Solicitor’s firms in Downpatrick and surrounding areas are integral to local community
The President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mark Borland has said we must acknowledge the invaluable contribution which solicitors make in supporting the local economy and the most vulnerable in our communities.
The President made his remarks during a special meeting of the Down Local Solicitor Association held at the St. Patrick Centre to discuss issues affecting solicitor practices and their clients in Downpatrick and surrounding areas.
The President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mark Borland has said we must acknowledge the invaluable contribution which solicitors make in supporting the local economy and the most vulnerable in our communities.
The Law Society, which is the representative and regulatory body for local solicitors, is holding a series of engagements throughout Northern Ireland over the coming months to provide a platform for its members to meet and discuss issues of importance affecting solicitors and their clients.
Attending each of the scheduled local association meeting will be representatives from the Law Society of Northern Ireland including its President, Mark Borland.
Commenting the President said: “I am grateful to members from the Down Local Solicitor Association who took time out of their busy day to attend and to offer their insight into those issues of importance for their practices and clients.”
Conor Rogan, club coach, said: “Myself and the other coaches and the whole community are immensely proud of Leo and the rest of our lads who recently collected an array of titles.
“These young boxers have really excelled themselves. It’s just amazing to have an Irish champion and other top title holders in our club.
“We have really been training and competing only for the last three years and the lads are doing extra well.
“Leo Laverty not only won the Irish title but won the Ulster Nine Counties title too. He’s a real champ!”
Leo Laverty, a current All-Ireland Champion.
Leo Laverty pictured with Head Coach Conor Rogan.
Conor also said that Lukas Sidlauskas was boxing very well and got through the quarter and semi finals in the NI Boys and Girls Clubs competition but was beaten in the final. He was fighting at 63Kgs. Lucas will be fighting next weekend again in Belfast in the County Antrim Championship and the club coaches and boxers wish him every success.
He said: “In fact it was a clean sweep for Lukas, Rory, Finlay and Madden in the Down Armagh fights. The McEvoy brothers were in the silver when they won medals for their weights. Madden was fighting at 38 1/2 Kgs and Finlay was in the 56 Kgs section. They were both winners.
“And Rory Lenaghan was on form in the Down Armagh fights winning at 57 Kgs, claiming a medal for the second year in a row.
“Rory had already won the Ulster Nine Counties at 54 Kgs and followed up with a win at 60 Kgs in the Down Armagh contest. He’s really boxing well now.
Ethan McLaughlin was one of the top medalists for Star of the Sea Boxing Club.
“And Ethan McLaughlin too boxed well at the Ulster Championships in the 48Kgs class to win.
“Overall this is an amazing performance from these young boxers and the coaches are really proud of the work they are putting into their boxing.
“The club will be hosting a boxing invitational tournament with other clubs in June with boxers from Belfast, Newry, and Downpatrick. It’s all still in the pipeline at the moment but will be a great event before the summer school break.”
Brother Finlay and Madden McEvoy are both Ulster champs in their weight classes.
The champs at the Star of the Sea Boxing Club in Killough: (l-r) Finlay, Lukas, Leo, Rory, Madden and Ethan.
Galbraith Says Downpatrick Family Home Seriously Damaged Due To Lack Of Repairs
Downpatrick Councillor Conor Galbraith (SDLP) has said a family home has been left significantly damaged due to a failure to carry out timely repairs on their property.
Clanmil Housing have subsequently up-dated Down News on the state of the repairs to the property.
The ceiling of a family home in the Ardilea Close area has collapsed and “much of their furniture has been ruined after a leak from solar panels was ignored by Clanmil Housing Association.”
Councillor Galbraith added: “The family impacted said they had been informing Clanmil Housing for some time about leaks coming from the property’s solar panels and a significant smell of damp.
A collapsed ceiling: The SDLP’s Cllr Conor Galbraith has asked Clanmill Housing to ensure the property in Downpatrick is satisfactorily repaired.
“Their pleas for repairs were ignored and when they arrived home at the weekend to find their ceiling had collapsed and a significant portion of their furniture had been ruined.
