Unsettled weather is set to continue as rain and showers are to continue each day this week, along with strong breezes. Later this afternoon and evening, there will be outbreaks of rain developing in the west and southwest. The rain will start to clear northwards through the afternoon with drier and brighter conditions extending from the southwest. Tuesday night will be cloudy and breezy for most with limited clear spells developing and scattered showers. Looking ahead to the rest of next week, unsettled conditions are likely to continue with further spells of rain and showers on Friday and for the weekend

Agriculture (38 per cent), IT (29 per cent) and construction (18 per cent) saw the largest year-on-year increases, reflecting the demand for housing and infrastructure. While Dublin accounted for over 40 per cent of new companies with 11,450 start-ups, there was growth across the country. Christine Cullen, CRIFVision-Net Managing Director said: "The 2025 figures demonstrate remarkable resilience and entrepreneurial ambition across Ireland. While the surge in new start-ups is encouraging, it also underscores the importance of supporting established businesses facing rising costs and tighter credit conditions. The data also showed that 1,808 judgments against companies were recorded in 2025, totalling €47.2 million.

GAA: Ballygunner defeat Loughrea to win All-Ireland hurling finalMichael BoltonBallygunner are senior All-Ireland hurling champions after they defeated Loughrea 1-20 to -1-14 in Croke Park. It was Loughrea who scored the first goal of the final through Darren Shaughnessy in the 26th minute, following saves from Ballygunner goalkeeper Stephen O'Keefe earlier in the half. Ballygunner were able to keep their composure after going behind, and scored three further points to lead 0-12 to 1-8 at half-time. They had their goal shortly after the restart, with Micky Mahony's goal in the 34th minute giving them a 1-12 to 1-09 lead. Tiernan Kelly kept the Galway side within touching distance with vital scores, as the gap was four points with six minutes to goHowever, it was Ballygunner who ended the stronger as they were crowned All-Ireland champions once again.

Carmel Duffy, manager, Luan Gallery, Celine Sheridan, winner of the 2025 Westmeath Artists Award, Miguel Amado, guest selector of the award and curator of the exhibition Mythologies of the Personal and the Land. Talk on Westmeath Artists Award at Luan GalleryPrevious Next Image 1 of 4 Carmel Duffy, manager, Luan Gallery, Celine Sheridan, winner of the 2025 Westmeath Artists Award, Miguel Amado, guest selector of the award and curator of the exhibition Mythologies of the Personal and the Land. Image 2 of 4 Nicola Gilchrest, Westmeath arts officer, Lynda Mooney, assistant manager, Luan Gallery, Celine Sheridan, winner of the 2025 Westmeath Artists Award, Miguel Amado, guest selector of the award and curator of the exhibition Mythologies of the Personal and the Land, Carmel Duffy, manager, Luan Gallery. Luan Gallery, in collaboration with Westmeath Arts Office, hosted a Westmeath Artists Award Talk yesterday, Saturday January 17. The Westmeath Artists Award is an annual collaboration between Luan Gallery and Westmeath Arts Office, supported by funding from the Arts Council of Ireland.

Moves to attract the best and brightest US researchers fleeing to Ireland following university shutdowns by the Trump administration have prompted concern among some researchers here. Last summer, higher education minister James Lawless launched the Global Talent Initiative, an attempt to attract “disillusioned” US researchers to Ireland. With an initial budget of €8m per annum, the scheme is expected to support up to 15 researchers per year. Concern from UCC academicThe Department of Further and Higher Education also received correspondence highlighting issues with the running of the global talent initiative, the FOI documents show. “The Global Talent Initiative has tremendous potential, but the turnaround time is simply too short,” the academic wrote.

Tadhg Beirne has urged his Munster team to channel their Champions Cup disappointment to shake off a four-match losing streak and resurrect their URC campaign. Saturday’s 31-29 Thomond Park defeat to Castres saw Munster eliminated at the pool stage as they failed to progress to knockout rounds for the first time since 2020. “It doesn't sit well with me at all,” Beirne said on Saturday night, before the outcome of the Toulon-Gloucester game assured Munster of a Challenge Cup quarter-final appearance in April. If we are lucky enough to get into the Challenge Cup, it's another opportunity at silverware. If we make the Champions Cup next year, we'll definitely refer to this when we're in our group stage next year.

