Connacht and Ireland’s Bundee Aki was named as the BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Players of the Year 2024 by his fellow players at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards.
Aki was chosen for this award by his fellow players at the celebration of Irish Rugby at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road on Thursday night.
He was also nominated for both World Rugby Player of the Year and Six Nations Player of the Championship, and went up against contenders such as Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan in the shortlist.
A fan favourite, Aki hit new heights this season in the Irish midfield, helping Ireland to their second Six Nations title in as many years.
On receiving his award Bundee Aki commented, “I’m honoured to be recognised by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members as their Player of the Year.”
“It has been bittersweet but when I look back on the season, I won’t think about the results or awards. Instead, I’ll look back with pride at being part of such a resilient group, and the way we bounced back after the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup.”
“Individual awards are fantastic, but this one would not have been possible without Jamison, Dan or any of my Irish or Connacht teammates for pushing me along.”
Simon Keogh, CEO of Rugby Players Ireland added, “A Rugby Players Ireland Award represents the highest individual accolade in the game.”
“To be recognised by your teammates and opponents in this way is the ultimate show of respect. My congratulations to Bundee, Aoife, Zac, Megan and all of our winners tonight. Our game is in a good place.”
Small businesses can benefit a lot from buying comments for their Instagram page, so check out these trustworthy sites that provide exactly what you need.
Instagram is one of the best places to promote your business. Withover 2 billion active monthly users, there’s no shortage of people you can convert into loyal customers. However, capturing the attention of your target audience isn’t an easy task, especially because of how unforgiving Instagram’s algorithm is to accounts with low engagement.
On Instagram, engagement is king. If you have very few comments on your posts, the algorithm will determine that your content isn’t worth seeing and won’t promote your posts to a wide audience.
If you’ve been looking for ways to give your account a boost, your search can end here. We’ve curated a list of top websites that offer Instagram comments from real accounts to help you skyrocket your Instagram engagement.
If you’re in a hurry, check out this quick list of the best sites to buy Instagram comments:
Twicsy stands above the rest with its groundbreaking AI technology. Instagram users that wish to buy engagement often worry about how obvious the paid comments might be, and if you’re a business, getting accused of buying engagement may harm your reputation. With Twicsy, however, you don’t need to worry about that.
Harnessing the power of advanced algorithms, Twicsy generates comments that come from real Instagram accounts with actual profile pictures. The comments are relevant to the content you post, making them indistinguishable from normal comments.
Apart from their cutting-edge technology, Twicsy offers 24/7 customer service to address any problems you may have. Best of all, Twicsy’s seamless purchasing process requires no account creation, ensuring a hassle-free experience. The convenience of lightning-fast delivery and high-quality comments makes Twicsy the perfect site for any business that’s looking to market themselves on social media.
Best of all, Buzzoid also offers free refills if any of your paid comments get deleted. Unlike other sites, Buzzoid makes sure that you always get what you paid for.
Prompt customer service is at the heart of Buzzoid’s mission, with their support team available round the clock to assist you. You can count on them to deliver comments quickly, with the first wave of comments appearing under your posts within minutes of purchase.
You can also relax knowing that Buzzoid prioritizes the security of your personal information, providing a safe and secure browsing experience. Your card information gets deleted from their servers once everything is said and done, making Buzzoid one of the safest sites to purchase Instagram comments from.
If affordability is your priority, look no further than Rushmax. They offer an impressive array of comment packages at even better prices, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your Instagram needs. Comment packages aren’t the only diverse option you’ll find on the site, as Rushmax also allows customers to purchase via multiple types of payment methods, be it PayPal, credit card, debit card, and more.
With Rushmax, there’s no need to create an account or share your Instagram password to purchase comments, thus saving you time and ensuring your privacy. Experience a seamless browsing and purchasing journey on their safe and intuitive website. If you’re a business that is ready to elevate your Instagram presence with amazing engagement that doesn’t break the bank, visit Rushmax.
4. InstaPulse
InstaPulse may not have the advanced AI technology that Twicsy does, but they are one of the best in providing 24/7 customer service, which is why they make the list. Whenever you have a question or need assistance, their knowledgeable and friendly support team is just a message away. Their high-quality comments are designed to seamlessly integrate with normal comments, which eliminates their chances of getting flagged as spam. With InstaPulse, you can also enjoy fast delivery, allowing you to showcase comments under your posts without delay.
5. TrendVibes Agency
TrendVibes Agency offers a unique blend of creativity and professionalism that small businesses can enjoy. Their skilled team of designers understands the importance of making a visual impact, which is why their website is designed for easy navigation and seamless transactions. While their customer service may not be available 24/7, their expertise shines through in the quality of their work. With TrendVibes Agency, you can trust that you will receive the comments you paid for quickly.
