Information event on free, fast surgery in Northern IrelandKingsbridge Private Hospital is hosting a free information event on Saturday, March 21, in the DBC Athlone: Chartered Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine Clinic. The event, which takes place from 10am to 4pm, will allow locals learn how to access world-class medical treatment in Northern Ireland - fully reimbursed by the HSE. Through the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS), patients living in the Republic of Ireland can receive medical treatment in Northern Ireland and claim 100% reimbursement from the HSE for approved surgeries such as hip and knee replacements, ACL repairs, gallbladder removals, hysterectomies, and more. “This data shows a major gap in awareness around cross-border healthcare,” said Mark Regan, CEO of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group. It’s life-changing for so many families.”Kingsbridge Healthcare Group is the largest private healthcare provider in Northern Ireland with over 600 consultants, four hospitals, 17 theatres and 70 inpatient beds across more than 70,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities.

Major Lincoln housing plans likely to fall throughIt would have been a big change for the area, but planning permission is set to lapse within daysView 2 Images The apartment block was granted permission in 2022Plans for a five-storey apartment building in the heart of Lincoln seem unlikely to go ahead with days until planning permission expires. ‌The application by developer Sarwar Aziz was narrowly granted by City of Lincoln Council’s planning committee in 2022, with hopes of regenerating the area. The building – which has had the Carpets 4 Less branding removed – is now being marketed to let by Savills. Developers are usually expected to contribute towards local schools, NHS services and affordable housing in the area. ‌City of Lincoln Council had recommended that £1.2million be put towards affordable housing, £11,000 for education, £17,000 for the NHS and £38,000 for open spaces.

Near gale-force winds are forecast for parts of the country next weekNear gale-force winds in some areas and “wintry” conditions are forecast for next week, following what will largely be a warm and sunny weekend, according to Met Éireann. Temperatures are expected to range from 11 to 17 degrees amid spells of sunshine, the forecaster said. Outbreaks of rain, turning heavy at times, are forecast for Tuesday, with sunny spells and widespread showers following. It is set to be a “blustery day” with strong to “near gale-force” winds expected in western coastal areas. Despite this, there will be a “good deal of dry weather with sunny spells”, though highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees are expected.

Photograph: Getty ImagesA new trade deal between the EU and Australia could be agreed as early as next week, opening the prospect of further competition for Irish farmers due to imports of meat. The Government, which opposed the recent Mercosur agreement with South American companies, will support the Australian deal, according to several people familiar with the issue. Thousands of farmers from across Ireland turned out to protest the EU-Mercosur trade deal in Athlone. The IFA mounted a large campaign against the Mercosur deal, pressuring the Government to vote against it, though it was approved by a majority vote. Sources in Government say that, having opposed Mercosur, Dublin could not credibly stand against another trade deal.

A large group of local people gathered in 2021 in the shadow of the historic St Manchan’s in Lemanaghan to protest at plans by Bord na Móna to build a wind farm in Lemanaghan bogLemanaghan bog heritage group hits out at 'misleading' descriptionOpponents of a plan to build a wind farm on the historic landscape of Lemanaghan Bog in West Offaly have described as “misleading” their characterisation as a “small opposition group” by proposers of the project. The remarks were made in January 2025 at a meeting between the joint developers of the major energy project, Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables, and officials from An Coimisiún Pleanála. The project has since been designated as a Strategic Infrastructure Prohect (SID) which allows it to bypass the Offaly County Council planning process and proceed directly to the State planning board. Responding to the remarks about their campaign of opposition to the proposed wind farm project, the members of the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group pointed to the fact that “over 2,000 submissions” were made to Offaly County Council calling for the removal of the zoning of Lemanaghan Bog as an area open to consideration for wind energy. The Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group, which has spearheaded a vigorous campaign of opposition to plans for the construction of a wind farm on the historic bog, claims that, for many people in the local commmunity, Lemanaghan is “not simply a tract of bogland” but as a“sacred historic landscape, containing over a thousand years of history, tradition, and archaeology.

“We know that we’ll be playing a really good Sligo team. They played some really good games in the Leinster Development League. “We’ve had five challenge games against really good teams. You don’t know really where you’re at properly until you get stuck into the championship. “The games come thick and fast, it is tough going.

