People considering equity-release loans are strongly advised to seek financial and legal advice, and consult family members. Photo: GettySingle women accounted for one in three equity-release loans issued in Ireland last year by the main lender in the sector, Spry Finance. Half of the equity release loans went to couples and 18pc to single men. People considering equity-release loans are strongly advised by finance experts to seek financial and legal advice, and consult family members. The figures show that around 13pc of those taking out an equity release loan used it to switch mortgage provider or refinance.

Interesting piece in yesterday’s paper. If you didn’t spit out your coffee while reading it, my congratulations. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy, told Emer Walsh of this parish that he is using artificial intelligence (AI) apps such as ChatGPT to write his speeches. He had just given a speech generated by AI at a data centre services firm when he spoke to her. Annual €130€80 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell (left) and captain Caelan Doris have several issues to solve before the start of the Six Nations. Photo: SportsfileThe intermittent wind and rain in Quinta do Lago quickly dispelled any notions that the Ireland squad were about to face into a warm-weather training camp over the next week. The inclement weather is the least of Andy Farrell’s problems, however, as the Ireland head coach works his way through a considerable to-do list ahead of his side’s Six Nations opener in Paris this day next week. Here are Farrell’s main priorities:

The Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group logo. Free talk at Tullamore library on 'healthy foods for us and the planet'Nutritionist and Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group member Hélène Rouget will give a free talk at Tullamore Library on Tuesday, February 3, called 'Nature & Nurture: healthy foods for us and the planet'. The event will be held upstairs in Tullamore Library on at 6PM, and bookings can be made for free on eventbrite. The voluntary group's Chairperson Gaelan Elliffe said: “In the coming months we have planned more events like last year's information sessions, climate cafés and volunteering opportunities. We plan to host these events about the county and encourage interested people to come along and connect with others interested in nature and promoting sustainability.”Those interested in promoting and protecting nature within the county of Offaly are encouraged to get in contact through email: offalyclimateandbio@outlook.com or through Facebook.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vx0jrnmejoVery odd just legging it without bothering to pay the hotel that put you up after you had to be rescued. However, has resulted in lots of donations to the local mountain rescue team. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15502671/Moment-teenage-ice-climbers-hikers-jeans-trainers-mountain.htmlMore of a feel good story but you do wonder what on earth people are doing going up big hills in the snow in winter totally unprepared.

President likely to visit resort when it hosts Irish Open this yearUS president Donald Trump at Doonbeg in Co ClareDonald Trump’s golf course and hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare, is continuing to deliver bumper revenue and profits for the US president and his family. Mr Trump and his family bought the Doonbeg resort in 2014. It was also named Ireland’s best golf hotel for 2024 by World Golf Awards and it was named one of the top 10 golf courses in Ireland. The directors said hosting the Irish Open this year from September 10 to 13, will further enhance the Doonbeg resort’s international profile. The Trumps are currently hoping to build a ballroom at the Doonbeg resort that would be big enough to host 320 people.

It comes as yesterday, Minister for Housing James Browne accused Met Éireann of holding back information on the severity of Storm Chandra. Meanwhile, Mr O’Brien said Met Éireann has a “very difficult job” and "they do it very well", adding that he would like to see river flood forecasting "accelerated". "I don't accept that a further 10 years are required for the river flood forecasting. What we need is even indicatives, and you can actually put warnings on the warnings, if you understand what I mean. I think where data is available, particularly around river flood forecasting, that should be provided.

Mr Trump said he and governor Tim Walz, whom he criticised for weeks, were on “a similar wavelength” following a phone call. Immigration enforcement operations and confrontations with activists continued on Wednesday in Minneapolis and St Paul. US President Donald Trump (Jose Luis Magana/AP)A group of protesters blew whistles and pointed out federal officers in a vehicle on a north Minneapolis street. “NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law,” Ms Bondi said in a social media post. Mr McMillan said he remembered seeing Mr Pretti during frequent visits to the Veterans Affairs hospital where he worked.

Viktor Gyokeres determined to reignite Arsenal challenge with goals at LeedsBy Philip Duncan, Press AssociationViktor Gyokeres said he is ready to go behind enemy lines at Leeds on Saturday night as Arsenal bid to get their Premier League title charge back on track. Gyokeres landed the first goals of his Arsenal career with a brace in a 5-0 victory against Leeds at the Emirates back in August. And the Sweden international will travel to Leeds fresh from finding the back of the net in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Kairat – his third in five appearances for the Gunners. “But I don’t care whatever game it is really – I just try to do my best and take my chances. Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scored twice against Leeds earlier this season.

A sports car that was a top seller in the 1980s and 1990s has returned to American roads - but critics say the long-awaited comeback comes with a catch. Honda put the reborn two-door Prelude on sale in the US late last year, marking its return after a 25-year absence. Unlike the original Prelude, the new 2026 model does not have a traditional gearbox. Instead of a traditional gas engine, Honda brought the Prelude back as a hybrid, pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a small battery pack producing around 200 horsepower. The 2026 Prelude ditches a conventional gear lever entirely.

And it brings to 36 the number of people who have represented this country at the Winter Games since 1992. The four, who are competing in Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing and Cross Country Skiing, gathered in the team's main hub in Bolzano this week for final preparations and official team activity ahead of the announcement. TEAM IRELAND ATHLETESAnabelle Zurbay:Aged 17, Zubray will compete in Alpine skiing and focusing on the technical events of Slalom and Giant Slalom. The Colorado-based athlete is not only the youngest member of the team, she is also the youngest Irish athlete to ever compete in Alpine Skiing at the Olympics. Thomas was born on the island of Leka in Norway to a Galway mother and Norwegian father, and after a hugely successful few seasons, competes for pro team Team Aker Dæhlie.

Which country pulls out in front will be largely determined by which country can build powerful data centers at the cheapest, quickest, and safest rates. The formula is simple: To excel in the AI race, American data centers must mitigate costs and maximize output, both in their construction and operation. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) refers to a group of technologies that aim to capture carbon dioxide and store it in a safe place, usually underground, by injecting it into rock. That has not stopped some European energy firms from seeking to adopt CCS-based energy sourcing to power new data centers. However, that did not stop the Biden administration from pouring money into CCS subsidies.

Aer Lingus has axed all long-haul flights from a major UK airport and potentially put hundreds of jobs at risk. The Manchester to New York route will not be available via Aer Lingus from February 23, 2026. Flights between Manchester and Ireland by Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional (Emerald Airlines) also won't be affected. An Aer Lingus spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'Customers are being informed directly of the cancellation of flights and provided with reaccommodation and refund options. In a statement on its website, Aer Lingus said: 'We are currently undergoing a period of uncertainty on transatlantic services at our Manchester base.'

The European Union is set to sanction Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard over Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that she expects foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday to agree on adding Iran’s Guard to its terrorist list. “This will put them on the same footing with al Qaeda, Hamas, Daesh,” she said, using an Arabic acronym for the so-called Islamic State group. “If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist.”Iran had no immediate comment, but it has been criticising Europe in recent days as it considered the move, which follows the US earlier sanctioning the Guard.

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