From Mexico to Ireland: ‘People in Dublin assume that in my country we are just poor’
Ortiz-Castillo, a chef, moved from Mexico to Ireland in November 2021. “Many people in Dublin assume that because one is an immigrant and from Mexico that people in my country are just poor or don’t have the opportunities that a European person has. Sometimes I came across people who said nasty things to me.”He says he has only looked for a partner in Ireland to feel less alone. The lecturer told his class that he had moved to Ireland and that if they ever thought of moving over, to get in touch with him. After staying with his old lecturer for a few months, he moved into a place on his own in Dublin.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:30 UTC
Police SHUT DOWN major UK-based illegal streaming network used for Premier League football - and make string of arrests - after Sky Sports complained
Police have arrested four people and seized servers worth £750,000 in a major new development in the war against illegal streaming. The massive streaming operation is a significant win for Sky and the police as the network was understood to serve millions of viewers in the UK. Affordability of attending fixtures is the main concern for fans across every age group, according to the Sport Industry Report. Following repeated alerts from the Premier League in recent years, there has been a major focus on tackling illegal streaming in the UK. The latest arrests are one of the surest signs yet that Sky and the police are taking the issue seriously and hunting down illegal streaming networks.
Source:Daily Mail
February 03, 2026 16:22 UTC
How ITV plan to blow low-budget BBC and their work-from-home World Cup plans out of the water: Laura Woods and top pundits secure a prime spot in New York as details revealed
ITV are set to unveil a punditry team that includes big guns Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane for the World Cup. And - unlike their rivals at the BBC - the broadcaster will base themselves in a New York studio with a dramatic view of Brooklyn Bridge and the Big Apple's iconic skyline. Broadcasters Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods are expected to lead the coverage, with Pougatch in the booth for England matches. Neville, Wright and Keane have become popular mainstays of ITV's major tournament coverage and bosses will be delighted to have them lined up for the summer. The World Cup is one of the 'crown jewel' events, which the government stipulates must be free-to-air.
Source:Daily Mail
February 03, 2026 16:21 UTC
Mason Hayes and Curran’s revenue rises 8% to €131m
William Carmody of Mason Hayes Curran. 'We don’t see it [AI] reducing the total number of staff we have or the number of legal graduates or trainees that we are taking on.' Photograph: Conor McCabe PhotographyTurnover at leading Irish law firm Mason Hayes and Curran rose by 8 per cent to €131.5 million last year, on the back of “robust demand for specialist legal advice”. On the use of AI at the firm, Carmody said a “test-and-pilot phase” was under way for the use of an AI model. “We don’t see it reducing the total number of staff we have or the number of legal graduates or trainees that we are taking on.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:20 UTC
More flooding possible as heavy rain due for week
More flooding possible as heavy rain due for weekMet Éireann is warning of the potential for more flooding throughout the week. It comes as the national forecaster predicted spells of heavy and persistent rainfall will continue through the week, particularly in southern and eastern counties. Flooding is likely due to a combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides. Close monitoring of local weather conditions is strongly advised via www.met.ie and river gauge data www.waterlevel.ieThe advisory notice covers all 26 counties, and continues until midnight on Monday.
Source:Irish Independent
February 03, 2026 16:18 UTC
Should Ireland introduce a legal ‘duty of care’ for rainwater? – The Irish Times
Dutch law now requires municipalities to have a legal “duty of care” for rainwater. Devastating though Storm Chandra has been, it should not have come as a surprise. But we already knew this, and still Storm Chandra struck, with scant evidence of adaptation planning in most local authorities. In the Netherlands and Germany it is the first step in the intervention hierarchy to manage flood risk. [ Storm Chandra floods made three times more likely by climate changeOpens in new window ]
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:17 UTC
Learning not to drive
One of the things I am most proud of in life, much to the surprise and occasional scorn of people I encounter, is never having learned how to drive. Instead, I rely on my own two feet, a bicycle when feeling brave, and public transport when it exists. Far from holding me back, I have only ever considered the benefits of this decision, particularly in terms of my health and lower living costs. Of course, many readers will respond that this is not practical for everyone, and that large numbers of people genuinely rely on their cars. If fewer people felt compelled to drive for short, everyday journeys, our towns and cities could enjoy lighter traffic, fewer collisions and lower emissions.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:17 UTC
NFL confirms there will be no game in Dublin this year
There will be no NFL game in Dublin in 2026, the league’s commissioner has confirmed. This after a number of years where the Steelers used their Irish marketing rights to host fan events in Ireland, building up to last year’s regular season game. it felt like the entire island was in support of this.”Next season, the NFL will host eight games overseas. Three will be played in London as usual, along with one-off games in Munich, Paris, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne. The matches in Paris and Melbourne will mark the first time the sport has played in those cities.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:17 UTC
What’s so complex about introducing contactless payment for public transport in Ireland?