6. SocialPilot Agency
SocialPilot Agency understands the value of a hassle-free experience, which is why they offer a streamlined process for purchasing comment packages. No account creation or sharing of Instagram passwords is necessary. In just a few minutes, you can browse their selection and find the perfect comment package for your Instagram account.
The one complaint many customers have is that their delivery tends to be a little slow. You can expect to see all the comments you paid for within three days if you buy a few hundred. If you buy a few thousand, however, you have to wait as long as a week to see all the comments reflected under your post. Still, because of their trustworthiness and their years in the industry, SocialPilot Agency makes the cut.
7. The Social Boost
The Social Boost focuses on delivering comment packages for brands selling products and services. They sell comments that read more like reviews, so if providing social proof to entice potential customers is your goal, then The Social Boost will fulfill that need. However, the comments can look a little forced, so they aren’t the best if you’re looking for authenticity.
FAQs
How can I make it big on Instagram?
The key to making it big on Instagram is engagement. More engagement indicates that people love your content, so the algorithm recommends what you post to more people so they can enjoy the content too. This is why the sites mentioned above are so effective at boosting your account, as they convince the algorithm to promote your account to as many people as possible. This kind of exposure is invaluable to businesses.
Can buying Instagram comments help me gain followers?
Yes, buying comments also helps you gain other forms of engagement. The boost you receive from the algorithm after buying followers will expose your account to a wider audience, who will then discover your account and may follow if they like your content.
How important are comments on Instagram?
Comments are incredibly important on Instagram. Like follows and likes, they indicate that a user was moved enough by your post to take the time to leave a comment. This kind of engagement (the kind that makes people spend more time on Instagram) is exactly the kind that Instagram is looking for when boosting certain accounts.
One of the biggest and best social media apps, Instagram has earned a reputation for providing a conducive environment for content creators, celebrities, influencers, and brands to show their work and build their importance and profitability.
However, there is a catch. As much as Instagram presents great opportunity, the system only allows its most popular accounts to have their posts seen widely – and exposure is the lifeblood of IG users who want to build large follower counts and fan bases.
Investing lots of time and effort to grow Instagram accounts manually usually doesn’t get people and businesses very far; there’s just too much competition on the platform. The only fast and effective answer is buying real Instagram followers. The influx of engagements tells the IG algorithms that an account’s content deserves more visibility, and that leads to an influx of new organic followers.
The purchased followers have to be real Instagram users with real accounts, though. Websites selling bot-generated fake followers are just scamming customers because the algorithms disregard fake followers and penalize the accounts using them.
That’s why these 18 reputable Instagram providers are the best sites to buy Instagram followers.
Buzzoid has been around for more than 12 years. Their continued popularity as a top Instagram service is a testament to their credibility in the industry, and more importantly, the power of the real followers they sell.
Buzzoid’s packages of standard, high-quality followers are all very reasonably priced, and they’re available at eight graduated levels starting at 100 real followers and ranging up to 20,000. Upgrading to their premium followers costs a little more but provides even more growth power to your account. All packages come with instant delivery.
The Buzzoid customer experience is first-rate. It’s easy to navigate the web interface to find the follower package you need, it takes less than a minute to complete an order that’s protected by encrypted transactions and secure servers, and an around-the-clock customer service team can walk you through the process, and help with problems or questions.
For every 100 Buzzoid followers you purchase, you’re likely to gain at least 100 new organic ones to spark powerful increases in account popularity and importance – and premium followers may double those results. That’s the best performance you’ll see from any provider, making Buzzoid our #1 choice as the best site for IG followers.
Twicsy has as much experience as Buzzoid in the Instagram service industry, which is why their service is just about as good.
Twicsy offers three types of nicely priced, real Instagram follower packages. Standard high-quality follows deliver strong growth, and prices start at just $2.97 for 100 legitimate follows. You can purchase as many as 20,000. If you want to supercharge your growth, higher tiers of active followers (similar to Buzzoid’s premium followers) and celebrities/influencer followers will do the job for an extra charge.
With an aesthetically pleasing yet technologically advanced interface, Twicsy makes it simple to quickly find and order the package that best suits your account’s size and your specific needs. finding your way around the platform is a piece of cake. Ordering is safe and secure, there are multiple payment methods, and 24/7 customer support is ready to help when needed.
It wasn’t easy for us to choose Buzzoid as our top-rated provider. Twicsy is right on their heels and many influencers believe this service is even better.
Newer to the Instagram service world, Rushmax has built a company that has surged into third place on this list on the strength of their real followers and impeccable service.
Rushmax offers both standard and premium high-quality, authentic IG followers; the one issue that puts them a notch below Buzzoid and Twicsy is that the maximum number of followers they can deliver at one time is 5,000. For users just starting or in the middle of their growth journey, though, the results they’ll see from 100-5,000 Rushmax followers are impressive.
