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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'Racism, xenophobia have no place in Ireland': Irish embassy reacts to attacks on Indians
The Irish embassy in India on Friday expressed concern over recent violent attacks on Indian citizens in the country. The Irish embassy announced that the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and minister for foreign affairs will meet representatives of the Indian community in Ireland on August 11. The Embassy of Ireland said racism and xenophobia have no place in Irish society. (@Gearoid_80/ X) In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Irish embassy said, 'We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. They are an assault on the values of equality and human dignity that Ireland holds dear.' The embassy said racism and xenophobia have no place in Irish society. It said that the actions of a few do not show the true spirit of the Irish people and will not be accepted. The statement also said, 'Over 100,000 Indians now call Ireland home. Our society is enriched by the diversity of people who live in Ireland, particularly our Indian community, whose contributions continue to deepen the bonds between our nations.' Also Read: 'Don't make it another India': Indian in Ireland urges cultural fit amid racism worries The statement added that the embassy is in regular contact with the Indian mission in Dublin and that the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is also in touch with An Garda Siochana, the police of Ireland, about the ongoing investigations. 'The Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs will be meeting with representatives of the Indian community in Ireland on Monday 11 August', the post further added. On August 1, the Indian embassy in Ireland had told Indian citizens to be careful and stay aware of their surroundings after a rise in physical attacks against Indians. Indians in Ireland face rise in racist attacks Several attacks on Indians have taken place in Ireland recently. The latest involved a six-year-old Indian-origin girl has become the latest target of racist attacks in Ireland. The girl, whose family is from Kottayam in Kerala, was playing outside her home in Waterford City in southeast Ireland when a group of children aged 12 to 14 attacked her, called her "dirty" and told her to 'go back to India.' In a different case, a senior data scientist was also attacked by six teenagers while walking home after dinner. Reports say the assault was unprovoked. He suffered a fractured cheekbone. He posted about the incident on LinkedIn, where he wrote 'They snatched my glasses, breaking them, and then beat me relentlessly across my head, face, neck, chest, hands, and legs—leaving me bleeding on the pavement.'
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Genotyping reveals 17% of calves registered with incorrect sire
In the calving season rush, mistakes are inevitable, and these are being revealed by the National Genotyping Programme (NGP). This year, about 17% of tag samples submitted by farmers for genotyping revealed the wrong sire was registered, there were 5-6% dam errors, and 3.2% breed errors. The NGP offers free genotyping of all breeding stock in the first year, followed by mandatory €6 per calf genotyping thereafter. As well as correcting registration errors and the accompanying risk of in-breeding, genotyping identifies problem animals with chromosomal abnormalities. It also helps the agri-industry by improving the reliability of genomic breeding values; and by generating commercial beef value figures; enabling access to tools like Genocells, and discovery of genetically elite animals. 'For herds that sign up this summer, in year one, 2025, they would genotype all their ungenotyped breeding stock", said Gearoid. "That would be all the cows, in-calf heifers, heifer calves, any stock bulls they have on the farm. Anything that's ungenotyped, we would genotype them this year free of charge, using button tags. That would be completely free. We'd have all your existing herd genotyped then'. This is followed by genotyping of all calves at birth, from January 2026. 'That's the heifer calves, bull calves, beef calves, all get genotyped at birth using double tissue tags', Gearoid said. The farmer will register their calves online and send off their DNA. 'Any sires, dams or sex incorrectly recorded by the farmer will be identified by the DNA sample, and the DNA will correct it on the passport or blue card, before it is issued', Gearoid said. Since the NGP was launched in 2023, the share of the national dairy herd that is genotyped has increased very significantly. Herds of any size may join the NGP. 'This year, so far, we have about 745,000 calves genotyped through the programme. That would be the bones of 40% of the calves that have been born in the country. The average turnaround time, from when the sample arrived in the lab to coming out the other side with the genotype, was about four days. At times it was as low as three days. In terms of from birth to blue card, from the calf being born on farm to a blue card being issued to the farmer, the average is around 12 to 14 days'. While a very small percentage of samples have encountered delays for a variety of reasons, the ICBF has agreed to automatically issue the passport after 10 days in the lab. Gearoid explained, 'To genotype 100 cows is €18 per animal normally, that's €1,800 worth of genotyping that a farmer will get free of charge this year'. 'From 2026, when you're genotyping your calves, rather than paying €18 to genotype an animal, the farmer is only paying about €6, €4 of that to ICBF for the genotyping, and €2 to cover postage, and the cost of the additional double tissue tags. That's a big benefit'. 'All the herds in the National Genotyping Programme will have that extra information on the mart board, which will help make them that little bit more saleable', said Mark Waters, also of ICBF, in the podcast. 'Another side benefit is a service being launched by some of the milk recording services, called Genocells. That's a very novel service whereby from a single bulk tank sample, using the DNA in the milk, we can actually tell which cows are contributing the largest proportion of the Somatic Cell Count, without having to individually test each cow's milk', Mark explained. This is possible only where the cows have been genotyped. Genotyped herds will also be able to avail of other technological breakthroughs. 'We'll be able to identify cows in farmers' herds that are potentially carrying a copy of a lethal recessive gene ,and making sure that they are not being mated to a sire who's also a carrier, increasing the chances of producing a calf that may have an issue, or stillbirth or something like that', Gearoid explained. With the NGP, Ireland aims to be the first country to genotype the entire national cattle herd.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Limerick hurler Gearoid Hegarty's relationship with sports star girlfriend
