Irish Soul Music

Irish Soul Music
Rick Steves

The Irish seem born with a love of music. That love is especially strong for traditional Irish music. You can hear it at cultural heritage centers and concert halls, but it sounds best in a pub. Live music is a weekly -- and sometimes nightly -- draw at many town pubs worth their salt. Trad music is especially popular in Dingle, Doolin, Galway, and Dublin.

Economic Risk in Ireland and Other Countries Spooking Investors
Matthew Bandyk

Despite federal spending consuming 27.2 percent of GDP, the United States maintains a Aaa rating. But you can't say the same about Ireland and many other countries in both the developed and developing world where continued fallout from the economic crisis is hurting their credit ratings. As a result, investors have viewed the economic situations in these countries as increasingly risky bets.

Kingspan to resume paying dividends
Shares in building materials group Kingspan jumped in Dublin after it announced its first increase in operating profits in three years.It also said it would resume paying dividends RTE Ireland reported. The Co Cavan-based company said its operating profits for the six months to the end of June rose to...

150 hotels under threat after BoSI move
The Irish Hotel Federation has said that the future of up to 150 hotels is under threat following the decision by Bank of Scotland Ireland to cease operations here RTE Ireland reported. The bank provides 20% all loans to the hotel sector and will withdraw from the business market by...

Google expands with 200 new jobs in Dublin
Google has announced the creation of 200 new jobs in Dublin as the company sets up a new operations centre in the city RTE Ireland reported.Google already employs 1 500 people in Barrow Street in Dublin 4 and the new centre will be based in Eastpoint Business Park in the...

Magic Mushrooms create 150 new jobs
150 new jobs are to be created in Monaghan with the opening of a state of the art mushroom growing facility at Tyholland RTE Ireland reported. The 10 million Euro development will allow Monaghan Mushrooms increase its market share in the UK and Irish markets. The company already employs over 2...

Readymix reports pre-tax loss of €6.6m
Readymix reported pre-tax loss of €6.6 million for the first six months of the year Ireland Online reported. It said that trading conditions bad since 2007 have deteriorated further. Revenues were down 30% compared to the same time last year. Revenues for aggregates had declined by 31% while sales of...

Call centre closure leads to 100 job losses in Donegal
Up to 100 jobs are to go at the Keith Prowse call centre in Lisfannon Buncrana Co Donegal which handles ticket sales for entertainment events Ireland Online reported. Fifty full-time and 50 part-time jobs are to be lost when the call centre would officially close its doors previous Sunday. The...

Ireland passes historic civil partnership bill
The Irish government has passed a groundbreaking civil partnership bill after several years of protracted argument and political discontent. The bill grants succession rights as well as tax and social welfare equality to same-sex couples. It also gives financial protection to partners in heterosexual relationships something that has so far not...

100 new jobs for Cork
The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has said it chose Cork as the location for its new European financial services centre because of the companys track record here over the past 30 years RTE Ireland reported. IDA Ireland beat off competition from a number of other European locations for the project...

Jobs credit for Shannon
117 jobs are to be created over the next three years at the US firm Genworth Financial which is based at the Shannon Industrial Zone in County Clare RTE Ireland reported. The company first opened in Shannon in 1997 and currently employs 345 people. This announcement will bring employment at...

RD investment announced for Limerick
Analog Devices Ireland has announced a new €23 million investment in research and development at its Limerick facility in Raheen Co Limerick RTE Ireland reported. The investment will be in the manufacturing division. The company plans to develop a number of enabling semiconductor process technologies for its global customers. These...

50 new jobs set for take-off in Co Down
Almost 50 jobs are to be created at a company in Co Down that makes aeroplane seats RTE Ireland reported. Thompson Aero Seating Ltd which is based in Kilkeel is investing over €6 million in the business. The company has already secured contracts worth over two million from a number...

IFDS buys Dublin-based Percana group
International Financial Data Services has bought Percana Group an outsourcing services and software provider to the global life and pensions industry. The cost of the deal was not disclosed RTE Ireland reported. IFDS is the financial outsourcing joint venture between State Street Corporation and DST Systems and services a wide...

