Ireland star facing uncertain future as Blackburn Rovers threaten to pull the plug on women's team
Blackburn Rovers, whose club captain is Donegal's Irish international midfielder Tyler Toland, could be the latest English club to be dumped out of the second tier for financial reasons.
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Irish Daily Mirror
35 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Pat Dolan: Heimar Hallgrimsson is set apart by his emotional intelligence
Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in the world, nice place to go, but do you know what, we have a job to do. That is what has been important about Heimir Hallgrimsson, he recognises that when you are employed as an Irish manager - and it is the same in any sport - it is a results-oriented job. We know he is not one of the sexy managers around Europe, he is never likely to get a Premier League job but for me his biggest strength has been his emotional intelligence, that is having the ability to control your emotions and not get too up or too down. And if you want the shorthand, catchy phrase, emotional intelligence is thinking that so-and is a gobsh!te but not telling him... So in terms of Emotional Intelligence he would be top of the class in the Premier League and that is a big boost when he is the Irish manager. Because basically these players know that win, lose or draw, there will be logic in his reactions. That and a total commitment to not try and fool the Irish public that we have to play like Brazil but manage the bleeding obvious and understand we must work to our strengths. Just look at England last Saturday, going to Andorra ranked 173 in the world - only marginally higher than my aunt Dora - and they got themselves into a real pickle and left with a lot of more questions than answers. Compared to Andorra, Luxembourg are ranked at 91 and they are a far better team than that number suggests, they are almost world beaters among the minnows! And if you don't believe me just ask Sweden who went to Luxembourg in March and got beaten 1-0. Heimir Hallgrimsson knows therefore that this match is important to continue the feelgood factor around a camp that is quietly building an identity that will dictate how successful we can be and part of that identity is being humble and being honest enough to admit if we are horrible to play against but winning games we are doing something right. Sometimes when you have a population that is the size of Ireland's, that's the reality of not just football but life because there is nothing wrong with being the best version of yourself. Not because of ability but because of a desperation and hunger to succeed, that's what Heimar Hallgrimsson has beneath that calm demeanour - and he has that in bucketloads. All the nonsense about Ireland teams having to play beautiful football was just so full of dishonesty, confusion, doubt because in modern football you have to pass the football, you have to keep it, they are the basics. But what defines success is what you do with possession. Just look at England in the RCDE stadium in Andorra, they had 83 per cent possession yet there was no feelgood factor coming off the pitch. With Ireland we tend to get our feelgood from what we do with the ball in terms of scoring goals, creating and stopping goals and this makes the difference between a successful team and one that's not. This is what going to Luxembourg is about; the first aim is to start with a clean sheet and while we might not have kept a clean sheet in our last four games and only kept one in our last six. But when you have goalkeeping talent as good as ours, where Caoimhin Kelleher and Gavin Bazunu are such shining lights and we have got lots of others coming through. For any Irish football team having a good keeper and a good defence is absolutely vital. And when you look at a player who is such a monster of an individual and a monster of a man like Jake O'Brien who has yet to be tested as a first choice in the team, it gives you even more hope. What character Jake has on display, he has just turned 24 years-of-age and after starting with Youghal United and Lakewood Athletic he got a break following starring at Cork City. Moving to Crystal Palace his career never really took off as an Eagle and the games he played were on loan to Swindon Town and in Belgium where he won his first trophy - clinching promotion to their top flight - which, in turn, got him a big move to Lyon. Now an Everton player, there was an initially sticky period at the Toffees, remember he is 6'6" and was seen primarily as a centre-half at first but it wasn't until David Moyes found a place for him at right-back that he ended the season in great form and great shape. That's why it is clear that whilst everyone loves to tell us we haven't the players, the fact is that Jake O'Brien has simply yet to establish himself in the Irish team, exposes that myth. You don't have to have world class players as an Irish manager to build an organised and competitive team and, do you know what, over-achievement is what every Irish team needs to achieve. When you look at the options we have at the top of the pitch where, obviously, Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson will feature and where Adam Idah got the nod against Senegal, we are a fortunate country. I love Adam Idah, I just wish that when you see him interviewed that there is more joy and energy in his answers and maybe Heimir Hallgrimsson's calm and honest approach to managing Ireland is sometimes the difference between succeeding and failing at the job. He is not talking about how good the players might become but, clearly, making them better and turning Adah into not just a young player with potential but a good one. Adam is still only 24 and after a tough time at Norwich City it is not easy going to Celtic as there is so much focus and pressure. We should be celebrating this young Irishman who has won two league titles, an SFA cup and a League with Celtic, that's not you look at potential there is Troy Parrott who had a decent time in Holland with AZ Alkmaar. And then Evan Ferguson who is such a decent young man and decent player but who hasn't had a decent time anywhere is still only 20 years of age and yet he has already got 21 caps and already got five goals for his country. Take out Robbie Keane and you haven't had many international goals at 20 years of age. That's why Heimir Hallgrimsson is getting more from Evan is going to be crucial. And wouldn't it be great if this started against Luxembourg because we don't need Evan to get back to being a '€100m' he produces the form that makes him worth half that money that will do! I also said last week what a massive fan I am of Killian Phillips, the King of Kilbarrack. - wouldn't it be great if he gave Roddy Doyle something to write about. When we talk of the Jake O'Briens and Killian Phillips, they don't just have the character and the physicality, two things that the Ireland team used to be famous for. That's why what I want to see in Luxembourg this evening, not just a clean sheet and physicality - and while Heimir Hallgrimsson has said we will never be the best team in the world - let's use that strength and physicality in our play. Because whether you are Real Madrid or Barcelona or Youghal United or Kilbarrack Utd, a set-piece goal counts for just as much as the sensational ones that Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Adam Ida can deliver for their country. There is a job to be done tonight and we have got to make sure that we, once again, become that Ireland team that finds a way to get the job done.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Waterford Airport officials back document calling for pilot training increase
