BELFAST INSIDER
What’s the craic Belfast 👋
The Big Fish needs a bit of TLC, and someone who worked on it is being called back to help.
Elsewhere, a self-serve crumble bar in Newtownards has caught our attention. Choosing your own custard-to-crumble ratio? We can get behind that.
There’s also a lovely milestone for Dáithí Mac Gabhann, plus a few reasons to get out this week.
THE DIGEST: Belfast in Brief
Only the good news, promise.
🐟 The Big Fish is calling in someone who knows it best
You’ve probably walked past it more times than you can count. But Belfast’s Big Fish needs some attention, and they’re bringing in someone who knows the sculpture from inside out.
The original ceramicist who worked on John Kindness’ sculpture is due to assess the damage to its left eye and provide an estimate for repairs.
Kindness advised bringing back the ceramicist to preserve the artwork’s integrity. There’s no public repair date yet, so this is a step towards fixing it rather than the job being done.
The eye of the Big Fish has been covered lately due to the damage. Hopefully the repair works are quick enough, and the beauty can be restored at Donegall Quay.
💬 When was the last time you actually stopped to look at the Big Fish?
❤️ Dáithí is back at school with a new heart
There are some milestones that sound ordinary until you know what it took to get there.
Nine-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann, from Ballymurphy in west Belfast, is back at school after receiving a life-saving heart transplant in July.
He had been on the transplant waiting list since 2018. Almost eight years of waiting, followed by surgery and recovery, have brought him back to something his family had spent years hoping for.
His family marked the moment by thanking his donor and their family.
After everything it took to get here, back to school really is something worth celebrating.
💬 Have you or someone you know ever experienced a moment that felt ordinary, but meant everything?
🎻 The Fleadh’s finished, but there’s more music to discover
If the Fleadh left you wanting more, Tourism NI has launched 10 music experiences across Northern Ireland to keep people exploring beyond festival week.
Among them are Belfast Music Stories at the Harrison Chambers of Distinction, traditional instruments at Cultúrlann, and Burgers and Bagpipes in Groomsport. That last one certainly gets your attention.
The collection brings together music, stories and places across the region, giving locals as well as visitors a way to experience its musical heritage throughout the year.
You don’t have to wait for another big festival to try something different.
💬 Which of these experiences would you actually try?
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS SCOOP
Openings, Closures & Buzz Around Town
👨🍳 Spencer Metzger is coming to The Merchant
Former Ritz London head chef Spencer Metzger, now behind London’s Row on 5, will host a special dinner at The Merchant on Monday 12 October.
He’ll then speak at Hospitality Exchange, taking place at the Crowne Plaza on 13–14 October, about his career and developing hospitality talent.
For those working in the industry, there’s a chance to hear from someone who started with work experience at The Ritz at 15 and went on to win the Roux Scholarship.
💬 Would you pay for a Michelin-level dining experience if it came to Belfast?
🔗 Source: Love Belfast
🍺 Want your business featured? [Get in touch →]
Your Weekend Lineup
🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING:
If your excuse for staying home this weekend is “there’s nothing happening in Belfast,” now is the time to reconsider.
There’s live music, comedy, sport, theatre, family events, exhibitions, food, club nights and a lot more. Pick your lane.
Here are a few things happening around Belfast from Thursday through early next week:
Thursday 8 October
Friday 9 October
Saturday 10 October
Sunday 11 October
Monday 12 October
💛 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
🏆 Who is East Belfast’s unsung hero?
The person who always shows up. The teacher who goes the extra mile. The driver who makes an ordinary journey a bit brighter.
Eastside Awards nominations are open, recognising people, organisations and businesses making a difference across East Belfast.
Categories include school heroes, sports teams, hospitality, family businesses and a favourite Translink driver. There are also application categories for community projects and local businesses.
You probably know someone who deserves a little recognition. This is your chance to put their name forward.
💬 Who would you vote?
📷 A reason to look again at Antrim and Newtownabbey
If your camera roll is full of local landscapes, keep an eye on Belfast Photo Festival’s Exploring Antrim and Newtownabbey project.
It combines four photographic commissions with a public photography competition, exploring the borough’s landscapes, history and heritage across the seasons.
The project page has a mailing list for updates. Worth a look if you enjoy noticing the details other people walk past.
Foodie Finds 🍴
🍎 A chance to build your own crumble pot? Count us in!
Riona Magee’s latest find has caught our attention: a self-serve crumble pot at Mill & Grain on Mill Street, Newtownards.
In her review, she shares options including apple crumble, stewed mixed berries, jam and coconut sponge, with custard and toppings to make it your own.
Her verdict is a sweet one. Our interest is mostly in being allowed to decide exactly how much custard belongs in the pot.
We haven’t tried it ourselves yet, but it’s gone on the list.
💬 Over to you: What’s going into yours: apple, berries or something else entirely?
📸As Spotted
🎙️ PSNI launches a podcast
The PSNI has launched its first-ever podcast, and it’s taking a different approach to talking about policing in Northern Ireland.
PSNI Beyond the Badge gives officers and staff the chance to tell their stories in their own words, with each episode going beyond the uniform and into the challenges of modern policing.
The first episode features three officers from the BBC documentary Peelers, talking about what it was like to have cameras follow them at work, the reaction to the programme and what happened when people suddenly started recognising them off duty too.
It’s an interesting listen, especially if you watched Peelers and found yourself wondering what happened behind the scenes.
Who knew the police could create a podcast?
💬 If you could ask a PSNI officer one question about life behind the uniform, what would it be?
🗳️ POLL OF THE WEEK
💬 YOUR VOICE
Spotted a new opening, a local business worth supporting or a community story we should know about?
Reply to this email and send it our way. A name, a link and why it caught your attention is plenty to get us started.
You might see it in a future edition.
💛 One last thing before you go...
Found something you’d like to try on here? Forward this edition to the person you’d take with you.
And if you go, reply and tell us how it was. Your discoveries help shape what we share next.
See you next week.
💛 Team Belfast Insider