Photo Credit: Mark ShaikenBurgundy Wave participated in the 2025 MLS Fan Survey, organized by Ben Wright, Founder and Executive Editor of SixOneFive Soccer and contributor to Backheeled. Editorial – With the 2025 MLS season done, we asked you — the fans — to voice your opinions. One of the biggest complaints was the perception that Leagues Cup killed the momentum and narrative of the MLS season. 92.7% of fans who took the survey said they subscribed to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Where?”“I love the media MLS does get, but I wish big sports networks would care about mls.”“MLS is an afterthought to most media.

Shortly after the new Cork hurling management was appointed in the autumn of 1983, they called a meeting with the players. Justin McCarthy stood before them and reminded the entire group that the fate of Cork hurling over the following 12 months was in that room. “Five or six players weren’t going to fall from the sky,” McCarthy wrote in his autobiography Hooked. “If Cork were to win anything, they would have to become better players. I also said I was asking players who had won All-Irelands and were household names to improve their training and discipline.

A young man who threatened to publish intimate pictures of a girl he met on Snapchat has received a suspended jail sentence. The 24-year-old appeared at Donegal Circuit Court having pleaded guilty to threatening to publish intimate pictures of a person intending to cause them harm. The young man's victim was a then 17-year-old girl from Co Donegal whom he had befriended on Snapchat. The man said he was into photography and asked the girl to send him pictures of herself. The girl said the man also sent pictures of his penis to her but she said she didn't open the message while he also sent her videos of himself.

Connacht have confirmed the signing of Ciarán Frawley from Leinster on a two-year deal. Frawley, who can play at fullback, centre, and out-half, previously worked with Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster at Leinster. Since making his Leinster debut in 2018, Frawley has made over 100 appearances for the province, and score more than 300 points. "I’ve loved my time at Leinster and I’m really appreciative for all the support from the fans, coaches and teammates over the last 7 years. He will be a big asset in the years ahead and personally I am really excited about working with him again.”

Mr Zelenskiy also denied accusations by Moscow that Kyiv tried to attack a residence belonging to Russian president Vladimir Putin with drones. But Mr Zelenskiy said the Russian claim was a “complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine”. Mr Trump then held a second call with Mr Putin on Monday, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a post on X. “President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine,” Leavitt wrote. In his exchanges with reporters, Mr Zelenskiy said Moscow had fabricated the alleged drone attack to justify not taking necessary steps to end the war.

DoneDeal Cars reveals buyer's search behaviour for 2025Search behaviour on DoneDeal Cars in 2025 indicates that Irish buyers continued to prioritise familiar models and established fuel types when actively filtering their searches. Based on searches where users applied the car make filter, Volkswagen was the most searched brand on DoneDeal Cars in 2025, accounting for 13.8% of brand-filtered searches. The Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, BMW 3 Series, Audi A1 and Honda Civic also featured prominently. Among hybrid-filtered searches, the BMW 3 Series was the most searched model, accounting for 7.6% of hybrid model searches. The Hyundai Kona was the most searched electric model in 2025, accounting for 8.2% of electric model searches.

‌Joshua Zirkzee makes transfer decisionDutchman Zirkzee only touched down in Manchester in the summer of 2024 and was the first addition secured under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. ‌New long-term deal pennedWith the men's team seemingly braced for Zirkzee's exit, the women's team has been handed a boost. Director of Women's Football at United Matt Johnson expressed: "We are really excited to have Hinata extend her time at Manchester United. United's Miyazawa stated: "I am really enjoying playing football at Manchester United and I am really happy to be continuing my journey here." Article continues belowJoin our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football.

Recently filed accounts by Valeo Foods UC show that operating profits increased as revenues rose by 6% from €1.52bn to €1.62bn in the 12 months to the end of March 31st 2025. In their report, the directors state that "Valeo delivered another year of successful top line growth, significant growth in operating profit before exceptional items and cash generation”. Valeo Foods operates 80 consumer food brands and is market leaders in wafers, cakes and biscuits, confectionery (sugar and chocolate), naturally sweet (maple and honey), savoury snacks and Ireland ambient foods. Numbers employed at the expanding Valeo Foods this year increased by 664 from 4,546 to 5,210 as staff costs rose from €193.4m to €272.76m. The group’s cash funds increased from €62.03m to €117.88m.

