Latest news with #Fia
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Double win for Wicklow author at Children's Books Ireland Awards win
The verse novel by Eilish Fisher, which is set in pre-historic Ireland, tells the story of thirteen-year-old Fia and her beloved snow deer Solas, was also awarded the Éilís Dillon Prize celebrating Fisher's outstanding debut children's book. Speaking at the awards, Eilish said: 'I'm deeply honoured to receive these awards. As a debut author, it's incredibly moving to see Fia and the Last Snow Deer resonate with both judges and readers around the country. "Knowing that so many young readers connected with Fia's story means more to me than I can say. I'm grateful beyond words—and so proud to be part of Ireland's vibrant children's literature community.' Eilish received her award from host Rick O'Shea at a ceremony held in Merrion Square, in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin. Fia and the Last Snow Deer is published by Puffin Books and is illustrated by Dermot Flynn. Eilish grew up in a 200-year-old haunted farmhouse in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and moved to Ireland in 1998. She began writing increasingly diverse poetry as a young teenager and in 1996, won a place at the esteemed Breadloaf Young Writer's Conference in Middlebury Vermont. When she was 19 Eilish came to Maynooth University to immerse myself in ancient Irish myth and history. She was awarded a Bachelor's Degree in English, History and Medieval Irish Studies, a Master's degree in Early Medieval Irish History and Literature and a Doctorate in Medieval English Literature from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. She was also a member of The Avoca Writers' Group and currently resides in Glenmalure.
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉjr: Feel the grá for Gaeilge with all-new Fia's Fairies
It's time to go back to Fairy Island with RTÉjr. The new series of Fia's Fairies is back to sprinkle some magic onto your screens. The preschool show takes your small ones on a magical Irish language-learning adventure with 6-year-old Fia and her best friend Ameer. Once again our young heroes are joined by Bláithín and Cuán, two bilingual fairies who live on Fairy Island. And they have a new friend - say hello to Rua the adventurous young fox! The fairies, along with other the Gaeilgeoirí animal residents of Fairy Island, help Fia and Ameer learn new words in Irish while also teaching them about kindness, acceptance, and bravery - and they want to bring everyone along for the fun! We are back with 24 all-new episodes with new places to see, plus plenty of fun phrases as Gaeilge for everyone at home to show everyone that's great to speak Gaeilge - it's perfect for the classroom too. Ar aghaidh linn! Bígí ag caint - everyone has a favourite thing to say in Irish: FIA - Most Likely To Say: Go híontach! (Wonderful!) AMEER - Most Likely To Say: Ar fheabhas! (That's awesome!) CUÁN - Most Likely To Say: Ar aghaidh linn! (Let's go!) BLÁITHÍN - Most Likely To Say: Is féidir linn! (We can figure this out!) BANBA - Most Likely To Say: Ná bí buartha! (Don't worry!") Banba only speaks as Gaeilge. CHEEPCHEEP - Most Likely To Say: Maith sibh! (Well done!) PIP - Most Likely To Say: Cad a dhéanfaimid? (What are we going to do?) RUA - Most Likely To Say: Tar liom! (Follow me!) If you can't wait, you can look back on Series 1 and all the new words we learned here! Produced by Little Moon Animation, this brand new season sees Julia Dillon stepping in as the voice of Fia, taking over from Alisha Weir (Matilda The Musical), who first brought the character to life in Season One. Fan-favourite Elsie Akinduko returns as Ameer, and joining the cast is Cara Mannix, voicing Rua.