“This family was left with no support over the weekend, no alternative accommodation was provided and they were basically left homeless.
“Work is now on-going to make the house habitable again, but Clanmil appear to be pursuing a sticking plaster approach that will not address the underlying issues that caused this collapse.
“There are other properties in this area that are experiencing similar issues with solar panels and unless the housing association changes their approach to routine repairs we may see similar incidents in future.
“Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their home and I would urge Clanmill to listen to their tenants and take preventative action and carry out routine repairs before another family has to go through such an ordeal.”
Clanmil Housing Responds
A spokesperson for Clanmil Housing said: “We can confirm that a customer first reported a leak at their property to us on 29 April 2026. Our contractor attended the same day to assess the situation and the issue was quickly traced to the solar panel system.
“A specialist contractor attended the following day, 30 April, to isolate the solar panels within the home. As a precaution, the mains water supply was temporarily switched off.
“Both water and electricity were safely reinstated later that day. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time while we carried out necessary repairs. Disruption to utilities was for the minimum time possible to allow the repairs to be carried out.
“Our electrical contractor also carried out checks on 30 April and returned on 1 May to ensure everything remained safe and fully operational. Dehumidifiers were provided at the property to assist with drying.
“Our housing and property teams visited the customer on Tuesday 5th May to assist with clearing up following some ceiling damage and to arrange all necessary repairs.
“We intend to complete the remaining work to the ceiling in the property as soon as possible, and our contractors are currently on site working on this.
“Other than the repairs that are currently being completed as a result of this leak, there are no other outstanding repairs at this property that have been reported to us.
“Our records show that a number of other repairs identified by customers have now been completed, although we acknowledge that some repairs have taken longer than expected to carry out.
“To ensure any outstanding issues are resolved as quickly as possible, and that customers are clear about their responsibilities, we will visit all customers over the next week and offer a maintenance clinic with their Maintenance Officer.
“Our in-house maintenance team will also be in attendance to carry out on-the-spot repairs where possible.
For Clanmil tenants, see repairs process on the link below:
Blood pressure home text monitoring system puts patients in control of their health
Patients across the South Eastern Trust are benefitting from an innovative Nurse-led telehealth system that allows them to monitor their blood pressure safely and easily from home using a simple text message service.
The system, known as Florence or “Flo”, enables patients to take regular blood pressure readings using a cuff and send the results via text message to “Flo”. The readings are then securely stored on a clinical dashboard, where they are reviewed by the Nursing Team in the Ulster Hospital.
In 2023/24, the first full year of operation, 285 patients participated in the programme. In the last year, this figure has grown significantly to 570 patients, reflecting both its success and increasing demand.
The approach has already received national recognition, with presentations at both the British Geriatrics Society Conference and the UK Stroke Forum.
Stroke Nurses: Emma Graham, Charlotte McCallion & Hannah Bartley who work with the Florence home text system. (Photos courtesy of South Eastern HSC Trust).
The system does not require a smartphone, app, or internet access, just a standard mobile phone making it accessible, simple to use and more suitable for older or less tech-savvy patients.
South Eastern Trust, Clinical Lead for Stroke and Consultant Physician, Dr Mark Bowman said speaking of the clinical benefits of the system: “We were seeing patients following a minor Stroke and TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) where high blood pressure is one of the most important and modifiable risk factors for a further event.
” Traditionally, obtaining reliable blood pressure readings required repeated clinic visits, which is not always practical for patients or the service.
“Florence has given us a way to monitor patients in their own environment, obtain more accurate readings and respond quickly when needed, without adding to the burden on either patients or services.”
Dr Bowman added that feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, and added: “Patients tell us they feel more in control of their health and find the system very easy to use.
(l-r) Dr Mark Bowman, (Clinical Lead for Stroke and Consultant Physician) & Dr Loay Abdelnour (Consultant Physician).
“Removing the need to travel for appointments, particularly for older or less mobile patients which makes a real difference to daily life.
“There is also the well-known ‘white coat effect’, where blood pressure readings in clinic can be higher due to Anxiety.
