Bank of Ireland has had a presence in Manhattan, New York, since 1976. The €1.2 billion US leverage acquisition finance loan book, the subject of a spike in loan losses in recent years, is expected to run down over the next three years, managed out of Dublin. In 1998, Bank of Ireland sold the 23.5 per cent Citizens stake it had received under the tie-up. The US leverage finance business was set up in 2002 to specialise in arranging, underwriting and distributing debt facilities for mid-market company acquisitions. Bank of Ireland said in its 2024 annual report that specific corporate defaults in the US acquisition finance portfolio drove a €127 million group loan loss charge that year.

March 17, 2026 18:01 UTC

A father of one was fatally stabbed in Cork after he went to buy food for a family meal. He lived with his partner in an apartment complex at Camden Court off Carroll's Quay, close to Cork city centre. stock imageNews in 90 seconds - March 17Gardaí said the incident occurred in the Lower John Street-Knapps Square-Devonshire Street area in Cork city after 7pm on Monday. Initial indications are that the man was stabbed shortly after he headed out to collect food for his family from a premises in the Devonshire Street-Lower John Street area. The fatal attack was the second stabbing in Cork city in the space of just 48 hours.

March 17, 2026 18:01 UTC

Lyon's Pavel Sulc has been included in the Czech Republic's 25-man squad for next week's World Cup playoff in Prague. Photograph: Olivier Chassignole/AFP via Getty ImagesLyon’s Pavel Sulc has been named in the Czech Republic’s squad for the upcoming World Cup playoff against the Republic of Ireland. Czech Republic manager Miroslav Koubek has also included Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick in the 25-man squad named on Tuesday. Midfielders: Pavel Bucha (Cincinnati), Lukas Cerv (Plzen), Vladimir Darida (Hradec Králové), Adam Karabec (Lyon), Tomas Ladra (Plzen), Lukas Provod (Slavia), Michal Sadílek (Slavia), Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Pavel Sulc (Lyon), Denis Visinsky (Plzen). Forwards: Tomas Chory (Slavia), Mojmír Chytil (Slavia), Jan Kliment (Olomouc), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen).

March 17, 2026 18:01 UTC

When the Northern Lights appear in our skies, we all become cheerleaders. The surge in interest has inspired one Northern Lights enthusiast to create a dedicated social media network designed specifically for people captivated by the lights. Instead of endless streams of unrelated content, the platform is designed for those focused on the elusive Northern Lights. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles released from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, producing the shimmering green, red, and purple colours sometimes visible from northern latitudes. Interest in the Northern Lights has already grown organically online.

March 17, 2026 18:01 UTC

Mason Greenwood ‘swap deal proposal’ spells bad news for Man UtdJuventus are reportedly interested in Mason Greenwood with a potential swap deal for the former Manchester United strikerView 2 Images Mason Greenwood has been linked with a summer move to Juventus (Image: AFP via Getty Images)Juventus are reportedly keen on former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood – a move which could see the Red Devils pocket less money from a sell-on clause in his contract. United offloaded Greenwood to French Ligue 1 outfit Marseille in the summer of 2024. ‌The Red Devils negotiated a sell-on clause, which grants them a substantial portion of any future transfer fee which Marseille may collect from a sale. Greenwood went on to net 22 goals alongside six assists across all competitions in his maiden season for the French side. The Red Devils academy product has netted 25 goals and provided eight assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

March 17, 2026 17:57 UTC





Trent Alexander-Arnold gets update as Real Madrid ‘put six stars on chopping block’Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled for form at Real Madrid but could be handed a major boost in the summerView 2 Images Trent Alexander-Arnold could be handed a Real Madrid boost in the summer transfer window. The full-back completed his switch from Liverpool to Real Madrid last summer, as his contract at Anfield expired. Alexander-Arnold featured for Real Madrid in the tournament after completing the transfer. ‌The 27-year-old's introduction to life at Real Madrid has not been as seamless as he might have expected. ‌View 2 Images Trent Alexander-Arnold has received some criticism of his performances for Real Madrid this season.

March 17, 2026 17:53 UTC

However, her stances on Irish unity, on the Irish language, on the very issue of identity, are among those reasons. But, beyond arithmetic, what does this shift mean at a deeper level for the idea of Irish unity? The ‘others’The number of Northern Ireland voters who identify as “neither nationalist nor unionist” has increased markedly. Indeed, the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) surveys demonstrate that “neithers” have been the largest single group in Northern Ireland since 2006 – not unionists or nationalists. So, what does this convergence mean – if anything – for the prospect of Irish unity?

