Latest news with #Loughran
Agriland
10-08-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Watch: Using local grain to produce quality whiskey
In 1979, Loughran's Stores Ltd was founded just outside of Dundalk, in Haggardstown, Co. Louth, but the Loughran family has been farming the land since 1908. The company's managing director, James Loughran, the third generation of his family to farm the land, explained to Agriland that originally, it was an "old Land Commission" farm - 40ac and a farmhouse. In the 1970s, the grain store was built, and trading began with farmers in the local area, a number of which Loughran's still trade with today. Loughran joined the business in 2002, with the goal of doing something "slightly different, but still within our skill set", especially with the company's wheat, oats, and barley. In the early 2010s, while on holiday in Canada, Loughran became interested in Vancouver's craft beer scene, and the city's intake of malt barley per year. Back home, he recognised that the Irish brewing and distilling industries were growing for smaller, independent businesses. However, Loughran felt that there was limited opportunities for Irish brewers to access local malt - crushed, in 25kg bags - simply because the facilities were not there. In 2014, the company started crushing a small amount of malt barley, and supplied it to breweries around Ireland. Crusher at Loughran's Storehouse, Co. Louth Over the years, the company has diversified what it distributes, to offer brewers a full range of base malt, specialty malts, and hops. The company continued to expand and followed a simple, but effective, business model - provide brewers and distillers with all the ingredients they need: a "one-stop shop", as Loughran himself puts it. The Old Carrick Mill Distillery is 30km away from Loughran's Storehouse, just across the county border, in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. The distillery was founded by Steven Murphy, a Monaghan native, and is supplied by Loughran's. Murphy founded Old Carrick Mill 14 years ago, on the site of an old mill which leads back to the world-famous B&G vineyard in Bordeaux, France, and the Barton family. Having traced the mill's roots all the way south of France, B&G gifted Murphy 50 of its finest red wine barrels, which he filled them with whiskey. Despite its continental history, Old Carrick Distillery is rooted firmly in south Co. Monaghan. Throughout the premises, Murphy has links to the local area proudly on display. A local expression is proudly etched into the bottles of whiskey: "From Carrickmacross to Crossmaglen, there are more rogues than honest men." Whiskey produced at Old Carrick Mill Distillery However, gin was Old Carrick Mill Distillery's first product. Murphy explained that the only "law" in making gin is that the main botanical is juniper, and it has to be 40% alcohol. As a result, Murphy began growing junipers on site in Carrickmacross so that he could produce 100% Irish gin further down the line. He planted the trees "eight or nine" years ago, with mixed results. According to Murphy, junipers are a "lazy" tree, and it could be 10 years before they put out a berry. Once harvested, Murphy intends to use his junipers to make gin along with other Irish products, such as apples and blackberries. "Who is to say gin has to taste a certain way?" Murphy asked. "It has to have junipers in it, but everything else can be different."
The Irish Sun
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Dublin's longest-running family-owned hotel offers uniquely Irish experience in great location with fine food & gym
IN an era of corporate ownership, it's wonderful in this day and age to see an independent business still thriving. And that is what the Sandymount Hotel in Advertisement 5 The hotel boasts an excellent location Credit: sandymounthotel 5 Outdoor dining is available on the terrace Credit: sandymounthotel The hotel celebrated 70 years of continuous family ownership in May 2025, longer than any other hotel property in the capital. Proudly owned by the third generation of the Loughran I had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality at the Sandymount during a recent stay when I was in Dublin for Coming from Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL And with over 70 complimentary car parking spaces, I had no problem finding a spot for my overnight