“Home monitoring through Florence provides a far more accurate picture, leading to better clinical decisions.”
Early data from an initial cohort of 20 patients demonstrated significant clinical impact. Half required no change to their treatment.
However, 30% were started on blood pressure medication for the first time and a further 20% required an increase in existing medication. Overall, in 50% of cases, a previously unidentified treatment gap was addressed.
South Eastern Trust, Consultant Physician, Dr Loay Abdelnour, highlighted the wider importance of the initiative and said: “Identifying and treating high blood pressure after Stroke or TIA is one of the most effective interventions we can make to prevent further, potentially more disabling Strokes.
“Every Stroke prevented represents a significant saving in both acute hospital care and long-term rehabilitation, which can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds per patient.
“Florence allows our Nursing Team to safely monitor a much larger cohort of patients than would be possible through traditional face-to-face appointments, without a proportional increase in resources.
“The Nursing Team are responsible for patient enrolment, monitoring the clinical dashboard, interpreting results and escalating care when required.
“It operates within an inter-disciplinary neuro-vascular hub, where clinical decisions are made collaboratively.”
Emphasising its simplicity, Dr Abdelnour highlighted that Florence has been designed to be inclusive and accessible, “The beauty of Florence is that it does not require a smartphone, an app or any technical know-how. If you can send a text message, you can use it.
“Our Team supports every patient through set-up and remains available throughout the process.
“Patients who were initially sceptical, often become its strongest advocates once they experience how straightforward it is.”
EmpowerHER Auto Nights Boosts Women’s Confidence on the Road
Women from across the Slieve Gullion and Newry District Electoral Areas (DEAs) have taken part in a series of free, hands-on car safety events aimed at building confidence and practical skills behind the wheel.
The “EmpowerHER Auto Nights,” organised by the DEAs in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and Road Safe NI, were held throughout March and April at Lissummon GAA Club, Three Ways Newry, Safe Mart Camlough, Buttercrane Newry and The Welcome Inn, Forkhill.
The initiative was designed to provide women with the knowledge and confidence to better understand their vehicles and stay safe on the roads.
Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum coordinator Padraig Harte (left) at the EmpowerHER Auto Night with (from left) Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) officer Kaitlyn Martin, a PSNI Newry City Neighbourhood Team Officer and Road Safe NI’s Tricia O’Neill.
Participants received guidance on daily car safety checks, essential road safety advice, basic vehicle maintenance and how to interpret dashboard warning lights.
The PSNI also offered advice to women on what to do in the event of a breakdown and how to stay safe.
All events were fully booked and created a supportive, welcoming environment where participants could ask questions, gain practical skills and feel more in control of their driving experience. Attendees also enjoyed refreshments and received complimentary goodie bags.
Slieve Gullion District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum Chairperson Councillor Aine Quinn (second left), with (from left), Councillor Declan Murphy, Tricia O’Neill and Ciara Sands (Road Safe NI) and Slieve Gullion District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum coordinator Aoife McComiskey at the EmpowerHER Auto Night in Camlough.
Slieve Gullion DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aine Quinn, said it was particularlyimportant events like EmpowerHER Auto Nights were delivered in rural areas such as Lissummon, Forkhill and Camlough, where access to services and support can often be more limited.
“Bringing this type of practical, confidence-building initiative directly into local communities helped ensure that more women could benefit without the barrier of travelling long distances.
“It was encouraging to see strong local participation and engagement at all the events,” she added.
Newry DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aidan Mathers, described theEmpowerHER Auto Nights as a “fantastic initiative” that supported women to become more confident and informed drivers.
He added: “By providing practical, easy-to-understand advice in a relaxed setting, it helped remove some of the uncertainty around vehicle maintenance and road safety. It was great to see such positive engagement from those who attended.”
NI Water Outlines Major Infrastructure Challenges and Key Investments at Ards & North Down Borough Council Meeting
NI Water outlined the scale of investment challenges facing water and wastewater infrastructure during a presentation to Ards and North Down Borough Council.
