Bridie Burns helps people find relaxation and well-being through reflexology
Bridie Burns, reflexologist, made a presentation to the business group at Down Business Connect recently in Denvir’s Hotel in Downpatrick during their monthly meeting, and showcased her work to the members.
She explained that she has a studio at the Down Business Centre and is happy for anyone to come along for a session to help them relax deeply and find a pathway to their wellbeing.
The road to reflexology began for Bridie from her own personal experience at the receiving end and experiencing the benefits of a treatment. She then decided to train in reflexology and has achieved a high standard of professional accreditation.
Bridie said that over thousands of years, specific areas of the body have been mapped and linked to feet and hands and other extremities. For example, issues in the upper body can be manifested in signs in the feet.
“A reflexologist then works on these reflexes searching for tensions and uses fingers, thumbs and knuckles to work on these areas.
“Ultimately reflexology aims to aid sleep, release tension, improve mood, promote wellbeing and help relaxation.
“I specialise in feet reflexology (duopody and facial reflexology mainly), but I do also work with head massages which help to relax the client.
“It is important to have regular exercise so chose activities that you enjoy such as walking, running, cycling, swimming etc. Spending time in the out-doors helps to improve your mood.
“And to help maintain a positive outlook on life, each morning write down three things that your are grateful for. This helps your brain to tune into the positivity in life.
“If you increase the level of communication with friends and family, feelings of isolation will be reduced by doing doing this.
“Meditation can help you feel in control. Do some deep breathing which should help calm your mind.
“And as part of this mix, you need too to ensure that you are eating properly.
Bridie explained that not getting regular sleep can make it difficult for your body to resist stressors. So good sleep is crucial for a good health.
“You should switch off all screens and phones at least an hour before you go to sleep. Also, decluttering the room and decorating it in neutral colours also helps to relax your mind.
Ready for your treatment.
“Ideally, regard your bedroom as somewhere to sleep in. So that means no TVs, phones, or browsing your emails etc.
“Keep the bedroom quiet and maintain a temperature of 18 degrees. And establish a basic routine where you switch and dim. lights, and gradually get into sleep mode. Even having a warm batch can help.
“There are some foods which help produce a sleep enhancer, serotonin. Foods that are rich in tryptophan such as turkey, eggs, cheese, salmon, nuts and seeds are useful in producing serotonin.”
Bridie added that reflexology can help with issues such as stress, anxiety, poor sleep, migraine, digestive problems, inflammation, back respiratory conditions and with menopausal or menstrual problems. such as pain management and even fertility.
“So reflexology is a relaxing, non-invasive therapy easing stress and tension, helping to improve circulation and encouraging detoxification.”
Bridie is a Level 5 Clinical Practitioner in Duopody Reflexology, with a Diploma in Applied Reflexology in Integrated Medicine (recognised by the NHS). She is a member of the Association of Reflexologists and maintains high professional standards., and GDPR compliant and treats all cases confidentially.
To find out more, or book a session, give Bridie a call on +44 07729608315,
HS2 Rail Contractor Carries Out Vegetation Clearance at County Down Railway
A rail infrastructure contractor currently working on Britain’s HS2 high-speed rail project has completed a major programme of vegetation clearance at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway preparing for the summer days ahead.
SG Elite Ltd, a Strabane-based company that works across the rail networks in Great Britain and Ireland has just returned from carrying out specialist works on the HS2 tunnels programme.
Now attention focusses on the local heritage line by deploying specialist staff and equipment such as walking excavators to address long-standing line-side overgrowth on the railway’s line to Inch Abbey.
The work focused on difficult and restricted-access locations where conventional machinery and volunteer-led methods are impractical.
Vegetation clearing on the Downpatrick line: (l-r) DCDR’s Chris Johnston (left) with SG Elites James Franklin and DCDR Infrastructure Manager David Crone. (Photos courtesy of DCDR).
Overgrown vegetation that had built up over many years was removed, improving sightlines for train crews and users of adjacent farm crossings, while restoring views across the surrounding countryside for passengers.
Robert Gardiner, Chairman of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, said the scale and professionalism of the operation was more commonly associated with the national rail network than a volunteer-run heritage railway.
He added: “This is the sort of work that heritage railways often know needs to be done, but simply don’t have the specialist equipment or resources to tackle effectively.
“Having a contractor of this calibre involved allowed us to address years of accumulated growth that was beginning to encroach significantly on the track, in a matter of days.
The SG elite team DCDR volunteers.
