Athlone scientist receives highest academic degree in Scotland
Professor Neil Rowan is pictured with his wife Michelle and three children Chloe, Kevin and Liam at Strathclyde University on Wednesday afternoonAthlone scientist receives highest academic degree in ScotlandAthlone scientist Professor Neil Rowan has received his Higher Doctor of Science (D.Sc) at a conferring ceremony in the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. The Coosan native was awarded the highest academic degree to be conferred in the Irish and UK university system on Wednesday afternoon. Fewer than ten Higher Doctorates are awarded per year in Ireland, and Professor Rowan is the first academic in TUS to achieve the award. Neil completed a Masters in Biotechnology at Strathclyde University in 1996, before becoming a senior lecturer at the Scottish third level institution. Professor Rowan has been recognised on a global scale for his continuing dedication to his chosen field of academia.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 18:13 UTC
Ireland coach Hallgrímsson contracted before World Cup playoffs and co-hosting Euro 2028
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Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 18:06 UTC
Passport warning for holidays to Spain, Italy and Greece over little-known rule
Passport warning for holidays to Spain, Italy and Greece over little-known ruleThe little-known passport rule could see you stopped from going on holidayView Image The rule could mean that some tourists think their passport is valid, when it isn't (Image: Getty Images)As we head closer to the Easter holidays, British tourists heading abroad are urged to check their passports now. Even if passports appear valid, they may still fail to meet the entry requirements of several countries. The issue revolves around the strict validity rules enforced by many countries. It is often at this stage that people realise they do not meet the three or six-month validity rule, leaving them with little time to resolve the problem. The HM Passport Office advises travellers not to book trips without a valid passport.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 18:06 UTC
Global markets tumble as Iran war intensifies
Wall Street’s main indexes fell as rising crude oil prices revived inflation fears and the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on interest rate cuts weighed on sentiment. The US-Israeli war on Iran sent global markets tumbling on Thursday with concern intensifying that central banks will be forced to tighten policy to keep inflation in check. The central bank kept borrowing costs on hold as expected, warning of inflation risks from the war in the Middle East. Metal miners and banks were down 7.8 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively, making them the day’s worst performers. SanDisk and Applied Digital fell more than 2 per cent each, while AI leader Nvidia dipped 1.2 per cent.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 18:05 UTC
Six Nations announce team of tournament as one Wales star named and England snubbed
Six Nations announce team of tournament as one Wales star named and England snubbedThe official team of the tournament has been announced following a public voteView Image Rhys Carre, centre, has been named in the Six Nations team of the tournament (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)Wales prop Rhys Carré has been named in the official Six Nations team of the tournament, with no English players making the cut. Now, a public vote has seen thousands of rugby fans agree with Warburton, with Carré making it into the official team of the tournament as the sole Welsh representative. After easily defeating Wales in the opening round, England fell to bruising defeats to Scotland and Ireland before suffering a first ever loss to Italy in Rome. Their dismal run of form has seen no English players make it in to the official team of the tournament, with the rest of the side split fairly evenly between France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. 2026 Six Nations team of the tournament: 15.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 18:01 UTC
No signs of meningitis disease outbreak in UK affecting Ireland, says HSE
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections. In the UK, a serious meningococcal disease outbreak is currently being tackled by health authorities in Kent, where two young people have died. The UK Health Security Agency has advised that the situation is evolving and further cases are possible. The HSE said its national Public Health team remains in regular contact with the UK Health Security Agency to inspect the issue further. “Routine surveillance in Ireland continues to show that meningococcal disease remains a rare but serious infection, with sporadic cases occurring each year,” said Dr Cuddihy.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 18:00 UTC
Jeffrey Epstein-themed parade float showed ‘lack of understanding’ around sexual violence
A screenshot from a TikTok video by @amgigimserembo showing an ‘Epstein Files’ float during the Ballinrobe St Patrick's Day paradeA St Patrick’s Day parade float with a Jeffrey Epstein theme has been criticised as “extremely insensitive to victims and survivors” of sexual violence. “The float is further evidence of a lack of awareness of the impact of sexual violence and of the harm and trauma it causes,” its chief executive Rachel Morrogh said. “Parading acts of sexual violence through our main streets and turning rape and assault into a joke trivialises and stigmatises the experiences of victims and survivors.”Morrogh said the situation also sent survivors a harmful message that sexual violence was something to make light of. This float and the message it sends reinforces those concerns.”In a statement, the Ballinrobe St Patrick’s Day parade committee apologised for the float’s inclusion. “As members of this community, as parents, and as volunteers, we want to state clearly that we condemn sexual violence, abuse and exploitation in all forms,” it said.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 17:59 UTC
Man Utd sent crushing reminder after £61m transfer failure and Barcelona masterclass