The National Transport Authority (NTA) introduced of contactless fare payments in December on TFI local link Tipperary services, following a pilot scheme in Cavan and Monaghan in 2023. The projected costs involved in delivering the new contactless payment system to facilitate buying tickets for buses, trains and the Luas are very large. The National Transport Authority argued that the technology required to underpin a new contactless system was complex. “The new equipment must integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, whilst ensuring no disruption to ongoing public transport services and no interruptions to Transport for Ireland Leap Card and Free Travel pass customers. The project involves ensuring all payment processes adhere to the highest security standards to protect customers bank card data.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:11 UTC
Cobh man Apollo rolls a natural 20 on career as D&D game master
For the last year, Apollo has earned around half of his income playing tabletop fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). The professional game master, who lives in Cobh, runs multiplayer games in which he acts as a facilitator, storyteller, and referee. I’ve played D&D on stage many times which is always wild. Usually one person will take on the role of the game master or dungeon master, and everybody else will be a player. The game master creates the world and the environment and challenges.
Source:Irish Examiner
February 03, 2026 16:05 UTC
‘Very high’ flood risk as Thursday becomes key danger point, emergency group warns
Status yellow rainfall alerts came into force for eight counties yesterday evening and the warnings will be in place up until 9pm tonight. Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork and Waterford will be under a Status Yellow rainfall alert until 3pm today. Dublin, Louth and Wicklow will be under a status yellow rainfall alert until 9pm. Heavy and persistent rainfall is expected over southern and eastern areas, while a combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides mean flooding is likely along rivers and in coastal areas. A combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides means flooding is likely along rivers and in coastal areas.
Source:Irish Independent
February 03, 2026 16:05 UTC
Where does Germany’s economy go from here?
And what of the German economy, driven like no other industry by its car giants Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen? Almost a year on from the election that brought Friedrich Merz to power, the chancellor’s economic report card remains mixed-to-negative. In speeches there, in Davos and Berlin, Merz has promised to pivot the German economy away from the US – without any detail, map or timeline. “High energy costs, rising social security contributions, lengthy planning and approval procedures, and excessive bureaucracy continue to weigh on the German economy,” the report concluded. Despite all its difficulties, the KPMG report predicts the German economy will pick up “cautiously” in 2026, noting growth forecasts of up to 1.5 per cent.
Source:The Irish Times
February 03, 2026 16:02 UTC
Life after cancer: You become a ‘cancer patient’ and that can strip you of your identity. It’s a nice feeling to be back at work
Life after cancer: You become a ‘cancer patient’ and that can strip you of your identity. It’s a nice feeling to be back at workSue Higgins says her breast cancer diagnosis was a shock and after time off for treatment she was nervous about her return to work. An online programme run by Trinity College Dublin proved an invaluable support systemSue Higgins at her home in Newbridge Co Kildare. Photo: Steve HumphreysLiadán Hynes Yesterday at 06:30Sue Higgins had noticed several changes in the months before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2024. “I had noticed a change in my nipple on my right breast,” says Sue, who was 51 at the time.
Source:Irish Independent
February 03, 2026 16:01 UTC
What's in a vape and how to tell if your teen has started vaping
“I was also concerned for the health of students who weren’t vaping but who were still inhaling vaping fumes, not unlike passive smoking. “We have very few instances of vaping now — they know they’ll be caught. “In the early days [of the alarm system], there were parents shocked to the core that their child had been vaping. Most young people don’t know that vapes are generally recognised as being highly addictive, even more so than cigarettes. Nicotine through vaping is known to cause heart disease, it raises blood pressure and increases heart rate, which links to coronary heart disease.
Source:Irish Examiner
February 03, 2026 16:01 UTC
Reducing metabolic risk in transition cows
The cornerstone of managing fresh cows correctly is increasing dry matter intake so cows can meet their energy demands post-calving. Transition cowsFor cows, the transition period runs from three weeks pre-calving through to six weeks post-calving. After calving, a cow’s energy requirements increase rapidly. Maize silage, whole crop, or beet are ideal ingredients in early lactation diets to boost total dry matter intake and increase energy intake. It reduces the risk of low calcium disorders, supports normal metabolic and immune function, and improves milk production.
Source:Irish Examiner
February 03, 2026 16:00 UTC