I only started taking a camera to Northern Ireland matches at the end of the 1990s. It’s amazing how the world has changed over the years, in that now almost everyone at the match will have a mobile phone/camera. These are the only two photos I took at the Canada match back in 1999. My Read more about Northern Ireland 1-1 Canada – April 1999[…]
Politics aside…being from Northern Ireland has often led to confusion over the years. I find most people still use the word Ireland to describe as my country, Ireland isn’t in fact a country, but is an island consisting of two countries, Northern Ireland (of six counties, and of British occupation but whose residents are free Read more about BEING NORTHERN IRISH: an identity crisis??[…]
I remember coming home from school to watch this one live, I think it was on BBC2 Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland had a really really decent side at the time (well in my opinion…). We boasted some World Cup stars such as Nigel Worthington, Alan McDonald, Colin Clarke and Mal Donaghy (who had a very Read more about Yugoslavia 4-1 Northern Ireland (European Championship Qualifier, 1991)[…]
Imagine the surprise and disbelief of me driving through Hobart in Tasmania in May 2010 and seeing a van with the word “Tayto” on it!!! The Northern Irish crisp! And next to the sticker on this white van was another sticker with “Norn Iron” on it. I thought for once in life my eyes were Read more about Small world? You bet! Tayto Van at Glenorchy![…]
I grew up and was raised in Marlo, a small housing area in Kilmaine in the south of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. That is where I’m really from. This year I have thought about my childhood a lot, probably too much. I liked some of it, but not all of it. I miss the Read more about Road Trip Part 9 – Flashback to my Childhood at Marlo[…]
In 2005 I had gone to Austria, Vienna to be exact with Northern Ireland fans to watch our last World Cup Qualifier with Austria. It was an away trip that I went on with my Dad and some of his mates. I knew a few of them, but not all of them. One of the lads Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: An Ulster Fry At North Lakes, Queensland, Australia[…]
I hadn’t seen Owen Millar for 3 years, well 2 and a half really. Since the SOENISC meeting in Weymouth in December 2007, I finally met up with my good old mate in June 2010. Both our lives had changed somewhat in the intervening years. Yet we both ended up in Australia somehow. Even in Read more about Road Trip Part 22: “Adrian” Bogan Logan – Owen Millar Reunion *[…]
I had never heard of the Carlyle Hotel, or even the district of Moonah, some kind of northern suburb of Hobart, I believe. It was time to hold the closest ever meeting to the South Pole for any Northern Ireland Supporters Club in history. And thanks to Hobart based, Andy Power, the venue was sorted, Read more about Closest Ever NISC Meeting To The South Pole[…]
Living in this land down under makes you think how the English language differs from country to country. In Northern Ireland for example there are many differences from England in speech. Check these out – Northern Irish word first Snib – Latch – the opening part of a door Hot Press – Airing Read more about AUSTRALIAN – NORTHERN IRISH – ENGLISH[…]
It’s truly kicking in – World Cup Fever. The passion that I first had back in June 1986 is back. I was too young to remember the 1982 World Cup sadly. Which is a shame because Northern Ireland won the group, and beat host nation Spain. However by 1986, I was a big Norman Whiteside Read more about World Cup Fever in the Land Down Under: Australia, June 2010[…]