26 new jobs at US company in Dublin
US-based financial services company FCStone has announced it is to establish its European headquarters in Dublin creating 26 new jobs RTE Ireland reported. The 26 jobs will be in the areas of client focus and support services. Potential customers for the new business are those involved in the production...

50 new social network jobs for Dublin
50 new jobs are on the way to Dublin RTE Ireland reported on June 21. Weedle which is based in Blackrock in Dublin provides a social network for people to advertise their profession and their skill. The company will create the new jobs in the development of next generation web applications...

500 new jobs take off at Terminal 2
The Dublin Airport Authority DAA is to create more than 500 new jobs at Terminal Two which will open in November RTE Ireland reported. In April the DAA announced that at least 400 new retail jobs will be created when Terminal Two opens later this year. These new jobs will...

KBC sells Dublin asset management arm
Belgian financial services group KBC has agreed to sell its Irish asset management arm for an upfront cash payment of €23.7 million to Brussels based RHJ International RTE Ireland reported. KBC Asset Management Dublin Limited employs 58 staff and manages about €4 billion for global institutional clients. It has a...

Zurich to create 120 new Dublin insurance jobs
Up to 120 new insurance jobs were announced as Zurich Insurance said it is recruiting for one of the companys European centres in Dublin RTE Ireland reported. For almost two years now the Zurich Insurance Group has been engaged in a recruitment drive for its Irish operations. Already this year...

ITI to make tax less taxing for start ups
A new plan proposed by the Irish Taxation Institute would support entrepreneurs and make starting a business a simpler the institute said RTE Ireland reported. The Irish Taxation Institute said research shows that 77% of indigenous Irish companies believe the complex and daunting nature of tax affairs is the biggest tax...

ICTU ratifies Croke Park deal
Public sector unions have formally ratified the Croke Park pay and reform agreement RTE Ireland reported. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions last Tuesday afternoon. The final result was 1899 delegate votes in favour with 986 against...

Regulation drive lifts Norkom profits
Financial software group Norkom has reported a strong increase in profits for the year to the end of March RTE Ireland reported. Norkom said pre-tax profits were just under €7.5 million compared with €4.9 million a year earlier as revenue rose by 3% to €49.3 million and costs were cut...

AOL have staff LOL
The internet company AOL is to provide 50 new software engineering jobs at its Dublin development centre over the next two years RTE Ireland reported. AOL has also announced it is moving to new headquarters in Dublin city centre from its base at Citywest where it has been for...

Donegal to get 71 RD jobs
A 3.6 million Euro investment in research and development by a Donegal company is to lead to the creation of 71 new jobs over the next three years RTE Ireland reported on June 4. The investment by EI Engineering Ireland is being backed by Enterprise Ireland. The new jobs will be...

Jobs are a blowin in the wind
55 new jobs are to be created at two companies in Tralee Co Kerry RTE Ireland reported. Straker - which develops software allowing websites to be run across several languages - is to establish its European headquarters in the town creating 25 jobs. Meanwhile ENERCON one of worlds largest manufacturers of...

Ryanair profits: Cash minus ash
Budget airline Ryanair has announced full year profits of €319 million after tax an increase of 204% over last years €105m profit. The company said passenger numbers were up by 14% to 67 million compared with the previous year and revenue rose by 2%. Ryanair said it would pay a...

Bowler prepares self adjusting package
Budget Travel founder and Irish Life Permanent chair-person Gillian Bowler has launched a new travel company for the Irish market RTE Ireland reported. The new company ClickandGo.com is offering a range of sun holidays in destinations such as Spain Portugal France the Canaries and Madeira. It is claiming to offer lower...

Providence opts out of Kinsale Head deal
Exploration company Providence Resources said it has decided not to complete the deal to buy 40% of the Kinsale Head Assets RTE Ireland reported. It said that the investment now required is at a significant variance to the original proposal and added that the economics of the deal have changed materially....

Greencore reports strong H1 performance
Food group Greencore has reported pre-tax profits of €26.49 million for the six months to the end of March 2010. This compares with a pre-tax loss of €4.06 million the same time last year RTE Ireland reported. Revenues for the first half of the year rose by 2.1% to €434.5...

