The mystery of flying ships in ancient Meath that ended up in a Texas newspaper
A 19th century illustration depicting futuristic airships and hot air balloons: an airship was rumoured to have been spotted in Meath 1,300 years ago. The man asking is Val Nolan, an academic and sci-fi expert who occasionally reviews books for this newspaper. It all began, modestly enough, with reports of mere flying ships, recorded as background detail to political events. Suddenly they see a ship glide through the air, from which someone casts a spear at a fish. Perhaps the strangest twist in the tale’s evolution is the one by which it turned up in 1890s Texas.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 22:03 UTC
Video: 300lbs man says Southwest told him he'd have to buy extra seat
Video: Hairdresser who weighs 300lbs says Southwest airport check-in worker looked him up and down and told him he'd have to buy extra seatHairdresser who weighs 300lbs says Southwest airport check-in worker looked him up and down and told him he'd have to buy extra seat.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 21:55 UTC
‘They will be believed’: Survivors of abuse at Spiritan schools urged to share experiences
Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsPeople who experienced abuse at Irish Spiritan-run schools are being encouraged to come forward and share their experiences as part of a “history-gathering initiative”. The project was launched on Thursday by Restore Together, an advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse in Spiritan schools. The scoping inquiry was established following revelations of widespread sexual abuse of boys at Willow Park and Blackrock College. She will oversee an independent team whose members have experience working with survivors of trauma and child sexual abuse. It almost destroyed me entirely.”Speaking out has helped her to heal, and she encouraged survivors to “pick up your pen, send the email, call the number, speak up”.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 21:54 UTC
Irish exports to US fall 72% as trade turmoil linked to tariffs continues
Exports of chemicals and related products to the US fell by €8.9 billion (-81.3 per cent) to €2 billion in January compared with the same month last ye. Photograph: iStockIrish goods exports to the US dropped by 72 per cent in January as trade turmoil linked to US tariffs continues to impact the sector here. So far pharma, which accounts for the lion’s share of Irish exports to the US, has avoided tariffs. The latest CSO trade figures indicated the State exported €16.2 billion worth of goods globally in January, a decrease of €8.7 billion (-35 per cent) compared with January 2025. “This fall was largely driven by a decline in the export of pharmaceutical products over this period,” the CSO’s Jane Burmanje said.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 21:51 UTC
Hestia Insight Deploys Impact-O The AI Engine Designed to Cut Legal Compliance Cost and Automate Corporate Communication
By integrating automated drafting with a sophisticated regulatory compliance checker, Impact-O is designed to significantly reduce the time and capital traditionally required for public company disclosures. Strategic Integration and Market Reach“The current model for corporate messaging is ripe for optimization,” stated the Hestia Insight leadership team. Through its subsidiary, Hestia Investments Inc., the company engages in capital market activities and selective strategic partnerships that complement its AI solutions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results proposed in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 21:47 UTC
Partners in PROMISE® Marks Fifth Anniversary with PROMISE 2026
“PROMISE 2026 reinforced what military families have been telling us for years,” said Michelle Norman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Partners in PROMISE. PCS-Related Educational DisruptionFrequent military moves continue to disrupt educational stability for military children receiving special education services. “Mobility cannot continue to mean instability for military children with disabilities,” Norman said. “Military families should be able to rely on consistent, effective support no matter where the military moves them,” Norman said. About Partners in PROMISEFounded in 2020, Partners in PROMISE is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting the rights of military children in special education.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 21:47 UTC
Michelman to Present Two interpack 2026 Sessions on Sustainable Packaging Innovation
The first session, titled “Simplifying Adoption of Sustainable Packaging for Brands,” will take place Monday, May 11, at 11am. The presentation will be delivered by Janne Varvemaa, Director, Products & Technology, at UPM Specialty Materials, and Lori Gobris, Global Marketing Director, Packaging, at Michelman. “Achieving real progress in sustainable packaging requires more than individual innovation. They are formulated to meet global regulatory requirements including the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks like SB54 in California. These efforts are helping bring more sustainable packaging solutions to the market to keep pace with regulatory requirements.”Visitors attending interpack 2026 are invited to learn more about Michelman’s work in sustainable packaging development in Hall 8a, Stand B25.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 21:47 UTC
Digital Communication Expands Opportunities for Ongoing Patient–Provider Connection