Aston Villa blow big chance as Everton do Arsenal favour in Premier League title raceASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON: Unai Emery's side had the chance to go within four points of Arsenal but a goal from Thierno Barry ended their run of 11 consecutive wins at Villa ParkView 3 Images Aston Villa couldn't take advantage of both Arsenal and Manchester City slipping up (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)What was supposed to be Aston Villa’s big chance turned out to be Arsenal’s lucky day. ‌This three-horse title race has taken yet another turn and after City lost the Manchester derby, this felt like one hell of a chance wasted by Unai Emery’s men. ‌They have enjoyed some brilliant wins and barnstorming performances but this day belonged to Everton and how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will owe his former Everton manager and mentor David Moyes. Moyes went over to the travelling fans at the final whistle to salute their brilliant support and how they loved Thierno Barry’s brilliant second half winner down at their end. Are Aston Villa still in the title race?

Rescuers search for survivors after an avalanche in the Salzburg Pongau region in western Austria on Saturday. Photograph: Bergrettung Pongau/APEight skiers have been killed in three avalanches across Austria, authorities said. A female skier was buried by an avalanche in the Bad Hofgastein area in western Austria at an altitude of about 7,200 feet, at about 12.30pm on Saturday, according to the Pongau mountain rescue service. In the town of Pusterwald in central Austria, three Czech skiers were killed in an avalanche shortly before 4.30pm, police said. “This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is,” said Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, noting the “clear and repeated warnings” about avalanche risk.

Photograph: Alan BetsonBr Anthony's ordination. Photograph: Alan BetsonBr Anthony has ministered in various Irish parishes and the Capuchin Day Centre for the homeless in Dublin. Photograph: Alan BetsonBr Anthony's ordination. Photograph: Alan BetsonBr Anthony's ordination. Photograph: Alan BetsonBr Anthony is congratulated on his ordination.

Ireland has created vast quantities of renewable energy in recent years, and yet there is one data centre in Dublin that consumes energy equivalent to 200,000 homes — and Irish energy policy has been revised to attract more such centres. There is a disconnect between the reality of our environmental obligations and our pursuit of investment (and the number of jobs is not insignificant). As it is our energy grid is in dire need of investment, even as our water network hits capacity in many communities which are crying out for new homes. The explosion in AI may well make that estimate as obsolete as our existing energy grid or climate ambitions. For a maturing workforce, especially those realising that flexibility is as important as employment, fractional employment is simply one possibility.

The Danes were indignant, while the rest of Europe dismissed it as another example of Trump’s buffoonery and bluster. 'Watch Greenland'Early last year, an administration official from Trump’s first term advised this reporter to “watch Greenland” when discussing Trump’s foreign policy checklist. A protest rally marching towards the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday to protest against Donald Trump's threatened takeover of the Danish territory. Still, claims that anything less than US ownership will lead to a Russian or Chinese invasion of Greenland ring hollow. Refusing the US access to EU airspace and shuttering its EU military bases are options but they’re unlikely to persuade Trump to reverse course.

A ceremony marking the contribution of Irish people in the US for the last 250 years has taken place in Philadelphia. It was organised by the Society of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick and the Irish America 250 group. General Stephen Moylan. Meanwhile, Cork City Council is also preparing to unveil a plaque of Stephen Moylan later this year. She was presented with honorary lifelong membership of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St Patrick by Teresa Murtagh.

I love radio, it is engaging and a great companion, but I don’t listen before 7am, to avoid any music. This can happen, regardless, even to those of us so disciplined that we don’t listen to radio before 7am. Near Killeagh?”[ The success of Kingfishr’s Killeagh: A song made in 20 minutes that started ‘as a joke’Opens in new window ]I was referring to the Kingfishr song, then Number 1 in Ireland, but I had no idea of that. I never heard of Killeagh before the song and have no idea how, when or where I heard it. “They’d go raring and tearing and fighting for love/For the land they call Killeagh and the Lord up above ...”Killeagh, from Irish, for “grey church”.

This means more than 450 workers across the country could lose their jobs as the stores will likely shut for good if the deal goes through. The potential closure comes as high street giant Next is reportedly eyeing up the chain. This means that if Next proceeds with its acquisition, shoppers across the country could see all of the chain's stores, including the Glasgow Buchanan Street shop, go bust. The footwear chain, which is known for its sophisticated range, has 37 stores across the UK at risk. The chain, revered for its elegant shoes and accessories, has been an integral part of the country’s high street retail since 1880.

Gardaí said they had assisted emergency services at the scene of a 'medical incident' on Pearse Street last Friday. File photograph: Tom HonanA woman who was sleeping rough in Dublin city centre was found dead in a tent on Friday afternoon. She was found on Pearse Street at about 12.30pm. “Our condolences to all her family, friends and homeless family. Ms Gill added that the Government needed to “seriously look at the reasons why a vulnerable homeless woman felt safer in a tent than the accommodation on offer.