A Church Street scene from Athlone River Festival and Féile na Sionainne parade through the town. Vibrant festival programme brought Athlone to life in 2025By Rebekah O'ReillyIn 2025, Athlone came alive with a lively mix of festivals, including Croí na hÉireann, CROÍLÁR Festival, Féile na Sionnaine, Athlone River Festival, and the Heart of Ireland Burlesque, among many other cultural celebrations. From spring through autumn, the town buzzed with parades, performances, workshops, and community events, making Athlone a vibrant hub for local and regional culture. The spring brought one of Athlone’s most diverse cultural festivals Croí na hÉireann, centred around the St Patrick’s Day. Highlights included the Mythical Ireland Street Parade kicking off the festivities, longboat and kayak races on the Shannon, and Viking heritage demonstrations at Athlone Castle.

Our fight for Givinostat is part of Archie’s legacy and that of every other child and young man that has not been granted the gift of a treatment. Givinostat is a prescription medicine that has shown an ability to slow muscle damage in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is estimated that approximately 110 children and young men in Ireland are living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We remain indebted to them all.”The Naughton family also expressed their gratitude to everyone who has supported them, whether through kind words or donations. 'Sweet 16' CampaignThe Naughton family recently launched the Sweet 16 campaign.

‘Nature has helped me heal’, says Princess Kate on 44th birthdayBy Georgia Bates, Press AssociationThe Princess of Wales said she has spent winter reflecting on how “deeply grateful” she is as she celebrates her 44th birthday. In the final instalment of Kensington Palace’s quarterly Mother Nature series, Kate said the cold season has a way of bringing “stillness, patience and quiet consideration”. In a video posted on social media on her 44th birthday, Kate said: “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration. The video was accompanied by a personal post signed with a C, which read: “The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. “There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world.

Four bed home on private site near GlassonSherry FitzGerald Quain is delighted to present to the market a superb four-bedroom bungalow at Kilkenny West, Glasson. The property occupies a generous site of c 0.6 acres. The site is very private with mature hedging and lawns to the front and rear. The rear garden has a south-westerly aspect giving an abundance of natural light, ideal for outdoor activities or relaxing. Previous Next Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2Accommodation briefly comprises entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining room, utility room, four bedrooms, with master ensuite and a family bathroom.

And Declan Rice has already hinted at one reason why he'd be a good fit for the Gunners. ‌Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all reportedly keeping a close eye on Guehi. Before Guehi, Rice was asked about Brighton's Lewis Dunk, whom he described as "intelligent." But when it came to Guehi, Rice said: "To be fair, I didn't know he was coming. View 3 Images Rice described Guehi as intelligent (Image: Getty)"You use him because he is always there, when he's on the bench, like another coach.

Ms Smyth said the move to put the sexualised deepfake images tool behind a paywall on X was “window dressing” and “doesn’t give me any comfort”. There has been increased scrutiny in Ireland and the UK over Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok after users generated a spate of sexualised images of people, including children. “I actually deactivated my X account so I’m not on X anymore,” he said. Asked if the concerns around Grok this week had also prompted him to deactivate it, he said: “It was, yeah, it was. Earlier in the week, Ms Smyth said sexualised images created through Grok on X had broken the law.

Bank of Ireland received over 10,000 calls from customers to their fraud support team over Christmas week, with calls peaking from worried customers peaking just before Christmas Day. The bank's prevention team handled over 400 customer calls on Christmas day but the busiest day for customer calls to the fraud team was December 22, with 2,375 calls received, followed by December 23 (1,985 calls), with over 800 calls received on St Stephen’s Day.

The Taoiseach has suggested that, instead of complaining about the impact of Chinese imports, the European Union should take steps to make its own economy more competitive. “There are questions in terms of overcapacity in manufacturing in China, and some of that finding its way into the European market. But fundamentally, Europe has to get competitive itself, and Europe has to set key objectives,” he said. I think China has very strong indigenous research capacities, strengths, and abilities, and therefore, genuine partnership is important,” he said. [ Ireland will vote against Mercosur trade deal, Taoiseach and Tánaiste confirmOpens in new window ]“The US is trading with China, notwithstanding all the noise.