And the Spanish heavyweights will be deeply thankful for his choice, as he produced one of the most impressive performances in their 7-2 demolition of Newcastle United this week with Hansi Flick's team rampant at the Camp Nou. Back in August, Spanish publication Sport claimed United were ready to table a £61million bid for the Spain international. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Watch the Champions League on TNT Sports This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 17:48 UTC
We drove on Edinburgh's 'worst roads' and it was so grim we never want to again
We drove on Edinburgh's 'worst roads' and it was so grim we never want to againWe took to some of the capital's 'worst roads' for an experiment. Reporters drive through Edinburgh's 'worst roads'If there's one thing the people of Edinburgh like to have a collective moan about, it's the state of the city's roads. We took to some of the capital's "worst roads" for an experiment - if somebody was a passenger drinking their morning coffee, how much would they spill? With very few driveways, the residents of its plush properties face parking on the uneven surface every day. Other parts of the street had been left with an uneven surface following roadworks, with potholes galore.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 17:48 UTC
St Patrick's Day 'Epstein files' float shows manosphere isn't only on TikTok
This week has seen a flurry of outrage following the presence of an ‘Epstein Files’ float in St Patrick’s Day Parades in Mayo and Galway respectively. Read More St Patrick’s Day float referencing Epstein files draws condemnationA few days previously I watched Louis Theroux’s new Inside the Manosphere documentary. The Epstein files float made light of the sexual abuse of girls and women, and at worst promoted rape as something to joke about. The type of man who, no doubt, would have sniggered at the Epstein Files float. Misogyny is normalised, and the abuse of girls and women is apparently something to joke about, as we saw up west on St Patrick’s Day.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 17:40 UTC
The Queen of Royal recycling! Princess Anne slips into floor-length coat for King's state banquet... 57 YEARS after she first wore it
Princess Anne has built a reputation for tastefully redeploying outfits years apart, with the habit earning her the unofficial title 'Queen of Royal Recycling'. But Wednesday evening surely marked the pinnacle of her recycling career, after the Princess Royal strode into St George's Hall wearing a coat first seen a staggering 57 years ago. The Princess, 75, slipped into a floor-length, cream-coloured coat to attend the banquet at Windsor Castle, hosted by the King to honour the first Nigerian state visit in almost 40 years. As a teenager, the Princess Royal wore the front of the coat open - revealing an underlayer that was patterned both around the collar and by the lower hem. There is also the lilac coat, which made an appearance at least six times on royal duties between 1982 and 2004.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 17:34 UTC
Court rejects appeal by repeat sex offender who raped teen weeks after arriving in Ireland
One element of Randi Gladstone's unsuccessful appeal was described by the court judge as 'extraordinary'. Photograph: Collins CourtsThe Court of Appeal has rejected an “extraordinary” claim put forward by a Guyanese sex offender, who had only been in Ireland for two weeks before he falsely imprisoned and raped an 18-year-old woman. In dismissing the appeal by Randi Gladstone (42), Judge Brian O’Moore pointed out that the appellant’s own legal team had agreed to withdraw Gladstone’s evidence. The court heard Gladstone lured the young woman into his room, where he falsely imprisoned and raped her. The court heard Gladstone flew from Suriname to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands and arrived in Ireland on August 11th, 2023.
Source:The Irish Times
March 19, 2026 17:33 UTC
EPA reports nitrogen levels went up by 10% last year
Early insight nitrogen concentration data show a provisional 10% increase in nitrogen levels in 2025. Among the 20 representative sites along major rivers in the Munster region are the Maigue, Deel, Shannon, Fergus Suir, Blackwater, Lee and Bandon sites. The representative sites are established to provide a “conservative estimate” of a national nitrogen concentration figure; the EPA expects the national figures to show an increase in nitrogen levels for 2025. Factors influencing nitrogen levels and their fluctuation include weather patterns, agricultural land management, and source loading. EPA highlighted three key factors influencing the uptick in nitrogen levels between 2024 and 2025 as the increase of fertiliser sales, a reduction in livestock numbers and wetter weather.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 17:28 UTC
Thomas Tuchel has a World Cup headache - too many of his top England stars are underperforming, while others simply can't stay on the park, writes CRAIG HOPE
Thomas Tuchel can only hope that the players delivered to him in May are in a better place than he finds them in March. And this is the area of the pitch where England are supposed to have an embarrassment of riches. But keeping the door shut at the World Cup will be the German’s biggest worry, given the current state of his defence. The former is playing very well but has never featured under Tuchel for England, the latter has only just returned from injury. That is the spine of Tuchel’s team and he must hope their backbone is strong, given the heavy lifting anticipated.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 17:20 UTC
Young handler grabs YRKC glory at Crufts
YRKC Stakes qualifying classes were held at championship shows across the UK in 2025, and Maisie and Dustin beat six other talented young handlers and their dogs to be crowned the winner of the YRKC Stakes competition on Sunday 8 March, in the bp pulse LIVE at Crufts. Runner up was Dearbhla Nugent, aged 15 from County Amagh, Northern Ireland, and Didi, a six-year-old Weimaraner (Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch/Int Ch Callanbanks Dervlas Dream.) Jannine Edgar, Chief Executive of the Royal Kennel said: “Very well done to Maisie for an exceptional win with Dustin. They demonstrated impressive teamwork and skill throughout their time at Crufts, which is an outstanding accomplishment for such a young handler. At Royal Canin, we are passionate about supporting the next generation of dog enthusiasts through initiatives like the Young Royal Kennel Club.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 17:16 UTC