Daily Record
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
14 unique Scottish baby names that you don't see much these days
From Brochan to Ardis, all of these are underrated. It is hardly a secret that there is a seemingly limitless supply of beautiful Scottish baby names. If you are looking for a traditional name for your young one, you are spoiled for choice. Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to names. Many prefer to stick with the classics such as Rory and Olivia. However, there is nothing wrong with wanting your baby to have a name that is a bit more distinctive. Thankfully, there are plenty of lesser-known monikers out there that are both unique and traditional. The Daily Record has rounded up 14 amazing Scots baby names that you don't see so often anymore. Whether you are looking for a strong-sounding name like Brochan, or a more delicate pick such as Gardenia, this list is sure to provide some inspiration. Read on for 14 unique Scottish baby names that you don't see much these days, as well as their origins and meanings. 1. Leathan Leathan is a strong-sounding name that has both Gaelic and Anglo-Saxon origins. It can either mean 'broad' or 'wide', or 'of the river'. If you are looking for a name for your baby boy that invokes strength, this could be the one. Especially if you like the idea of having his name having a connection to water. 2. Fia It is believed that the girls' name Fia has Scottish, Irish, and Latin origins. It has a number of potential meanings, from 'deer' to 'wilderness'. Another possible meaning that makes Fia that extra bit unique is 'dark of peace'. If you want your baby girl to be able to find inner peace in even the darkest moments, the name Fia will set her up greatly. 3. Brochan While many of the names on this list have beautiful meanings connected to the natural world, this one's origins are a bit more modest. The boys' name Brochan comes from the Gaelic word, which simply means 'porridge'. It is believed that Brochan first became a popular pick as a baby name following the popularity of the Scottish Gaelic song 'Brochan Lom'. As you might have guessed, the nonsense song is all about porridge. 4. Lilias Both Scottish and Latin in origin, Lilias is a diminutive form of the girls' name Lily. It is an ideal choice for anybody looking for a flower-inspired name, but with an added Scottish flair. The name Lilias means 'oath of God' and 'God is satisfaction'. It has connotations of purity, innocence, and renewal. 5. Kenna Kenna is a tough-sounding girls' name that has Gaelic origins. It is the feminine form of the more-popular boys' name Kenneth. Kenna means 'fire-born' or 'handsome'. This makes it the ideal choice if you are looking for a punchy or fiery-name to give your little girl. 6. Camdan Sounding somewhat similar to the popular boys' name Cameron, Camdan is a gender-neutral name that is a variation of the name Camden. It means 'from the winding valley', and there are plenty of those in Scotland. The name Camdan is generally associated with the traits of strength, power, and resilience. This makes it a perfect choice for any Scottish boy or girl. 7. Lundie The lovely boys' name Lundy has both Scottish and Scandinavian roots. You may also occasionally see it spelled Lundy. Lundie is often believed to mean 'little marsh' or 'grove'. However, it may also be derived from the small settlement of the same name in Angus. 8. Williamina As you might have guessed, this is a rare form of the boys' name William. English and Scottish in origin, it means 'resolute protector' or 'strong-willed warrior'. Williamina is another great choice for a strong-willed baby girl. If you had your heart set on the name William, it is also a good compromise. 9. Struan It is hard to think of a more traditional Scottish-sounding name than Struan. It is the anglicised form of the Gaelic word 'sruthan'. Struan translates to 'small stream' or 'the flow where a spring appears'. It is also thought to come from the village of the same name on the Isle of Skye, which is a great inspiration in its own right. 10. Rosse Rosse is a lovely gender-neutral name that brings to mind a moor or heath. Originally a surname, it is believed to date back to Medieval times. The name comes from the Gaelic word 'ros'. This in turn means 'promontory' or 'headland'. 11. Ardis Irish and Scottish in origin, Ardis is a wonderful unconventional name for a Scottish baby girl. It is another form of the name Ardyce. Pronounced 'AR-diss', Ardis means 'fervent' or 'blooming meadow'. It has connotations of dignity, grace, and beauty. 12. Bonnibel Bonnibel is a unique form of the name Bonnie, which is one of the most popular girls' names in Scotland. Just like with that name, it brings to mind a beloved baby girl who lights up the room. As with Bonnie, Bonnibel means 'cheerful', 'beautiful', and 'good'. It is hard to imagine a more perfect meaning for a newborn than that. 13. Eion Not to be confused with Eoin or Ewan, Eion is a Scottish form of the popular name John. It is also considered by some to be a variant of the name Ian. Originally deriving from the Greek boys' name Eon, Eion means 'God is gracious'. Even if you don't consider yourself religious, it is a wonderful and unique name for a baby boy. 14. Gardenia This one immediately brings to mind a green garden with colourful plants. Unsurprisingly, the Scottish girls' name means 'flower'. More uncommon than classic garden-inspired names such as Rose and Lily, Gardenia is perfect for those looking for a one-of-a-kind moniker that still has a lovely and sunny meaning. It has connotations of beauty and fragrance.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Old Skies review: The loneliness of the long-distance time traveller
