No more ‘devastating event’ in Irish history than the Famine – Taoiseach

The ceremony in Strokestown included military honours and a wreath-laying ceremony

Addressing the crowd today, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there was no more “devastating or traumatic event” in Irish history.
“It is impossible for us to imagine the feelings of hopelessness, anger and loss experienced by those who suffered through the Famine years.”
“Famines do not happen in democracies. In fact, there is no recorded account of a famine in a country where the government is freely elected and there was free speech.
“I think if you want to know why Ireland didn’t have another famine you will find it in our commitment to self-determination and building a democratic state,” said Mr Martin.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0515/1298105-famine-commemoration-roscommon

LIVING: Escape to the west: ‘Everything we had in Dublin we have here…

Constantly checking out the property sections, Niamh O’Donoghue happened to come across an advert for a seemingly perfect house in Murrisk, near Westport in Mayo. With plenty of space, along with a spare bedroom and not one but three bathrooms, they viewed the property online. Having discovered that the wifi speeds were good enough to work from home, the pair packed up their belongings and moved out west.

The contrast couldn’t have been greater from Niamh’s pervious life in the city – and she is loving every minute of it.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/escape-to-the-west-everything-we-had-in-dublin-we-have-here-1.4870422

HEALTH: 7 early signs of hepatitis Irish parents need to know as child dies amid mystery spike in cases

Stock image of a sick child in bed

The HSE confirmed on Thursday that a child being treated for acute hepatitis in the hospital has died.
The tragic death occurred amid a spike in cases linked to an unexplained strain of the virus being reported across the globe.
Meanwhile, a second child – who is also being treated for the virus – has received a liver transplant in the UK.

According to health officials, there have been at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children reported up to April.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news/seven-early-signs-hepatitis-irish-26951227

Dublin can no longer treat Irish unity as a distant aspiration

Dublin can no longer treat Irish unity as a distant aspiration | Financial  Times

The force lay in the symbolism. The parliament buildings at Stormont stood as the citadel of Protestant unionism. This month’s elections have left Sinn Féin holding sway in Northern Ireland’s assembly. The discomfort reaches well beyond unionism. The rise of the party that served as the political voice of the IRA also challenges the old order in the south.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.ft.com/content/a54f2bcc-bab4-487c-b0c5-4207041be86c

TRAVEL: Why are Irish hotels so expensive?

35 hotel rooms in Ireland that sleep families of five, six or more -  Independent.ie

Earlier this week there were just 42 rooms available in the centre of Dublin for three nights over the June bank holiday weekend on the popular hotel reservation platform booking.com. While the lack of availability was striking the lack of affordability was even more so.

Only one of the 42 rooms on offer was coming in at less than €150 a night, while there were two available for between €150 and €200 with the remaining 39 rooms on the table for €200 or more per night.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/conor-pope-irish-hotels-have-bounced-back-their-prices-have-bounced-even-higher-1.4877361

Spain holidays: Mask rules for Irish passengers on Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights after latest changes

Ryanair and Aer Lingus planes at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus passengers jetting off to Spain will likely have to wear face masks
while flying for the foreseeable future, despite recent changes made to mask wearing policies by the EU.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) previously announced that they would no longer recommend mandatory face coverings on board flights from May 16 onwards.

Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus will follow this advice where possible.

However, a number of EU countries, including Spain, will continue to require masks for air
travel.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/travel/spain-holidays-mask-rules-irish-26958077

WEATHER: Beach goers rejoice as temperatures set to hit 20+ degrees this weekend

Donegal Weather Channel — Portsalon beach , Donegal, Ireland

Met Éireann forecasters say with temperatures peaking at between 16 and 19 degrees, Saturday will also see cloud and mist clearing in the afternoon to make way for similar conditions.

Sunday is likely to take the prize though, with “long spells of warm sunshine”, just a hint of rain in the west, and temperatures reaching between 17 and 20 degrees, if a little cooler around the coasts.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/beach-goers-rejoice-as-temperatures-set-to-hit-20-degrees-this-weekend-1.4877359

Climate action must ‘take the world back from the abyss it is heading towards’ – Taoiseach

It's going to be very challenging,' Martin tells Dublin Climate Summit

Speaking at the Dublin Climate Summit in UCD, the Taoiseach expressed concerns about the pace of climate action and a slowness from some sectors to accept the magnitude of the climate crisis.

The recent debacle over limiting the sale of turf, which was raised as a climate policy, raised fears about “do people really get a sense of how serious this is?”.

“For a lot of people, still, it’s intangible. It’s down in 50 years’ time, and then you get the whataboutery, ‘sure we’re just a small country’ – but we all have to make a contribution.”

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/it-s-going-to-be-very-challenging-martin-tells-dublin-climate-summit-1.4877027

HEALTH: Parents warned to be alert to symptoms after child dies from hepatitis of an unknown cause

ECDC: Around 95 cases of mysterious child hepatitis in 15 EU countries –  EURACTIV.com

A senior Health Service Executive official has urged parents to be “alert” following the death of a child in Ireland from hepatitis and an increase in unexplained cases of the condition across several countries in recent weeks.

Six probable cases of children with hepatitis of an unknown cause have been identified in the State over the last 10 weeks. One of the children has died and another required a liver transplant.

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/parents-warned-to-be-alert-to-symptoms-after-child-dies-from-hepatitis-1.4876599

Friday the 13th – 13 things you might not know

Friday the 13th

Unlucky for some? Friday the 13th – also known as Black Friday – has long been regarded an unlucky day.
Where did the fear come from… and what’s it all about?
Should we all be on our guard?

As part of Science Foundation Ireland Science Week, Dr Richard J. Smith from the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics has compiled a list of thirteen thrilling facts about the number thirteen:

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.independent.ie/life/friday-the-13th-13-things-you-might-not-know-34197054.html

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