2021 Women’s World Cup set to be put on hold until 2022
The IRFU have admitted that the postponement of this year’s Women’s World Cup is a bitter blow. Ireland’s World Cup dream is set to be put on hold after World Rugby announced that they are to recommend that the tournament be put on hold due to issues arising from the pandemic. The 2021 World Cup was to be held in New Zealand later this year; however, a decision will be formally made next week to postpone the tournament until next year. “We’re obviously disappointed,” said the IRFU’s director of women’s rugby, Anthony Eddy. The Rugby World Cup deserves every opportunity to showcase the best that our sport has to offer and that’s not possible in the Covid-19 environment.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:36 UTC
SIMI says fewer new cars sold so far this year
New car registrations so far this year are down 11pc to 38,986New car registrations increased by 5.3pc (13,834) last month compared with the corresponding period for last year (13,138). But registrations so far this year are down 11pc to 38,986, according to the latest SIMI statistics. New electric car registrations increased in February – to 813 – compared with 390 for February 2020. Yaris takes Car of the Year gongThe Toyota Yaris is this year’s European Car of the Year. Most popular on CarsIreland after that were the BMW 5 series, Mercedes E-Class, Nissan Qashqai, Audi A4, Audi A6, Volkswagen Passat, Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Ocatvia.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:36 UTC
Hawk-Eye firm’s revenue hit by sports cancellations
Revenues at the tech firm that decides questionable points in top GAA games took a "significant” hit from the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s Irish business has been hammered by Covid-19, resulting in an almost 50pc drop in the use of Hawk-Eye technology at top GAA matches last year. A spokesman for the GAA confirmed yesterday that last year Hawk-Eye was used for 28 GAA matches during 17 match days at Croke Park along with zero GAA match days at Semple Stadium. The GAA agrees terms with Hawkeye on a rolling annual basis before the commencement of the season, he said. Revenues in Europe increased by 27.5pc to £20.47m while ‘Rest of World’ revenues increased by 44pc to £10.8m.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:36 UTC
Pontins blacklist prevented Irish bookings
Blacklist: The owner of Pontins has entered into a legal agreement with the human rights watchdog after a whistleblower revealed it was using an "undesirable guests" list to exclude Irish Gypsies and Travellers. The list kept by Pontins, which was displayed on a staff intranet site, contained about 40 largely Irish names, including Cash, Delaney, Gallagher, Murphy and O’Brien. Pontins’ owner has entered into a legal agreement with the human rights watchdog after a whistleblower revealed it was using an “undesirable guests” list to exclude Gypsies and Travellers. Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited is working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to prevent racial discrimination after a Pontins employee said the holiday park company was operating a discriminatory bookings policy. It said staff monitored calls and refused or cancelled bookings made by people with an Irish accent or surname, and Pontins’ commercial vehicle policy excluded Gypsies and Travellers from its holiday parks.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:36 UTC
McCarthy’s Bluebirds fly into Championship play-off places
Photo: Nick Potts/PA WireMick McCarthy’s Cardiff climbed into the top six of the Championship with a 4-0 victory over Derby as Wayne Rooney suffered the heaviest defeat of his managerial career. Leandro Bacuna’s brace, a trademark Kieffer Moore header and a late Will Vaulks belter saw Cardiff end the Rams’ recent revival by making it 24 points from McCarthy’s 10 games in charge. But victory came at a cost as defender Joe Bennett suffered what appears to be a serious injury after 33 minutes. Mason Bennett’s late winner saw Millwall earn a 2-1 win over Preston at The Den and edged the Lions closer to the play-off spots. Substitute Saville poked home from close range two minutes after being brought on to move Boro within three points of the play-off places.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:36 UTC
CPA formally disband after declaring their ‘work is done’
Joan Kehoe, CPA Executive member, Michael Higgins, CPA Secretary, Michéal Briody, CPA Chairman, and Liam Griffin, CPA Executive member, during the Club Players Association press conference at the Carlton Hotel in November, 2019. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileThe Club Players’ Association (CPA) has formally disbanded, declaring their “work is done” after GAA Congress formally adopted a split season that will provide distinct windows for county and club activity. At an extraordinary general meeting on Monday night, the CPA brought their four-year campaign to an end, taking a decision to disband. “With Congress at the weekend making the historic decision to institute a split-season model, the CPA Executive considers its task is now complete,” a statement read. The CPA outlined that they were established in 2016 and launched in early 2017 “to lobby and campaign on the single issue of fixing the fixtures for all players.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:33 UTC
Capitol riot was act of terrorism – FBI director
Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Washington. Photo: Reuters/Shannon StapletonFBI Director Chris Wray yesterday accused supporters of Donald Trump, who carried out a deadly January 6 attack on the US Capitol, of domestic terrorism. “I was appalled that you, our country’s elected leaders, were victimised right here in these very halls,” Mr Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr Wray also stated his belief that violent extremists, motivated by racial and anti-government ideology, have emerged as the biggest domestic terrorism threat to the US. The FBI made 180 arrests related to domestic terrorism during 2020 using a mix of federal, state and local charges, the official added.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:33 UTC
Son of Éamon De Valera facilitated illegal adoptions through his medical practice
