However, the 2026 New Year Plant Hunt shows that hundreds of plant species are now flowering in midwinter. Picture: Dan RyanThis New Year’s plant hunters found an astonishing 663 different plant species in bloom in the first days of January. 3-year old Ezri Jones uses a magnifying glass to check flowers on her New Year Plant Hunt. Dandelions and daisies were the most commonly recorded flowering species in the first days of January. This year, it was the 33rd most frequent plant recorded on Irish New Year Plant Hunt lists.

State-backed lender Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) increased its total loan approvals by 25 per cent to more than €3.3 billion by the end of December, new figures show. The body has now approved funding for 16,588 new homes in 233 developments across 25 counties. “It is positive to see a strong demand for HBFI products from SME home builders,” Tánaiste Simon Harris said. “A further new funding facility of €200 million will strengthen HBFI’s capacity to continue to provide funding where it is most needed. We need to help the SME sector to scale up activity to get to the level of house building our country needs.”

Amazon slashed 14,000 white-collar jobs in late October, with CEO Andy Jassy saying the company needed to eliminate excessive bureaucracy by trimming operational levels and reducing the number of managers. That's not our plan," said Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon. Mr Jassy had said last summer that the increased use of AI tools would lead to more automation of duties, resulting in corporate job losses. On Tuesday night, Amazon appeared to have prematurely alerted Amazon Web Services cloud-computing employees to layoffs planned for Wednesday morning by sending a commiseration email and team-wide meeting invitation hours early. In Slack messages viewed by Reuters, AWS employees who received the email said the Wednesday meeting was almost immediately canceled.

Tariffs on 99.5 per cent of goods from India to the EU and 96.6 per cent of European goods exports to India will be eliminated or reduced. “We have sent a signal to the world that rules-based co-operation still delivers great outcomes,” von der Leyen said. Previous US administrations regarded the EU and India as almost indispensable allies, but Trump has humiliated both and incentivised them to reduce their dependence on Washington. The Europeans signed a trade deal with India,” he said, adding that the Europeans were financing a war against themselves. Where the EU and India appeared to agree was on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace‘, which neither of them is in any hurry to join.

It follows news earlier today that Bundee Aki has been axed from the travelling party for discplinary reasons. The IRFU said: "Hugo Keenan will return to Ireland tomorrow after sustaining a fractured thumb in training on Tuesday afternoon in Portugal." Aki is set to appear in front of an Independent Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday after the URC alleged Aki engaged with match officials on “several occasions” following Connacht’s defeat by Leinster at Dexcom Stadium last Saturday. Hugo Keenan arrives for the Ireland team assembly day at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin ahead of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship. “The IRFU can confirm that Bundee Aki has not travelled with the Men’s senior squad to Portugal for disciplinary reasons,” its statement said.

There was no change to Irish pig prices on Friday last, following a 4c/kg reduction reported across the market the previous week. Producers are reporting a range of prices in the Republic, in particular, under the Rosderra graded pricing system. The average pig price for pigs slaughtered this week in the Republic of Ireland now stands between €1.74/kg and €1.78/kg, although some farmers are securing prices above this average in factories in the North.

The Taoiseach will make a formal Dáil apology to survivors of industrial homes, after a deal was reached between the Government and four hunger strikers campaigning for better support. A Government spokesperson confirmed a package of supports was agreed for survivors of institutional abuse after a mediation process. In November, four industrial home survivors called off their 50-day hunger strike after a meeting with Micheál Martin and having received reassurances. The apology is expected to build on the previous 1999 apology to victims of institutional abuse, alongside parts of the 2021 apology to mother and baby home survivors. After they ended their hunger strike, Ms Moriarty Owens said she was “over the moon”.

Communities across several counties face lengthy clean-up operations following Storm Chandra, with forecasters warning of further issues in the days ahead. Widespread flooding caused severe disruption, leaving thousands of homes, farms, and businesses without electricity and dozens damaged. Need to remain vigilantMet Éireann meteorologist Mark Bowe warned that people must remain vigilant, despite the rain easing. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Department of Social Protection will assist households affected by flooding and provide support where required. Mr Martin added Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, and Cork were “significantly disrupted” but said there were “flooding impacts across the country”.