Fair prices, fast delivery, and top-notch 24-hour customer service are essential aspects of Rushmax’s service, and your personal information is always protected when ordering this provider’s followers and other engagements. They do everything right, and it shows in the strong organic growth they deliver.
InstaPort is another excellent site for buying Instagram followers, delivering genuine Instagram followers that never put your account at risk and generate growth just as strong as followers from Rushmax.
Like the other high-end services we’ve reviewed, you can buy either standard high-quality or more powerful premium followers from InstaPort, although like Rushmax, the largest packages they sell contain only 5,000 follows from real IG users. Prices are no higher than those charged by our other top four recommended services, and delivery is immediate.
The customer experience is well-designed, from a simple and secure ordering system to full security and the availability of day-and-night customer support. InstaPort may not get all of the word of mouth, but it’s just as good a service as the others that top these reviews.
Other Real IG Follower Sources To Consider
Not every reputable Instagram provider has their act completely together. These 14 sites do almost everything right, but they’re simply not as good as our four top-ranked providers. You can rest assured though, that you’ll always receive real IG followers when ordering from them.
DVY Labs: A very good service that charges too much.
InstaShop: The followers and support are good, the results aren’t up to par.
TheIGPros: Slow follower delivery knocked this provider out of the top four.
Pulse Pixel: Budget-priced real followers that don’t do much for account growth.
Boostify: The high-quality followers are very slow to arrive.
Elite Insta: No individual follower packages; you can only subscribe to a monthly service.
Follower Flow: Organic growth doesn’t match the high-quality followers, for some reason.
Craft Comments: Followers are medium-quality and delivery is rather slow.
Genius Gram: Geo-targeted followers cost a bundle and don’t make a real difference.
InstaMiracle: A decent service, but followers and results aren’t exceptional.
Lift Likes: A low-priced provider that will make you want to use a better service the next time.
Impact Insta: Expensive choice that doesn’t deliver the growth it should at this price.
Fusion Snap: Not a bad service, but it takes a long time for your account growth to start.
IGWinners: A very average service that doesn’t have any strong selling points.
Purchasing Instagram Followers
Here’s some of the information people often seek before buying Instagram followers.
Credibility
Many people wonder if buying IG followers is a legitimate growth strategy. It is. The reputable services delivering followers have mastered the app’s algorithms and learned that purchased, real Instagram followers are a fast and successful way to grow an account’s popularity and influence. Countless influencers and businesses have used this approach to increase their fan bases and reap the benefits of being popular and important on Instagram.
Success Rate
Purchased followers boost organic growth, but the amount of organic growth you see depends largely on the quality of the followers that a service provides. The best services in our rankings generally deliver a 1:1 return on your investment, meaning you should expect to receive about the same number of new, organic followers as the number of followers you’ve purchased from a reliable growth service.
Account Safety
Buying real IG followers, who are real people with real accounts on the app, keeps your account completely safe. The use of real followers doesn’t violate Instagram’s terms and conditions, so there’s no danger of being penalized or banned. On the other hand, adding fake followers to your account does violate the app’s rules, since they’re not real people and not linked to real accounts. You can lose your Instagram presence quickly by purchasing cheaper, fake followers. Be careful, and you’ll be all set.
In the fifth episode of DIY series Déan Tú Féin É presenter Marc Mac Lochlainn helps get a community project off the ground in Connemara.
The locals in An Cheathrú Rua would like to create a nice public garden where they can meet up and let their children play with one another.
Also, they hope that developing this amenity will help inspire further community developments.
There is something for everyone in this series, from the budding DIY enthusiast to the experienced DIY heroes, all united by one aim to improve their homes and living spaces for the better.
The penultimate episode of Déan Tú Féin É airs on TG4 this Friday evening, May 23.
Each show, produced by TV production newcomers, Glór Media, under the guidance and mentorship of Tyrone Productions charts the true and inspiring progression of these skills with a follow up visit and a big project reveal.
Déan Tú Féin É airs over six weeks, from Thursday 25th April @ 8pm on TG4 and on the TG4 Player – TG4.ie.
The work of more than 80 students of Art, Design and Film & Documentary will exhibit their work in Galway City this month.
An exciting exhibition of work by final year students of art, design, film & documentary programmes at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) will be formally opened this Saturday.
The exhibition will be opened by the Director of the Arts Council of Ireland, Maureen Kennelly in the ATU School of Design & Creative Arts, Galway city (Wellpark Road).
It will open to the public on Friday, May 24 and run until Thursday, May 30.
The annual Graduate Art Show is a popular event in Galway’s arts calendar, attracting visitors, art lovers as well as friends, families and neighbours of the students who join them in celebrating the culmination of their four years of study.