Diane O'Hora looking forward to challenge with MayoMichael BoltonA three-time All-Ireland winner with Mayo as a player, Diane O'Hora is one of the best players to play for her county. Once the opportunity came up to be manager of the Mayo ladies, it was one O'Hora was not going to let pass. In what should make the game more open and exciting, O'Hora is looking forward to watching how they will play out. Ladies' football in general, with all the research they have done, they are really looking for a more physical approach to the game. "When you go to the senior game being refereed, there is pulling and dragging and hands in and all the rest.

The Big Arch Burger made its McDonald's debut in the UK last summer. The Big Arch Burger has received rave reviews from McDonald's customers. (Image: McDonald's)The Big Arch burger to make permanent return to McDonald's in 2026It seems McDonald's has heard the calls from fans, announcing that the Big Arch Burger will return to UK and Ireland stores in 2026, where it will become a permanent menu item. McDonald's said: "The Big Arch isn’t just a burger; it’s built for those serious hunger moments that deserve more. RECOMMENDED READING:Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for McDonald's UK and Ireland, Ben Fox, added: “The Big Arch is back for good.

Paramilitary groups across Northern Ireland were adding as much as 10pc to construction industry costs because of the impact of their racketeering and extortion operations. One file warned that, such was the scale of paramilitary extortion operations across Northern Ireland, construction industry costs per individual project were being increased by as much as 10pc. “The total cost to the exchequer from fraud in the construction industry in Northern Ireland is millions of pounds annually,” it said. “The construction industry continues to be an important source of funds and influence for both republican and loyalist terrorists,” it said. A code of practice for the sector in Northern Ireland was introduced in an effort to address the situation in 1995.

Cartoonist Harry Burton, who drew widespread attention with a recent piece criticising Israel’s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, said allowing Israel to compete despite its genocide in Gaza is wrong and that in fact it should be banned from all cultural and sporting events. The European Broadcasting Union's Dec. 4 decision to allow Israel to compete in next year’s Eurovision in Vienna has sparked a backlash across the continent. Citing Israel's deadly attacks on Palestinians and the ongoing attacks and famine in Gaza, national broadcasters of Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland have all announced that they would withdraw from the contest in protest. Other countries could follow.

The family of a Waterford man with multiple sclerosis, who is being forced to live many miles away from his family, have spoken of the grandfather’s loneliness as they urge more to support a petition to bring him home. The petition on the website change.org is called ‘Help bring David back to Waterford’ and was started by Sharon and now has 520 signatures. At 45 years old David Duffin is living with multiple sclerosisShe said David needs daily visits by his family and friends. David Duffin is living with multiple sclerosis. “Stand with us to help raise awareness for these people and help bring David back to Waterford so he can be nearer to his family and friends.”

The gender distribution in the Dáil is a cause for national embarrassment. Gender parity is frequently dismissed as an optics issue when the reality is that the gender distribution within the Dáil is demonstrably affecting outcomes for Irish people. Of course, this representation goes beyond the issue of gender. We must do better by shaping a Dáil that is much more reflective of the demographics of the nation it represents. The current waiting list for an assessment of need is expected to hit 22,000 by the end of this year.

The Revenue Commissioners warned a controversial cut in VAT on apartments could lead to fraudulent or inadvertent underpayments of tax by the construction sector. However, internal records reveal concerns were raised that having different VAT regimes for houses and apartments was risky. A note from Minister Donohoe said: “We will go ahead with VAT on apartments only, beginning night of Budget. “This decision is aligned with broader housing [and] economic policy goals.” In the submission, officials explained how many apartments were not viable to build and that the VAT cut could help bridge that gap. It said the intention was to encourage more development “rather than leading to a reduced price for the consumer.” Officials said the VAT cut would apply to all apartments, from “high value accommodation” to those built for social housing.