Latest news with #CoMeath
Irish Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
Spring 2025 was warmest and driest on record, Met Éireann says
The spring of 2025 was Ireland's warmest and sunniest since records began 126 years ago. An average temperature of 10.62 degrees was recorded across the State, a full 1.5 degrees above the long-term average for the years between 1991 and 2020. The previous warmest spring was recorded in 1945. Out of the 25 official Met Éireann weather stations, 23 recorded their warmest spring. Dunsany in Co Meath had its second warmest and Dublin Airport had its joint third warmest. Four stations – Oak Park, Co Carlow, Moore Park, Co Cork, Athenry, Co Galway and Casement, Co Dublin – have now had their warmest spring on record for three consecutive years, with two other stations, Roches Point, Co Cork and Markree, Co Sligo, having their warmest spring for two consecutive years. READ MORE The meteorological spring months of March, April and May were characterised by long periods of a blocking high-pressure zone which brought a lot of sunshine. This, along with predominantly easterly winds due to the high-pressure systems often setting up just to the north of Ireland and the UK, led to sea surface temperatures to the south and west of Ireland reaching record highs during April and May. Spring temperatures ranged from 1.1 degrees above normal at Dublin Airport to 2.2 degrees above normal at Newport, Co Mayo. The season's highest temperature, 25.9 degrees, was recorded at Athenry on April 30th. High pressure and clear skies led to all but one weather station in the State having record amounts of spring sunshine, with the exception of Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry, which had its second-sunniest spring on record. Many places experienced droughts during the spring, with 20 stations having dry spells from April 26th to May 22nd. Eleven stations had absolute droughts – a period of 15 or more consecutive days with less than 0.2mm rain on each - between April 26th and May 22nd. The percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 31 per cent at Roches Point, Co Cork to 104 per cent at Finner, Co Donegal.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
New energy-efficient homes in Navan, Co Meath from €415,000
Address : Robinrath, off Commons Road, Navan, Co Meath Price : €415,000 Agent : Hooke & MacDonald and T&J Gavigan View this property on Cairn Homes will release the first phase of its Robinrath scheme in Navan , Co Meath this Saturday, June 7th. A mix of energy-efficient three-bedroom homes (with two- and three-bedroom duplexes, and four-bedroom homes to launch later this year) will be available through joint selling agents Hooke & MacDonald and T&J Gavigan. Located off Commons Road, a 20-minute walk to Navan town centre, the site layout includes crescents that neatly loop around parks framed by mature native hedgerows. One of Ireland's two publicly listed housebuilders along with Glenveagh Properties, Cairn Homes, which built 2,593 new homes in Ireland last year, says the scheme was designed with a 'commitment to biodiversity' whereby many mature trees were retained coupled with new plantings 'in an effort to protect and restore local wildlife'. With a focus on green spaces, prospective owners will appreciate the rear gardens and planned playgrounds close to the town, where the rivers Boyne and Blackwater converge. Its location close to Robinrath Stream, a tributary of the river Boyne, is named after the ancient Irish term robin's rath or robin's fort, which is a ringfort from the medieval period. Situated about a 45-minute commute from Dublin, 35 minutes from Dublin Airport and a 20-minute trip from the Unesco World Heritage site of Newgrange , Robinrath is also close to the magical group of Neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew. Spread over four undulating peaks that date back to 3,000 BC, it's a place where people gather at the spring and autumn equinoxes to greet the first rays of the sun. READ MORE The homes at Robinrath qualify for the State's Help to Buy scheme – where buyers can get up to €30,000 towards a deposit – and the First Home scheme , in addition to green mortgages which offer lower interest rates to those buying a more energy-efficient home. The developer's website has downloadable booklets on all three schemes, outlining in detail how and if potential purchasers qualify for these government initiatives. [ Look inside: Superbly designed house and mews with unparalleled views over Killiney Bay for €7.25m Opens in new window ] This first release this weekend will see 20 three-bedroom houses – which will be ready to occupy by September 2025 – launched to the market, with prices starting from €415,000. The A2-rated houses, situated a short walk from Navan Educate Together School, feature air-to-water heat pumps, LED lighting and high levels of insulation coupled with high ceilings and lots of natural light. The three-bedroom midterrace units (106sq m/1,138sq ft) have a separate livingroom to the front, with the kitchen/dining space that opens to the garden located to the rear. Livingroom Upstairs there are three bedrooms; two doubles, one of which is en suite with built-in Shaker-style wardrobes, and a good-sized single bedroom. Main bedroom Double bedroom Single bedroom The end-of-terrace three-bedroom units (105sq m/1,130sq ft) have slightly larger living spaces due to their configuration and a similar layout as the midterrace upstairs, while the semidetached three-bedroom houses, are larger again measuring 114sq m (1,230sq ft). Robinrath All the houses feature separate utility rooms and downstairs loos. In each home large glazed patio doors lead to a private rear garden that is seeded with lawn with paved patios and external taps. Rear garden Launching this weekend, the 20 homes will be available through joint agents Hooke & MacDonald and T&J Gavigan.