The campus, a former Redemptorist building, will showcase the work of some 70 students in painting, print, photography, short films and documentaries, games and animation, graphic design and illustrations, product design, and textile and fashion.
Celine Curtin of the Department of Creative Art and Media, ATU Galway City said, “We congratulate the graduates for their exemplary work showcased in this exhibition.”
“Their dedication and scholarly rigor have culminated in a remarkable display of creative talent and academic achievement”.
Louise Manifold, lecturer, said, “The 2024 Graduate Exhibition promises a range of surprises from the playful to the surreal.”
“This year’s graduates, who began their learning journey at the height of the pandemic, visually explore human relationships both with ourselves, our communities, and the environments we inhabit.”
“Across the programmes of Art, Design, Film and Documentary, our graduates tell stories reflect the transformative journey from then to now.”
The Hardware Association Ireland has launched the findings of its recent study into the huge potential of empty homes across Ireland.
Galway has a large number of properties in need of renovation and improvement at 22%.
With a backlog in demand for housing at 95,000 units and the average price of a new build at €400,000 and rising, interest and momentum is building amongst the public to rejuvenate empty homes as part of a solution to the housing crisis.
Rejuvenating empty homes has the potential to unlock at least 40,000 homes.
Based on CSO figures the study compares the number of newly built homes per county in 2023 with the applications for the vacant homes grant now at 7,000+. In 2024, rejuvenated empty homes will be the largest type of new homes in 11 counties.
The study illustrates the success of the incentives and the need to accelerate and support the vacant homes process across the country to satisfy the urgent need to make homes available.
The Association strongly recommends implementing an urgent strategy to immediately transform the large number of empty dwellings across Ireland. These properties can provide at least 40,000 homes within a short period of time.
Areas that make up the largest potential include Roscommon, Leitrim (both 54%), Longford (47%), Sligo (47%), Donegal (46%), Cavan (44%), Clare (41%), Mayo (41%) and Tipperary (40%).
Commenting on this, Chief Executive Officer of Hardware Association Ireland Martin Markey said “The vacant homes strategy is working and the opportunity to unlock at least 40,000 empty homes quickly has huge potential to energise and invigorate communities across Ireland”.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has only received 7,000+ applications with approval granted to 4,500 owners. There is a €70,000 grant available for buyers of a derelict home and a €50,000 grant to buyers of vacant homes.
A new initiative from the Department allows buyers to combine these grants with an SEAI grant bringing the potential total in grants to €95,000 and €75,000.
Hardware Association Ireland is the representative body for Irish hardware and DIY retailers, builders’ merchants, distributers, and manufacturers. It represents over 400 members nationwide and 26,000 staff in the sector.
Solar Power is a key component of the push for a zero carbon energy sector, and to meet this demand scientists are pushing the boundaries of what new materials and technologies will make up the next generation of solar panels.
The vast majority of solar panels currently manufactured today are made from silicon, which can reach efficiency levels of up to 24%. Efficiency is an extremely important factor of solar panels, as it measures just how much of the sun’s energy is being converted into electricity.
While solar panels have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years as investment has poured into the industry, there are hard limits with regards to what can be achieved with silicon.
The best solar panels on the market right now are approaching those limits, and new gains become harder to achieve as they get closer.
That is why research and development is now looking at Perovskite as the basis of the next generation of solar panel technology, especially when paired with other materials.
Named for German mineralogist Lev Perovskite, these synthetic minerals have the potential to truly revolutionise solar technology. Expected to start coming onto the market in just a few years, some of the earliest solar panels made using perovskites as their basis are already exceeding the best silicon solar panels’ efficiency.
James Dorrian, Managing Director of EnergyEfficiency.ie, said, “It’s great to see such promising trends in the the solar industry. Both from the ever growing interest people have in getting solar panels installed, and from new developments in solar technology.”
“Constantly pushing the envelope with solar technology is essential for encouraging new investment, and to assure people that solar power is an essential part of the future of the energy sector.”
“Improved efficiency levels will make solar panels a better long term investment, especially for solar PV systems where space is at a premium, such as domestic rooftop solar.”
Perovskite Tandem Cell Solar Panels
There are two main types of perovskite solar cells, single junction cells made purely of perovskites, and tandem cells where the perovskite works together with another semiconductor, usually silicon.
Tandem Solar Cells essentially work by stacking two or more solar cells on top of one another, each optimised to absorb a different part of the wavelength of light. This is where researchers and manufacturers are placing their money on the next generation of solar panels.
Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells consist of a thin layer of perovskite on top of a silicon cell. The perovskite responds to the entire visible light spectrum, and even that near-infrared light which passes through it is absorbed by the silicon layer beneath and converted to electricity.
Tandem solar cells have achieved efficiencies significantly greater than what has been seen using any single material, and lab results have already surged past 30% efficiency.