“SG Elite’s expertise was on show for everyone, These are the same people carrying out vegetation and groundworks on live mainline railways across the UK and Ireland.
“When our volunteers turned up to see the progress, they were completely knocked for six by the difference made to the line, it looks like a proper railway now.”
Chris Thomas, Business Development Manager at SG Elite, said the Downpatrick work demonstrated how professional rail vegetation management can deliver rapid safety improvements.
He added: “The transformation is dramatic. Visibility for drivers, particularly on approaches to level crossings, has improved massively, delivering a significant safety boost and bringing the line up to standard.
“This project shows what we can achieve in live rail environments, delivering high-quality, safety-focused work that makes a real operational difference.”
Mr Gardiner said the project also reflected the railway’s growing role beyond tourism.
The Downpatrick railway chair said: “Downpatrick is increasingly being recognised as a useful real-world training environment for mainline railway contractors, whether that’s to train new staff or test new equipment.
“We can offer controlled access to railway infrastructure, challenging terrain and genuine operational constraints, without the pressures of a live national network.”
The track being cleared of vegetation.
“When contractors working at national level can use the railway to apply skills, develop competence or support work of this nature, it strengthens our role as an asset to the wider rail industry and delivers social value well beyond visitor numbers.”
Further vegetation clearance is expected to take place on the South Line once ongoing infrastructure repairs are completed following recent flooding.
The railway has acknowledged the support and commitment of SG Elite’s team, especially Gerard Kelly, Managing Directorm and Adrian McLoughlin, Operations Manager, for their enthusiasm for the project and support of the Downpatrick charity.
Mr Gardiner said the clearance had also highlighted how unmanaged growth had resulted in a monoculture developing along parts of the route, creating an opportunity for increasing biodiversity by replanting of native species in key locations.
He is interested in hearing from anyone who might be able to assist in this.
Local primary school children and senior Be Active group members recently took part in an intergenerational cultural dance programme celebrating movement, culture and connection.
Delivered by Downpatrick, Rowallane and Slieve Croob District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums in partnership with Jenna Finnegan Dance School, the programme encouraged participants to explore different cultures through dance while supporting physical wellbeing, mental health and positive lifestyle choices.
Along the way, both generations had the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and enjoy shared experiences in a fun and inclusive setting.
The programme concluded with a lively showcase event at Down Leisure Centre on Friday 6 February, attended by pupils from Ballynahinch Primary School, Downpatrick Primary School and St Matthew’s Primary School, Magheramayo.
This provided a fitting celebration of community spirit and the power of coming together across generations.
Photo 1ro
Middle Row L-R: Weihong Tu, Weihong Chinese Culture and Dance; Pat O’Hare, St Matthews PS; Bella Smythe, Ballynahinch PS; Luca Gracey, Downaptrick PS and Xiu Li, Weihong Chinese Culture and Dance
Front Row L-R: Larnah Drake, Downpatrick PS; Sophie Malone, St Matthews PS; Olly Hayes, Ballynahinch PS.
Photo 2
Downpatrick DEA Chairperson Cllr Conor Galbraith and Slieve Croob DEA Vice Chairperson, Cllr Jim Brennan are photographed with pupils, teachers and staff from Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and St Matthews Primary Schools along with Be Active group members, Downpatrick, Rowallane and Slieve Croob DEA co-ordinators and dance instructor, Jenna Finnegan.
Weihong Tu from Weihong Chinese Culture teaches pupils from Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and St Matthew’s Primary Schools the art of Chinese dance at the Inter-generational Cultural Dance showcase event in Down Leisure Centre.
Children’s Mental Health Week: listen and support young people
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents, carers, schools and communities to play an active role in supporting children and young people during Children’s Mental Health Week (9-15 February).
This year’s theme, “This is My Place,” highlights the importance of belonging and connection for mental wellbeing with families, schools and communities encouraged to create inclusive and nurturing environments where children and young people feel they belong.
Having a safe and supportive environment is essential for emotional resilience and the PHA is encouraging everyone to take steps that help children feel valued and understood.
Denise O’Hagan, Assistant Director for Strategic Public Health at the PHA, said: “Supporting children and young people to maintain good mental health starts with listening, this helps to make the child feel important and valued.
“Showing an interest in their lives, taking time to notice changes in mood or behaviour, and reassuring them that you are there for them and that help is available, if needed, can make a real difference.
“Children and young people can face many challenges and while most are fine with these pressures, some find it hard to cope.