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Almost 3,000 drivers caught speeding over bank holiday weekend
Almost 3,000 drivers were caught speeding over the bank holiday weekend, according to gardaí. This wass part of an operation that started on Thursday at 7am and lasted until 7am Tuesday. Advertisement The highst speed was recorded was on the M50 at Templeogue, where a driver was recorded riving 188km/h in a 100km/h zone. Other speeds included a driver going 119km/h in a 80km/h zone on R148 at Broadford, Co. Kildare. While in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, a driver was recorded going 114km/h in a 60km/h zone. Over 4,000 breath tests and approximately 270 oral fluid tests were carried out, leading to 167 arrests for suspected driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Advertisement During this period, there was one fatality on our roads, while 14 serious collisions resulted in 14 individuals sustaining severe and life-threatening injuries. There was 210 fixed charge notices for drivers using their phones, with over 215 for Unaccompanied learner drivers. Over 70 drivers were given fixed charged notices for not wearing a seatbelt. 99 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied, with 380 vehicles seized for not having tax or insurance. In a statement, gardaí said: "An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road."
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Aontú's Peadar Tóibín's speech at ardfheis to be televised on RTÉ for first time
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín's keynote speech at his party's ardfheis will be televised on RTÉ for the first time, a reflection of an increased election vote. Voter share rose from 1.9 per cent in the 2020 general election to 3.9 per cent in 2024, an increase sufficient to secure the party live TV coverage. Aontú, which translates as 'Unity', says it has 1,800 members, about 400 of whom are expected to attend the fifth annual ardfheis at the City North Hotel in Gormanston, Co Meath. Membership surged in the wake of the failed family and care referendums last year, when Aontú was the only political party to successfully advocate for a No vote in both. READ MORE Mr Tóibín said 'we have built a grass roots, membership-based, cumann infrastructure around the country at a time when the establishment parties are losing theirs'. Speaking before the one-day event, he said 'the referendums were a watershed in the ability of the Irish people to tolerate meaningless virtue signalling. We are the only party listening to the people. [ Aontú 'actively considering' running candidate in presidential election Opens in new window ] 'We were the only party to stand up for the people on the referendums, the hate speech laws, carbon taxes, the right to life, the Government's chaotic immigration policy and gender ideology. We did so on the basis of commonsense and compassion.' The leader's speech will be broadcast live after the Six One News on RTÉ 1 and the party's debate on 'Aontú Accountability versus Glacial Government Delivery' from 12 to 1pm will be covered on the RTÉ news channel. This debate will focus on the 'glacial' pace of delivery on infrastructure projects including the national children's hospital. International protection, health, housing, crime and 'commonsense political reform' are also among the debate topics at the daylong event. The theme of the ardfheis is to tackle 'Government Incompetence, Waste and Lack of Accountability'. Mr Tóibín said, 'key public services and key infrastructure across the country is grinding to a halt and bloating in cost every day. 'The national children's hospital is a monument to government incompetence. But there are dozens of other wasteful projects ballooning out of all proportion. This has a serious cost to citizens.' Five years after the former Sinn Féin member and Meath West TD founded Aontú it now has two TDs – Mr Tóibín and Mayo TD Paul Lawless; Cavan Senator Sarah O'Reilly; and eight local councillors who include Mr Tóibín's sister, Navan-based Cllr Emer Tóibín; and Mr Lawless' sister Cllr Deirdre Lawless who was co-opted to replace him on Mayo County Council. Councillors also include Trim, Co Meath-based Cllr Dave Boyhan; Castleknock, Dublin Cllr Ellen Troy; Cllr Adrian Rogers from Cootehill, Co Cavan; Ongar, Co Dublin-based Cllr Gerard Sheehan; Wexford Cllr Jim Codd; and Limerick Cllr Sarah Beasley.
