‘I'm not sure if I ever want to go there’ – Aryna Sabalenka unsure of Dubai return after criticism over withdrawal
World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she is unsure about her return to the Dubai Championships after its tournament director criticised her withdrawal this year, labelling the demand for tougher penalties on late pullouts a "ridiculous" idea. "I think it's ridiculous," Belarusian Sabalenka told reporters at the Miami Open on Tuesday. For me, it's actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments not protecting us as players. World number four Coco Gauff urged a more understanding view of Swiatek and Sabalenka pulling out of Dubai. I completely understand why she [Sabalenka] would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary."
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:05 UTC
‘You’ve just got to bide your time’ – Luton’s Josh Keeley on his hopes of making Ireland squad for play-offs
‘You’ve just got to bide your time’ – Luton’s Josh Keeley on his hopes of making Ireland squad for play-offsMeath goalkeeper (22) has no regrets about Spurs exit as he looks to boost his international hopesJosh Keeley at Luton Town's training ground, The Brache. Photo: Seán O'ConnorSeán O'Connor Today at 14:30It’s match day minus one at Luton Town’s training centre and although the weather outside is wet and gloomy, inside the vibes are anything but.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:02 UTC
Builder can proceed with 454-unit housing scheme in Dublin after planning extension
This follows South Dublin County Council granting a three-year extension to the five-year permission for the €200m 454-residential-unit scheme obtained by Hugh McGreevy & Sons Ltd at Tubber Lane, Adamstown, Co Dublin. The applicant has been a key contributor to housing delivery in Adamstown“This legislation has been specifically introduced to support large-scale housing development projects essential to addressing Ireland’s housing shortage, such as the subject permission’s development,” Mr Kelly said. He pointed out that the emergency legislation states councils should grant planning extensions where various criteria are met by the schemes. The planning extension “will provide the certainty required to secure financing, commence construction as planned and ultimately safeguard the completion of the project”, Mr Kelly said. “These lands have been zoned in the Adamstown Special Development Zone (SDZ) for significant development as a new area for residential housing,” he added.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:02 UTC
‘I returned to work after maternity leave and was issued with a notice of redundancy’
Photograph: iStockI recently returned to work from maternity leave to be issued with a notice of redundancy. After being put on notice of redundancy on my first day back after maternity leave, I was surprised and I immediately asked what happened to the role. You go out of your way to ring-circle that person on maternity leave and keep them,” she says, describing it as a “nearly sacrosanct protection”. Under the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004, those on maternity leave must be offered any suitable alternative role in priority to other employees. “Where a company is shutting down a whole department, and if someone’s out on maternity leave, they’re vulnerable.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:01 UTC
WNBA stars finally reach agreement with league chiefs to avoid lockout after months of crunch talks... with players set for HUGE salary increase
The WNBA and its players reportedly reached a tentative agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, bringing a lengthy, tense battle to an end. The deal is expected to greatly increase stars' salaries with million-dollar players - a first for the league. The average salary for the 2025 WNBA season was said to be around $107,000. I told Cathy it's not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren't already here. 'We opted out because what we were giving to this league and what we were getting back didn't match,' union executive committee member Alysha Clark said.
Source:Daily Mail
March 18, 2026 18:50 UTC
Jail for 'sexual predator' former principal over abuse of boys
A former school principal described by a judge as “a sexual predator” who abused young boys in their “formative years” has been jailed for four years. This fourth set of prosecutions brings to 89 his number of convictions for sexual or indecent assaults of young boys. The eight victims in this case brings to 32 the number of boys abused by Harte. Judge Baxter said Harte was “in a trusted position” and “he exploited his position to abuse” the children. Judge Baxter imposed various different sentences and ordered that all of those sentences should be concurrent to each other.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 18:48 UTC
Rory McIlroy has 'freeing feeling' going into his Masters defence
Rory McIlroy has 'freeing feeling' going into his Masters defenceBy Carl Markham, Press AssociationRory McIlroy expects to feel “free” when he returns to Augusta for the defence of his Masters title and is putting no pressure on himself to win the green jacket again. “This is going to be the first time I drive down Magnolia Lane and it’s all going to be about enjoying my week, enjoying the perks that come along with being a Masters champion,” said the 36-year-old. “The thing is I know I get to go back to the Masters tournament for the rest of my life and that’s quite a freeing feeling. “I honestly think that I’ve done it once and it’s not as if I have to win it again to win the Grand Slam. “Obviously (that’s) what happened on 13 and on 14 and when I got to 15 again I needed to be aggressive.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 18:47 UTC
Gianluigi Donnarumma questions Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr for Champions League celebration
Gianluigi Donnarumma questions Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr for Champions League celebrationManchester City saw their Champions League run ended by Spanish giants Real Madrid with Brazilian wideman Vinicius Jr being key to victory once again at the Etihad StadiumView 2 Images Donnarumma took exception to Vinicius' celebration (Image: Getty Images)Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma told Vinicius Jr to ‘make everyone love him’ after his controversial celebration at the Etihad Stadium. The Brazilian winger was once at the centre of things for Real Madrid against the Premier League side. He netted a brace for the Spanish side to rubber-stamp their place in the Champions League quarter-finals - the second coming in the form of a 93rd-minute penalty. I wasn't disrespecting City fans but it was a way for me to prove myself to them." Away from his celebration, Vinicius was key to victory for Real Madrid as they progressed 5-1 on aggregate following a stunning 3-0 success at the Bernabeu.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 18, 2026 18:47 UTC
