Ramy Ebeid from CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI, will address a pubic forum session hosted by Athlone Chamber of Commerce on April 16Athlone Chamber to host public AI forum sessionAthlone Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with LWETB’s Skills to Advance and Midlands Regional Skills, will host a public forum session focused on the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) for business. The Chamber's first public information session of 2026 will take place in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel on Thursday, April 16, at 12.30pm. Designed as a highly practical session, attendees will gain insights into how AI can support day-to-day operations and enhance competitiveness across a range of sectors. The Chamber president Regina Bushell is particularly pleased to welcome Ramy Ebeid from CeADAR (Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI) to Athlone for this event. Athlone Chamber continues to deliver initiatives that support business development, innovation and regional competitiveness.

Marc Cucurella becomes latest Chelsea star to suggest he could leave the clubMarc Cucurella was one of BlueCo's first marquee signings after they purchased Chelsea in 2022, but he's cast his future into doubt with comments during the international breakView 2 Images Marc Cucurella has opened up on his future (Image: David Ramirez/Soccrates/Getty Images)Marc Cucurella has followed in Enzo Fernandez's footsteps and suggested that he could leave Chelsea in the near future. Speaking ahead of Spain's friendly against Egypt on Tuesday, Cucurella explained: "You always think about going back. ‌But when asked what he'd do if Barca called, the Chelsea star confessed: "It would be difficult to refuse. The Argentine has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. Should Marc Cucurella leave Chelsea?

Some Athlone Tidy Towns volunteers on a clean up last year. Athlone public asked to join Good Friday clean-upAthlone Tidy Towns is inviting householders, families and businesses to join its annual Good Friday (April 3) litter pick and clean-up. The tidy town's committee is also seeking the co-operation of smaller groups such as residents’ associations, businesses, householders and families for this year's clean-up. The committee said this would greatly assist the many volunteers who work every week to keep Athlone neat and litter free. Participants are asked, if possible and weather permitting, to carry out the task in the morning time.

Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty ImagesBenchmark oil prices extended gains on Monday, as Wall Street indexes and European shares advanced in choppy trade. Reflecting the increased oil price, shares in oil majors BP and Shell rose 3.1 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively. On the FTSE 250, oil and gas exploration companies Ithaca Energy and Harbour Energy firmed 2.6 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively. EuropeThe pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.58 per cent, while Europe’s broad FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 0.56 per cent. The S&P 500 Energy Index added 0.9 per cent, with Exxon Mobil and Chevron up 2.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent, respectively.

People who bought shares in what were once considered blue-chip companies, the banks, fared even worse in the crash of 2008. It is important, too, the authors point out, that the people with whom older people interact take note of the findings. Despite the challenges, it is important that we retain a reliable, efficient, and affordable letter delivery service. A significant growth in parcel post, up by 125% since 2009, has boosted that particular revenue stream for An Post. It is important that a way be found to support and protect the letter-delivery side of the postal service.

Too often that behaviour is drink-driving, and even more devastating still is how frequently I witness those responsible avoid justice. Currently the legal procedures around the collection of blood samples following collisions are cumbersome. At present, a garda must direct a medical professional to take a blood sample within a three-hour timeframe — a requirement which can often see drink-drivers evade detection. A further issue is the time pressure to collect a blood sample from a drink-driver. Dr Eoin Fogarty: 'Tackling drink-driving must be at the centre of Irish road safety policy.'

Video: Resurfaced video of Donald Trump's late mom shocks the internet with her uncanny resemblance to the PresidentDonald Trump' Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, speaks about her would-be-president son during a 1994 episode of It's Bibi, filmed at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City.

Irish fans will be able to attend Euro 2028 matches in Dublin at a ticket cost of €35. Uefa have announced that 40% of tickets across the 24-team tournament will be allocated to the two most affordable "Fans First" categories. Euro 2024 ticket prices ranged from €30 to €200 in the most expensive of Category 1. England are expected to breeze through their group, meaning the parachute will activate once World Cup bound Scotland or Wales do likewise. As outrage grew over World Cup ticket prices, Uefa reacted in December by ruling out the controversial dynamic pricing model.

