Plans for six-storey Edinburgh block of student flats inbetween homes
Plans for six-storey Edinburgh block of student flats inbetween homesPlans are yet to be approved. A digital drawing of the plans (Image: Kenneth Reid Architects)Plans for new student housing in Edinburgh have been submitted to the council. The proposal includes 60 bedrooms, and would be constructed on the corner of Robertson Avenue and Robertson Gait. The site is understood to have previously been industrial, though has been a 'gap site' for decades. Plans have previously been submitted to Edinburgh Council to construct flats on the site, which were approved, however the proposals were not continued.
Source:Daily Mirror
February 17, 2026 15:58 UTC
Ifac acquires accountancy practices in Cork, Cavan, and Westmeath
Accountancy and financial advisory Ifac has acquired practices in Cork, Cavan, and Westmeath as it continues its growth strategy. Ifac is one of Ireland’s top ten accountancy and advisory firms, with specialist professional services for farming, food, agribusiness, and SMEs. It has acquired Michael G Murphy Accountants in Charleville in Co Cork, along with Con Dolan Accountants in Cavan, and Peter Moore & Co in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
Source:Irish Examiner
February 17, 2026 15:57 UTC
union and MP criticise Hull school trust's meals change
Horizon Academy Trust, based at Biggin Hill Primary School in Bransholme, has announced changes in its school meals provision, with rising costs prompting the move. The Trust operates a chain of schools in the region including Biggin Hill Primary Academy, Cleeve Primary School, Spring Cottage Primary School, Thanet Primary School, East Park Primary School, Hedon Primary School, Bilton Primary School, Martongate Primary School and Bay Primary School. From September, Biggin Hill Primary School will also cook meals for Hedon, Cleeve and Bilton pupils, while other schools will remain as they are are. We think our kitchen staff are amazing and we thank them for their hard work. This has helped influence Government thinking on school food over the past couple of decades and informs what the current Government is doing with the roll-out of school breakfast clubs.
Source:Daily Mirror
February 17, 2026 15:56 UTC
Popular Dublin lunch spot to close after 25 years
Fiona Fairbrother (left) and Niamh Healion of Soup Dragon on Capel Street which will close after 25 years in business. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienIt was Bloomsday in 2000 when best friends Fiona Fairbrother and Niamh Healion set up a hole-in-the-wall lunch spot, Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin. “But we were determined.”More than 25 years later, the popular Dublin cafe is due to close, with a new landlady taking over the lease. Fiona Fairbrother and Niamh Healion opened Soup Dragon in 2000Niamh Healion (left) and Fiona Fairbrother of Soup Dragon on Capel Street. Soup and sandwich at Soup Dragon on Capel Street.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:55 UTC
Beloved ITV game show 'AXED' in humiliating blow to celebrity host - leaving fans gutted
An ITV game show has reportedly been 'axed' in a devastating blow to its celebrity host - leaving fans gutted in the process. launched in January 2024, presented by Sir Stephen Fry. According to TVZone, ITV has axed the programme after two series with no plans to bring it back. made him 'dizzy with delight'Actor and comedian Sir Stephen was first announced as the host back in February 2023. In April 2025, contestant Ben Jones made history as he won the biggest jackpot ever seen on the show'You thought it was John Hughes, and you were right did direct it yes,' Stephen commented.
Source:Daily Mail
February 17, 2026 15:54 UTC
Ireland bow out of T20 World Cup after rain washes out Zimbabwe game
Ireland's game against Zimbabwe in Pallekele was rained off, ending their involvement at the T20 World Cup. Photograph: Abijith Addhya/InphoIreland have been knocked out of the T20 World Cup after rain in Pallekele saw their must-win clash against Zimbabwe abandoned without a ball being bowled. Defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia combined with victory over Oman left Ireland needing a win on Tuesday to keep alive their slim hopes of progression from Group B. Had they beaten Zimbabwe and results elsewhere gone their way, it would be determined by net run rate who out of Ireland, Zimbabwe or Australia would join leaders Sri Lanka in moving on. The Ireland women’s side will compete in their own T20 World Cup in June, travelling to England for matches.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:51 UTC
Court orders postponement of Irishman Seamus Culleton’s deportation from US
Seamus Culleton, originally from Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, with his wife Tiffany Smith, a US citizen. Photograph: Go Fund MeA court in the United States has issued a temporary order postponing the deportation of Irishman Seamus Culleton (38), his lawyers have said. At the time of Seamus Culleton’s move to the US in 2009, he was the subject of criminal charges in Ireland. Photograph: FacebookThe group said that, on Friday, the court “entered a temporary order staying Culleton’s removal for the next 10 business days. A GoFundMe page set up to help Culleton’s wife deal with his arrest has received $28,470 (€24,065) to date.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:47 UTC
Firefighters probe Stoke-on-Trent garage blaze as woman suffers 'serious burns'
Firefighters probe Stoke-on-Trent garage blaze as woman suffers 'serious burns'Two air ambulances were sent to the sceneView 2 Images The air ambulance was called outFirefighters have concluded their investigation into a garage blaze that left a woman with potentially 'life-changing' injuries. A man was taken to hospital with minor burns, and a woman was taken to hospital with serious burns. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a garage fire off Finstock Avenue, Blurton. An ambulance, two paramedic officers, a Midlands Air Ambulance and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance responded to the scene. Article continues below"Crews arrived to find a man and woman who had sustained serious injuries.
