Danish Lego-assets firm buys €45m galvanising business Galco
DOT is owned by Kirk Kapital which manages €3.3bn of assets for Lego founder’s descendantsDublin-based steel galvanising firm Galco Steel, which has revenues of more than €45m, has been acquired by Danish company DOT. DOT is owned by Kirk Kapital, an investment firm that manages assets of €3.3bn owned by the descendants of Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen. It was then owned by Jysk Fynsk Kapital for 16 years before being acquired in 2024 by Kirk Kapital. Until its sale to DOT, Galco was owned by daughters of the late Joe Quinn, who established the business in 1967. Galco operates a large steel galvanising facility in Dublin and has other plants in Waterford and Cork.
Source:Irish Independent
January 30, 2026 20:49 UTC
St Loman's graveyard campaign extends across country
Julie Clarke and Niall Breslin at St Loman’s Cemetery last week. St Loman's graveyard campaign extends across country“We’re taking it to a national level, because we’ve calculated there are 50,000 people buried at 18 institutions across the county,” says Julie Clarke of a campaign to record the names of people buried in the cemetery at St Loman’s Hospital in Mullingar. “We want the names, 1,304 names, released, to be put on a memorial wall here in the graveyard,” said Julie. Burial at St Loman’s began in 1907 and the last was in 1970. Conservation and Management Plan, Reilig Ospidéal Naomh Lomáin, St Loman’s Cemetery, Mullingar
Source:Irish Independent
January 30, 2026 20:36 UTC
Michael Schumacher 'does not know he is a seven-time world champion - but he has been sitting up for years': Close friend's shocking health update
Michael Schumacher does not know he is a seven-time world champion but he has been able to sit up for years, according to his former Formula One team-mate Riccardo Patrese. But Patrese, who drove alongside the German for Bennetton in the 1993 F1 season, claims he began hearing positive murmurings about Schumacher some six years ago. I am sure he does not know he is a seven-time world champion. Riccardo Patrese (right) drove with Michael Schumacher for Benetton in the 1993 F1 seasonPatrese believes Schumacher 'does not know he is a seven-time world champion' anymore'Of course Michael is now living in the way that he is with a lot of effort from the family. I'm very happy to hear that Michael is improving but from what I know of this situation nothing has changed for some years.'
Source:Daily Mail
January 30, 2026 20:35 UTC
BBC bombarded with complaints over Alan Shearer Match of the Day segment - 'editor's orders'
BBC bombarded with complaints over Alan Shearer Match of the Day segment - 'editor's orders'Alan Shearer has been a mainstay on Match of the Day for years, but the Newcastle United legend has been the subject of complaints from the public recentlyView 3 Images A Match of the Day segment with Alan Shearer has not been received well (Image: BBC)Over 100 people launched a complaint about Match of the Day's coverage of Sunderland vs Crystal Palace. However, Shearer, a legend of Sunderland's fiercest rivals Newcastle United, then said they will only discuss Palace's situation before jokingly saying he had spent a lot of time analysing the newly-promoted side. While the BBC panel's segue to Palace was made with a tongue in cheek, Sunderland fans and other viewers were not laughing. The Beeb are yet to publicly comment on these complaints, but Shearer has offered a more detailed perspective on the broadcast decisions which were made. they did offer me the opportunity to go with the BBC iPlayer and put some analysis on it.
Source:Daily Mirror
January 30, 2026 20:33 UTC
Ben O'Connor makes four changes in Cork team to face Galway
Cork’s senior hurling team to face Galway in Sunday’s Division 1A clash shows four changes from the side that began last weekend’s comprehensive win over Waterford. Hurler of the year nominee Brian Hayes is included among the substitutes as Eoin Roche, Eoin Downey, Brian O’Sullivan and Seamus Harnedy replace Seán O’Donoghue, Cormac O’Brien, Diarmuid Healy and William Buckley in the starting line-up.
Source:Irish Examiner
January 30, 2026 20:30 UTC
America's 'white gold' rush kicks off as $2.3 trillion worth of lithium is discovered
A new chemical extraction process will soon allow miners to take advantage of approximately 19 million tons of lithium sitting underground in southwest Arkansas. Called Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), officials for Standard Lithium said the technology will allow them to begin harvesting this vital resource and selling it by 2028. Andy Robinson, president and chief operating officer of Standard Lithium, told NewsNation: 'This beneath our feet is an unconventional lithium resource. DLE has been in development for years, with Standard Lithium forming partnerships with other companies to test its effectiveness for extracting vital minerals in 2018. Standard Lithium said its new extraction technique received patents in 2022 and went into full commercialization in 2024.
Source:Daily Mail
January 30, 2026 20:28 UTC
Ireland on brink of T20 World Cup qualification after 98-run victory over Netherlands
Orla Prendergast claimed the player of the match award against the Netherlands. Photo by Seb Daly/SportsfileOrla Prendergast and Jane Maguire spearheaded a superb bowling performance in Kathmandu that delivered a stunning 98‑run victory over the Netherlands – a result that all but ensured Ireland will qualify for the T20 World Cup. After the chase had stumbled to 53‑5, Wilson gave it some respectability with 31 and Marko Bates made a top score of 34 before Ireland were bowled out for 124. “At times we’ve dominated and fully looked the part, but I don’t feel that we’ve done ourselves justice,” Riley said. “The biggest takeaway for me has been that simple cricket is the best cricket, no matter what level you’re playing at or who you’re playing.