At the meeting, a senior representative highlighted essential projects underway across the Council, alongside the significant funding challenges impacting delivery of upgrades needed to support housing, economic growth and environmental protection.
Despite these challenges, several key investment schemes are progressing across the Council area in 2025/26 and planned for 2026/27, including:
Kinnegar Wastewater Treatment Works Essential Base Maintenance and Optimisation (£10.38m)
Killinchy Drainage Area: Inisharoan Pumping Station (£4.99m)
Drumaroad Strangford Water mains Work package (£4.27m)
Ballyreagh Road Sewer (Rivenwood) (£4.12m)
Ballyrickard DA Upper Crescent Wastewater Pumping Station (£0.52m).
The WWtW at Carrowdore in 2022 now complete.
Dr Steve Blockwell, Head of Investment Management at NI Water, provided councillors with an overview of NI Water’s operational footprint in the Council, its ageing asset base, and the pressures on the wastewater network.
Dr Blockwell said:“Across Northern Ireland, the wastewater system is under severe pressure. Years of under investment mean many assets are now operating beyond their intended capacity, and this Council is no exception.”
Speaking about the broader funding position, Dr Blockwell added:“Without long‑term, sustainable capital investment, we can only maintain existing assets and keep essential services running.
“That leaves very limited scope for upgrades – and the consequences are restrictions on development, increased pollution risk and worsening pressure on the environment.”
He reinforced NI Water’s commitment to working collaboratively with councils, planners and developers and said: “We recognise the impact that these constraints are having on housing delivery and economic development.
“We are looking at innovative solutions to remove unwanted water and working with local traders to address network and treatment capacity issues in the Ards and North Down Borough Council areas.
“Furthermore, our teams continue to work closely with the Council and with developers to find interim solutions where possible. But the reality is that many locations will require major capital upgrades before growth can proceed.”
NI Water thanked the Council for the opportunity to present and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering efficient, value‑for‑money services despite the financial constraints.
Dr Blockwell said: “Northern Ireland needs a sustainable, long‑term approach to funding water and wastewater services.
“The Utility Regulator’s final determination is clear about the level of investment required to meet statutory obligations.
“While short‑term funding can help progress individual projects, long‑term certainty is essential for delivering reliable public services.”
Phone signal blackspots affect farmers adversely says Ballynoe farmer Ronnie Murphy
The mobile phone coverage in some rural areas in County Down is very poor says Ballynoe farmer Ronnie Murphy.
The Ballynoe farmer said: “As someone who uses only a mobile phone with no land line at times in the Ballylucas road area, I know right across BT30 rural areas in talking to people that we are not getting the service we are paying for to mobile phone companies.
“At times I find there is no service at all. We have to get in a car from my farm and travel two to three miles to get a signal to make calls that we should be able to make from our own farms and homes.
Looking for a signal on the Ballylucas Road at Ballynoe: farmer Ronnie Murphy is concerned that the poor mobile phone signal could put farmers at risk.
“I believe in the days we are living in, it is time for companies to provide us with a much better service than we have in rural areas.
“Farmers especially need much better service as most of time they are very much alone and find if they need need to use phone in my area that they have no reception.
“This is very unsatisfactory even for health and safety if they were to find themselves in a situation needing help in an emergency. Farming can be a dangerous occupation and accidents do happen.
“Having a phone signal is not a luxury, it is a necessity in the case of farmers.”
If you want to test your phone signal, check out the link:
QUB Report says Irish Language And Gaeltacht Community Key To Building A New Ireland
Irish-language and Gaeltacht community are positioned as “integral architects in the building of a new Ireland” – new report by Queen’s University Béal Feirste examines the “failure of both the Northern and Southern jurisdictions to adequately attend to the needs of Irish-language and Gaeltacht communities since partition”
Irish language rights should not be discarded as ‘bargaining chips’, ‘displaced’ or ‘marginalised’ further, but ‘built upon’, as conversations towards a new Ireland grow stronger, new research from Queen’s University Béal Feirste finds.