Berlusconi Mubarak hold talks in Rome
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived in Rome on 18 May on his first trip abroad since undergoing surgery in March. Mubarak accompanied by several ministers arrived on an Airbus A340 at Romes Fiumicino airport. The Egyptian leader met his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on 18 May afternoon and held talks with...

Rome chosen as Italys city to bid for 2020 Olympics
Rome will be Italys candidate to host the 2020 Olympics the Italian National Olympic Committee CONI confirmed on 19 May. Local media reported that after the CONI board ruled other candidate city Venice unfit for the bid 68 assembly members out of 70 voted favorably for the project from the...

Fiat revives Uno for South American markets
Fiat has revived the Uno nameplate for a new generation of the compact car destined for South American markets. The Nuova Uno will be built at the Italian companys Betim plant in Brazil and supplied with two engines a 1-litre with 57 horsepower and a 1.4 liter generating 85 hp....

Bord Gais plans jobs boost
Bord Gais is planning to create 500 new jobs over the next three years and invest €3 billion in the economy during the coming decade it was announced. The company said the imminent opening of the 445 MW Whitegate Power Station in Co Cork and its acquisition of SWS one...

Limerick-based firm buys Ice network
Wireless broadband company Ripplecom has bought the broadband network previously run by Ice Communications RTE Ireland reported. Ripplecom which is based in Raheen Co Limerick said the deal included Ices entire wireless network infrastructure and customer base. The financial terms were not disclosed. Ripplecoms head of sales and marketing John Regan...

Anglo asked to look at 20-year option
The incoming chairman of Anglo Irish Bank has confirmed that the bank was asked by the European Commission to examine the possibility of winding the lender down over 20 years RTE Ireland. Alan Dukes said the bank still remained committed to the view that remaining open was the best option...

US fashion giant for Dublins Jervis
US fashion giant Forever 21 is to open its first European store in the Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin RTE Ireland reported. The US retailer which is based in Los Angeles has 500 stores worldwide and an annual turnover of $2.3 billion. It is due to open in the Jervis...

Fears for Limerick Meath cement jobs
There are fears for the future of jobs at the Irish Cement manufacturing facilities located at Castlemungret in Limerick and Platin in Co Meath RTE Ireland reported. The company employs 270 people across both plants. It says the continuing deterioration in market conditions and a sustained decline in the demand...

CC sells spirits business for €30 million
Drinks group CC is to sell its spirits and liqueurs business to Scottish-owned distillery William Grant for €300 million RTE Ireland reported. The business being sold includes brands such as Tullamore Dew Carolans Frangelico and Irish Mist. For the year to the end of February it is estimated to have...

Aer Lingus upbeat on Q2 outlook despite ash
Aer Lingus said the groups financial performance for the next three months will be significantly impacted by recent airspace closures after the volcanic eruption in Iceland last month RTE Ireland reported. In an interim management statement which examines the airlines performance for the first three months of 2010 it said...

Research hub could create 90 jobs
Almost 90 jobs could be created at a new research hub in Cork Ireland Online reported. The high-skilled positions are being developed as part of a multimillion-euro International Energy Research Centre IERC where industry leaders will work with top experts on sustainable energy systems. University College Cork has estimated 50...

9 mln Euro funding for Corks Nualight
A Cork-based company which supplies energy-efficient lighting for retailers has raised just over €9 million RTE Ireland reported. The main investor in Nualight was Climate Change Capital Private Equity a €200m fund which invests in green technology companies. CPE subscribed for €3.75 million of shares in a €4.1 million fund-raising...

Fears for 800 jobs at Quinn Insurance
The joint administrators of Quinn Insurance Ltd have drawn up plans to make up to one third of their staff redundant as part of a downsizing of the insurer RTE Ireland reported. The options range from 550 to more than 900 job losses but it is understood that they will...

