Ulster Tatler – August 2026

Summary

Connollys of Moy feature on the August 2026 cover of Ulster Tatler, with Matthew McElhinney as the Jane Hardy interview (p.28), a Build Your Dream Home special section (p.69) and town feature on Randalstown (p.115). This Ulster Tatler August 2026 edition runs 128 pages covering summer business, style and local life.

Paul Harron opens on dentistry (p.14). "Emily in Belfast" (p.24) asks "Where is Emily?" — a meta-reflection on her Belfast column. "Jane Hardy Interview" (p.28) sits down with Matthew McElhinney. Society Weddings (p.52) documents the season's ceremonies. The Build Your Dream Home feature (p.69) offers self-build guidance and supplier directories.

Style runs "STYLE WATCH" (p.33) and "GIRL ABOUT TOWN" (p.34). "The Gourmet Boys" (p.98) cover summertime sensations in Belfast and beyond. The Town Feature on Randalstown (p.115) profiles the County Antrim town's businesses and community. "Looking Back" (p.126) interviews Paul Muldoon and revisits August 2017 (p.128). The 60 Years branding runs through the issue.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Interview / Features / Style / Weddings / Home / Food / Town Focus / Regulars

p.14 · Columnist — Paul Harron On… Dentistry
Paul Harron reflects on the shared vulnerability of the dentist's chair — the small talk, the bright light, the moment of trust. A personal essay that finds unexpected depth in a universal experience.

p.24 · Emily in Belfast — Where is Emily?
Emily flips the script: her column this month is written by a guest who has been trying to track her down across Belfast's coffee shops, bookshops and galleries. A playful structural experiment that reveals the city through the search for one person.

p.28 · Jane Hardy Interview — Matthew McElhinney
Matthew McElhinney discusses his career, his creative projects and his connection to Northern Ireland. The interview covers his journey from local beginnings to national recognition.

p.33 · Style Watch
A 2-page summer style edit featuring linen, light cottons and woven accessories. Photographed at Belfast's Botanic Gardens and the St George's Market. The key accessory: a raffia tote at 55 from a County Down weaver.

p.52 · Society Weddings
A 4-page spread documenting recent summer weddings, with couples photographed at venues including Ballygally Castle, the Merchant Hotel and a private Glenarm estate. Each entry includes the couple's names, venue and wedding date.

p.69 · Build Your Dream Home
A self-build guide covering land acquisition, planning permission, architect selection and construction phases. The section includes a directory of suppliers — from timber-frame specialists to kitchen fitters. The average build cost quoted: 150 per square foot for a standard finish.

p.98 · The Gourmet Boys — More Summertime Sensations: Belfast and Beyond
The Gourmet Boys review five summer dining spots — three in Belfast, one in Holywood and one in Portrush. Each review covers the signature dish, the price range and the atmosphere. The standout: a seafood platter at 34 for two at a Portrush harbourside restaurant.

p.115 · Town Feature: Randalstown
A 13-page profile of Randalstown, the County Antrim town on the edge of Lough Neagh. The feature covers its history, its independent shops, its food scene and its community organisations. The town's main street has 12 independent retailers still trading.

p.126 · Looking Back — Paul Muldoon
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon reflects on his career, his upbringing near Moy and his relationship with Northern Ireland as a recurring theme in his work. The interview covers his time at Princeton, his Faber editorship and his latest collection.

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Editor's Take

The August issue is a lightweight summer read — perfectly pleasant but lacking a heavyweight feature. The Build Your Dream Home section (p.69) is the most substantial content, offering practical self-build guidance with specific cost data (150 per square foot). Paul Muldoon as the Looking Back interview is genuinely impressive — a Pulitzer winner giving Ulster Tatler exclusive access. But the Matthew McElhinney interview is thin on detail, and "Where is Emily?" (p.24) is a clever structural idea that doesn't quite deliver. The Gourmet Boys review five restaurants but only names one signature dish. Best for self-build enthusiasts and poetry readers; the issue lacks a business or enterprise story that might anchor a mid-summer edition.

Strengths
• Paul Muldoon interview gives the issue genuine literary weight
• Build Your Dream Home quotes specific build costs (150 per square foot)
• Randalstown town feature counts actual independent retailers still trading (12)

Weaknesses
• Matthew McElhinney interview lacks specific career detail
• "Where is Emily?" is structurally clever but substantively thin

Verdict: Selective read — The Muldoon interview makes this a collector's item for poetry readers; otherwise a light summer issue.