The death in December 2001 of Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson was a tragedy for those who knew him personally and for the many more who had encountered him through his epic and emotive arena rock. Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson. Before Big Country, Adamson had played guitar in the Scottish punk band The Skids — of whom a young U2 were huge admirers. And then they were peers who came up at the same time, obviously, like Simple Minds, The Alarm, U2, Big Country — all kind of broke similarly. Only wanting to be ordinary again.”Much like U2 in Ireland, Big Country to this day divide opinion in Scotland.

A Utah mother has furiously claimed that another parent abducted her son, leaving him traumatized over accusations that he bullied her daughter. He would reveal to his mother he had called the girl a 'fat torta,' when asking her to leave him alone. Collazo said she wished Tufuga (pictured) had just come to her home for a chat, rather than traumatizing her son. 'I would have gladly welcomed her in, and we could have spoken, but she didn’t even try,' Collazo said. After returning to school, before the mother could talk to school officials, the educational institution called the police and an investigation was launched.

Former Google executive announced as BBC director-general with €653k salaryBy Kerri-Ann Roper, PA Entertainment EditorFormer Google boss Matt Brittin is to replace Tim Davie as the director-general of the BBC, it has been announced. I’m honoured and excited to be asked to serve as Director-General. The BBC needs the pace and energy to be both where stories are, and where audiences are. He will also be appointing a Deputy Director-General, the BBC said. He will start the role on May 18th and his salary will be €653,000 (£565,000).

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the opening of the new RCSI facility in Dublin city centre on Wednesday. Photograph: Julien BehalThe health service has improved “beyond recognition” when compared to 20 or 30 years ago, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. He was speaking while officially opening the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) new facility at 118 St Stephen’s Green on Wednesday. Students have been using the facilities since November of 2025 but the development was officially opened on March 25th. RCSI said it is designed to enhance public health literacy and empower people to protect their own health.

The British Midland Boeing 737 smashed into an M1 embankment in the Kegworth air disaster in Leicestershire following engine trouble on the night of January 8, 1989. She is among the survivors giving candid accounts about the terrifying scenes both before and after the crash in a new documentary called 'Kegworth: Flight to Disaster'. The plane was coming down without any engines. Some residents of Kegworth – who were involved in the rescue effort - also praised them for steering the flight over their village. 'Kegworth: Flight to Disaster' airs on BBC Two on April 2 at 9pm

The man has been named locally as Christopher ‘Crunchie’ Holt – the brother of Mary Holt (60), who died along with her grandnephew Tadgh Farrell (4), after an arson attack on the same property last December. The body of Mr Holt, aged in his sixties, was found after a blaze at the house in the early hours of Tuesday. Family members and friends of Mr Holt paid tribute to him. It is understood gardaí believe Mr Holt died in a tragic incident and that the fire may have been accidental. Alongside a series of images of Mr Holt, she wrote: “Fly high with the angels.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has rejected appeals by the Indian embassy and others to a development of five homes on a site behind their Merrion Road property. Photograph: Google MapsThe Indian embassy has failed to halt contentious plans for a housing scheme on Dublin’s Merrion Road over privacy and security concerns. India’s embassy in Ireland is at 69 Merrion Road. Singh argued that it would be impossible for the embassy to organise such events “after being surrounded by the new proposed units”. “The new overbearing units will completely box in the rear area of the embassy, block out the view, obstruct ventilation and significantly reduce the amount of natural light that the embassy gets,” he said.

While the logic of securitisation has been shaping policy in the European Union for some time, border control has attained more central prominence in the last decade. The proposed 2028-2034 budgetary framework includes €15.4 billion for border management and €11.9 billion for the European border control agency Frontex which has significantly expanded in competencies, staffing and resourcing since 2019. In the most tangible sense the “hardening” of European border policies is evident in the fortification of European borders. This report examined arms industry lobbying for enhanced border security measures and its success in capturing research funding. Research indicates that border fortification causes significant economic, social and ecological harm without substantially enhancing security.