BreakingNews.ie
23-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (21) guilty of driving Mahamud Ilyas killers to wood where body was dumped
Four men have been convicted of offences arising out of the "inhumane" murder of Mahamud Ilyas, after a jury convicted a 21-year-old of impeding the apprehension of two drug dealers who beat the victim to death for stealing a bag of cannabis. Lorenzo Cantaragiu drove Mr Ilyas's murderers Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) to a wooded area in Co Meath where the two killers left Mr Ilyas (22) for dead. Advertisement Clejan and Doroscan had previously assaulted Mr Ilyas with various weapons, including a hammer, causing the injuries that led to his death. Lorenzo Cantaragiu has also been convicted of cleaning the car to impede the prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan, knowing or believing that they had caused serious harm to Mr Ilyas. Viorel Doroscan (23). Photo: Collins Otniel Richardo Clejan (24). Photo: Collins Robert Burns (59), who lived at the apartment in Verdemont in Blanchardstown where the assault took place, was initially charged with six counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Clejan and Doroscan. A little over one week into the trial, Burns pleaded guilty to one offence of cleaning the apartment at Verdemont on December 9th, 2022, knowing or believing Clejan had committed serious harm there. Advertisement The prosecution indicated that the other charges will be dismissed at a later hearing. The Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous verdicts on the four charges against Cantragiu on Friday afternoon. The panel of seven men and five women rejected the defence case that Cantaragiu had feared for his life and had acted reasonably given the "intimidating and terrifying" circumstances in which he found himself. They had deliberated for a total of four hours and 58 minutes. Advertisement Mr Cantaragiu did not react as the verdicts were delivered. He later bowed his head and wiped his eyes. Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury for the hard work and commitment they put into this case and the important contribution they had made 'in this very sad and very difficult matter'. He exempted each of them from jury duty for 30 years. After the jury delivered its verdicts, Jane Murpy BL, prosecuting, made an application for Cantaragiu to be remanded in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing on June 23. Advertisement Michael Lynn SC, for Cantaragiu asked that his client be granted bail, highlighting the fact that Cantaragiu is a 21-year-old man with no previous convictions. After considering the matter, Mr Justice Hunt said the defendant had been involved in the disposal of a man who was very badly wounded, at best. He said to treat another human being in this manner was 'grotesquely inhumane' and Mr Ilyas had 'literally been left for dead'. He remanded Cantaragiu in custody to June 23rd and directed the preparation of a probation report. Advertisement Mr Ilyas's body was discovered in a wooded area at Belgree Lane in Co Meath on December 10th 2022. The 22-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head. Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the jury that the deceased sustained depressed fractures to his head, which were "typical of hammer blows". Row over drugs It was the State's case that Doroscan and Clejan were involved in the sale and supply of drugs and that they beat Mr Ilyas to death after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. Cantaragiu, of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, had faced four charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan, while knowing or believing them to have committed the offence of causing serious harm to Mr Ilyas. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was accused of impeding the prosecution by driving Doroscan and Clejan to Belgree Lane in Co Meath, where Mr Ilyas's body was found in a field the following day. It was further alleged that Cantaragiu cleaned his car to impede the prosecution. Defence counsel Michael Lynn SC had argued that Cantaragiu 'believed he was at risk' and had acted reasonably given the "intimidating and terrifying" circumstances in which he found himself. He reminded the jury that Cantaragiu told gardaí that Doroscan and Clejan had threatened to kill him and he saw no way to escape. Cantargiu had told gardaí that he feared that "bigger criminals" or drug dealers would come after him and he was worried for his family. When interviewed, Cantaragiu said that he drove Doroscan and Clejan to an area in Hollystown where 'they took the body out'. 'That's the last time I seen them with him. I last seen him when he was headfirst in the ditch and I helped him up. He was breathing, because I heard his gasps. I left after that and never went back,' he told officers. During the trial, the jury viewed CCTV footage from Verdemont in Blanchardstown on December 9th showing two people wearing dark clothing carrying 'a red object' which contained the victim. A BMW driven by Cantaragiu then exited the car park and travelled towards Kilbride, Co Meath, before returning at 4.18pm from the area where the deceased was found. At 4.29pm, Cantaragiu entered the Circle K at Mulhuddart, where he purchased cleaning products. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Cantaragiu met with an individual at Circle K, Coolmine to sell the BMW. In his closing address to the jury, Eoin Lawlor SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that Cantaragiu had known Doroscan and Clejan had brought a body down to the car, so he had known that the offence of causing serious harm had been committed. Counsel said the CCTV footage showed that Cantaragiu arrived at the apartment at 3.46pm, but the body was not brought to the car until 3.53pm, with the boot of the car open for a long time. He said Cantaragiu had time to 'weigh the significance of what was being asked of him', but it was clear he intended to assist. Counsel said Cantaragiu later sold his car, as he knew that the car had become a crime scene. Doroscan, of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin, and Clejan, with a former address at Verdemont, had both pleaded not guilty to Mr Ilyas's murder on December 9, 2022 but were unanimously convicted by the jury on Tuesday. The 12 jurors rejected the defence case that the two men had acted in self-defence after they claimed Mr Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon and threatened to kill them. Evidence Witness Vlady Ndosimau previously told the trial that he barged through the door of the apartment after hearing a loud banging noise. Inside, he said he witnessed Mr Ilyas sitting on the floor, with his back against a radiator, looking as if he had been beaten and with blood coming from his nose. His hands and feet were tied using a rope or a zip tie and he was moaning while Clejan and Doroscan shouted at him, the witness said. Doroscan, holding a fruit knife, stood between Mr Ilyas's legs while Clejan stood close to his head with a hammer in his hand, the witness said. Doroscan, he said, kept on shouting "where is the stuff" while Mr Ilyas responded by "groaning and groaning". Mr Lawlor told the jury that the use of a hammer was the 'modus operandi for conflict resolution' employed by Doroscan, while the 'appalling, callous way' in which the victim's body was disposed of indicated his co-accused's part in the joint enterprise of the murder. Ireland Clamping company order to compensate man after his... Read More During the nine-week trial, the jury viewed footage of a Snapchat video on Doroscan's account that showed a man lying on the ground, face up, with visible blood on his face and a large blood stain on the wall behind him. The short clip showed the video-taker moving in closer to the head of the man on the floor and video-takers shoe can be seen briefly. Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue said the shoe matched those worn by Doroscan on the same day. Metadata from Snapchat showed that the clip had been taken at 2.51pm on December 9, 2022 in Verdemont estate in Blanchardstown. Doroscan and Clejan have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing on June 23rd when members of the victim's family will be invited to make Victim Impact Statements.