Brenda is among those to tell her story in RTÉ Investigates: Ireland's Illegal AdoptionsA son of former President and Taoiseach Éamon de Valera facilitated illegal adoptions in the 1950s and 1960s, according to a new documentary. Professor Éamon de Valera Jr is said to have helped arrange for four children to be illegally adopted into the same house. Among documents obtained by one woman who was illegally adopted, Dubliner Susan Kiernan, was a demand by for £85 from her birth mother. When her birth mother could not afford to pay, the nuns pursued her. Mary Flanagan, another woman whose illegal adoption was said to have been facilitated by Prof de Valera, was born in March 1961.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:33 UTC
Jockey says he is sorry for posing on a dead horse
Cheltenham-winning jockey Rob James has apologised after video footage emerged of him sitting on a dead horse. In the brief clip, James is one of four men attempting to move the horse with heavy machinery after it died from cardiac arrest. The video emerged just a day after a photo showed trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse, which is also under investigation by the IHRB. Amateur jockey James, a winner at Cheltenham last year, apologised for his “stupidity” and “embarrassment” he has caused. “I sincerely apologise to the owners of the mare, the staff who cared for her, the horse racing industry and all followers of horse racing for my actions,” said James.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:26 UTC
Schoolboy left no stones unnoticed in art contest
Moments of joy: Teddy Duggan with one of his prize-winning painted stones. Photo: Mark StedmanTeddy Duggan made sure that none of his brightly-coloured painted stones went unnoticed during the pandemic. And his efforts paid off when he won the 8-11 age category in the nationwide ‘This is Art’ children’s art competition sponsored by RTÉ and Creative Ireland. The competition saw more than 8,000 children from across the country submit drawings, painting, sculpture and other works of art on the theme “this is now”, available now as a digital archive with the National Archives. Irish Independent
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:26 UTC
Equine virus outbreak forces cancellation of European action
A nightmare scenario has descended on equestrian sport with a major outbreak of the highly contagious equine virus EHV-1. On Monday, the international equestrian federation (FEI) cancelled international events in 10 European countries until March 28 after a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of the virus, which originated in Valencia, Spain, led to outbreaks in other European countries. Some ongoing events can continue but horses cannot leave the venues without an official health certificate. There is concern that several sick and in-contact horses left Valencia carrying the disease. Horse Sport Ireland has advised all stakeholders “to be vigilant during this timewith regard to movement of horses to/from the Continent.”Read MoreOnline Editors
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:26 UTC
Girls suffering an ‘online barrage of abuse and venom’
In some cases, the abuse was so malicious and disturbing it forced victims to either abandon social media altogether or to radically change their online presence. Read More“However, they are being driven from social media as a result of the violence and venom directed at them. The effects of online violence are far-reaching, impacting girls’ mental health, confidence, self-esteem and relationships. “As with all forms of gender-based violence, there are certain groups of girls and young women who bear the brunt of it. For instance, girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and experiencing poverty are prime targets for sexual exploitation and abuse online as people seek to take advantage of their vulnerabilities.”Irish Independent
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:26 UTC
GAA’s all-island policy to be tested by clubs’ return in North
The GAA’s all-island policy in relation to activity will be tested later this month as Northern Ireland expects to green light a return for outdoor sports training. In a five-phase roadmap confirmed by the Northern Ireland Executive, outdoor sports training is included in the ‘Cautious First Stage’. The Executive will review current Covid-enforced restrictions on March 16 with optimism growing that outdoor training can resume after that. “We are a 32-county organisation and are quite proud of that fact,” he said at the time. A number of prominent Northern Ireland sportspeople sent a letter to the Executive last month urging an immediate return.
Source:Irish Independent
March 03, 2021 02:26 UTC
MEGHAN 'BULLY' CLAIM: Duchess 'bullied two of her staff' during her time as a working royal
The Times reported it was made in October 2018 by Jason Knauf, who worked as communications secretary to Harry and Meghan. He is said to have claimed the duchess 'drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member'. The newspaper says Mr Knauf, who now heads the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charitable foundation, seemingly acted to get Buckingham Palace to protect staff he claimed were coming under unbearable pressure from Meghan. In his email Mr Knauf also made clear he was concerned nothing had been done, or would be done in future, to protect palace staff. The Times says Meghan does not deny this was what she said, despite being aware of their provenance.
Source:Daily Mail
March 03, 2021 01:54 UTC
Magnificent readers sent £1m in cheques as £10.8m Mail Force campaign helps children keep learning
Almost £1million in cheques from generous readers has now been banked by the Mail Force charity – with every penny helping get schoolchildren online. Almost £1million in cheques from generous readers has now been banked by the Mail Force charity. The Mail Force initiative means more laptops will become available more quickly. They helped the Bone Cancer Research Trust raise more than £10,000 last year when Mail Force was set up to buy personal protective equipment for frontline health workers. Volunteer coordinator Terri Bush, who took delivery of 20 bags of envelopes from Mail Force last summer, said: 'I cannot tell you how much this means.
Source:Daily Mail
March 03, 2021 01:52 UTC