Latest news with #GrandCentralStation
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Grand Central Terminal SHUTS DOWN as fire sparks massive emergency response in heart of New York City
Grand Central Station in New York City has been shut down after a fire sparked a massive emergency response. Trains have been suspended, streets blocked and more than hundred firefighters have descended on the huge train station in Manhattan.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
The slogan ‘Belfast's got the buzz' always rang hollow. Until now
'Belfast Central waiting for a train, seems to me things have come full circle.' This first line of Juliet Turner song Belfast Central means a lot to me. I was living in Belfast nearly 25 years ago when I fell in love with my current husband. We listened to a lot of Juliet Turner back then. We were on the Enterprise, heading to Belfast, when the song came back into my head. Our daughters were not able to come with us for my mother-in-law Queenie's 76th birthday lunch, so we went on our own. I assumed the train would stop at Lanyon Place, the station that used to be called Belfast Central. It has always annoyed me that they changed the name. 'Lanyon Place, waiting for a train' was never going to make a memorable line for a song. But we did not stop there. Instead, the train pulled into an architectural marvel called Belfast Grand Central Station and I was amazed. I haven't been to Belfast in a while. I did not know that the old Great Victoria Street train and bus station had been demolished and replaced by this stunning new station. It's vast and full of natural light. There's a small M&S and a couple of hundred parking spaces for bikes. Expecting the squat, unremarkable Lanyon Place, arriving there was disorienting in the best way. Grand Central Belfast Station opened last October, but this post-Troubles transport hub, designed by McAslan & Partners, had somehow passed me by. Architect Rebecca Jane McConnell has described it is something new for Belfast, a place where the architecture 'finally focuses on enjoying space, rather than securitising it'. READ MORE After thoroughly enjoying the space, we walked into town, past the Grand Opera House and down the back of City Hall. We were too early for the lunch, so we ambled in the sunshine along to George's Market, thinking, for the hundredth time, why can't Dublin have a George's Market? Outside, a man with a harmonica had a sign that read, 'Tell me your birth date and I'll tell you the day'. So we told him our dates and he correctly identified the day of the week of both our birthdays. 'It's an algorithm in my brain,' he said by way of explanation. Knowing full well Gary Gamble and I definitely don't share the same sense of humour, Queenie forces me to watch a video of him telling a joke that includes the word 'fanny' as a punchline We wandered through the market. Pored over the photo albums of dead people and admired necklaces fashioned by a talented silversmith, a kind woman with stories in her eyes. We shopped for vinyl and hot sauce and fudge, as a band played country music and small children ate home-made marshmallows. One of the hot sauces was called Violent Intentions, but I tasted it anyway and then stole some milk from a coffee stand – I can't stand milk but it was an emergency – when my eyes started streaming. 'Belfast's got the buzz', was the tagline for the city when we lived there years ago. It never really rang true, or at least not in the way the tourism officials hoped. It does now though. It was Sunday but the city was buzzing with shoppers and tourists. Down the road from the market, music was blaring from a charity shop called Show Some Love, where all profits go towards hygiene products and underwear for people living in hardship. We bought a dress and a Nirvana sweatshirt for our daughters from a smiley man called Connor. To The Ivy then, overlooking City Hall, where Queenie was in great form. And why not? Her children and grandchildren around her, a sweet potato curry in her bowl and candles on a red velvet cake. For part of her present, the family chipped in to send her off to Blackpool to see a popular comedian called Gary Gamble. Queenie is mad about him. Knowing full well Gary Gamble and I definitely don't share the same sense of humour, she forces me to watch a video where Gamble is telling Fr D'Arcy a joke about three sets of people trying to get into heaven. I won't spoil it for you but in the video it appears as though Fr D'Arcy might actually expire from laughter at the gag which includes the word 'fanny' as a punchline. Queenie and her daughters ask me if I want to join them in Blackpool and are neither surprised nor offended when I say, 'That's a hard no'. Nearly 25 years since I crashed into their lives, they know me so well. And I know Queenie well enough to tell her the top-quality china ramekins she bought in a second-hand shop, decorated with strawberry plants, are not to my taste and that I'll be sending them back up north with her son. No problem. She can always get her money back. She'll try again with some other bargain. More often than not she gets it right. Belfast Grand Central, waiting for a train, seems to me things have come full circle. Heading back home to Connolly. Buying our dinner in the tiny M&S, fresh pasta and a sauce. Something quick to rustle up for our teenagers when we land back in Dublin. Queenie, heading back on the same train to Portadown, insists on buying our supplies and some ginger beer for the journey. She's not one for hugs. I hug her anyway. The train eases south. We're already planning our return.