“If a child is feeling distressed or troubled, they may express this in a number of ways, such as behaving out of character, not being able to concentrate, not sleeping well, becoming fearful of things, or finding things at home difficult, and this can vary depending on the age of the child.”
Signs that children and young people might be struggling with their mental health include:
unable to concentrate;
behaving out of character;
not sleeping, having nightmares, wetting the bed;
becoming disruptive in class, at home or elsewhere;
getting unusually fussy about food, cleanliness, routines or developing eating problems;
having trouble making friends or finding relationships at home difficult;
becoming fearful and resentful;
getting into fights and becoming aggressive;
trying to harm themselves or others;
alcohol and/ or drug use.
Denise added: “Children often turn to adults they trust, such as parents, teachers, sports coaches or youth leaders, when they need support, so it’s important to be available and ready to listen.
“Young people often turn to their friends for support, so it is important that friends know how to support each other and involve trusted adults when necessary.
“The PHA also encourages people of all ages to be aware of the things that are important for our mental health and wellbeing.”
“Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ daily – this involves:
• connecting with others,
• staying active,
• learning new skills,
• noticing the world around you and giving to others,
• getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet can help maintain and improve our wellbeing.
If you are worried about a child speak to a GP who can offer advice, and if necessary, make referrals to other services to support the child and/ or the family.
School professionals may also be able to identify and help resolve problems, provide extra support and make allowances for the child’s needs.
There are things everyone can do to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people at every age and you can visit:
Council Ceremony Recognises Staff Leadership Achievements
Forty staff members at Newry Mourne and Down District Council have been recognised for their achievements in the 2025/26 Leadership Development Programme at the Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick.
The Programme supported 40 delegates to develop their leadership skills, enhance their personal and professional growth, and strengthen a culture of excellence across the Council.
A key feature of the initiative was the opportunity for participants to gain a nationally recognised qualification, reinforcing the council’s commitment to continuous professional development and career progression.
40 members of staff at Newry Mourne and Down District Council have completed a leadership programme. (Photo courtesy of NMD Council.)
There were two different programmes designed to support both existing and aspiring line managers across all levels of the organisation, with the courses tailored to reflect different job responsibilities and to facilitate professional development aligned to individual career aspirations.
Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said: “The high number of staff who completed the Leadership Development Programme participants reflects their dedication to develop their individual skills.”
Cllr Campbell passed on his congratulations to all participants and said the staffs’ commitment to learning and personal development sets a high standard across the organisation.
Throughout the Programme, delegates engaged in practical learning, reflective development, and skills‑based activities, all aimed at developing a range of key management/coaching skills and building on current leadership capabilities.
Speaking at the celebration, senior leaders highlighted the Programme’s role in empowering employees to invest in their learning and to build a culture of continuous improvement and excellence across the Council.
The event recognised the hard work, resilience, and dedication shown by delegates in completing the Programme alongside their day to day duties and celebrated all employees who completed the course and those who went on to achieve a qualification supported by the Council.
The Leadership Development Programme continues to form a crucial part of the Council’s focus on creating an environment where every employee can grow and thrive in their career and reach their full potential.
Banbridge trainer Natalie Lupini enjoys third winner in a row at Dundalk
In-form handler Banbridge trainer Natalia Lupini continued her fine run of form when she fired in a third win from three runners at Dundalk on Friday night.
Natalía Lupini, Banbrdge trainer, has had three winners in a row at Dundalk Races.
Having bagged a double on Dundalk’s card back on January 28, Lupini sent a sole runner back to Dundalk last Friday night – and found herself in the winners’ enclosure once again.
Summer Island was sent off a 7/2 chance with BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest horse racing odds, for the apprentice handicap at 6.45pm over the mile trip for horses rated between 0 and 60.
Piloted by Reese Holohan, Summer Island took a keen hold and was towards the rear of the field in the early stages but was always in relative touch with the leaders.
Having been switched to the right by his jockey about two furlongs from home, Summer Island pushed on, took the lead inside the final furlong, and kept on well to score by half a length to pre-race favourite, Beat The Devil.
That win kept Lupini’s strike rate at 100% with her runners over the last 14 days.
What I am presenting below is an ‘ideal’ strategy to work with the issues of climate change and within this gargantuan problem of global dimensions, Downpatrick may find an opportunity, at local level, to make a meaningful response, and even Make Downpatrick Great Again.
There are some people out there who think climate change is in the same category as Santa Claus. At least when we reach a certain age we ‘get in the know’ and true reality takes over. But some people never really grow up and live in Never Never Land!
