An Irish Goodbye… from Bologna: ‘Finding somewhere to live can still be competitive but compared to Ireland, the process felt more attainable financially’
An Irish Goodbye… from Bologna: ‘Finding somewhere to live can still be competitive but compared to Ireland, the process felt more attainable financially’Ciara Walsh moved from Galway to Italy in 2019. She lives in a one-bed apartment with her Italian partner and their sonCiara Walsh in BolognaNicola Brady Today at 06:30“I moved to Bologna for the first time on an Erasmus in 2015, followed by a year in Catania, Sicily. I was back living in Ireland when I met my Italian partner in 2019 – he was travelling in Ireland for a month. So I decided to pack up and move back to Bologna, a city that had once been a home for me too.
Source:Irish Independent
March 20, 2026 10:02 UTC
Energy bills could rise by hundreds of euro as Government scrambles for solutions – but no return of energy credits
Energy bills could rise by hundreds of euro as Government scrambles for solutions – but no return of energy creditsAlready squeezed households facing huge cost increase that will only ramp up the longer that Iran war goes onElectricity bills could rise by €800 in fall-out from Middle East gas plants attacksCharlie Weston and Senan Molony Today at 06:30A spike in the cost of domestic electricity and gas is now on the cards after huge damage was done to key energy infrastructure across the Middle East in the past two days.
Source:Irish Independent
March 20, 2026 10:01 UTC
Everybody needs good neighbours. Like Ireland and Britain right now – The Irish Times
For now, at least the two countries are behaving like good neighbours. The principal reason for this is not simply Starmer’s obvious affection for this country, but his determination to act on it. At one level, the annual summits are designed to compensate for the fact that since Brexit, Irish and British political leaders and their top officials no longer meet regularly at EU events. A related issue was the commitment to closer defence co-operation to deter threats in the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic. But for now, at least the two countries are behaving like good neighbours.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 09:54 UTC
Judge blasts footballers for 'disgusting way' they talked about sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl as pair learn their fate
A judge has slammed the 'abhorrent male bravado' of two footballers as he jailed them for sex crimes against a 14-year-old girl. Judge Gerard Mullaly labelled their offending as 'disgusting' and 'degrading', as the men were much older and knew their victim was only 14. Later that evening, Fidge, then aged 22, lured the girl away from the party to the backyard and began kissing her. The two men jointly penetrated the girl, who could not speak or ask for help, before returning to the party. After being presented with 'overwhelming' DNA evidence, Fidge and Smith admitted their crimes, the judge said.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 09:53 UTC
Trump considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island
Trump reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg IslandAccording to a report in Axios, the Trump administration is considering occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The island had been largely left untouched by the US-Israeli attacks during the first two weeks of the war. Gen Ali Mohammad Naini made the comments in a report quoted by Iran’s state-run IRAN newspaper. He also confirmed that Trump had asked Israel to hold off on such attacks. “Does anyone really think that someone can tell president Trump what to do?” Netanyahu told reporters, at a press conference.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 09:50 UTC
UK Foreign Office warns all tourists to 'leave country immediately' on next flight
UK Foreign Office warns all tourists to 'leave country immediately' on next flightThe FCDO has changed its travel advice due to unpredictable security conditionsForeign Office warns all UK tourists to 'leave immediately' on next flightThe Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance for yet another nation, now cautioning against ALL travel to the destination. The guidance for the country states: "FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions. If you're in Mali, you should leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so. Do not try to leave Mali by overland routes to neighbouring countries as this is too dangerous. Regarding the terrorism threat, the FCDO continued: "There is a high threat of terrorist attack across Mali.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 20, 2026 09:40 UTC
Tenerife and Lanzarote placed on 'No List' for Scottish holidaymakers
Tenerife and Lanzarote placed on 'No List' for Scottish holidaymakersThe Canary Islands have been placed on the Fodor 'No List'. Tourists were warned about the impact of anti-tourism protests and pollution concerns (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)Scottish holidaymakers planning a summer escape to a popular Spanish destination have been issued with a travel alert. The Canary Islands have been added to Fodor's 'No List' following anti-tourism demonstrations, ecological worries and contamination affecting coastal areas. The travel list, however, isn't intended as a "boycott" list but rather aims to "highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities", according to Fodor. This follows additional travel alerts for British holidaymakers planning trips abroad.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 20, 2026 09:23 UTC
Senator’s comments on education supports ‘insulting’, say autism campaigners
The committee also heard from an autism campaigner who said, 'the children have needs, it’s not that they’re attention seeking'. Photograph: Getty ImagesComments on education supports by an Independent Senator have been strongly criticised by autism rights campaigners as “deeply disappointing” and “insulting”. He said that “lots of children will present in their classroom as being needy or attention seeking” while teachers were overworked. “It is neither attention seeking nor needy to expect both.” Harris said the comments were “deeply insulting and out of step with what is the lived experience of autistic children and families”. This country has a long way to go to ensure that our education system is child centred, needs based and truly inclusive.”
