Category: Ireland Posts

Two thirds of people over the age of 50 in Ireland have high blood pressure, but almost half are unaware of it – sparking calls for a nationwide awareness campaign.

The Irish Heart Foundation says this information gap can cause preventable heart events and strokes, and is calling for a five-year drive to tackle it.

The charity insists there is an urgent need to reverse the prevalence of the condition – also called hypertension – and a key risk factor in stroke, the third highest cause of death in Ireland.

Experts call it a ‘silent killer’ because almost a half of sufferers are unaware they have it.

SEE FULL FEATURE: independent.ie/irish-news/two-thirds-of-over-50s-have-the-silent-killer-condition-but-many-are-totally-unaware-of-it-41631917.html

Thousands of Irish holidaymakers are planning to make a trip abroad this summer in search of the sun.
But a number of tourists have gotten into difficulty recently when they failed to take the correct steps while planning for the trip.

One family had a terrible start to their holidays when one member was refused to board a flight to Spain as his passport was set to expire in five months.
And while Covid restrictions have come to an end in most places, are there any rules or documentation you still need to be aware of?

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/four-questions-irish-tourists-need-26908041

New Eurostat figures, compiled before the war in Ukraine, show electricity prices in Ireland were already 26% higher than the EU average, and taxes weren’t to blame.
The analysis published in the Irish Independent, shows Ireland has the 4th most expensive electricity costs in the EU – with only Germany, Denmark, and Belgium more expensive.

We’re paying around €250 more each year than the EU average. Because the figures were compiled prior to the war, they don’t reflect the latest energy crisis which could see Irish households paying an extra €800 a year because of recent price hikes.

SEE FULL  STORY: https://www.98fm.com/news/irish-households-paying-e250-more-than-eu-neighbours-1340362

Boiling kettles to make tea for two when there is only one of you could cost an extra €50 a year in wasted electricity.

That’s just one of the startling calculations made by energy experts as fuel bills continue to rise and calls for energy conservation grow.

Much focus has been placed on so-called “vampire devices” that keep draining power even when they appear to be off or on standby.

But an energy advisor says while there are savings to be made by switching off completely, the bigger problem is not ghostly appliances, but our ghastly habits.

SEE MORE: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-vampire-devices-are-adding-to-your-energy-bills-scare-41629335.html

The average monthly spend by Irish motorists on petrol or diesel stands at €180, according to a new survey, with a third of people spending over €200 a month.

The findings of the survey of 1,000 people by iReach for insurers Aviva suggest that Irish consumers are spending more than €2,000 a year to fill their car, reflecting the surging fuel costs in the past year.

Different age groups were spending more on petrol or diesel, with half of people aged 25-34 spending more than €200 a month on fuel, compared to 39% of those aged 35-44.

These latest findings follow research from the AA which reflected the huge spike in fuel costs in recent times. In 2020, the average cost of filling the car for a year stood at €1,554, the AA said. In 2021, this rose to €1,833.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40868360.html

Public transport fares for young people will be permanently reduced by 50 per cent from Monday, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has said. The reduction is in addition to the 20 per cent decrease in fares for all public transport journeys in the Greater Dublin Area, which also takes effect from Monday.

Fares outside of Dublin were already reduced by 20 per cent in April.

The reduction is a short-term measure in response to the rising cost of living, and will be in place until the end of the year. It is the first national fare reduction since 1947.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/half-price-public-transport-fares-for-young-adults-from-monday-1.4872547

The Tánaiste has dismissed Sinn Féin suggestions that a referendum on Irish unity could take place within five years.
Leo Varadkar congratulated the party on its performance in the Northern Ireland election but said he did not buy into its president Mary Lou McDonald’s claims that its historic results bring a border poll closer.

Her comments came after the party recorded its best-ever result in a Northern Ireland Assembly election.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40867520.html

‘Positive vibes only’ may sound like a good mantra for life, but sometimes positivity isn’t such a positive thing at all.

There is such a thing as toxic positivity, and it’s what we’re talking about in today’s mental health lesson.

When we try to talk about our worries, stresses, or how we’re feeling, and are simply told to “stay positive” or “look on the bright side”, this response can encourage us to push down our emotions or stop talking about our issues with others altogether.

Although these messages are meant to be helpful, you can actually come away feeling worse.

SEE FULL FEATURE:  https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2022/0506/1296471-mental-heath-lessons-the-toxic-side-of-positivity

Discover the Wild Atlantic Way route where 2,500km of spectacular coastline with white sands and glittering waves awaits you. Head along the coast to uncover over 180 Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points where the views are breathtaking and local stories are told.

Feel the power of the Atlantic Ocean as it crashes into the base of towering sea cliffs, wander down vast beaches and watch flocks of birds dance in pastel skies as the sun sets on another magical day.

SEE MORE: https://www.discoverireland.ie/wild-atlantic-way

For the past couple of years the people of Ireland have been packing up our raincoats, dusting off the hiking boots and embracing the staycation life.

Most of us have been absolutely floored at some of the spots we’ve discovered and found ourselves thinking “HOW haven’t I done this before?” Now that summer is almost upon us and the bank holidays are coming in hard and fast, you might be wondering what you’d like to discover next. Whether you’re looking for a romantic treehouse with incredible city views, a private castle all to yourself or a bubble that allows you to sleep under the stars, we’ve got you covered with this list of unique staycation spots for every county in Ireland. Strap in, we’re going on an adventure.

SEE FULL  FEATURE: https://lovin.ie/counties/the-best-staycation-experience-in-every-county-in-ireland