Teagasc has released interesting results from research into finishing beef animals at 19 months with low levels of concentrate fed. “In those two systems, the only concentrate would be fed to the progeny during the first winter. “Then, immediately post-weaning off milk powder, we've looked at a high and a low concentrate feeding rate, the high being ad-lib concentrate feeding, and the low being 1.5kg of concentrate feeding. That brings us up to turnout to pasture.”No real advantage, or only a very small advantage, was found from additional milk replacement feeding. So that's potentially a 12-month slippage in terms of calving age.

Evan Ferguson put forward his case for an extended stay at Roma, and gave his sceptical manager food for thought, with a strong display for Roma in their 3-1 dismissal of Genoa. The victory at home, where Ferguson claimed an assist for Roma's second goal and then scored their third, puts Gian Piero Gasperini's side fourth in the Serie A table heading into 2026, just three points behind leaders Inter Milan, though Inter have a game in hand.

A male contestant on the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins has said he felt ‘betrayed’ by producers after he was ‘forced’ to punch a female contestant during a forthcoming episode. Footage seen by the Daily Mail ahead of Sunday’s broadcast shows the comedy content creator punching the retired Australian swimmer to the ground during a ‘milling’ task. A Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'SAS: Who Dares Wins is TV’s toughest test. In 2022, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins viewers saw Pete Wicks left in tears after the show pitted him against actress Jennifer Ellison during the milling challenge. Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is available to stream, and watch live, on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm, from January 4 on Channel 4.

', to which the TV judge replied, 'I think you've put weight on over Christmas, are you exercising, is the diet right?'. Elsewhere in the interview the former Corrie star also opened up about turning 50 and becoming a grandmother for the first time at at 42. It comes just days after daughter Emilie Cunliffe, 28, welcomed her second baby, Kym's fourth grandchild, on Christmas Day. She went on to gush over her grandkids who call her 'Ya Ya' and laughed how she can enjoy time with them before 'handing them back' to their parents. ', to which the TV judge replied, 'I think you've put weight on over Christmas, are you exercising, is the diet right?'

Kill Bill star Lucy Liu delighted audiences at the Belfast Film Festival in November with a special screening of her latest movie Rosemead, and also received the Realta award. Northern Ireland Screen has promised “much to look forward to”. Both filmed in Northern Ireland in 2024. During the Cannes Film Festival in May, Northern Ireland Screen was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the Global Production Awards for its outstanding contribution to sustainable production. Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, said 2025 had been a “truly exceptional year for Northern Ireland’s screen industry”.

Martina Needham, Amy O’Sullivan, Gary Murtagh, John Brannigan and Ciaran Lennon with BVS: Mick O’Rourke, Anne O’Reilly, Seth Plant, Ava Lily Maloney, Killian OwensPicture: Shelley CorcoranBallymahon students’ art graces Longford calendarThe artwork of two Ballymahon students is showcased in an annual calendar produced by Longford County Council and Longford Libraries. The Longford Libraries 2026 Calendar features artwork from 12 talented secondary school students across the county, including Ava Lilly Moloney, and Seth Plant from Ballymahon Vocational SchoolThe calendar celebrates the winners of the Longford Libraries Art Competition, which invited young people to interpret the theme 'Reading Takes You Places'. The launch event took place recently at Longford Library, bringing together students, families, schools and Creative Ireland representatives. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said: "This calendar is a window into the imagination of Longford's young people. The 2026 calendar is now available from all Longford Libraries.

A senior civil servant recorded that “there were a few surprises” at the level of contacts but that Dr McAleese was determined to expand the list of his “loyalist friends” to include the UVF. The scale of his contacts are contained in a confidential note written to then British ambassador to Ireland Stewart Eldon from senior official Chris McCabe in September 2003 called “Loyalism and the Irish: Lunch with Martin McAleese”. Mr McCabe said he had had a “private chat” with Martin McAleese over lunch. The note said: “Martin McAleese very frank about his contacts with senior Loyalists. The note concluded by stating that Dr McAleese was also keen to establish contact with someone on the “military side” of the UVF.

