Mark Simpson @BBCMarkSimpson Twitter profile

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

7 months

The importance of punctuation …

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

What Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill wrote in her letter to the Queen …

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

A moment in history as a seat in a European election in Northern Ireland goes to someone who is not a unionist or a nationalist.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

Belfast city centre.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

‘Victory to the NHS’ Falls Road, west Belfast.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

Bumped into a unionist today. Not a fan of the Irish Government. Never has been. But said, through gritted teeth: “I watched the Taoiseach speak last night. Afterwards, I must admit ... I felt like he was my Taoiseach.”

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Just got sent this ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

The rise of Sinn Féin is dominating the airwaves. Not so long ago, Sinn Féin were banned from the airwaves. It feels like a turning-point in Irish political history.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

When a Primark store in Belfast re-opened 4 years ago: "Can't wait to get into it ... tear the place asunder."

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

I followed Northern Ireland fans around France for 3 weeks in 2016. Night and day. I didn’t hear one sectarian song. Or one sectarian comment. These are the true fans. Not the few singing anti-Catholic songs in a pub on Sunday night.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Of the 60 seats at Belfast City Hall, only 17 are now held by unionists.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Journalists outside Castle Buildings this time 25 years ago were watching the door for a WALK-OUT … then suddenly in the SDLP window there was a HUG. 📸 Pictures went around the world. First sign that the deal was on.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Trouble in Marseille but up the road in Nice ... Poland & N Ireland fans are taking selfies with each other.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

Last time I rang Christopher Stalford looking for an interview, he said he was at the park with his 4 kids. I said could we do it later in the afternoon? He said he’d still be at the park. In the end I met him at the park. He loved politics, but his family always came first.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

From Belfast barrista to Hollywood hero.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Extraordinary scenes. Spontaneous standing ovation at funeral of Lyra McKee as a priest delivers a direct message to politicians sitting at the front of the cathedral ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Back in Belfast after the Oscars … James Martin congratulated by his dad Ivan. 👏

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Debut for Republic of Ireland for Mark Sykes from the Ormeau Road in Belfast. The Bristol City midfielder is the first Belfast-born player to represent the Republic since 1940s. ⚽️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

11 months

2-day group cycle from Belfast to Malin Head ⬇️ Tyre blow-out for one of Belfast group in middle of Donegal countryside ⬇️ Can’t be fixed ⬇️ Farmer arrives ⬇️ Taken in van to home of local mechanic ⬇️ Fixed ✔️ ‘How much do I owe you’❓ ‘Ach sure, I’ll see you again.’ ☘️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Hand in hand in Nice hospital, an injured Polish fan & injured N Ireland fan. Trouble was caused by French hooligans

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

Belfast will never quite be the same again. So sad.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

Lost an airpod headphone on Seahill coastal path this morning. Went back this afternoon & someone had found it and left it on a post. Whoever you are, I owe you. 👏

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

From the archives ... the John Hume media strategy - ignore the interviewer, try to speak directly to the audience.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

11 months

Back on his feet & back out in public only 3 months after 10 shots were fired at him in Omagh ... DCI John Caldwell.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Except for the fact that N Ireland didn’t exist when Titanic was built ...

Rodney Edwards

@rodneyedwards

5 years

Boris Johnson: "Nowhere has a more illustrious history than Northern Ireland when it comes to the creation of recreational watercraft. The Titanic springs to mind. And now is the time to point out the iceberg ahead." #DUP18

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

“You can’t eat a flag.” John Hume. #RIP

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

St Patrick’s Day message. Sent by @KensingtonRoyal to @dfatirl ☘️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

7 years

Surely the best Church sign ever ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

At 89 years of age, suffering from acute Leukemia, George Mitchell delivers 44-minute speech on local, national and geo-politics @QUBelfast conference.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

What a moment for Irish sport.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Whether it turns out to be a turning-point or not, this was quite a moment in the history of the peace process ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

🔴Christmas election would cost around £6.5m. 🔴Most likely date is Thursday 15th December (Peak season for school nativities … Primary Schools have been warned.) 🎄 🔴 60 days to go (if it happens)

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

Sweet Caroline in Lyon, June 2016. 40 minutes before kick-off. (5 years before it was 'borrowed'.) :)

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Football 1 Politics 0.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

One of the oldest 'peace walls' in Belfast has finally come down. After 40 years, the barrier on Duncairn Gardens has now been demolished. It'll be replaced with a smaller fence, but barriers are slowly coming down in Belfast ... brick by brick.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

NEW: Man injured by petrol bomb in Newtownabbey last night. The flames were eventually put out before his injuries were more severe.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