LONGi Green Energy Technology currently holds the record for achieving 33.9% efficiency with a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell in October 2023. While solar panels on the market never reach the same level of efficiency as cutting edge lab tests, this is still an incredible foundation to build on.
Indeed, the first full solar PV modules using Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells have already been manufactured just this year by a research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE using solar cells manufactured by Oxford PV.
This solar module has an efficiency of 25%, the world’s highest, a power rating of 421 watts, and covers an area of 1.68 square metres.
This means that the first perovskite-silicon tandem solar PV modules being manufactured have a greater efficiency than the top-performing silicon solar panels on the market today.
In addition, this panel was made using equipment already used in mass manufacturing today, which only needed modification for the new process. This means that the mass production of such solar panels might not be far off.
Perovskite substrates which are not bonded with silicon also have the advantage of being lightweight and flexible, making them suitable for a broader range of applications that rigid silicon solar cells.
Despite the promise of more efficient solar panels coming in the years ahead, James Dorrian added that waiting and holding off from investing in solar for that reason might not be the best decision.
“From a purely practical standpoint the sooner someone invests in solar PV, the sooner they will start to see savings on their electricity bills. Electricity prices are still above 2019 levels despite recent price cuts.”
“This makes now the best time for homeowners to have solar panels installed if they want to start cutting their dependence on electricity from the grid. Small gains in efficiency expected from new solar panels won’t compare with the time lost waiting for them to come to market.”
Galway RNLI lifeboat volunteer Olivia Byrne was chosen as a finalist for the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Award, which recognises the vital work of first responders and the important role that women play in the emergency services.
Olivia was one of a group of five women, who were chosen as finalists from a large number of entrants from across Ireland.
The ceremony was hosted by the Irish Paramedicine Education and Research Network and the Fitzpatrick family and took place in the University of Limerick.
The award pays tribute to Dara’s powerful legacy as an Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue pilot by celebrating inspirational women who work in the Irish pre-hospital community and emergency services.
Dara’s values of compassion and kindness, strength and bravery, leadership and teamwork, and professionalism were key to the selection process.
Olivia Byrne is a nurse, midwife and public health nurse, while also volunteering with the Galway Lifeboat crew. She was nominated for the award by the station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Swan.
“Olivia has been a volunteer lifeboat crew member with Galway RNLI for more than twenty years,” Mike said of her work.
“Over that time she has been on 132 callouts and has been involved in many rescues including passengers on cruise ships, and has dealt with injuries from fractured hips to cardiac arrests, while also dealing with people who have lost their life through drowning.”
“Olivia’s nursing background has seen her bring nursing skills to a search and rescue role for the benefit of all the crew at the Galway Lifeboat Station and ultimately, those who we rescue.”
Volunteer lifeboat crews all take first aid training to be allowed to participate in operation callouts. Olivia helps with this training by organising casualty care exercises at the lifeboat station.
She also, “Ensures that new crew coming into the search and rescue field are supported in this training and feel comfortable and confident in carrying out these lifesaving tasks.”
On receiving her finalist award, Olivia commented, “It is a great privilege for me to be included in this group of highly trained women. The ceremony was very emotional for all present and it helps to keep the memory of Dara alive.”
“Dara was an exceptional pilot who had immense courage but also had the human touch. This was evident in the speeches on the day and from meeting her family and colleagues who worked alongside her.”
She added that the the other finalists were all “outstanding leaders” in their own fields. The winner of the 2024 Dara Fitzpatrick Award 2024 was Pte Nicole Carroll, a Defence Forces Combat Medical Technician.
“I was delighted to be a finalist and to share the experience of the award ceremony with an incredible group of women.’
We Built This City on Rock and Coal brings scientists and theatre makers together for a co-created comedy show driven by hopepunk, climate research, music, and what matters most to the local community.
It is a show that is fun for audiences, and good for the planet, based on the idea that every individual and their community can be part of a solution to climate change.
The show will preview with Arts in Action at University of Galway on 30 May at 1pm.
Research shows that caring for our local environment helps us care for the planet, so the events also include sustainability workshops and citizen science activities.
Each live show holds space for audience members to speak up and/or be interviewed. These source materials are used by international improvisation experts to inspire scenes, songs and sketches that are unique to each show and community.
The venues range from arts centres to ringforts, and the project will also visit three islands off the coast of Ireland: Inishbofin, Arranmore, and Rathlin Island.
By bringing shows to rural centres like Ionad Cois Locha, Interface Inagh, Wild Nephin National Park, and the Centre of Excellence for Climate Action and Sustainability in west Cork, the project aims to prompt discussion and change around environmental topics while finding local positive steps towards solving climate change.
We Built This City on Rock and Coal is co-created by Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield (award winning science communicator and performer) and Katy Schutte (global improvisation practitioner and author).
