Minister Darragh O’Brien commits to ‘substantial supports’ after hauliers meeting; Pete Hegseth claims US allies ‘ungrateful’
He said Israel “out of anger” had “violently lashed out” and hit a “relatively small section” of the gas field. Iran attacked gas facilities in Qatar after Israel launched its attack against South Pars. Qatar said on Thursday that Iranian missile attacks damaged more liquefied natural gas sites in the energy-rich nation, “causing sizable fires and extensive further damage”. Saudi Arabia, which also reported downing Iranian drones targeting its natural gas facilities overnight, also criticised Iranian attacks. “We’re going to use every lever we have — political, economic, diplomatic and otherwise — to get these attacks to stop.”He criticised Iran’s attacks on Riyadh, the capital hosting the meeting.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 12:40 UTC
Ireland winger Robert Baloucoune sidelined for three months after elbow injury
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Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 12:37 UTC
Exports down 35% from pre-tariff 'record level'
The value of Irish goods exports fell by 35% in January compared to the same period last year when numerous companies frontloaded their exports to the US in advance of US president Donald Trump implementing tariffs. The CSO’s data shows that the total value of goods exports during January stood at €16.2bn — a decrease of €8.7bn compared to January 2025. While exports to the US and EU were down during the month, exports to Britain increased by 47.3% to €1.8bn while exports to the rest of the world increased by 25% to €789m. The value of Irish imports during the month increased by €341.5m to €11.4bn. 'Weak start'Alex Deaton of global financial services firm Ebury said Irish trade got off to a “weak start” in January.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 12:30 UTC
Decathlon to open first Cork store this summer
Sports retailer Decathlon will open its first Cork store at Douglas Village Shopping Centre with doors set to open this summer. The new store will operate within the existing Tesco store at the centre, providing more than 2,300 sq m of retail space. “We are thrilled to be opening at Douglas Village Shopping Centre and to be growing our presence in Ireland," said Ms Pecos. Paul Healy, Tesco Ireland retail operations director said the partnership combines "two trusted brands under one roof". Douglas Village Shopping Centre is owned by Urban Green Property, which was founded by developer Tom Coughlan.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 12:27 UTC
Rob Baloucoune set to miss rest of Ulster's season with elbow injury
Ulster and Ireland winger Rob Baloucoune is to undergo surgery on the elbow injury he suffered in the Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. Baloucoune - who was named the tournament's Rising Player after scoring three tries - is now set to miss the remainder of Ulster's season, with the province - who currently sit third in the URC table - putting an approximate three-month timeline on his recovery.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 12:21 UTC
Premier League clubs face sacking manager nightmare with major law change
Individuals will have greater protection from unfair dismissal at six months of employment, rather than two years as it stands currently. Professional Footballers’ Association have already discussed the potential benefits of the ERA in meetings with the leagues and clubs. Football clubs could be among those hit hardest by the law change with the turnover of personnel a common part of the game. Joe McMorrow, a partner in the employment law practice at Pinsent Masons, told the Guardian that the ERA would have major consequences for football clubs. Article continues belowSo even players who leave once their contracts expire would still have certain employment rights.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 12:14 UTC
Cork pub fined as last orders continue too late after night of music
Mr Goold said there had been music at The Pub that night. The band were packing up and a number of customers were waiting for lifts and taxis home when the gardaí arrived. Mr Goold said his client apologised and accepted that the customers should not have still been on the premises at that hour. Judge Joanne Carroll said she noted that running a rural pub could be “challenging” and it “seemed to be an orderly situation”. The company was convicted and fined €250 and allowed four months to pay.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 12:02 UTC
Richard Hogan: Children get such a buzz when they replace tech with play
Woody, Buzz, and the gang are up against it as technology has replaced children’s interest in playing with them. When children play, they explore the world around them, they experiment, and they solve problems. Richard Hogan: 'Play is so important for children. In play, children learn about themselves and how to compromise. For it is in play that children can work out some of the oblique things that scare them.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 19, 2026 12:00 UTC
Plymouth's towering Moneycentre snapped up by Homes England
Plymouth's towering Moneycentre snapped up by Homes England'This is such an exciting time for the city centre'View Image The Moneycentre (Image: William Telford)Plymouth’s towering Moneycentre has become the latest building snapped up by Government quango Homes England amid plans to build 10,000 homes in the city centre. But now it has been acquired by Homes England, which has already purchased the disused Mayflower House, Congress Hall and former Good Companions sites, in an area it is calling Armada Way North. Homes England has already put in place extra security measures to deter trespassers from entering the Moneycentre site. But the work never started and now Homes England has swooped in to acquire the building. The Moneycentre - the historyThe Moneycentre was built in 1976, originally as offices above ground floor commercial space.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 11:59 UTC