Now on permanent display at Stormont - portraits of Joe Devlin, Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Best sports story of the week. When the GAA County Chairman stopped the match for 'moral' reasons. Fair play to him.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Remembering the teenage Lyra McKee as she broke into journalism ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

Some people within rugby tried to stop me telling this story. Others within rugby felt it was a story that needed to be told. You decide.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

The best hockey goalkeeper in the world - Ayeisha McFerran from Larne. Secret of her quick feet? 11 years of Irish dancing.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

9 months

Trains from Letterkenny to Portadown to Tralee … a glimpse of a railway revolution. 🚞

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

It's not Brazil, it's Northern Ireland ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

JUST IN: N Ireland First Minister @DUPleader says the abuse of Irish footballer James McClean is “vile” & must stop.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

7 months

“I didn’t decide to go & find a Catholic from west Belfast to marry because I thought it would look good & help me sell more tickets. “I fell in love with Christine & couldn’t give a fiddler’s what her religion, nationality, politics or background was.” @RealCFrampton @BelTel ❤️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

Tyrone legend Mickey Harte on how the GAA has helped him deal with tragedy over the years, including the death of his daughter Michaela. An exceptional interview with an exceptional man on @BBCSPORTNI

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

The funeral of Harry Gregg. Gone but never forgotten.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Teenage daughter: "How do you remember the six counties of Northern Ireland - do you use the mnemonic FAT LAD or FAT DAD?" Me: "Why?" Daughter: "Some of my friends were taught FAT LAD at school, others were taught FAT DAD." Me: "I wonder why. Oh wait ..."

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

10 months

For hosting Late Late Show, @PatricKielty will be paid €250k a year (30 shows). He’ll pay his own flights to Dublin. Full statement below.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Everyone is "absolutely scundered" says @naomi_long

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

Fantastic line-up of Man Utd players playing in Cork on Sept 25th at #LiamMiller match. Including Giggs, Keane, @gnev2 & Scholes.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Rule no.1 of journalism. Question everything. Everything.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

9am on a Sunday morning in Ballymena and hundreds of Wrightbus workers are gathering outside Green Pastures Church to protest.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

30 years after his father was shot dead by loyalists in Belfast, John Finucane of SInn Féin will today become Lord Mayor of the city. He’s 39 years old, the same age his father was when he died.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Still hard to work out why someone thought taking a photo was a good idea …

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Quite a moment as Sinn Féin leadership meets Belfast shipyard workers at Stormont ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

In the unionist constituency of North Down ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Sinn Féin have now beaten their previous best total (105).

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Within minutes of the Agreement, loyalist politician David Ervine urging people to 'vote for peace' ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

In Belfast, talk in the town is all about the Dodds defeat ... North Down shock ... SDLP revival ... And this remark by Mike Nesbitt.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Order restored in centre of Nice. Poland & NI fans singing together. French hooligans blamed for starting trouble.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

The new Belfast. A mural in a predominantly loyalist part of the city & one in a predominantly republican area. Same message. 🌈

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

Sunday morning. A side of N Ireland that the world needs to see more of ... 🏊‍♀️☀️🌈

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

This day 24 years ago, the Good Friday Agreement was signed inside Castle Buildings. 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 (And, as those waiting outside will remember, it snowed). ❄️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill & (Assembly Speaker) Alex Maskey will both be at Coronation of King Charles III. They've met him before. Not long ago, the presence of Sinn Féin at the coronation of a British monarch would have been unthinkable. The times have changed.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

The bravest person I’ve ever interviewed. Thank you, Anto, for all you did to raise awareness about the cruel disease MND. And the difference you made to so many lives, on & off the pitch.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

If anyone thought Ireland was fighting a lone battle against the UK over Brexit, read what was just said in Dublin ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

40 years ago, young Catholics & Protestants started at Lagan College, the first fully integrated school in Belfast.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

Orange Order’s Rev Mervyn Gibson: “We have no interest in becoming part of an All-Ireland. “British we are and British we’ll stay.”

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

25 years ago, a Belfast teenager on her political dreams … I think I recognise her @NicholaMallon 👏

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

30yrs ago, after Hume-Adams talks were uncovered, I went to Hume’s home to try for an interview. He invited me in & talked for an hour... about European & US politics. Eventually I asked “can we discuss Hume-Adams & chances of IRA ceasefire?” He smiled & said: “We just did.”

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Every NI fan I spoke to last night wished Republic well today. 🍀That's when good neighbours become good friends...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

At 68, Dr John Kyle is coming out of retirement. #FightCoronavirus .

