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Irish Examiner
9 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Jim Ratcliffe: New-look Man Utd training ground can foster ‘winning culture'
Jim Ratcliffe heralded Manchester United's new-look training ground as a 'world-class performance environment' as it reopened following a £50million transformation. The Red Devils have called Carrington home since January 2000, when they left their longstanding base, The Cliff, to move into a facility that cost £14.3m to build at the time. The training ground has undergone renovations over the past 25 years but had fallen behind many Premier League clubs, leading United to announce plans to turn it into a state-of-the-art complex last June. The renovation work was completed during the 2024-25 season and Ruben Amorim's squad moved into the men's first team building this week having returned from their pre-season tour of the United States. Ratcliffe's 300m US dollars (£236.7m at the time of the agreement) infrastructure investment as part of the deal to become minority owner funded a project that he believes will help United in their fight to return to the top. 'Following a review of the facility last year, we made a quick decision to invest significantly in the creation of a world-class performance environment for staff and players to reflect our ambition and vision for Manchester United,' the United co-owner said. 'We are delighted with the outcome and are confident the new facility will play an important role in building a winning culture at the club.' This is the biggest upgrade to Carrington since it opened at the turn of the millennium, with United calling it a 'leading-edge, high-performance training environment designed to inspire collaboration, innovation and excellence'. The latest phase of development at Carrington follows the opening of the £10m women's and academy building last summer. United said: 'Equipment and technology have been upgraded throughout, with a focus on fitness, nutrition, recovery and team unity. 'Designed with input from players and staff, priority has been placed on functionality, openness and connectivity, with increased natural light and open workspaces. 'Most of the club's executive leadership team has also moved into the building, together with a number of other staff relocated from Old Trafford, signifying a shift in the club's centre of gravity towards Carrington, with football at the core.' United chief executive Omar Berrada added: 'This project represents a clear step towards unifying every part of the club around a shared footballing vision. 'By bringing our staff and players closer together in one integrated environment, we are creating a culture of collaboration and high-performance.' This project represents a clear step towards unifying every part of the club around a shared footballing vision The £50m training ground project was overseen by Foster + Partners, which was also appointed last September to develop a masterplan for the Old Trafford stadium district. United unveiled their eye-catching plans to replace Old Trafford with a new 100,000-seater stadium at the firm's headquarters in March, when the club stated their ambition to move in by the start of the 2030-31 season. The revamped training ground continues a busy summer at the club having finished 15th last season and lost the Europa League final. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon have joined Amorim's Red Devils, with Benjamin Sesko set to follow after United agreed a fee rising to £73.7m with RB Leipzig.
Irish Examiner
9 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Jysk to open in Killarney and moving statues head for Kerry
Anyone who loves lending a touch of Scandi-chic to their spaces will have been doing drive-bys in Killarney, Co Kerry, in recent weeks as soon as an 'opening soon' sign popped up in the Deerpark area. As the current seasonal sale continues at Jysk, excitement is also growing here on the Home-front following confirmation that the Danish company will launch its second store in the Kingdom this autumn. A spokesperson tells us: 'We are delighted that Jysk can confirm that the brand is due to open a store in Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney and it is currently scheduled to open in September (exact date TBC).' While Jysk has not finalised the team, it plans to recruit between eight and ten new staff for the Killarney store. The international chain, which first opened its doors in 1979, has more than 3,300 stores and 26,500 employees in 51 countries. Jysk's summer sale continues this