A personal message from News Letter editor Ben Lowry

Letter from the Editor

View email online

Subscribe              I N S I D E R           Dec 31, 2023             Ben Lowry Editor On Christmas Eve I was on the blustery Co Down coast, then Christmas Day was mild, then Storm Gerrit came in    It has been cold then wet then grey then sunny then mild again. But it is wrong merely to say Northern Ireland is always changeable, this year was particularly so   A week after the solstice, today and tomorrow have the latest sunrises of the year    A couple from Fermanagh have won £3.8 million, which perhaps fires our imagination because it is a huge but not limitless sum.   The full local new year honours list is here,  a summary of it including Pamela Ballantine and James Martin is here  and among the recipients is a farmer who is also a mental health champion  We have run reflective pieces by Canon Ian Ellis on journalism,  Rev Norman Hamilton on integrity in politics and Alf McCreary, who wishes everyone a happy new year    Lots of interesting newly released government papers such John de Chastelain wanting to quit over tardy IRA decommissioning and Irish officials querying the term Republic of Ireland rather than Ireland on extradition papers    Meanwhile, an Ulster Unionist politician has criticised the loyalist Jamie Bryson for misusing the Biblical quotation "they know not what they do"   There have been three road deaths in recent days including this tragedy, which sadly brings us to at least 70 dead in the province this year, the worst since 2015    Queen's University orders everyone on campus to comply with transgender names and pronouns    Here I say how Northern Ireland should look to Dublin Airport and tolled Irish motorways as an example of how taking hard decisions could lead to better infrastructure here   And Tom Elliott MLA shows that not everyone in the UUP backs a fox hunting ban   It has been a year full of drama, as all years are, our very first full News Letter year of publication 285 years ago, 1738, was dramatic    Happy new year!   -- Ben Lowry Editor             Ben Lowry: Happiness at new year as winter in one respect begins to retreat   Read more +     State papers: Decommissioning chairman John de Chastelain wanted to quit as IRA and others reluctant to give up arms   ​The chairman of the body in charge of decommissioning as part of Northern Ireland's peace process considered standing down from the role in June 2001 after months of slow progress.   Read more +           Ben Lowry: If Stormont took hard decisions Northern Ireland could have had better airport provision and road links                     In this newspaper you will see challenges to the idea that if Stormont gets back, Northern Ireland will be transformed.           Read more +     Subscribe today             Full access   Subscribe for unlimited access to all our articles, 70% fewer ads, daily puzzles and our desktop & mobile app. Your first month free . Cancel anytime.     Find out more     Gift access   Give someone a subscription for a year's unlimited access to all our articles, 70% fewer ads, daily puzzles and our desktop and mobile app. From just £94.90 for 12 months.    Find out more

You have received this email as you have an opted in to exclusive Insider communications from the News Letter. Log in or create an account to manage your newsletter preferences.     You can also change the types of emails you recieve from us or completely stop all emails.     Published by National World Publishing Ltd Registered in England and Wales (11499982). E3, Joseph's Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds, England, LS3 1AB, United Kingdom. We will process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy notice.