McCormack named in Ireland U18 rugby squadThe former captain of the Westmeath U16 football team has been named in the Ireland rugby squad for the upcoming U18 Women's Six Nations Festival in Wales. Caoimhe McCormack (Mullingar RFC/Leinster) has been chosen in head coach Matt Gill's squad for the festival, which takes place between March 29 and April 6. Westmeath LGFA congratulated Caomihe on her selection for the Ireland team on its Facebook page saying, “our loss is rugby's gain”. Caoimhe and her fellow squad members will assemble for three weekend training camps at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in west Dublin. Speaking ahead of the tournament, head coach Gill commented: "I’m really looking forward to continuing our Irish U-18 Women’s Six Nations preparations and getting our camps underway.

Aeronautics Defence Industries is owned by the Israeli government through its parent company, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. READ MOREThe Irish Defence Forces operates a number of Aeronautics Defence Industries “Orbiter” drones, after first signing a contract with the company in 2007. While both Elbit and Aeronautics Defence Industries manufacture lethal drones, the Defence Forces employs only non-lethal versions of the devices. According to procurement data from the Department of Defence, it has paid €4,503,444, excluding VAT, to Aeronautics Defence Industries since 2014. In 2017 the Israeli defence ministry suspended the export licence for Aeronautics Defence Industries’ Orbiter 1K drone.

The ACC CanSat team which recently had a Zoom call with retired astronaut George 'Pinky' Nelson. Former American astronaut meets with CanSat teamby Lily O'ConnorStudents of Athlone Community College taking part in a competition to build a satellite had the opportunity to talk with retired American astronaut George 'Pinky' Nelson over Zoom recently. Dr Nelson spoke to the pupils taking part in the CanSat competition about his time spent in space, as well as answering their questions on spaceflight. Athlone Community College student Mia Olwill had previously met Dr Nelson, who is her neighbour’s father, and coordinated this Zoom meeting for their CanSat team. Team members include George Mhitarjans, Matthew Mroz, Mia Olwill, Regan Hoh, Sean Sibindi, and Arnav Kothari.

Ireland U20 head coach Richie Murphy is being lined up to take over from Dan McFarland at Ulster Rugby on an interim basis. Photo by Seb Daly/SportsfileUlster will have to wait until the end of the U-20 Six Nations to get their hands on new coach Richie Murphy, who will take charge of the province until the end of the season. As first reported last night in the Irish Independent, Dan McFarland is ‘stepping down’ with immediate effect after six seasons in charge with assistant coach Dan Soper managing the squad while Murphy continues with his current duties, with Ireland next taking on Wales on Friday night in the U-20 Six Nations.

Jonathan McCambridge, PAAn investigation into alleged threats made against DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has detected no criminal offences, the PSNI has said. Mr Donaldson told the UK's House of Commons last month how he had been subjected to threats as he continued his negotiations with the UK government over a deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The DUP later confirmed the matter had been reported to the police. A PSNI spokesperson said: “Inquiries were made, no offences were detected and the investigation has now concluded.”Last month a DUP spokesperson said the party trusted those responsible for the threats “will be held accountable for their actions”. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson recently ended his two-year boycott of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Liam McBurney/PA)Mr Donaldson revealed the threats during an impassioned Westminster speech shortly before his party ended its two-year boycott of the Stormont powersharing institutions.

Offaly man appointed CEO of major insurance brokerOffaly man Joey Wynne has been appointed as CEO of Arachas Corporate Brokers, following approval by the Central Bank of Ireland. Arachas is the country’s largest nationwide insurance broker with over 700 employees at 18 offices located throughout the country and part of the Ardonagh Group, one of the world's largest independent insurance distribution platforms. Mr Wynne joined Arachas in 2019 as Chief Commercial Officer after the company’s purchase of Murray & Spelman, where he had been Commercial Director for over a decade. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr Wynne held the position of Deputy Chief Executive of Arachas, managing the day-to-day running of the businessAs CEO, he will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the business. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Wynne said: “I am delighted to take on the role as CEO and I look forward to driving the next stage of development of the company.

Plans to convert a 150-year-old former Bank of Ireland building in Boyle into town houses and a commercial unit have been lodged with Roscommon County Council. The former bank building located on Main Street, where the current Bank of Ireland branch is also located, was purpose-built c.1870 for the Irish bank on a site extending back to the Boyle river. The main street section of the bank served the community as a bank and manager’s residence until its closure in 1975. Now planning permission is being sought for conservation and restoration works to be carried out to the protected structure for the provision of two town houses and a ground floor commercial unit. “The proposed works have a firm eye on the future of Boyle town and are deemed to be suitably aligned with the objectives set out in Boyle local area plan,” it says.

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Visitor levels across Ireland increased significantly last year, with almost 60% of firms within the tourism sector reporting an increase in business compared to 2022. The report also noted an increase in domestic tourism, which was up for 64% of hotels and 52% of attractions. New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released on Wednesday also point to a rise in domestic tourism, with the first nine months of 2023 reflecting a 7% increase annually in domestic overnight trips. "In the first nine months of 2023, Irish residents also took 11.3 million domestic same-day visits and expenditure amounted to €500 million," said CSO statistician, Brendan Curtin. "The figures highlight the continued growth in domestic travel in the first nine months of 2023 following the disruption caused by covid restrictions."

READ MOREThe nub of the “family” amendment is to extend the constitutional meaning of family to what are termed “other durable relationships”. The Government insists that it will be for the courts to determine what “other durable relationships” means. Does a new family based on the new arrangement come into existence in a way that somehow absorbs the first family? No such requirement will exist in relation to parties to a “family” based on “other durable relationships”. But parties to durable relationships will, in all probability, be free to unilaterally end the relationship and to enter into another.

Ulster Rugby have confirmed that Ireland Under-20s coach Richie Murphy will take over from Dan McFarland, who has stepped down with immediate effect. Murphy will assume the role as interim head coach at the province until the end of the season, but not until the Irish 20s complete their Six Nations programme. Assistant coach Dan Soper will be in charge for game against the Welsh club, while Bryn Cunningham, head of rugby operations and recruitment will also assume greater management responsibilities within the performance function during this time. “With Richie [Murphy] coming to Ulster in the coming weeks, ahead of the squad travelling to South Africa, our focus will be on consistently performing to the best of our abilities at this crucial time of the year.”Dan McFarland's tenure as Ulster head coach has come to an end. Ultimately, McFarland was Ulster’s longest serving head coach in the professional era.

A man is in a critical condition in hospital and a child has been injured after being hit by a car in Mayo. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, which happened when a car on Lord Edward Street, in Ballina at approximately 6.30pm yesterday.

TOM Quirke, Michael Healy, Pat Hansberry, Peter Greaney and Michael Hughes walk the stretch of the R332 at Lissavalley on the outskirts of Barnaderg where a commercial windfarm development is planned. Photo: Ray RyanLET’S STICK TOGETHERCommunities urged to inform themselves about Barnaderg-Moylough wind farmPUBLIC meetings will be held in Barnaderg and Moylough next week to alert communities to a proposed wind farm development that local people say will divide the parish in two. The Cooloo Windfarm proposes nine turbines, 185m tall, along a 10km stretch of land on which a service road will be built to facilitate the development. However, campaigners have formed an action group to oppose the development, which they say will affect between 450 and 500 houses. “I live in Lissavalley and my house is 200m from the entrance of this planned development, with the nearest turbine earmarked for 1.6km away,” he said.

AOIFE Higgins models Football Fantasia, one of three designs by students at High Cross College Tuam, to have reached the national finals of this year’s Junk Kouture competition. DRESSED TO IMPRESSHigh Cross College set to dazzle at Junk Kouture finalsTUAM’S stellar tradition of student fashion talent continues with the selection of three designs from High Cross College that will contest the national finals of this year’s Junk Kouture competition. The new school opened last September following the amalgamation of Presentation College and Mercy Secondary School, with both schools having achieved national success in the competition down through the years. Now the three designs, created by seven Transition Year students, will compete against schools across the island of Ireland in the final of the competition next month. Speaking to The Tuam Herald this week, Lisa said the students had poured their heart and souls into their designs over recent months and the school was very proud of all who had taken part…

Minister asks HSE to carry out audit of children’s orthopaedic careBy Cillian Sherlock, PAThe HSE has been asked to carry out an audit of children’s orthopaedic care, according to the Minister for Health. Mr Donnelly said the State had failed “far too many” children in need of orthopaedic care. The Government tabled a countermotion which, while recognising delays for spinal surgery remain too long, said the Government is committed to improving waiting times. It also said the minister intends to convene a taskforce on the issue and a dedicated paediatric spinal surgery management unit had been established at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). Mr Donnelly told the Dáil: “What is happening is inhumane.”He said he had committed €19 million specifically for children’s orthopaedic care with a heavy focus on spinal care in 2022.