Heimir Hallgrímsson says ‘only pain’ for Ireland after penalty lossBy Damian Spellman, Press Association, PragueHeimir Hallgrímsson was left feeling only pain as Ireland’s World Cup dream was shattered in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out. Asked to sum up his emotions, the Icelander said: “One word, just pain. I feel pain, I feel pride for the performance of the players. I feel gratitude towards the supporters who showed up and supported us the whole game, even after the loss. Czech boss Miroslav Koubek was delighted with the outcome of his first game in charge, but admitted there was room for improvement.

Kent is the new chief executive of CIÉ, the State-owned transport group that includes Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail. Photograph: Nick BradshawWhile he is “thrilled” to have the store rooms beneath the concourse at Heuston Station, they are “not perfect”. “We are the shareholder for those [subsidiary] companies”, Kent says. He eventually got the top job in the bus company, being in charge when Covid hit and lockdowns were introduced. He plays the banjo and bodhránSomething that might surprise: He lives in Tramore, Co Waterford, and commutes to Heuston Station in Dublin a number of days each week.

For head coach Hallgrimsson and his players, who were bidding for a first trip to the finals since 2002, it proved an agonising conclusion to a campaign which had blossomed late in the day. Alan Browne missed the crucial penalty (Adam Davy/PA)Asked to sum up his emotions, the Icelander said: “One word, just pain. I feel pain, I feel pride for the performance of the players. I feel gratitude towards the supporters who showed up and supported us the whole game, even after the loss. Czech boss Miroslav Koubek was delighted with the outcome of his first game in charge, but admitted there was room for improvement.

Consolidation has been a trend across industry in recent years, not least in professional services. Whatever the reason, despite the surge in consolidation, remaining independent is still a viable and desirable option for many. Yet those very advantages held by independent firms are often what make larger players want to add them to their portfolios. Yet, with the right structure, independence can remain a thriving model for companies, as long as they establish a strong plan around leadership. “Remaining independent can be a sustainable and profitable strategy where a firm has a defined niche, strong leadership and a credible succession path,” says Moran.

There have been “extraordinary delays” in restoring a Carlow town site on which a building was demolished without permission, a High Court judge has said. She noted there has been much publicity around a separate example of a house built 20 years ago without planning permission in Co Meath. In updated legal documents, Morgan alleged her property, which was attached to and supported by the demolished building, has suffered from water ingress and dampness. The judge said it was “perfectly clear” there was no planning permission for the works done “under the cover” of a bank holiday weekend. It is now 2026, and it is not at all surprising Morgan wanted a response to the “extraordinary” situation.

I figured that by doing a master’s abroad, I would either confirm that my original career choice was the right one or would discover a completely new path. This is what led me to applying to the University of Luxembourg (UniLU). Anyone deciding to do a master’s, whether at home or abroad, will do their research to ensure they take on the right course. In my experience there are pros and cons to doing a master’s abroad – and there are many benefits. So, for those thinking of building a career abroad, be prepared to lose this.

This is the incredible moment sperm whales worked together to hold a newborn calf above the water until it was able to swim. The rare clip of the sperm whale birth process displays a level of coordination that is very uncommon in the animal kingdom, especially among non-primates. There are only a handful of sperm whale birth records from the past 60 years and all are anecdotal accounts or from whaling boats. For hours afterward, pairs of whales held the baby above the water until it was able to swim. Sperm whales live in close-knit, female-led societies - and the new observations show those dynamics persist in the animals' most significant, vulnerable moments.

The home on Ailesbury Road is the most expensive single house sale in the State so far this year. High profile consultant doctor, Dr Hugh O’Connor and his wife Fiona Healy put 61 Ailesbury Road on the market for €6.95 million last summer. The couple operate The Hoc medical clinic which specialises in women’s health. The sale is the most expensive single house sale in the capital to date this year, according to the Residential Property Price Register. The sale price falls short of the €6.95 million asking price.