Taoiseach survives White House shark tank unscathed – The Irish Times
Donald Trump and Micheál Martin at the shamrock bowl presentation in the East Room of the White House yesterday. Sent Monday to Friday when the Dáil is in sessionHow do you survive an encounter with a shark? For the overwhelming majority of the Taoiseach’s 40 minutes on the periphery of Trump’s vision, the Irish politician maintained a wise silence. According to the elastic rhetoric of the White House, Operation Epic Fury only needs to tie up a couple of loose ends – like neutering Iran’s nuclear capabilities (the same nuclear capability that the same White House claimed to have already “completely and totally obliterated”). “I think it would have hit Europe, maybe not Ireland, but it would have hit Europe,” Trump told Martin.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 18:46 UTC
Railway rivalry: A race between two trains with an unexpected ending
One of the engines featured in the race, Dublin & South Eastern Railway engine No 18, later renumbered No 444, on a Wexford-bound cattle train passing through Glenageary, Co Dublin, in September 1939. The 24th edition of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s (RPSI) annual magazine recounted it in detail in 1979. The GSW closely guarded the region’s valuable bovine workings and were running 30-wagon cattle trains three times a week to Dublin. Great Southern & Western Railway J15 class engine No 184 in Dublin's North Wall yard in May 1961. Dublin & South Eastern Railway locomotive No 18, wearing its later number 444, at Dublin's Grand Canal Street engine shed in August 1953.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 18:45 UTC
As war escalates, Trump edges toward the most perilous Iran operation yet
Tehran was on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon, the president insists, and would use it first on Israel, then on the United States. US president Donald Trump speaking during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. “The Iranians understand Israel and the United States want to destroy this material or take it out,” he said. Iran, he said, was willing to blend all of the nuclear material in its possession down to the level used in nuclear reactors, under inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. They offered an alternative: the United States would supply Iran with low-enriched uranium, good for power reactors, forever and for free, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 18:44 UTC
Government finalising 'appropriate intervention' to rising fuel and energy prices, says Tánaiste
Government finalising 'appropriate intervention' to rising fuel and energy prices - Harris"An appropriate intervention" by the Government in the face of increased energy prices arising from the war in Iran will be brought forward in the next week, Tánaiste Simon Harris has told the Dáil. "I want to confirm...that we are now finalising what we believe to be an appropriate intervention, for the areas in which is there is most acute pressure and challenge," Mr Harris said. Mr Harris, however, said that due to the "significant level of volatility" around the conflict "any intervention, should in the first instance, be for a short period of time". The Government has come under increasing pressure to take "immediate" action on rising prices, with opposition TDs earlier today telling them it's now "decision time" on cost-of-living and energy supports. Mr O'Callaghan said it is "insulting" to people struggling with rising prices for the Government to maintain that they are keeping everything under review when it comes to their response.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 18:39 UTC
Cage fighter strangled partner until she thought she was going to die
Cage fighter strangled partner until she thought she was going to dieCailum Hill, 22, chased after his victim after strangling her and tried to open her car door before she collided with a parked carView Image Cailum Hill (Image: South Wales Police)An "aggressive bully" strangled his partner to the point she thought she was going to die and when she tried to flee she was involved in a minor car accident. He continued to strangle her for 10 to 15 seconds and she "thought she was going to die". She then attempted to leave but he followed after her and tried to open her car door while banging on the windows to prevent her from leaving. I remember being tender around my neck after he strangled me, which was painful to touch and had bruises. Sentencing, Recorder Paul Lewis KC said: "During the trial you bragged about being a cage fighter.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 18, 2026 18:35 UTC
Grandson of tennis legend sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting young girls he coached
A Florida tennis coach, the grandson of legend Bobby Riggs, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for sexually abusing two girls he was teaching. Riggs worked as a coach for 'Team Riggs' at a Fort Lauderdale tennis center. He was accused of using his position to victimize two girls between 2021 and late 2024, after meeting them at the tennis center. Florida tennis coach Daniel Riggs was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for sexually abusing two girls he was teachingRiggs is the grandson of the late American tennis legend Bobby Riggs. Taking his success to the next level, Riggs was a member of Cornell University's tennis team in 2011 and 2012.
Source:Daily Mail
March 18, 2026 18:34 UTC
Rory McIlroy’s Masters menu includes tribute to his mother Rosie’s cooking
Rory McIlroy has gone for an upmarket menu for his champions dinner at the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, which will include one of his mother’s specialities – Rosie’s bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goats cheese – as part of the appetisers. And while Irish champ, an Ulster potato mainstay, will feature among the sides, there will be no Irish stew or Ulster fry among the mains. Indeed, McIlroy has borrowed recipes from some of his favourite restaurants to host his fellow Masters champions with the two main options being Wagyu filet mignon and fillet of seared salmon. The appetisers include Rosie’s dates dish along with yellowfin tuna, peach and ricotta flatbread and grilled elk sliders. “I wanted some personal touches along the way but putting together a good enough menu that everyone would enjoy,” said McIlroy.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 18:33 UTC