Having lived in Finaghy for 10+ years, ashamed to think this is the sort of vitriol that purports to represent me, or the community in which I live.

Have these been going up in any other 'loyalist' areas? Is there a root cause / recent event to explain?

Yesterday I posted a news article here that was unfortunately removed by the mods, because it happened in the south.

Very recently, a Croatian man named Jošip Štrok,was beaten to death in Dublin for "not speaking English", as he spoke Croatian with his friend.

Removing the post was a very partitionist outlook, because the murderers are still at large and could have easily crossed the border in hiding by now, as far right bigots operate on both sides of the partition line.

The rise of the Far Right now in Ireland is at unprecedented levels. The far right Irish National Partys operates both North and South. You occasionally see their stickers pop up in places like West Belfast.

This bigoted rhetoric is now turning into outright murders.

Unfortunately for those people in our communities who came here from other places, these kind of attacks are terrifying.

I know people in immigrant communities who have been deeply deeply impacted by this murder, and generally don't feel safe anymore in this country. What the hell is going on here?

Why haven't the Gardaí found the suspects? Why hasn't this been one of the leading headlines in the country?

We've seen it happen disgustingly often here up North, Belfast Multicultural Centre for example was burned down twice and, to my knowledge, no one has ever been held accountable for that either.

We need to start doing more to address the Far Right, this is getting out of hand.

For any younger people on this sub, if I could give you 1 piece of advice, get onto investing & saving now.

Recently took better control of my long term finances, and looking at compound interest, I’m genuinely devastated I didn’t start sooner.

For example:

£200 per month invested at 8% from age 20 - 60 would give £703k

£200 per month invested at 8% from age 30 - 60 would give £300k

S&P 500 long term return averages 8.57% as a relatively safe investment example.

I can hand on heart say I easily squandered £200 per month throughout my 20’s and early 30’s. Now, I’m facing working right up to my grave before having a decent chance at retirement. A very minor lifestyle change would’ve facilitated it.

Use ISA’s. (Stocks & shares, £20k allowance annually) Maximise your employer pension contribution. Thank yourself later.

The government can do what it likes regards pensions, but taking this action early effectively means your giving yourself the best chance to have your feet up at a decent age. Or if nothing else you have a tax free pot of hard working cash to use however you wish. Stocks and shares ISAs can be withdrawn from at anytime.

Getting set up is stupidly easy now too. Trading212 is very straightforward, just make sure to use a referral for a wee bump / free share.

Anyway, back to more entertaining topics. As you were.

I'm considering bringing my wee man to GAA. We go to rugby on Saturday morning at 10am. I've obviously never been due to the times (80s kid). I was always football (dad played n.ire youth) but we all got interest in rugby (grammar school) I've always enjoyed watching gaelic.

Always felt I would have done well at it (back at rugby. Fast etc) anyway I'd love to try to introduce my wee man too it.

Would anyone know what would be a more welcoming club in armagh to join? Is there still stigma? Any work mates I have are all Catholic and none of them seeing it being a problem. I think it would be a great opportunity for him to not see the divide so to speak.

Any thoughts or anyone ever do it? Do the timetables conflict?

Edit***

So far so good as far as stigma goes. Which is great. I think rugby and the fitness/skills of GAA will go very naturally together. So long as he enjoys them. As for clubs in armagh? Obviously I'm very green. Any suggestions?

Edit 2

Thanks for all the messages and best wishes. Great to see the responses have been so positive tbh. I'll check out the suggestions and see which is the handiest for us. I am leaning harps purely from a location point of view at the moment. No harm in trying it and see how he enjoys it.

We (30F/29M) moved to NI from Scotland a couple years ago and recently have our own home.

Never really had many or any real friends throughout my life. I tend to get fucked over and ditched a lot because I’m no longer of use or someone better comes along that they’d rather be with.

So, how the fuck do I make friends as an adult, in NI, when I don’t know anyone or anywhere to go?

Edit: please can I get actual suggestions rather than telling me about taking drugs or be a swinger. It’s so fucking isolating and lonely to not have any real friends your entire life.

As a gaeilgeoir, this makes me happy

Sitting in Nero sipping away at my bitter espresso and a 40 yr old man asks me he can sit my table as others taken. No worries mate, get yourself seated and enjoy your coffee.

Few minutes later his girl walks in, sits beside him and directly opposite me. she's talking very loudly about something. Fair enough I'll put up my podcast loud to mask her talking about her work in detail.

Then, the kissing begins. Loud lip smacking, about a metre from me. Nowhere to look, turn up music loud but still hear the horrible kissing. Tounges involved, but I want to pretend they weren't. Can feel the lager from night previous wanting to come out of my throat. I wince and half sprint outside of cafe Nero.

The truth is, in this world, you can't trust anyone. And if you show trust, expect to be taken advantage of. Save your PDA for a locked bedroom not opposite a poor soul trying to drink his espresso.

McGeeney isn't the only Orangeman throwing shoulders...

She continuously pops up on my TikTok, I can't tell if it's a comedy, sketch or for real. I find her quite uncomfortable but addictive if that makes sense. You could bounce her egg off the road but.

Maybe I’m being genuinely ignorant but there’s nothing here to do. I find it really difficult to make friends with people who are even interested in the things I am. I don’t want to go out drinking every weekend that’s just not for me. I don’t have enough money to move anywhere else I just genuinely don’t know what to do and how to get out of the rut.

I am socially awkward 100% and I’m definitely a little bit “odd” so that doesn’t help I’m sure lol. I don’t mind being this way I just want something to do and I find it really difficult around here. Sorry for the tangent I just really need to vent and hopefully someone can offer some kind of advice. I’m really really stuck with life atm