flavour. It’s clean and without litter or graffiti. I also didn’t see a single football top on the street in two days, which has to be exceptional for any European city. It was a proper tourist destination.
The whole city is small and just a few minutes’ walk from the centre are demarcation zones where normal rules of law and order, or even planning permission, do not apply. There are places where inappropriate bravado would be punished without appropriate limit.
Many people live in besieged areas. Bombay St is pretty and well-kept, but the residents, are not even protected by a roof-high peace line (below). Their gardens are now completely caged in, a necessary step to protect life and property.
One phrase you will have heard all your life about Belfast in July is “tensions run high”. Communities spend months preparing enormous bonfires, while ancient observances are carried out.
It is not possible for Celtic to play against Linfield under normal conditions without jeopardising the welfare of our travelling support. Too many people would be vulnerable in too many places. We should decline tickets for the away game and politely inform Linfield they should do likewise – don’t think for a second it would be only Linfield fans who would pitch up at Celtic Park for the return game. Their presence would be a beacon for all that we don’t want to see or listen to for 90 minutes.
Belfast has so much to teach Glasgow, from tourism, to reconciliation, but conflict remains part of its infrastructure. This is a tie to get out of the way without cost to life or limb.
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Kojo was uber Celtic.
The Crew coming through.
Smiling..
YES
OUI
Petec 1, 44
No Pete.he was a confused attention seeking mess and always was.
Go easy Pete
Peace
HH
Incredible players coming from the academy?
2000 :D Delighted if K short circuits.
AT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ywo5WUNyU
I like players being sharp and looking to pass the ball quick.
Brendan is just starting. Incredible.
I’m talkin about my Sons team. I want them to be sharper in thinking. Good wee players in there. I’m gutted a certain player didnae get the recognition he should have.
Brilliant Paul.
Paul is fast in thinking and defo deserved an accolade.
Winners incoming
The fullback always has to want the Ball.
Jim Chapman is a Genius.
Deep Dish
Fitba players always want the ball.
Gie me the ba.
Dumbarton Style anyway.
My Sons first touch is brutal….. because he isnae playing constantly. So Sad to say.
I can kill any ball. Even at my age.
That is the Truth.
I got the DAVE
AT – Donegals finesse. ;)
Celtic is gonnae be REALLY GooD this coming Season.
Me and Aidan have moved seats – Leg room :))
This Season is going to be Incredible.
Celtic will have a 5pm kick off in Belfast for their possible Champions League clash with Linfield in an attempt to hold a trouble-free trip to play Linfield.
The Blues have been drawn to play Celtic – should Linfield get past San Marino opposition in the first qualifying round – with the home leg first. For security reasons, July 12th has been ruled out so an early kick-off on July 11th is now likely.
“We’ve had a chat with UEFA and we had ruled out July 12 for obvious reasons, purely from a practical point of view,” said Blues chairman Roy McGivern. “Celtic are relaxed about it and seem happy enough to play in Belfast on July 11.”
The above.
Herald ie
Good morning CQN from another scorcher in East Devon.
Wakey wakey, rise and shine!
“…Up ‘n at thum………
…………. like Alf Tupper into a bag a chips!…”
Am up, AM UP! Mare like ma maw everyday Jobo! Por cierto
hi bhoys from a very muggy west cheshire wish i had air conditioning welcome back jobo.
BIGPACKY
It was still 23C at 3am down here overnight!
Btw,maybe your local pub will have air-conditioning. Just a thought…
BT you got mail if your hotmail is still alive ?
hi bobby unfortunately work calls btw i s that pub down your way the air balloon still going.
BIGPACKY
This one?
https://www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/our-locations/the-air-balloon-birdlip
Aye,been done up a treat too. I was last in it about four years ago. Before that,I’d just go in as a reward for getting my lorry up that hill,especially in icy conditions!
(Only made that mistake once,detoured through centre of Cheltenham after that…)
BMCUW,
Beer Gardens don’t need Air Con. Sorted. :)
hi bobby got stuck on that hill once in the snow. must dash catch you later.
Another day.
Another bloody Haka.
Bit of cultural appropriation in there too.
:-)
Word of The Day (This was used by someone in conversation testerday!)
Spectroheliograph /ˌspɛktrəʊˈhiːlɪəˌɡrɑːf; -ˌɡræf/
noun
1. an instrument used to obtain an image of the sun in light of a particular wavelength, such as calcium or hydrogen, to show the distribution of the element over the surface and in the solar atmosphere. The image obtained is a spectroheliogram
Derived Forms
spectroheliographic, adjective
Word Origin
C19: from spectro- + helio- + -graph
KTF
Well I have accommodation booked for San Marino. Looking forward to the trip.
In the highly unlikely event that the Huns from the occupied territories qualify , I can cancel without any loss.
I guess the guy selling the half an half scarves won’t do much business that night.
MADRARUA on 20TH JUNE 2017 8:58 AM
I guess the guy selling the half an half scarves won’t do much business that night.
—————————————
Very true. However , It would be a real novelty item and I suppose there is always somebody out there. Reminds me of the recent Facing Book discussion about the guy with the Celtic top and the Union Jack shorts.
HH.
Ps : Can’t really see much business for any scarf sellers at the mo.
3 more days in the sun. Now a full week since I last saw a cloud covering the sun. Life’s Good.
Next signing please.
I wonder how many Neil Lennon CSC’s there are. ?
I came across one yesterday while walkabout. Great old pub on Gt Western Rd.. Also heard the pub had recently held auditions for the TV show “The voice.”
Looking forward to hearing the songs.
Every day is indeed a schoolday.
HH.
GREENPINATA
Beer gardens are too bliddy hot for me,and heat my Guinness up faster than I can drink it. I know,hard to believe,but wi an overnight driving job I need to pace myself.
And downing them while they’re still chilled would not be wise…
Wherever you end up,find one of those parasol thingies. Well handy in Lisbon-I would move round the table as the sun moved round the sky!
BIGPACKY
Tsk,tsk. Schoolboy error.
Mind,I once had a journey from Sutton in South London which had drops in York,Scarborough,Middlesbrough and Wallsend. Normally I would have looked at that and done it back to front,overnighting in Wallsend wi deliveries the following day on the return journey.
Dunno why,but I reckoned I could do the first two and overnight in Cannon Park,Middlesborough
Big mistake. Meant me taking my lorry UP Sutton Bank between Thirsn and Scarborough.
That’ll be the Sutton Bank with a 1:4 gradient.
I also took one on The Jurassic Coast route between Weymouth and Exeter-due to road closures,in my defence.
Lovely scenery,which I had plenty of time to enjoy as I negotiated hairpins at walking pace,scraping the paint and wishing I had a parachute!!!
BMCUWP,9:30
As a practising heliocentrist,I much prefer my Guinness indoors,and smoke-free,
modern beer gardens are rubbidge!
HH
Discovered a beautiful dog friendly pub on the banks of the Kelvin. And the humans were quite nice too.
How can I have been so oblivious to such treasures. ? Great motto also. ” Craft Beers , not crap Beers”.
BMCUW. Yup, that driving thingy definitely gets in the way of a good swally. And rightly so.
Cheers.