Latest news with #Cian
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Rare visitor causing traffic chaos in Wexford – ‘Cars abandoned in the middle of the road to see this white stork'
However, according to the cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) the bird's army of admirers are creating chaos wherever they go. 'There's been cars abandoned in the middle of the road down near Sigginstown Castle, all stopped to see this white stork,' said Councillor Jim Codd at the May of the RMD. 'He was in the Tacumshane area and now I believe he's moved to Mayglass, and where he goes, traffic havoc follows. Locals are telling me that they're coming across cars stopped stone dead in the road, drivers are jumping out to get pictures of this bird.' Addressing roads engineer Michael Brazzill, the Aontú councillor continued. "We're all lovers of wildlife and we don't want to get into a battle with birdwatchers but maybe you have a suggestion on how we handle this situation?' Momentarily stumped, Mr Brazzill replied, 'The guards are the next port of call if people are doing dangerous manoeuvres and parking illegally.' Speaking after the meeting, local birdwatcher Cian Cardiff explained the significance of the stork appearing in Wexford. 'White stork are a very rare vagrant to Ireland,' he said. 'It winters in Africa and returns to parts of Europe to breed each spring and summer. This is the first white stork to be seen by so many birders in Wexford for many years, from my understanding the last recorded sighting was in the late 1970s, also at Tacumshane Lake. 'So, it was of great significance to the birding and local communities.' Explaining what might have drawn the white stork to the south-east, Cian said there were a number of potential contributory factors. 'During early spring we experienced a series of wind flows from the south and south-east, this led to species overshooting their continental breeding grounds and hitting Ireland,' he said. 'Good numbers of vagrant birds, such as the Eurasian hoopoe, which is also a vagrant species not usually seen in Ireland, were also spotted.' While Cllr Codd spoke of traffic disruption and abandoned cars, Cian said the birdwatching community has been well-accommodated by local landowners in their quest to get a sighting of the stork. 'Groups of birders were watching the stork in the Coddstown Great area during its stay, especially during the first few days after it was pinned down to a general area of farmland. I must say a big thanks on behalf of birders and others to the local landowners and residents for allowing us to view this bird.' The last recording sighting of the white stork was in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow on May 29. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Grammy winning Irish musician Cian Ducrot says girlfriend is his ‘rock'
Cian Ducrot says his partner Sofia Jane is the inspiration for his songs Grammy winning Irish musician Cian Ducrot admits his girlfriend has been his 'rock' for the past five years. And the Cork singer admits many of his best-selling songs are about Sofia Jane Cunningham, a fitness coach from Eastbourne in England. The couple live in London and Sofia regularly shares her workouts on social media, as well as holidays and events with Cian. 'I met Sofia very early on in the pandemic and we have been together almost five years and she is definitely my rock and my muse,' Cian (27) tells the Sunday World. Sofia Jane and Cian have been together for years 'A lot of the music that I write is about her and inspired by her and the feelings that I have for her. She has taught me so much about life and she reminds me constantly to be grateful, and to take things in. 'She is very much my other half in all of this and we travel the world together, and she loves music.' Cian's track All For You was regularly used on Love Island in 2022, bringing the Douglas star to a whole new audience. Crowned 'When I was in boarding school I watched a bit [of Love Island] with some friends for fun and then I kind of didn't watch it at all,' he recalls. 'Then I randomly decided to watch it that year, when my song on it, which was very kind of random. 'To my surprise, the one night I wasn't watching it, because I was out for dinner with my friends, I leave dinner and my phone is blowing up with 'oh my God your song was on Love Island' It's crazy, very mad.' Cian Ducrot with the Grammy he won for co-writing Saturn Cian's first album Victory featured not only All For You but also I'll Be Waiting, while his upcoming album Little Dreaming will be released in July. The hitmaker nabbed a Grammy for his contribution in co-writing SZA's song Saturn, which was crowned Best R&B Song, while earlier this year he also sang the Irish and French national anthems prior to the Ireland/France game in Dublin's Aviva stadium. Cian's dad is French and his mum is Irish. Tonight Cian can be seen on Virgin Media's Secret Headliner, where a couple of hundred people were invited to a gig, not knowing who the artist was until they walked out on stage. 