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Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Ireland's sunny spell produces ‘much sweeter' strawberries in shops
Ireland's extended sunny weather has created 'absolutely perfect' conditions to produce 'much sweeter' strawberries, fruit growers say. Jimmy Kearns, owner of Kearns Fruit Farm in Enniscorthy , Co Wexford , who has been picking berries this year since March 25th, said: 'It's probably as good a season as I've ever seen.' One grower in the UK said the warm weather had resulted in average berry sizes that were 10-20 per cent larger than the norm. But Mr Kearns, whose firm started picking fruit for jam production back in the 1950s, said the smaller the berry, the sweeter the bite. 'Generally the first couple of picks can be very big from the warm weather but as you move on into the second and third week of picking and it's still very warm, the berries are inclined to ripen small but they're much sweeter,' he said. READ MORE 'The berries are ripening fully. You'd often see a berry and it'd be three quarters red. But if you look in the supermarkets now you'll see all the fruit 100 per cent red and juicy and that's what makes them sweeter.' Mr Kearns added: 'The season has been absolutely perfect for us as fruit growers. Hopefully we'll have a nice summer like this and it'll keep going until the end of August.' The sunshine means demand for the fruit is 'fantastic', he said. 'No matter how much you pick in the day here it's gone, it's sold.' Earlier this month, Met Éireann predicted Ireland is 'highly likely' to have a warmer-than-average summer, forecasting that temperatures in May, June and July will be between 0.5-1 degree above normal. Too much heat, however, can prove problematic for strawberries. 'When you go above 20 degrees, strawberries don't like that,' said Mr Kearns, adding that 'double the amount of water' is being used to quench the red berries' thirst. 'The plant in these high temperatures is absolutely taking up all that water.' Cyril Wheelock, another farmer from Ireland's famed strawberry county in the southeast, can vouch for the quality of this season's crop. The Village at Wheelock's, a restaurant and shop complex also based in Enniscorthy, has seen hundreds of eager strawberry fanatics coming to pick the berries on their farm over the past number of weeks. 'Only yesterday I had a lady there as I was putting strawberries on a shelf, and she said strawberries are exceptionally nice this year. I was saying to her it's the warm days and the cold nights that are making it,' he said. 'We're picking probably three weeks now at this stage,' adds Mr Wheelock. Recognising that people gravitate towards larger fruit, he advises that 'the smaller ones can taste that bit nicer'.
Agriland
17-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Annaghmore Fitz Atlee takes the plaudits on Balmoral Show Day 3
Hallow Holsteins won the Balmoral Show 2025 Inter-Breed Dairy Championship with their immense fourth calver Annaghmore Fitz Atlee. The Co Wexford pedigree breeding operation had the cow looking an absolute picture in the ring. And she needed to be in top form. The competition from the other breed champions, all vying to secure the ultimate Balmoral 2025 dairy accolade, was immense. But making the victory all the sweeter for the large crowds gathered around the show rings was the fact that the cow in question was bred in Co. Armagh by Clive and Joel Richardson, the driving forces behind Annaghmore Holsteins. Annaghmore farm manager, Joshua Ebron, was on hand to discuss the merits of Fitz Atlee. 'She gave 10,800L of milk at 4.18% butterfat and 3.3% protein during her last lactation,' he explained. 'And she is currently giving 74L per day at 5.18% fat and 3.19% protein. The cow has been classified EX95. 'We are delighted with the progress that she continues to make.' The Inter-Breed Reserve went to Co. Tyrone Ayrshire breeder, Stewart Baxter. His champion and second calver, Carnell Barby Doll 13, also looked amazing in the ring. Stewart commented: 'She was bought as a weanling heifer at the Carnell dispersal sale four years ago. I wanted to start up a number of new cow families in the herd. It was an investment that is now paying off.' Barby Doll is now giving 43L of milk per day. The cow calved for the second time in January 2025 and will calve again at the beginning of next year. Barby Doll is in calf to Springhill Palmyra Robinson. Ashley Fleming with the Jersey Reserve Champion at Balmoral Show 2025 Stewart has been milking Ayrshires for thirty years. His herd currently comprises a total of 70 animals. 'The Ayrshire is a very versatile breed,' he explained. 