Charles Dickens

Stormont's executive has agreed to raise the regional rate by 4% for the next financial year. It will hail this as a victory for common sense and devolution, writes Esmond Birnie

Letter: Executive is adopting a risky strategy on funding

Rev Arthur Clarke

Thought for the Week with the Reverend Arthur Clarke

American novelist Barbara Kingsolver.

Books: Interview with award-winning writher Barbara Kingsolver

The Coniston Inn rural idyll

The Coniston Inn "truly one of the most breath-taking addresses in The Lakes”

Miss Havisham; Pip and Estella

Sunday: Great Expectations (BBC1, 9pm)

The best bedtime stories for kids on Christmas Eve

Take a look at our book list - what are your favourites? There's a question for ...

James Emerson Tennent

James Emerson Tennent: A figure of real political substance and an advocate of c...

Chris Moncrieff

Parliament is in the grip of turmoil as never before

Huge installations of Santa Claus are displayed during the Seoul Christmas Festival, South Korea, in December 2017

How much does Christmas owe to the real story of Jesus Christ?

Malcolm Tucker meets Dickens? Armando Iannucci and Peter Capaldi reunite for Dav...

The sun lights the sky above snow covered fields in Co Antrim last week

Ben Lowry: The joy of crisp, sunny days and the gradual return of daylight

Alex Kane

The Good Friday Agreement is on life support, and it's time to switch it off

Alex Kane

The DUP needs to be talking to Varadkar, not putting the boot into him

Council respond to costly apostrophe error on event poster

Alex Kane

Nesbitt's mixed messages have left UUP with most of its old problems
To paraphrase Charles Dickens (whom he was fond of quoting): 'Mike Nesbitt was the best of leaders, he was the worst of leaders.'
By The Newsroom

Pictured is Paul Clerkin, a local tree expert in Co Down sitting up the Holm Oak tree, during filming of the 'Tree of the Year With Ardal O'Hanlon' programme in December 2016

Old '˜Holmer' makes public plea for votes