One might therefore expect the butt of Hungarian jokes to be the Romanians (which would be returning a favour) or perhaps the Slovaks, Croats or Serbs. Skót viccek (Scottish jokes) are based around two simple premises: that we’re drunkards and we’re skinflints. Dr Molnár says: "Scottish jokes are incredibly common in Hungary, perhaps second only to mother-in-law jokes. "According to the historical studies, the Scottish jokes appeared in Poland, where the Scottish merchants were trading intensively in the 16-17th Century. "Hungary and Poland had a very close relationship historically, so the Scottish jokes spread to Hungary - despite the fact that very few Hungarians had actually met Scots."

'Not Just a Carer' campaign aims to put profession in spotlightHome Instead, the leading provider of home care services, has launched its pioneering campaign, 'Not Just a Carer', aimed at dispelling myths surrounding the care sector and hightlighting the incredible stories of real people receiving care so that they can remain living in their own home. For far too long, caring has been undervalued, with dedicated family carers and skilled professional carers often described as "just a carer". The 'Not Just a Carer' campaign celebrates Home Instead CAREGivers and their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those they care for. That’s why we wanted to use real care scenarios to show exactly the kind of professional CAREGivers we’re looking for. For more information about the 'Not Just a Carer' campaign or to explore career opportunities with Home Instead, please visit HomeInstead.ie/notjustacarer or contact 044 938 5260.

Asking for a friend: ‘I’m in my 20s, religious and a virgin. I don’t want casual sex and I’d like to marry a virgin, but this seems to put women off’

Wind, rain, ice and snow: Met Éireann issues warnings as 2023 comes to stormy endHeavy rain, strong winds, ice and snow are forecast for the final weekend of 2023, with weather warnings in place for 17 counties. Met Éireann has issued an alert for wind and snow-ice in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo on Saturday until 10am. The UK Met Office has also warned of heavy rain for all counties in Northern Ireland on Saturday morning, which may lead to some travel disruption. Met Éireann said southwest winds would be strong and gusty at times coupled with heavy rain and thundery showers. Met Éireann said showers should be expected.

Photograph: APUkrainians were told to prepare for large-scale missile strikes after Russia launched its biggest barrage of the war on multiple cities in Ukraine, killing at least 29 people. Emergency workers at the site on Friday of a Russian air strike on Dnipro that Ukrainian officials said killed six people and injured about 28. A woman holding a dog stands near the site of a damaged residential building on Friday after a Russian air strike on Lviv in western Ukraine. Gen Wiesław Kukuła, chief of the general staff of the Polish army, said although the incident was a violation of Polish airspace it was being treated as part of Russia’s mass missile strike against Ukraine. Two people were killed in eastern Poland in November 2022 by a stray missile identified as a Ukrainian S-300 air defence interceptor.

Now the Mapusa Police are on the lookout for the driver of the SUV, whose video has gone viral on social media. In the viral video two children are seen sleeping dangerously on the roof of a Telangana registered SUV, putting their own lives in danger, while the father is seen driving the SUV. The video depicts a concerned bystander, who shot the video going up to the driver, and questioning him about the safety of the children on the rooftop of the SUV. Efforts are on to identify and locate the driver of the Telangana registered vehicle. “The video in question is deeply distressing, with an alarming scene depicting two young, innocent children sleeping on the roof of a moving vehicle.

There has been an increased focus on safety in Dublin following a series of well publicised random attacks and assaults on people in the city. Mr Varadkar was asked about the issue of safety in Dublin at his end of year media briefing with political journalists. “There’s no city that’s 100% safe,” he said. “If you look at something like the murder rate, for example, in Ireland or Dublin, compare that to other countries or other major cities, you’ll see that Dublin and Ireland are relatively safe relative to other countries and other cities in the western world. “Most people, thankfully, don’t experience being victims of violent crime in Dublin or anywhere else.

