Beauty: Anne Frank
Taken on 30 December 2020, the hills above Carnlough, County Antrim, display the first snow of the winter.
Happy Christmas and New Year
Happy Christmas 2020 and New Year
Wishing all visitors to this site – from wherever you are in the world – a very happy Christmas and New Year from Northern Ireland. I was browsing through some old photos on a hard drive and came across these below, which I shot in December 2010. In this year of COVID, I thought it would be good to look back ten years and be reminded of what that Christmas was like – the year of COLD and SNOW.
I’m aware many are facing added difficulties this year with travel and other restrictions preventing some family visits. Many businesses are being forced to close during what would normally be their busiest period, and some will close as a consequence, leading to job losses. I pray that whatever circumstances you may be facing this Christmas, may you and your loved ones find ways to have a very enjoyable season. May 2021 prove to be your year of recovery and prosperity, and may you live it in peace and good health.
Just outside Lisburn town, Drumbeg, Church of Ireland. (Dec 2010)
Lisburn Shopping Centre, Bow Street Mall. (Dec 2010)
Market Place, Lisburn (Dec 2010)
Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn Council Civic Offices (Dec 2010)
Moores Bridge, Lisburn, Dec 2010
Cross Lane, Magheragall, outside Lisburn (Dec 2010)
Blue Sky At Last
Photos and text by John Callister
After all the rain we’ve had over the past few weeks, not to mention the recent Storm Francis, it was just great to see a bit of blue sky today at last. With the realisation that we’re approaching the end of August and daylight hours are getting shorter, I badly wanted to make the most of any good weather while the going’s good.
I was fortunate enough to be able to get out for a cycle this morning on some of the country roads near where I live. These are some photos of scenes I came across, all within a few miles of my home.
Because these are narrow country roads and sometimes difficult for two cars to pass, I don’t often drive down them. However, with the recent purchase of an electric bike, a whole new world may be opening up. Today was a great day for this trip and I trust there will be many more.
Leisure – A short poem lamenting busyness, by William Henry Davies
Blog Post by John Callister
I love the landscape of County Down in Northern Ireland. One of my favourite places is the Dromara Hills. On a summer evening, the light on the landscape can be magical. That’s why I never go there without a camera. Just to capture something of the beauty of the place is very refreshing. It’s so peaceful that for a while one can forget all about problems and just breathe in the healing atmosphere.
Photo John Callister. Dree Hill, County Down Northern Ireland
And of course there are animals there too; mainly sheep and cows. Walk down the road and they’ll just stand and stare at anyone passing by. I shouldn’t admit this, but sometimes I’ll greet them out loud. “Hello lads! Great evening. Are you doing okay?” They’ll just stand still and stare. But I reckon they get the message okay. I’m passing on a greeting with goodwill, in harmony with the tranquility of their place of abode. Hopefully they’re totally aware this.
Photo John Callister. Dree Hill, County Down Northern Ireland
When I captured two of the sheep standing staring, it reminded me of a poem that points to ’staring’ as a perfectly reasonable, even desirable pastime. The poem suggests life can become too busy, too full of cares and anxieties, too frenetic; causing us to miss out on some of natures peaceful gifts to us. And I’m sure the poet is right. There is always an alternative focus. Even during the height of our troubles in Northern Ireland, many of us wouldn’t have survived without a countryside with mountains and hills, or a beach by the seaside with the sound of rolling waves.
Here’s are the words:
Leisure: by William Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
From time to time we all need to take refuge from the busyness of life and find a peaceful setting where we can slow down, and, as the poet suggests – take time to stare. It’s in these settings we can put problems in perspective and set conflict aside as we allow nature to convey God’s gift of peace to us. That atmosphere can breathe new life into us, recharge our energy, and somehow renew our spirits in a way that helps us live life in a purposeful, satisfied way, and where love and goodwill are nurtured within us. It may be ironic that Northern Ireland, with its reputation as a land that has endured so much conflict and bitterness, is also a land that holds a healing remedy for those conditions in abundance.
Leisure, by William Henry Davies. A short poem lamenting busyness, narrated by John Callister
BJ Hogg: Tributes paid after actor dies, aged 65
Tributes have been paid to the well-known Northern Irish actor BJ Hogg, who has died, aged 65.
He was best known for his role as Big Mervyn in the BBC Northern Ireland series Give My Head Peace.
He was in the hit comedy for more than 20 years and toured with the cast in the stage show earlier this year.
BJ Hogg also appeared in several high-profile TV series including episodes of The Fall and Game of Thrones.
He also acted in several films shot in Northern Ireland including Hunger, Closing the Ring and Divorcing Jack.
Another role was as widower father Lexie in the short film Dance Lexie Dance, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1998 for best live action short film.
Born in Lisburn in 1955, his career on stage and screen in Northern Ireland spanned almost four decades.
BJ Hogg’s agent Geoff Stanton said “there just weren’t the words” to express his shock and sadness at the news of his death.
“He was such a great man, a big personality and a terrific actor. His family must be devastated and my heart goes out to them,” he said.
“He was just one of the nicest people I know, or knew – he is going to be such a loss.”
‘It’s just heartbreaking’
In a statement, the comedy team behind Give My Head Peace, the Hole in the Wall gang, said: “BJ is part of the Give My Head Peace family.
“He was a fine actor, great colleague and a true friend. Our thoughts are with his wife Elish, son Nathan and daughter Abigail at this time.”
