Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his delegations arrive at the Great Hall of the People to meet with China's president Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 5th. Photograph: Andy Wong/Pool/AFP via GettyBack in 2017, in the early days of Leo Varadkar’s period as taoiseach, he was fond of referring to Ireland as “an island at the centre of the world”. Connections to the EU, the US and, increasingly, with China, positioned Ireland in a uniquely advantageous position. The island at the centre of the world is in danger of being sucked down the plughole. Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea in the Oval Office of the White House with US president Donald Trump in March 2025.

After the Friday night resumption in a Dublin derby between third-placed Lansdowne and second-placed St Mary’s, the champions and festive Division 1A leaders Clontarf resume their campaign in a repeat of the recent Bateman Cup final against Ballynahinch. Division 1B leaders Old Wesley host Blackrock while in 2A, fifth-placed Corinthians host leaders Barnhall and the only other unbeaten side in the AIL, 2B leaders Galwegians, travel to Skerries. Division 1B: Instonians v City Of Armagh, Shaw’s Bridge (2pm); Dublin University v Queen’s University, College Park; Garryowen v Highfield, Dooradoyle; Old Wesley v Blackrock College, Energia Park; UCC v Naas, The Mardyle. Division 2A: Old Crescent v Shannon, Takumi Park, (7.30pm, Friday); Ballymena v Dungannon, Eaton Park; Galway Corinthians v MU Barnhall, Corinthian Park; Greystones v Banbridge, Dr Hickey Park; Wanderers v Cashel, Merrion Road. Division 2B: Buccaneers v Clogher Valley, Dubarry Park; Enniscorthy v UL Bohemian, Alcast Park; Malone v Rainey, Gibson Park; Navan v Sligo, Balreask Old; Skerries v Galwegians, Holmpatrick.

The 64-page report, Newry Next, has set out a plan that would address Dublin’s housing needs by making the Co Down town into a cross-Border commuter hub by facilitating the construction of 6,000 new houses over the next decade. The initiative, supported by former senator Martin McAleese, has suggested the Newry and Bambridge areas of Co Down could use the same “economic corridor” model as other cross-Border commuter towns and cities throughout Europe. The wastewater upgrade would act as “enabling infrastructure”, allowing private capital “to fund housing commercial development without ongoing public subsidy for construction”. Mr Taggart told The Irish Times how a house that would cost €400,000 in commuter towns in the Republic would cost €150,000 less in Newry. The benefit for Dublin is that cross-Border commuters would pay Irish income taxes, but would then spend money locally in the Newry and Bambridge areas, he said.

Pobalscoil Chorca Duibhne manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice during the 2014 Hogan Cup final. Ó Cinnéide mentions Dingle’s inspirational defender Conor Flannery and his profession. Ó Cinnéide recalls the hardship of those times. Ó Cinnéide and Fitzmaurice’s only advice to players is to live in the moment and not have regrets the Monday after. As Ó Cinnéide puts it, “Embrace it, laugh about it, enjoy it.”

Mr Robinson urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer against “spinelessly surrendering” to the Irish Republic as work continues on the Bill. The measures included allowing witnesses who participate in new legacy processes the option to give evidence remotely without travelling to Northern Ireland. “The Prime Minister indicated that the Government would bring forward amendments to address these concerns. “While we recognise the real financial pressures facing Northern Ireland, the priorities John O’Dowd has chosen raise serious concerns,” he said. “Northern Ireland must also show it can deliver major infrastructure projects if we are serious about investment, jobs, and economic growth.”

However, a long-forgotten Facebook page reveals a very different glimpse of the woman tipped for Oscar glory. Before the red carpet dazzle and glitzy magazine shoots, the Irish actress was just another twenty-something sharing blurry selfies and silly snapshots with friends on social media. Yet despite the growing fame and fortune, Jessie has never been comfortable with the trappings of celebrity. Jessie's old social media pictures - on a profile named Messy Jessie - appear to suggest a woman more comfortable away from the spotlight. In 2023, Jessie married her long-term partner Freddie Sorensen, 47, in an intimate ceremony at their 15th-century Norfolk home.

Transferring to An Ghaeltacht, and with the nearest hurling club an hour back the road, one of the last proponents of the dual inter-county player was relishing his single code status. There’s also been time and space to prove wrong those who believed 2010 All-Ireland football winner Aidan Walsh wouldn’t come up to the mark in the 2025 Kerry intermediate football championship. That last visit was the occasion of the 2018 All-Ireland intermediate club hurling final. I've adjusted to it.”The same as he has got his head around the fact that this fourth All-Ireland medal he is attempting to pocket - U21 football, senior football, and intermediate club hurling the existing three - is being fought for alongside lads from once-enemy country. “It's obviously a bit strange playing for a Kerry club, but I don't see it that way.

