Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FROM FIREBRAND PREACHER and protestor to reluctant peace and a grip on power, the life of Ian Paisley Snr has been reflected in the narrative of Northern Ireland since the 1960s.
In March 1966, as Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland.
At a press conference in Belfast on 22 August 1969, a few months after British soldiers were deployed on the streets of the city.
In familiar pose, as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, addressing Apprentice Boys at a Derry rally on 12 August 1972.
With then Unionist candidate for Ulster’s South Down constituency, Enoch Powell. Paisley was running as DUP candidate for North Antrim.
Leading a march in Oxford against the visit of Pope John Paul II to Britain in March 1982.
Paisley and fellow Unionist leader James Molyneaux at Belfast City Hall on 23 November 1985, addressing 70,000 loyalists angered by the Anglo-Irish deal of the day.
Interrupting Pope John Paul II in the European Parliament at Strasbourg on 11 October 1988.
Speaking with Molyneaux, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, outside 10 Downing Street on 15 May 1991, after talks with then British PM John Major and Peter Brooke ended without agreement.
With then Labour leader Tony Blair, Prime Minister John Major, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Remembrance Day, London, November 1994.
Calling to Unionists for an all-out campaign of resistance to the Northern Ireland peace talks in September 1997.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams watching Paisley speak at the first meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont, July 1998.
At the burnt-out home of the Quinn family at Ballymoney, in which three young brothers were killed by a petrol bomb thrown by the UVF in July 1998.
Starting his Euro election campaign at Bushmills Primary School, Antrim
Getting a kiss from his wife Eileen after the DUP making large gains in the 2001 Westminster elections, at the expense of David Trimble’s UUP.
Leaving the Bloody Sunday Inquiry at the Guildhall in Derry where he attacked the inquiry’s efforts to question him, claiming it was “political discrimination against me”.
Holding up a Belfast paper after meeting with General John De Chastelain, head of the International Decommissioning body, in December 2004.
Following an IRA declaration that it was ending its armed campaign, Paisley tells British Prime Minister Tony Blair in August 2005 saying the news would need “a prolonged period of assessment”.
Being interviewed in the run-up to the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley hold their first-ever face-to-face talks in a last-ditch bid to save devolution in Northern Ireland on 26 March 2007.
Shaking hands with then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for the first time at talks at Farmleigh in Dublin in April 2007.
Ian Paisley Snr is sworn in on 8 May 2007 as First Minister and Martin McGuinness, far left, as Deputy First Minister after a deal is struck between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
With President Michael D Higgins during a reception in November of last year at Belfast City Hall.
In March 2008, as Ian Paisley Snr announces he will step down in May of that year as First Minister and as leader of the DUP.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is a complete myth, it is not easy to switch your mortgage, you essentially have to be completely reassessed again.
@Keith Twamley: of course you do …that’s exactly what a remortgage is
@Mark: Did you read the article Mark?
“Where you have switching that’s easy and fast, you have more competition”
@Keith Twamley: I was fixed for 5 years, 2 years in I asked about switching to the much lower new rate they have, No issue whatsoever no cost at all new rate fixed it for 4 years and reduced the term, all done over email took about 10 days. If you don’t ask you won’t get, I was surprised how easy it was and that their was no cost involved. EBS btw.
@Keith Twamley: It really should be as easy as switching electricity/gas.
Wont happen but it should be.
@Keith Twamley: That sounds great Cormac, unfortunately I don’t think it is the experience most have though, it really should be that easy, but usually is not, which is why most people are so reluctant to do it..
@Cormac Harte: Same here actually. Was on a fixed rate with the bank. I asked them if there would be any fee going to a new lower fixed rate. No problems.
And I did it again where I got a lower LTV rate. Again no problems. All with the same bank over the last 2 years.