Antrim firm tries to get parts to Nissan
Japanese car company Nissan has suspended production of some vehicles in Japan because it is unable to import air pressure sensors from Antrim due to the air traffic disruption in Europe RTE Ireland said. Antrim-based Schrader Electronics makes tyre pressure sensors using a freight forwarding company to transport its components...

Glanbia plc agrees sale of Irish dairy unit
Glanbia plc has conditionally agreed to sell its Irish dairy and agri-business to Glanbia Co-Operative Society for up to €343 million. The society owns 54% of the company RTE Ireland reported. The deal will free up Glanbia plc to pursue its global cheese and nutritional ambitions while the Co-op farmers...

Fyffes earnings up by 38%
Fruit importers and distributors Fyffes boosted the pay of chairman David McCann in 2009 to €1.3 million from €1.1 million Irish Examiner reported. McCann was appointed chairman in December 2006 and prior to that he was group chief executive. The annual report for last year shows that chief executive Coen...

Restaurant body calls for cut in minimum wage
The Restaurant Association of Ireland RAI which represents Irish restaurants is repeating its call for a reduction in the minimum wage and the abolition of catering joint labour committees JLCs which set wage rates for the industry RTE Ireland reported on 13 April. They are also asking for a reduction...

AGI losses narrowed as costs cut
Dublin-listed pharmaceutical company AGI Therapeutics has reported a net loss of $10.6 million for last year down from an $18.2 million loss a year earlier RTE Ireland reported on 14 April. The companys spending on research and development almost halved to $8.3 million. Last year AGI halted its programme to...

Ryanair to up summer baggage fees
Ryanair is to increase its fees for checking in baggage for the months of July and August RTE Ireland reported on 6 April. Passengers will be charged 20 euros per bag for bookings made after midnight on 7 April. The airline said the charge will stay at 15 euros per bag...

New fish feed spawns 30 jobs
Up to 30 jobs are to be created in Tuam Co Galway by a company specialising in the production of organic salmon feed RTE Ireland reported on 6 April. Ocean Harvest Technology said the new seaweed-based compound it has designed will replace existing synthetic salmon feeds and has the capacity...

African Diamonds ups Botswana stake
Irish exploration company African Diamonds which is listed on Londons AIM market is to increase its stake in the AK6 diamond project in Botswana RTE Ireland reported on 6 April. Late last year Canadian-listed Lucara part of the Lundin Group took over De Beers 70.3% stake in AK6. An agreement...

South African visit focuses on health aid
Irish Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power T.D. met with frontline health workers in South Africa early last week who are caring for people living with HIV with the support of Irish Aid. Minister Power who was on an official field visit to South Africa to oversee the impact...

Vodafone to clean up unused subscriber base
A clean up of the subscriber base has been planned by Vodafones Irish subsidiary by disconnecting lines which have not been used for eight months reported the wirelessfederation last week. Any outstanding credit on accounts would be held by the operator under this plan and will not be returned to...

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It's all coming up roses for the birthday girl

STUNNING Miss Universe Ireland, Rozanna Purcell, struck a pose for photographer James Horan to launch one of the highlights of the summer's social calendar.

Mortgage divide

MORE than 400,000 homeowners with tracker mortgages will benefit from record low interest rates for up to two more years.

We failed kidney op boy, says surgeon

A DOCTOR yesterday admitted he and a leading hospital failed a child after the wrong kidney was removed from the boy due to human error -- despite his parents' concerns before the operation.

Income tax take is €270m short of budget target

THE Government's tax revenues are starting to move closer to budgetary targets set by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan as corporation tax and VAT receipts improve.

Navy set to put in €90m order for two 'vital' new ships

IRELAND is poised to confirm a €90m order for two high-tech new Naval Service vessels with a British shipyard in a matter of weeks.

Source a suspect in tip-off that led to Guerin's death

John Traynor was an underworld source for investigative journalist Veronica Guerin.

Royal Navy officer charged with female garda assault

A ROYAL Navy officer whose ship was on a goodwill visit to an Irish port has been charged with assaulting a garda.

Mother's tears for Michaela

IT was a perfect Indian summer day, the sky an unbroken arc of blue, the fields and streets bathed in warm yellow-tinted kisses from a dazzling sun.