Michelle Welsh (Sherwood Forest)Sherwood Forest MP Michelle WelshSherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh (Labour) was previously a Nottinghamshire County Councillor, for the Arnold South ward, and a Gedling Borough Councillor, for the Porchester Ward. With Michael Payne, she attended this year’s FA Cup semi final between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. I received no personal financial benefit from this working visit and did not personally profit from it. He added: “I received no personal financial benefit from this working visit and did not personally profit from it. Nottingham Forest is a club with long-standing historic links to our local communities, including valuable work delivered through its community trust.

Ireland’s media and AI ministers also said on Friday they had deactivated their X accounts over controversy about the AI chatbot Grok on the social media site. Irish deputy premier Simon Harris said putting them behind a paywall would “clearly not” address the issue. “I actually deactivated my X account, so I’m not on X any more,” he said. “Anybody that I can encourage to disable their account, I would do.”Mr Harris said he was “grappling” with whether politicians should deactivate their X account, particularly after his family’s experience of online threats. Earlier in the week, Ms Smyth said sexualised images created through Grok on X had broken the law.

Due to what DFA describes as 'technical issue with a software update', recently issued passports do not fully comply with international standards. Photograph: Chris MaddaloniA recall has been issued for almost 13,000 passports due to a printing error, the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. An issue emerged in recent days with passports issued between December 23rd, 2025, and January 6th, 2026. The DFA confirmed a total of 12,904 passports were affected, but passports issued outside those dates were not impacted. Please return your passport book (and passport card if you had applied for one) to the below address immediately: Passport Return – Customer Care, Passport Service, 42-47 Lower Mount St, Dublin 2 – D02 TN83 Ireland.”

Paul Mescal reveals he will sing as Paul McCartney in Beatles filmsBy Casey Cooper-Fiske, PA Senior Entertainment ReporterActor Paul Mescal has revealed he will do his own singing when he plays Paul McCartney in an upcoming series of films about The Beatles. Speaking to British GQ, Mescal confirmed he would be doing his own singing and added: “I’ve learned so much. Mescal also said he had met Paul on two occasions, adding: “He’s the most brilliant man. Mescal is also known for his roles in Gladiator II (2024), Netflix romantic drama Normal People and Aftersun (2022). The full interview can be read in the February issue of British GQ available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday January 27th.

Few foresaw at the time that the fiery former opposition leader – whose Brothers of Italy party is rooted in postwar neo-fascism – would preside over Italy’s longest period of political calm in decades. “We’ve been given a historic opportunity to make Italy the country we’ve always dreamt of,” Meloni told supporters at Atreju, the Brothers of Italy’s annual political festival, in Rome last month. Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to face general elections in Italy next year. On the international stage, the prime minister has sought to raise both Italy’s international stature and her own. “They are taking care more of the international institutions, and international appearances than about the real life of the people,” Grimoldi says.

Independent Ireland issue Mercosur public meeting updateOrganisers of Saturday’s public meeting regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement at TUS Athlone Campus have issued an update with respect to plans for the event. The event will host several speakers, including representatives of Independent Ireland, and they have also confirmed that representatives from ten of the major farmer representative organisations will be speaking at the public meeting. EU ambassadors approved the EU-Mercosur trade deal by a qualified majority in Brussels this morning (Friday). Ireland, France, Poland, Austria and Hungary opposed the deal, while Belgium abstained from the vote. That is why it is vital that farmers and communities show their strength this Saturday.”Across the continent, farming groups are participating in mass rallies opposing the trade deal, particularly in Italy, France and Poland.

Stepping back up in trip to two and a half miles, I’ll Sort That was sent straight to the lead by amateur jockey Queally, who steadily raised the tempo and he remained in front rounding the home turn. I'll Sort That makes all to win the Ballymore Novice Hurdle and remains undefeated over hurdles for the Queally yard! @Declanqueally pic.twitter.com/9OA5aPRBm9 — Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 9, 2026Queally said: “He stays so well and is so genuine. I’m thinking ‘I’m not supposed to be here’, but I try to blend in! “I saw Paddy Mullins coming and thought ‘ah no, not you’ as he’s beaten me so many times in bumpers!