I’ve been writing on and off for The Irish Times for nearly 10 years. Grieving is full-time workThe best and worst writing job I was ever offered was to write my nephew’s eulogy. [ Brianna Parkins: The invisible working-class line where things are ‘not for people like us’Opens in new window ]Everyone wants to believe they earned everything through hard work. This is my last column for The Irish Times. Right, I’ll let you go now ... bye, bye, bye.

Overlooking the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary sit 52 partially complete houses that have lain idle for close to 20 years. Many of the three-bedroom homes, about 2½ km northeast of Cashel, have smashed windows and front doors removed. Construction began in 2006 but halted the following year after the council alleged that the houses were not being built in compliance with planning permission. As part of the agreed remediation, the council is progressing a Part 8 planning application to remove the houses. Were it deemed suitable for long-term social housing development, the council may have considered a compulsory purchase order, he said.

Sir, – The situation regarding the national children’s hospital is a national disgrace and, in my view, responsibility lies fairly and squarely on the Government, no matter how much they engage in deflection tactics. From early on, the hubris of the government and of successive ministers for health was an intent to bask in the glow of the most expensive children’s hospital in the world. I spent many years involved in large-scale projects and something understood by all was the very clear mantra: change the design; change the date. By all accounts, this project has had about 3,000 design changes (maybe more?) since its inception, so why the surprise with how long it is taking to complete?

David and Victoria Beckham are in hot water with their neighbours again over new proposals for their home in the Cotswolds. However, their latest plans have caused frustration with the locals, after details emerged of a large scale tree-planting project. The plans follow earlier approval to upgrade an agricultural track, which is set to become a permanent driveway providing the main access to the property. The new driveway would lead to top-level 'security-controlled access to the property with inward-opening gates,' as reported by the Mirror. It's not the first time the Beckhams have ruffled feathers among their Cotswolds neighbours with work on their country home.

Sandro Tonali transfer truth after Newcastle 'agreement' claims and Man Utd and Arsenal linksRecent reports have suggested that Sandro Tonali would be expected to leave Newcastle United if they failed to qualify for European footballView 2 Images Sandro Tonali has been linked with moves to several of Newcastle United's rivals (Image: PA)Newcastle United's rivals may have been put on alert after an update on Sandro Tonali, with reports suggesting the Italian could be allowed to leave Tyneside if the club fail to qualify for Europe. ‌Tonali's future has been the subject of speculation ahead of the summer, with reports linking him with moves to Manchester United and Arsenal. Fresh claims suggest United are preparing a bid, though Tonali remains under contract until 2028, meaning Newcastle are in a strong position to demand whatever fee they like. ‌It's understood, however, that Tonali has no release clauses or agreements in his current deal with the club. View 2 Images Sandro Tonali has been linked with a move away from Newcastle (Image: Claudio Villa - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images)Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe shot the rumour down last week, saying: "The person that matters the most is Sandro.

Children aged two to five should only watch one hour of screen time a day and avoid it entirely during mealtimes or before bedtime, landmark guidance says. And young children should avoid fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools, with slow-paced content deemed “far better” for children’s development. The study also revealed children with screen time of around five hours a day could say fewer words than those who watched less than an hour. Key tips on screen time Under 2s: Avoiding screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation. Co-viewing: Watching or using screens together - talking, asking questions, and engaging with the content - is better for children's development than solo screen use.

Skipper Krejci’s intervention took the tie to extra time and it was the Czechs who squeezed through 4-3 on penalties despite Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men producing a performance of real character. Parrott had to wait as the Czechs protested, but eventually thumped his spot-kick low to Kovar’s right to give the visitors a dream start. However, the hosts grabbed a lifeline with 27 minutes gone when Nyberg awarded a second penalty, this time for Manning’s needless tug on Krejci’s shirt, and Schick duly obliged from 12 yards. But the sting in the tail came with just four minutes remaining when Krejci powered substitute Michal Sadilek’s free-kick past helpless goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to level. There were worrying scenes in extra time when Sammie Szmodics collided with fellow substitute Stepan Chaloupek and had to be carried from the field on a stretcher, but Ireland’s hopes were dashed in cruel fashion as Kovar’s night took a distinct turn for the better.