School principal resigns over enrolment row

A principal has resigned from his school following a probe which confirmed that some of his pupils were also enrolled in another school run by his wife.

Driver who killed two women a 'fantasist', says judge

AN Italian hit-and-run driver given seven years for killing two Irish holidaymakers has been labelled a "fantasist" in the trial judge's report.

Boy could face dialysis or even a transplant

The eight-year-old boy at the centre of the tragic surgical blunder in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin had a poorly functioning right kidney in the spring of 2008. His left kidney was healthy but this was incorrectly removed. He is now left with the diseased kidney and faces an uncertain future.

Banker 'blew whistle' as payback for bonus snub

AN AIB worker blew the whistle on alleged accounting irregularities at the bank as "payback" for the non-payment of a bonus, an employment tribunal heard yesterday.

Foul play ruled out as woman dies in freak fall from bicycle

A MIDDLE-aged woman has died in a freak cycling accident on the old Dublin-Cork road.

Missing pup shows up at grooming parlour

A FAMILY has been reunited with its beloved dog almost four months after he disappeared from their back garden.

Priest (76) is jailed for abuse of sisters

A CATHOLIC priest was jailed yesterday for indecently assaulting three sisters at their home in Northern Ireland more than 40 years ago, after he had befriended their parents.

Irish objections force EU to drop Israel data plan

IRELAND has forced the withdrawal of a controversial EU plan to allow Israel access to sensitive personal data on Irish citizens.

Health insurers in cut-throat battle to cover families

A CUT-THROAT price war has broken out among private healthcare insurers, with all three slashing the cost of insuring families.

Specs appeal the eyes have it

Nerdy, geek but chic. Specs are a must-have accessory this season, the bigger, the better -- and yesterday, Tara Goodbody was the height of fashion as the 19-year-old from Schull in west Cork walked away with the Spectacle Wearer of the Year award.

'She wanted to grow up so much, and so quickly'

IT was a perfect Indian summer day, the sky an unbroken arc of blue, the fields and streets bathed in warm yellow-tinted kisses from a dazzling sun.

Gardai unable to seek Traynor's extradition

GARDAI do not have the evidence to seek the extradition of convicted fraudster John Traynor on a criminal charge linked to the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

Enforced rehab for sex crime prisoners of 'no value'

Sex offenders forced to take part in rehabilitation programmes while in prison will not benefit from the experience, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said yesterday.

Coalition will struggle to last rest of year, predicts Gilmore

THE Government will struggle to survive beyond the December Budget, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore claimed last night.

Protesters aim to 'arrest' Blair on weekend visit

PROTESTERS against the Irish visit of Tony Blair hope to make a citizen's arrest of the former British prime minister.

FF mayor calls on Taoiseach to resign

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has been urged to resign and his entire Cabinet were described as "a bunch of chickens" by a Fianna Fail mayor.

Farmer dies after tractor hit by train at level crossing

A 64-year-old farmer was killed yesterday at an unmanned level crossing after his tractor was struck by a goods train.

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Fitzgerald willrelish roleas Leinster stand-in

CONSIDER this. If Leinster coach Joe Schmidt had a full squad to select from for their Magners League opener against Glasgow, chances are that only second-row Nathan Hines, No 8 Jamie Heaslip and open-side Sean O'Brien (if he could hold off the challenge of Shane Jennings) would survive in the positions they fill at Firhill tonight (7.05).

Fitzgerald willrelish roleas Leinster stand-in

CONSIDER this. If Leinster coach Joe Schmidt had a full squad to select from for their Magners League opener against Glasgow, chances are that only second-row Nathan Hines, No 8 Jamie Heaslip and open-side Sean O'Brien (if he could hold off the challenge of Shane Jennings) would survive in the positions they fill at Firhill tonight (7.05).

Expert view: Brian Carroll

All eyes will be on the Tipperary half-forward line to see how they cope with the ever- dominant Kilkenny half-back line. But I think the Tipp half-forwards get a lot of unfair criticism.

