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Daily Record
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway residents presented with British Empire Medals
Sue Gourlay and Anne Rooke learned they were to receive the accolades in the King's New Year Honours list when it was announced at the start of 2025. Two Stewartry residents have been presented with their British Empire Medals. Sue Gourlay and Anne Rooke learned they were to receive the accolades in the King's New Year Honours list when it was announced at the start of 2025. They were joined by family and friends in Kirkcudbright council chambers on Friday for the presentation of the medals by the Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry, the Lord Sinclair. Mrs Gourlay now lives in Haugh of Urr after she and husband Frank ran Barend Holiday Village horse riding and holiday complex at Sandyhills for a number of years. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. She was recognised for nearly four decades of voluntary work, including her involvement with Colvend Public Hall and SWI as well as Colvend and Southwick Community Council. She also served with the British Horse Society (BHS) for three decades, receiving their order of merit award in 2014. Mrs Rooke was recognised for services to education and the Castle Douglas community. She is currently the cleaning supervisor at Castle Douglas High School.
RTÉ News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Galway United's Kiwi hero Moses Dyer right at home in 'mad' LOI
The word "mad" pops up quite a few times when Moses Dyer reflects on his stay at Galway United to date. The in-form attacker was named the SWI/SSE Airtricity Player of the Month for April on Wednesday. His signing looks like a masterstroke by John Caulfield, who first approached Dyer last September when he was on loan at Canadian club Pacific FC from Vancouver. Caulfield, sitting to Dyer's right for their media duties, describes the New Zealand international as "a beautiful person" and smiles like a proud father when the 28-year-old lays out the story of his career to date, and journey to the west. Dyer has certainly been around the block - 11 clubs in 11 years is testament to that - and has played in Australia, Canada, North America and Norway. So it's worth paying attention when he says he's never experienced anything quite like the League of Ireland. "The first game of the season was crazy, it was against Cork away," he recalls. "I didn't know what to expect at all. I'd been playing in Canada and America. You get some big crowds over there, sometimes 12,000. But what was it, 6,000, 7,000 at that Cork game? You could have a full stadium, a 20,000-seater in North America and it wouldn't even compare to Ireland. "Even our home games, it's what, 4,500/5,000? I've played in front of massive crowds for New Zealand, but never in front of passionate fans like this. "That's kind of what I mean by 'mad'." "It's 90 minutes, 95 minutes of hectic, high intensity energy, but he's physically strong." It's always a roll of the dice to bring overseas players into the league, but Caulfield hit the jackpot this time. Dyer has won 11 caps for his country, and though he hasn't played for the All Whites since 2018, he still has belief he'll get another chance. Scoring goals here won't do him any harm. Nando Pijnaker and Max Mata both received New Zealand call-ups during their spells at Sligo Rovers. "We saw his qualities on video, but there's so many players that you look at, hundreds of players over the years, and you wonder whether you bring in," Caulfield adds. "I suppose with the humility he had in the sense that our league is mad, Moses has said that... it's 90 minutes, 95 minutes of hectic, high intensity energy, but he's physically strong. "Certainly after the first couple of weeks in training, in my head, there was no doubt that he was going to do very well for us." Dyer has been a big hit at Eamonn Deacy Park. He has a knack for scoring spectacular goals, while his tenacity and appetite for the battle has further endeared him to the fans. Galway have lost their last three games to trickle down to eighth in an incredibly congested table. But they're still only six points off league leaders Shamrock Rovers. There'll be no panic in the ranks ahead of Friday's home clash against a struggling Sligo Rovers. "The fans are very intense," Dyer smiles. "The football is 100 miles per hour. Every time we get on the ball, we're trying to do something with it. We're not messing about with it, just trying to keep the ball, keep the ball. We have a purpose. And I guess that's what I mean by mad. Just get the ball up the field and try to score." Caulfield highlighted a mounting injury list that's perhaps contributed towards Galway's recent stutter. A Connacht derby offers them a great opportunity to get things back on track. "I suppose you're all used to the Dublin derbies above with Rovers, Bohs, Pat's, Shels, and probably down here it's just that supporter-driven, I suppose, having a cut off each other in the best possible way," Caulfield says. "It's just that bit of friendly rivalry between both supporters because there's only two teams in Connacht. "The investment in the league nationwide has grown dramatically. And the stakes have been upped. "The challenge for the provincial clubs - particularly Sligo, Galway, Cork and possibly Waterford - is competing because you're on a much lesser budget than the four Dublin clubs and Derry. "That's the challenge. That's why you have to work so hard. That's why you have to try and see can you find the likes of Moses and these guys who are maybe not in the public eye. "There are ways you can find these guys that will come in and make a difference."
