The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

THE popular Irish Midlands Music Festival in Mullingar is taking place again this year with a super line-up bound to attract concertgoers from all over Ireland and Britain.

This year’s array of artists includes the legendary Christy Moore along with the likes of Paul Brady and country singer Kris Kristofferson.

The Midlands event is considered one of the best contemporary music festivals and always attracts some of the music world’s greats.

This year the festival promises to be better than ever with a diverse mix of music in keeping with the country element for which it is famous.

Also on the bill are Glen Campbell, Steve Earle and Paul Brady while old favourites The Waterboys, Richard Thompson and Hot House Flowers will feature.

The festival takes place on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29 at Belvedere House, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

stena scheme

FERRY company Stena Line has just introduced a new incentive scheme for frequent travellers on its Britain-Ireland services.

Business passengers account for around 10 per cent of Stena customers as they regularly need to carry bulky presentation equipment that would incur extra baggage charges on most airlines.

Now, customers making 20 or more single trips qualify for a 10 per cent discount; those making 60 or more get 12.5 per cent off while travellers who make 100 or more trips will save 15 per cent on their fare.

Membership of the new scheme allows customers to book via a dedicated hotline.

Online credit accounts are also available, enabling corporate customers to pay by direct debit.

Stena marketing executive Helen Galley says an earlier loyalty programme generated £1.4million in revenue.

She believes that extra airline charges and lengthy security checks at airports are encouraging the increasing number of business customers to use ferries to cross the Irish Sea.

election ads

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has hit out at the decision of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to ban its General Election advertisements.

The business group hoped to run advertisements in the capital urging people to consider Dublin’s infrastructural deficit when casting their vote on May 24.

But the BCI ruled the ads were political which breaches the commission’s regulations.

The DCC claim it is being gagged by “a creeping bureaucracy preaching political correctness”.

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