GAA Confidential: Kildare coach out to Tipp Croker scales

ONE member of the Tipperary back-room team is dearly hoping for a 50pc return from spending successive Sundays at Croke Park.

Vincent Hogan: A humble Monarch

In a county where Masses have been all-ticket since the great man's knee buckled on August 8, maybe a Ballinspittle moment was always on the cards.

Tipperary have come a long way since their early-season collapse to Cork

BOUNCEBACKABILITY. It's an ugly mouthful of a word that is originally credited to former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie, even if cult Saturday morning TV show 'Soccer AM' claim their campaign helped to get it into the Oxford English dictionary.

Athletics: O'Rourke eyes Continental glory to cap bumper year

DERVAL O'ROURKE hopes to end her medal-winning season with one final high when she represents Europe in the Continental Cup in Split on Sunday.

Ferris targets top-four league finish for Ulster

ULSTER head into the new season high on confidence with flanker Stephen Ferris declaring that the province's goals are "quarter-finals or bust" in the Heineken Cup and a top-four Magners League finish.

Trapattoni: ‘We can top the group’

Giovanni Trapattoni has backed his Irish team to secure automatic qualification for the European Championships.

Rip odds-on for Champion glory

Rip Van Winkle is odds-on to confirm recent Juddmonte International superiority at York over Henry Cecil's Twice Over when they meet again at Leopardstown tomorrow as the market principals for the six-runner Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.

Mac Tiernan steals a March

The PJ Lalley-trained Mac Tiernan stole a march on his rivals in the Premier County March Handicap at Clonmel and made every post a winning one for a notable five-length success over 11/4 favourite Waydownsouth.

High hopes of Rip proving the one in Millions

This is a very important time of the year for us with a lot of big races coming up, none more important than the Tattersalls Millions Champion Stakes at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Ferris targets top-four league finish for Ulster

ULSTER head into the new season high on confidence with flanker Stephen Ferris declaring that the province's goals are "quarter-finals or bust" in the Heineken Cup and a top-four Magners League finish.

a humble monarch

In a county where Masses have been all-ticket since the great man's knee buckled on August 8, maybe a Ballinspittle moment was always on the cards.

expert view

brian carroll

Kildare coach out to Tipp Croker scales Rocky road of prediction at Nowlan Park Liam & Sam Say

ONE member of the Tipperary back-room team is dearly hoping for a 50pc return from spending successive Sundays at Croke Park.

Time for 'men in white coats' to be re-assessed by tv eye

ON the way into the All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Cork, I met a man named Chris McGinty from Achill Island heading into Croke Park to watch the Mayo minors. While we were chatting, I was struck by the incredible draw people have to Croke Park and to championship matches and their sense of pride in their county.

Curran comes under fire

Monaghan County Board chairman Paul Curran has come under fire from one of the county's most experienced players for comments attributed to him in relation to Seamus McEnaney.

I will get goals -- Rooney

HE HAS been banging in the goals in the Scottish Premier League and Adam Rooney is now hoping he can bring his scoring touch to the Ireland U-21 side after returning to the international set-up following a two-year absence.

Tipp name unchanged side

THERE were no late changes or surprises from Tipperary last night, who named the same team for the All-Ireland SHC final that beat Waterford in the semi-final, WRITES Cliona Foley.

Shefflin recovery 'absurd'

AS the hurling world waits to see if 'King Henry' is named in Kilkenny's team tonight, a leading Irish sports medic fears Shefflin's participation in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final will raise "absurd expectations" among others with the same injury.

Van der Vaart out to show his quality at Spurs

Rafael van der Vaart maintains he was no "failure" at Real Madrid - but will not take a place in the Tottenham team for granted.

Taylor welcomes step in the right direction

Players' chief Gordon Taylor has welcomed the introduction of the new 25-man squad rules for Premier League clubs - but will not be happy until more English youngsters are regularly making the first XI.

All eyes on Woods once again

Only four weeks until the Ryder Cup and still golf fans do not know for sure whether Tiger Woods is going to be there.

Giggs: Squad is looking strong

Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United's squad is looking in good shape with the impending return to first-team action of Rio Ferdinand.