Fellow actor Tim McGarry said: “BJ isn’t just a colleague of ours or a great actor, he’s not just a friend, he’s part of the ‘Give My Head Peace’ family and we are very much a family.
“I was on stage with him a few weeks ago and it’s just heartbreaking.
“He was such a lovely guy. BJ, as you probably know, was a big guy but he was a big softie as well and it is just so, so sad.”
Peter Johnston, Director BBC NI, said: “BJ was a great comedy talent and a much-loved character in our long-running sitcom, Give My Head Peace.
“Many people will also remember his performance in the Oscar-nominated Dance, Lexie Dance. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”
Source: BBC Northern Ireland
Tourism Recovery Steering Group set up for NI tourism sector
Economy Minister Diane Dodds today announced the establishment of a Tourism Recovery Steering Group to lead the planning and preparations for the recovery of tourism in Northern Ireland.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism and hospitality industry employed 65,000 people and generated £1 billion in revenue in 2019. The closing of borders and air routes, and the lockdown of entire regions, has resulted in a total loss of demand in tourism markets around the world.
The crisis is exacerbated by the seasonal nature of the NI tourism offer as it comes at the end of the low season when businesses’ cash reserves are at their lowest and the spring and summer seasons, in which the sector does 70% of its business, have effectively been lost.
The Minister said: “The UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have made major and decisive financial interventions to help support the Northern Ireland economy, including our tourism industry, through the devastating impact of COVID-19.
“However, I am very conscious of the importance of planning ahead and of the need to develop plans for recovery which can be implemented in the future.
“In the past twenty-four hours I have spoken to the Tourism Ministers in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland and I will continue to lobby on behalf of the tourism industry.
“I believe the time is now right to establish a Tourism Recovery Steering Group. Given the scale and complexity of the challenges, government and industry need to work together to design and deliver a Northern Ireland tourism recovery plan.
“I look forward to working with key stakeholders in the tourism industry to facilitate the recovery of this very important sector.”
Financial support currently available includes £10,000 small business grants and grants of £25,000 are also being provided to around 4,000 companies in Northern Ireland in the retail, tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value between £15,001 and £51,000. Applications to that scheme opened on Monday.
The Minister continued: “Once current restrictions begin to lift, and the impact of the virus begins to recede, Northern Ireland’s tourism sector will have an important role to play in our economic recovery.
“The impact the current crisis will have on the global tourism industry will be profound and the nature of tourism markets, and indeed the industry itself, will be fundamentally different to that which existed before the crisis.
“While I do not underestimate the many challenges and uncertainties that the weeks and months ahead will bring, I believe the time is now right to put in place the structures that will help support recovery and prepare the industry to respond when consumer demand ultimately returns.
“The work of the Tourism Recovery Steering Group will be of critical importance. I and my department will provide all the support we can for this much-needed initiative.”
The Minister will lead the steering group which will include representation from key public and private industry stakeholders. Their work will be supported by a working group chaired by the chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland John McGrillen.
As a range of other departments have a role in tourism, the Minister is writing to her Executive colleagues to invite them to nominate officials to participate in the steering group.
Jobs for Northern Ireland in spite of pandemic
Derry/Londonderry from ‘Derry’s walls’.
Like other countries around the world, countless businesses in Northern Ireland have been damaged, some irreparably, by the coronavirus pandemic that we’re currently facing. Therefore, it’s very welcome news to hear about any jobs being created as opposed to ending, even if it’s on a relatively small scale.
A video game company, Hypixel Studios, has announced its intention to set up an office in Londonderry, with the creation of at least 20 new jobs.
Hypixel Studios will establish its headquarters in the city as part of its acquisition by US publisher Riot Games.
Due to the current coronavirus situation, however, an opening date for the new office cannot currently be finalised.
Welcoming the news, the mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Michaela Boyle, called it “a hugely significant announcement” for the local economy at a particularly “difficult time”. She said it was good to have a “positive news story” in the current Covid-19 emergency.
My Mentors: Ray and Kathleen Davey
Ray and Kathleen Davey
By John Callister
When Kathleen Davey told me (when she was in her seventies and I was still in my thirties) that if she and Ray had their lives to live over again, they wouldn’t want to change a thing, I was hugely challenged by her remark. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to ‘learn’ from them.
If Ray and Kathleen had been raised in wealth and had lived relatively trouble-free lives, those words would not have been so thought-provoking. But considering the fact that Ray had spent three years during world war two as a prisoner of war in six different prison camps in Italy and Germany, and now here they were, spending their lives as a married couple during the height of our Troubles, helping to promote peace and reconciliation. Essentially giving, giving, giving.
I was amazed at how they had adopted a philosophy for living, where they saw themselves as agents of God’s love and peace in this world – where they saw themselves as part of the answer to the problems in the world and in our troubled country. What attracted me to this couple was their obvious sense of ‘contentment and purpose’.
Ray and Kathleen appeared to see and live as part of a ‘wider picture’ in which they didn’t focus on the world as things were, but as how things could be. In the context of our Troubles in Northern Ireland, they created a beautiful microcosm of how our country could be. Where people were free to be ‘different’ yet feel accepted and respected, not threatened. They held the vision for a country of beauty, respect, love, spirituality, and above all, peace. And I knew that I wanted to ‘learn’ from this couple – to be mentored by them.
I’m dedicating a blog category to expand on how their lives spoke to me, and how what I’m now doing was partly motivated by their influence.
Davey Village on the Corrymeela Campus at Ballycastle, in memory of founders, Ray and Kathleen Davey.