Snow forecast maps reveal 'devastating' weather phenomenon to hit Brits in daysSnow could hit several cities at the start of next month, but it might not be the only hazard as forecasting maps reveal some areas also face a potentially ‘devastating’ weather phenomenonView 3 Images Snow and 'freezing rain' could hit the UK on February 4 (Image: WXCharts)Advanced weather modelling maps suggest Brits could face a potentially "devastating" weather phenomenon at the start of February. ‌Orange patches on the maps show where ‘freezing rain’ could fall. View 3 Images More freezing rain is expected at midday (Image: WXCharts)UK snow maps reveal exact dates 36-hour storm will bury Brits under 28 inches READ MORE :What is freezing rain? The Met Office explains that freezing rain is “a rare type of liquid precipitation” which freezes almost instantly when it lands on a cold surface. Thankfully, the freezing rain shown on the latest weather maps is not as prolonged or widespread as what occurred in 1996.

The injunction taken against Michael Flatley is an attempt "to control and demand and dictate what happens in relation to Lord Of The Dance", a court has heard. He said the second affidavit raised "new issues, but issues that are very relevant" because they "will speak to the credibility and reliability" to do with how Mr Flatley "manages his finances". He told the court: "Mr Flatley agreed by this agreement to license to Switzer certain intellectual property rights of Lord Of The Dance. He later added: "Switzer is saying, 'we require an injunction to stop Mr Flatley exercising any control' in circumstances where Switzer is nothing more than a management agent entitled to a fee." Mr Dunlop further claimed Switzer filed new accounts on Saturday, increasing its value based on Lord Of The Dance intellectual property.

Caelan Doris believes Ireland new boy Edwin Edogbo can make a big impression on international rugby - but the powerful Munster forward has been warned he has to hit the ground running in the Six Nations. "He's been very good,” Doris said. He seems to have good game understanding and awareness. Edwin Edogbo during the Ireland team assembly day. But that's why the Ireland 15 game is so important because that is that on steroids, really.

It may no longer be accurate to say that when Intel sneezes Ireland catches a cold, but our fortunes remain entwined. The focus on Intel’s problems has hidden deeper problems related to the growth of AI for Ireland’s tech sector. The Wall Street Journal wrote last weekend about how the US stock market has fallen out of love with software companies. It is true that large software businesses here are exposed to the downside of AI. If jobs are any guide, then very little of the billions being pumped into AI is coming Ireland’s way.

View 5 Images Harry Gregg and his team-mates in last team photo before Munich air crash (Image: Getty Images)‌“Sports memorabilia is not just a passion. And a black number one Benfica shirt worn by Costa Pereira during the European Cup quarter-final second leg against Manchester United in 1966. In February 1958, Gregg was part of the Manchester United squad returning from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade when their aircraft stopped to refuel in Munich. Gregg was a central figure at Manchester United during the Matt Busby era, making 247 appearances for the club. In 2015, he launched the Harry Gregg Foundation, aimed at encouraging young people’s participation in sport while promoting education, heritage and social inclusion.

Mallow has been confirmed as the venue for the 2026 TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Under 19 A Football Final between Tralee CBS and High School Clonmel. The final is fixed for Saturday February 7th at 1:30pm.

Michael Carrick's comments about Cole Palmer speak volumes as star 'open to Man Utd deal'Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick made his thoughts clear on Cole Palmer with the Chelsea star linked with a transfer to Old Trafford. View 2 Images Michael Carrick has already made his thoughts clear on Cole Palmer (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)Michael Carrick tipped Cole Palmer for greatness long before claims emerged that the Chelsea star is mulling over a potential switch to Manchester United. ‌Despite joining Chelsea from Manchester City for £42.5million two-and-a-half years ago, Palmer is now reportedly considering a move back to the North West. According to The Sun, the England international would 'welcome' approaches from Manchester United if they pursue him this summer. View 2 Images Cole Palmer has been linked with a transfer to Manchester United from Chelsea.