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Happy new year!
Sending you this message early on new year's day reminds me of a time, 20 or so years ago, when I was working on an evening newspaper on January 1.
I was a young reporter and we started early, in order to be on the streets by lunchtime.
Every new year we had to phone round famous people to get new messages. I was nervous about disturbing anyone at 730am on January 1 and decided to try the late Rev Ian Paisley, figuring that the teetotaller would not have a hangover.
I phoned his landline and he answered at once, gruffly. I mumbled 'happy new year' and he said the same back, and then gave me new year message!
Despite the pandemic restrictions last night, including closed nightclubs, here are pictures of some people who were determined to enjoy new year's eve in Belfast: https://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/in-pictures-covid-rules-fail-to-dampen-new-years-eve-spirits-3512222
Our front page today reflects the hope of the season with the annual new year's honours. The list is dominated by people who have worked to contain the Covid pandemic, which has just seen the highest yet levels of infections recorded in Northern Ireland
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/national/new-year-honours-health-workers-rewarded-for-leading-fight-against-covid-3512097
The full list of Northern Ireland award recipients includes a wide range of people across society, from the victims' campaigner Kenny Donaldson to the paralympian Bethany Firth. All names are here:
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/national/new-year-honours-full-list-of-northern-ireland-recipients-3511966
As we enter 2022, after a 2021 which unionists felt failed to recognise the centenary of Northern Ireland, the Orange Order secretary Mervyn Gibson has said that best celebrations are to come:
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/people/best-of-northern-ireland-centenary-celebrations-to-come-in-2022-orange-secretary-3511060
But there was a horrific end to 2021 with three young men killed in a dreadful car crash in Co Tyrone. An unspeakable tragedy. Their funerals are this weekend.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/three-funerals-set-to-take-place-this-weekend-after-horrific-co-tyrone-crash-3512384
Other significant news we have reported in recent days includes the fact that the PSNI is to review interview footage in which the GAA commentator Joe Brolly said that his decision to donate a kidney to a stranger in 2012 was to "atone for the taking of human life by people close to me".
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/psni-to-review-joe-brolly-troubles-legacy-video-footage-3511051
In his latest column today, Henry McDonald says that the Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl should note two polls in the Republic which challenge her view that nationalism is having a ‘conversation’ with unionists
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/henry-mcdonald-nationalism-is-not-as-open-to-dialogue-as-belfast-lord-mayor-thinks-3512382
In sport, Andrew Trimble's verdict is part of our Ulster rugby coverage by Ciaran Donaghy including previews, reports, reaction and analysis
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/andrew-trimble-hails-ulsters-back-line-3508863
And in football, Ballymena United move to ban fans after a number of supporters entered the playing arena on derby day
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/ballymena-united-suspend-fans-indefinitely-following-derby-day-incident-3508649
There is also a rugby related report in Farming Life, on the the ex international and farmer Simon Best, who is guest speaker at conference
https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/farmer-and-ex-rugby-international-simon-best-is-guest-speaker-at-conference-3510654
Farming Life also reports on how new export health certificate are practically impossible, and not feasible for NI vendors
https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/new-export-health-certificate-practically-impossible-and-not-feasible-for-northern-ireland-vendors-3510932
And it has this story about a hill farm extending to around 480 acres that has gone on the market
https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/northern-ireland-hill-farm-extending-to-around-480-acres-goes-on-the-market-3508620
Our publishing was barely altered over the holiday period, apart from Christmas Day when we had no print edition. Now we are back as normal with the bumper weekend edition of News Letter and Farming Life in the shops until tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued interest in The News Letter, our long established title.
If we can interest you, there's huge value in a subscription to The News Letter, through which you can secure unfettered access to our news, sport, opinion and lifestyle journalism, all produced for you here by our team across Northern Ireland.
We hope you have a good start to 2022.
Ben Lowry
Editor, The News Letter
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