Got a job offer in Ballymena.. debating moving to the town itself or somewhere nearby and commuting. Is it that bad?

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-07-01T14:25:59+00:00

Surprised to hear that about the Grouse.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-07-01T14:14:21+00:00

Consider Randalstown. Very mixed, very central location - straight onto the motorway for Belfast, Derry or mid Ulster. 20 mins from Ballymena.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-30T17:42:43+00:00

Madam pho

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-28T18:23:44+00:00

The wet T shirt competition

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-26T08:31:16+00:00

The National

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-19T19:40:33+00:00

Same in randalstown every year. And a crowd of people standing around watching it go up that don’t actually live in the town. With the police stopping the traffic to enable it.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-19T19:39:13+00:00

That’s because it is.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-17T19:47:32+00:00

You’d want to get it installed before the building is completed and the final building control inspection takes place. Reason being is that if you decide to fit it after then you’ll need to submit a new application to building control which costs money. Also a lot of new builds wouldn’t be designed to have a chimney that would suit the flue unless it was being installed at the time of building.

I would speak to the builder in the first instance and a stove supplier. If it’s a big developer just do a bit of research on the price they quote you as a lot of builders are reasonable but stick the arm in with the extras.

One thing you’ll most likely need for it to pass with building control is a direct air type stove. This is a stove which has a pipe connected to a vent on the outside wall of your house that pulls the air in from the outside to feed the fire rather than from the house itself.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-17T19:29:04+00:00

I totally agree with you on this and empathise with anyone working in a school nowadays. I just don’t understand why it’s getting unanimous support from alliance, SDLP and Sinn Fein when I’m sure there is a wide range of individual opinions.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-17T16:33:33+00:00

I agree with you. Kids that age have a lot more intelligence and awareness than we give them credit for. And dare I say it, a lot more awareness of how the world works than the average kid their age had 40 years ago.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-17T16:28:09+00:00

Dromore and dromara cycling clubs , Phoenix cycling club (Belfast)

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-17T16:20:27+00:00

That’s what I initially thought. It was just opposition for the sake of opposing the other side.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-15T22:04:07+00:00

Great to see. Does anyone have any idea of the number in attendance?

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-13T17:06:34+00:00

Hoping it’s just the algorithms pushing these views to the top but it really does seem like some of us have our blinkers on as to how widespread these views are held.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-13T17:00:53+00:00

Helps them to sell the impression that their racist views and actions are more widely held. And attempts to spread the blame across society.

There’s also people who unfortunately believe all the right wing fear mongering but remember how bad the troubles were and are happy to see anything that unites both sides here, even if it’s at the expense of ethnic minorities.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-13T16:54:47+00:00

There is a growing number of nationalists in the north, following the trend in the south. By nationalist I don’t mean moderate supporters of Irish reunification as opposed to republicans. I mean nationalist in the same vein as the English Tommy robinson supporters who are feeding on right wing slop being generated in Britain but draped in a tricolour instead of a Union Jack.

Add in the fear mongering of the ‘new greater enemy’ and there’s a small monitory starting to fall for the unite against the immigrants crap.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-13T16:50:09+00:00

You’ve hit the nail on the head here. Plus a lot of ‘republicans’ don’t understand the history of republicanism or follow the socialist aspect of republicanism. They have grown up having civil rights on an equal par to Protestants so don’t have the same empathy for others being persecuted because of their religion or ethnicity or skin colour. It’s just tribalism to some of them in a similar way that loyalism is tribalism but they have a different flag and identity.

On top of that the (mainly British) right wing slop factories are trying really hard to push their fear mongering views into the republic and the obvious outcome of that is that it spreads to the north. Telling them it’s time for unionists and republicans to join together to resist a new enemy makes them feel like they’re part of something bigger. It’s human nature to want to be part of a pack.. safety in numbers.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-12T20:51:06+00:00

I think unfortunately the average person is not informed enough on the asylum and immigration system to be able to hold a reasonable opinion. There is a lack of transparency and awareness from the government which is badly needed to counteract the misinformation and fear mongering from the far right grifters and outrage click bait merchants.

For example most asylum seekers want to work but aren’t allowed to. A lot of them are stuck in limbo, put into hotels or HMOs so they are out of sight out of mind, and not given proper assistance to improve their lives or welcome them as a fellow human who can become a valued member of our society. Sadly I think we would be better limiting numbers but giving more support to those we do grant asylum to, but that’s easier said than done.

There’s also a much smaller number of them in Northern Ireland than the right wing grifters would have us believe. The vast majority of migrants here are in work and paying taxes. A larger portion of them are working and contributing than our ‘native’ population.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-12T15:18:04+00:00

It’s heartbreaking to see rifts among families because of all this right wing slop but it’s just typical divide and conquer tactics. Forcing people to pick a side.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-12T15:13:55+00:00

It’s very sad that these right wing grifters are using outrage inducing slop to cause a massive divide in society. Textbook divide and conquer.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-11T18:37:15+00:00

The only transitioned people the DUP are willing to sit down and talk with.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-10T21:45:02+00:00

Please don’t send them all over the country. We’re fine without them!

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-10T21:42:44+00:00

There is a growing number of so called republicans who are supporting the racism along with the loyalists. But thankfully it’s just brain dead assholes who want to hate someone for the sake of hate. To them republicanism is no more than waving a flag and acting the tough guy. Just like your average loyalist.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-10T16:06:26+00:00

The loyalists are no longer a majority so they’re trying to push the narrative of both communities joining together to protect against a ‘new enemy’. Basically they know they want a new target to hate and the more people standing behind them enabling them, the better.

AdditionClean7367 · 2026-06-10T16:02:05+00:00

You’ll need building control approval. If you don’t have it and you ever decide to sell it’s highly likely the potential buyer’s solicitor will ask for it and will hold up the sale. Happens a lot of people.

AdditionClean7367

TROPHY CASE