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Belfast station signage decision to be challenged at judicial review
A judge has granted permission for a judicial review on the decision by a Stormont minister to install Irish language signage at Belfast's Grand Central Station. Mr Justice Scoffield said the challenge against Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins taken by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson had crossed the 'arguability threshold' to merit a judicial review hearing. Advertisement Under Stormont rules, ministerial decisions that are deemed significant or controversial should be considered collectively by the powersharing coalition, rather than by an individual minister. Mr Bryson contends Ms Kimmins should have brought the issue of installing Irish language signs at the new Belfast transport hub to the wider Executive for decision because it was a 'controversial' matter. At a hearing at Belfast High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Scoffield granted Mr Bryson leave for a judicial review, which will take place in September. The planned £150,000 project to install the signs has been paused until October pending the outcome of the legal challenge. Advertisement Jamie Bryson launched the legal challenge. Photo: PA. Sinn Féin minister Ms Kimmins gave the go-ahead for the signage in March, but her announcement sparked a row with other ministers. The DUP insisted she had a 'legal duty' to bring the decision to the wider Executive. As part of his legal challenge, Mr Bryson submitted to the court correspondence and statements he had secured from DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Elliott, TUV leader Jim Allister, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Mervyn Gibson on the issue of the signs. He also referred to public comments by DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly when she said it was 'bizarre' to suggest the issue was not controversial. Advertisement The activist said the evidence offered a 'powerful indication' that the matter was controversial and, as such, should have been referred to the Executive. Urging the judge to grant leave, Mr Bryson insisted his application 'pole-vaults over the threshold' to merit a judicial review. In March, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston sought support from other Assembly members for a petition to refer the decision to the Executive for a discussion. The petition required 30 MLA signatures to succeed but ultimately Mr Gaston was the only member of the house to sign it. Advertisement Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins at Grand Central Station in Belfast. Photo: PA. Arguing against leave, Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Department for Infrastructure, said the failure of the petition showed there was not a 'flicker of controversy' about the decision within the Assembly. 'It registered a nil return in terms of controversy,' he told the judge. Mr Bryson insisted the failure of the petition was not evidence of a lack of controversy. He said a successful petition would only have required Executive ministers to have a discussion on the signage issue and would not have compelled a wider Executive vote on the matter. He said the reason that DUP MLAs did not sign the petition was because the party's ministers had already secured a discussion on the matter by raising it under 'any other business' at an Executive meeting at the start of April. Advertisement In outlining his decision to grant leave, Mr Justice Scoffield cited Ms Little-Pengelly's comments and Mr Robinson's letter. Ireland 'Predator' who groomed and abused at least 14 girl... Read More He said Mr Bryson had offered enough evidence to cross the threshold for holding a judicial review. 'It does seem to be there's enough in the applicant's case to get over the threshold at this stage,' he said. The case will be reviewed again next month ahead of the full hearing, which is expected to last one day, in September.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bryson gets permission to challenge station Irish signs
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been given permission by the High Court to challenge plans to have Irish language signs installed at Grand Central Station in Belfast. He was granted leave to seek a judicial review into Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' decision to approve the £150,000 scheme at the city's new public transport hub. A judge ruled Mr Bryson had established a case that the move was so controversial it required agreement from the entire Northern Ireland Executive. The case has been listed for a full hearing in September. Proceedings were issued after Ms Kimmins announced in March that Irish signage were to be installed at Grand Central and on ticket vending machines. She said the decision was based on a commitment to promote the language and the importance of the station reflecting all citizens. Representing himself in the case, Mr Bryson contended she unlawfully breached the ministerial code by failing to refer the issue to the Executive Committee for discussion and agreement. Under Stormont rules any controversial or cross-cutting decision should be tabled for consideration by the full power-sharing executive. Mr Bryson argued the test was met based on publicly expressed views by a number of senior unionist politicians. Disputing that assessment, counsel for the minister said a TUV petition in the assembly against the dual language signage attracted no signatures of support from any other MLAs. Tony McGleenan KC told the court the mechanism deployed by Timothy Gaston in an attempt to have the issue referred to the executive "registered a nil return". But according to Mr Bryson, the petition could not have achieved anything more than a discussion about the planned Irish signage. Mr Justice Scoffield was told that the issue has already been raised at an executive meeting last month. Granting leave following submissions, Mr Justice Scoffield held that there was sufficient merit in Mr Bryson's arguments to distinguish it from other "hopeless cases". With no planned work to install Irish language signage at the station set to begin for at least six months, the case was listed for a full hearing in September. Speaking outside court, Mr Bryson stated: "It is unfortunate that so defiant is this Sinn Féin minister that it's going to require the court to uphold the law and her legal responsibilities which she has not complied with in this case." He added: "The end result, it is hoped, is that Irish language (signs) will not feature at Grand Central Station." No Irish signage at station for at least six months Irish-language sign row to be discussed at executive meeting Irish signs at Grand Central Station to cost £150k
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bryson gets permission to challenge Irish signs in station
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been given permission by the High Court to challenge plans to have Irish language signs installed at Grand Central Station in was granted leave to seek a judicial review into Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' decision to approve the £150,000 scheme at the city's new public transport hub.A judge ruled Mr Bryson had established a case that the move was so controversial it required agreement from the entire Northern Ireland case has been listed for a full hearing in September. Proceedings were issued after Ms Kimmins announced in March that Irish signage were to be installed at Grand Central and on ticket vending said the decision was based on a commitment to promote the language and the importance of the station reflecting all himself in the case, Mr Bryson contended she unlawfully breached the ministerial code by failing to refer the issue to the Executive Committee for discussion and Stormont rules any controversial or cross-cutting decision should be tabled for consideration by the full power-sharing Bryson argued the test was met based on publicly expressed views by a number of senior unionist that assessment, counsel for the minister said a TUV petition in the assembly against the dual language signage attracted no signatures of support from any other McGleenan KC told the court the mechanism deployed by Timothy Gaston in an attempt to have the issue referred to the executive "registered a nil return".But according to Mr Bryson, the petition could not have achieved anything more than a discussion about the planned Irish signage. Mr Justice Scoffield was told that the issue has already been raised at an executive meeting last leave following submissions, Mr Justice Scoffield held that there was sufficient merit in Mr Bryson's arguments to distinguish it from other "hopeless cases".With no planned work to install Irish language signage at the station set to begin for at least six months, the case was listed for a full hearing in outside court, Mr Bryson stated: "It is unfortunate that so defiant is this Sinn Féin minister that it's going to require the court to uphold the law and her legal responsibilities which she has not complied with in this case."He added: "The end result, it is hoped, is that Irish language (signs) will not feature at Grand Central Station."