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Fyffes half-year profits down 28pc

A banana glut and rising costs have cut first-half profits of tropical fruits distributor Fyffes by almost a third.

Polish minister arrives to fight for stake in bank

POLISH deputy treasury minister Krzysztof Walenczak arrived in Dublin yesterday, to try and persuade NTMA officials to sell AIB's 70pc stake in Bank Zachodni to Poland's second largest lender, PKO Bank Polski.

Tullow to buy stakes in East African oil licences

OIL explorer Tullow Oil plans to buy stakes in six exploration licences in Kenya and Ethiopia as the hunt for oil in East Africa gathers pace and operations in Uganda run into problems.

Jameson is Pernod star as 12pc rise drives sales

SALES OF Jameson Whiskey increased significantly across the world in the last year, latest figures show.

Rumour mill in overdrive as Fexco eyes Goodbody

RUMOURS continue to swirl around Goodbody as the 125-year-old stockbroker prepares to be bought by Brian McCarthy's 20-year-old Fexco.

A period estate on 260 acres with three houses

BELIEVED to have been the former dower house on the family estate of the Duke of Wellington, the main house at Ginnet's Park in Co Meath is now a five-bedroom period home with three en suite bedrooms.

HP victorious in bidding war for 3Par after Dell pulls out

Hewlett-Packard appeared to have won the bidding battle for data storage technology company 3Par yesterday, after Dell said it would not raise its offer and was ending talks.

Shares guru Williams quits fund manager Gartmore after 17 years

GERVAIS Williams, perhaps the most influential investor in Irish shares over the past decade, has quit the fund manager where he ran funds that invested in Ireland as well as in small British companies.

US Fed chairman says Lehman bailout would have broken the law

US Fed chairman Ben Bernanke bluntly declared yesterday that it would have been unlawful for the US government to rescue Lehman Brothers, arguing that the Wall Street bank's finances were too weak to justify an emergency injection of public money before its 2008 bankruptcy.

Profits in Desmond's Latvian bank plummet by 66pc

Pre-tax profit at Rietumu Banka, the Latvian bank in which financier Dermot Desmond has a one-third stake, slumped 66pc to Lat2.85m (€4.02m) in the six months to the end of June, according to the institution's accounts.

Currys' owner gets 3pc boost in sales due to World Cup

Sales of TVs in the run-up to the World Cup helped to boost like-for-like sales at Currys and PC World owner DSG International by 3pc in the three months to July 24, the retailer revealed yesterday.

Motive wins €1.1m contract for TV3 UEFA matches

The Irish arm of AIM-listed broadcast group Motive Television has won a €1.1m contract with TV3 to co-produce 62 UEFA Champions' League and UEFA Europa League matches in conjunction with Asgard Media.

Tough new EU watchdogs set to police regulation and banking

IRISH banks and the Financial Regulator will face much closer scrutiny by EU watchdogs from January next year under a landmark deal sealed in Brussels last night.

Lenihan insists there is a limit to toxic bank bailout

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan last night insisted there is a limit to how much the Government will pour into Anglo Irish Bank.

NAMA to call shots on Anglo's 'ghost' HQ

TOXIC loan agency NAMA is expected to have the final say on whether the proposed "ghost" headquarters of disgraced Anglo Irish Bank is finished or sold off.

Treasury to press ahead with its Skerries project

Treasury Holdings, which is locked in intensive negotiations with NAMA over huge debts, is officially still planning to press ahead with a 150-bedroom hotel and two golf courses in north Co Dublin.

ECB chief says Anglo Irish is Government's responsibility

ANGLO Irish Bank is Ireland's responsibility, European Central Bank governor Jean-Claude Trichet said yesterday, as he urged the Government to take decisions on public spending and the banks.

Polo campaign aims to get the hole story

THE people behind Nestle’s polo mints have embarked on an advertising campaign to celebrate 60 years of confectionery history.

ECB keeps key interest rate at 1pc

European Central Bank kept interest rates at a record low today and President Jean-Claude Trichet may signal the bank will stay in crisis mode into next year.

