Wikipedia talk:Northern Irish Wikipedians' notice board/Archive 1

RWNBs

I need to know how to add the Northern Irish Wikipedians' notice board to the list of RWNBs on the table. Or, if some kind soul would do it for us, it'd be much appreciated. :) --Mal 03:51, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Done. The "New" tag will need to be removed after 48 hours or so. Rhion 21:43, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

Thanks Rhion. I'm not sure what you mean about the "New" tag though. --Mal 09:06, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

I removed it today - it is supposed to be left for a few days to draw attention to a new notice board (though I see it has been on the German-speaking one for quite a long time now). Rhion 15:14, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Portal proposal

I believe that, considering there exist portals for the other component parts of the United Kingdom, a portal be created for Northern Ireland. --Mal 03:56, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Template

I've added a template, see

This user is a Northern Irish Wikipedian. There are things particularly relevant to Northern Irish Wikipedians at the Northern Irish Wikipedians' notice board. Please feel free to help us improve Northern Ireland related articles in Wikipedia!

Is there a decent map of Northern Ireland, rather than using a flag? Stu 11:44, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Working on a Northern Ireland shape now with Photoshop. Cheers Stu. --Mal 20:08, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Olympics

There has been a concerted effort recently to remove references to Northern Ireland from all Olympics articles. One example from a very large number of articles:

• Talk:Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 2006 Winter Olympics

--Mais oui! 20:03, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

I see no evidence of this at that talk page - only a discussion on what the article should be called. Has the article itself been edited to remove references to Northern Ireland? --Mal 22:26, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

Yes. Look at the History: today for example. But this is only a fraction of the issue. Look at a cross section of the vast number of Olympics articles and you will find that it is GB, GB, GB. NI gets mentioned as a constituent of the team about once every hundred times, at a guesstimate. If you look for a mention of NI at the official "Team GB" site, you will also look in vain: it does genuinely seem that NI is definitely not officially a part of the UK Olympic team any longer, meaning of course that it no longer is a "UK" team. But in a true lack of consistency you will find many references at Wikipedia articles to the GB team being the UK team. (Minor note: please always remember to sign your comments!)--Mais oui! 22:06, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

Well I had a look at the Talk page of that article anyway, and I left a couple of comments. I said that the team had been called "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" by the BBC in its Olympics coverage. I looked at the GB Olympic team website about a month ago, and I remember noting that they stated the team included Northern Ireland. I'm not sure there are too many competitors from Northern Ireland in the Winter Olympics though.. so in that sense it wouldn't surprise me that it barely gets a mention. I would assume that, come the 'Summer' Olympics, it should be different. (btw - oops! Fixed the signature now, thanks :) ) --Mal 22:26, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

It depends on how the individual sport is organised. Cycling, If I understand it correctly, is organised in Ireland in 4 provincial bodies, with Northern Ireland being included in the Ulster (9 county) cycling federation, which is recognised by the Olympic authorities. The Northern Ireland federation is not recognised by the Olympics, since you can't have two competing bodies in one area, so local cyclists would tend to ride for Ireland. In some other sports, the Northern Ireland body would have recognition, and local athletes would be more likely to be part of the British team. Basically, it varies. - Paul 18:18, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

It is my understanding that Northern Ireland isn't officially part of Team GB. Northern Irish athletes have the choice of who to compete for, Ireland or Team GB. Since residents and past citizens of Northern Ireland can compete for either team freely, and they choose both sides, the team cannot be said to be called GB and NI as the team doesn't specifically represent NI as the RoI team can also represent it. It is my understanding that is the reason it is Team GB and not Team UK. If it was Team GB and NI then you could also have the confusing team of RoI and NI. Ben W Bell talk 18:41, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

I seem to recall a dispute with the Irish Olympic Committee because Team GB had begun referring to itself as GB & NI at the most recent Summer olympics. I will try and find a source for this beano 15:40, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

Northern Ireland ---> Northern Irish football clubs

As a move to standardise the article - to bring it in line with the vast majority of categories on countrys' football clubs I decided to propose a renaming of the Northern Irish clubs.

Examples are: European, English, Scottish, Georgian, Greek, Welsh. As opposed to: Europe, England, Scotland, Georgia, Greece, Wales. (see: Category:Football (soccer) clubs)

"Northern Irish" is more correct usage.

So far, there have been 2 or 3 votes in opposition to the change.

