Belfast Media Group | Andersonstown, North & South Belfast News

THE SDLP are seeking an emergency meeting of the Council to secure a united call on the Executive to proceed with the procurement process for the construction of Casement Park.

PRIMARY seven pupils at St Kieran's Primary School in Poleglass are enthralling audiences with their production of 1953 Western musical Calamity Jane.

JUDE COLLINS: The DUP stone is turned over – and it's not pretty

IF you knew that nobody else was listening, would you say things you wouldn’t say into a live microphone? As the beer advertisement says, Probably. There’s an exhilaration in taking off the safety catch and letting go with both barrels.

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Bad people flourish in the absence of planning

IT is widely acknowledged that our island is in a period of fundamental change. Change can bring uncertainty and apprehension when it is not formally planned.

DÚLRA: We’re going raven bonkers in the city centre

IT’S something Dúlra never even thought possible. That a legendary bird of our most extreme habitats – of mountaintops and windswept coastal headlands – could be living and breeding among us in Belfast. And not just any part of Belfast, but, incredibly, on the very citadel of the city, the building at its heart that represents us all.

HEALTHWISE: Spread it around: Margarine gets the nod over butter

BUTTER is a traditional dietary staple made by churning cream. It is used as a spread, as a component of sauces, cakes and pastries and occasionally as a frying fat.

THE WEEK IN VIEW: Lies, damned lies and stupidity

IT’S said the biggest achievement of Donald Trump has been to debase US politics to the point where the lying and madness have become so blatant and so common that nothing has the ability to shock any more.

Euro 2028 games at Casement will boost NI economy to the tune of £106 million

A NEW report by Grant Thornton has revealed that hosting the UEFA Euro 2028 Championship games at Belfast's Casement Park will provide a significant economic boost for the North – worth at least £106 million.

Andersonstown's Katie hopes to be crowned Miss Belfast

A WEST Belfast model is calling on the local community to back her fundraising drive ahead of her appearance in Miss Belfast next month. With the clock ticking down to June 9, 21-year-old Katie McErlean from Andersonstown is raising funds for Cancer Research UK by taking part in the Seven Peaks of the Mournes challenge this week and the Race For Life. “I got through into the Miss Belfast in March,” said the former St Louise’s student. "I looked into it beforehand and it looked like a positive, good place if you want to do anything charitable. and it gives you a really good platform to do it. "Whoever wins this heat will be Miss Belfast and will go on to represent Belfast in Miss GB. It’s not a grand finale, it’s a heat and there are 13 of us and it’s a really tough line-up this year. “In our final in the Merchant on the 9th of June, there will be four rounds – an interview round, a two-minute pitch, and then there’s going to be an evening gown round and there will be a swimwear round.” Katie, who works in marketing and is also a fire dancer, says she’s not nervous ahead of the big night. “I used to do a lot of theatre and acting so I’m not super nervous. I start to get nervous as things start to happen, but until then I’m super excited.” Part of the pageant involves fundraising for charity. “When I saw one of the charities was for Cancer Research that was very personal for me as both my granda and granny passed away from cancer. My granny had pancreatic cancer which is one of the least researched cancers that you can get.” Because its personal for Katie, she is challenging herself this week, taking part in the Seven Peaks challenge as well as taking part in a Race for Life 5k this Sunday. To contribute to Katie’s fundraising page click here https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/katie-mcerleans-fundraising-page