Latest news with #BrendanSmith
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
County Cavan: Lightning strike kills 10 young cattle
Ten young cattle have been killed in a lightning strike in the Republic of one-year-old heifers died on a farm at Butlersbridge in County News NI understands the animals were struck while sheltering under a tree during rain and lightning strikes in the region on Friday Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith described it as a "rare and freak incident". 'Emotional and financial loss' He said: "I was shocked to hear of the loss of 10 cattle and it must have been a terrible shock for the famer to come along and see that."Mr Smith said that his thoughts were with the farmer concerned. "Naturally it's a big financial loss, but on a family farm where they work seven days a week, it's an emotional one too," he added."When there are storms and bad weather farmers are always out there tending to their cattle."I was brought up on a farm and served as Minister for Agriculture and I know farmers take great pride in rearing their cattle and tending to them across Ireland."
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
‘An awful incident to witness': 10 cattle killed in lightning strike in Co Cavan
Ten cattle have been killed following a lightning strike in Butlersbridge in Co Cavan . Cavan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith, who lives in the area said that what had taken place on Friday evening was a 'terrible shock' to the farmer. 'The loss of ten animals is a huge loss to any farmer. Any farmer who has reared cattle and bred cattle when they lose them through disease or through a freak incident like yesterday evening well there has to be an emotional toll on the individual. 'It had to be an awful shock for the farmer. To come across ten cattle dead on your land. You wouldn't expect that to happen. But it just shows that a sudden change in weather and a storm can bring desolation. It can bring so much damage and in this incident loss of valuable life stock.' READ MORE Mr Smith said that he grew up on a farm and knows the 'huge emotional' toll it takes when cattle are lost to disease or a freak event. 'This is an exceptionally rare thing. You don't switch on and off cattle production and cattle breeding. 'So many years of work have gone in to breeding cattle, rearing them, bringing them to market value or its dairy cows bringing them to milking ... Farmers work very hard and are committed to the best animal husbandry. So for an individual to walk in to their field and see such loss. It is an awful incident to witness.' It is understood that the suckler-bred heifers had taken shelter from the rain under a tree when lightning struck the earth, instantly killing them. Meanwhile, cattle death by lightning strike is relatively rare. In August of 2024 seven cattle were killed when lightning struck a high-voltage line in a field near Gort in Co Galway. A number of sheep and horses also died. Nine cows were also killed by lightning in Co Clare on June 14th, 2020. The animals were found on their backs and sides after a thunderstorm in Dunlicky on the coast road near Kilkee. Eight cattle also died following a lightning strike in Moneygall in Co Offaly in August 2019.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over 300 new childcare spaces to come on stream as ten facilities across Cavan and Monaghan set for €5.3m cash injection
The seven figure sum has been ring-fenced as part of a national €25m investment under the Building Blocks Extension Scheme. The practicalities behind the programme were initially announced last year deliver additional capacity for one to three-year-olds by supporting existing early learning community and private service providers to undertake extensions to their existing premises. Three of the largest recipients, namely Krafty Kidz in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan along with two community childcare operators in Monaghan, are to receive €750,000 each with a view to creating over 120 new places for children. Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith said the level of funding for the region's childcare sector could not be understated. 'This is fantastic news for families in Cavan and Monaghan and the wider region,' he said. 'Parents tell me time and again that finding a childcare place is one of the biggest challenges they face. 'This funding will directly ease that pressure by increasing the number of places available and providing more certainty for working parents. Mr Smith said the announcement and additional capacity would give families 'peace of mind' while safe in the knowledge consistent and reliable childcare was in place within their respective localities. The 10 recipients in line for funding across both counties include: • Ballymachugh Childcare Group will receive €500,000, opening up 27 new places; • Shercock Child Resource Centre will receive €500,000 creating 34 new places; • Ballyjamesduff Community Crèche will receive €500,000 creating 30 new places; • Krafty Kidz Ballyconnell will receive €750,000 creating 40 new places; • Clones Community Childcare will receive €366,382 creating 20 new places; • Newbliss Childcare Services Ltd will receive €500,000 creating 22 new places; • Inis Óg Childcare will receive €70,576 creating 15 places; • Knockatallon Community Childcare CLG will receive €750,000 creating 45 new places; • Ardaghey Community Childcare will receive €750,000 creating 38 new places; • Carrickroe Community Childcare will receive €647,251 creating 41 new places. Mr Smith said the announcement, despite not being a 'silver bullet' towards addressing an industry very much in need of investment, was nonetheless a 'step in the right direction'. He said as part of that drive, it was imperative childcare facilities across both counties received its 'fair share' of government financing. 'This includes securing future capital programmes and exploring the possibility of running a Building Blocks-style scheme again next year to support the continued expansion of existing providers.'
Business Insider
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
TD Cowen Keeps Their Buy Rating on Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR)
TD Cowen analyst Brendan Smith maintained a Buy rating on Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR – Research Report) today. The company's shares closed yesterday at $13.97. Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty Discover companies with rock-solid fundamentals in TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter. Receive undervalued stocks, resilient to market uncertainty, delivered straight to your inbox. According to TipRanks, Smith is an analyst with an average return of -6.9% and a 32.61% success rate. Smith covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Azenta, Repligen, and AbCellera Biologics. Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $43.60. ARWR market cap is currently $1.79B and has a P/E ratio of -2.53. Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 30 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is negative on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders selling their shares of ARWR in relation to earlier this year. Most recently, in March 2025, Christopher Richard Anzalone, the CEO of ARWR sold 51,425.00 shares for a total of $774,974.75.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Autonomous underwater vehicle manufacturer opens new plant in Bristol
BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — A local company has opened a new manufacturing facility in Bristol to make autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Gov. Dan McKee was among those who attended Vatn Systems' plant opening and product launch Monday morning. Vatn Systems builds self-driving underwater vehicles for the U.S. Military and allies. They say the new facility is the highest capacity production site for AUVs in the country. 'With current industry standards at about 200 vehicles per year, this facility will enable a strong competitive differentiation for us as we scale production capacity to 2,000+ vehicles annually to meet growing customer demand,' manufacturing director Brendan Smith said. Additionally, Vatn Systems announced the launch of a new innovative AUV-torpedo product line: Skelmir S12. 'With the Skelmir S12, we set out to fill a critical market void — creating a vessel that merges the capabilities of a traditional AUV with the agility and performance of a lightweight torpedo for a fraction of the cost,' Vatn Systems co-founder and CEO Nelson Mills explained. Vatn Systems was founded in 2023 by a team of maritime experts and military leaders. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