Gearoid Hegarty, a key player for the Limerick senior hurling team, has had a successful career since his debut in 2016. He's won five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, six Munster Senior Hurling Championships and four National Hurling Leagues. However, Limerick won't be adding to their trophy haul this summer after suffering a shock defeat to Dublin over the weekend. Hegarty has also bagged four All-Stars and was named Hurler of the Year in 2020. Away from the pitch, the St. Patrick's man works as a secondary school teacher and is in a relationship with fellow sports star Niamh McCarthy. Hegarty was first called into the Limerick senior panel by then manager TJ Ryan in 2016, reports RSVP Live. Two years later, he was part of the team that clinched the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Between 2020 and 2023, he went on to win four more All-Ireland medals. During this period, he also won six Munster Senior Hurling Championships and four National Hurling Leagues. His stellar performances earned him four All-Stars and the title of Hurler of the Year in 2020. For three seasons, the St. Patrick's man played as a dual player, making his debut in 2014 before stepping away in 2017. Hegarty is currently dating McCarthy, who has represented Limerick at inter-county level in both Camogie and LGFA. Niamh, a science teacher and club footballer with Dromcollogher/Broadford in Tipperary, has led the county's Ladies Football team to the All-Ireland Junior Football semi-final as captain. The pair are no strangers to the limelight, often snapped on the red carpet at Dublin's glitzy All-Stars awards. Together, they're proud pet parents to two dogs and enjoy jet-setting around the globe. Gearoid works as a business teacher after graduating from University of Limerick. "Teaching gets a bad rep in terms of GAA players going teaching and it really irritates me," he told the Irish Examiner. "If you get into teaching for the holidays you will not last. You just will not last. I remember in college they used to say there are as many GAA players trying to get out of teaching as get into teaching. "If you are going in every day Monday to Friday and just trying to get to June, what a miserable way to live." Gearoid towers at 6 ft 4 in and was born in August 1994, which puts him at 30 years old. He is 6 ft 4 in height. He plays his club hurling in St. Patrick's in Limerick city. Gearoid's father, Ger, is also a well-known figure in hurling, having played for Limerick and featured in the 1994 All-Ireland final against Offaly at Croke Park. However, he joked that he is not a"nepo baby"in any way. "You need a bit of luck along the way too," he told the Irish Examiner. "And I was probably lucky that my father had hurled for Limerick for so long. "That probably gave me a leg up when I needed it, at times." The GAA star continued: "He used always say, 'all you can do is your best'. He is the eternal optimist. Whenever we weren't going too well, back in the day, his phrase was 'that's the best thing that ever happened ye'. "Whether you won by 10 points or lost by 10 points it was 'that's the best thing that ever happened ye'. Especially the losses. 'Ye learned a lot today'." Gearoid was rocked by speculation that he was leaving the Limerick panel after he was dropped ahead of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship game against Clare. "First thing, there was absolutely nothing to it. There was no truth to any of the rumours," he told the Irish Independent at the time. "The boys got a great kick out of it. I had to hear about it for the next four, or five sessions. The first session back after the so-called rumour (leaving the squad) broke, the boys were slagging, 'Jesus, I didn't think I'd see you here this morning'," the GAA star said. "[Fellow Limerick hurler Darragh] O'Donovan was giving me an awful ear's abuse. I had to hear about it for a good few training sessions after that, but I don't know where it came from. I don't know what happened." However, the rumour really affected Gearóid's family. "My mother and my grandmother didn't take it well and they were quite upset with the rumours. "I'm a young man, I'm only 29. I have to go to work and deal with these things. I'd be thick-skinned, I take criticism pretty well, but, as I said, the team behind the player, in terms of my family, it was really tough for them because they can't do anything about it." Five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships - 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Six Munster Senior Hurling Championship - 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Four All-Stars - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 One Hurler of the Year - 2020
Extra.ie
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Inside Gearoid Hegarty's life off the pitch following Limerick loss
