It took a decade of restoration, involving with significant investment, to transform Ballyfin Demesne into the 20-room luxury hotel it is today. Losses at the company behind the five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Co Laois grew more than fourfold in 2024, largely down to a dip in turnover on the accommodation side of its business. It took a decade of restoration, involving significant investment, to transform it into the 20-room luxury hotel it is today. Accounts filed for Ballyfin Demesne Ltd with the Companies Registration Office show turnover for 2024 amounted to €6,614,878, which was down more than €240,000 from the year before. The hotel has a one-star Michelin restaurant, which was awarded to resident chef, British-born Richard Picard-Edwards, in February last year.

The position of Garda Deputy Commissioner is expected to be advertised as early as next week. That followed the promotion of Justin Kelly to Garda Commissioner. Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary, head of Security, Strategy and Governance, is seen as a favourite for the position. The decision by Garda HQ last October to publicly confirm that Assistant Commissioner Cleary was taking over the role of deputy commissioner temporarily was seen as an indicator he was in pole position for the job. Other internal candidates that might apply include Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson, head of North West Region and acting head of Dublin Region, and Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Roberts, head of Governance and Accountability.

Forecasters warned that the combination of melting snow and rain will increase the flood risk for some in the coming days. A separate yellow warning for ice covers large parts of England and Wales until midday on Saturday as partially thawed snow refreezes, accompanied by wintry showers and freezing fog. In Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for snow and ice will run until 11am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning of icy patches and some hill snow. A yellow warning for snow and ice will be in force for much of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, north-east and north-west England and Yorkshire from 2am until 3pm on Sunday. However, temperatures will rise through the day, meaning the snow will become increasingly confined to higher ground by the afternoon.

One backbench Government TD has called for registration, but Mr Canney has said safety can be improved without having to go through a lengthy process of drafting legislation. “I believe we need to aggressively go at the road safety issue again,” he said. Mr Canney told The Irish Times the current regulations would be reviewed in January with a view to making helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory. “Selling a machine that can go at a speed in excess of what is allowable is a huge anomaly,” said Mr Canney. Shane Moynihan, a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Midwest, has raised the issue of e-scooters in the Dáil on numerous occasions.

Ten years on from his death, at the age of 69, how relevant is David Bowie in a world that has changed beyond recognition? Bowie’s music, on the other hand, is vital and plugged into the 21st century. His assessment began by “listing some of the totally crap things about David Bowie over the last 10 years”. Jump They Say: David Bowie during the making of the video for the song in 1993. We were both a bit shocked, so Bowie pointed and waved again – to make it clear that, yes, he, David Bowie, was waving at a random punter in the gods.

The last time Munster played Toulon away in the Champions Cup, two years ago this weekend, Simon Zebo was the red 15. “I would have liked to think that I could have played another year, but definitely not two,” Zebo says now. Simon Zebo reacts to a referee's decision in Munster's game against Toulon in January 2024. Before the match Zebo did a piece comparing the sides’ outhalves, Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast. O’Callaghan tells a story about being on a players committee in Munster when Zebo broke into the first team squad.

A man has died after a tree fell onto a caravan during hurricane-force winds in Storm Goretti. Residents on a tidal island near Cornwall woke to more than 80 trees brought down by Storm Goretti on Friday morning. How do we name storms and why has Storm Goretti got a French name? The Government had been urged to convene a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee in the wake of Storm Goretti. Dozens of schools across the Midlands and Wales were closed on Friday where the amber weather warning was issued.

Opening Night (Granta, July) by Sara Baume explores the writer’s friendship with artist Mollie Douthit, broadening into an exploration of art and nature. In An Asylum for My Affections (New Island, February), edited by Molly Hennigan, writers reflect on Maeve Brennan. A Hosting: Irish Writers and Writing: 1991-2025 (Lilliput, April) is a collection of more than 50 of my interviews with Irish authors. The Irish Soldier (Four Courts, November), edited by Thomas Bartlett, reviews the Irish military experience throughout the world over the past 1,000 years. In Banshee: Mythological Irish Women Retold (John Murray, February) edited by Ailbhe Malone, Irish female writers breathe new life into ancient Irish myths, reclaiming the stories of women.

Candice Warner has revealed she is eyeing off a return to the airwaves. 'I love radio. Candice Warner, 40, has revealed she is eyeing off a return to the airwaves. She told the publication she was keen to dip her toe back into the 'cutthroat' waters of commercial radio'I love radio. However, Candice revealed to Daily Mail in August the very surprising job she would have pursued if she had never become a professional athlete at age 14.

NBA star Nikola Topic has returned to training with the Oklahoma City Thunder after completing chemotherapy following a testicular cancer diagnosis last year. Back in October, it was revealed that the former first-round pick had been diagnosed with the disease, just months after the Thunder won the NBA championship. That procedure was necessary... to determine if Nikola was dealing with a case of testicular cancer,' the GM said. 'The results of the biopsy have been returned and he is dealing with a case of testicular cancer. He's been in here, he's training, he's working out - through this entire process he's been able to do that.

Rising house values means your home is likely to have increased in value since you bought it, or since you last negotiated your mortgage rate. Armed with this information, use a mortgage comparison website or contact a broker to see if you are eligible for a better mortgage rate. A typical car loan is repaid over three to five years, whereas the mortgage term could be 20 years. “I have an account from which all my important direct debits go out – mortgage, car loan, insurances, things I have to pay and cannot miss,” says Bruen. If you missed the last newsletter on managing credit card spending by Siobhán Maguire, you can read it here

Nicole Scherzinger showed off her incredible physique in a skimpy yellow and pink bikini as she frolicked beach during a getaway to the Maldives. The singer, 47, is currently enjoying a luxurious romantic trip to the Maldives with her rugby player fiancé Thom Evans. She displayed her gym-honed figure in a triangle yellow and pink patterned two-piece bathing suit. Nicole's beach look was complete with a matching yellow and pink floral sheer cover-up - which she threw off before jumping into the sea. Nicole and former rugby player Thom, who got engaged in July 2023, also hit back at fans who question why they still haven't got married yet.

We ask that you vote against the bill," says the letter. She gave evidence to MSPs on the criminal justice committee in October which has been examining Ms Regan's bill. The 29-year-old, who lives in Edinburgh, said she feared her life would be in danger if Ms Regan's bill was passed. MSPs were due to vote on the bill at stage 1 next Thursday. However, the key vote has been postponed to later this month while Holyrood's criminal justice committee still consider its report on the bill.

ETFALL RIVER — On Friday, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association released its first power rankings for Fall River area winter sports team. The rankings only include scores entered into Arbiter, verified by MIAA and schools as of Jan. 9 at 4 a.m. The top 32 ranked schools for boys and girls hockey power rated teams also qualify, regardless of record. Here's where the Fall River area sports teams are currently ranked:Need a news break? 1, 4Girls Ice HockeyDivision 1: Bishop Stang (Durfee, Somerset Berkley) (10)NOTE: There are no local teams in Div.

[ Destination dining: 14 Irish restaurants well worth a journeyOpens in new window ]Take Irish stew. More vegetarian dishes and better non-alcoholic choicesDecent vegetarian dishes should be more than an afterthought in Irish restaurants. Higher-welfare meat – properly raised and properly priced – should be normal. If restaurants want cooks who can actually cook, apprenticeships need to return to the centre. Photograph: iStockYes, I’ve mentioned truffle oil before – the culinary foghorn that flattens everything in its path – and we’re still not rid of it.