A tragic road accident in Co Mayo this week claimed the lives of Aisling Moore, 46, and her 8-year-old daughter Abbigael Moore-Tournié. Their memorial service is scheduled for Saturday in Swinford. The tragic event unfolded when the car they were travelling in collided with a lorry on the N26 at Lismoran near Foxford on Tuesday evening.
In other news across Ireland,
Bláthnaid Raleigh, who recently dropped her right to anonymity at the court hearing of her rapist Johnny Moran, recounted the loss of five vital years of her life while awaiting trial. She spoke of the immediate aftermath of her assault, crediting people she met on the streets of Galway who helped her reach a Garda station and thus ensuring key DNA and crime scene evidences were gathered.
Meanwhile, the leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, stressed on the plaguing issue of anti-social behaviour in Dublin’s city centre. McDonald painted a grim picture of the city centre, rife with drug dealing, drug consumption and gangs, all contributing to a daily mood of fear and intimidation.
The minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys and Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, were the only Dáil members present on Wednesday night when a ‘historic’ pension bill was passed, a legislation on automatic pension enrolment.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin was met with ire from left-wing TDs over claims of his gradual erosion of Irish neutrality and his non-condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza in a Defence Forces report he presented to the Dáil. His response was a biting, ‘What planet are you on?’
Lastly, a mountain rescue officer from the Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team sadly lost his life after a fall on Ben Bulben.
Weather update: There’s a combination of sun and showers predicted for this Thursday. It’ll be quite windy overall, with the possibility of mizzle as cloud cover increases over the southwest in the afternoon. The temperature is likely to peak between 14 and 18 degrees. This evening is set to be overcast, with the chance of rain or drizzle in the southern regions, clearing as the night progresses. Expect the mercury to dip to between 7 and 10 degrees tonight.
UK Elections
– In Northern Ireland, voters will be casting their ballots in what appears to be a highly close race in several districts.
– An epoch-making win is predicted for the Labour party in Britain’s general elections this Thursday, potentially snapping the Tories’ 14-year long governance and winning Labour its greatest victory in around two centuries.
The Big Read
– There’s a marked reduction in the number of pleasure boats on Shannon. A group of boat owners and riverside businesses believe that this steep decline will persist if Waterways Ireland implements its proposed new fees and regulations.
Opinion
– According to Paul Murphy, it’s time to unite the leftist groups to defeat Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
– John McManus suggests the deposit return scheme might eventually hike up your bin prices.
Business
– Bulging corporation and income tax intakes have strengthened the nation’s fiscal position. This surge is anticipated to feed political calls for a pre-election spending-happy budget.
– An opinion piece by Karlin Lillington delves into the worrisome normalisation of mass surveillance, specifically through facial recognition technology. It discusses the international concerns escalating as the Government’s draft bill on this tech winds its way through the political pipeline.
Sports
– Rugby player Hugo Keenan discusses his return to the Sevens from Ireland, likening it to the first day back at school. He has expressed his aspiration of clinching a medal for Ireland at the Olympics.
Restaurants
Floritz critique: A stylish yet bewildering fresh dining spot boasting an extensive menu: I am led to believe that the Father’s Day luncheon was such a success that they resolved to make it available for evening dining at Floritz, an eatery that recently started trading at the Townhouse Hotel on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
Podcast Highlights
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