Maxie Swain

Belfast

Production journalist at Belfast Telegraph

Dad to Mya, Max and Macy 💕 Belfast Telegraph journalist. Nature lover. Hispanophile. Liverpool nut

Featured in: Favicon

mirror.co.uk Favicon

belfasttelegraph.co.uk Favicon

irishmirror.ie Favicon

belfastlive.co.uk Favicon

independent.ie

Articles

A postcard from ‘The Port’ - why Portrush is ‘the little town that’s got it all going on’

1 month ago | independent.ie | Maxie Swain

Prepared for all eventualities, from frostbite to heatstroke, and who could blame her, with our notoriously bipolar climate. As it turned out, there was little need for the woolly clothing on this balmy bank holiday Monday.
Travel review: Despatches from Portrush, a town in the throes of sporting mania

1 month ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Travel review: Despatches from Portrush, a town in the throes of sporting maniaWith ‘The Port’ the centre of the golfing universe right now, a flurry of hotels have muscled in, the Adelphi the latest to throw open its doorsBeach volleyball on Portrush's East StrandNothing better sums up the absurdity of our weather, I mused over a Guinness at the Harbour Bar, than the cheery day-tripper who breezed past me in a hat, scarf... and bathing costume.
‘It’s a labour of love’: Ex-Glenavon ace’s self-published Irish League magazine set to hit the shelves

1 month ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

‘It’s a labour of love’: Ex-Glenavon ace’s self-published Irish League magazine set to hit the shelvesVeteran newspaperman admits solo project could be ‘first of many, or my swansong’, depending on how it sellsRonnie with youngest grandson Arthur in front of a poster of Dennis Guy, Ronnie's Glenavon heroFew things in sport stir the passions like a comeback. And at the age of 67, former Glenavon player and veteran newspaperman Ronnie Haughey is staging his own.
Publican Willie Jack opens up on welcoming King and Queen: ‘He said they were only here for the whiskey’

2 months ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Top businessman on his turn as royal tour guide, his pride in Cathedral Quarter, and why he might yet add to his pub empire For Willie Jack, it was fitting the King chose one of our cultural crown jewels as his first port of call in the royals’ whistlestop walkabout in Belfast last week.
Publican Willie Jack on whiskey with the royals: I’m glad they got to see how vibrant Belfast really is

2 months ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Top businessman on his turn as royal tour guide, his pride in Cathedral Quarter, and why he might yet add to his pub empire For Willie Jack, it was fitting the King chose one of our cultural crown jewels as his first port of call in the royals’ whistlestop walkabout in Belfast last week.
We’ve bottles here as rare as hen’s teeth: inside The Friend at Hand, the treasure trove of Irish whiskey that hosted a king

Mar 30, 2025 | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

We’ve bottles here as rare as hen’s teeth: inside The Friend at Hand, the treasure trove of Irish whiskey that hosted a kingMuseum manager Jim Ingram brings us up close and personal with Willie Jack’s collectionJim Ingram, manager of The Friend At Hand (Luke Jervis/Belfast Telegraph)The Friend at Hand where the King and Queen sank a dram is an Aladdin’s Cave of Irish whiskey treasure.
Lembit Opik on war, peace and… the Cheeky Girls: ‘Obviously the media picked up on my relationships’

Feb 23, 2025 | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

NI politician turned media personality discusses tracing roots of conflict in Ukraine back to Nato ‘betrayal’, why he doesn’t think science backs climate crisis narrative, and his heyday as a lotharioAlongside politician, pilot, biker, lesser-spotted wrestler and unlikely ladykiller, Lembit Opik is settling into a new phase of his life — that of contrarian. The Bangor-born, Belfast-raised former Liberal Democrat and one-time I’m a Celeb campmate is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Lori Watton: Presenter on being branded ‘face of Irish League’ and sexism in football: ‘I still get things like, ‘Can I have your number?’’