@Keith Twamley: I think the issue is if your moving to a different bank you have to go through the whole rigmarole. If people look a little closer to home with their own banks 90% of them have far lower rates that they did 2 years ago worth a try asking for the lower rate I know 2 others mates that did the same thing with a different bank and same thing a very easy process. switching mortgage doesn’t necessarily mean switching banks. It’s worth a shot.
@Cormac Harte: Yes, thanks Cormac, I appreciate it is easier when sticking with the same bank. The article was really talking about switching providers. Just think there are so many things wrong with the banks, central bank has a lot to do with it too. Given the high price of houses currently, it doesn’t make sense to only be able to borrow 3.5 times your salary. And rent not being taken in to account in todays market is also crazy. I am foolishly hopeful that some of these issues will be addressed in next months budget. But think it will always be difficult to switch providers.
@Keith Twamley: that quote was from a commission member, not a Bank CEO. So I wouldn’t rely on it for your argument. Banks need to make sure you’re a good risk, so obviously they’ll do due diligence. Unlike the Celtic Tiger days, and we all know what lax assessment criteria resulted in. So this thorough ressement is the correct, prudent approach for a Bank
@Cormac Harte: switching can be easy enough when you’re staying within the same institution, it’s a completely different kettle of fish when you’re transferring externally. We’ve done it and saved thousands but it’s long and complicated, you also need to consider solicitor fees etc.
@Mark: It’s not a remortgage, that doesn’t exist in Ireland. The ‘person’ at BOI told us ‘they’d never heard of a remortgage’
Remortgaging (or whatever its called here), is like competing in Jumanji
In the process of switching. Taken about six months already
@Rmaybe: I was trying to switch to Avant earlier this year. I gave up after being asked for accountant letter, payslips (for the third time) and other docs. Our mortgage is 15 years old, we’re earning twice what we were earning back then and we’ve never missed one payment.
In the end I just contacted my current lender and fixed at their lowest fixed rate. Not quite as good as Avants but soooooo much simpler and no need for solicitors and it took one phone call and one form to sign.
It’s not that easy to switch I’ve tried and even though I’ve been over paying my mortgage for 4 years the bank says my earnings dont qualify for a mortgage so I’m stuck.
So, here come higher interest fixed rates, in exchange for longer fixed loan terms.
The banks will always win no matter what and that’s ok as long it’s within a reasonable margin ,that end has to be controlled
I still don’t get what’s the reason why we can’t have fix rate for the full duration of the mortgage?
Is the journal fffg in disguise ?
Banker rhymes with w##nker
Well I hope its easier then trying to switch a simple current account from Ulster Bank owing to its exit from Ireland
@Mary Garry: I switched from UB to PTSB. I don’t trust the banks to not fuk it up so I opened the new account and transferred the direct debits manually. It’s a bit more effort but not that hard.
It was a nightmare to switch our mortgage. Aside from finding it almost impossible to get talking to a human or to get a callback, from when we put in the application to when it eventually got processed months later the interest rates rose, thereby wiping out any savings achieved by switching. We got the old rate in the end but if a private company was run as inefficiently as the banks they would quickly go out of business.
CCPC or which ever agency has power should be legislating for switching mortgages to be easier. ( not just rates, but providers)
In the USA you can switch mortgage providers in a matter of days. No re-conveyancing, no silly solicitors fees which are very prohibitive.
If switching was easier it would allow for more competition with existing banks and might even encourage new banks to enter the market because they have a shot at attracting current low risk mortgage payers to their books.
@Rmaybe: I was trying to switch to Avant earlier this year. I gave up after being asked for accountant letter, payslips (for the third time) and other docs. Our mortgage is 15 years old, we’re earning twice what we were earning back then and we’ve never missed one payment.
In the end I just contacted my current lender and fixed at their lowest fixed rate. Not quite as good as Avants but soooooo much simpler and no need for solicitors and it took one phone call and one form to sign.
Almost zero choice in mortgage providers. Well done Fine Gael.
have your say