The local and European elections of 2024 kicked off as over 6,500 polling stations opened their doors at 7am around the nation. These elections also include the first-ever vote for a directly elected mayor in Limerick. Voting will continue till 10pm, followed by vote tallying and sorting, which will start on Saturday at 9am sharp. Out of a pool of greater than 2,100 individuals, voters will be selecting 949 councillors across 31 local authorities.
In addition to this, there are helpful resources for voters; these include where to vote, who the candidates are in their respective area for both local and European elections and an online tool that aligns voters’ views with the right political parties.
Moving on to the other news from Ireland: A man who reported a lethal dog attack that took the life of Nicole Morey last Tuesday evening, went as far as he could to help, according to reliable sources. Molly Martens is leaving behind a legacy of unnerving violence as she walks away a free woman after serving time for her husband’s brutal murder. Banks are under pressure to reduce mortgage rates after the interest rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB). A significant political figure in the west of Ireland has allegedly been stalked by a man in his twenties, who has since been charged.
In weather news, Friday morning is expected to be largely cloudy with intermittent rain expected to move southeast. Although, the rain is expected to recede and give way to a mainly dry morning in Leinster. The afternoon should be drier and sunnier with only an occasional shower. The day’s top temperatures will range between 13 to 17 degrees. The evening will remain dry initially, with showers expected later on from the Atlantic, more so in northern and western regions. The prognosis for the night is mainly cloudy with the lowest temperature falling between 6 to 10 degrees.
Lastly, a review of local TV is made available.
In a summary of popular British media, the thriller “The Serial Killer’s Wife” offers drama and suspense with the implication of marital peril and murder. Netflix, on the other hand, is embroiled in a defamation lawsuit, filed by a woman said to be the inspiration behind Richard Gadd’s successful TV series ‘Baby Reindeer’, she’s asking for no less than €170 Million.
On the opinion front, Justine McCarthy ponders the influence of sociopolitical polls. Do they simply reflect public opinion, or could they possibly mould it? Bobby McDonagh raises five significant matters to think about when casting a vote in the European Parliament election.
For the business section, the focus falls on the analysis from the Housing Commission concerning the stark contradiction about the housing shortage, which continues to be one of our most significant challenges. The increase in population reflects this issue accurately, as it has seen an 8% growth since 2022 alone.
In the world of sports, Joe Canning suggests for Clare to have any chance of dethroning Limerick’s Munster reign at the provincial finals weekend, a fit Tony Kelly is essential. The competition may not lead to outright elimination, but the stakes are quite high.
World news highlights see Keir Starmer, who is prepared to put forward his strongest commitment to Palestinian statehood in the Labour manifesto. This move is an attempt to reinforce the party’s primary support on the left.