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 09:21 UTC
Millions of iPhones at risk of devastating 'DarkSword' cyberattack: 'Act NOW'
Cybersecurity experts have issued an urgent warning about a newly uncovered exploit that could put hundreds of millions of iPhones at risk. The Google Threat Intelligence Group says the malware, known as 'DarkSword,' enables hackers to break into devices and extract personal information. DarkSword chains together six separate flaws in iOS and Safari, allowing attackers to quietly install malware on targeted devices. The exploit affects iPhones running iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7, and can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious or compromised website, requiring no further action from the user. This allows attackers to secretly install malware on a device, another reminder of why keeping your phone updated is crucial.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 09:21 UTC
Scientists discover 45 Earth–like planets that could have the perfect conditions for ALIENS – including four that are just 40 light–years away
Experts from the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University have pinpointed 45 Earth–like planets that could have perfect conditions for aliens. The planets all lie within the so–called habitable zone – an area not too close to a host star that it's too hot, and not too far away that it's too cold. In their new study, the team pinpointed 45 of these planets that may support life in the habitable zone, and another 24 in a narrower 3D habitable zone. According to the researchers, the most interesting planets are TRAPPIST–1 d, e, f and g, which are just 40 light–years from Earth. The planets all lie within the so–called habitable zone – an area not too close to a host star that it's too hot, and not too far away that it's too cold.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 09:14 UTC
Donald Trump compares Pearl Harbor to strikes on Iran in meeting with Japan’s leader
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi and US president Donald Trump at the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesUnited States president Donald Trump drew a parallel on Thursday between US strikes on Iran and Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, as he defended the war he launched against Tehran while meeting Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington. Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Trump replied when a journalist asked why he had not told allies about his war plans. The Japanese attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7th, 1941, killed 2,390 Americans. The US declared war on Japan the next day, with president Franklin D Roosevelt calling it “a date which will live in infamy”.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 09:06 UTC
'Get your sh*t together': Controversy over council's campaign on dog fouling
“I think it’s fair for people to say Cork City Council needs to get its sh*t together. Dog fouling is an issue. A city council spokesperson said the campaign would be formally launched soon, adding: “Dog fouling is a serious public nuisance and a health risk." “Securing a prosecution against dog owners for the offence of dog fouling is very difficult, so we need to encourage behavioural change. “We hope any debate around this campaign will prompt a discussion around responsible pet ownership and lead to a decrease in dog fouling.”
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 09:00 UTC
10 minutes with Shannon O’Sullivan of Corlann
Shannon O’Sullivan brings great commitment and passion to her role as a social care worker with Corlann South, the service provider that supports more than 6,400 people with a range of intellectual disabilities across Ireland. I applied for a post with Corlann Children’s Respite after completing a work placement there as part of my Social Care degree in MTU (formerly CIT). Shannon O’Sullivan, social care worker with Corlann, an organisation dedicated to supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Some of the key skills you need for a social care role would include flexibility, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. For anyone working in social care — especially with children and young people — it’s a powerful resource.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 08:54 UTC
What now for WRC event in Ireland after Rally Scotland announcement?
MotorsportMotorsport Ireland's bid for a round of the World Rally Championship now seems unlikely until 2030 at the earliest following an announcement that Rally Scotland is set to join the series next year, heralding a new era within the WRC. Rally Scotland has been secured through a partnership between Motorsport UK, WRC Promoter and the Scottish Government, with support from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils. Their shared desire is to establish Rally Scotland as a major international sporting event that will yield "significant economic and tourism benefits for the region." A Rally Scotland "Candidate Event" - essentially a trial run - will be held later this year and the event will then be submitted for approval on the WRC calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. We have nothing but praise for the determination and hard work shown by Motorsport UK in bringing this project to life."
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 08:51 UTC
'Meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later': Family of school girl killed by virus say first sign teen was sick was when she vomited... then the colour started draining from her face - as t
The father of an 18-year-old girl who died following an outbreak of meningitis in Kent has revealed how her condition deteriorated just hours after contracting the disease. 'Juliette fought bravely for hours, but despite the fantastic NHS hospital staff fighting alongside her, meningitis took her from us less than 12 hours later,' Mr Kenny added. The family described her loss as 'devastating'In a statement, Mr Kenny said: 'We are incredibly proud parents to two wonderful daughters. The outbreak, which has been linked to Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, has also killed a 21-year-old University of Kent student. He said anyone who attended Club Chemistry from March 5 until March 15 would be offered the jab, alongside sixth-formers at four schools and other university students in Canterbury.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 08:39 UTC