SOSV raises $100m fund, backs Indo-Irish start-up CyGenica
SOSV, the venture capital (VC) firm originally founded in Cork as a personal investment fund for tech veteran Sean O’Sullivan, has raised $100 million (€82.5 million)and backed Indo-Irish start-up CyGenica. Unlike its other funds, which typically invest in start-ups at an early stage, the new $100 million fund is focused on later-stage companies. SOSV typically invests an initial $100,000 to $250,000 in each start-up it backs via its accelerators, and provides $200,000 to $2 million in follow-on funding in subsequent rounds for companies as they scale. The new fund however, will provide investment of up to $10 million for companies it has previously backed. An early backer of other tech firms such as Netflix, he is also credited with co-creating the term “cloud computing.”
Source:The Irish Times
June 14, 2021 11:03 UTC
An Irish Gaeltacht summer: My first kiss, made all the sweeter by Maybelline Kissing Potion
With 2021 being another no-go for teenagers in the Gaeltachts, they will miss out on more than Irish lessons, she says. I remember feeling humiliated the night Kevin ran his thumb down my back and I wasn’t quick enough to arch. He didn’t mean outside or back home with him to Midleton. I said I would, delightedAnd I remember Kevin. He didn’t mean outside or back home with him to Midleton.
Source:The Irish Times
June 14, 2021 10:41 UTC
Police smash car to save dogs in 24C heat - as owner moans "you broke my window"
Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticePolice were forced to smash a car window to rescue two dogs left inside in 24C heat - as the owner moaned about the damage. A woman can later be heard saying "you've broke my window" as the cops tell her off for leaving the animals inside. (Image: WhittyPhotography)But the owners were apparently unaware that leaving the animals in the car could cause them serious problems, one witness said. And they told The Sun that the owners failed to show "much empathy""At first it was 'what the f*** are you doing, why did you break my car window? And information on its website urges anyone who sees a dog in a hot car to call 999 straight away.
Source:Daily Mirror
June 14, 2021 10:14 UTC
Dublin falls 22 places in ‘most liveable city’ rankings
Dublin has fallen 22 places on a Global Liveability Index in just six months, according to a report compiled by the Economist. The report, which is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, showed Dublin had taken the fifth-largest tumble down the rankings this year. Read MoreCities are measured on criteria such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, stability, culture and environment by the researchers. Ireland’s index score is 80.1, down from 86.5. “The New Zealand capital, Wellington, has also gained from this relative freedom, moving from 15th to joint fourth place in our current rankings,” the report said.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 09:45 UTC
Coronavirus Ireland: Rapid testing pilot begins today in four of Ireland’s universities
A rapid testing and surveillance system has commenced in four universities today in an effort to support the return of third-level students to campuses. Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris confirmed the rapid testing pilot will begin today at NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University College Dublin (UCD), University College Cork (UCC). The project, which will be called UniCoV, will conduct a large-scale comparative analysis of rapid testing technologies for use in monitoring and preventing the spread of Covid-19 in education settings. If proven through piloting and feasibility, the benefits of rapid testing could be a significant additional tool in our fight against Covid-19. UniCoV will explore rapid antigen testing and saliva-based nucleic acid testing to develop integrated surveillance systems to assist the safe and sustainable re-opening of HEI campuses and society.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 09:11 UTC
Tesco shoppers charged three times after payments glitch
Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticeTesco customers paid up to three times more for their shopping this weekend after a software glitch. Some Tesco shoppers who paid via online bank Monzo were charged twice on Friday, according to consumer website MoneySavingExpert. They then tried to pay again, which worked, only to find that they had been charged twice - or even three times. Let us know: Mirror.Money.Saving@mirror.co.ukIn January Tesco customers were left baffled after being charged for fuel top-ups they made months ago. However, the supermarket said none of its fuel customers were charged twice - and some ended up not being charged at all.
Source:Daily Mirror
June 14, 2021 08:47 UTC
Pharmacists to start giving Covid vaccines this week
Pharmacists will begin administering Covid-19 vaccines from this week. People over the age of 50 who haven’t yet received a Covid-19 vaccine can now get one in their local pharmacy. About 1,300 pharmacists across Ireland will begin administering jabs this week, the majority of which will be the single-dose Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Darragh O’Loughlin, chief executive of the Irish Pharmacy Union, said pharmacists have been “ready and waiting” to begin administering Covid-19 vaccines to the public for the last few months and there would be two parts to the rollout at pharmacies. Under consideration are new measures to prevent the spread of the more contagious Delta Covid-19 variant, which was first identified in India and is now the dominant strain in Britain.
