EXCLUSIVE: Far right hate and 'poison is infecting British schools, hospitals and prisons'In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, the new boss of the Trade Union Congress, which represents 5.5 million workers, warns of the rise of the 'poisonous' far rightThe ‘far right’s poison’ is dangerously invading work forces including in hospitals, schools and prisons, warns the new TUC President. Picture by Philip Coburn (Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)“The rise of the far right in the workforce is extremely dangerous. View 5 Images The TUC President says "every occupation' is touched by far right 'poison'. “It's not just people of a certain generation that are going to the far right, some young people are as well. ‌View 5 Images Steve Gillan, TUC President, says he will fight the 'poison' of far right extremism in the workforce.

A Senator made representations on behalf of someone who was not allowed to do their driving test because they were wearing sandals. It was one of dozens of queries from public representatives released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the Freedom of Information Act. Some 45 per cent of these queries related to driving tests, “with the majority looking for a test date for a constituent or for an update on a constituent’s driving test application”, a representative said. “The above named was scheduled to do his test today but he wasn’t allowed to proceed as he was wearing sandals,” an email written on behalf of Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle to the RSA in July reads. The RSA said it does “not prioritise any driving test applicant based on queries from public representatives”.

The chief executive of Limerick Chamber has resigned after just over a year since stepping into the role. Michelle Gallagher joined the business group in September 2024, succeeding Dee Ryan, who stepped down to run in the Limerick mayoral election the previous summer. Announcing her resignation, Ms Gallagher said: "After careful consideration, I am announcing that I will be stepping down from my role as Chief Executive Officer of Limerick Chamber. In a statement, Limerick Chamber said Ms Gallagher will be stepping down with immediate effect, adding: "The decision reflects a mutual recognition of differing strategic priorities for the future. "To ensure continuity, the senior leadership team will manage day-to-day operations while the Board begins the process of identifying a new leader.

McDonald's Secret Menu will feature six new items:Surf N’ Turf (£4.39)Chicken Cheeseburger (£3.89)Chicken Big Mac (£5.59)Big Mac Sauce (£0.20)Espresso Milkshake (£3.69)Apple Pie Mini McFlurry (£2.99)McDonald's Secret Menu will feature several new items, including a Surf N’ Turf burger and an Espresso Milkshake. McDonald's to axe 17 items to make way for new 'Secret' MenuMcDonald's new Secret Menu follows its Festive Menu, which has been available in the UK and Ireland since November. Customers have until Monday (January 5), upon the launch of the new Secret Menu, to get their hands on their festive favourites before they disappear. One person, posting on Reddit group r/UKfood, said: "I think its the best burger they've done in a long time. Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for McDonald's UK and Ireland, Ben Fox, added: “The Big Arch is back for good.

Wayne Rooney's lookalike son Kai showed he's following in his dad's footsteps as he took a break from Manchester United's under-18s for a family holiday to Barbados. The teenager, 16, was called-up to the club's squad earlier this season, aged 15, but was sidelined for months after suffering an injury. But Kai proved he is back to full-fitness as he raced Wayne's former teammate Jonny Evans during their Caribbean trip. Kai joined United's academy in 2020 at the age of 11 and has steadily worked his way through the youth ranks. When asked about offering advice to his eldest son earlier this year, Wayne said he prefers a hands-off approach.

Teenagers as young as 14 are still missing following the inferno in a Swiss nightclub that left at least 47 dead and 119 injured. Separate footage filmed moments later shows a brave reveller trying to put out flames as they spread across the wooden ceiling of Le Constellation nightclub in south-west Switzerland. His father had gone out to Le Constellation looking for him following reports of the fire, as his family launched an appeal to find find him. Images show the moment before a deadly New Year's Eve blaze a Swiss ski resort bar killed 47 people. Le Constellation had a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website.

Registrations of new electric cars in Ireland increased by 35% in 2025, with 23,601 new EVs registered over the year. In total, there were 124,954 new car registrations in Ireland in 2025, up 3% on 2024 (121,316), according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). “The new car market in 2025 finished in line with projections," said SIMI director general Brian Cooke. This, along with the increase in plug-in hybrid registrations, meant that Ireland comfortably surpassed the 2025 Climate Action Plan targets." The top selling EV brand was Volkswagen, followed by Kia, Tesla, Hyundai, and Skoda.