An editor from New Zealand suggests that "we frequently have complaints here", how the term "Northern Irish" is "the non-standard adjectival form" which is apparnetly "not overly-liked" in IRC!

A Canadian editor deems "Northern Ireland" is "the less controversial adjective".

I would like to hear some Northern Irish opinions please.

I am going to put the request in again soon. --Mal 03:59, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

I would support the change to Northern Irish. - theKeith 14:13, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

WikiProject Gaelic Games

I dont know if anyone here would be intrested, but i just started a project up for the Gaelic Games. Any help would be welcomed, feel free to vist the project at, Wikipedia:WikiProject Gaelic Games. --Boothy443 | trácht ar 00:59, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

Boothy, please add it as an announcement on the main page of the notice board (don't put in the "I don't know if anyone would be interested" part though! If you've not done it in the next couple of days, I'll maybe stick it in myself. Cheers and good luck and have fun with the project. --Mal 04:18, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

Well i put it under the news section, feel free to move it to a place more sutiable. --Boothy443 | trácht ar 08:01, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

UK Olympic team?

Is Northern Ireland part of the Olympic team or not?

• Wikipedia:Categories for deletion/Log/2006 March 20#Category:Great Britain at the Olympics to Category:United Kingdom at the Olympics

--Mais oui! 22:49, 21 March 2006 (UTC)

How do you know anything about Sullivan Upper? p.s. you got the corrections wrong...just to let you know. Also, I hope you are going to go and edit the pages for MCB and Bangor Grammar, deleting "inappropriate data" and "statements with no evidence".

Soundtech 15:02, 22 March 2006 (UTC)Soundtech

Sorry, who are you talking to? Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 16:35, 22 March 2006 (UTC)

Yes - please specify Soundtech. --Mal 08:16, 23 March 2006 (UTC)

Category:Northern Ireland people and its renaming (or not)

i just nominated a renaming for this to Category:People of Northern Ireland but the debate is open to any suggested renaming or a keep. vote at Wikipedia:Categories for deletion Mayumashu 08:45, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Republican Socialist Movement

I stubles accross this article, will someone, who knows what it's supposed to be about, check this article - remove POV etc. It may be a bit like the Political landscaping and urban design in Ireland article. theKeith 22:03, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

It seems a fairly pointless article to me, better it just redirects to Irish Republican Socialist Party. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 07:54, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Questioning the validity of this NB

I don't understand why we have this noticeboard. Before, NI-related topics were handled plenty well by WP:IWNB and/or WP:UKWNB, depending. Now, it seems that we just have a third place to cross-post NI topics to (cf. #WikiProject Gaelic Games, #Category:Northern Ireland people and its renaming (or not), and #Republican Socialist Movement), rather than this being the definitive NI locale. I can almost see the sense in having a place entirely dedicated to NI, but AFACT, most subjects being posted here reach into either the South or the UK and as such would do better on those NBs, rather than staying here, being cross-posted, and making conversation more difficult than necessary or even diverting it away from potentially interested Wikipedians by not having the topics be on a larger, better known, NB. I propose merging this NB back into those two. I think it was a fine and good faith idea that isn't working as well as hoped and we'd be better off without it. Blackcap (talk) 08:43, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

I would oppose that. To say it's not working isn't really fair, the NB has only been running two months. Plus there are issues that affect NI only. And there are Scottish and Welsh NBs too. I check the Ireland NB as much as I do this one, and I assume other people do as well. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 09:29, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Obviously I would oppose any such a suggestion (I created this NB, and spent quite a lot of time shaping it and the Northern Ireland portal too). The reasons I created it were two-fold: 1) because it had been suggested at the UK Wikipedians' NB; 2) because I believe it will be (and has been) helpful in the sorting out, developing and creation of articles relating particularly to Northern Ireland.

That the NB has many cross-overs with both the UK and the IRL NBs, the same can be said of the Scottish, Welsh and English ones, yet I am not aware that anyone has suggested those NBs be removed.

You suggest that its not working "well enough" but, considering the relatively small number of Northern Irish Wikipedians, I consider it to be a great success. Further to that, I am considering putting a lot more work into the collaborative side of the NB in the near future (to which I'm sure users like Stu above would be happy to offer help).

