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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Hallways: Interior designers show how to make an entrance
A hallway should set the scene for our taste. It should be an inviting space. It should never be a dumping ground for shoes. Fans of Virgin Media's The Salvage Squad are being teased by presenter Brian Dowling posting on his Instagram about filming getting underway for the second season. We have a while to go before it reaches our TV screens with the fun of shopping expeditions for salvage, and trades interpreting designs to meet deadlines, all on €1,000 budgets, so to get design inspiration for hallways in the meantime, I caught up with the designers from season one, including Belfast-based Peter Irvine. Brian Dowling, presenter of 'The Salvage Squad'. Peter, of The White Home, who made over a Drogheda family's living room and is now immersed in filming season two. 'There's a common misconception that the hall should be a diluted version of your home,' he says. 'Make a statement as soon as you open the door. My mum made a beautiful tapestry and I have it by the door. Have low-level lighting with dimmable lamps. You can put them on a timer, and it makes coming home nicer. It's your home, your rules. We got rid of the door between the hall and the living room. It was always open anyway. Taking it away has created a better flow.' Interior designer Peter Irvine. So, what would be his ideal hall look like if budget were no object? 'The luxury of space, natural light to have a tree indoors,' he says. 'I don't need shiny tiles and a central staircase. I love the woody, natural aesthetic. I love the Spanish villa on the hill look with no marble floors. Just the sun and the views. It's also good to have something soft under your feet if you can, but not if you have three kids going to rugby.' A sturdy repurposed sideboard is given a painted facelift to create a luxury hall table with a surface for styling with accessories. Picture: Annie Sloan Natasha Rocca Devine created a space for a couple and their canines on her episode of The Salvage Squad, but went on to a much bigger and more personal project: Building her dream home. She says she designed the hallway with intention. 'It's one of the spaces I am most proud of. It combines everything I love: Elegance, sustainability, and a boutique hotel feel.' Using sustainable stone for structure and impact, she added a vintage chest for history and character, and then referenced her love of art deco. 'I styled the feature wall with art deco wallpaper, along with commissioned art from Irish artist Aishling Hennessy, and a strong pendant light that complements this, just like you would find in an entrance to a luxury townhouse or hotel. Natasha Rocca Devine. "The textures are layered, the tones are warm, and the scent is always seasonal and subtle. The hallway does not just look the part. It feels like our home from the moment you walk in.' For DIY interior hall projects, she suggests having a focal point. 'Lead with a memorable statement, whether it's a bold piece of artwork, a beautifully styled console table, commissioned art, or an eye-catching mirror,' she says. 'To truly elevate a hallway, think beyond the visual. I love using soft pendants or sconces on dimmers, a hallway runner underfoot, and natural materials like rattan, stone like Cosentino, or wood. Finish with flowers such as Silk Prestige, a subtle scent from a diffuser or candle to make that first step inside feel like a warm welcome.' A compact console table with abstract art and a warm wall colour set an inviting tone as you step through the door. Picture: Oka Aoife Tobin of Style So Simple helped a mother and daughter in Cobh, Co Cork, revamp their dining room in The Salvage Squad's first season, and she now has her attention on her own home. 'If you have the most beautiful hallway but people don't know where to hang their coat or they want to take their shoes off, it can make them feel uncomfortable, so have a designated space,' she says. Interior designer Aoife Tobin. 'It's hard to get furniture to fit a normal hallway, so look at your joinery. If you're getting built-in wardrobes, look at the hallway at the same time. 'Usually when I'm doing a hall, I look at the architectural detail; coving, panelling and floor. Things like artwork, creating ambience with lights, and mirrors to help a small space look bigger.' Having recently moved into her new house, she views her hallway as among the areas for attention: 'I have a normal-sized hall, but because it's mine, it's my dream one. At the moment, I'm looking at my kitchen, utility and panelling, including joinery and panelling for the hall too. My husband said, What? But I told him he'd appreciate it in the hall later, not coming home into a mess.' Read More Easy home improvements that don't require planning permission
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘It will change the way I act, because it's changed me personally': Blue Lights star Richard Dormer on experience with SOS NI