stay. With the British Lions playing On arrival, Anna on the reception desk ensured I was met with a warm and friendly welcome and could not have been more helpful. I stayed in a deluxe super king room which had everything you need - comfortable bed, excellent bathroom with power shower, and amenities including a 42" Smart TV with Advertisement Most read in the Irish Sun Following the rugby theme, it was then to the hotel's Line Out Bar where I met a colleague for lunch. Open from 12.30pm every day, it has a vast menu to choose from including steak, fish, pasta, burgers and salads. GREAT GRUB I opted for the Chicken and Chorizo Pasta while my friend Neil had the Grilled Chicken and Avocado Burger and we both had no complaints with the excellent The next day I also enjoyed the buffet breakfast which is served in Whitty's down the stairs. Advertisement And with the recent good weather, tables were available outside on the terrace to relax and enjoy a coffee while reading the morning newspaper. For the more energetic, Sandymount also has a fitness room available for residents - you just need to get a different key from reception to access it. PLEASANT LOCATION The hotel has a great location too - it's only a five minute walk to both the Dart at Lansdowne Station and, of course, the Aviva Stadium. And more importantly it was also very handy for me to get to our offices on Mayor Street Upper on the other side of the River Liffey, a stone's throw away from the Advertisement GO: DUBLIN STAY THERE: Stay in the Sandymount Hotel, located in one of Dublin's prestigious neighbourhoods, with great rooms, bar and restaurants. Visit DO THIS: Visit the Aviva Stadium where some of the biggest sporting and music events are held throughout the year. EAT THERE: Dine in the Line Out Bar in the Sandymount which has something for everyone. I hopped on the Luas at Lansdowne and five minutes later got off at Pearse Street. From there it was a pleasant 15 minute walk via the Samuel Beckett Bridge to work. Next time you're staying in Dublin, I thoroughly recommend giving the Sandymount Hotel a 'try'. 5 There's a fitness room available for energetic guests Credit: sandymounthotel Advertisement 5 The Sandymount Hotel is the longest running independent hotel in Dublin Credit: sandymounthotel 5 I enjoyed a stay in the hotel's gorgeous king size bedroom Credit: sandymounthotel
Belfast Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville Ladies late show leaves Lisburn Rangers stunned and rescues Women's Challenge Cup defence
A repeat of the 2024 Final, which the Reds won 5-0, had all the entertainment worthy of a showpiece, with Rangers staging a fightback that looked like taking them into the Quarter-Finals before the thrilling finale that sent Cliftonville through with a 3-2 win. Fi Morgan had put Cliftonville into the lead with a bullet header from a right-wing delivery after only 17 minutes and they were playing with a confidence that reflected their status as holders. Rangers' turnaround came thanks to two Faye Loughran goals 10 minutes apart. She was quickest to react when Sophie Kelly-Bradley's free-kick was palmed away by Reds goalkeeper Rachael Norney and headed home from close range on 33 minutes. Cliftonville were inches away from regaining the lead when Marissa Callaghan created space to shoot inside the box and watched agonisingly as the ball came back off the base of the left-hand post. That was to prove an even more painful miss minutes later when Loughran met Caiomhe Gelston Mulholland's free-kick to give her team the lead. With Loughran peerless at the back, goalkeeper Maddy Bell impressive and belief flowing through the rest of the team, Lisburn Rangers were gradually edging towards victory until their hearts were broken by two goals in the final three minutes. Caitlin McGuinness hit a goal that looked to have sent the game into extra-time with a shot that squirmed under Bell and over the line, but there was more to come. With little more than a minute to go, a corner was sent to the back post and Morgan broke clear of her marker to head home the winner. Mia Moore, Aimee Kerr and Rachel Rogan scored twice each as Glentoran Women eased past Greenisland Women 8-0. Sophie McKnight and Caitlin Carlisle, on her first-team debut, got the other goals for the 2023 winners. In the night's other tie, Ballyclare Comrades Ladies defeated Carrick Rangers Falcons 3-0.
