THERE was a distinctly solemn atmosphere when I arrived slightly late for the start of this year’s Annual Congress in Newcastle’s Slieve Donard Hotel.

THE club official responsible for the proposal to introduce match-specific bans at this weekend’s Congress believes there is nothing to gain by postponing the motion for a further 12 months.

Mark Durkan is to deliver his first leader's speech to the SDLP conference after taking over from John Hume.