A newly established community special school at which students have yet to attend a full day is expected to move to full hours after the Easter holidays. As previously highlighted by the Irish Examiner, all 30 pupils at Lucan Community Special School have not yet attended a full day in the school. “This is welcome news for the students, their families and the incredible staff of Lucan Special School. The school previously told the Irish Examiner its students were not on “reduced school days”. Instead, the school said the pupils are following a “structured transition programme that gradually extends their time attending towards a full school day”.

At first, I was stunned to learn that children across the UK are tucking into drisheen every day, before reminding myself that in England pudding is a sweet treat not blood sausage. Not so long ago, a friend’s young daughter informed me that her grandparents had a saying: "Treats are not for every day." Often, in shops, I overhear parents, who are surely better than me, telling children: "OK, it’s Friday, get your treat." Can we really judge children for reaching for the sweet treats first, when they have watched us throw out uneaten fruit but never uneaten chocolate? What I’m saying is rather than fix my children’s relationship with the sweet stuff, I should probably be examining my own.

Eddie Hearn reveals shock at Henry Pollock salary and makes accusationThe Lions back-row joined Matchroom Talent Agency last weekView Image Henry Pollock (Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Promoter Eddie Hearn has promised to significantly change the money that Henry Pollock makes after signing the England back-row to his talent agency. ‌Last week saw Hearn sign Pollock to Matchroom, having been present at Wales' Six Nations clash with Italy earlier this month. “You’re not going to see him popping up on a Dave’s Window advert in Northampton, you’re going to see him aligned with major brands. I’m going to make a huge difference to Henry’s profile. I’ve told him ‘I’m going to embarrass you so bad by telling the world that you’re a superstar’.

Archaeologists have described as “fascinating”, the discovery of a number of skeletal remains in Croagh, Co Limerick. The recent excavations of a circular ditched enclosure along the route of the Foynes to Limerick (including Adare Bypass) Road Project, have revealed evidence of a society where life was “fraught with the risk of an early death”. Initial examination of skeletal remains have revealed multiple traces of wounds on some of the individuals, suggesting a number of them were decapitated. The analysis of the skeletal remains is ongoing and is expected to reveal more insights about the people who made their homes in Croagh in early medieval times. Excavation manager for AMS, Fintan Walsh, said: “This was only one of the 150 sites found on the project, all of which were fascinating in their own right.

Bridgerton heartthrob Regé-Jean Page has responded to rumours he will replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond. Bookies' predictions on who will play Bond are changing by the day, with Jacob Elordi one of the most recent favourites due to his smouldering role in the romance Wuthering Heights. Other names have included Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, Theo James, Jonathan Bailey, James Norton, Jack Lowden and Henry Cavill. Join the debate Do YOU think Regé-Jean Page should be the next James Bond? Fans cant next see Regé in romantic comedy You, Me & Tuscany with Halle Bailey, set for release on April 10.

The RAC said the average price of a litre of the fuel at UK forecourts on Monday was 181.2p. Average petrol prices have reached 152.0p per litre, a rise of 14% from 132.8p over the same period. UK oil refineries are more geared towards producing petrol than diesel, so the country’s supply of the latter is more reliant on imports. Latest DVLA figures show there were 16.2 million diesel vehicles licensed in the UK as of the end of September last year. AA president Edmund King said: “Government can consider what they do with fuel duty in September but, frankly, that is five months away, and arguably industry needs help now.

At his age, looking at a market where more than one in 10 job ads already mention AI, that is a frightening prospect. Citrini called AI profits “ghost GDP” — output created by machines that never turns into household income because “machines spend zero”. Big tech firms and large financial institutions are investing heavily in AI tools that promise efficiency gains. We can demand that the gains from AI are used to shorten working hours or expand services, not just cut headcount. We can use AI to retrain and garner mid-career support so that a 58-year-old coder is not simply thrown on the scrapheap.