Latest news with #Irishgovernment
Agriland
21-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Watch: The transformation of peatlands on a farm in Co. Offaly
A suckler farmer in Co. Offaly has today (Wednesday, May 21) showcased how an innovative new project has helped to transform peatlands on his family farm. The transformation according to Donie Regan is down to his decision to take part in Ireland's first on-farm paludiculture trials. The project was officially launched today at the Regan farm in Gortavally, Shinrone, Co. Offaly. It is funded by the funded by the Irish government and the EU, and run by Green Restoration Ireland (GRI), Regan took over his family farm in the 1980s, and has been farming the land ever since. When the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) sent out expressions of interest for the project, Regan decided he had 'nothing to lose'. He told Agriland: 'We are delighted with it. This bog has been sitting here for the last 45 years, not being used. We let them on, they blocked the drains, and put in a few ponds. As everything went on there was an awful lot more wildlife, more insects, everything was starting to reappear. 'They decided to put in fruit bushes. We have all the superfruits, they're only in a couple of years but they're going very well. 'The amazing thing is, anything can grow on bog. We've every sort of a vegetable over there, and they all grew.' At the launch of the project, Dr. Doug McMillan and Dr. Bastiaan Molleman, who work for GRI, demonstrated the work that was being done on the farm for the peatlands, and for nature restoration. Dr. McMillan explained: 'With the project, GRI is offering free, hands-on support to farmers, farm advisors, and the wider community. 'Participating farmers can avail of comprehensive, no-cost surveys to assess their peatland's potential for carbon payments, paludiculture crops and the establishment of paludiculture crops.' 'The project also offers free on-farm training delivered at the pioneer farms in Co. Offaly to demonstrate how to successfully manage your peatlands and unlock new income streams,' he added. Peatlands The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the project as a 'valuable opportunity' opportunity to support the transition towards climate-neutrality and encourage biodiversity. Minister O'Brien said: 'Peatlands for Prosperity demonstrates an environmentally sustainable solution to the challenges of the cessation of peat extraction in the midlands, placing the welfare and wellbeing of the farming community at its core. 'This project represents the necessary shift towards environmentally conscious land use while enabling farmers to access new potential sources of revenue. 'We look forward to witnessing the impact and influence of this project on future initiatives,' he added.
Daily Record
26-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Guinness drinkers floored after discovering true meaning of brand's logo
Each year, approximately 1.8 billion pints of Guinness are consumed globally. To give you an idea, stout enthusiasts are downing over 10 million glasses of the black brew daily. Despite many of us savouring the flavour of the dark elixir – made up of four primary ingredients - water, barley, hops and yeast – there's still intriguing trivia about the company that people are discovering. This includes facts about the iconic harp logo recognised in nations across the globe. So, did you know this entertaining piece of alcohol trivia? It's a fun fact to ponder on your next pub visit with friends. So here's all you need to know about the Guinness logo that's been around for 163 years and counting. The history behind it extends far beyond just being part of the beverage's emblem. The logo is inspired by a renowned Irish harp from the 14th century known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. This can now be viewed at the Library of Trinity College Dublin – attracting hundreds of visitors each day. This is because the ancient artefact is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps worldwide. However, there's a significant difference between the harps seen in the library and on Guinness products. They are mirror images facing opposite directions. This is due to the Irish government adopting the harp as its official emblem in 1922, leading Guinness to modify its own design to prevent confusion. It has been reimagined several times – the current incarnation features "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys, commented: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. "In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." For those who've never paid much attention, they may have only just found out an interesting tidbit about the Guinness logo. On social media platform X, one user posted: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Another pondered: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." The piece of booze knowledge has left people floored. You really do learn something new every day!
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Guinness drinkers finally realise meaning behind famous logo after 163 years
The Guinness logo is recognisable to more than 150 countries in the world – but have you ever stopped to think about the famous emblem's history and true meaning? Guinness is one of the most iconic beer brands in the world. It is a dry stout that originated in Dublin, Ireland, and is known for its deep, dark colour and creamy white head. It's been around since 1759 and is loved for its distinctive roasted malt flavour, which people say reminds them of coffee and dark chocolate. The Irish stout is sold in more than 150 countries – and people knock back more than 10 million pints of the black nectar per day. But next time you get a round in, take some time to think about the history of the iconic brand. Even though many of us are familiar with the Guinness logo, which has been around for 163 years, plenty are completely clueless about what the harp was inspired by. So here's some fun trivia to test your friends on next time you're at the pub... Why does Guinness use a harp as a logo? The emblem is based on a famous Irish harp from the 14th century, which is known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. You can see this ancient instrument at the Library of Trinity College Dublin, where plenty of tourists flock to as it is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps in the world. There is a difference in the two designs, though. The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted that the symbols are mirror images of one another. They point in different ways, which helps people to tell them apart. The Irish government adopted the harp as its official symbol in 1922, prompting Guinness to change its version to avoid clashing. It's undergone numerous redesigns over the years – with its current form including "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys said: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." You learn something new every day, which is evident given that Guinness drinkers have taken to social media to share their surprise. One commenter wrote: How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Meanwhile, another said: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp?? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." What is Guinness made from? 1. Barley (Malted and Roasted): Barley is the primary grain used in Guinness. Some of it is malted (soaked and dried to encourage germination), and a portion is roasted to give Guinness its characteristic dark color and rich, roasted flavors. 2. Hops: Hops are flowers that act as a natural preservative and add bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. They contribute to the beer's distinctive flavor and aroma. 3. Water: Pure water is a key ingredient. Guinness is famously brewed using water from the Wicklow Mountains near Dublin, Ireland. 4. Yeast: Guinness uses a proprietary strain of yeast, which ferments the sugars in the malted barley to produce alcohol. This yeast has been preserved and reused in the brewing process for many years.