Motor 1
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘How Bad Is This?' Woman Hears a Clink While She's Driving. Then She Pulls Over and IDs the Real Source of the Problem
A woman put the internet in absolute shock when she revealed her brake pad situation. In a viral video, Haley Loughran (@haleyloughran) asks on a scale of 1-10, how bad her brake pad situation is. Spoiler alert, it's bad, real bad. The TikTok has more than 306,200 views as of this writing. How Bad Is the Problem? In her post, Loughran admits to having a big problem with her brake pads. 'I've been saying all week, 'My brake pads need to be changed,'' Loughran shares. Knowing this information, she continued to commute around town as if nothing was wrong. That is, until she went to back out of a parking spot and noticed her car was jerky. The situation triggered her fear that her parking brakes had stopped working. All of a sudden, she heard a clunk sound coming from outside her vehicle. Loughran says she finally got the car to stop and went to inspect what happened. She shows that the brake pad completely fell off the car as she holds it in her hand. She asks how bad the situation is as she holds her brake pad. The brake pad appears extremely thin and worn down. There is visible wear and tear, and the fact that Loughran is casually holding it is bad news. Viewers agree. 'I was not expecting the brake pad to be in the room with us,' one shared. 'You went from needing brake pads to brake pads, rotors and possibly new calipers,' a second said. 'Your brake pad has literally walked off the job. That's how bad it is,' a third wrote. 'Hubs says it's 10 bad…' a fourth consulted. The show and tell of the brake pad is enough evidence to demonstrate that something is definitely wrong. 'Like, that's not supposed to happen, I don't think. Like, brake pads aren't just supposed to fall off,' Loughran concludes. How Thick Should Your Brake Pads Be? 'Brake pads are also not supposed to be this thin,' one viewer commented. Brake pads are typically flat, rectangular pieces of material with a metal backing plate, according to Click Mechanic . For determining the health of a brake pad, thickness is observed, Allstate mentions. New brake pads will measure 10-12 mm thick when first bought, according to AutoZone . The pad material will wear down the more the brakes are used. Replacement is recommended when the pads are 3 mm thick. If brake pads are less than 3 mm thick, it becomes unsafe to drive, and they should be replaced right away. Brakes To Go reports brake pads should be checked every six months or every 15,000 miles. When Should You Change Out Your Brake Pads? Ignoring minor issues with your brakes can turn into major, costly replacements. Considering brakes play a major role in road safety, maintaining them should be at the top of the to-do list. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reports that brake pads typically last 25,000-50,000 miles, depending on where you drive, your driving style, and other factors. Any sign of worn-down brake pads needs to be addressed immediately. Here are a few signs that your brake pads may need to be replaced: A loud squeaking or grinding sound An indicator light comes on The brake pedal vibrates The car takes longer to stop The first thing to notice is sound. If your brakes make either a squeaking or grinding sound, something is wrong. Brake pads are designed to make a noise as an early warning signal that they need to be changed, says J.D. Power . The squeaking sound will be initiated by the wear indicator on the brakes. This indicator is designed to grind against the rotor when the brake pads start to wear out, leading to the noise. If you hear a loud grinding sound like metal rubbing together, well, that's what is happening. KBB reports that some cars have metal indicators that cause this grinding sound to inform the driver that the brakes are worn down. Neither of these sounds will go away, so it's best to address them immediately. Second, some cars have an indicator light on the dashboard that will signal when it's time to replace the brake pads, according to Bridgestone Tire . To find out if your car does, check the owner's manual or find the symbols listed here . The third thing to watch out for is whether the brake pedal vibrates when braking. Many factors can cause this, but it is typically caused by uneven brake pad wear or overheating, causing the adhesion to spread unevenly on the rotors, KBB shares. When this happens, the reason is less important compared to getting it inspected and replaced as soon as possible. The last thing to notice is if your car is taking longer than usual to stop. This one will be more subtle. When stepping on the brake pedal, if it takes longer than usual to come to a complete stop, that is a problem. This extended hold on the brakes can cause more excessive damage to the rotors. Additionally, if the pedal "sinks" toward the floor, this could be an indication of a leak in the braking system, J.D. Power shares. If any of these issues come up, it's wise to get an expert's opinion. Don't drive the brakes off the car like what happened in this viral post. Motor1 has contacted @haleyloughran via TikTok direct message. Now Trending 'Big Facts:' Chevy Driver Says Oil Changes Every 3,000 Miles Are Why He Hit 200,000 Miles. Should You Ignore Dealers' Advice? 'I Would Have Just Cried and Waited for Everyone to Leave:' Woman Tries to Park Ford Expedition at the Airport. It Backfires Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read murder trial: Defense lawyers rest their case