Digital communication provides additional channels for patients to stay connected with medical providers between visits” — Chad CarroneSLIDELL, LA, UNITED STATES, March 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Digital communication tools continue reshaping the way patients interact with healthcare providers. Digital communication tools also support ongoing care management for patients with chronic health conditions. Secure digital communication channels allow patients to report updates regarding symptoms or treatment responses without requiring a full office visit. How Digital Communication Helps Patients Stay Connected With ProvidersHealthcare has always depended on communication. However, communication tools can support the time between those visits by allowing questions and updates to be shared more easily.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 21:47 UTC
Demolition of house built without planning set to continue after court ruling
Meath County Council can continue with the demolition of a house built without planning permission, following a High Court ruling. Mr McNelis submitted that the court and the council was obliged not to “hinder” or “undermine” the application to the European court. He argued that the council, in obtaining court orders this month, was “determined” to “get the house down” before the matter comes before the European court. Ms Hughes said there was no evidence that the Murrays had made the application to the European court. She asked the judge to continue to ensure that court’s orders continue to be enforceable.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 21:36 UTC
Advocates petition to change Cesar Chavez street name in LA
Video: Woke Portland faces renaming street and schools after progressive hero Cesar Chavez was exposed as pedophileCalifornia Rising founder Raul Claros and former history teacher Jesse Pelayo spoke out as they advocated to replace the name of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in Los Angeles to Dolores Huerta Avenue instead. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Chavez and has accused him of sexual assault.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 21:24 UTC
Three winners and three losers from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s World Cup play-off squad
Heimir Hallgrimsson may have dropped the bombshell about his contract extension right in the middle of his squad announcement press conference ahead of the World Cup play-offs, but there were still plenty of other talking points to pick through from his 25-man panel. While you could have put your house on the likes of Troy Parrott, Caoimhín Kelleher, Nathan Collins and Finn Azaz getting the nod, others were less certain of making the cut. We knew that Evan Ferguson, Josh Cullen and Mikey Johnston were out injured but the camp came too soon for Will Smallbone. Robbie Brady and Adam Idah won their own fitness races to be included, there was a first Irish call-up for new recruit Harvey Vale, while Alan Browne earned a first recall since September 2024. Here are some winners and losers from the squad announcement as Prague looms.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 21:09 UTC
Tinnitus breakthrough as online therapy is shown to ease misery of the condition which blights millions
An online form of therapy commonly used to treat anxiety and depression may also help people cope with tinnitus, a study suggests. It did not improve hearing itself, but the researchers said the findings 'indicate potential for informing health care services and reducing health care costs caused by tinnitus'. Digital interventions can add various health care, clinical and economic benefits. Interventions such as this can add great value to patients, clinicians, and health care systems. This can prevent users from needing to again enter the health care system.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 21:03 UTC
Price of natural gas surges 35pc after tit-for-tat strikes destroy key infrastucture
FILE PHOTO: QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoEuropean natural gas prices surged by around a third on Thursday morning, one of the biggest single day moves ever. Prices shot up after Iranian missile strikes on the world's largest liquefied natural gas export plant in Qatar. Qatar and Iran are among the world’s top sources of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). President Donald Trump said in a social media post the US will retaliate if Qatar's LNG facilities are attacked again.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 20:58 UTC
Far-right group planned to attack Muslims and Ipas workers in ‘eye for an eye’ campaign
One of the four arrested men, Garrett Pollock (35), of Kilhorne Green, Annalong, Co Down, arriving at Portlaoise District Court on Thursday. Four men allegedly involved in the group – allegedly caught last November as they were about to destroy a Galway mosque in a terror attack to start their campaign – were arrested on Thursday and brought before Portlaoise District Court. The other two men were appearing in court for the first time over their alleged IDA activity. They explained that they planned to engage in an ongoing campaign of violence against migrants with an “eye for an eye” philosophy. The court was told gardaí allege the four men in the footage were the four men before the court on Thursday.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 20:55 UTC
Sell-out success for Ferbane comedian's opening night of tour
Ferbane’s Tadhg J Devery as ‘Christy’ The Builder. Photo: @funki_photographySell-out success for Ferbane comedian's opening night of tourFerbane comedian Tadhg J. Devery opened his brand new show 'Pints, Dentures, & Rock n’ Roll in the Country' to a sold-out audience at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore recently. With 37,000 followers on Facebook and 11,100 on Instagram, Devery has built a loyal fanbase for his one-man, but multi-character, spectacle. Described as his most unhinged and outrageous night out yet, 'Pints, Dentures & Rock and Roll in the Country' cranks the chaos, energy, and sheer unpredictability into overdrive. For more information on upcoming dates, search Tadhg J Devery on Facebook and Instagram.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 20:42 UTC