'The cows can produce lots of high quality milk in both grass based and high input production systems.' The Jersey Championship at Balmoral 2025 was won by the Fleming family, from Seaforde in Co Down with Potterswalls Canadian Club Dawn. A milking heifer, this was her first show outing in milk. The Fleming family went on to win the Jersey Championship, Reserve Championship and Honourable Mention on the day. Ashley Fleming commented: 'We were delighted with the results that we achieved. Potterswalls Victorious Season was selected as the breed reserve. 'A third calver, she gave 7,000L of milk at 6.2% fat and 4.3% protein during her last full lactation.' Balmoral Results: Day 3 Dairy Inter-Breed Champion: Hallow Holsteins. Reserve: Stewart & Nyree Baxter. Dairy Pairs' Inter-Breed Champions: Fleming family. Reserve: Hallow Holsteins & the Jones' Cattle Company. Dairy Group Inter Breed Champions: Hallow Holsteins, Jones Cattle Company & Annaghmore Holsteins. Reserve: Fleming family. Holstein classes Champion: Hallow Holsteins. Reserve: Annaghmore Holsteins. Exhibitor-bred champion: Annaghmore Holsteins. Reserve: Jones' Cattle Company. Junior female champion: McLean family. Reserve: Jason Booth. Champion udder: Hallow Holsteins. Junior heifer class: 1 st : Gaston Wallace; : Gaston Wallace; 2nd: McLean family. Intermediate heifer class: 1 st : Slatabogie Holsteins; : Slatabogie Holsteins; 2nd: Gaston Wallace. Senior heifer class: 1 st : Slatabogie Holsteins; : Slatabogie Holsteins; 2nd: Noel and Daniel Willis. Junior heifer in milk class: 1 st : Hallow herd; : Hallow herd; 2nd: W & A Patton. Senior heifer in milk class: 1 st : McLean family; : McLean family; 2nd: Jason Booth. Junior three-year old in milk: 1 st : Slatabogie Holsteins; : Slatabogie Holsteins; 2nd: Jason Booth. Senior three year old in milk class: 1 st : Annaghmore Holsteins; : Annaghmore Holsteins; 2nd: Noel and Daniel Willis. Four year old in milk class: 1 st : Jones Cattle Ltd; : Jones Cattle Ltd; 2nd: Annaghmore Holsteins. Five year old in milk class: 1 st : Jason Booth; : Jason Booth; 2nd: Slatabogie Holsteins. Mature cow class: 1st: Hallow herd. Pairs class: 1 st : Annaghmore Holsteins; : Annaghmore Holsteins; 2nd: Hallow herd. The Ayrshire Champioin at Balmoral Show 2025 Ayrshire classes Champion: Stewart and Nyree Baxter. Reserve: Christian Keenan. Pairs' Champion: Stewart and Nyree Baxter. Reserve: Christian Keenan. Maiden heifer class: 1 st : Rebecca McBratney; : Rebecca McBratney; 2nd: Stewart and Nyree Baxter. Heifer in calf class: 1 st : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; 2nd: Slatabogie Holsteins. Heifer in milk class: 1 st : Christian Keenan; : Christian Keenan; 2nd: Stewart and Nyree Baxter. Cow in milk class (two calves): 1 st : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; 2nd: J Warden and partners. Cow in milk class (three calves): 1 st : Christian Keenan; : Christian Keenan; 2nd: Christian Keenan. Cow giving at least 6,000kg of milk in one lactation: 1 st : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; : Stewart and Nyree Baxter; 2nd: Christian Keenan. Jersey classes Champion: Fleming family. Reserve: Fleming family. Champion heifer: Ashley Fleming. Reserve: Ashley Fleming. Pairs' champion: Ashley Fleming. Reserve: Ashley Fleming. Junior heifer class: 1 st : Clandeboye estate; : Clandeboye estate; 2nd: Clandeboye estate. Senior heifer class: 1 st : Ashley Fleming; : Ashley Fleming; 2nd: Clandebioye Estate. Heifer in milk class: 1 st : Ashley Fleming; : Ashley Fleming; 2nd: Annaghmore Holsteins. Cow in milk class (two calves): 1 st : Clandeboye Estate; : Clandeboye Estate; 2nd Ashley Fleming. Cow in milk class (three calves): 1 st ; Ashley Fleming; ; Ashley Fleming; 2nd: Clandeboye Estate. Cow in milk (four calves): 1 st : Fleming family; : Fleming family; 2nd: Fleming family. Dairy Shorthorn classes Champion: McLean family. Reserve: Jason Booth. Champion cow: McLean family. Reserve: Jason Booth. Heifer not in milk class: 1st: Ashley Fleming. Heifer in milk class: 1 st : McLean family; : McLean family; 2nd: Jason Booth. Cow in milk class: 1st: Jason Booth.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
Wexford primary school pupils make Unesco finals for environmental project