'I knew there would be people there that would be hopefully excited to see me and surprised, and then I knew that there was obviously people who didn't know who they were going to see and probably weren't fans of mine,' he reflects. 'And maybe have never been to a show before and possibly would have never have come to a show or even bought tickets to come to see me. 'It was a really exciting thing again to hopefully be able to win them over and give a show that these new fans maybe would be able to enjoy, and I think that's really exciting to try and win people over, it adds another element to the gig.' Sofia Jane Cian was inundated with requests for support acts and gave the slot to rising Sligo singer Paddy Keyes. 'Paddy just had this thing that stood out to me, that made me feel something and it was kind of that instinct and gut feeling where I just felt it,' he says. Cian was also picked as the headline act for the New Year's Eve celebrations in Dublin Castle to ring in 2025, and his success in recent years is a far cry from his appearance on BBC's The Voice nine years ago when none of the four judges turned for him. 'The Voice was one of those early moments for me where I was kind of up on a high and I fell down from a high... that has happened many, many, many times since, maybe less publicly than something like The Voice,' he reveals. 'We only learn from our failures anyway, so I think if you're just successful all the time you'll never get anywhere.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Lucky escape for cows as livestock trailer overturns on M4
SETTING up and growing a successful new business is something many people will only ever dream about. Young farmer Cian Iolen Rhys says that Farming Connect's Agri Academy Junior Programme gave him the confidence and life-skills to do exactly that – at 17 years old! Together with his friend Owain, Cian has set up a successful sheep-shearing contracting business which now services 17 local farms. 'I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for the confidence, skills, new friends and supportive networks I made through the Agri Academy and I'm so grateful for that opportunity.' Cian farms alongside his dad and younger brother at a 150-acre Council-owned beef and sheep farm near Bethesda. The second-year Coleg Glynllifon agriculture student combines his college commitments with being an active member of Dyffryn Ogwen YFC, playing rugby, singing and he's an award-winning competitive 'blade shearer'. He works part-time for local farmers and has been invited to Somerset and the Scottish Highlands for work experience this spring. 'It takes courage to try out anything new, but I was so inspired by the farmers and mentors I met through the Agri Academy that my expectations of what I can achieve have soared! And I loved the media training – all brilliant! 'We visited a range of inspirational farm businesses across Wales and had a study tour to Norway which gave me a different perspective on so many different aspects of animal health, business and financial management and the importance of utilising technology.' Cian says much of what he learned through the Agri Academy is now put into practice at home. 'We have set up a new techno strip grazing system, using electric fences to move the cattle every two days to make better use of our land, and we've also invested in mineral boluses which have improved the ewes' condition and fertility percentages. 'The Agri Academy taught me that if you want to be successful, you need to work hard, be open to new ideas and learn from others! 'Working early mornings, late evenings, weekends and all through college holidays are the norm,' says Cian, but he clearly wouldn't have it any other way, because as he says, the personal development support and training provided through Farming Connect are helping him achieve his goals and they've certainly broadened his outlook on his future career pathway! Having been set a great example by his dad who has a full-time job away from the farm, Cian is ambitious, focused and clearly hard-working – all attributes recognised by Lantra Cymru when he recently received his Young Learner of the Year 'joint runner up' award in the Under 20s category. Cian says that his lifelong goal is 'to be happy and continue enjoying what I do'. He's set his sights on university or an apprenticeship and hopes to fulfil his boyhood dream of becoming a livestock auctioneer alongside hands-on farming, competitive 'blade shearing' and running his own business. Sounds a lot, but when you consider what he's achieved so far, the future looks bright for this ambitious young farmer. The application window for the Agri Academy Junior Programme is open until 20 May. 'Don't hesitate, get your application in – it's the stepping stone young farmers need!' says Cian.