A Lough Ree RNLI boat training in the town area. Local RNLI responded to 38 calls during 2023After another busy year on the water having responded to 38 calls for assistance, Lough Ree RNLI begins the New Year with a fundraising table quiz on January 4 in The Bounty at Buccaneers Rugby Club, Athlone. Treasurer of Lough Ree RNLI, Vincent Rafter said: "The charity values the brilliant support it receives from the community around Lough Ree and visitors to the Midlands. This is one of the most significant fund-raising events for Lough Ree RNLI and makes a great contribution to safety on our waters." The 7th annual RNLI Table Quiz takes place on Thursday, January 4 at 8pm in The Bounty at Buccaneers Rugby Club.

Cardboard box maker Smurfit Kappa also signalled the same month that it intends to abandon the Irish market under a plan to merge with US rival WestRock, while gambling giant Flutter Entertainment recently confirmed it is exiting the Irish market early next year, after taking on a Wall Street listing. Speculation over a potential US recession kept markets participants busy during 2022, following a series of interest rate hikes. It is expected to expand by 2.1 per cent in 2023 and 1.5 per cent in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund. Rising interest rates globally have increased concerns about so-called zombie companies — businesses that consistently barely make enough to continue operating and service their debt. However, the low valuation of such companies means they only make up about 2 per cent of total value of the market.

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Westmeath drawn with big guns in Leinster U20 championshipWestmeath have been handed a daunting challenge in the 2024 Leinster Under-20 Football Championship, having been drawn in a group with traditional powerhouses Dublin and Meath. In Tiers 2 and 3, Leinster teams may be drawn against each other in the early stages subject to not having met in the Leinster championship. Leinster quarter-finals: Group 2 winner v Group 3 runner-up; Group 1 runner-up v Group 2 runner-up. Round 2 - April 3: Westmeath v Kildare, Louth v Meath. Round 3 - April 13: Westmeath v Meath, Kildare v Louth.

The HSE is seeing an increase in people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments as 538 people with flu and 282 with Covid attended EDs this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (Covid) the previous week. Increasing community infection rates will lead to increased risk of outbreaks in hospitals, nursing homes and residential care facilities, potentially affecting the most vulnerable people. There are currently 30 outbreaks of Covid in hospitals and 24 in nursing homes, again an increase from last week. "Acute hospitals are as prepared as can be to deal with the expected rise in attendances and admissions over the coming period. However the rise in flu and COVID infection is very steep, and we would urge the public to attend the ED only for major health emergencies.

Mr Heaton-Harris had also said that his talks with the DUP over their concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements had concluded. Under current rules Mr Heaton-Harris is obliged to call new Assembly elections on January 18 if the powersharing Assembly has not returned. But writing in the Belfast Telegraph, the Northern Ireland Secretary said he would not be treating that date as a deadline. “By getting back to work they will unlock the £584 million made available by the UK Government to address public sector pay. “That is because the financial package we have offered requires decisions on how to improve and modernise the public services and these must be taken by locally-elected politicians with the mandate to do so.

Cillian Sherlock, PASorting out personal finances and cutting back on spending are among the public’s main New Year resolutions, according to research. More than 50 per cent of respondents said they wanted to spend time outdoors while 35 per cent wanted to increase socialising. The research also shows that celebrating with family and friends is what will motivate most people in 2024, especially for the over-35s. Leontia Fannin, head of corporate affairs and communications at PTSB, said the research shows many people are entering 2024 in a “spirit of self-improvement”. “There is widespread support for taking on tough challenges – particularly on the financial and health and wellbeing front.

Senior County Winners in the prestigious 'Someone Like Me' art competition were the 6th class pupils from the Mixed School at St Ciarans and St. Manchans NS in Boher, Ballycumber. Local school wins on the double in prestigious art competitionTwo sets of pupils from a county Offaly primary school are set to take part in the national finals of the Someone Like Me art competition having this week been named as the county winners in both the junior and senior sections of the prestigious annual competition. The Senior County Winners were the 6th class group from the Mixed School in St. Ciarans and St. Manchans, under the guidance of teacher, Ms. Rebecca Farrell. The 6th class pupils also made a list of famous people who have disabilities and got pictures of them. The competition, which offers a range of prizes up to the value of €1,250, was open to all primary school pupils from junior infants to sixth class.