This is the moment a waitress, carried on the shoulders of a colleague, held a sparkler in the air before a deadly blaze ripped through a Swiss ski bar, killing at least 47 people and injuring 115. Adrien was also at Le Constellation when the fire began. He told Italian public broadcaster Rai News one of his friends was 'was burned all over' while another was taken to Zurich by helicopter. Another witness, Gianni, told Swiss outlet 20 Minuten that victims suffered severe burns, with their faces 'completely disfigured' and hair burned away. His father had gone out to Le Constellation looking for him following reports of the fire, as his family launched an appeal to find him.

All of Ireland is set to be affected by status yellow snow and ice warnings this weekend as Met Éireann forecasts a sharp cold snap, with temperatures dropping as low as -4C in some areas. A status yellow snow and ice warning for Donegal will come into effect from 8pm on Friday until 11am on Saturday, with wintry showers and some snow accumulations expected. Saturday is forecast to be generally dry with spells of sunshine, though isolated rain, sleet and snow showers may occur in northern and northwestern areas. Further wintry showers are forecast in the north and west on Sunday night, with temperatures again falling sharply. Northern Ireland warningsMeanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued status yellow snow and ice warnings for parts of Northern Ireland.

Myles was saying, “We have to keep going with this,” but I’m struggling to turn the gobbledygook into something meaningful. Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'ReillyIt was a real challenge; I’d formed the pathways in English, and I had to forget all those words. That we were kind of on the sly like: “Shut the door quick, they’re gone, Is féidir linn Gaeilge a labhairt! The trend was to shut Gaeilge, nationalism and patriotism down. Kíla will be joined by special guests at the National Stadium in Dublin on January 23rd for Féile Kíla, tickets €30, kila.ie.

Met Éireann has forecast a drop in temperatures throughout Ireland this weekend. Photograph: Declan DohertyTemperatures are forecast to fall to as low as –4 degrees this weekend, with chances of snow and sleet in the northwest of the State, Met Éireann has said. Saturday will have plenty of sunshine, with scattered wintry showers continuing for Ulster and Connacht. There will be with wintry showers, mainly in the north and northwest. Met Éireann said there is “some uncertainty” about the outlook for the rest of the week, but said current indications suggest further unsettled conditions.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said voluntary hospitals must put in place new technology systems and follow rules set by the Government on pay and spending. The voluntary hospitals and the HSE have clashed in recent months over plans by the health authority to introduce a new €200 million national financial information system. The Irish Times reported in November that voluntary hospitals were concerned about the impact the introduction of the HSE financial management system could have on their independence. It is understood she said the annual service agreements contained the “contractual” provisions that determined the relationship between the HSE and the voluntary hospitals. It is understood the Minister also said the implementation of such national systems was required under the service agreements between voluntary hospitals and the HSE.

The last drink was poured in Moby Dick’s bar in Youghal on New Year’s Day, with the filling of pints matched only by the copious flow of music and memories. When the cameras departed, Paddy added the title ‘Moby Dick’s’ over the door and retained the ‘Spouter Inn’ moniker above the counter. “Moby Dick’s was my home throughout a wonderful childhood and my place of work for a decade behind the bar from 15 years old,” Mary recalls. Some of the revellers enjoying their last pints in Moby Dicks Pub in Youghal on its last day of trading on January 1. Picture: Howard Crowdy“All our Americans used to go to Moby Dick’s,” she revealed, in reference to what seems to have been shiploads of cousins from Philadelphia.

The “threats facing all of us have changed”, the British ambassador to Ireland has said, as she declared London is “very happy” to partner on security issues in the Irish Sea and beyond. Kara Owen became the British Ambassador to Ireland in September, months after Taoiseach Micheál Martin and British prime minister Keir Starmer announced a programme of co-operation as part of a desire to reset relations. She said she was “really pleased” to be taking on the job in the context of improved relations between Britain and Ireland following a turbulent post-Brexit period. Ms Owen said there was “no doubt” her predecessor Paul Johnston “had a set of really tricky issues to navigate”. Ms Owen spoke to President Catherine Connolly (Brian Lawless/PA)The ambassador is also learning Irish.

Arctic blast health warning as snow and sub zero temperatures are 'risk' to allAn Arctic blast sees the UK hit by snow blizzards, ice and frost with dangerous minus five temperatures. View 7 Images Snow could be with us for 'days and days' to come (Image: Alamy Live News.) An Arctic blast bringing snow blizzards and ice has left the UK facing health impacts that could put the whole population “at risk”. ‌Amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office with numerous other yellow warnings across the United Kingdom. Meteorologists are warning of ‘days and days of snow’ to come, with up to 40cm of snow forecast for some areas in the far north.