Belfast — a city full of good intentions but failing to meet expectations. Sound familiar?
Well, it seems like we’re a city of quitters. Just over two weeks into January, and across the UK, 35% of people have admitted to already giving up on their new year’s resolutions.
In Belfast, a whopping 63% of people decided to give up on the resolutions they made — the highest percentage among UK cities. Only Manchester came close, with 50% not sticking to their guns.
The research was carried out by Thortful, an online greeting card company. They said that a lack of discipline is the main reason why people give up, often before they’ve even really given it a go.
Maybe people in Belfast don’t want anything to get in the way of a happy new year?
Conversion of Co Tyrone stable has residents howling
There has been some growling and gnashing of teeth in Co Tyrone over a charity’s plan to convert a stable into a rescue centre for huskies.
Tyrone Husky Rescue has already been on site in Ballygawley, providing a care and rehoming service for the dogs.
A visit from Mid Ulster Council planners found 14 dogs in their care, with the charity hoping to secure a change of use of a stable block.
The application has been recommended for approval, but not everyone is happy.
Four objections have been lodged.
“There have been two incidents in relation to the dogs,” one complainant said. “One where a horse rider was passing the location. The horse was startled by a dog jumping at the boundary, and the rider was thrown off.
“And another was where a sheep in a nearby field was so disorientated from the barking it attempted to flee, got onto the road, and was injured and died from its injuries.”
Others have raised concerns about noise and safety.
A further site meeting is planned.
Final whistle for pitch
Plans to extend a graveyard in Donaghmore will mean taking over some of the local playing field
Planners at Mid Ulster Council have had a busy start to the year, and an approval in Donaghmore could see the demise of some local sporting action.
It may not be the biggest of villages in Northern Ireland, but with capacity at the current graveyard apparently running low, Donaghmore parish has now been granted permission by councillors to extend the church’s cemetery.
But those who use the village’s sports pitch may be getting the boot as the graveyard will be moving into part of the all-weather playing field.
The unusual arrangement will see the pitch and graveyard separated by buffer planting.