All Star hurler Gearoid Hegarty dropped to the ground after being hit with an elbow on Saturday during the Limerick to Dublin clash, resulting in Dublin being a man down for most of the All Ireland Senior Hurling quarter-final. The elbow came from Dublin captain Chris Crummey inside the first 15 minutes, with the red card offence making it a game of 15 versus 14 for most of the game. Unfortunately, Hegarty and his team were unable to use the extra player to their advantage, with two second-half goals from Dublin proving they were well up for the challenge. All Star hurler Gearoid Hegarty dropped to the ground after suffering an elbow on Saturday during the Limerick to Dublin clash. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile The Dubs were victorious 2-24 to 0-28 after 70 minutes of play plus injury time. It is a disappointing end to the Treaty City's championship bid, with St Patrick's right wing-forward joining the county team in 2016 and going from strength to strength. Nine years on the Limerick Senior Hurling team, the 30-year-old has gone on to claim five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles along with six Munster Senior Hurling titles and found National Hurling Leagues. Dublin are down to 14 men after Chris Crummey sees red for his elbow on Gearóid Hegarty. 📺 @RTE2 & @RTEplayer 📱 Updates – — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 21, 2025 In 2020, Gearoid was named Hurler of the Year, and has four All-Stars to his name from 20202, 2021, 2022 and 2024. As well as playing for his club and county, the Limerick man played for University of Limerick during his time in the Castletroy-based college, winning the Fitzgibbbon Cup in 2018. Off the pitch, Gearoid is a business teacher and enjoys holidaying with his partner Niamh O'Connor, who is also a teacher. Off the pitch, Gearoid Hegarty is a business teacher and enjoys holidaying with his partner Niamh O'Connor, who is also a teacher. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile The couple have been together for a number of years, with Niamh sharing a sporting background having played intercounty level for Limerick in both Camogie and football. As well as having a talented sporting girlfriend, Gearoid's father also is well-known in GAA circles having played for Limerick and getting to the All Ireland finals at Croke Park in 1994. Retired Ger played for Old Christians at club-level. He also represented Limerick for a number of years, in both football and hurling. Ger holds two Munster Senior Hurling titles.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Meet the Cavan man embracing sobriety and community spirit who will unveil Ireland's largest drum at Féile na Bealtaine
Gearoid Teevan needs no reminding of the ups and downs that passage in time has brought with it as he battled with the rigours of alcohol and substance abuse. Now, approximately a decade and a half later, this self-assured and uplifting Cavan businessman is setting his sights on instilling those very same virtues that helped turn his life around at a day of spiritual healing this coming Sunday. Féile na Bealtaine is part of what is being billed as a 'soulful and celebratory' day at Drummany Spirit, set on 19 acres of land in the lakelands area of Milltown in county Cavan. The day will see a whole host of attractions from Sean Nos dancing and Irish music to old style craft demonstrations including butter and bread making to even the likes of a drumming workshop. The inclusion of the latter will equally form the fitting backdrop to the unveiling of Ireland's largest community drum, An Ruaille Buaille Druma. Spanning 13 foot round and capable of being played by up to 30 people at any one time, its creation is the best part of two years in the making. 'I love drumming myself and the benefits that come from it for my own personal reasons and I know there are so many others out there who are capable of getting the same benefits through a guided drum circle,' Gearoid told the Irish Independent ahead of this weekend's eagerly awaited showcase. Its origins were spawned from the successes of Gearoid's own Healing Spirit Festival, an alcohol and drug free festival he has continued to host since 2021 and on the same 19-acre parcel of 'hallowed land' he inherited from his much-loved late uncle, Jim Teevan. Thanks to the input of Swanlinbar based master carpenter Micheál Ó Raghaill and artist Claire Falconer, the drum's genesis came courtesy of the proud father of three's own desire to instil a sense of unity among communities by offering up a unique musical and spiritual experience. 'I have no doubt the conversation I would have had with Jim, he would say to me: 'You are mad in the head', but that's fine,' asserted a passionate sounding Gearoid. ADVERTISEMENT 'For me, everyone can participate. You don't have to be a musician. I had an auntie of mine who was in her 80s and with her smaller drum I just said: 'Come on, you can play along with me'. 'Her reply was that she couldn't, but when I said to follow what I was doing, she did and the smile just appeared across her face. She had never done it before in her life, but when she was in a space where she was encouraged and guided to do it, that's what happened and that's the effect it has.' The day itself will also see the official opening of Bridget's Cottage, a beautiful old style Irish residence which lay derelict for years, but which has now been brought back to its original glory by Gearoid. The cottage, which has been thatched and lovingly restored, is over 300 years old and showcases how our ancestors lived. For some, it might seem more trouble than perhaps it's worth. Yet, for Gearoid, his sense of appetite to make a real and lasting difference runs much deeper, so much so he is now all but intent on parking his own business interests as a scaffolding contractor in order to help others. 'I am going to focus more on this type of work as it is very much needed,' he maintained. 'What society and communities at the moment are dealing with is a disconnection. People are grasping in all directions to try and find a bit of peace in their souls and what often happens is that it then manifests into addictions, prescription or substance (abuse) to get some relief from the turmoil they are going through. What this is all about and what I am doing is to try to solve all that by reconnecting people.' From the evidence of his own 15-year path to redemption allied to what lies in store this Sunday, it's an aspiration you wouldn't bet against him realising. To find out more and to book your place at Féile na Bealtaine on Sunday, May 4 click here.
