Anton Savage: Michael D can point the way forward on the North

A recent trip over the border was a revelatory reminder of the changes that the passing decades have brought

It’s easy to forget how stressful crossing the border used to be when visitors to the North were greeted by army watchtowers, helicopters, bollards and soldiers with machine-guns

The need for an extractor fan drove me to Belfast last week. A flying visit ride up, strap an extractor fan to a motorcycle and ride back. Incidentally, it’s not as easy as it sounds: extractor fans do not sit happily on pillion seats.

This point was made to me by a chap who strode over during the strapping process to tell me I was doing it wrong. “Hiy, big man, would ye not use ...