The name of the group is 'Light Fantastic' and for the project the Co Wexford pupils created a range of creative educational products to tell their story. For example, as part of the project they made and sold bookmarks and donated the proceeds to Solar Aid. This charity helps people in Sub-Saharan Africa to get solar lights instead of using toxic candles that hurt their lungs and the Earth. They also made a 'snakes and ladders' type game to teach the younger classes in their school about solar panels. For the older classes they created a game called 'Solar-opoly', which has different questions about solar panels and focuses on how good they are for the environment. They went into each classroom explaining the importance of solar panels and played the games with the made sure everyone knows how beneficial solar panels are and how they can get them for their home. The pupils also created a book called 'Barney's Hunt for Solar Panels' to engage the children further. They also informed the younger classes about how they could cut down on the use of fossil fuels and help the environment by turning off the lights in the room when they leave, and by walking, cycling, or taking the bus to school. The group said: 'We hope that our project will help people to understand how their actions can make a difference. We would like to thank the school for supporting us to do the project and especially Miss Whitty for guiding us throughout it.' The school would appreciate as much support as they can get. To vote, simply visit: The finals competition is taking place in the Convention Centre in Dublin on Thursday May 8.
Irish Independent
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: As more public money is thrown away, keeping faith in RTÉ is a big ask
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan was on RTÉ granting absolution. 'We need a functioning public service broadcaster,' he said, and expressed confidence in the current management. Where is this need? And for whom? A total of €725m of our money has already been committed to RTÉ over three years. Then add in licence fee and advertising revenue. This is all despite the established financial mismanagement of the recent past and the utter avoidance by the then RTÉ management to be held accountable. And remember that the so-called top talents are still paid enormous contracts/salaries that are mostly funded by the public purse. I have to wonder how any reasonable person can have faith in RTÉ's self-assigned public service remit of 'holding power to account'. Larry Dunne, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford World leaders must wake up and demand an end to Israel's siege of Palestine It has now been two long, harrowing months since Israel reinstated a total siege on Gaza, blocking the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid and commercial goods into a region already devastated by war. Desperation has reached unspeakable levels. Mothers are boiling grass to feed their families. Children are suffering unbearable hunger, trauma, violence and abandonment. ADVERTISEMENT Gaza's hospitals, already crippled, are close to collapse, unable to function without essential medicines, vaccines and equipment. Women, girls and other vulnerable groups face escalating risks of gender-based violence. Stocks in aid warehouses are nearly gone. Palestinian organisations continue to seek to supply desperate communities through local markets, but they are facing eye-watering prices. Yet it seems world leaders are distracted while the ethnic cleansing and likely genocide of Palestinians rages on. As the UN secretary general put it, Gaza is a killing field and its civilians are trapped in an endless death loop. The weaponisation of aid, including withholding food, water, healthcare and shelter, has led to a surge in preventable deaths and threatens the dignity and survival of Palestinians in Gaza. This is a preventable atrocity, and it does nothing to address the horror of the remaining hostages and their families. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have intensified military operations in the occupied West Bank, severely disrupting humanitarian aid delivery there. World leaders must demand an immediate end to the blockade. Karol Balfe, CEO ActionAid Ireland, Dublin Clear double standards in the media when it comes to reporting on Gaza war A recent attack by Russia on the city of Sumy in Ukraine in which 34 people were killed was described in the western media as a massacre. The greater numbers murdered in Gaza are described as killed or, worse still, reported as killed. Israelis held in Gaza are referred to as hostages while thousands of Palestinians are called prisoners. Why? The Israeli army is called a defence force. The media reports that Israel is blocking aid to Gaza, instead of saying it is starving the captive population. Israelis who evict Palestinians from their properties in the West Bank and beat and kill them are called settlers. Is this the best description of them? Every article appears to mention that 'the war started on October 7'. There is never a mention of the thousands of Palestinians killed before that date, including many children. Is it really a war when only one side has planes, tanks and cruise missiles? Michael Jordan, Dundalk, Co Louth If you thought Trump's first 100 days were bad, you ain't seen nothing yet The world has survived Donald Trump's first 100 days, but it has been nothing short of a car crash. His tariffs policy has been rife with threats and bluffs, culminating in pauses, deferment and capitulation to trading partners – or rather, the bond markets. His 'end wars strategy' by the 'art of the steal' isn't playing out as well as he thought in Gaza and Ukraine. America is joined at the hip with the world economy, and going on solo runs doesn't work when you're so dependent on non-American resources. What's in store for the rest of his term? Death by a thousand cuts on the shifting sands of Trumpism, or will his money friends desert him when those MAGA promises cost too much? It might be worth the watch. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 We should all celebrate Protestant influence on Irish society and culture I am at one with Chris Fitzpatrick on the positive relationship between Presbyterianism and the Irish language ('Heartening to see the Presbyterian celebration of forgotten Irish links' – Letters, April 30). Apart from the Irish language, there are many academic achievements by members of Ireland's Protestant community in Irish literature, music and wider culture, which is a reminder of the considerable influence the community in Ireland has had on Irish culture. Dr Douglas Hyde, the first president of Ireland, was one of the founders of the Gaelic League; painter Sarah Purser established An Túr Gloine; WB Yeats and Lady Gregory formed the Irish Literary Theatre in 1899, which then became the Abbey Players in 1904. George Petrie and Edward Bunting are responsible for the wealth of ancient Irish music in our archives, while JM Synge, George Russell (AE) and Kathleen Lynn were all major contributors to the shaping of modern Ireland. Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6 Tables have turned on the Dubs, but at least it gives hope to all their rivals The sports blurb on the cover of the Irish Independent on May 1 looked ominous for Dublin ('Dublin facing nightmare draw in group phase'). Gone are the days when a headline such as this would read '[insert any county outside the capital] facing nightmare draw against Dublin'. Ah, well.
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: Sporting conduct damages hurling
I read in a recent Irish Examiner (April 29) an article under the heading: 'Hurling doesn't feel tough right now' attributed to Wexford senior hurling player Lee Chin. In it, he calls into question the lack of sportsmanship displayed by certain players towards their opponents and to referees and other game officials. I believe that any player or supporter could have no reason to disagree with his honest assessment of the behaviour of certain players, and indeed supporters. As a Kildare native who could be regarded as not being from a hurling county, I base my agreement with Lee Chin on the fact that I have resided in Enniscorthy since the last few days of 1967. I recall watching Lee Chin playing in minor club hurling in his younger days and remarking that he had all the makings of a future star. In the intervening years, he has confirmed the high regard I had of him. While some players may not agree with his views, those people may be confirming an attitude that is damaging the wonderful game that hurling is — when played in a sporting way. It is a joy to watch some of the game's star players in their prime, and it is shameful to see the behaviour of those who depend on unsporting conduct to prevent us from enjoying hurling at its best. Tony Fagan Enniscorthy, Co Wexford Nature is the king — and so is cash Nature has its way of reminding us that we are but pimples on the backside of the universe. Storm Éowyn last year and the latest electrical outage in Spain and Portugal have reminded us that electric everything is not the be-all and end-all, and that we cannot do without back-to-basics solid fuel, oil or natural gas, to light and heat our houses, and cook our dinners. All the solar power, wind power, and wave power in the world require electricity to power them, and won't save us from the ravages of beautiful or terrible nature, depending on your viewpoint. With all the ATMs and tap machines and Google and Visa pay systems down, we are taught once more that nature and cash are kings. Kevin T Finn Mitchelstown Co Cork Celebrate amid grief for our Pope Recently the world bid farewell to Pope Francis, a leader whose life was a profound testament to the Gospel's call to serve the marginalised. He left behind a legacy marked by compassion, humility, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. By adopting the name of St Francis of Assisi, he embodied the principles of simplicity, environmental stewardship, and a deep love for the impoverished. From the very beginning of his papacy, Francis