The mother of a 21-month-old girl with Down Syndrome said the family’s lives were “turned upside down” by her sudden death after her inquest recorded a narrative verdict. Nancy Coote Guilfoyle died on October 1, 2023. Her mother Paula said the family, including Nancy’s two sisters, were left with “broken hearts”. On July 8, she had an echocardiogram there, a specialist heart scan. 21-month-old Nancy Coote Guilfoyle of Crosshaven Co Cork and Ennis Co Clare has left a 'Nancy-sized void in my soul', her father Ewan said.

Cork Division 1 FL: Nemo Rangers 0-9 (0-1-7) St Finbarr’s 0-10 (0-1-8)St Finbarr’s once again eked out a victory over near neighbours Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Trabeg on Wednesday evening. Nemo Rangers remain on two points after suffering a second loss on the trot. St Finbarr’s though rallied in what was another comeback victory following on from their last match against Éire Óg. Scorers for Nemo Rangers: R Corkery 0-3, R Dalton (1 2pt), D O’Sullivan 0-2 each, S Cronin, J O’Brien 0-1 each. Subs: D O’Sullivan for S Burke (h-t), A O’Donovan for O Whyte (41), B O’Neill for J O’Brien (43, inj).

Inter Miami have sounded out Manchester United midfielder Casemiro over a potential move to the MLS. LA Galaxy were considered favourites to sign Casemiro and are still expected to be in contention for the 34-year-old former Real Madrid star. Despite entering the final few months of his United career, Casemiro is enjoying arguably his best season at United with seven goals from 30 appearances. United are assessing replacements for Casemiro while Manuel Ugarte could also follow him out the exit this summer. Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace are all on United's shortlist of targets.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has 'a significant task ahead of it to restore and maintain public confidence', committee to be toldControversies and governance issues that have arisen in a State fisheries agency are “very serious and unacceptable”, the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment is expected to tell the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. IFI chairman Tom Collins is expected to tell the committee the agency has been in “stormy waters” for a number of years. Collins is anticipated to say there was a background of “serious historical governance issues in the organisation”, which were examined at previous meetings of the Public Accounts Committee in 2023, 2024 and last December. IFI is a non-commercial State agency with responsibility for protecting and managing the State’s inland fishery resources. However, IFI has been at the centre of a number of controversies over recent years.

Arne Slot's immediate future at Liverpool clearer as major clue emergesArne Slot's position at Liverpool has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with the club falling short in the Premier League title race and now left battling to secure Champions League qualificationView 2 Images Arne Slot's future at Liverpool has been called into question in recent weeksLiverpool are reportedly working closely with Arne Slot to identify summer transfer targets, despite growing uncertainty surrounding the Dutch head coach’s long‑term future at the club. Slot enjoyed a dream debut season at Anfield, guiding the Reds to the Premier League title at the first attempt. ‌This campaign, however, has been far more challenging, with Liverpool now fighting just to secure Champions League qualification after falling out of the title race. ‌That said, circumstances can shift quickly, and it is noted that his position would come under serious threat if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League. The only thing I do know is that it happened before and recently and it didn’t affect the future of that manager.

Photo: Michael O'Sullivan/OSMStrong wind energy output in March kept a lid on electricty bills despite surging gas and oil prices, helping mitiage the hit to consumers and businesses, according ESB Group’s chief financial officer Paul Stapleton. The wholesale price of European gas increased around 60pc in March as a result of the Iran war but wholesale electricty prices are up 25pc, he said. Traditionally the link between European gas prices and wholesale electricty has been much more direct, he said. In the wake of Russia’s Ukraine invasion, the wholesale gas prices got as high as £8 per therm – a standard unit of measurement. In the last month prices have been lifted from around 75 pence per therm to a high of around £1.70.

McSweeney quit last month as pressure mounted over the appointment of Mandelson to Washington, which he had championed despite knowing of Mandelson’s Epstein links. Now, however, there is uncertainty over whether all of McSweeney’s crucial message exchanges with the former ambassador can be retrieved. It also put Starmer and McSweeney under pressure for appointing Mandelson in the first place. A young man on a bicycle mounted the pavement, he told police, and snatched his mobile phone from his hand. The second tranche of Mandelson files – with or without McSweeney’s texts – will be dumped on top of this.