St Dominic’s GAA club player Rachel Dolan completed a fundraising expedition to Mount Everest Base Camp in October. Knockcroghery native completes Mount Everest base camp trekIn an "experience of a lifetime", Knockcroghery native Rachel Dolan has completed one of her "bucket list" aspirations, an arduous expedition to Mount Everest base camp. Previous Next Image 1 of 1 Rachel is pictured with the expedition party on their journey to Mount Everest base camp. Mount Everest Base Camp is located at an altitude of 17,598 feet (5,364 metres) and is situated in the South Asian country of Nepal. St Dominic's GAA congratulated Rachel for successful expedition to Mount Everest base camp "while raising money for Keith’s Closet charity".

Grid connection to Clara substation sought by energy companyA planning application has been submitted to Offaly County Council for the proposed development of a grid connection from Ballyboughlin Solar Farm to the existing Clara 38kV Substation. The proposed development will include the laying of a 38kV underground electrical grid connection cable, approximately 4.5km in length, using public roads, and the construction of an overhead electrical grid connection cable, approximately 0.898km in length, from Ballyboughlin Solar Farm to the existing Clara 38kV Substation. Spanning a total length of 5.3km, the proposed development starts from the northwest edge of Clara townland at Ballyboughlin Solar Park. It then continues parallel to the R420 crossing two local access roads, L-2017 and L-6046, at Aghamore before continuing north of the R420 in Kilbride, running south through Kilcoursey and reaching its end point at the ESB Clara 38kV Substation. The planning application was received by Offaly County Council on December 22 with a date yet to be confirmed by the local authority on a decision for the proposed development.

By Bairbre Holmes, Press AssociationA Mayo-based doctor has said “words cannot describe” the “anxiety, depression and safety concerns” migrant healthcare workers are experiencing in Ireland. In many towns across Ireland, Dr Rehman says, migrant doctors have formed private WhatsApp groups to help ensure their own safety. As a result he and his family have stopped going out, an experience he says is common among migrant medical workers and is resulting in many of them considering leaving the country. Dr Rehman said incidents are reported to gardai, but many migrant healthcare workers have “lost trust” in the force. The health service relies heavily on migrant workers – according to the latest Government data, 43 per cent of doctors obtained their first medical qualification in another country, with the largest cohort coming from Pakistan.

“We just didn’t apply enough pressure to get on the scoreboard against quality sides like Leinster, who are a really, really good side. I think certainly against the Stormers, we didn’t produce enough quality on the night to win the game. “I think they’re showing a lot of quality there. I think it’s a really good challenge for us. I think defensively, Ulster are one of the top sides in terms of their attack, so defensively they’re going to put us under a lot of pressure.

Northern Ireland’s only Catholic college celebrates 125 years of training teachersFour generations of teachers, a Nobel Prize winner, and a kicker with the New Orleans Saints are among those who have graduated from Northern Ireland’s only Catholic higher education institution. Dec 30, 2025Graduates pose with their degrees at St. Mary’s University College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. St. Mary’s University College in Belfast is marking the 125th year of a remarkable journey that began in 1900. Since its foundation, St. Mary’s has been synonymous with training Catholic teachers. It is rooted in a profound commitment to Catholic education, with its alumni teaching in every Catholic school in Northern Ireland and in schools around the world.

A number of files at the Public Record Office in Belfast show the planning that was undertaken for the potential introduction of domestic water metering by the Labour government during a period of direct rule. The files reveal a meeting between Northern Ireland ministers Angela Smith and Ian Pearson in November 2002 to discuss the “future financing and structure of Water Service”. The note said: “Both ministers agreed that it will be vital not to discuss any prospect of water charges in isolation from reform plans for Water Service. Later, a policy proposal paper was drawn up which said household water metering was intended to begin on April 1 2007. The proposal sent to Northern Ireland minister Shaun Woodward said there would be “both positive and negative reaction” to the plans.

There were concerns that Stakeknife - the British army's top spy in the IRA's internal security unit during the Troubles — was "a danger to himself" in 2003, according to Irish Government documents. As part of the annual release of previously confidential Government files from the National Archives of Ireland, it has been revealed that there were concerns over a "risk of suicide" around Stakeknife. The document, stamped "seen by Taoiseach", came days after Mr Scapaiticci was named in several media outlets — with the inquiry official seemingly corroborating the reports. Mr Scappaticci was arrested, interviewed under caution, and files on him were submitted to the director of public prosecutions for Northern Ireland. UK authorities have declined to officially identify Stakeknife, a position described by Mr Boutcher as "untenable and bordering on farce".

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