Tag: derry

Derry & Belfast girls to attend largest-ever STEM Showcase next year and highlight the range of career paths in public transport open to girls.

I Wish, the programme dedicated to driving the power of STEM to teenage girls, has announced the support of Northern Ireland public transport operator, Translink, to enable even more girls to attend its largest-ever STEM Showcase next year and highlight the range of career paths in public transport open to girls.

Taking place on 6 February 2025 at the RDS Dublin, the 11th annual event will welcome 4,000 teenage girls from across the island of Ireland with the opportunity for young students from Northern Ireland travelling with Translink by bus or rail to the event for the first time, ensuring that the 2025 Showcase will truly be an all-Island event.

The NI pilot will now enable girls from every corner of Ireland the opportunity to meet some incredible STEM role models and speak to some of the largest pharmaceutical, engineering and technology companies, where they will be able to learn more about college courses, careers and get support to make a more informed choice about subjects and their future careers.

Commenting on the partnership, Sharon Lombard, Director, I Wish, said: “This partnership with Translink marks a significant milestone for I Wish. While our programme has always welcomed girls from across the whole island of Ireland, this new collaboration enables us to actively facilitate transport for girls from schools in Northern Ireland to our annual showcase. It’s very exciting to be able to give these young girls access to top female STEM role models and showcase the breadth of career possibilities, empowering them to make an informed choice about their futures”.

Jacqui Kennedy, Chief People Officer, Translink, added: “We are proud to partner with I Wish to promote STEM to young girls and highlight the opportunities these subjects offer. At Translink, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with our Women in Translink network focusing on visibility, influence, and peer support. With a growing female workforce across all roles, this partnership is a great opportunity to showcase diverse careers in public transport and inspire the next generation of women in the industry.”

The Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd said: “I welcome this partnership between Translink and I Wish that will enable teenage girls from schools in the north to join the STEM showcase event in Dublin. There are many opportunities and careers available to our young people through science, technology, engineering and mathematics, not least through my own Department.

“The Department for Infrastructure strives to support women to achieve their full potential as engineers and is an active promoter of gender diversity and workplace equality. It also places a strong emphasis on education and training to nurture the up-and-coming engineers of our future.

“I’m delighted to support this pilot programme to offer public transport to facilitate these students as they explore the exciting potential career paths ahead.”

Junior Minister Pam Cameron said: “I want to congratulate I Wish and Translink for their partnership approach in helping to encourage more girls into a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. We want to empower girls in Northern Ireland to pursue careers in STEM and next year’s showcase will provide opportunities for local students to attend and meet positive role models from the world of work and be inspired by the opportunities that exist.”

Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said: “It is important that young people here have the opportunity to take part in next year’s STEM Showcase, and this partnership between I Wish and Translink will enable students from the north to join their peers from across the island at this fantastic event. Encouraging more girls to study STEM subjects and pursue careers in sectors such as science and engineering is vital for the growth of our economy.”

This partnership follows the launch of the I Wish 2024 Survey of Female Students’ Perspectives on STEM in October, which revealed that 60% of Irish teenage girls believe that gender inequality is the biggest barrier preventing them from pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), highlighting an urgent need for more inclusive and supportive environments. While this figure has dropped from 83% in the 2021 annual I Wish Report, it underscores that, despite some progress, systemic change is still required in both society and education to ensure equal opportunities for girls in STEM. Visit www.iwish.ie/surveys/ to read the I Wish 2024 Survey Report in full.

I Wish has had a partnership with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann since 2023, which provides free bus and rail transport to girls across the Republic of Ireland.

Registration for the 2025 I Wish Showcase is open at iwish.ie/register.

The current status of Derry casinos

Anyone in the city of Derry might be wondering what’s the current state of play regarding casinos. Why do the rules differ so much from the rest of the UK?

Well, in line with much of the governance of Northern Ireland in general, the legal regulations around gambling have been devolved. This means that the Northern Ireland government is free to set rules and regulations that are different from the rest of the UK. This includes gambling at brick-and-mortar establishments and online.

To help clear up any confusion, we will explain the current status of casinos in Derry and what the future may hold.

Land Based Casinos in Derry

There are no brick-and-mortar casinos in Derry at the time of writing. That’s because of The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. 

This legislation makes it unlawful to have prizes for competitions that don’t require a decent amount of skill. Many casino games fall into this bracket – as they are at least partially games of chance. Even games like Poker are not allowed. However, this does not apply for sports betting (there are betting shops available in Derry). 

The law itself is very outdated. Not only was it enacted in 1985, it’s also based on regulations from the 1960s. For the rest of the UK, the Gambling Act 2005 applies. This is much more modern and means land-based casinos are available across England, Scotland, and Wales.

But as the power to regulate gambling has been devolved, Derry residents and visitors have been stuck with the old rules. 

What alternatives are there?

There are no brick-and-mortar casinos in Northern Ireland at all. So the only real option for a land-based experience is to head across the border or Irish Sea.

Nearby Letterkenny in Ireland is about half an hour away from Derry by car and has a few decent – if not grand – casino options.

If a trip to Great Britain is on the cards, then most major cities have big brick-and-mortar casinos. The closest to Derry is probably Glasgow and Edinburgh to the north, or Liverpool and Manchester further south.

Online Casinos in Derry

There are no online casinos available in Derry at the time of writing. That’s because the old 1985 regulation applies to gambling on the internet. So online slots and casino games are not allowed to be offered in the country for a prize.

Again, this is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK. As part of the Gambling Act 2005, online gambling is allowed in England, Scotland, and Wales. There’s a dedicated authority – the Gambling Commission – which grants licences for gambling websites to operate legally in Great Britain. Many websites have acquired a licence which affords Great British players a lot of choice. For example, they can browse lists as deep as the top 50 online casinos to find a place to play. 

Whereas residents of Derry – and the rest of Northern Ireland – aren’t even able to gamble at one site.

What alternatives are there?

Unfortunately, none.

Unlike at land-based casinos, it’s not possible for you to head across the Irish border to play online. 

Even an online casino in England, Scotland, or Wales isn’t an option. That’s because you need to complete the online casino verification procedure to be able to open an account in Great Britain. Part of this procedure involves verifying your address – with NI not being eligible.

A Brighter Future?

While no casinos officially exist in-person or online in Derry and Northern Ireland, there is reason for optimism.

It’s pretty widely accepted that the 1985 Act is not fit for purpose in the modern world. Until now, the NI government has never gotten round to amending it much – aside from a few tweaks here and there. However, the government’s stance has finally begun to change.

In April 2022, the first overhaul of NI’s online gambling regulation came into effect. This made betting shops more accessible, amongst other changes. However, a second – much wider – overhaul is expected to happen in the coming years. This is likely to change what is essentially a ban on all non-skill games of chance. It’s also likely to contain rules about gambling online.

One thing that’s unclear is whether the Gambling Commission’s powers would be extended to include Northern Ireland. Or if an entirely new authority would be created. Due to the way that the country is governed with powers often being devolved, it’s more likely that we’ll see a new authority take over.

But whoever takes over, these prospective changes would bring about a huge change for Derry. At least one brick-and-mortar casino would likely be built in the city. Residents would probably also be able to play casino online. 

So after decades of being stuck in the dark, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel.