My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless came out on top, closely followed by U2’s Achtung Baby and Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks. Many readers had the same response: do the same for Irish songs. Sorry Morrissey, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush… Songs from international bands featuring an Irish musician were permitted. He collaborated with the great American tunesmith Jimmy Webb on a number of songs, most notably on this extraordinary seven-minute epic. — AC45 Gemma Dunleavy, Up De Flats (2020)A contemporary Irish pop song filtered through an artist’s distinct lens, Gemma Dunleavy’s debut single is a breath of fresh air.

Ireland has halted Meta’s AI juggernaut... but for how long? The Data Protection Commissioner has forced Facebook’s parent company to “pause” its artificial intelligence plans over privacy concerns, as the company appeared to be absorbing users’ comments, videos and photos into its AI systemMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo: Niall Carson/PAAdrian Weckler Today at 03:30Ireland could put the brakes on the runaway train that is AI.

Ulster Canal restoration a symbol of peace and reconciliation, Taoiseach saysBy David Young, PAThe restoration of the Ulster Canal is symbolic of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, the Taoiseach has said. The Ulster Canal, which runs through counties Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan and Monaghan, was built in the 19th century but was abandoned in the early 1930s. “The restoration of the Ulster Canal demonstrates the huge focus that the Irish Government places on investing in large-scale, cross-border projects. “The Ulster Canal restoration project embodies what Shared Island is all about – communities working together for the betterment of the island for everyone who calls it home. “The restoration of the Ulster Canal reconnects the region with its rich heritage, while also developing a modern tourism amenity for all to enjoy.

Weather Alert...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT THURSDAY NIGHT... The officials at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have declared an Air Quality Action Day, IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT THURSDAY NIGHT. An Air Quality Action Day for Ozone has been issued. Here are some recommended actions that the public can take: * Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. * Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.

A protest has taken place at the Dáil over the treatment of horses at the country’s only equine slaughterhouse. Organisers of the rally, Martina Kenny from My Lovely Horse and singer Cathy Davey, joined supporters at the Dáil. Ms Kenny told the Irish Examiner they want “transparency” for all the horses that have gone through Shannonside Foods. Up to 100 people joined the charity My Lovely Horse at Leinster House in Dublin on Tuesday. A protest was also held outside the grounds of Shannonside Foods by My Lovely Horse volunteers and supporters on Saturday.

Scooter Braun has announced his retirement from talent management after 23 years. Braun said he has stepped back to focus on his role as a father, as well as chief executive of Hybe America, which acquired Braun’s company Ithaca Holdings in 2021. Talent manager Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and Big Narstie (Yui Mok/PA)“We had been through so much together over the last decade, but instead of being hurt I saw it as a sign.”Braun did not outline who this client was. Following the announcement, Swift took to Tumblr to share her response to the news with her fans, writing "I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world. "Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy."

First-choice number nine Gibson-Park is ruled out by a hamstring injury, while Leinster team-mate Conan is unavailable due to personal reasons. Our Summer Tour squad for South Africa! Skipper O’Mahony said: “I am proud to be asked to lead Ireland in South Africa, a country which provides one of the toughest challenges in world rugby. “As reigning world champions, South Africa will provide the sternest of tests and we know that we will have to perform at a high level to get the results we want. Forwards: R Baird (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), C Doris (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), R Herring (Ulster), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), O Jager (Munster), R Kelleher (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster, capt), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), J van der Flier (Leinster).

THE Healy-Raes broke the mould, but the breakaway Independent Ireland party is an entirely new departure in Irish politics. Cork South West TD Michael Collins had been part of the Rural Independent Group before deciding in November 2023 to form the Independent Ireland party, which surprised everyone at the weekend with its astonishing returns. For starters, Danny Collins, who was co-opted as a councillor in 2016, topped the poll as an independent councillor in the Bantry electoral area in 2019, and again as an Independent Ireland candidate on Saturday. Meanwhile, first-time candidate John Collins, another brother, polled extremely strongly in Bandon-Kinsale with 2,380 first preference votes and was also elected. It was John Collins who put his finger on it when he said: ‘The Independent Ireland party puts more structure on the group.

Roscommon Town has been named the ‘Best Kept Large Town’ in Ireland in an all-island competition. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys today congratulated the winners of the all-island, Best Kept Town Competition. Ireland’s Best Kept Town is an all-island competition, in which some of the best villages and towns participating in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, compete against their counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Best Kept competition. Randalstown, County Antrim was named overall winner of Ireland’s Best Kept Town competition, 2024. In other award categories Malin, County Donegal won the Best Kept Village category while Roscommon Town won the Best Kept Large Town category.

Ms Hackett was appointed to Cabinet from the Seanad by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan when the Coalition was formed in 2020. A senior Green Party source said: “Several of the parliamentary party members have been coming together to support a non-Dublin leader and will back publicly”. Media Minister Catherine Martin will not seek the leadership of the Green Party and is to resign as deputy leader. Speaking about her decision not to seek the leadership, Ms Martin said her focus is on her ministerial portfolio and her constituency. The Green Party is preparing for a three-week leadership contest with at least two members of the parliamentary party preparing bids.

More than 2.1 million applications to vote have been submitted since the election was called, Government figures show. All voters intending to cast a ballot in the General Election on July 4 will not only need to be registered but also show a form of photo identification at the polling station. Applications to vote by post in the General Election need to be submitted by 5pm on June 19 for people in England, Scotland and Wales. Want to vote in the general election taking place on 4 July? ❗ Register now 🔽 https://t.co/f3iZY0E8Kn — Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) June 17, 2024Mr Sunak said it was important to register to vote in the General Election because Britain’s future was at stake.

Green Party leader and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announced that he will be stepping down as party leader and will not run in the next election.

Weather Alert...EXTENDED PERIOD OF HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS EXPECTED... An extended period of hot and humid conditions continues across all of Central Indiana through next weekend. Daily high temperatures around or above 90 degrees with heat index values approaching 100 degrees may be hazardous for sensitive and vulnerable populations. Take extra precautions if spending time outside during peak heating of the day.

Hotels lobby also concerned about impact of industrial action on domestic tourismPILOTS have served notice of an indefinite work-to-rule at Aer Lingus this evening. ​A strike by Aer Lingus pilots is likely to cost the airline between €20m and €25m a day, the company has warned. Their union is legally required to give Aer Lingus a minimum of seven days’ notice, meaning their action could begin next week. That would cost Aer Lingus between €40m to €45m a year. Captain Tighe said the pay claim was “to ensure that pilots’ pay has the same purchasing power as it did in 2019”.

New research on the world’s cheapest and most expensive cities for parking has shown that Dublin scored in joint-ninth place for the highest fines and charges alongside Toronto. In contrast, New Delhi came in second for the cheapest after Kuala Lumpur. The research, from rental platform, DiscoverCars.com, is based on the average cost of hourly parking and the average parking infraction fine. Dublin and Toronto totaling 127 points each. The Irish capital city’s score was due to an average hourly parking rate of €3.71 and a parking violation, costing €120.12.