Blue Lights star Richard Dormer has recalled how working with healthcare charity SOS NI has altered his life and subsequently will change the way he acts. The Co Armagh actor, who has starred in Game of Thrones and gritty crime thriller Gangs of London, played the role of PC Gerard 'Gerry' Cliff in the Belfast-based BBC police drama.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Nearly 30 NI firms including well-known pub owner ‘failed to pay minimum wage to workers'
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) released a list of 518 employers in the UK that underpaid workers over several years, including 28 people or businesses here. In total, around 1,650 workers in Northern Ireland were underpaid almost £160,000. It means pay for some staff fell short of the national minimum wage, or the national living wage, which is what the Government calls the minimum wage for those aged over 21. The Northern Ireland company with the highest bill was Property Management Services, which has a registered office address in Annagh Drive, Craigavon. DBT said the company had underpaid 414 staff to the tune of £54,852.44. It is one of the Belfast-based Golf Holdings group of companies, which spans pubs, off-licences and retail. Four other Golf Holdings limited companies with registered offices in Belfast are also identified in the list. In total, its firms had underpaid workers around £116,300. Golf Holdings company Regency Hotel (Northern Ireland) failed to pay £19,952.21 to 201 workers, while Winemark the Winemerchants failed to pay £15,738.33 to 186 workers. Philip Russell failed to pay £10,507.58 to 111 workers, while Wine Inns failed to pay £9,295.35 to 103 workers. Wine Inns is the owner of pubs and clubs around Belfast including Alibi, The Empire, Cutters and the Four Winds. Golf Holdings has been contacted for comment regarding the non-payment of the minimum wage by its subsidiaries. Sean Elliott, a director of Elliott's Garage in Ballymena, failed to pay £17,518.00 to one worker, according to the government. The business has been contacted for comment. Whistledown Inn in Warrenpoint failed to pay £2,154.29 to 46 workers, the government announcement said. It has been contacted for comment. There are five nurseries on the list, with Building Blocks Day Nursery (NI) in Toome recorded as having failed to pay the highest amount, at £5,576.45, due to 45 workers. Owner Kate McFerran told the Belfast Telegraph: 'We didn't realise that we should have been paying for their (staff) uniforms. "This has all been rectified. It was an oversight for us, and even our accountant didn't know. "Everyone has now been back-paid.' Restaurant the Sooty Olive in Londonderry, which has now closed, failed to pay £819.24 to 33 workers. UK-wide, Pizza Express, Lidl, British Airways, and outsourcing firm Capita were among the big businesses named by the Government. In total, nearly 60,000 people UK-wide had been left out of pocket, the DBT said. Capita, one of the Government's biggest suppliers with major public sector contacts, was top of the list, owing £1.15m to 5,543 workers. This meant individual employees were underpaid about £208 on average. A spokesman for Capita said it was 'inadvertent underpayments' between 2015 and 2021, due to issues including adding 25 minutes per week for call centre staff to log in for their shifts. 'All owed monies were paid immediately, and we are sorry for any impact this had on colleagues and former colleagues at that time,' the company added. 'Our processes and systems were updated to ensure there would be no further issues; we have continued to monitor them carefully, as well as any changes to employment regulations.' Pizza Express failed to pay £760,702 to 8,470 workers – amounting to about £90 on average. A spokeswoman for Pizza Express said: 'Once we were made aware of this historic unintentional technicality, which occurred between 2012 and 2018, we swiftly identified who was impacted, apologised and rectified. 'There's nothing more important to us than fairly and accurately paying our team members.' News Catch Up - Tuesday 28th May All the workers left short will be repaid a combined £7.4 million, following investigations by HMRC between 2015 and 2022. The national living wage was £11.44 in the year to the end of March, and has risen to £12.21 since April. The minimum wage for 18-20-year-olds rose to £10 this year, and for those aged under 18 it rose to £7.55. Justin Madders, the minister for employment rights, said: 'There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don't pay their employees what they are owed.' The Government said that not all minimum wage underpayments are intentional, but those who do not pay staff correctly will be penalised. The businesses named on Thursday faced financial penalties of up to 200% of the total amount they underpaid. The full list of NI firms named for not having paid minimum wage: Property Management Services (NI) Belfast, BT3, failed to pay £54,852.44 to 414 workers Regency Hotel (Northern Ireland), Belfast, BT3, failed to pay £19,952.21 to 201 workers Sean Elliott, Ballymena, BT42, failed to pay £17,518.00 to one worker Winemark the Winemerchants, Belfast, BT3, failed to pay £15,738.33 to 186 workers