I consider most articles on Northern Irish subjects people and places to be in a mess (even ignoring the obvious religio-political disputes that were on-going anyhow): most articles are not as well developed as equivalent English articles (for example). As I am still learning many things about Wikipedia (and I have learned much from the Beatles project which I think could be useful in organising things), I think the fruits of our labour are yet to be seen as having a major impact as yet. I remind people again that there are only a small number of regular core Northern Irish users... probably roughly the same number as those who are actively involved in the Beatles Project - and yet that project has made a major contribution to the relevent articles already.

So what this NB lacks is coordination more than anything else. I would suggest also that the members of this group (including myself) become more pro-active in things like looking out for regular contributors to NI-related articles, and to those who are listed as being from Northern Ireland.

The upshot is that, while I disagree completely with your suggestion Blackcap, I think it is useful that you have highlighted the issue as I have been meaning to 'step up operations' as it were. --Mal 11:10, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Fair enough. My thought is just that if things remain at a trickle then to re-merge back in with the Irish and UK boards. (Oh, and I'm Blackcap, just with a new name). Snoutwood (talk) 19:45, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

I have no axe to grind, I just read it to see what's what. However, I think questioning its existence at this time is a bit quick off the mark. You'd expect more traffic on the older noticeboards and on the ones with larger potential pools of contributors. If you want to see a really underused NB, try the English one. Angus McLellan (Talk) 00:29, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Jesus. It doesn't even have a talk page. Snoutwood (talk) 19:45, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

lol Bear in mind that the English one is even more recently created than the NI one though. What happened to your old username Snoutwood? --Mal 19:25, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

NI towns infobox

I've created an infobox for NI towns:

I've added towns with a population of over 10k. How does it look? I won't add it to any articles until it's agreed. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 14:07, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I went ahead and added the infobox. No patience! Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 15:49, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm also thinking of doing one for Historic buildings in Northern Ireland. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 14:20, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Looks good though i would bold the heading. --Boothy443 | trácht ar 04:44, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

The Info box only covers 16 out of 40 officially designated (by NISRA) towns in NI, fully listed (with cities) in the List of towns in Northern Ireland. Why list only those over 10k population? I'm not sure I really see the point. If you really must have an Infobox for towns over 10k then it needs to say so, otherwise it would give a misleading impression when there are 40 towns. Pardon my scepticism, but I am somewhat unconvinced that Infoboxes add anything, particularly in this case where every article has a See also section directing readers to the List of towns and the List of villages. Ardfern 21:17, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

I have bolded the title and changed it to "major". Listing all 40 would look very messy. I think infoboxes do add value. A list is fine, but an infobox is more user friendly. I think someone is more likely to click on it than to click on the list and scroll through it. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 09:47, 24 April 2006 (UTC)

Images for county user-boxes

Couldn't we just use a map of NI with the relevant county highlighted? Or are we looking for something a wee bit bolder (a coat of arms or some-such)? Martin 00:55, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't know.. I thought the use of an orchard or some apples was a good idea for Armagh for example. That's what the image used to be for that county.. dunno if it still is. Pictures that depict what the county is most notable for would maybe be a Good Thing, and also possibly non-controversial too! Any pics of some Tyrone Crystal floating about the 'pedia..? :) --Mal 01:30, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

I uploaded a selection of pictures that, I think, best depict the counties. I have overlaid them with their county colours, which might be a little controversial, but it is how they were coloured from the start. BUT as you can see when it came to County Tyrone I had no idea, I couldn't find a free picture of Tyrone Crystal anywhere, if anyone does have I could make a new picture. I also wasn’t too sure about the Fermanagh one, if anyone has any better ideas give me a shout. <font="center" color="#FFFFFF"> theKeith  Talk to me  19:55, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

P.S. you can find all the county user-boxes here. <font="center" color="#FFFFFF"> theKeith  Talk to me  19:56, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

CFD

I have proposed a renaming of two County Londonderry categories here. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 10:03, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

AFD

Gary Lightbody's article is up for deletion. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 09:59, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

The Northern Whig

I started this article today. I'm a bit concerned with the accuracy of the history. Can anyone help out? Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 11:21, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

I can't help personally, but I'll ask around. I moved The Northern Whig and the Ulster Way articles across to the improve section of the Todo list. --Mal 10:46, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Counties and cities of Northern Ireland

A new template was created yesterday, Template:Counties and cities of Northern Ireland. Whilst I think it is a good template, I'm wondering whether the use of GAA county flags is appropriate, as they have never had any legal or official status and aren't used by the community as a whole. Thoughts?