month. Back to the sale — buyers can save up to 60% on selected pieces. For bedroom updates, the Vellerup wardrobe (RRP €439, now €340) offers generous storage space paired with a sleek and modern look. Complement it with the Nordby bedside table (RRP €99, now €40), ideal for keeping reading matter or late-night cuppas to hand. The natural tones of Vedde dining table (RRP €269, now €135) bring warmth to dining spaces, perfect for shared meals with family and friends. Pair it with the chic Purhus chair (now €59). Outdoor elegance It's all about the great Danes right now. Another Nordic design hero, BoConcept, has added a slick new matt green shade to its Cancún outdoor range for summer 2025. Cancún embodies casual elegance with its round form and clean lines. And the good news is, because it's created in lightweight, galvanised steel, Cancún furniture is perfect for use outdoors all year round. The collection is also available in ash grey. BoConcept has added a new matt green shade to its Cancún outdoor range for summer 2025. The side table is €289, while the café table retails at €479, and the dining table at €1439. The dining chair is priced €289, the lounge chair is yours for €339, and the lounge sofa is €569. Throwing shapes From Nordic cool to moving statues, it seems like all good things are headed for Kerry this September. An exhibition featuring works by iconic names from the Irish and international art world is bound for Kenmare with the intention of transforming the grounds of a five-star hotel, as Irish gallery Gormleys brings a world-class art experience to the luxurious Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare. Colgo la Luna grande by Giacinto Bosco, one of the outdoor sculptures that can be viewed at the Sheen Falls exhibition this September 14 to October 12. From September 14 to October 12, the lodge's 300-acre estate of stunning natural surroundings will be the backdrop for a curated selection of sculptures and artworks. Works by Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Patrick Rubinstein will rub shoulders with a striking collection of life-size outdoor sculptures positioned around the lodge's immaculate grounds between the Sheen River and the dramatic mountains of Kenmare Bay. 'This is the first time Gormleys will host an exhibition in Kerry, following the success of Art + Soul, Ireland's biggest art and sculpture events, held at Castlemartyr Resort in Cork, The K Club in Kildare and Culloden Estate in Belfast,' said Oliver Gormley of Gormleys. One of Ireland's most acclaimed artists, Kerry man Liam O'Neill, will debut a brand-new collection of sculptures, adding a special local dimension to the exhibition. Within the hotel, guests can admire iconic pieces by global icons, including Warhol, Dali and Rubinstein, alongside an array of celebrated Irish artists. An art appreciation dinner with live entertainment will be held on Tuesday, September 16. The free exhibition will officially open on Sunday, September 14, at 4pm, and will open daily to the public from 11am to 7pm, but will be closed on certain days to accommodate private events. Reservations for the art appreciation dinner call Sheen Falls Lodge directly on 064-664 1600. Cocoon time With one in three adults now actively trying to break up with their phones, it's no surprise that quiet hobbies like reading, gardening and journalling are making a major comeback — and the interiors world is taking note. A new study by DFS reveals that one in four people have already created a dedicated space in their homes for screen-free activities — from cosy reading nooks to peaceful meditation corners. The Joules Patterdale pattern accent chair in Forest Green Ditsy, DFS. Comfort-first furniture and calming design are at the heart of this movement. The research shows over half of us (54%) are prioritising plush sofas and chairs, while 35% are embracing soft, neutral tones to create a cocoon from the chaos. The DFS Serenis swivel accent chair in Burgundy Rest Cord. If you're thinking of creating your own 'quiet zone', DFS points you towards its Joules Patterdale Ditzy chair — a floral classic perfect for curling up with a book — or the Serenis Swivel chair, designed to gently cocoon and ground you in the moment. For those who like to meditate, the Zanetta Velvet chair brings soft texture and serenity to this corner, elevating the everyday. 'We're seeing more people turning their homes into sanctuaries — spaces where they can relax, reconnect and recharge,' according to DFS. 'Quiet hobbies are a beautiful reminder to slow down, and our homes should support that.'