Elmoreton, Belfast, BT7, failed to pay £14,782.81 to 391 workers. Philip Russell, Belfast, BT6, failed to pay £10,507.58 to 111 workers Wine Inns, Belfast, BT3, failed to pay £9,295.35 to 103 workers Building Blocks Day Nursery (NI), Toome, BT41, failed to pay £5,576.45 to 45 workers City Office (NI), Belfast, BT12, failed to pay £3,622.46 to two workers Whistledown Inn, Newry, BT34, failed to pay £2,154.29 to 46 workers R J Ferguson Company, Stewartstown, BT71, failed to pay £2,014.04 to three workers CPM Electrical, Omagh, BT79, failed to pay £1,937.71 to four workers Mr John Fulton Allen & Mr John Gary King, Strabane, BT82, failed to pay £1,725.59 to one worker SPI Trading Limited, Lisburn, BT28, failed to pay £1,656.74 to three workers Electrical Services Ltd, Castlederg, BT81, failed to pay £1,542.58 to three workers Mr Francis Joseph McParland and Mr Peter Liam McParland, Armagh, BT61, failed to pay £1,466.04 to four workers Colemans Garden Centre, Templepatrick, BT39, failed to pay £1,450.11 to 35 workers. Mcaleer & McGarrity, Cookstown, BT80, failed to pay £1,207.77 to 2 workers Trinity Park Nursery, Craigavon, BT67, failed to pay £1,020.97 to 17 workers. Birdies Day Nursery, Lisburn, BT28, failed to pay £821.32 to 8 workers Sooty Olive Ltd, Waterside, BT47, failed to pay £819.24 to 33 workers Kids Korner Day Nurseries, Belfast, BT6, failed to pay £779.81 to 23 workers Safe Gas (NI), Newtonabbey, BT36, failed to pay £639.10 to 1 worker Kanto Stranmillis, Belfast, BT9, failed to pay £590.15 to 1 worker Happy Children Day Nursery, Ballynahinch, BT24, failed to pay £573.74 to 12 workers. SC HCW, Belfast, BT5, failed to pay £533.54 to 7 workers Ardmore (Co. Derry) Pre-Cast Concrete, Ardmore, BT47, failed to pay £525.69 to 1 worker Timberquay, Derry, BT48, failed to pay £503.98 to 14 workers
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Kneecap's Glasgow gig pre-sale sells out in SECONDS after TRNSMT axe controversy
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRE-SALE tickets for Kneecap's Glasgow gig were sold out in SECONDS after their TRNSMT show was cancelled. The Irish rap trio announced last night they will take to the stage at the city's O2 Academy on July 8. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Pre-sale tickets for Kneecap's Glasgow gig sold out in seconds Credit: Reuters 5 The band were axed from the Glasgow Green festival line-up over "safety concerns" Credit: Getty 5 DMKKN2 The O2 academy live music venue in the southside of Glasgow, Scotland, UK Credit: Alamy The Belfast-based band, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, were axed from the Glasgow Green festival line-up on July 11 over "safety concerns". It comes after Met Police confirmed rapper Liam Og O Hannaidh, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. The alleged incident unfolded on November 21 last year at the O2 Forum, in Kentish Town, London. They apologised to fans following the decision, and in a bid to "try to make up for it", the band decided to put on a show at the O2 Academy. Pre-sale tickets for the gig went on sale at 10am this morning via their WhatsApp channel. And just after the sale launched, all tickets were snapped up in seconds. In a statement on X, the trio wrote: "The pre-sale sold out in 80 seconds. "New record that - remaining general sale go up Saturday 10am. These will also go in seconds. "Fair f**ks Glasgow." Kneecap are still due to feature at Glastonbury on June 28. Kneecap perform surprise gig in London hours after rapper Liam O'Hanna, 27, charged with terror offence Yesterday's announcement follows growing calls for the group to be banned from playing the Glasgow Green event. They have faced backlash after videos emerged of the self-proclaimed "Republican hoods" urging fans to "kill your local MP" and chanting "The only good Tory is a dead Tory". Kneecap said they could no longer perform at TRNSMT due to safety concerns. In a statement on Facebook, the group wrote: "Due to concerns expressed by the police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT. 5 The Irish rap trio's TRNSMT show was cancelled last night Credit: Roddy Scott 5 The band said the pre-sale tickets were sold out in 80 seconds Credit: Getty "To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry…it is out of our hands. "Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We've played there many many times, with no issues - ever. Make of that what you will. "To try to make up for it, we will be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday July 8th. "Pre-sale is tomorrow at 10am in our WhatsApp channel. "General sale is 10am this coming Saturday." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Any decision on the line up at TRNSMT is for the organisers and there was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked. "Officers have highlighted the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event. "We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival." A spokesperson for TRNSMT said: 'Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap will no longer perform at TRNSMT on Friday, 11 July. We thank fans for their understanding."