Lawyers for Karen Read rested their case Wednesday, nearly two weeks after they began mounting a defense that sought to undermine allegations that she drunkenly backed her SUV into her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, and left him for dead three years ago. The case, which prompted intense media coverage and allegations of law enforcement misconduct that led to the firing of the case's lead investigator, could be with the jury in Dedham, Massachusetts, by the end of the week. Read's sensational first trial ended nearly one year ago with a jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict on charges of second-degree murder and other crimes in connection with the Jan. 29, 2022, death of John O'Keefe. The defense did not call key figures central to the theory it laid out in those initial proceedings — that Read was the victim of a biased police investigation and a plot that sought to frame her for the killing — and opted instead for a series of experts whose testimony sought to dismantle the prosecution's evidence. What to know about Karen Read's murder retrial in the death of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe Three things to know about the prosecution's case Defense team goes after cellphone data and a key witness prosecutors are relying on As retrial zeroed in on a possible murder weapon, an expert's credibility was challenged Family of Read's boyfriend says she put them 'through hell' but they're ready for second trial Messy investigation exposes problems with police work that public rarely sees, experts say Read's defense in the first trial How to watch the 'Dateline' episode 'The Night of the Nor'easter' Among them were three crash reconstruction specialists and two pathologists. Also called to the witness stand was a snowplow driver who offered what was perhaps the defense's most direct challenge to the case Norfolk County special prosecutor Hank Brennan had presented. Blizzardlike conditions descended on the Boston area on Jan. 29, and the driver, Brian Loughran, testified that before the snow grew heavy, he made multiple passes on the residential street in Canton where O'Keefe was found unresponsive. O'Keefe was discovered near a flagpole in the front yard of a now-retired Boston police sergeant, Brian Albert, shortly after 6 a.m. — a little over three hours after, Loughran said, he first passed the home in his plow, nicknamed 'Frankentruck' for what he described as its mismatch of parts. Loughran said he knew the Albert family — he used to deliver pizzas for Brian Albert's brother — and he testified that he could clearly see from his truck to Albert's front door. 'What was on the ground in the area of the flagpole?' defense attorney David Yanetti asked. 'Nothing,' Loughran responded. 'Did you see a 6-foot-1, 216-pound man lying on that lawn?' Yanetti asked. 'No,' Loughran said. After a night of drinking, O'Keefe was supposed to have gone to a gathering at Albert's home early Jan. 29. Brennan has said he never made it inside. Although prosecutors presented no direct evidence of the collision that they said mortally wounded O'Keefe, vehicle data presented at trial showed Read suddenly reversing her Lexus at 12:32 a.m. at 24 mph in front of Albert's home. An accident reconstruction expert called by Brennan testified that dozens of abrasions found on O'Keefe's right arm were consistent with injuries caused by the broken right taillight on Read's SUV. Read has said she dropped O'Keefe off outside Albert's home and watched him enter. Her lawyers have said he was most likely beaten at the gathering — perhaps because she had recently flirted with, then ghosted, a federal agent who was also at the event — before O'Keefe was bitten by Albert's German shepherd, dragged outside and left in the snow. (Albert and the agent, Brian Higgins, have denied playing roles in O'Keefe's death.) One of the defense witnesses, a former emergency room doctor and forensic pathologist who said she had seen hundreds of dog bites in her career, testified that the dozens of abrasions on O'Keefe's arm were not from a broken taillight but from a dog. The defense's final witness, a biomedical engineer who examined whether O'Keefe's injuries were the result of a collision, testified Wednesday that they were not. Experiments conducted for the case using crash test dummies showed that at speeds of 24 mph, there most likely would have been more damage to Read's car and to O'Keefe's arm, said the engineer, Andrew Rentschler. Absent from the witness stand were three people whose testimony played an outsized role in the first trial: Albert, Higgins and former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor. Proctor, who was fired after an internal investigation found that he sent derogatory texts about Read and shared confidential investigative details with non-law enforcement personnel, acknowledged during the first trial that he said 'unprofessional' things about Read. But he rejected the defense's claims that he led a biased investigation. The defense mentioned Proctor repeatedly during Read's retrial, with defense attorney Alan Jackson at one point asking his supervisor whether his conduct tainted their examination of O'Keefe's death. 'The investigation was done with honor and integrity, and the evidence pointed in one direction,' State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik responded. This article was originally published on
