As the mild sun shone unfiltered, downtown sparrows chirped in the treetops and the cheers of more than 30,000 Bloomies ricocheted through the downtown corridor, the 49th Bloomsday went off with a ...

The streets were awash with colour as over 20,000 runners took part in the record-breaking 43rd Belfast CIty Marathon in blazing sunshine.

Belfast City Marathon witnessed an event record today as the first man across the finish line won the race in just 2:13:38.

Richard Acland, right, takes a closer look at a scenic stretch of the A66 and notes some points of interest ...