Irish Daily Star
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Guinness fans just learn true meaning behind iconic logo after 163 years
Each year, around 1.8 billion pints of Guinness are sold worldwide. To put things into perceptive, stout fans are knocking back more than 10 million glasses of the black stuff per day. But despite many of us loving the taste of the dark nectar – comprised of four main ingredients of water, barley, hops and yeast – there is still fun trivia people are learning about the company. This includes knowledge about the iconic harp logo that is recognisable in countries around the world. So did you know this fun bit of trivia? It's something fun to mull over next time you're down the pub with some mates. So here's everything you need to know about the Guinness logo that's been around for 163 years and counting. It's a harp with one key difference – it's been flipped around (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images) Why does Guinness use a harp as a logo? It turns out, the history of it goes back much further than just being part of the drink's emblem. The logo is based on a famous Irish harp from the 14th century known as the O'Neill or Brian Boru harp. You can now see this on display at the Library of Trinity College Dublin – and hundreds of visitors crowd around it each day. This is because the ancient item is one of the oldest surviving Gaelic harps in the world. However, there is a key difference between the harps seen in the library and on Guinness products. They are mirror images that face opposite ways. This is because the Irish government adopted the harp as its official symbol in 1922, prompting Guinness to change its version to avoid clashing. It's undergone numerous redesigns over the years – with its current form including "sharper, more detailed features". Mark Sandys, Diageo Global Head of Beer and Baileys said: "The Guinness harp was originally based on the legendary 'Brian Boru harp', a powerful symbol of Ireland's national identity and heritage. In keeping with the Guinness 'Made of More' ethos, we have reintroduced a special handmade quality to the harp to reflect the experience, craftsmanship and passion that we put into brewing our Guinness beers." While some already knew this fun fact, there are people who are only just taking a closer look at the Guinness logo. On X, one commenter asked: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Meanwhile, another said: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp?? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold." Well, the more you know!
The Independent
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Intel staff and families ‘extremely concerned' at possible job losses
Intel's staff and their families are 'extremely concerned' at the possible job losses as the company seek to cut its global workforce, the employment minister has said. Peter Burke said it is likely to be 'several weeks' before detail is available on how the Co Kildare-based campus will be affected. Intel said it is cutting its workforce to bring costs in line with the business's smaller size, but did not announce a number of lay-offs. Earlier this week, Bloomberg News reported that more than 20% of staff globally are to be laid off. The US tech firm's European manufacturing base has been in Leixlip since 1989. Intel said it has invested 30 billion euro into the campus and has 4,900 employees in Ireland. Intel said it could be July before it has finalised the number of lay-offs. Mr Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said he will continue to engage with Intel, supported by colleagues in IDA Ireland, in what is a 'difficult time for staff in the midst of continued uncertainty'. 'I note the publication of Intel's Q1 financial results last night and comments from CEO Lip Bu Tan that they were 'a step in the right direction', while also confirming there will be a reduction in Intel's workforce globally,' Mr Burke said in a statement. 'While no specifics around the number or location of job cuts were flagged, the company have said they plan to reduce operating costs by 500 million dollars (440m euro) this year and one billion dollars (880m euro) next year, and stated this will include a reduction in the workforce, particularly in management and non-core engineering roles. 'It is likely to be several weeks before detail is available on the impact of these cost reduction measures. 'While we await further specifics on potential downsizing, which is an incredibly anxious time for Intel's staff, it is positive that the company have stated that they will continue to focus investment on their core business, the manufacturing of semiconductor products. 'This is the primary activity in Ireland. 'It is also worth noting that Intel has completed the construction of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility in Europe in Fab 34, which is now in production in Leixlip and can be central to Intel's growth recovery strategy. 'This 17 billion euro investment is just the latest in Intel's 35-year history operating here, with the Irish government, through IDA Ireland, partnering with Intel on this journey. 'My thoughts remain with staff and their families, many of whom are extremely concerned. 'I continue to keep in touch with local management and I am meeting them again next week. ' Government continues to value our long-term partnership with Intel and will continue to work with the company as it works through its plans over the coming weeks and months, as demand for semiconductors remains strong.'