A new research report has been published by Queen’s University Béal Feirste investigating and analysing the role of the Irish language in the event of a United Ireland. The report, ““A United Ireland: A Transformative Opportunity for the Irish Language and Gaeltacht”, was launched today (Tuesday 5th May 2026) at the Séamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University in Béal Feirste, and was introduced by its author and lead-researcher Róisín Nic Liam. Also speaking at the event was Conradh na Gaeilge President, Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhéin, and Professor Colin Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law in the QUB School of Law, who was recently appointed to the Council of State by the Uachtarán na hÉireann/President of Ireland in March 2026. The event was hosted by Dr Síobhra Aiken, Senior Lecturer, Department of Irish and Celtic Studies, Queen’s University Belfast.
The report sets out an overview into how the Irish language has been framed in discussions on a united Ireland, representing a discursive intervention on the Irish-language question, and challenging the persistent negative portrayals of an Ghaeilge in those conversations.
The report from QUB sets out the background to a united Ireland.
The report argues that the Irish language community “should seize the historic opportunity presented by the conversations on Irish unity to articulate its own progressive vision and its own demands regarding the future of the language and the Gaeltacht.” Accordingly, this report contends that the Irish-language and Gaeltacht communities must “pivot from this defensive position in debates on constitutional change towards a positive, proactive stance”, and that “such a reconfiguration will ensure that the indigenous language of Ireland, and its speakers, are not further marginalised in any future political arrangement.”
The research was commissioned by the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community, Conradh na Gaeilge.
Speaking at the launch of the research report at the Séamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast today, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, said:
“In 2019, as the debate around the constitutional future of Ireland gathered momentum, the Ard-Fheis unanimously agreed a motion to kickstart a new national conversation on the role of the Irish language in a new Ireland, mandating a series of debates, discussions and assemblies concerning language rights and the prospects to transform the status of Irish as a result of constitutional change. Since then, Conradh na Gaeilge has convened conferences relating to the role of the language and the Constitution in a new Ireland, and how a United Ireland could impact Irish Medium Education, the Gaeltacht and Irish language policies, strategies and legislation north and south. In 2023 Conradh branches and members unanimously agreed a motion to develop research into the role of the Irish language and Gaeltacht in a united Ireland and set out our vision for the time ahead. Since then, we have commissioned Queen’s University Belfast to undertake the research and we were delighted to have Roisin Nic Liam author the report.
“We are delighted to finally present the report to the public and we hope it becomes a major catalyst in the reframing of the debate around the Irish language and Irish unity, one based on rights and respect, where constitutional change is viewed as a generational opportunity for genuine equality and transformative change, and an end to centuries of marginalisation and oppression against Irish speakers across this island and in which the language can act as a catalyst to inspire a more inclusive, progressive vision for a new Ireland.”
The author of the report, Róisín Nic Liam, researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, commented:
“This report is a timely intervention which encourages the Irish-language and Gaeltacht community to set out a positive, progressive and rights-based vision for the language in any new political arrangement. Indeed, the transformative opportunities offered by potential constitutional change are outlined, and a new, United Ireland is ultimately determined as an unprecedented opportunity to radically reset the relationship between an Ghaeilge, the state, and the people of Ireland in general, following the failure of both the Northern and Southern jurisdictions, despite some historic progress in recent years, to adequately attend to the needs of Irish-language and Gaeltacht communities since partition.”
“To date, many of the conversations on constitutional change have framed the Irish language through an incredibly regressive and negative lens, rather than as a living community language across Ireland, and subsequently, as a rights-based issue. This has resulted in the Irish language being proposed by academics and senior politicians alike as something which must be reconsidered or ‘de-emphasized’, in the event of Irish unity, or offered up as a bargaining chip or a symbolic concession to be negotiated.”
“The report concludes by positioning the Irish-language and Gaeltacht community as “integral architects” in the shaping a new Ireland, recommending that the community “should seize the historic opportunity presented by the conversations on Irish unity to articulate its own progressive vision and its own demands regarding the future of the language and the Gaeltacht.”
