Strength of the dollar: A big surge in the dollar in the last quarter of 2024 has left the euro trading at about $1.03. This trend has significant implications for the euro zone and for Ireland, with the US being one of this country’s key markets for exports and investment. READ MORERelatively strong growth prospects in the US contrast with a weakening outlook in the euro zone. “This depreciation reflects a confluence of factors, including relative economic performance, monetary policy expectations and heightened geopolitical and domestic political uncertainties within the euro zone, particularly in Germany and France,” he said. This outlook for dollar strength “will have a significant impact on Ireland and the euro zone”, he said.

Dunlevy’s new pilot, Wexford woman Linda Kelly, played a key role in amazing year…Latie-George Dunlevy, Ireland’s most decorated Irish Paralympic athlete, and her pilots Linda Kelly and Eve McCrystal claimed the ‘Team of the Year Award’ at The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards 2024 which took place in Dublin recently. The trio won the Award for their outstanding achievements at the Paralympics and World Championships in 2024. Eve McCrystal then stepped in to pilot Dunlevy in another World Cup race in Italy 10 days later. At the Awards Kelly described Dunlevy as an inspiration whom she had watched with awe at the Tokyo Paralympics. For more information about the Awards and the other award winners, you can check out: https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/sportswoman-of-the-year-award/Jason Redmond From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly.

A few days before Christmas, Ireland’s first medically supervised injection facility opened in Dublin, almost a decade after it was first proposed by Government. The centre, which was first proposed in 2015, will initially run as an 18-month pilot at the Merchants Quay Ireland Riverbank location. So, what are the arguments in favour of this centre, what are those against, and how will it affect the lives of drug users themselves? READ MOREAnd, will this injection facility help tackle the wider crisis of drug use in Ireland? Today, on In The News, a radical departure from Ireland’s approach to drug addiction – and the people who will use the state’s first safe injection centre.

Leinster's kryptonite Will Skelton eager to stand tall against old rivals againYesterday at 10:45La Rochelle lock has proved Leinster's nemesis during his outstanding career but is struggling with an ankle injury in advance of this week's showdown between the sides

The funeral Mass for the father of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has been told he wasn’t afraid to die because he knew he would be reunited with his murdered daughter. In an emotional tribute, Georges’ son, Stéphane Bouniol, told mourners about happy summers spent fishing with his father, a “dignified man who was always smiling”. READ MORE[ ‘A man of great decency and dignity’: Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s father died without ever knowing the truthOpens in new window ]“Papa spoke of how my sister had been taken from us much too soon. In his own way, he wasn’t at all afraid to die one day, because he knew that he would see her again. You will stay in my heart forever.”Marguerite and Georges Bouniol, parents of Sophie Toscan du Plantier a their home in Paris.

The review found that 17 cases involved payments of at least €500,000 and that the numbers involved appeared to be rising. Photograph: iStockA Revenue review of a pension loophole found some businesses were transferring more than €500,000 per year into funds for the owner, their spouse, their children or parents. The review found that 17 of these cases involved payments of at least €500,000 and that the numbers involved appeared to be rising. READ MOREThe Revenue review also found that for 13 of the transfers the person who benefited had only taken up employment that year. It said in cases involving payments of more than €1 million, there was blatant evidence of “salary sacrifice” to maximise pension contributions and avoid tax.

The annual Bray New Year's Day charity swim, now in its 42nd year, has taken place in Co Wicklow. Video: Dara Mac Dónaill

Houston and Galveston in the US, the world’s biggest oil producer, are on the list of threatened oil ports. Sea level rise is already causing problems around the world even before it overtops coastline developments. Cutting emissions sharply would not only slow the rate of sea level rise but also limit the ultimate rise. “Basic information [from scientific assessments of sea level rise] don’t seem to have gotten into the consciousness of governments,” she said. Accelerated ice melt and ocean expansion has already caused the rate of sea level rise to double in the last 30 years.

Main pointsElectricity and water: Almost 60,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power as of Sunday evening, mostly in counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow. About 15,000 customers are also without waterAlmost 60,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power as of Sunday evening, mostly in counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow. In Cork, Kerry, south Tipperary, Laois and parts of the mid-west, the HSE has cancelled some services including outpatient appointments and day services. Some 59,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power, mostly in counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow, according to ESB Networks. -AD @TFIupdates — Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) January 5, 2025Weather and road conditions in Charleville, Mallow and Kanturk are extremely poor, gardaí have said.

Brazilian student Fernando Moura Fernandes Souza (37) was deported from Dublin Airport over what he says was an administrative error. Background photograph: Chris MaddaloniA Brazilian student who says he was deported in error over Christmas by Irish immigration authorities has described feeling “helpless” and “abandoned” after a mini-trip away from Dublin turned into a nightmare. When he arrived back at Dublin Airport on the evening of December 27th, he was refused entry to Ireland. My mistake was not to have questioned why it [the card] didn’t arrive,” Mr Souza said. It said: “Following the completion of a registration, it may take a further two weeks to receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card via post.

The year 2024 provided the vibe shift and in 2025 it’s time for mainstream politics in Ireland to heed it. So, when we look at Europe’s turmoil in 2024 – in many places only set to worsen – we can be grateful to the relative stability afforded by Ireland’s liberal establishment. The worst of this strange decade of peak wokeness is over – evidenced by the fact that even Judith Butler, a foot soldier in the 2010s woke revolution, came to condemn its excesses recently. But you can’t have a politics of identity that is only about identity. But the language of identity politics general to the 2010s seems now to be a blip, rather than the establishment of a new rule.

Eve McCrystal then stepped in to pilot Dunlevy in another World Cup race in Italy ten days later. In all Dunlevy and Kelly had five crashes through the year, Kelly had Covid twice, and also had to endure a leg infection. (Team of the Year winners Linda Kelly, Katie-George Dunlevy, and Eve McCrystal at the The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards. Front: Linda Kelly, Kellie Harrington, Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal at the Irish Times Sport Eireann Sportswoman of the Year Awards. Boxer Katie Taylor has won the overall award a record five times and been a monthly award winner 18 times.

Richie Murphy praises Ulster defence after win over Connacht lifts them to URC top eight29/12/2024 19:35Ulster were without several key players for their trip to Galway on Saturday

Versatile Leinster back Osborne and Ulster wing Stockdale sustained groin and hamstring issues respectively during Saturday’s 52-17 win over Fiji. Jacob Stockdale made a rare international appearance against Fiji (Niall Carson/PA)Speaking about Osborne’s injury, Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell told a press conference: “He’s a big loss. “He’s very versatile on the bench obviously, he covers so many different positions and is growing and getting better all the time. Former Ireland boss Schmidt, who replaced Eddie Jones as Australia coach in January, will return to the Aviva Stadium seeking a response to his side’s 27-13 defeat to Scotland. “You cannot not work hard in a Joe Schmidt team.

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