RTÉ News
39 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Man called 'dog' by boss awarded €8,000 in unpaid wages at WRC
A worker who said his ex-boss slashed his rostered hours down to just one day a week and got "abusive" with him at a meeting has won nearly €8,000 in unpaid wages and compensation. Craig O'Brien told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that businessman Zemari Jalilzad "berated" him in front of multiple colleagues at a meeting last September when he objected to the cut in hours, telling him: "Who are you? You are nothing, you are a dog." The company then failed to send him his wages for the month of September on payday the following week, he said The employment tribunal has found Mr Jalilzad's wholesaling company, Jalilzad Electronics Ltd, in breach of the Payment of Wages Act 1991 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 on foot of complaints by Mr O'Brien, in a decision published today. After nobody representing the company dialled in for scheduled hearings by videoconference in May and July this year, the WRC heard the complaints in the absence of the respondent. Mr O'Brien, who was represented by David Lane of McGroddy Brennan Solicitors in the case, had "many years' experience in the retail and wholesale trade", in particular with household products, toys and seasonal stock, the tribunal noted. The complainant told the tribunal he met Mr Jalilzad when the businessman came to buy up stock during the liquidation of his former employer. Mr Jalilzad had asked him at that stage to join him in establishing his business, he said. Employer 'upset' and 'losing faith' He prepared sales forecasts and a business plan, which Mr Jalilzad agreed to finance, he said. He then travelled to China on behalf of Mr Jalilzad to visit manufacturers of Halloween-related products with a view to supplying these to the Irish retail trade, he said. In May 2024, he joined the company as general manager, on a salary of €50,000 per annum, he said. He proceeded to set up a showroom in Dundalk for retailers to see stock, hired a website administrator, prepared a list of suppliers, and managed to pre-sell stock worth €150,000 to shops, he said. Mr O'Brien said it became clear that "things wouldn't work out" as Mr Jalilzad "insisted" on using a different supplier and "refused to budge" on this. The complainant said the said the product range, price and quality from this supplier "wasn't what customers wanted" and "not what he built the [sales] forecast around". However, Mr Jalilzad "refused to pay deposits to the factories" and the stock Mr O'Brien had pre-sold was never delivered, leaving him to explain matters to the customers, the complainant said. Mr O'Brien said his employer was "upset" about the failing sales figures and customers were "losing faith". He was "constantly on the road trying to fix problems" in July and August 2024 arising from "communications issues with order picking", he said. He told the tribunal he wrote to his employer outlining the problems with the business on 15 September last year, also expressing concerns about the company's finances. The complainant alleged that when he raised a concern on 25 September that the website administrator hadn't been paid, Mr Jalilzad "shouted abuse" at him over the phone. 'You are nothing, you are a dog' On 30 September, Mr O'Brien said he met with the website administrator, Mr Jalilzad, an associate named Imam Jalil, and the businessman's brother in an attempt to "resolve" matters. He said there was a "cool start" to the meeting before Mr Jalilzad "became abusive" and told him that with immediate effect he was "only required to work one day a week". Mr O'Brien said he challenged Mr Jalilzad's right to change his terms of employment "without discussion", upon which Mr Jalilzad "berated" him and said: "Who are you? You are nothing, you are a dog." The businessman sent him a letter later that day cutting his working week from five days to one day a week as a "temporary change". Mr O'Brien's payslip for September arrived on 1 October, recording gross wages of €4,166.66, but "no money was transferred", Mr O'Brien told the WRC. When he wrote looking for the wages, Mr Jalil replied by email stating: "Please let us know if you are available to work one day a week," the tribunal was told. Mr O'Brien said he heard nothing from the firm about what duties he was to perform. Wages 'unlawfully deducted' Mr O'Brien said his employment ended on 31 October when it "became clear" the managing director wasn't going to pay his wages or have "any contact" with him. In her decision, adjudicator Catherine Byrne said it was "entirely unacceptable" that the company had failed to consult Mr O'Brien about the cut to his hours and decided on it without his agreement, the company was not in breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 in that regard. She also found there was "no requirement" for pay in lieu of notice in circumstances where the complainant – who had just six months' service at the time - considered himself to have been "constructively dismissed" due to his employer's conduct. However, Ms Byrne ruled that the company was nevertheless liable for Mr O'Brien's wages for both September and October 2024, and ordered it to pay him €3,078.86 in tax-free compensation for both months, based on the net value of his full-time wages for the period. The wages had been "unlawfully deducted" in breach of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, she ruled. She also found Mr O'Brien had been deprived of eight days' accrued annual leave in breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, awarding him a further €1,731.60 in compensation.