My comments may come as a total shock to many, if not all of you. And before I have even spilled the beans I can just see people reeling in all sorts of directions in denial before you get to the end of this article at the greatest existential threat to our modern civilisation and before you have fully understood and internalised the argument.
Fundamentally, we need to change the way we think about climate change, rising sea levels, flooding etc etc. It may be a ‘top down’ global problem eg regulation of fossil fuel emissions, but the responses to it can and often do need to be local.
We don’t have an Independent Environmental Agency probably because historically power, and indeed resources, are vested in political parties whose first priority is their own survival. And to that end political relationships are build, and clientelism flourishes at the expense of rational thought and discussion
The Belfast Tidal Barrier is a great invention, but will it stem the waters in several decades from now with projections ranging widely from a metre to a 100 feet ?
And around Scotland, England and Wales we’ve all heard of the coastal erosion that is eating its way slowly through the landscape cliff by cliff, but what about the low lying areas, populated with home and business owners soon one day to be ousted by rising water levels ?
This may sound cataclysmic – it is ? Polar ice is melting before our eyes and we yet haven’t managed to join up the dots on reality.
No amount of civil engineering will stem the rising tide as polar caps thaw out and precipitation increases with rising temperatures and extremes in weather from torrential downpours to tinderbox forests that explode into walls of flames with horrific consequences.
So locally, fighting fires literally and figuratively seem to be a key response from fires in the Mournes to flooding in Downpatrick.
Granted, the Department of Infrastructure has put together a solution to curb the flooding in the county town, and the financials are being examined at present, but that paper will not be unveiled publicly until next spring (2026) – in a few weeks – and in the meantime the Downpatrick shopkeepers and businesses have to hope and pray that the flood does not return. It is indeed a political gamble!
The River Quoile has been running very high since early December.
And even if the Assembly/TEO gives the ‘go-ahead’ to the DfI plan after a further period of consultation, it will take time to go out to tender and then to deliver the flood alleviation project planned. Another few years wasted.
Having said that, I was on flood watch mode during December during a spell of heavy rain, and the River Quoile was running very high… and still is into January and now February. And if there is an extraordinary spell of rain coupled by a high tide, and a full moon , then that combination could be a disaster for Downpatrick.
So, my solution is simple. Let’s cut through the all of the Politics. Let’s take a deep breath and do something that no administrative district in this country has done or even contemplated.
Let’s create a ‘unified systematic community response’ and look at the options. You may say the Dfi has already done this through consultation but to be honest I don’t know if they have or not.
It may or may not just be a box ticking exercise. I know bureaucrats can be very sensitive about analytical questions, especially ones they can’t or don’t want to answer.
I’ve attended a couple of meetings but the question is, how far have they consulted ? I suppose they have looked at all the options within their financial and time frameworks.
There has been a lot of discussion about the River Quoile recently following the flood in Downpatrick in 2023. But there is a sense of beauty too in nature despite it threatening the town where around 28,000 people live and work.
What I am suggesting is completely radical and in my opinion logical. But then again when did logic even come into Politics or politics at a local level? We need to rise above localism in our culture, but you may argue, deterministically, ‘we can’t’.
My proposal is that we create a ‘fluid’ think tank. That is a forum that is open to everyone and dominated by no-one in order to address the implications and strategies for re-designing Downpatrick away from the sticking plaster strategies determined by poltical parties and finite Assembly budgets that are term-tied and subject to the whims of the The Executive Office (TEO) and the Assembly itself.
This forum will initiate the co-design of Downpatrick so that future generations can live without the fear of flooding, waste, chaos, and generally lower health expectations as second class citizens.
Impossible you may say ?!!! Indeed it will be a major town planning exercise, one that is literally ground-breaking.
But it will take courage and real community leadership and what is more… vision and real leadership and partnership thinking to achieve this within a time scale and sensible cost.
Councillors, MLAs, MPs and other public representatives tend to be term-tied to strategies that are constrained by budgets, law, finances, and indeed local culture. So this alternative mode of thinking I am suggesting will be a strategic, quantum shift in thinking.
It means leaving the subjectivity of the past behind to create a better future. Aha! Some of you may snort in labelling mode, “Jim’s a communist! Or a ‘green’, or an eco-socialist, or he’s just a cantankerous ‘person’… I always suspected there was something about him.”