Pollen Forecast for Ireland: What Allergy Sufferers Can Expect This WeekendFor many of us, the last few days have been a welcome break from the blustery, cold and wet weather, but for others the dry days may pose a risk. Met Éireann have released a forecast for the weekend ahead, which will be mainly dry, but as always when spring comes running in so do higher pollen levels. Tree Pollen is on the rise, with Alder, Cypress and Yew trees releasing pollen into the air, and these trees are usually first to start pollinating in the Spring. The overall risk for most of the country over the next few days is moderate, but this may still pose a significant challenge to people with respiratory illnesses or hay fever. Below is Met Éireann’s graph showcasing the affected areas and the pollen level:

JD Vance has denied that he is out of step with Donald Trump on the Iran war. However, Mr Vance still hasn’t decided whether he will run, the outlet’s sources also said. “I know what you’re trying to do,” Mr Vance said Monday, when confronted about his previous statements on American interventionism. “We get along very well on this,” Mr Trump told reporters last week. This comes after Politico reported that Mr Vance privately expressed scepticism about the US attacking Iran before Mr Trump made his final decision.

US actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has died aged 86, his family has confirmed. “To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. Chuck Norris during a campaign event for Mike Huckabee, then a Republican US presidential hopeful, in Des Moines, Iowa, in January 2008. His first wife Dianne Holecheck passed away in December, the pair shared two children, Mike, an actor, and Nascar champion Eric Norris. Norris also had a daughter called Dina from an extramarital relationship during his time in the US air force.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted he is yet to speak to Trent Alexander-Arnold after appearing to end his World Cup hopes by leaving the Real Madrid star out of his latest squad. 'Not yet,' Tuchel replied, before responding 'I don't know' when asked if Alexander-Arnold believes his England career could be over. Alexander-Arnold, however, only made a single group stage appearance against Belgium in 2018 and played just 33 minutes against Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Tuchel stressed he has not closed the door to Alexander-Arnold being part of his squad at the World Cup, stating 'I know what Trent can give us'. A source told the Sun: 'The break-up was tough but both Trent and Estelle knew it was for the best.

Michael Carrick gives worryingly honest injury update on Man Utd starMatthijs de Ligt has been sidelined since November and Michael Carrick admits that his Manchester United season could be over as he struggles to regain fitnessView 2 Images Matthijs de Ligt hasn't played in 2026 due to injury (Image: Getty Images)Michael Carrick has confessed that Matthijs de Ligt might not play again for Manchester United this season as his injury woes continue. ‌De Ligt had been a regular until he copped his injury in the win at Crystal Palace. Before that he had played every minute this season, all of which came under Ruben Amorim, but Carrick hasn't been able to call on him once. Carrick said on De Ligt's recovery: "It's difficult to say, just because it's taken that much time. Man Utd 'accept' Elliot Anderson price tag as summer transfer plans become clear READ MORE :"It's like any injury.

Scottish walker rushed to hospital after falling from popular sea cliffThe walker was transported to hospital. Emergency services at the scene (Image: Fife Jammer Locations)A Scottish walker has been rushed to hospital after falling from a sea cliff on Thursday. Medics have since confirmed one person was rushed to hospital for treatment where their condition remains unknown, reports The Record. Article continues belowA spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 11.41am to attend an incident at Elie Chainwalk. “An ambulance was dispatched to the scene, and one patient was transported to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.”

Birol, in a Financial Times interview, said politicians and markets were underestimating the scale of the disruption, with ‌around one-fifth ⁠of global oil and gas supplies effectively stranded ‌in the region. Oil prices have swung on average by more than $10 a day since the war began, with open attacks on energy infrastructure heightening volatility. “The long shadow of the energy crisis is far from lifted,” said Hebe Chen, a senior market analyst at Vantage Global Prime in Sydney. The risk of a global inflation shock has also complicated the policy outlook for global central banks. Investors in bond markets around the world are rushing to bet on higher interest rates amid the jump in energy prices.

The conversation about the manosphere has been given fresh legs by Louis Theroux’s recent Netflix documentary, titled Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. “The research I have done indicates that most manosphere content that Irish boys and men engage with comes from the US and the UK,” she says. [ Louis Theroux – Inside the Manosphere: A tentative dip into the world of toxic masculinityOpens in new window ]So where are all the Irish manosphere influencers trailing in the wake of the individuals Theroux has profiled? According to researcher Darragh McCashin, an assistant professor in psychology at Dublin City University, Irish content tends to be less obvious. [ How to speak to young men about masculinity influencersOpens in new window ]Whether the manosphere will have a lasting impact on attitudes among Irish men as they get older is unclear.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Australia’s Quantas, Malaysia’s AirAsia, Scandinavian airline SAS, and Air New Zealand, have all implemented temporary or permanent surcharges based on air fuel increases. So can we expect price hikes for flights closer to home and will they put a dent in out holiday plans? They have a schedule which it builds around all these flights coming into Dubai connecting to all these flights going out of Dubai so there’s only some tweaks they can do. Wizz Air UK has announced it would operate tailored chartered flights between the UK and the US for European football teams and supporters travelling to the US. Anticipation of ludicrously inflated prices is already a talking point for fans hoping to book transatlantic flights from Ireland.