Feb 23, 2025 | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Coleraine fan and social media star on challenges of the job, standing up to trolls and joys of motherhoodIn the tight-knit world of Irish League football, some might say Lori Watton is a mini celebrity. The online presenter is front and centre of much of the social media content pumped out by the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL), which clocked up some 27 million video views over the last season alone.
Travel review: Journey into the heart of Ireland

Aug 11, 2024 | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Travel review: Journey into the heart of IrelandCo Laois is less than three hours down the road from Belfast, but it feels like a world away, writes Maxie SwainThe Heritage, hidden away in the beautiful rolling Co Laois countrysideWhat I knew about County Laois I could have written on the back of a stamp. That it rhymes with quiche would have been my best stab at a barely intelligible answer.
Working 9-5? No chance, my heart was set on rock ‘n’ roll, says Eric Bell

May 18, 2024 | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Maxie Swain

Working 9-5? No chance, my heart was set on rock ‘n’ roll, says Eric BellThin Lizzy founder member takes walk down memory lane as new mural unveiled next to his childhood homeEric Bell founded Thin Lizzy in 1969Blues maestro Eric Bell admits he was never cut out for the rat race. “The 9-5 just really wasn’t for me,” he shrugged during a get-together of friends, family and fans last week in Willowfield Church Hall, where he reminisced about his idyllic upbringing on east Belfast’s Woodstock Road.

Journalists covering the same region

Sarah Curran

Journalist at Freelance

Sarah Curran primarily covers news in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom and surrounding areas.

Alan Millar

Consultant Editor at Buses Magazine

Alan Millar primarily covers news in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom and surrounding areas.

Peter Winter

Biotechnology writer at Freelance

Peter Winter primarily covers news in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, including areas around Belfast and Derry.

Julie Magee

Julie Magee primarily covers news in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, including areas around Derry and Limavady.

Una Culkin

Journalist at National World Publishing

Journalist at Northern Ireland World

Una Culkin primarily covers news in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom and surrounding areas.

Contact details

Emails

[email protected]

Socials & Sites

Try JournoFinder For Free

Search and contact over 1M+ journalist profiles, browse 100M+ articles, and unlock powerful PR tools.

Start Your 7-Day Free Trial →

Coverage map

X (formerly Twitter)

Followers: 1K
Tweets: 1K
DMs Open: Yes

Maxie Swain @MaxieSwain

12 Jun 25

RT @AllisonMorris1: In Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorways with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so he would "pass o…

Maxie Swain @MaxieSwain

2 Mar 25

https://t.co/DTqTXRndaR

Maxie Swain @MaxieSwain

25 Dec 24

Look what I learned on Duolingo in 2024! #Duolingo365 https://t.co/6ymTHhJTk9

Maxie Swain

Articles

A postcard from ‘The Port’ - why Portrush is ‘the little town that’s got it all going on’

Travel review: Despatches from Portrush, a town in the throes of sporting mania

‘It’s a labour of love’: Ex-Glenavon ace’s self-published Irish League magazine set to hit the shelves

Publican Willie Jack opens up on welcoming King and Queen: ‘He said they were only here for the whiskey’

Publican Willie Jack on whiskey with the royals: I’m glad they got to see how vibrant Belfast really is

We’ve bottles here as rare as hen’s teeth: inside The Friend at Hand, the treasure trove of Irish whiskey that hosted a king

Lembit Opik on war, peace and… the Cheeky Girls: ‘Obviously the media picked up on my relationships’

Lori Watton: Presenter on being branded ‘face of Irish League’ and sexism in football: ‘I still get things like, ‘Can I have your number?’’

Travel review: Journey into the heart of Ireland

Working 9-5? No chance, my heart was set on rock ‘n’ roll, says Eric Bell

Journalists covering the same region

Sarah Curran

Alan Millar

Peter Winter

Julie Magee

Una Culkin

Contact details

Emails

Socials & Sites

Coverage map

X (formerly Twitter)