Pembrokeshire Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Welsh farming's challenges discussed with Shadow Cabinet Secretary
SETTING up and growing a successful new business is something many people will only ever dream about. Young farmer Cian Iolen Rhys says that Farming Connect's Agri Academy Junior Programme gave him the confidence and life-skills to do exactly that – at 17 years old! Together with his friend Owain, Cian has set up a successful sheep-shearing contracting business which now services 17 local farms. 'I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for the confidence, skills, new friends and supportive networks I made through the Agri Academy and I'm so grateful for that opportunity.' Cian farms alongside his dad and younger brother at a 150-acre Council-owned beef and sheep farm near Bethesda. The second-year Coleg Glynllifon agriculture student combines his college commitments with being an active member of Dyffryn Ogwen YFC, playing rugby, singing and he's an award-winning competitive 'blade shearer'. He works part-time for local farmers and has been invited to Somerset and the Scottish Highlands for work experience this spring. 'It takes courage to try out anything new, but I was so inspired by the farmers and mentors I met through the Agri Academy that my expectations of what I can achieve have soared! And I loved the media training – all brilliant! 'We visited a range of inspirational farm businesses across Wales and had a study tour to Norway which gave me a different perspective on so many different aspects of animal health, business and financial management and the importance of utilising technology.' Cian says much of what he learned through the Agri Academy is now put into practice at home. 'We have set up a new techno strip grazing system, using electric fences to move the cattle every two days to make better use of our land, and we've also invested in mineral boluses which have improved the ewes' condition and fertility percentages. 'The Agri Academy taught me that if you want to be successful, you need to work hard, be open to new ideas and learn from others! 'Working early mornings, late evenings, weekends and all through college holidays are the norm,' says Cian, but he clearly wouldn't have it any other way, because as he says, the personal development support and training provided through Farming Connect are helping him achieve his goals and they've certainly broadened his outlook on his future career pathway! Having been set a great example by his dad who has a full-time job away from the farm, Cian is ambitious, focused and clearly hard-working – all attributes recognised by Lantra Cymru when he recently received his Young Learner of the Year 'joint runner up' award in the Under 20s category. Cian says that his lifelong goal is 'to be happy and continue enjoying what I do'. He's set his sights on university or an apprenticeship and hopes to fulfil his boyhood dream of becoming a livestock auctioneer alongside hands-on farming, competitive 'blade shearing' and running his own business. Sounds a lot, but when you consider what he's achieved so far, the future looks bright for this ambitious young farmer. The application window for the Agri Academy Junior Programme is open until 20 May. 'Don't hesitate, get your application in – it's the stepping stone young farmers need!' says Cian.
Pembrokeshire Herald
12-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Agri Academy gives young farmer confidence and skills to turn dreams into reality
SETTING up and growing a successful new business is something many people will only ever dream about. Young farmer Cian Iolen Rhys says that Farming Connect's Agri Academy Junior Programme gave him the confidence and life-skills to do exactly that – at 17 years old! Together with his friend Owain, Cian has set up a successful sheep-shearing contracting business which now services 17 local farms. 'I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for the confidence, skills, new friends and supportive networks I made through the Agri Academy and I'm so grateful for that opportunity.' Cian farms alongside his dad and younger brother at a 150-acre Council-owned beef and sheep farm near Bethesda. The second-year Coleg Glynllifon agriculture student combines his college commitments with being an active member of Dyffryn Ogwen YFC, playing rugby, singing and he's an award-winning competitive 'blade shearer'. He works part-time for local farmers and has been invited to Somerset and the Scottish Highlands for work experience this spring. 'It takes courage to try out anything new, but I was so inspired by the farmers and mentors I met through the Agri Academy that my expectations of what I can achieve have soared! And I loved the media training – all brilliant! 'We visited a range of inspirational farm businesses across Wales and had a study tour to Norway which gave me a different perspective on so many different aspects of animal health, business and financial management and the importance of utilising technology.' Cian says much of what he learned through the Agri Academy is now put into practice at home. 'We have set up a new techno strip grazing system, using electric fences to move the cattle every two days to make better use of our land, and we've also invested in mineral boluses which have improved the ewes' condition and fertility percentages. 'The Agri Academy taught me that if you want to be successful, you need to work hard, be open to new ideas and learn from others! 'Working early mornings, late evenings, weekends and all through college holidays are the norm,' says Cian, but he clearly wouldn't have it any other way, because as he says, the personal development support and training provided through Farming Connect are helping him achieve his goals and they've certainly broadened his outlook on his future career pathway! Having been set a great example by his dad who has a full-time job away from the farm, Cian is ambitious, focused and clearly hard-working – all attributes recognised by Lantra Cymru when he recently received his Young Learner of the Year 'joint runner up' award in the Under 20s category. Cian says that his lifelong goal is 'to be happy and continue enjoying what I do'. He's set his sights on university or an apprenticeship and hopes to fulfil his boyhood dream of becoming a livestock auctioneer alongside hands-on farming, competitive 'blade shearing' and running his own business. Sounds a lot, but when you consider what he's achieved so far, the future looks bright for this ambitious young farmer. The application window for the Agri Academy Junior Programme is open until 20 May. 'Don't hesitate, get your application in – it's the stepping stone young farmers need!' says Cian.