March 17, 2026 17:53 UTC

US President Donald Trump will "try" to visit Ireland later this year, the US President has told Micheál Martin. Mr Trump said that Mr Martin had told him that he "hopes he goes" to the event in September. Mr Trump and the Taoiseach spoke to the media from the Oval Office ahead of their bilateral meeting later today. Mr Trump said that he believed that Mr Starmer is "no Churchill". If they got a nuclear weapon, I would say they would have used it within 24 hours after having it.

March 17, 2026 17:35 UTC

‘One little mistake could be the end of our American dream’ – The Irish living in fear of deportationAs Trump continues his crackdown on illegal immigrants, many undocumented Irish living in the US will be looking over their shoulder during this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Amy Donohoe reportsAnti-ICE message: The ‘St Pat’s for All’ parade in Queens, New York earlier this month. Photo: Selcuk Acar/Getty ImagesAmy Donohoe Today at 06:30For many Irish people living in the US, this year’s St Patrick’s Day will be one tinged with feelings of anxiety.

March 17, 2026 17:33 UTC

Ulster Senior Schools Cup final: Campbell College 26 RBAI 22. Campbell College claimed the Ulster Schools’ Cup after defeating old rivals Royal Belfast Academical Institution with a final minute try to bring a dramatic end to hard-fought final. Then on 49 minutes, Campbell strayed offside and Inst made no mistake as O’Connor bisected the posts. CAMPBELL COLLEGE: L Graham, H Wells, P Henry (capt) I Hatch, R Lovo, J Best, J Wells; C Doy-Dolan, D Nelson, C McKinney, R Potter, C Best, H Burrows, R Parks, D-N Simmons. RBAI: J Power, J Coulter, A Millar, C Patton, A Purcell, C O’Connor, S Clark; R Hamilton, R Dillon (capt), R McIlwarth, C Ballantine, R Gibson, E Magowan, C McClean, A Boyd.

March 17, 2026 17:28 UTC

The Blues launched an investigation last week after Liam Rosenior's line-up was leaked hours before their 5-2 defeat in the first leg. Fofana, 25, struggled in Paris and was at fault for Newcastle's goal on Saturday, as Chelsea suffered a 1-0 loss. ‌The leak comes after Chelsea suffered a major injury blow in the lead-up to Tuesday's match. "With Reece, he felt something in his hamstring at end of the game versus Newcastle," Rosenior told a pre-match press conference. ‌View 2 Images Liam Rosenior vowed to root out the leak (Image: Luke Walker/Getty Images)"It could be [a few weeks out].

March 17, 2026 17:15 UTC

Olivia KelleherA murder investigation has been launched following the completion of a postmortem on a 31-year-old father of one in Cork city. The Ukrainian national was stabbed in the Lower John Street/Knapps Square area at 7.50pm on Monday. The man, who has lived in Ireland since he was a child, managed to make his way home to his apartment within minutes. A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation, and an incident room has been established at Watercourse Road Garda Station. Members of the public with information are asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 4558510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

March 17, 2026 17:15 UTC

Ben Needham mum nervously waits for DNA test on man claiming to be missing sonHe bears an uncanny resemblance to her son Ben, who vanished on the Greek island of Kos aged 21 months in 1991The mother of missing Ben Needham is "nervously" awaiting DNA test results (Image: Daily Mirror)The mother of missing Ben Needham is "nervously" awaiting DNA test results on a man who believes he could be her son, after receiving photographs which show an 'uncanny' resemblance to her family. ‌She reports the images forwarded to her also mirror her missing son's age progression picture. Ben, from Sheffield, vanished on the Greek island of Kos on 24 July 1991, aged 21 months. (Image: Daily Mirror)‌Missing boy Ben Needham, disappeared in Kos, Greece in 1991. (Image: Daily Mirror)(Image: Daily Mirror)"The next step is to hopefully obtain a DNA sample through a request via Interpol.

March 17, 2026 17:14 UTC

The search for missing Limerick man Jack Boddy has been stood down following the discovered of a body. A search had been underway in the Lahinch area of Clare since early Monday morning, March 16, after he was reported missing. The 20-year-old was a well-known member of the Clare under 20s football management team, working as the squad's strength and conditioning coach.

March 17, 2026 17:13 UTC

Joseph O’Connor’s novel The Ghosts of Rome won Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025. As well as being very well received by the Irish music press, Achieving Vagueness was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for album of the year. Not only was Lord Dunsany, aka Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Mary Lavin’s mentor; he was also an actual lord, the 18th baron Dunsany, and the author of more than 90 books. He was going by the name Lord Dunsany, after all, and when he tried to help during the Easter Rising it was for the wrong side. Still, it feels about time we remember Lord Dunsany.

March 17, 2026 17:11 UTC