ITV News
4 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Solent ferry firm hails 'new era' of flying high-speed electric ferries in the UK
The boss of a Solent ferry company has hailed a "new era" of flying high-speed electric ferries in the UK. Red Funnel, which runs passenger and vehicle services between Southampton and Cowes, Isle of Wight, has partnered with Belfast-based firm Artemis Technologies to launch a zero-emissions foiling vessel next year. The 150-passenger ferry, which costs between £10-12 million to build, uses advanced hydrofoil technology and modularised battery systems. The hull lifts out above the water, which significantly reduces drag and wake so that the electric boat can travel longer distances at speed. The Red Funnel ferry will be plugged in for a quick charge each time it berths and is expected to save up to 3,700 tonnes of carbon emissions each year compared with conventional high-speed ferries. Its launch in 2026 will follow that of two others built by Artemis Technologies, which are expected to launch in Belfast and Orkney later this year. Iain Percy, Olympic sailing gold medallist and chief executive of Artemis Technologies, said the EF-24 Passenger is the first-ever electric foiling boat of this size in the world with permission to run commercial services. "The problem with electric ferries is they really can't go far or fast," he said, with challenges including drag and huge amounts of energy from the grid to the batteries that need to be carried on board. "The flying part here – the foil – it's the unlocker to do commercially viable range and speed." Fran Collins, Red Funnel's chief executive, said: 'This isn't just a new vessel. It's the beginning of a new era – defined by zero-emission technology, a smoother passenger experience, and a shared ambition to decarbonise ferry travel.' Speaking to a stakeholder audience at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, Ms Collins said the partnership with Artemis allowed Red Funnel to take a 'tangible' step in its decarbonisation journey with little risk. "I was blown away by the technology and blown away by the work and the research that had gone into this," she said. The cost of the ferry is an uplift of around 30% compared with conventional ferries but the firm will save an estimated £1 million a year on running costs, with a boat shelf-life of around 25 years, according to Mr Percy. Calls for government intervention over 'unreliable' Isle of Wight ferries Calls for 'ferociously expensive' ferry services to be regulated The Olympic sailor said the firm approached its mission to decarbonise maritime travel with 'the ability to save enough energy to justify the cost of the technology'. "The reality of the world is that we can't increase costs to decarbonise in the current environment. It's not going to happen," he said. This means both firms expect no increase in Red Funnel passenger fares when the service kicks off next year. On ticket prices, Ms Collins said: "Iain was very clear that his vision for this is that it's cost-neutral to put in the technology, and that's where we expect it to be. "So from a ticket price perspective, we're not going to put ticket prices up as a result of having the Artemis vessels in." She also said the new boat will help the firm cut service times back to pre-pandemic from 35 minutes to 30 minutes so they can better match up the journey with train times and improve the service's reliability. Red Funnel hopes to expand its fleet of electric foiling vehicles and introduce hybrid vehicle ferries but Ms Collins said the grid infrastructure remains a bottleneck to scaling their green ambitions. In the meantime, the firm has been calling for the Government to exempt lifeline services from the planned UK Emissions Trading Scheme, which will put a cap on the amount of carbon firms can emit while allowing them to buy more allowances to cover their excess. "I think we need to be very careful," she said. "I think that imposing charges on lifeline services when there's no alternative is wrong. "I think we need to incentivise us all to change but we cannot be responsible for putting in billions of pounds of infrastructure upgrades. "We have to be careful it doesn't just become a tax on people because it all comes back to the consumer."