The 60-page booklet, called A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation, is by Irelandia, an Irish aviation investment group. The authors engaged with a wide variety of industry leaders, in Ireland and internationally, and suggest how Ireland can build on its reputation as an aviation hub in global booming sector. 'In particular we believe the policy recommendation for an ISIF-backed loan fund to quadruple pilot training in Ireland would boost activity at Waterford, where flight training is already well established,' said an airport spokesperson. 'Waterford Airport will help scale up pilot training if Government helps expand the flight training schools. 'Such development would facilitate the further development of Waterford Airport, as would an expansion in marketing support for regional airports which is also recommended in A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation. 'This report together with the recent announcement that Waterford Airport in partnership with SETU will be the base for the National Aerospace Academy further solidifies the need for expansion to Waterford Airport,' added the spokesperson. In its foreword, Dr Dec Ryan said they 'strongly believe commercial aviation contributes positively to economic, social and income progress across the world, helping both developed and developing economies to create employment and opportunity. We also know that Ireland has a special relationship with commercial aviation that stretches back over one hundred years. 'Today, Ireland is a proven leader in all critical parts of the aviation sector, being home to the world's most significant aircraft leasing companies, Europe's largest airline and a major eco-system of aviation related businesses in airports, maintenance facilities, manufacturing, air traffic control, pilot training, regulation and professional services that collectively employ over 50,000 people. 'It is in this context that Irelandia commissioned an analysis to identify a set of policy initiatives which will strengthen the Irish aviation industry. The urgency of this work is underscored by the risks to jobs and incomes associated with fast moving geo-political threats.' Airports have 'profound positive effects on their local economies', according to the authors. 'Alongside direct employment they require a wide number of services that help manage the flow of passengers and operation of retail outlets. 'Research shows that for every one million passengers, airports can create 2,000 to 4,000 jobs in various roles, from pilots and air traffic controllers to crews, security personnel, office staff, maintenance teams and retail workers.' Ireland is the global leader in aircraft leasing, a high value sub-set of the international financial services sector, say the authors. It is estimated over 50pc of all commercial aircraft worldwide are leased. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Over 50 leasing companies operate in Ireland, managing a combined fleet of 10,000 airplanes, over 7,000 owned and around 3,000 managed, with orders for a further 2,600. Eleven of these leasing companies are headquartered in Ireland. 'The sector leases aircraft to airlines across the world and these companies are positioning to benefit from the forecast 80pc increase in commercial aircraft numbers over the next 20 years.' Pilot training in Ireland takes place in two schools, the Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) based in Cork and Waterford airports, and the National Flight Centre (NFC) located in Weston airport. These schools produce about 100 qualified commercial pilots annually and between them operate a fleet of over 35 single and multi-engine aircraft in addition to a number of simulators. To quadruple the output of commercial pilots in Ireland, the authors recommend creating a €40m pilot training loan fund from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to provide low cost debt finance to train commercial pilots at Irish flight schools, quadrupling the annual flow of cockpit crews for European airlines and positioning Ireland as a centre of excellence for pilot training with a focus on smaller underutilised airports including Waterford, Sligo, Derry and Weston. Other recommendations include a focus on training activities at underutilised airports, including Waterford, Weston and Sligo, and that the Government work with communities using €14,000 per year tax break to accommodate students. The authorities should co-ordinate pilot output with demand from airlines in Ireland and abroad, adds the report.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry tourism would face a hit if car rental sector is forced to make EV switch
With the EU Commission said to be considering introducing mandatory electric vehicle quotas for corporate fleets ahead of the 2035 deadline, it means rental car companies would need to switch to electric before then. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú believes this will create a shortage in rental cars that will hurt tourism in places like Kerry resulting in lost jobs for coastal communities. She added that it would create a knock-on impact for rural parts where tourists visit because they are able to readily avail of affordable rental cars. 'That is something I cannot stand over,' Ms Ní Mhurchú said, adding that she is 100 per cent in favour of electric vehicles but this is akin to putting the 'cart before the horse'. Ms Ní Mhurchú said 'forcing' car rental companies to go electric before Ireland has the necessary infrastructure in place will damage rural tourism by making rental cars more expensive and less available. She explained how the industry could not cope with such a burden and it would ultimately lead to less rental cars at a higher price. 'Irish tourism depends heavily on the car rental sector. Rental cars allow tourists to travel to remote parts of Ireland, where there isn't the necessary charging infrastructure. Tourists would be dependent on public charging points, and we just don't have enough in rural and remote parts of Ireland, as things stand,' she said. At a Kerry County Council meeting in March, the precarious situation surrounding EVs and charging points was discussed – a situation that is already having a negative impact on tourism. At that Tarbert Island Ferry Terminal – the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way in North Kerry – there is no EV charger between Tarbert and Ballyheigue, a distance of almost 70km. In raising the issue, Fine Gael Councillor Mike Foley stated that Killimer Ferry Terminal in County Clare has a 47kW EV 'fast charger' available, yet none are available for nearly 70 kilometres in North Kerry. He said one has to travel a further 18 kilometres to avail of a charger in Tralee, which Cllr Foley said is not ideal for tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way corridor. The Car Rental Council of Ireland state there are higher maintenance costs associated with electric vehicles. The average cost of renting an electric car is currently 33 per cent higher than the average cost of renting a traditional car in Ireland.