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community. The Conradh has over 200 branches and numerous individual members registered around the world, members that work hard to promote the use of Irish in their own areas. Conradh na Gaeilge’s main aim is to promote the use of Irish as the standard language in Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge was established by Douglas Hyde, Eoin Mac Néill, and their colleagues on the 31st of July 1893. The organisation runs Irish-language courses; advocates for the language rights of Irish-speakers; raises awareness about the language; hosts the international Irish-language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge; manages the Irish-language information hub PEIG.ie and the Irish-language bookshop An Siopa Leabhar; supports Raidió Rí-Rá; and much more. More information: www.cnag.ie
Deir Tuarascáil QUB gurb í an Ghaeilge agus pobal na Gaeltachta an eochair chun Éire Nua a thógáil
Pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta aitheanta mar “ailtirí lárnacha i dtógáil Éireann nua” – tuarascáil taighde nua foilsithe ag Ollscoil na Banríona a dhéanann scrúdú ar “teip an dá dhlínse ó thuaidh agus ó dheas freastal ar phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta ó críochdheighleadh an tír”
Níor chóir cearta Gaeilge a iompú ina “gcipíní idirbheartaíochta”, iad a imeallú nó a dhíbirt, ach a mhalairt – ba chóir tógáil ar na cearta reatha, de réir mar a éiriónn an comhrá i dtreo Éireann nua níos láidre – tuarascáil úr Ollscoil na Banríona
Tá tuarascáil nua taighde foilsithe inniu (Máirt 5/5/26) ag Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste, a dhéanann scrúdú agus anailís ar ról na Gaeilge in Éirinn Aontaithe. Seoladh an taighde, ‘Éire aontaithe: Deis chlaochlaitheach don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht’ ag Áras Séamus Heaney in Ollscoil na Banríona ar maidin, áit ar chuir údar príomh-thaighdeoir na tuarascála, Róisín Nic Liam, príomh-thorthaí an taighde i láthair. Ag caint fosta mar chuid den seoladh bhí Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, agus an tOllamh Colin Harvet, Ollamh ar Dhlí Chearta Daonna i Scoil an Dlí san Ollscoil, a cheap Uachtarán na hÉireann ar a Comhairle Stáit ar na mallaibh. Chuir an Dr Síobhra Aiken, Léachtóir Sinsearach, Roinn na Gaeilge agus an Léinn Cheiltigh, Ollscoil na Banríona, an ócáid i láthair.
Leagtar amach sa tuarascáil forléargas ar an fhrámáil atá déanta ar an Ghaeilge i gcomhráití maidir le hÉirinn aontaithe go dáta. Idirghabháil dhioscúrsach atá sa tuairisc seo freisin, a thugann dúsh- lán don fhrámáil leanúnach dhiúltach a dhéantar ar an nGaeilge sa phlé ar Éirinn aontaithe.
Moltar sa tuairisc seo gur cheart don phobal “deis stairiúil na haontachta a thapú lená bhfís fhorásach agus á n-éilimh féin a leagan amach ó thaobh thodhchaí na teanga agus na Gaeltachta”.
Áitítear sa tuairisc, mar sin, gur “gá do phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta tiontú ón seasamh cosantach úd sa phlé ar an athrú bunreachtúil chuig seasamh réamhghníomhach dearfach”.. Ní mór amhlaidh a dhéanamh d’fhonn deimhin a dhéanamh de “nach ndéanfar tuilleadh imeallú ar theanga dhúchais na hÉireann (agus lucht a labhartha) amach anseo”.
Is Conradh na Gaeilge choimisiúnaigh an taighde seo.