Well, I’m none of that. I’ve just a fair bit of imagination like many thinkers and if an idea is worth its salt then it needs to be tested in the cauldron of community opinion. One of the great points in brainstorming is that an idea, completely bonkers (as some may argue this one is) can stimulate positive thinking in a different direction to constructive ends. There is theoretically no such thing then as a bad idea ! That is the essence of brainstorming.
As yet I have said almost nothing about what this re-design will look like. Giving land back to nature – which has rights – is an idea we need to grasp. And then work out how we do it.
We certainly need to adopt the usual principles of openness, transparency, accountability and democracy into this mix (which will be difficult due to the inherent narcissism and self-interest in individuals and groups) but nothing ventured nothing gained.
The Quoile River almost bursting its banks in early December 2025 after a heavy deluge of rain.
I have a vision of a fair system being set up when the physical layout of Downpatrick changes in a huge scale, with the consent of the local people of course in this co-design process.
Fundamentally we need to move to higher ground – mentally, as well as in reality. And that means three things:
Creating the physical basis for a new model Downpatrick ensuring fairness and justice are key principlesin allocating property.
And allowing nature to reclaim the flood plains etc after is has been ‘sanitised’ eg physical infrastructure removed or minimised (ie recycled).
Downpatrick could become an exemplar of good planning and development action instead of being a ‘backwater’.
Firstly, it will mean creating a new business heart for the town. It will mean changing road, water, electricity and other infrastructures. Some of you may say “impossible, it will cost too much.”
This isn’t about cost, but the survival of Downpatrick in the longer term. It needs a re-design, not a cheap, politically-unacceptable retro-fit by bureaucrats.
It may also challenge the landlord culture too but that issue too will need to be sensitively addressed to prevent property prices being gazumpted as we move forward.
And secondly, it will mean a just system where re-location of businesses and homes and properties is managed fairly and within the means of everyone. It will drive a stake into the heart of self-interest in a way we haven’t seen before.
Thirdly, with the right energy and focus, Downpatrick could be a model town going forward in determining its own destiny. Why be trapped in stultifying regulations and legislation, culture and political structures when we need to be creative in our response ?
Therefore, I know we don’t live in an ideal world and we live with all sorts of constraints, but the essence of brainstorming, which this article is essentially, is that the fundamental idea proposed in humility may be rubbished, but it may seed an idea in someone else’s imagination that eventually takes seed and grows, and benefits the future Downpatrick.
In theory, this simple set of principles could be replicated across the wider area in a bottom-up environmental planning revolution. But it will require co-ordination with other parts of the regional infrastructure with a liberation of thought.
So I have no fear of sharing these thoughts with everyone. You may come back to me in 100 years and say: “You know, there was some merit in what you say.”
Then again I may prevaricate like many government departments do, and post this up on April Fools Day. And then again I just might hit the ‘post now’ button.
I have many other thoughts on the matter, but conceptualising a vision of a future for Downpatrick is just one idea that could bring us all together in a common, existential cause.
I’ve often quoted Jonathan Swift, the Irish satirist/writer/poet. (1667-1745): “Difference in opinions has cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine.” (Gullivers Travels.)
Swift was berating the two kings (in Gulliver’s Travels) in Lilliput who were engaging in war where thousands of their citizens died over a principle: what was the correct end off the egg to open it with, the round end or the pointy end ? War and even discussion can be futile unless it has a genuine, sincere and honest purpose.
Can we step out of the bureacratic straightjacket we are in ? We can but try.
My thought for the day:
“All ideas are good, but some are better than others.”
PS: Check out this interesting UK government document HERE released in October 2025.
Newry BID Launches Revote Consultation Ahead of February 2026 Ballot To Determine Need For the BID
Newry Business Improvement District (BID) has formally launched its revote campaign. This will ask eligible city centre businesses to vote on whether the BID should continue for a further five-year term from 2026 to 2031.
The revote is scheduled to take place in February 2026, with ballot papers to be issued and administered by Civica Election Services on behalf of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, in line with BID legislation.
Since its establishment in 2016, Newry BID has delivered a wide-ranging programme of activity focused on marketing the city, supporting local businesses, improving safety and cleanliness.
It also represents the interests of the business community on key issues such as business rates, parking, flooding and regeneration.
Ahead of the ballot, Newry BID has undertaken extensive consultation with its membership to shape the priorities for the next term.
This included face-to-face interviews, online surveys delivered by independent research company CARD Group, personalised email invitations, and follow-up discussion groups across a range of sectors.