Another 3,500 UK jobs to go at RBS

Royal Bank of Scotland is axing another 3,500 jobs under plans to more than halve the bank's administration centres across the UK, it was announced today.

Tullow expands in Kenya, Ethiopia with Africa Oil acquisition

Explorer Tullow Oil, which plans to produce its first oil in Ghana later this year, will expand exploration in Kenya and Ethiopia with the acquisition of interests in six licenses from Africa Oil Corp.

More jobs as AOL expands in Dublin

Internet firm AOL is to create another 20 jobs at its development centre in Dublin, it has confirmed.

IKEA catalogue turns 60

IT started life in 1951 as a nine-page advertisement inserted into a newspaper, with a circulation of 250,000. Now, the IKEA 2011 catalogue, available from September 13, marks its 60th anniversary with a print run of 198 million, and 56 editions in 27 languages.

Credit Unions side step financial crisis but now face major upheaval

Who would have thought it possible? Even three years ago, with the banks still apparently invulnerable, the credit unions seemed to have been consigned to the margins of the Irish financial services market.

Apple Pings out new rival to Facebook and Twitter

APPLE put itself on a collision course with Facebook last night as it unveiled a new social network called Ping.

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Allen: Signs are 'ominous' for FAS
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Bernard Allen is describing as "ominous" the fact that the Government hasn't applied for EU funds for FAS in almost ten months.

Labour TD to stand down at election
Labour TD Liz McManus is to quit the Dáil at the next election, she revealed today.

McManus confirms political retirement
Labour TD Liz McManus has confirmed she is quitting politics at the next General Election.

Govt hasn't applied for EU Social Funds 'for 10 months'
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee has voiced concerns that the Government hasn't applied for European Social Funds for FÁS for almost ten months.

Abused men's support group to release annual report
The voluntary group which provides support to male victims of domestic abuse is launching its first annual report this morning.

Boy, six, dies after being struck by boat
A six-year-old boy struck by a speedboat at a beach in County Down on Monday has died in hospital.

Irish Rail opens new commuter service
The new Dunboyne to Dublin commuter rail service is open to the public today.

Anti-war protests to greet Blair visit in Dublin
The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair looks set to be greeted by protests when he visits Ireland today.

Teenager accused of schoolgirl murder due in court
The teenager accused of murdering 12-year-old Michaela Davis is due up in court this morning.

Cork to get 150 jobs in November
Up to 150 new jobs could be on the way to Cork after Marks and Spencer open a new store in Douglas in November.

Ireland: BreakingNews.ie
Ireland's premier breaking news website providing up to the minute news and sports reports.

 

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From Terrorists to Politicians
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theTrumpet.com: Ireland
theTrumpet.com -- Understand your world.

 

Irish News. Single Source to News from Ireland

 

Republic of Ireland

Largest City: Dublin

Ireland is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth largest island in the world. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain. Politically, the Republic of Ireland (also known simply as Ireland) covers five sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, covering the remainder in the northeast.

The population of the island is slightly over six million (2007), with 4.34 million in the Republic of Ireland (1.7 million in Greater Dublin) and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland (0.6 million in Greater Belfast). This is a significant increase from a modern historical low in the 1960s, but still much lower than the peak population of over 8 million in the early 19th century, prior to the Great Famine.

The name Ireland derives from the name �riu (in modern Irish, �ire) with the addition of the Germanic word land. Most other Western European names for Ireland derive from the same source, such as French Irlande, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese Irlanda, German Irland and the Dutch Ierland.

Traditionally, Ireland is subdivided into four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster; and, in a system developed between the 13th and 17th centuries, 32 counties. Twenty-six of the counties are in the Republic of Ireland, and the remaining six (all in Ulster) are in Northern Ireland. Notably, Ulster and Northern Ireland are neither synonymous nor coextensive, as three counties of Ulster (Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan) are part of the Republic. Counties Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Tipperary have been broken up into smaller administrative areas, but are still considered by Ordnance Survey Ireland to be official counties. The counties in Northern Ireland are no longer used for local government, although their traditional boundaries are still used in sports and in some other cultural areas.

 

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland