Latest news with #Eimear


Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Jubilant Ace AC pair medal at All-Ireland Schools finals
Drogheda Independent Today at 06:30 It's been another strong week for athletes from Ace AC, with members delivering solid performances at both national and provincial events as well as at the BMC in UK. At the National Schools Championships, two Ace AC athletes earned bronze national medals while representing their schools. Firstly Eimear Cooney, competing for Sacred Heart Drogheda, took bronze in the Senior Girls 1500m with another fine display. Eimear completed the distance just one second behind the second-place athleted with a time of 4:36.79. Shea O'Donnell is one of the club's most consistent performers and he rarely fails to deliver results at the highest level. He was running for St Mary's DS Drogheda and also earned national bronze in the Senior Boys 1500m with a time of 4:02.23. Both Eimear and Shea will be strong favourites for national club medals later in the season. While these were schools results, both athletes train with Ace AC and continue to impress at national level. There was further success at the weekend, this time in the younger age groups at the Leinster Championships, where Caoimhe Carolan joined an illustrious group of female Ace AC athletes who have won provincial medals, claiming second place in the U13 Girls 600m. The Tullyallen-based athlete came through her heats with a strong time of 1:50 and secured the vital silver medal with a 1:44 personal best in the final. U17 athlete Chloe Cooney travelled to Loughborough in the UK on Saturday to compete in a BMC meeting and continued her strong return from injury, recording a season's best time of 2:16 in the 800m. Chloe has improved her time in each of her last three races and is clearly moving in the right direction. Elsewhere, out on the road, Danny Nugent won the Monasterboice 4-Mile Race, putting in a solid performance over the distance. Also competing in the same event were U8 Finn Murphy and U9 Millie Roche who both raced well and successfully completed the distance despite their young ages.


The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Dunnes Stores shoppers set to love new €15 ‘commuter bag' that's ‘reliable' for travelling and Ryanair flights
DUNNES Stores shoppers are set to love the new €15 "commuter bag" that's "reliable" for travelling and Ryanair flights. The retailer's latest travel bag is perfect for the and traveling. Advertisement 3 Dunnes Stores have released the perfect backpack for travelling Credit: Garrett White 3 The compact bag fits Ryanair's hand luggage dimensions Credit: Dunnes Stores 3 The sleek bag costs only €15 Credit: Dunnes Stores Designed with compact travel in mind, the backpack fits Its minimalist design gives it a modern look that suits both travelling and casual use. And it comes in three colours - black, grey and white. Dunnes Stores chiefs said: "Designed for daily use, this backpack has a clean, structured shape with multiple pockets for easy organisation. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL "Finished with a top handle and adjustable straps, it's a reliable choice for work, travel, or everyday wear. Three colours available; sold separately." The main compartment offers enough space for a change of clothes, a laptop and essential travel items. A laptop sleeve adds protection for There's also an easy-access front pocket - perfect for storing documents, chargers or anything needed on the go. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun And it's set to be a big hit, so savvy shoppers must be quick. This comes after Dunnes Stores bosses released another "gorgeous" new travel bag – and it comes in three colours. Dunnes fans set to frenzy as store bosses confirm 'stunning' new summer collection An Irish fashion fan took to TikTok to show off the bag in a light-pink shade. Eimear, who posts under @ Advertisement She said: 'Is this turning into a The Bow Gym Bag is padded and has a satin look finish. Eimear said: 'I picked up the most gorgeous pink travel bag in Dunnes yesterday. Perfect for Dunnes Stores chiefs said the luggage has lots of pockets and compartments. Advertisement They said: 'This gym bag features bow tie panels on each side that double as extra compartments, perfect for carrying your shoes or water bottle. 'The interior is lined with a silky satin material and features three additional pockets.' The pretty bag is also available in a classic black or cool stone shade. Eimear added: 'I badly needed a travel bag—I've been using plastic shopping bags for nights away.' Advertisement THE HISTORY OF DUNNES STORES DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit. Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland's first 'shopping frenzy'. During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne's 'Better Value' bargains. Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 - starting with apples and oranges. The retailer said: "Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town. "Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong. "Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas." The retailer's first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960. They added: "In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed. "Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England." Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.


Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Show-jumping takes centre stage with £45,000 prize pot at stake on day two of Balmoral Show
The dust from Balmoral's busy first day didn't settle for long before streams of people from across the country parked their trucks and tractors for day two of the agricultural gala. The sun also returned to the 65-acre Sprucefield site, with an array of the latest machines on display as thousands flocked to the fair. Each day is different at Balmoral, with horned goats, side saddle riding and a parade of winning pigs making their debut today. The highlight of the day for many is the International Showjumping Spectacular, which features six competitors from across the globe battling to take home a prize fund of over £45,000. Thursday is also billed as 'Connemara day', according to Co Down horse enthusiast Joanne Hunter. She was intently gazing towards an empty horse ring as she waited patiently for her favourite event of the show to begin. Joanne explained how the national Connemara championships draw huge crowds from across the island and particularly from the west coast – where the breed originates – to view the annual spectacle. She said: 'Thursday is Connemara Day. There are in-hand classes, which were earlier on this morning, then there's ridden classes, and then in the afternoon there are jumping classes, all with Connemaras. As a Connemara breeder, that's why I love it. 'It's just such a huge event and it's such a gorgeous day. It's very well-run, and it's just lovely. It's very prestigious, everybody wants to win at Balmoral.' At the cattle rings, furrow-browed and sharp-eyed youths from the Young Farmers Club of Ulster cut their teeth as judges in the livestock breeding competitions. While the larger bulls dominated the first day, such as the mammoth Aberdeen Angus, dairy cow breeders get their shot to show off their cattle's pristine signature black and white coats. Watching proudly from the fences was Glen McCollough whose granddaughter was among the judges in the dairy cow rounds. Despite not having participated 'for donkeys' years', Glen is a former judge and explained how his granddaughter and her peers are tasked to inspect each cow from head to hoof. 'My granddaughter, she's out there judging,' the Co Down calf farmer said. 'I'm good at judging. They have to pick first, second, third and fourth and put them in order. What they think are the best, straight down to the worst." Eimear and Gavin Campbell are attending the Balmoral Show for the first time in several years. The Co Armagh couple explained how the event has got 'a lot bigger' since their last visit. "I haven't really been around very much. There's a lot to look at,' Eimear said. 'It seems to have grown a lot. I actually got lost a few times.'


Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Thousands more flock to Balmoral for day two with crowds enjoying show jumping in the sunshine
The dust from Balmoral's busy first day didn't settle for long before streams of people from across the country parked their trucks and tractors for day two of the agricultural gala. The sun also returned to the 65-acre Sprucefield site, with an array of the latest machines on display as thousands flocked to the fair. Each day is different at Balmoral, with horned goats, side saddle riding and a parade of winning pigs making their debut today. The highlight of the day for many is the International Showjumping Spectacular, which features six competitors from across the globe battling to take home a prize fund of over £45,000. Thursday is also billed as 'Connemara day', according to Co Down horse enthusiast Joanne Hunter. She was intently gazing towards an empty horse ring as she waited patiently for her favourite event of the show to begin. Joanne explained how the national Connemara championships draw huge crowds from across the island and particularly from the west coast – where the breed originates – to view the annual spectacle. She said: 'Thursday is Connemara Day. There are in-hand classes, which were earlier on this morning, then there's ridden classes, and then in the afternoon there are jumping classes, all with Connemaras. As a Connemara breeder, that's why I love it. 'It's just such a huge event and it's such a gorgeous day. It's very well-run, and it's just lovely. It's very prestigious, everybody wants to win at Balmoral.' At the cattle rings, furrow-browed and sharp-eyed youths from the Young Farmers Club of Ulster cut their teeth as judges in the livestock breeding competitions. While the larger bulls dominated the first day, such as the mammoth Aberdeen Angus, dairy cow breeders get their shot to show off their cattle's pristine signature black and white coats. Watching proudly from the fences was Glen McCollough whose granddaughter was among the judges in the dairy cow rounds. Despite not having participated 'for donkeys' years', Glen is a former judge and explained how his granddaughter and her peers are tasked to inspect each cow from head to hoof. 'My granddaughter, she's out there judging,' the Co Down calf farmer said. 'I'm good at judging. They have to pick first, second, third and fourth and put them in order. What they think are the best, straight down to the worst." Eimear and Gavin Campbell are attending the Balmoral Show for the first time in several years. The Co Armagh couple explained how the event has got 'a lot bigger' since their last visit. "I haven't really been around very much. There's a lot to look at,' Eimear said. 'It seems to have grown a lot. I actually got lost a few times.'


Khaleej Times
23-04-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
'Ruby Blooms': UAE launches world's first sensory menstruation guidebook for girls with autism
The world's first-of-its-kind sensory guidebook for menstruation has been launched in UAE, designed to assist young girls on the autism spectrum in navigating the complexities of periods. Explaining periods can be a challenging task for any parent, but for those with daughters on the autism spectrum, it often becomes significantly more challenging. Traditional educational materials generally overlook the sensory-sensitive needs of these young girls, which may result in confusion, anxiety, and sensory overload during this critical life stage. To fill this gap, Nana partnered with Saatchi & Saatchi to create a sensory-first guidebook that redefines period education. "Ruby Blooms" features engaging pages designed to resonate with individuals with autism, employing varied textures, soothing colors, and simplified illustrations to introduce and acclimate girls to different aspects of menstruation. Each element is purposefully crafted to ease the transition into this new phase of life, addressing the distinct smells, textures, and sounds associated with periods in a gentle and supportive manner. Khaleej Times spoke with British residents in UAE, Eimear Reece and her daughter, Una, who is on the autism spectrum, about their experiences with the book. Eimear said, 'Even though Una got her hands on the book after she already had her period, as she is now 17 years old, it's still her favorite.' She expressed the challenges faced by parents in finding appropriate resources to discuss menstruation with daughters who have autism, saying: 'We started early as every parent does, but having books like this specifically for autistic children would make the conversation much easier.' Una shared her thoughts on the sensory experiences of menstruation, noting, 'The most difficult thing for me is the texture.' She said that while her parents had explained menstruation to her earlier, the book will help girls to understand things gradually, making the process less overwhelming. Both Eimear and Una expressed hope that "Ruby Blooms" reaches every parent with daughters who have autism, emphasising the need for more initiatives that cater to the unique challenges faced by these families. Dr Rama Kanj, a renowned autism specialist involved in the project, said, 'Periods are already a significant emotional and physical milestone. For girls on the spectrum, the sensory impact can be profound. 'Ruby Blooms' is carefully designed to empower these young girls and provide their families with essential, tailored support.' Michelle Karaa, Regional Marketing Manager MEA at Essity, remarked, 'Periods are never just periods, especially in a region where such topics are still considered taboo. Our mission has always been about breaking taboos and making periods easier for all women, without exception. This initiative ensures that young girls on the spectrum receive the education and support they deserve, tailored specifically to their needs.' This guidebook not only aims to educate but also seeks to comfort and transform the period journey for young girls with autism and their families, marking a significant advancement in menstrual health education and inclusivity.