Source:Daily Mirror
February 17, 2026 15:46 UTC
Europe swaps an energy dependency on Russia for one on the US – The Irish Times
But the EU, already in hock to Washington for its security, is becoming increasingly reliant on American liquefied natural gas (LNG) as it swaps an energy dependency on Russia for one on the US. Russia’s share of EU gas imports has already dropped from around 45 per cent in 2021 to about 12 per cent in 2025. During the same period, imports of LNG from the US tripled, accounting for 60 per cent of total LNG imports to the EU last month. Europe’s gas imports from Russia were mostly based on long-term contracts with state-controlled energy company Gazprom, making them vulnerable to a decision by the Kremlin to turn off the tap. EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen acknowledged Europe’s vulnerability after he announced the phasing out of Russian gas imports, describing as a “clear wake-up call” Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:40 UTC
Woman 'thought she was going to die' during 'appalling' attack
Woman 'thought she was going to die' during 'appalling' attackA court heard she described it 'as the most frightening day of my life'View 2 Images Lee Martin, pictured outside Hull Crown Court (Image: Hull Live)A terrified woman feared that she was "going to die" when a heavy-drinking bully viciously punched her during an "appalling" attack – and ignored her desperate pleas to stop. Lee Martin, 45, of Westminster Avenue, Hull, admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, on January 18, 2024. Abigail Rowley, prosecuting, said that Martin and the woman were previously in a relationship for about six months. The woman heard Martin "clattering in the bathroom" and he later screamed in her face before repeatedly hitting her on her head. View 2 Images Lee Martin admitted assaulting a woman causing actual bodily harm (Image: Humberside Police)Martin punched her in the face, hitting her left eye.
Source:Daily Mirror
February 17, 2026 15:36 UTC
Value of Irish exports increased by over 16pc last year, helped by Trump tariffs
Photo: GettyThe value of Irish exports soared by €36.6bn, or over 16pc, last year to a record total of €260.3bn. In a year dominated by US president Donald Trump’s tariffs, the value of export goods to the US rose by 52pc. In December, the value of exports grew by €267.9m to €16bn compared to the previous year. Reflecting the see-saw nature of trade figures throughout last year, due to Mr Trump’s on-off tariff threats, Irish exports to the US fell by 41.1pc in December to €3.3bn compared with December 2024. “Exports to the UK and the EU almost compensate for the export drop to the US, which shows resiliency and diversification in Ireland’s exports,” she said.
Source:Irish Independent
February 17, 2026 15:31 UTC
Mystery name on Stoke City teamsheet and what happened next
Mystery name on Stoke City teamsheet and what happened nextThere were Stoke City supporters who didn't even know he existed until his name was read out over the Tannoy but he has since had a big break on North American TVView 3 Images Davide Xausa originally joined Port Vale on trial at the age of 21 just after Christmas in 1997. (Image: The Sentinel)It has gone down as one of the strangest Stoke City debuts of modern times, or at least perhaps the most unexpected. View 3 Images Former Stoke City player Davide Xausa (crouching) is behind a successful mobile bicycle repair business in Canada. Every day, the StokeonTrentLive football desk strive to deliver news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Stoke City content. If you prefer reading our Stoke stories on your phone, consider downloading the Stoke-on-TrentLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Stoke City as one of your designated topics.
Source:Daily Mirror
February 17, 2026 15:31 UTC
I cannot draw down my mortgage because finance company won’t confirm a loan has been repaid
I had a loan with a company called Creation Finance which was paid off last month. As of today and eight phone calls to Creation Finance, I have not received my letter. First, why Creation Finance didn’t do what they said they would do. So your mortgage lender could – and apparently did – see that the Creation Finance loan was repaid. It really should not take a call from the media and the prospect of negative headlines for a company to get its basic customer service right.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:31 UTC
How much of the money you invest actually goes into your fund?
A peculiarity of the Irish market, allocation rates confuse at best; at worst they can severely hurt savers and investors. In short, an allocation rate means the percentage of your contribution to a pension fund or an investment or savings product that actually goes into the fund each month. However, while this example is easily understandable, allocation rates are often used in different ways. Rachel McGovern, deputy chief executive of Brokers Ireland, says allocation rates need to be “clearly explained to clients”. Allocation rates of 105 per cent are possible – which means that a broker can take a 5 per cent upfront commission.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:31 UTC
Pancakes recipe: I tried making viral Japanese soufflé pancakes and boy was it worth it
What would the Tolka Row author make of the internet’s obsession with fat stacks of fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes? In this delightfully varied pancake world I decided to take on the Japanese soufflé pancake, a popular recipe on social media, via Canadian-American cookbook author Kat Lieu. Given that Lieu’s recipe involved separating the egg white and yolk to whisk separately, and tiny but specific measurements – I was predisposed to saying this popular dish is overrated. How hard could it be to make Japanese soufflé pancakes? The recipe I followed was Lieu’s soufflé pancakes which can be found in her cookbook Modern Asian Baking at Home.
Source:The Irish Times
February 17, 2026 15:30 UTC