Duirt Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge: “In 2019, agus an díospóireacht maidir le todhchaí bhunreachtúil na tíre ag bailiú nirt, d’aontaigh Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge d’aon ghuth chun tús a chur le comhrá náisiúnta maidir le ról na Gaeilge in Éirinn nua, cinneadh a leag dúshraith do chlár iomlán díospóireachtaí, comhráití agus tionól maidir le cearta teanga agus todhchaí stádas na Gaeilge sa chás go mbeadh athrú bunreachtúil ann. Ó shin, tá comhdhálacha agus seimineáir eagraithe ag an Chonradh chun grinnscrúdú a dhéanamh ar ról na teanga in Éirinn nua, ar ról na Gaelscolaíochta, ar cheist na Gaeltachta, ar chúrsaí reachtaíochta agus polasaí, uilig i gcomhthéacs an athruithe bhunreachtúil. In 2023, vótáil craobhacha agus baill Chonradh na Gaeilge d’aon ghuth arís chun taighde a fhorbairt maidir le ról na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta in Éirinn aontaithe agus ár bhfís don tréimhse atá romhainn a leagan amach. Ó shin, choimisiúnaigh muid Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste, chun an tuarascáil seo a chur le chéile agus bhí lúcháir mhór orainn gurb í Róisín Nic Liam údar an taighde.”
“Leis sin, tá áthas mór orainn an tuarascáil seo a chur os comhair an phobail agus tá súil againn go bhfeidhmeoidh sé mar mór-fhoinse spreagtha in ath-fhrámáil na díospóireachta maidir leis an Ghaeilge agus aontacht na tíre, bunaithe ar chearta agus ar mheas, díospóireacht a chaitheann leis an athrú bunreachtúil mar dheis aon-ghlúine chun fíor-chomhionannas agus athru claochlaitheach a bhaint amach, chun deireadh a chur leis na céadta bliain d’imeallú agus den chos ar bolg ar phobal na Gaeilge ar fud an oileáin seo. Tá súil againn, sa díospóireacht mhór atá romhainn, gur féidir leis an teanga fís níos ionchuimsithí agus níos forasaí d’Éirinn nua a spreagadh.”
Ag caint ag an seoladh inniu, dúirt údar agus príomh-thaighdeoir na tuarascála, Róisín Nic Liam: “Is idirghabháil thráthúil é an tuairisc seo a mholann do phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta fís dhearfach, fhorásach, cheartbhunaithe a leagan amach don teanga in aon socrú polaitiúil nua. Go deimhin, cuirtear na deiseanna claochlaitheacha a bhainfeadh leis an athrú bunreachtúil ar shúilibh na léitheoirí, agus aithnítear Éire aontaithe nua ar deireadh thiar mar a bheadh deis stairiúil ann an caidreamh idir an Ghaeilge, an stát agus muintir na hÉireann trí chéile a athshocrú ó bhonn. Déantar amhlaidh i gcomhthéacs theip an dá dhlínse ó thuaidh agus ó dheas freastal ar phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta ó críochdheighleadh an tír, d’ainneoin dul chun cinn áirithe le blianta beaga anuas.”
“Is minic a cuireadh an Ghaeilge in iúl sna comhráití ar an athrú bunreachtúil go dtí seo ar bhonn an-diúltach, in áit í a phlé mar a bheadh teanga bheo phobail ar fud na hÉireann í, agus ceist cheartbhunaithe dá réir. Fágann sé seo gur phléigh idir lucht léinn agus pholaiteoirí sinseareacha leis an nGaeilge mar rud go bhféadfaí ísliú céime a thabhairt dó amach anseo, nó mar rud gur gá athmhachnamh a dhéanamh air i gcás aontacht na hÉireann. Go deimhin, is minic an Ghaeilge á cur in iúl mar a bheadh cipín idirbheartaíochta nó ábhar siombalach comhghéillte ann sna comhráití céanna.”
“Cuirtear clabhsúr leis an tuairisc trí phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta a lonnú mar a bheadh “ailtirí lárnacha” ann i múnlú Éireann nua, agus moltar ar deireadh thiar gur cheart don phobal úd “an deis stairiúil seo a bhaineann le comhráití na haontachta a thapú lenár bhfís fhorásach féin a leagan amach ó thaobh [thodhchaí] na teanga agus na Gaeltachta.”
House prices in Newry Mourne and Down rise in the first quarter (Q1) in 2026
There were 317 property sales agreed in the first quarter in Newry Mourne and Down, which was lower than the same quarter of last year.