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

Plans for new 34,500-capacity GAA stadium at Casement Park in west Belfast have finally got formal planning approval. Minister @NicholaMallon just signed off on it.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

There was a lot of talk in the corridors of Stormont yesterday about the weekend 'shared island' speech made by @patrickielty If you missed it, here it is ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

Only 8 of Northern Ireland’s 18 MPs are unionists. A landmark moment.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 months

Danish fans parade to Windsor Park. (They put in official application to Parades Commission and were allowed). 🇩🇰 ⚽️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

8 years

Non-football passengers on the afternoon Dublin to Nice flight were provided with free entertainment. 🇫🇷 ⚽️ 🎼

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

The new Lagan Gateway Bridge in south Belfast looks set to be called after Noah Donohoe. Council committee discussed the naming of the bridge this morning.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 months

In case you missed it, the BBC report from Sophie Raworth from the glorious Mourne Mountains in County Down ...

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

Ireland only got 8 votes out of 39 in the Rugby World Cup bidding. Some of their closest friends in rugby let them down. But England didn’t. In the words of one Irish source: “England were right behind us. In fairness, they always answer Ireland’s call.” ☘️🇬🇧

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

Headline of the Day goes to @DailyMirror

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

6 students. 6 reasons why they don’t want to live in N Ireland.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

22 years ago today, an attempt was made to solve another life & death crisis. The ‘Good Friday Agreement’ was signed. Like today, that Good Friday fell on April 10th.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

9 years

Grrrrrr. You try all week to get interview with One Direction's Harry Styles. Then get scooped by your own daughter.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 months

At 1pm on Saturday, the Assembly will resume & Michelle O’Neill will become the first Sinn Féin politician to hold the top position at Stormont … after 11 unionists.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

6 years

In the middle of the sectarian killing spree 25 years ago, Catholic families sent private messages of sympathy to relatives of those killed by IRA Shankill bomb. Today some of those messages have been put on display on Shankill Road.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

The new Prince & Princess of Wales in north Belfast.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

25 years ago today, this is how many people in Belfast heard the news of the IRA ceasefire. No smart phones in those days. No wifi. No Twitter. @vincekearney and I were in our 20s. The @BelTel was an evening newspaper. So much has changed. Just not enough.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

First time I’ve seen a Twelfth parade pass ‘rainbow’ kerbstones, rather than red, white & blue.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Some churches have objected to the first Belfast marathon on a Sunday ... but Stormont Presbyterian Church is offering food & water ... and prayer. 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃‍♀️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

Stormont won’t feel the same again without Mark Devenport @markdevenport as BBCNI political editor. A great colleague. A fantastic journalist. Unflappable. The best person to have in a crisis. And he had plenty of practice.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 months

In 30 years of watching Jeffrey Donaldson, rarely have I seen him being quite so impassioned, emotional and unscripted.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 years

Ireland’s cricket team beat world-champions England by 7 wickets. ☘️🏏☘️

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

4 months

Gloves are off in Anglo-Irish diplomatic relations.📍 London govt now publicly challenging Dublin: “Irish Government should urgently clarify the number of criminal prosecutions brought in Ireland since 1998 relating to Troubles cases” Extraordinary, given once-close relations.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

Police estimate around 100,000 people are watching the parade with about 25,000 taking part.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 years

When Mo Mowlam arrived in Belfast 25 years ago as NI Sec of State, at her first meetings with politicians here, she told them: * no notes * no policy papers * just talk She knew where they stood. She wanted to get to know the people behind the policies.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

1 year

"This could be my last visit to N Ireland," George Mitchell. Hope it's not.

BBC Newsline

@bbcnewsline

1 year

Senator George Mitchell has said his visit to Belfast this week could be his last. He will turn 90 in the summer and suffers from acute leukaemia. Our correspondent Mark Simpson first interviewed him when he arrived to chair the talks at Stormont in 1996.

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

2 months

Irish journalism has lost a giant. Michael O’Regan was essential reading @IrishTimes & always a joy to hear on the airwaves. Forever emphasising the human nature of politics, even the most complex story became accessible. What a gift. And what a wonderful man. RIP Michael. 🙏🏻

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

3 years

This day 10 years ago, Michaela McAreavey was murdered in Mauritius. No-one has been convicted. The McAreavey & Harte families are not giving up: “10 years on, our determination to fight for justice for Michaela remains undiminished. It is the very least she deserves.”

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Mark Simpson

@BBCMarkSimpson

5 years

Loyalist band parade under way in Glasgow. Passing Ibrox stadium.

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