Teenage girl's body found in river after crash near Lincolnshire border
Teenage girl's body found in river after crash near Lincolnshire borderEmergency services were called to North Brink in Wisbech St Mary's at around 8.20pm on March 17 after a car carrying five people entered the waterView Image Police have been at the scene since Tuesday evening (March 17) (Image: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)The body of a teenage girl has been discovered as police continue searching for another teenager involved in a crash. Police have recovered the body of a girl, one of two teenagers missing after a crash near Wisbech on Tuesday evening, March 17. Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed that the body of a teenage girl has been found whilst emergency services searched the River Nene near Wisbech. Article continues belowNorth Brink is likely to remain closed for the remainder of the day. Anyone with information should use reference incident 515 of March 17 and report it through the force website.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 11:53 UTC
High rate of property inflation is ‘pricing young people out of the towns and villages they grew up in’
The latest figures show that the rate of house-price inflation has accelerated. The median price of a home in the year to January was €389,986News in 90 seconds - March 19The median price of a dwelling purchased in the year to January was €389,986. Property prices in Dublin rose by 6.1pc, and prices outside Dublin were up by 7.7pc compared with January 2025. “The extent of house-price inflation in many rural areas continues to frustrate and cause despair for many locals as they are being increasingly priced out of their home towns and villages. The F45 Eircode, which takes in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, had the least expensive price of €153,000.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 11:33 UTC
Massive new town is being built in UK with 20,000 homes, hotels, shops and schools in bid to tackle housing crisis
A huge new town is set to be built - featuring 20,000 homes as well as hotels, shops and schools as part of efforts to tackle Britain's housing crisis. The Barking Riverside project in east London has been given the green light, including 4,000 new properties earmarked for affordable housing - with 50,000 people potentially housed across the new development. 'The 4,000 affordable homes being delivered represent an opportunity for households to come off the housing waiting list and for local families to take their first step on the property ladder.' L&Q's group chief executive Fiona Fletcher-Smith said: 'Delivering well-designed affordable homes and community infrastructure at scale at Barking Riverside represents our long-term plans to tackle the housing crisis in London. This would see a total of only 1.3 million new homes across the entire UK from this year to 2029/30, the watchdog estimated.
Source:Daily Mail
March 19, 2026 11:11 UTC
Liman got into UK hiding in fridge and landed coke-dealer job from TikTok advert
Liman got into UK hiding in fridge and landed coke-dealer job from TikTok advertNow Liman Demiri faces deportationView Image Liman Demiri is facing deportation after being sentenced for trying to evade police officers and drug dealing. (Image: Staffordshire Police)A 26-year-old man who came to the UK in a fridge on the back of a lorry is facing deportation. Liman Demiri had no driving licence or insurance when he was spotted dealing drugs from his Seat Leon last October. The driver was the defendant, he had no driving licence or insurance. You applied for work without the right to do so and have indicated you intend to return to work without the right to do so.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 19, 2026 11:00 UTC
Xavi Simons scores twice as Tottenham win but bow out of Champions League
Xavi Simons scores twice as Tottenham win but bow out of Champions LeagueBy George Sessions, Press AssociationTottenham bowed out of the Champions League but only after a rip-roaring last-16 second leg with Atletico Madrid where Xavi Simons’ brace helped them to a first home victory in two months. Spurs had lurched from one crisis to another in 2026 and a shambolic 5-2 loss in Madrid last week left Igor Tudor on the brink, but a spirited 1-1 draw at Liverpool restored belief and the north London club clawed back more pride on Wednesday despite a 7-5 aggregate defeat. Randal Kolo Muani’s 30th-minute opener gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope before Julian Alvarez levelled early in the second half for Atletico. Simons replied immediately to increase optimism, but David Hancko’s 75th-minute equaliser virtually put the tie to bed. There was still time for Simons to score a spot-kick in stoppage time to end Spurs’ eight-match winless run with a 3-2 victory and extend an unbeaten home record in Europe to 25 matches, but all eyes now turn to Premier League survival and Sunday’s crucial visit of Nottingham Forest.
Source:Irish Independent
March 19, 2026 10:58 UTC
Celtic left kicking themselves after late Glasgow City SWPL leveller
Her effort was allowed to sail unchallenged into the back of the net as the Celtic defence slept. It means that Celtic remain seven points off the top with Hearts the biggest beneficiaries – they are now just four points off the top. Eva Olid’s Hearts could yet do what Hibs done last season and take the title while everyone expects their challenge to drop off. They host City this Sunday afternoon in a game they need to take something from to sustain their title challenge. All the signs point to another final day of drama in the SWPL title race.
Source:The Herald
March 19, 2026 10:56 UTC