They will partner with Dr. Gesche Kindermann, sustainability and conservation expert from the University of Galway, and storyteller Órla Mc Govern, among others.
Audience stories about climate change and climate action will also be collected and shared online as part of the Caomhnú citizen science initiative.
Ipswich Town have been the great success story in the Championship this season and two of their Republic of Ireland-qualified players are heading to the Premier League.
Marcus Harness and Jack Taylor helped Ipswich secure promotion and playing in the top tier next season could see them earn an elusive first cap for Ireland.
Harness Won’t Give Up On Ireland Dream
Previously called up to the Ireland senior squad in November 2020, Harness failed to make the matchday side. Getting set to play some of the biggest teams in Europe, the 28-year-old will be preparing for the step up to the Premier League next season.
The likes of Manchester City, who are 4/11 with a bet on football with Paddy Power to win the title, Arsenal and Liverpool all lie in wait for the Tractor Boys.
Ipswich will feel the step up in quality against teams like City, who won’t retain their European crown this season after losing to a Real Madrid side who are 6/5 in the betting on Champions League to win the title.
Facing some of the biggest stars in football will be a daunting task but one Harness and Ipswich should relish going into next season.
Harness has certainly earned his shot at the big time, having worked his way up the football pyramid after starting his professional career at Burton Albion.
Spells at Ilkeston, Aldershot Town and Port Vale on loan followed before, as reported by the Irish Mirror, catching the eye of the Republic of Ireland management back in 2020 during his time on England’s south coast at Portsmouth.
Hoping to earn a first cap against Bulgaria, the unfortunate winger missed out on the matchday squad. Now with a chance to show his abilities at Premier League level next term, a second call-up might be on the horizon for Harness after impressing in the Championship at Portman Road.
Taylor Looks Ready For The Step-Up
Having previously represented the Republic of Ireland earlier in his career, Taylor is pushing for a first call-up to the senior squad. With a grandfather from County Longford, Taylor will be hoping he can play for the Boys in Green at full international level in the coming years.
Taylor made 33 appearances for Ipswich in the Championship and was an important part of the squad for manager Kiernan McKenna.
Having only just been promoted from League One the previous season, Ipswich beat some stern competition to finish in the top two places alongside champions Leicester City.
Leeds United and Southampton both battled for the second automatic promotion place but neither could prevent Ipswich from finishing in that coveted runners-up position, as covered by the BBC.
Having only joined the Tractor Boys last summer from Peterborough United, it has been a whirlwind spell for Taylor, who can now look forward to life in the Premier League next season.
The Republic of Ireland will likely be keeping a close eye on Harness and Taylor at the start of next season and both players will be hoping their efforts in the Premier League with Ipswich Town can see them earn that first senior cap and a run out at the Aviva Stadium in the near future.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a fatal traffic collision in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, on Monday night.
Emergency services and Gardaí were alerted to the collision involving a single car on the L1005 at Bracknagh near Clonbologue shortly after 11pm on Monday.
The driver and sole occupant of the car, a man in his 30s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The local Coroner was notified, and the deceased has been removed to the mortuary at Tullamore Hospital, where a postmortem examination will be carried out.
Garda forensic collision investigators will examine the crash site this morning, and local diversions are in place.
Investigating Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and anyone with video footage (including dash cam) or recordings from along the route at the time of the collision to contact them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Garda Station at 057-9327600 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
Members of the local community in Indreabhán participate in a Seashore Bio-Blitz, Scavenger Hunt and Litter Beach Clean-up at An Trá Mhór in 2023. Photo Galway County Council.
A number of fun events are being held in An Ceathrú Rua this weekend to celebrate Galway’s connection to the coastline and its rich environment.
The local community of An Cheathrú Rua is being invited to participate in a Seashore Bio-Blitz, Scavenger Hunt and Litter Beach Clean-up in Trá an Dóilín on Friday, 24th May.
Organised by Galway County Council’s Environment section, the event forms part of National Biodiversity Week and takes place ahead of a busy summer season at the county’s beaches.
The local authority says the seashore event is aimed at connecting the community with nature and promoting the biodiversity of Trá an Dóilín’s coral beach and crystal-clear waters.
More than 60 people participated in a similar event at An Trá Mhór, Indreabhán in 2023.
Dr. Evelyn Parsons, Leas Chathaoirleach of Galway County Council said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the community, particularly younger people, to play their part in protecting and promoting the biodiversity of their local area.”
“The support that Galway County Council has received from Nóirín Burke and Tara Noonan, Galway Atlantaquaria, the National Aquarium of Ireland, and Clean Coasts has been instrumental in organising this seashore event.”