envisioned a 'poor Church for poor people,' advocating tirelessly for the most vulnerable among us. His urgent calls for action on climate change underscored the need to protect 'our common home', transforming the Church's approach to social issues. He promoted a model of a 'field hospital', focused on healing rather than judgement, and his famous declaration: 'Who am I to judge?' signified a significant shift towards inclusivity and understanding. As we reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis, we mourn not just the passing of a pope, but the departure of a man who redefined kindness, mercy, and demonstrated that humility is a form of strength. He articulated love as an essential duty, transcending mere doctrine, and embodied a spirituality that crossed religious divides. His steadfast faith in God was paralleled by his belief in humanity, recognising the inherent dignity in every person. His life was a testament to kindness, mercy, hope, and prayer, and as we honour his memory, we are called to become beacons of light, inspired by his faith in humanity. Though our time with him was brief, his impact was profound, bringing joy, mercy, and hope to the vulnerable. As we reflect on his journey, we take comfort in knowing he now runs freely in Heaven, unburdened and surrounded by love. Let us celebrate his new beginning, even amidst our tears, as we honour his legacy and the light he brought into the world. As we shed tears of sorrow, we also celebrate his new life in the heavenly realms, bidding him a heartfelt farewell until we reunite. We are eternally grateful for your kindness, guidance, and steadfast compassion. Rest in peace, dear brother, leader, shepherd, and source of inspiration. Your grace, prayers, and deep love for all, especially the marginalised and those in need, will always be remembered. May the angels lead you to paradise, where you will be glorified alongside Christ. We pray for eternal rest for you, O Lord, and that perpetual light may shine upon you. May your soul, along with all the faithful departed, find peace through God's mercy. Amen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Ronan Scully Knocknacarra, Galway No excuse for genocide Paul Kearns' insight from Tel Aviv was shocking and refreshing to see the truth from an Israel-based journalist about the coldhearted opinions of the Israeli population. The refrain 'There are no innocents in Gaza' that Paul mentions could be turned around to say: 'There are (almost) no people who in Israel who think killing Palestinians is wrong'. It was good to acknowledge that support for Israel's murderous assault on Gaza is widespread in the civilian population. His account was good up until a point. In his last paragraph, Paul mentions 'the euphoric celebrations on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza in the immediate days after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, when it had become clear over 1,000 Israelis had been murdered.' Maybe spending too long in Israel has distorted what it means to have legitimate military targets. The numbers are clear: 379 of the Israelis killed on October 7 were on-duty Israeli forces. Killing soldiers putting Gaza under an illegal siege is not murder. Of the 700 civilians, many were enlisted as reserves — or perhaps they could be described as militants. Of all the deaths, it's clear that the Israeli army were responsible for a huge number of them. The Palestinian resistance did not have tanks. They did not have Apache helicopters, nor fighter jets. Yet many of the deaths resulted from heavy artillery fire. No one talks of the Palestinian prisoners of war that day. How many died? How many were summarily executed? How many were tortured after capture? War crimes probably did occur from the Palestinian resistance, but this is no excuse for genocide. If that was the case, then Palestinians would be justified in pursuing a similar goal against the Israelis. Fachtna O'Raftery Clonakilty, Co Cork Trump sounds like a broken record It's unsurprising to learn that US president Donald Trump has taken no responsibility for the state of the economy. He insists that poor economic performance was not related to his global tariffs. He even wrote on his social media platform Truth Social: 'This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are now starting to move into the USA in record numbers.' All I say to that is: Give me a break. In his book The Apprentice, Trump was proud to share his philosophy of denying everything and never accepting responsibility allied to presenting every defeat as a victory. Trump is sounding every bit akin to a broken record, so much so that one feels that he doesn't even believe what he is saying anymore. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