You're right, the flags are not appropriate and I have removed them. I also don't really see the need for the template, as both cities and counties are covered in other templates. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 09:44, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Improved articles

Is there anywhere on the NI categories/portals to post recently updated NI articles? (like proper updates, not grammar, etc)

I recently added a whole bunch to Divis and I guess I would just like to showcase my contribution.

Also: Am I able to add to the notice board myself? I see that the article on Old Bushmills Distillery is hugely lacking for such a famous whiskey. I'll be going there this summer, so I'll get pics for it for sure, but I think it really needs an intense...wikifying. Dom0803 23:54, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Hi Dom, yes you can add to the noticeboard, anyone can. Feel free to add a "Recently improved" heading. You're right, the Bushmills page really does need some more content. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 18:47, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much, Stu, I'll get cracking on that ASAP. Added bushmills to needing improved list, and added 'Substantially updated articles' category.

Dom0803 19:18, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I am pleased to announce that I have well and truly cleaned the Bushmills article! - Dom0803

Good job Dom. I see you took the picture yourself, I hope it wasn't you drinking it too! But I suppose underage drinking is a small price to pay for an improved article. Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 07:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

Stu, ofcourse the whiskey was consumed only in the best interests of Wikipedia. :) In other news I completly redone the Silent Valley Reservoir article! Dom0803 14:05, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

Without blowing my own trumpet - the New Lodge, Belfast article largely put together by me and User:Valenciano isn't bad. Gerry Lynch 16:02, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Hi all, I have started to expand the PCI articles on Wikipedia. For more information see here if you think you could help, thanks. <font="center" color="#FFFFFF"> theKeith  Talk to me  12:41, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Idea proposal

I was just browsing on Google Earth, and I came across a placemark that linked to a wikipedia page. The idea then came to me, what if we, the NI Wikipedians could create individual placemarks for all the Northern Irish things? (knowledge providing) It would certainly add an edge on a lot of articles, and there could also be one large rar/zip with all the placemarks in it. There could be different types of placemarks, such as that for the likes of NI villages, towns, cities, people, foods, drinks, etc etc. In my humble opinion it would add a nice touch and as far as I know it would be a first!

If we were to do enough of them, and perhaps make a project out of it (therefore, project page) we could certainly raise awareness to it and make it a more common thing, so instead of just the regular NI Wikichaps doing all the work, everyone could pitch in. I think it would add a certain edge to NI articles. Category: Northern Ireland Placemarks, or something to that effect.

Some input would be nice. :) Dom0803 20:08, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

Locator map for NI

Belfast

{{location map|Northern Ireland|label=Belfast|position=left|width=150|lat= 54.596|long=-5.9289|caption=|float=right}}

Well folks I took the liberty of creating us, this. I'm sure you can figure out how to use it. MultiMap.com

See:

• Template:Location map
• UK Wikipedians notice board - new locator maps

--Dom0803 12:07, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

{{location map|Greater Belfast|label=Gilnahirk|position=left|width=260|lat= 54.5831|long=-5.8397|caption=|float=right}}

Gilnahirk

Goodness me I'm on a roll today. See: Gilnahirk --Dom0803 12:58, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

After some fiddling around it seems on the smaller thumbs (such as the ones here on the NI map) the co-ords aren't as effective, but on larger ones (see: Bushmills) they are spot on the mark...It's a learning curve. --Dom0803 13:30, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

Hi, Dom. Regarding this map and particularly the Gilahirk page, it is making the page look a but messy! I mean the way the text doesn't start until half way down the page. Take a look at Newtownards, is there any way you could incorporate the map into that style of infobox? (Which is used in most NI town articles) Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 13:31, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

Taking a look at that now, Stu. It doesn't seem to want to fit but I don't seem to want to give up. Give me some time ;) I fear however the only solution may be to create a default infobox, and to scrap the 'Infobox Irish Place' one. About the Gilnahirk page, if this Newtownards setup.. sets up, then I'll incorporate it into the Gilnahirk article too, because to be quite frank, the table in it sucks. --Dom0803 13:55, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

No it doesn't seem to want to comply. I'm thinking if we want to add it to that Infobox Irish Place then we have to add a new field for the Location map alltogether, otherwise it simply messes up the coding on X page (in this case, Newtownards) I don't know what sort of coding would do this, but I could throw something together that may sound good but unlikely to work. Perhaps you know how?