Chief Executive Liam Conneally added, “We want to promote our pristine Galway beaches and create awareness of biodiversity on our seashores, as well as the importance of keeping our beaches clean and tidy, and the invaluable natural environment that can be discovered on the beach.”
Meanwhile, Galway County Council is urging visitors to play their part in keeping local beaches litter-free during the upcoming busy summer season.
“Tourism is hugely important to our coastal communities and, therefore, we should keep our beaches clean for ourselves as well as our many national and international visitors,” explained Maria Flynn of Galway County Council’s Environment Section.
“We wish to acknowledge the many diligent people visiting our beaches who ensure all empty packaging or picnic waste is taken home or alternatively deposited in the public bins provided.”
“We also want to remind people of the importance of continuing this good practice and to appeal to the small minority who litter or dump indiscriminately at these beautiful locations to refrain from doing so.”
She continued, “Public bins are emptied each day by local authority staff and ongoing monitoring and support is provided by our wardens.”
“However, we need everybody’s co-operation to keep Galway’s coastal scenic spots litter-free and we look forward to everybody playing their part in achieving this during the summer season.”
Gardaí in Swinford investigating a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in Co. Mayo on Monday, 21 August 2023 are renewing their appeal for information.
Gardaí and emergency services were alerted following a two-car collision on the N5 at Cloonlara near Swinford at approximately 4.30pm.
A female passenger in her 70s was fatally injured in the collision. The driver of the same car, a man in his 70s, and the driver and sole occupant of the second car, a man in his late 40s, were both seriously injured and required hospital treatment.
Investigating Gardaí are renewing their appeal for witnesses to this collision to come forward.
They are particularly appealing to the driver of a red saloon car that was in the vicinity at the time to contact them.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N5 between Swinford and Charlestown between 4 pm and 4:45 pm, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Swinford Garda Station on 094 925 2990, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
17 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards have been awarded to beaches and coastal areas in Galway City and County this year.
Seven beaches in County Galway have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award with a further six beaches receiving the coveted Green Coast Award for 2024.
Two beaches in Galway City were confirmed as winners of the Green Coastr and Blue Flag Awards for 2024.
Salthill Beach, Silverstrand Beach, and Trá Inis Oírr were the three biggest winners this year, receiving both the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards once again.
In addition, Traught Beach in Kinvara regained its Blue Flag status this year, having lost the award in 2022.
“County Galway’s beaches have renowned for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty, and we are delighted that once again so many of them have received the coveted Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards,” commented Cllr. Liam Carroll, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway.
He continued, “These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of those who clean our beaches.”
“I am particularly happy to see that Traught beach has regained its Blue Flag which will be very much welcomed by the local community.”
The Blue Flag, which is organised by An Taisce in Ireland, aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world.
The Green Coast award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty that attracts visitors.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Eddie Hoare, who spoke at the awards said, “We are proud to host these awards and to showcase the beaches of Galway for the treasures that they are.”
“It’s also great to get the recognition once more for all the hard work that has gone into retaining both our Blue Flag and Green Coast status for Salthill’s Ladies beach and Silverstrand.”
A Status Yellow weather warning for heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms is in effect for Galway today.
The weather warning for Cavan, Donegal, all of Connacht, and Longford will be in place until 9pm tonight.
Heavy downpours with thunderstorms and hail may afflict the west and north west throughout the day.
This may result in spot flooding and difficult traveling conditions with poor visibility, Me Eireann has warned.
Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo are also under a Status Orange weather warning today, with Met Eireann warning of more severe thunderstorms in the north west.
Slow moving thunderstorms with very heavy downpours and potentially large hail are expected until 9pm Monday.
This may cause flash flooding, very difficult traveling conditions with poor visibility, and potential damage to power lines.
University Hospital Galway is hosting a special memorial mass for parents and families who have lost a child later this month.
The Children’s Remembrance Day Committee, University Hospital Galway (UHG) is inviting parents and their families who have experienced the death of a child before birth, shortly after birth or at a later stage to remember them in a special Mass.
The 28th Annual Children’s Remembrance Mass will take place on Sunday, May 26 at 2.30pm in St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Renmore.
The theme of this year’s mass is “Honouring with love” and Tracey Torpey, Committee Member and Paediatric Nurse will share her experience on the day.
The Chairperson of the Children’s Remembrance Day Committee, Maura Mannion said, “There is a need for a special day for parents and families to share their grief.”
“I would encourage anybody who has experienced the death of a child and would like him/her to be included in this special Mass, to contact us in advance.”
“Coming together with other families is a support to the bereaved and lets them know that they are not alone.”
Committee member Mary Quigley added, “the death of a child is heart-breaking for any family. Giving people the opportunity to come together acknowledges the loss of the future that might have been in an understanding and empathetic environment.”
The Books of Remembrance will be available to view after Mass along with the opportunity to come together and share memories over a cuppa.
