The excavation of a late Iron Age Durotriges burial at Winterborne Kingston, Dorset. Land was inherited through the female line in Iron Age Britain, and a husband moved to live with the community of his wife. Remarkable evidence that women in British Iron Age society were empowered politically and socially has been unveiled in an international genetic study led by researchers at Trinity College Dublin. They sifted through data from prior genetic surveys of Iron Age Britain and, though sample numbers from other cemeteries were smaller, saw the same pattern emerge repeatedly. Excavation director Dr Miles Russell said beyond archaeology knowledge of Iron Age Britain has come mainly from Greek and Roman writers, who were not always trustworthy.

READ MORERóisín Ingle: My breast cancer diagnosis Listen | 66:43Things change, people change. Last year, after receiving a serious medical diagnosis the shock propelled me to make a few permanent, self-improving lifestyle changes. And something else: recalling the admiral’s message, I finally started making my bed regularly for the first time in my life. Telling people your ‘news’ when you get a challenging medical diagnosis can be difficult. Telling people your “news” when you get a challenging medical diagnosis can be difficult.

The Defence Forces has deployed an aircraft to monitor a vessel from Russia’s so called “shadow fleet” which has appeared in Irish-controlled waters. The military has designated the Metagas Everest tanker, which is also known as the Everest Energy, a “vessel of interest”. On Tuesday morning the Defence Forces deployed an Irish Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft to shadow the vessel as it transited down the west coast. Its primary role is to monitor the Metagas Everest and keep track of its location. It is understood the Defence Forces may deploy a naval vessel to escort the ship through Irish-controlled waters.

Champions Cup pool deciders: All you need to knowYesterday at 17:2016 of the 24 teams will qualify but there's plenty more at stake as teams look to guarantee home advantage

Nienaber's redesigned Leinster defence key to victory over La Rochelle, says James RyanYesterday at 11:30Province's defence held firm against French side that snatched victory with a last-minute try in the 2022 Champions Cup final

The ongoing wildfires have displaced 200,000 people and destroyed more than 12,000 homes and structures in Los Angeles.

Here’s the good news: reading books doesn’t just improve our attention spans, it helps reduce stress, improves sleep and reduces cognitive decline. So if you used to read a lot more before the age of social media, here are 15 short books to help you get back in the habit. A short, endlessly debatable, brilliant book everyone should read at least once. And besides all that, how could anyone not want to read a book called Lady Gregory’s Toothbrush? This is what makes The Details so great – we’re reading about someone else’s memories, but they might as well be our own.

Several major fires are enveloping LA, notably one raging in the western Pacific Palisades and another in the eastern mountains above Pasadena. “Record-breaking wildfires are becoming more frequent, and the current California wildfires are especially alarming, occurring outside the usual fire season – May to October,” says Dr Chris Mays, an expert in wildfires, based at University College Cork. Lack of acknowledgment of even the possibility that climate was a critical factor in igniting these catastrophic fires stands out. That is why the climate mantra of “every tenth of a degree of temperature reduction matters” is so often repeated. Its collapse due in the main from climate change, strange as it seems, would led to a much harsher climate for those living in northwestern Europe.

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