Billionaire Musk made a defiant response against Sir Keir Starmer, who said he was leaving 'all options' on the table in response to the widespread fury over X, reposting an image of Sir Keir in a bikini with the caption 'they just want to suppress free speech'. Sir Keir dismissed Musk's changes to his AI tool as 'insulting' to victims, with the tool limiting its image generation and editing features to only paying subscribers of the site. He was abundantly clear that X needs to act and needs to act now, it is time for X to grip this issue. Sir Keir on Thursday called on X to 'get their act together' amid concerns about the AI creation of sexualised images of adults and children on the site. Under the Online Safety Act in the UK, social media firms must prevent and remove child sexual abuse material when they become aware of it.

From Mila Kunis to Paloma Faith, here, the Daily Mail take a look at the stars who have lied about their age. 'There's a rumour going around that I may or may not have lied about my age,' Mila told Variety. Paloma FaithPaloma Faith lied about her age when she first started in the industryPaloma Faith previously admitted to keeping her age a secret from her fans. She finally declared her age publicly, and despite her fears, the reaction to her real age was actually 'like nothing'. Kaye AdamsLoose Women star Kaye Adams even kept her age hidden from her childrenKaye Adams admitted she has lied about her age for decades.

Professional services firm Deloitte Ireland has appointed Aziz Ahmad and Vikram Kunnath as partners, reinforcing its consultative businesses, with further expansion planned. Deloitte Ireland says that it is facing into a new year of increased demand and continued growth. The firm has added 18 new partners in the past 11 months.

“I wish BAM would just give me the hospital,” Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says when discussing plans for the year ahead. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Northern Ireland's Minister for Health, Mike Nesbitt, on a visit to the new national children's hospital. There was frustration and disquiet from consultants when the comments were circulated, but Carroll MacNeill shrugs when asked about how the communication was received. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill following the launch of the national rare disease strategy 2025-2030 in August. This, Carroll MacNeill says, is “extraordinary”.

The project that was first stalled during the Hollywood strikes of 2023, and promised for summer 2026, has moved (and moved again). Until then, buckle up for our 50 films to see in the year ahead. To be announcedThe Chronology of WaterKristen Stewart makes an uncompromising directorial debut with this hard-hitting adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir. April 3rdDune: Part 3Denis Villeneuve concludes his bombastic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga with an adaptation of the author’s Dune Messiah. To be announcedPaper TigerJames Gray’s crime drama follows two brothers, played by Adam Driver and Miles Teller, happily chasing the American dream until they get mixed up with the Russian mafia.

The brand new Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, which opens on July 4 is included. A seven-night all-inclusive stay without flights at Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic costs from €1,233 per adult, based on double occupancy, departing June 30. Geneva feverGeneva, Switzerland's second largest cityAer Lingus has launched two new winter routes, to Switzerland and Italy, in time for your ski trip. Beautifully located on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland’s second largest city offers the joys of a culture break with the snowy peaks of Morzine, famous and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Passing incredible glaciers, pretty little fishing ports and rare wildlife, you’ll visit Seattle, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria.

Despite this, he opened up about the impact the conflict had on him and his community, specifically the way people perceived his home. Speaking on BBC Radio 6, Nesbitt said: “I grew up in Northern Ireland, distanced from the Troubles, but it was only up the road. James Nesbitt said people felt angry that Northern Ireland was seen as a place of conflict (Ben Whitley/PA)“It was difficult to kind of come from a place that you loved so much, but the rest of the world were viewing it as a place of conflict, which it was, obviously, but also a place that you didn’t want to go to. In the new thriller, Nesbitt stars as Simon Greene, who works with investigator Elena Ravenscroft, played by Gavin and Stacey actress Ruth Jones, after his daughter Paige, played by Ellie de Lange, runs away from home. The actor was nominated in 2008 for a Golden Globe for his lead role in Steven Moffat’s Jekyll and in 2016 was made an Officer of the British Empire in recognition of his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland.

The sudden death of Ireland’s Strongest Man, Pa O’Dwyer, was widely reported this week. Known as the Limerick Lion, he won Ireland’s Strongest Man title five times and was also crowned Britain’s Strongest Man. But who was he beyond the podium?