If you would like further information on the Children’s Remembrance Day Mass, please contact Anne McKeown on 087 4418574 or Helena Hanrahan on 087 7716648.
Galway County Council has confirmed that the preparation of detailed designs for two multi-million-euro renewal projects in Athenry and Tuam town centres has commenced.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD this week announced an allocation of €6,075,518 for the Athenry Public Realm Enhancement Project.
An additional €3,679,200 has been awarded for the upgrade of Tuam Town Hall under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
Both projects include the development of County Galway’s first community hubs under the Department’s Connected Hubs initiative, offering hot-desks and co-working spaces and promoting the growing trend of remote working across the county.
The County Council said the developments will proceed to tender stage once detailed designs have been completed. Part 8 planning approval was secured for both projects in 2023.
Cllr. Liam Carroll, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway described the developments as “transformational” for Athenry and Tuam.
“This funding announcement effectively gives the green light to Galway County Council to immediately progress both projects,” he added.
“The public realm enhancement works in Athenry will substantially improve accessibility in the town centre, and will deliver an attractive and vibrant streetscape befitting a town the size and economic importance of Athenry.”
“Likewise, the proposed renovation and repurposing of the historic Tuam Town Hall will bring it back into community use and preserve it for future generations.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council commented, “Athenry’s public realm is important to the socio-economic vitality of the town, providing for social interaction, movement and access, attracting visitors and tourists, and enhancing the town environment.”
“Through an intensive public engagement process, an agreed vision for the public realm has been devised and we look forward to delivering a project that gives pedestrians priority, and creates a safer, greener, and more attractive town with improved linkages to several key historical landmarks.”
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
The RRDF supports projects that have the potential to revitalise rural towns and villages in line with the Town Centre First Policy,
This aims for sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction, and ensure the reuse of heritage and other existing buildings and provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in settlements, which will assist in attracting people to live, work and invest in rural areas
Galway Community Circus will host a free, family-friendly day of circus activities for all ages this month.
The event, called Circus in the Park, is Galway Community Circus’s community event as part of its annual Mayhem Youth Circus Festival.
The event will take place on Sunday, May 26 from 11am – 5pm at Father Burke Park in Galway City.
The day will feature workshops in and outside of Galway Community Circus’s big top tent, including mixed skills, aerial, and funambulism, which is wire walking with a balancing pole. There will also be two free shows by professional clown Fraser Hooper.
The drop-in mixed skills workshops will take place under the big top tent and will feature introductory circus activities including hula-hoop, juggling, balance, fun games and more.
Outside of the big top tent, participants can learn the basics of aerial or test their balance in the funambulism workshops.
The mixed skills, aerial and funambulism workshops will run simultaneously from 11am–1pm and 2-4pm.
All events are free except for the funambulism workshops, which cost €5 and must be pre-booked online. The aerial workshops can be booked on-site at the info tent.
This hilarious show features a stunt duck, a human fish, eccentric dancing, and the silliest boxing match you have ever seen.
‘Funny Business’ will run from 1:15-2pm and 4:15-5pm and is free for all ages to enjoy. These performances are supported by Galway City Council and Creative Ireland.
O’Shea and John Joe are at loggerheads, Diana is clinging close to Mack for his protection, and Tadhg gets some bad news in Ros na Rún.
O’Shea and John Joe are at loggerheads and are unable to find a compromise in their relationship. To make matters worse, O’Shea has made no progress in finding Frankie and is under huge pressure.
When Colm suggests bringing her ex-husband Eric onto Frankie’s case, John Joe gets an idea. Eventually, when O’Shea refuses to pay the bills John Joe is left with no choice but to do a little digging into O’Shea‘s past relationship. Whatever will he find out?
When Diana realizes that Mack may be in danger, she refuses to let him out of her sight. However, Mack throws a spanner in the works as he has plans to go to the beach and Diana insists on walking him there.
Later on, Diana receives a suspicious phone call and rushes to Terry’s rescue, leaving a confused Mack to fend for himself. Has she made a grave mistake?
Things are awkward between Colm and Sonia after nearly kissing. Later on, Sam comes for a visit and things become tense when he makes it clear that Colm is not in his good books.
Soon after, Sonia defends Colm and then admits to Sam that she has feelings for Colm, while Mack encourages Colm to be open with Sonia. But are they on the same page?
Tadhg is looking forward to Áines visit but his good mood is quickly ruined when Mack brings up Mo and Frances. However, when David arrives with a gift for Áine, he perks up again and gets to work, making her favourite dinner.
However, Tadhg misses three calls from Áine and Noreen breaks him some bad news. Why is Tadhg so distraught?
Catch up on all the latest happenings in Ros na Rún in a double feature omnibus on TG4 this Sunday evening.
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