Pictured at the launch of the Newry BID Revote is Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID Manager, Christine McElvanna, Vice-Chair of the Newry BID Board and members of the Newry business community.
Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID Manager, said: “The revote is an important moment for the business community.
“It gives businesses the opportunity to decide whether they want the BID to continue and to build on the work delivered over the past ten years. If the vote outcome is ‘no’, the BID would cease to exist with immediate effect.
“Our focus over the coming weeks is on providing clear, factual information on what the BID has delivered, what businesses have told us they want to see next, and how the BID operates.
“Ultimately, it is for businesses to decide whether the BID continues to represent value for money and a strong collective voice for Newry city centre.”
The revote proposal sets out its priorities for the next term, shaped directly by feedback from businesses. These reflect ongoing challenges facing the city centre, including rising costs, changes in consumer behaviour, safety, infrastructure and flood resilience.
Peter Murray, Chair of Newry BID, said: “Newry BID exists to support businesses and to advocate for the city centre at a time of real change. The revote allows businesses to have their say on whether they want that collective approach to continue.
“Over the past term, the BID has demonstrated its ability to be agile, to respond to crises such as Covid and flooding, and to deliver practical support alongside long-term lobbying.
“We would encourage all eligible businesses to engage with the revote information and to use their voice to vote Yes.”
All eligible ratepayers will receive ballot papers directly as part of the statutory process.
“Newry BID will continue to engage with businesses ahead of the vote to explain the proposal, answer questions and provide supporting information.”
Further information on the revote, including key dates and the full proposal, is available at https://newry.com.
Fuel price drop welcomed by Strangford MP Jim Shannon
Strangford DUP MP Jim Shannon has welcomed the fall in the price of Petrol and Diesel in Northern Ireland which is at the lowest level since July 2021.
He said: ”I recently spoke in a debate in the House of Commons highlighting the need for a more competitive pricing system for rural communities who can’t rely on a robust public transport system, and who are often isolated without access to a car.
“It presents much more hassle and cost to go to the shopping centre or head out for dinner and for too long the lower price of oil per barrel has not translated to lower fuel costs.
“This drop will be a welcome comfort for many and a positive start to the New Year and household budgets.
“Heating is down as well which us yet another boost for households who are being squeezed out of every spare penny with rising costs in every direction.
“I welcome this and will continue to work in Westminster to ensure that government are pressing retailers to pass on cost savings to the consumer.”
SDLP Decides On Principle Not To Attend St Patrick’s Day Celebrations At The White House in the US
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has set out the SDLP’s position regarding attending the White House on St Patrick’s Day.
Traditionally since the Good Friday Agreement, parties were invited to attend St Patrick’s Day in the White House with the POTUS (President of the United States), however, the SDLP has taken a principled stance of a number of key issues and declared it will not be attending the dinner with President Trump.
This has always been a major day in the Irish-American calendar, and the SDLP has rejected the political, social and moral rationale of many of Trump’s actions and that of his government.
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna has explained why the SDLP will not be taking up the invitation to attend the White House St Patrick’s Day celebration and dinner.
Claire Hanna said: “We are the first party in the North to take this principled stand.
“The jamboree over Gaza and the continuing demolition in Palestine, the role of ICE and their repressive actions, Trump’s daily attacks on women, and the lingering shadow of Jeffrey Epstein hanging over politics in the US and beyond are reasons why we are not attending.”
The SDLP Leader said that her party were not making a judgement on the United States as such but on Trump’s actions and behaviour. She added that she was encouraged to see resistance to Trump’s ideology emerging and democratic socialism making a stand.
She clarified that the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the White House should have been about Irish values and added: “We cannot lend our Irish values to Donald Trump.
“We look forward to returning in brighter days ahead to the White House dinner.”
***
Trump has shaken the established world order in many ways including demanding that Canada becomes a US state, and Greenland owned by Denmark should also be part of the US ‘for security reasons’. He has also threatened Mexico and Cuba, and recently invaded Venezuela and imprisoned their president. He was also threatened other South American states such as Columbia.
But his most significant action in allowing Russia’s President Putin to continue to devastate Ukraine thus splitting NATO and creating ripples of fear and instability across Europe that Russia will not stop at the Donbas in Ukraine. Trump now appears as an unreliable ally in NATO.
Further, he has presided over an important nuclear arms treaty lapse allowing Russia, China and rogue nations a free hand in a new nuclear arms race.
Listen to SDLP Leader Claire Hanna speaking on the decision not to attend the White House Dinner on St Patrick’s Day here.
