In 1970 there were plenty of illegal and legal ... Yours, etc., S. O'Connor, Belfast 14.

Former IRA volunteer Paddy McMenamin talks about his new book that charts his political life story in Belfast during the Troubles, to qualifying as a secondary school teacher in his 50s.

How a spell in Belfast led to a career as a best-selling author. It began with a divorce and ended with a marriage, which is not quite the usual way round, and it was all an accident anyway.

was at Queen’s University in 1970. At the start of Gallagher’s solo career, he formed a new band with drummer Wilgar Campbell and bassist Gerry McAvoy. Later, he would bring on Lou Martin and Brendan ...