Fleadh Cheoil day 3, Belfast is buzzing. We've seen over 300,000 people in the city centre in the first 2 days, according to numbers by Belfast One. Belfast is open for everyone, get down and take it all in. This is our city.

Maintaining our highest ever LucidTalk poll rating: 5%. Stormont offers sound bites and photo ops while public services crumble. Lough Neagh is on life support, tangled up by the Agri Food Sector and Ulster Farmers’ Union. 1/3

Greens out across South East Belfast yesterday evening. We're done with the tribal sectarian politics and failure to deliver for people. Politics can and should be so much more. Build a new economy, create jobs, fight climate change and take on the Stormont status quo. Make Hope Normal Again.

England the better team for 55 mins and then decided to sit back for 40 odd plus mins and let Argentina jab away at them to the breaking point. They will have never had a better chance at a World Cup final. Yet completely blew it. Absolutely wild.

In Northern Ireland, lawyers, community workers, & advocates who support migrants are being targeted by far-right groups. Our new report out today, “Locals Only,” details these threats. @cdsherrard.bsky.social @amanda.ie @finucanecentre.bsky.social www.humanrightsfirst.org/library/new-...

The French Nazis that Loyalists brought over to Sandy Row last night have spray painted a message of support for Gisèle Pelicot's rapist husband just in case you thought the "protect our women" brigade are anything other than human tumours

That was an absolutely extraordinary game of football and England thoroughly deserved it.

Protecting women and girls only matters when the offender isn't one of their mates

In todays Sunday World, I spoke of the racial violence in East Belfast. I welcome the PSNI now stating Loyalist paramilitaries were involved. Stormont has questions to answer, this was the 3rd year in the row of racial violence in NI. The community sector stood up, when Stormont went missing again.

So much for those who fancied Nagelsman to get the United job. Germany has been awful to watch in this tournament.

Germany deserved nothing from that. Unbelievable from Paraguay.

Interesting to note the lack of, or muted reaction following the conviction of the pedophile Jeffery Donaldson from those who often shout about wanting to deport foreign sex offenders. How about we treat all these cretinous scumbags the same, or is that too much for some?

Imagine being Allister and, instead of demanding investigations into failures that allowed Donaldson to abuse and avoid justice for so long, you instead make it about how you were right about the NI Protocol all along. Also, use of the word 'troubles' to describe child rape is particularly telling.

My thoughts are with the victims of Jeffery Donaldson, as he has been found guilty today. I know that there are many across Northern Ireland dealing with the legacy of sexual abuse who may be feeling the impact with the verdict. Below are contact details if you need to talk. Love to you all.

Andy Burnham is basically Keir Starmer with a Northern English accent. It'll be more of the same failed centre right politics and owned by a billionaire elite.

If England can keep Harry Kane fit they will go deep into this tournament. Most physically dominant midfield in this World Cup, as well and plenty of depth.

chuffed.org/project/1854... Anaka Women's Collective are raising funds to support people who have been attacked, displaced and traumatised in racist attacks in Belfast. Every penny raised will go to transport, emergency accommodation and urgent supplies for families. If you can help, please do.

Support people and groups impacted by racist attacks

We are raising funds to support people who have been attacked, displaced and traumatised in racist attacks in Belfast.

chuffed.org

Politicians who fanned these flames should hang their heads in shame. Time and again we've seen this story play out. Single incidents used to fuel a far right narrative - and communities across the nation paying the price.

If you have friends who are from ethnic minority communities in Belfast, check in on them this evening. What is unfolding across parts of Belfast is wrong, stoked up by English nationalists with no interest in this city. As well as some local politicians to cover their own failures.

Who would have thought that crime & poverty are linked? Maybe the chancers at Stormont could take note. Instead of endless culture wars & division, tackle the root causes, wealth inequality, lack of opportunity, educational under attainment, paramilitaries, mental health. Make Hope Normal Again.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/727... Gianni Infantino makes Sepp Blatter look like a nun. This World Cup is going to be one enormous shit show for a multitude of reasons..

Why FIFA’s 2026 World Cup is such a rip-off (Gift Article)

The price of watching live sport in the U.S. has shifted - and the World Cup is taking full advantage of the landscape

nytimes.com

If the needle exchange facility run by Extern closes and cannot find a new building in Belfast city centre, the impact could be serious. We need a practical solution that protects public health, supports recovery & keeps Belfast city centre clean, safe and thriving.

Spent earlier down at Titanic where King Charles was in attendance, ahead of Fleadh Cheoil. Which begins 2nd August & will showcase the city on a global stage in terms of culture, music & hospitality. It's open to all & we're expecting 800,000 people in the city for the week. This will be huge.

The new figures for drug deaths in Northern Ireland show a 48.5% increase. Stormont is burying its head in the sand, this is cowardice. The Portuguese model of decriminalisation for small amounts on people's possession offers an alternative. Treat addiction as a health matter & not a criminal one.

Wes Streeting as the next potential Labour leader would finish them. He would sell off the NHS in a heartbeat, to the highest bidder. A little Mandleson acolyte as well. Can't be trusted.

Thanks to Belfast Telegraph for covering the Drug Testing at Festivals motion, delighted it was formally agreed at Council last night. Harm reduction & clear information will save lives. As a Green councillor in Belfast, I am done listening to some moralise, whilst people needlessly die.

Update on the Assembly Rooms:

Some of you will know Anatolia's Barber on The Cregagh Rd. He used to cut my son's hair when he was little. I've just been chatting to Anatolia, whilst passing the shop. He's had to close it up because racists have smashed his window and tortured him for the past week Gutted for him.

When politicians on the right, including the DUP say rising energy costs are linked to net zero & climate policies, they are full of crap. Today BP announced profits that have doubled in 3 months, because of war in the Middle East. This is obscene & corporate greed, hurting communities across NI.

If there was ever a reason to vote Green over Reform in the upcoming English, Scottish and Welsh council elections, it's this. Ian Paisley Jnr, the self serving MP for North Antrim. One of the most odious individuals in Northern Irish politics and we've had a few of them.