But what if you could visit any era, any place? What if you could alter history in subtle and major ways? What if you could save people or kill people? What if you couldn't even die yourself? Wouldn't that make you a god? Or at least very lonely? Old Skies ask these heavy moral questions and more with a thoughtful and cautionary tale of the future set in New York across two centuries. This point'n'click adventure by genre specialist Wadjet Eye Games speculates on what would happen to the world if the invention of time travel had only loose rules about what's off limits. In this hypothesis, it creates something of a plaything for the rich, albeit with government regulation via the prosaically named ChronoZen Time Travel Agency. Some clients of the agency just want to indulge in nostalgia, others have more urgent needs. But less understood is the effect on the time-straddling chaperones who accompany every customer's excursion into history. You play Fia Quinn, a ChronoZen agent who lives a strange existence in New York of the 2060s, where places and people are liable to shift and vanish according to the effects of time travel manipulation. Ably voiced by British actress Sally Beaumont, Fia struggles as much with the logistics of her clients' requests and deeds as she does with her peripatetic lifestyle. At one point, she takes a phone call from her husband only to realise seconds later he doesn't exist and it was all a glitch in the time matrix. Or something. Old Skies can't fully explore the near-infinitive possibilities of a universe where people will meddle ad nauseam with time. So it settles instead for a series of seven chapters based on clients who want undo errors in their past selves or find meaning in their present lives. You encounter locations as diverse as 1870s slums and the Big Apple the day before 9/11. Initially, little more is asked of the player than to exhaust all the dialogue trees for clues as how to progress (find an address, spot a password, etc). But in chapter two we're introduced to the concept of rewinding time, where you fail in a situation but can try again armed with new knowledge. This being America, the failure is often related to being shot dead by an anguished third party. Your challenge hangs on working out the sequence of dialogue or actions to head off or dodge the calamity. Sometimes you're even operating in two different parts of the timeline related to a particular event, which can end up all kinds of headwrecking. Old Skies may not be as pioneering as Wadjet Eye's revered 2018 adventure Unavowed (which still comes highly recommended). Secondly, the tension of any high-stakes scenes also suffers because repetitive trial and error functions as a viable if hardly inspired tactic when the logic of a solution doesn't stand out. But by teasing out Fia's emotional muddle amid the intricate cause and effect of time travel, it finds its own place in the history of cerebral puzzle games.
Axios
07-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Meet the Maker: Isaiah "Izzy" Branam
Meet Isaiah "Izzy" Branam, a Zionsville native who wants to fight substance abuse with virtual reality. The inspo: Branam, an IU junior studying organizational and business psychology, is a tech entrepreneur who founded his first company at 17. Called Fia, or Find Ideal Applicants, the startup was a talent acquisition platform that leveraged machine learning to streamline the hiring process. The Fia Technologies team won a 2021 Elevate Ventures pitch competition, receiving $20,000 in funding and $1.5 million valuation. It made Branam one of the youngest venture-backed CEOs in the nation. What he's making now: Branam's latest venture is Relate XR, which he co-founded with IU assistant professor Brandon Oberlin and digital arts graduate Andrew Nelson. The company combines psychology with virtual reality technology to treat substance abuse disorders. For example, it creates "digital doubles" that allow patients to interact with their life choices and visualize their impact. The latest: The team has raised nearly $5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, and Branam said Relate XR should be ready for launch following ongoing clinical trials. "It looks like it's gonna be about two to three years for FDA clearance so we can get it in the hands of those who really need it," Branam said. "One in six Americans meet the diagnosis criteria for substance use disorder." Zoom in: Branam is an alum of the STARTedUP Foundation's Innovate WithIN pitch competition and was among the students who helped launch Indiana's Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Caucus in January. Check him out: On LinkedIn and the Relate XR website.