Source:Irish Independent
January 30, 2026 20:14 UTC
Businessman ‘surprised’ finance director didn’t agree to 60% salary cut
An adjudicator wrote that the new owner of the school, businessman Shafikul Islam, “was apparently surprised that this was not acceptable”. It was after “the revelation of significant undisclosed [or] underdeclared tax liabilities” at the company following its takeover by Mr Islam in September 2024, Mr Morris submitted. The tribunal heard Ms Nascimento Machado informed Mr Islam on 7th November 2024 that she was 25 weeks pregnant and would be taking maternity leave. Mr Morris said that his client, Mr Islam, had taken on Ms Nascimento Machado’s duties. Mr Islam chose to tackle these “large debts” by “unilaterally announcing a salary cut” and presenting the finance director with a new contract which “very substantially and adversely altered her terms”.
Source:The Irish Times
January 30, 2026 20:06 UTC
Jury returns narrative verdict at George Nkencho inquest
A jury has returned a narrative verdict in the inquest of George Nkencho. Mr Nkencho, aged 27, the eldest of five siblings, died after being shot by gardaí outside his home. Dr Cullinane had earlier told the jury there were two verdicts available to them, death by misadventure or the narrative verdict. Gardaí told the inquest of their interactions with Mr Nkencho as he walked home, and told the inquest how he had waved a knife towards them and that they feared for their lives. The Garda who shot Mr Nkencho, referred to as Garda A at the inquest, said they believed they would be killed if they did not use lethal force.
Source:Irish Examiner
January 30, 2026 20:04 UTC
Arsenal transfer news: Star compared to Messi signs deal as Arteta breaks silence on £84m moves
Arsenal transfer news: Star compared to Messi signs deal as Arteta breaks silence on £84m movesMirror Football brings you the latest round-up of transfer news from the Emirates StadiumView 3 Images Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have not signed anyone this January (Image: PA)The clock is ticking in the January transfer window with just days left for Arsenal to complete their business. Although the Gunners are not believed to be working on any late arrivals before the window shuts on Monday evening. That’s due to manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta believing the current Arsenal squad is strong enough to go all the way this season. Both players were reportedly targeted by Arsenal, with Arteta keen on pursuing them in the summer transfer window. Speaking on Friday, Arteta acknowledged City’s impressive hunger for trophies by saying of the two signings: "That is their business.
Source:Daily Mirror
January 30, 2026 20:03 UTC
Man acquitted of sexual assault charge as Wicklow jury delivers unanimous verdict
The accused, a 21-year-old man, had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault. The defence maintains that the interaction between the pair was consensual and denies that any sexual assault took place. The victim stated that she sends her “streaks” in one bulk message. The victim told the court that she did not get a good look at them “as she was running for her life”. The jury deliberated for a little over an hour before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
Source:Irish Independent
January 30, 2026 20:01 UTC
NIPSCO marks National Energy Assistance Day
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Source:The Herald
January 30, 2026 19:48 UTC
Guterres warns of UN’s ‘imminent financial collapse’
“The crisis is deepening, threatening programme delivery and risking financial collapse. And the situation will deteriorate further in the near future,” Mr Guterres wrote in a letter to ambassadors dated January 28th. But by the end of 2025 there was a record $1.57 billion in outstanding dues, Mr Guterres said, without naming them. “Either all Member States honour their obligations to pay in full and on time – or Member States must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financial collapse,” he said. Mr Guterres launched a reform taskforce last year, known as UN80, which seeks to cut costs and improve efficiency.
Source:The Irish Times
January 30, 2026 19:42 UTC
Last of Japan’s pandas leave for China as ties fray
But the Global Times, a nationalistic Chinese tabloid, has repeatedly blamed “right-wing forces” represented by Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi for curdling ties. People gather to bid farewell to a truck carrying giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in Tokyo, Japan, earlier this week. Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi. Photograph: Buddhika Weerasinghe/GettyDespite a calibrated burst of nationalist fury from China, Takaichi has declined to back down. This is the formula followed by most post-war Japanese prime ministers until Takichi’s intervention.
Source:The Irish Times
January 30, 2026 19:35 UTC
'It can be overwhelming': Bridgerton's stars on taking the lead in the new season
There are several moments in Bridgerton series four where our own Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington passes the floral, feathered baton to the new couple at the centre of the series. Season three gave us the much-anticipated love story of Penelope and Colin Bridgerton and had the Galway star front and centre. “She’s beautiful, and she's always offered, if I want advice or anything, that she's always there for me,” says Ha. “You see Sophie as the Lady in Silver at the beginning of the season,” says Ha. "And then, as the season unfolds, you pull back the mask and you really see her for who she is.
Source:Irish Examiner
January 30, 2026 19:30 UTC