Cian Tracey: Who are the biggest winners and losers from Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad?
As expected, Paul Connell's 32-man Ireland squad for the summer tour to Georgia (July 5) and Portugal (July 12) has a very fresh look to it.
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Irish Times
42 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Hare golf coursing: a mother and leverets up close in Carlow
I am a sports photographer and, while recently taking photos at Carlow Golf Club, I was told that a female hare was feeding two leverets about two metres away from the window. I went outside and slowly got as close as I could and took the shot. The hare did not move at all. Pat Ahern, Co Carlow This is a wonderful image of a working mother. Female hares can have two or three litters per year – this is her first this year. Hares do not use burrows, so the young leverets are born in a depression or form in longish grass. The mother spends little time with them, although she is always in cover close by. The leverets stay very still in the form, in which they were born, for the first few days and the mother returns around dusk to feed them – just one feed every 24 hours. After a few days the young disperse but they will return to the spot at feeding time for about three further weeks. Large red damselfly. Photograph supplied by Paul Dunne I saw this red damselfly on laurel in Connemara. Paul Dunne, Co Galway This is the large red damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula. It is the first species of that group on the wing every year and marks the start of the season. It is our only red damselfly – the other red ones that appear later in the summer are all larger and stouter. It is common throughout Ireland, particularly in areas where the waterbodies are acid, such as bog pools and upland lakes. READ MORE Common wave moth. Photograph supplied by Darren Maguire I spotted this delicate and beautiful little chap on a whitethorn hedge in early May. I haven't seen one before; can you help identify it and hopefully provide some background? Darren Maguire, Co Meath This is a common wave moth. It overwinters as a pupa, and this one has now turned into an elegant adult. While it may be visiting the hawthorn for a feed of nectar to keep it going, it needs to find some willow or aspen because it is on the leaves of these trees that its caterpillars feed. These can be either green or brown with cryptic makings, and they really blend into their background to avoid being detected by pesky, sharp-eyed birds. May bug I found this beetle on its back and struggling on my patio. I turned it over and left it alone and a little while later it was gone. What is it? From Co Dublin by email Lots of queries and images of this insect have arrived during May – I assume from new readers from last June onwards. This is the May bug, which emerges and flies every year in May and always graces this column then. It is a large beetle, up to 30mm long and quite heavy for a beetle. The males have impressive antennae, which can open out like a fan – all the better to detect the presence of a female. As adults, they feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs and swarm around them at dusk in the hope of getting lucky. Barrel jellyfish. Photograph supplied by Judith Brassil What is this jellyfish seen on Curracloe beach on May Day? It was about 12 inches in diameter. Is it dangerous? Judith Brassil, Co Wexford This is an early sighting of the barrel jellyfish, which usually reaches our shores later in year when the water is warmer. Young fish and small crabs don't think it is dangerous as they often seek shelter in the protective tentacles. It can sting us however, although the sting is usually only mildly venomous. Please submit your nature query, observation, or photo, with a location, via or by email to weekend@
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Spiced coconut and cauliflower soup with peanut rayu
Serves : 2 Course : Lunch Cooking Time : 15 mins Prep Time : 5 mins Ingredients 2tbs vegetable oil 350g cauliflower 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, chopped 300ml coconut milk 300ml vegetable stock Sea salt and black pepper 1tbs ground coriander ½tbs ground cumin 1tsp chilli flakes For the topping: 1tbs peanut rayu Zest of half a lime Place a saucepan on the heat and add the oil. Chop the cauliflower into small florets and add to the pan along with the onion and garlic. Cook for about five minutes on a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the veg begins to caramelise evenly, then add the coconut milk and stock and stir to bring together. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the coriander, cumin and chilli flakes and bring to the boil. Then turn down the heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, before removing from the heat and allowing to cool slightly. Place in a blender and blend until smooth (add a little more stock if too thick). Spoon into bowls, then top with some peanut rayu and garnish with some lemon zest.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Gazpacho with black olive, basil and feta
Serves : 2 Course : Lunch, Dinner Prep Time : 1 hr Ingredients 500g cherry vine tomatoes 2 cloves garlic Sea salt and black pepper 60g leftover bread, crust removed, torn into small pieces About 200ml vegetable stock, cooled 5tbs good quality olive oil Juice of half a lemon 1tsp sugar ½tsp tabasco For the topping: 1tbs good quality olive oil 50g pitted black olives, chopped Handful picked basil leaves 30g feta cheese, crumbled Preheat the oven to 140 degrees. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place on a lined oven tray along with the garlic cloves. Season with salt and pepper and roast in the oven for one hour at 140 degrees. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Place the cherry tomatoes, garlic, bread, vegetable stock, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar and Tabasco into a blender and blend until smooth. You can add more stock if needed until it reaches the desired consistency. Cover and place in the fridge for two hours before serving but it can be left in the fridge overnight. To serve, spoon into bowls. Top with some more olive oil, black olives, basil leaves and some crumbled feta.