{{#if: {{{Template:Location map| }}}| ! colspan=2 style="background: white; text-align: center; font-size: 85%;" {{!}} {{{Template:Location map|}}}|100px|{{{Template:Location map| }}}]] }} |-

Do not hesitate to laugh--Dom0803 14:15, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

Haven't a clue, you are waayyyyy beyond the realms of my technical abilities already! To be honest I think the Infobox Irish Place template is fine the way it is. I like that it shows the council area, so it is good for areas outside of Belfast. So maybe this new one could be used for areas in Belfast, like Braniel, Cherryvalley, Cregagh, Falls Road, Shankill Road, Malone, Gilnahirk etc. Is it accurate enough to show them? Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 14:34, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

I know what you mean. It is a nice setup. I've never coded a page in my life (especially something as complex as that) but from studying them I am confident I could create a new template alltogether. I managed to incorporate it into the London one, but obviously it was just a test (as NNards wasn't having any of it) so I could maybe create something similar to the London one forrrr...NI towns? (there is however one for that already, so perhaps a new NI or global temp for these maps is needed altogether? Or just the Belfast/rural areas as you mentioned [NI Rural Areas?]) --Dom0803 14:40, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

Sorry I forgot to mention. It is accurate enough for that. It could be taken down to house/street level if desired, but that would only be good for areas such as Belfast City Centre where we may for example wish to show the location of different buildings. The Greater Belfast map should be enough to show the whereabouts of Malone, Cregegh, and so on. Once I come home tonight (probably 11-12ish) I'll spend some time trying to create a new place template that supports our map, and maybe some other features if you can think of any. --Dom0803 17:06, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

I suggest you have a look at Template:Infobox London place - that now incorporates the locator map. You should be able to adapt it for NI. -- ChrisO 09:43, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes that shall do. I actually created one last night that supported it, but my PC crashed on me and I didn't save it prior. Lesson learnt, eh. I'll make an NI one based on that one soonish. --Dom0803 13:05, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

To paraphrase a famous saying from your neck of the woods, "save early, save often". ;-) -- ChrisO 13:39, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

And a wise saying it is. I created an infobox, Template:Infobox Northern Irish location, but I can not figure out how I get it to work in articles... help? Feel free to add fields to it: A field heading simply requires an additional -

|-(PRESS RETURN KEY AND DELETE THIS TEXT) |!colspan="2" bgcolor="#efefef"|TITLE |

- one of those (note: |- seperates things, titles and subtitles)

A new subtitle requires a -

|-(PRESS RETURN KEY AND DELETE THIS TEXT) |style="vertical-align: top;" |SUBTITLE:|| |

Hope this helps for the lesser technical realms :P --Dom0803 17:52, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Northern Irish murals

I created this article today, cutting and pasting most of the text from the mural page and adding more images. Too many images? Not enough? Any other input? Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 10:14, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I added four pictures I took last month. I think a couple of them are particularly notable, if anyone is thinking there are too many. Perhaps, if more are added, we could split them into political and non-political galleries on the page. --Mal 10:18, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

Cheese

Anyone know anything about Coleraine cheddar or cheese in general? You can help fix up the Coleraine cheddar article if you do. --Mal 10:26, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

I'm afraid my contribution here is that of an irrelvent one - but doesn't the infobox strike anyone as odd? "Source of milk Cows"

Really! Cows! --Dom0803 02:54, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

It means as opposed to mozzarella coming from buffalo, or goat's cheese coming from goats! Stu ^{’Bout ye!} 09:33, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

hmm I never thought about that.. well guess who isn't a cheese connoisseur :P --Dom0803 21:19, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

Standard naming scheme

Please see the discussion at Wikipedia talk:Regional notice boards#A uniform naming scheme. Zocky | picture popups 00:52, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Lenny Murphy PAGE

Please keep an eye out on the Murphy page? There is very non-encyclopaedic and POV language being used for political reasons. I understand he evokes a lot of hatred and resentment, but POV is POV, except for some for whom it is only POV when you don't agree. I am only asking because I am very busy at work and cannot monitor as I would like to do.

ArgyllRover 12:19, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Northern Ireland Fire Brigade

I created the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade article, but to be quite frank it's a load of crap. Due to their poor quality website my article lacks everything it should, history being the main one. I added it to articles needing improvment list on the project page. --Dom0803 12:08, 21 July 2006 (UTC)