However, overall in Northern Ireland, the number of enquiries per property listed for sale on PropertyPal increased by more than a quarter in the first three months of this year as underlying market demand remained exceptionally strong.
There was on average 38 enquiries per property listed for sale on PropertyPal in Q1 2026, an increase of 27% on the same period last year. This strong demand meant that properties sold more quickly, with the average time to reach sale agreed at 45 days, down from an average of 47 days in the same period last year.
House prices in Newry Mourne and Down have risen in the first quarter of 2026.
Jordan Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer at PropertyPal, commented on the Q1 2026 NI housing market said: “Northern Ireland’s housing market started 2026 on stable footing, with approximately 5,900 properties agreed for sale in the opening quarter and house prices growing by 5% year-on-year, amongst the fastest growth across the UK.
“Overall sentiment has remained broadly positive, but heightened economic volatility in March has shifted the outlook.
“Rising inflation expectations have pushed up rate expectations, feeding through quickly to higher mortgage pricing and adding pressure to the market.
Regional house prices for Q1 across the council areas.
“While short-term inflation looks likely, signs of a softening economy create a more nuanced and challenging backdrop for the Bank of England’s decision later this week. Holding interest rates at current levels, appears the most likely outcome.
“Despite these macro-economic headwinds, underlying housing demand remains exceptionally strong, with estate agent enquiries on PropertyPal well above long-term norms. Indeed, Q1 saw a 27% increase in enquiries per listing, pointing to continued strength in market appetite.
“Supply-side constraints remain the key factor limiting activity. Encouragingly, resale supply has improved, with approximately 22,500 residential listings for sale in 2025, up 6% on 2024, giving buyers more choice and supporting confidence.
“By contrast, new homes supply remains well below historic levels, reflecting a range of structural constraints, and this will continue to weigh on overall market activity through 2026 and beyond.”
***
About Jordan Buchanan, Chief Executive at PropertyPal
Jordan Buchanan is the Chief Executive and Chief Economist at PropertyPal, acting as the spokesperson for the company and a trusted subject matter expert on all UK and Northern Ireland economic and housing matters. He currently sits on the Board of Co-Ownership, Northern Ireland’s shared ownership provider. Jordan lectured in Economics at the Ulster Business School and is a regular commentator across a range of media outlets.
About PropertyPal
PropertyPal is the leading local property portal, listing homes from property professionals across Northern Ireland and Ireland. PropertyPal has the largest audience of home movers and home seekers in Northern Ireland, with over 130,000 visitors to their website every day.
McGrath calls for life-saving bowel cancer screening expansion
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath has called on the Health Minister to urgently extend bowel cancer screening to people aged 50 and over, warning that people in South Down are being “left behind” compared to the rest of the UK.
Mr McGrath said the current system, which only routinely offers screening between ages 60 and 74, is failing to catch cancers early and is putting lives at risk.
He said: “Bowel cancer is one of the biggest killers here, yet we know that early detection saves lives. Right now, people across South Down, whether in Newcastle, Downpatrick, Warrenpoint and further, are missing out on vital opportunities to detect cancer earlier.”
Evidence shows that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK not offering screening from age 50, meaning some people can miss up to five screening invitations compared to elsewhere.
Colin McGrath MLA has said that bowel cancer treatment needs to be delivered within teh set time frame and health checks are made available to those from 50 to 74.
Screening also uses a less sensitive test, increasing the risk of later diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
Mr McGrath added: “That inequality is simply not acceptable.
“People here deserve the same standard of care as anyone else across these islands. Extending screening to those aged 50 to 74 would mean more cancers are caught earlier, when treatment is far more effective.”
He also highlighted the pressure on local cancer services, noting that only a quarter of bowel cancer patients in Northern Ireland began treatment within the 62-day target this year(ie within the two moth target!)
The South Down MLA has backed calls for a fully funded, time-bound plan to lower the screening age, improve test sensitivity and invest in diagnostic services .
Mr McGrath said: “This is about saving lives. We need urgent action from the Minister to ensure people in South Down are not diagnosed too late, when it is often much harder to treat. The time to act is now.”