Source:The Irish Times
June 14, 2021 08:26 UTC
Christian Eriksen in stable and 'good' condition - Danish FA
"We are in touch with him. We were in touch with him yesterday and today. (His) condition is the same as yesterday, stable, good," Jakob Hoeyer, communications director at the Danish football association, told reporters on Monday. Meanwhile, it has emerged Netherlands defender Daley Blind considered missing his country's opening game at the European Championship after the heart attack his former club team mate Eriksen suffered. "Yesterday had a huge impact on me, never mind the fact that I know Christian well as a friend," Blind said of the drama in Copenhagen where Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during Denmark's match against Finland after suffering a heart attack.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 08:03 UTC
Arlene Foster inundated with sympathy after death of ‘darling’ pet cat India
Outgoing Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has been inundated with sympathy, after she announced her “darling” pet cat India was killed on the road on Saturday. In October 2020, Mrs Foster announced she was adopting the cat from Three Valley Vets in Fivemiletown. #India â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/FCvo3DWF7A — Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) June 13, 2021The accompanying image showed India enjoying the comforts of home life, stretching on the sofa. Users online were quick to send their best wishes to Mrs Foster on the loss of her pet. Mrs Foster is widely expected to leave the DUP and her position as MLA after stepping down as First Minister on Monday.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 07:41 UTC
Boris Johnson faces backlash over decision to extend restrictions
Boris Johnson is facing a furious backlash from Tory MPs as he prepares to put the final lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England on hold. Mr Johnson is expected to appeal to the public to show patience, with one last push to ensure that when controls do finally end it is “irreversible”. Former minister Mark Harper, the chairman of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) of Tory MPs, said any postponement would be a “political choice”. “The effectiveness of our vaccines at preventing hospitalisation means unlocking on June 21st could proceed safely. Mr Johnson is expected to make the formal announcement at a press conference on Monday evening after he returns to Downing Street from attending the Nato summit in Brussels.
Source:The Irish Times
June 14, 2021 07:41 UTC
Ian Wright explains why Man Utd failed Romelu Lukaku after Jose Mourinho comments
Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. At Manchester United, he was still developing. "He’s a big guy, physically so strong, but there is also a kid inside who needs that love, needs that support, needs to feel important." “Me and Roy Keane were having a discussion about why Lukaku is now the player we’re seeing he is, and why he wasn’t that player at Man United,” Wright began. “At Man United he didn’t have that.
Source:Daily Mirror
June 14, 2021 07:41 UTC
Pharmacists to begin offering Covid-19 vaccines from today
More than 1,000 pharmacies across the nation are to begin administering Covid-19 shots this week. Pharmacies will begin receiving doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson today, which are to be administered to people over 50 who have not yet received a vaccine. People who wish to use this service must make an appointment with a participating pharmacy, rather than booking through the online vaccination portal. The vaccination portal is expected to open for 30-39 year-olds this week. Currently, everyone over the age of 40 can register for a vaccine on the portal online.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 07:40 UTC
Renting a home now cheaper than buying one for first time in six years
Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy noticeRenting a home is now typically cheaper than buying one, reversing the trend of the past six years. Strong house price growth has added to the cost of buying and owning a home. There are now only four areas in the UK where it is cheaper to buy a home than rent. Last month the average rent on a four-bedroom property in Britain increased to £1,805 a month, up 9.5% on the same month last year. "Despite this, we expect the gap between renting and buying to close over the remainder of this year, moving back towards longer-term levels in 2022."
Source:Daily Mirror
June 14, 2021 07:19 UTC
Lockdown switch away from suits hurts sales at Ted Baker
The lockdown preference for comfortable clothes rather than suits and shirts hurt Ted Baker as the company saw its revenue collapse. Although Ted Baker saw a 22% rise in online sales, bringing in £145 million, it was unable to rely on the internet as much as other clothing firms, simply because demand dried up. The company’s focus on suits and other more formal clothing was “adversely affected by the increase in working from home” during the pandemic, Ted Baker said. Men’s clothing sales dipped by more than 50%, while women bought nearly 41% less clothing. Pre-tax loss rose 29% to nearly £108 million, Ted Baker said.
Source:Irish Independent
June 14, 2021 07:07 UTC
Draper Esprit’s portfolio exceeds €1bn for first time
Dublin-listed venture capital firm Draper Esprit has increased the value of its portfolio to over €1 billion for the first time. Publishing its latest full-year results, the company, which invests in and develops high-growth digital technology businesses, said its gross portfolio value grew to £984 million (€1.1 billion) in the year to the end of March. This was 40 per cent up on the £703 million reported the previous year. “ Our close relationship to our portfolio and industry insight enabled us to accelerate into the digital transformation catalysed by the pandemic. Our investment team increased its cadence in the second half, deploying significant funds into existing portfolio companies and new, as intended when we raised equity in October,” he said.
Source:The Irish Times
June 14, 2021 07:00 UTC