Wexford & DistrictSee all the photos of Christmas parties in the Talbot and Whitford House HotelsThere was a great festive atmosphere in the Talbot Hotel and the Whiford House Hotel, as various companies held their Christmas parties. Photographer Jim Campbell was there to capture all of the action.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is “deeply concerned” after Ireland marked the blackest period for road deaths in 12 years, with 190 fatalities during 2025. Mr Martin pledged a “renewed” focus on road safety in 2026 as gardaí pleaded for a safer new year on the roads. This year there were 24 road deaths in December alone – an average of almost one fatality a day. Almost half the road deaths over the past 18 months have involved vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and e-scooter riders. A male pedestrian in his 40s died following a road traffic accident near Kildare town last night, bringing the total number of fatalities this year to 190.

2025 built significantly on 2024’s trends, with commercial solar experiencing explosive early growth fueled by policy deadlines and strong manufacturing, positioning it for record-breaking overall performance. The U.S. added 21 GW of utility-scale solar to the grid in 2025, and solar accounted for 75% of new generation installed in 2025, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Managing changing U.S. policyIn 2025, solar developers and suppliers were forced to navigate an evolving policy landscape that affected project timelines, financing structures and procurement strategies. “As storage becomes more integrated into solar projects, it will fundamentally change how value is created and delivered,” Bitar said. With over 32 GW of solar trackers supplied worldwide, PVH operates from advanced manufacturing facilities in Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the USA.

From what it had to say, it’s clear that huge sums are involved when it comes to gambling in Ireland. Gambling seen as 'recession proof'Barry Grant, an addiction counsellor and project manager at Extern Problem Gambling, said that even during bad economic times in Ireland, gambling is seen as something that is “recession proof”. "In a cost-of-living crisis-type situation, some people would turn to gambling as a means to make ends meet. Regulator's plansThe regulator’s work has been multifaceted since it began, but not all of the sections of the legislation tackling problem gambling, including advertising curbs, have been enacted as of yet. In the meantime, however, gambling spending continues at pace and is on the rise, according to the Central Bank figures.

New Year's Eve horror as person found dead in Wales house fire after home caves inEmergency services responded to a fatal house fire in Glenboi, Mountain Ash, shortly before 2am on New Year's Eve, with the property suffering significant structural damageView 5 Images One person was found dead inside a house after a fire on New Year's Eve (Image: Media Wales)A person has died following a devastating house fire in a Rhondda Cynon Taf village. Emergency crews rushed to reports of a blaze at a property in Glenboi near Mountain Ash just before 2am on New Year's Eve. A person was discovered dead inside the property, South Wales Police confirmed on Wednesday morning. Firefighters from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service worked diligently to control the fire, while South Wales Police officers closed nearby roads and evacuated residents from adjacent properties. A joint investigation is currently underway between South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, with assistance from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.

A large outdoor screen shows China's president Xi Jinping delivering a speech ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Beijing. Photograph: Wang Zhao/AFP/GettyChina’s president Xi Jinping has vowed to reunify China and Taiwan in his annual New Year’s Eve speech in Beijing. US intelligence is increasingly concerned about the advancing capabilities of China’s armed forces to launch such an attack if Mr Xi decides the time is right. Soldiers march during a military parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3rd last in Beijing, China. In his speech, Mr Xi also highlighted “Taiwan Retrocession Day”, a memorial day created in 2025 to mark the anniversary of the end of Japanese imperial rule in Taiwan in 1945.

Liverpool set to wrap up £43m transfer deal 'in just days' as Chelsea pull outAfter a summer of splashing the cash, Liverpool look likely to further bolster their squad when the January transfer window swings open on Thursday morning with a deal for one talented youngster coming 'in days'. View 2 Images Arne Slot may look to bolster his squad in January's window. (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)Liverpool are set to sign Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge in the coming days - after Chelsea pulled out of the race to secure the Ecuadorian's services. ‌It's said that the initial fee for the 21-year-old will be around £35million, however, add-ons could quickly rack up to get a deal over the line. Article continues belowMeanwhile, Jan Paul van Hecke has also been suggested as another, potentially, suitable centre-back as Liverpool look to solve their problems at the back.

We have had our own challenges in Ireland, with a housing crisis that shows no signs of improving — the opposite, in fact — now a recurring headline item. It is also a nudge to us all to be aware of our outlook as we face into the coming year. Clearly, these are broad indicators which do not take account of local challenges and specific problems. To believe that problems, including the housing crisis, can be solved is a necessary first step. Let that outlook form a resolution for 2026 which all of us can adopt and persevere with.

Billy Loughnane broke the 21st century record for winners in a calendar year after he registered his 222nd success on Invited at Lingfield Park on New Year's Eve. Kieren Fallon set the previous record with his 2003 tally of 221 winners and while Oisin Murphy came close with 220 victories in 2019, Loughnane has now surpassed that feat. But on the final day of the year, Loughnane reached the landmark aboard George Boughey's well-backed 4-5 favourite in the Win £250,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap. I'm delighted to get him his 100th winner of the year as well. "I've been trying to ride as much as possible, I'm bored when I'm not riding and I love my job.

To date, the county has been bottom of the class when it comes to the provision of social, private and affordable housing. However, chief executive of Kerry County Council, Fearghal Reidy, and housing director Niamh O’Sullivan told the November meeting of Kerry County Council that affordable housing is now on the cards. Social housing construction and maintenance of social houses “continues to be a priority”, council CEO Fearghal Reidy said. The exemption from development levies for housing estates bought for social housing also needs to be looked at, Mr Griffin said. Meanwhile, auctioneers feel the corner has not yet being turned for private housing.

€540,000 of cannabis seized in Co LimerickGardaí have seized €540,000 of suspected cannabis near Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, on Tuesday. Members of the Divisional Drugs Unit based at Henry Street Garda Station seized the drugs at a residential property at Carraigkerry. The drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. No arrests have been made at this time.

Regulating kids’ smartphone usage doesn’t work – they shouldn’t have one in the first placeWith a new study revealing poor health markers in young children who own a smartphone, Dr David Coleman says we need to get them out of our kids’ livesExpecting small children to regulate their smartphone usage is unreasonable – even adults struggle with this. Photo: Picture posed/GettyDr David Coleman Today at 06:30Smartphones are ubiquitous. Could we manage our lives without them? Children certainly could, yet the latest CyberSafeKids trends and usage report showed that two out of every five 8 to 12-year-olds have their own smartphone.

For New Year’s Day, the weather service has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in northern Scotland between 6am until the end of Friday. A yellow warning for wind is also in place until 9am on January 1 in Orkney and Shetland, Highlands and Eilean Siar and Aberdeenshire where gusts in excess of 70mph may occur. Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days. There will also be frequent, and at times heavy, snow showers across northern Scotland and potentially in north-east England. However, fine and bright conditions are expected across much of the UK before the weather warning comes into force on Friday.

Denise O'Sullivan could be making a fresh beginning in the New Year with reports emerging that the Ireland international midfielder may be on the verge of joining Liverpool. Cork native O'Sullivan has called the US home for nearly a decade after spending the past eight seasons with North Carolina in the NWSL. A fixture in the Courage set-up and club captain, O'Sullivan still has a year to run on the two-year contract extension she signed in 2024.

The stars were out in force to celebrate the New Year and gave fans a glimpse into their lavish festivities on social media. The plunging blue dress, which retails at £1,290, fully exposed her cleavage as she posed alongside husband Chris Hughes and their two daughters, Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, for a New Year snap. Amanda, 54, and her family partied with the presenter's best friend Alan Carr as they ushered in the news year by quaffing flutes of champagne. Elsewhere, Dame Joan Collins, 92, and her husband Percy Gibson, 60, got into the party spirit as they donned matching disco inspired outfits. The couple booked a last minute trip - one year on from when they rekindled their romance at a New Year's Eve party.