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Countdown begins for the return of Ayr County Show
The gates at Ayr Racecourse will be opening at 9am on Saturday, May 10 for the hugely popular event and once again a large crowd is expected. The showpiece event in the Ayrshire agricultural calender gets under way next week with the return of the Ayr County Show 2025. The gates at Ayr Racecourse will be opening at 9am on Saturday, May 10 for the hugely popular event and once again a large crowd is expected. This year is the 180th running of the Show, which is now in its 189th year. With its winning formula of celebrating the traditional and embracing the future, the Ayr County Show has earned its place as a 'must do' event on the calendars of both the farming community and families looking for a fun-packed, good value day out. The event, sponsored by Lockharts Law, includes exhibition and competition of many types of animals, trade stands, foods, crafts, vintage tractor display, SWI competitions, Young Farmers competitions, Tug of War, family entertainment, music, children's marquee and the 'TT Ayr' (Trucks & Tractor) Show. A spokesperson for the organisers said: 'Food and drink is very much part of the event creating the very important link between 'Field to Fork'. 'The Ayrshire Agricultural Association are committed to keeping this event going forward with a good range of attractions throughout the show field whilst not losing the true agricultural roots of Avr County Show. After two very difficult years for everyone we look forward to welcoming you all back.' Children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. Onsite Car Parking will be available within the Show Ground marked 'Craigie Road Gate A.' A parking fee of £5 per car will apply. This event runs from 9am to 5pm.
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
From Nathan Collins to Jessie Stapleton ... the club that turns kids into stars
Stephen 'Digger' O'Brien walks down the corridor of Cherry Orchard's clubhouse, a building that looks like a parish hall on the outside but resembles a dream factory on the inside. On the walls, pictures of the club's famous graduates: Irish internationals Nathan Collins, James Abankwah, Jessie Stapleton, Marc Travers, Jamie McGrath and Stephen Quinn. Yet this story isn't just about them because right across the League of Ireland this weekend you will see names and faces of players who came from the Orchard's previous crops: Danny Grant, Trevor Clarke (Rovers), James Clarke (Bohs), Tommy Lonergan (Waterford), Darragh Markey (Drogheda), Brendan Clarke (Galway), Greg Bolger (Cork) and Danny Rogers (St Pat's). Read more: Stuart Byrne column: Drogheda United's Kevin Doherty is a miracle worker, but it's no fluke Two government ministers walked past the murals on those walls on Wednesday morning, part of a promotion to highlight healthy eating inititives, as they saw visibly the return on their investment. Right now, the Orchard is flying again, after suffering a lull when the national underage leagues were introduced, and both players and coaches migrated to League of Ireland clubs. O'Brien, the club's underage chairperson, says: 'We fell off for a period. Most of us (in schoolboy football) did not embrace the transition to League of Ireland underage leagues when they were first started. 'We now know where we are in the scheme of things.' And that's simple. This is the place where the next Darragh Markey or Danny Grant will emerge from. Of their current Under 13 team, six have already been signed up by St Pat's, their partner club, two by UCD, two by Bohs and two by Bray Wanderers. There's a reason why all this matters, because for years the dynamic in Irish football, stayed the same. Clubs luke the Orchard, Belvo, St Kevin's, Joeys produced great underage teams and players; clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal snapped them up. Then Brexit came and the laws surrounding kids being signed by English clubs changed. And then on top of that, the underage League of Ireland leagues were introduced, and the traditional heavy hitters in schoolboy football had challenges to their identity. But rather than disappear and go away, they have rewritten their purpose. Cherry Orchard caters for the elite and the community. 'You can play for this club from four years of age right up to 44,' says O'Brien. Without schoolboy/schoolgirl clubs, Irish football would cease to exist, as they start the process that ends with players like Collins putting on the captain's armband for his country, players like Markey winning the SWI player of the month award on the back of his displays for Drogheda. O'Brien, the former Longford and Bohs keeper, says: 'Every Easter we send our teams across to tournaments in Europe and what we see then is that there is not just phenomenal talent in other countries, but it exists at home here, too. 'We regularly play Manchester City's underage teams. Their coaches tell us that our players are as godo as theirs. But the difference is the number of hours we can give to our players. Compared to England, compared to Europe, we are way behind. 'People talk about burn out but that's a misnomer because if you train players the right way, they won't burn out. They'll fly. We have good people in this country, good coaches, good players, we just need a wee bit of support. If we get that, we'll take off.' As a former League of Ireland player, also someone who played in England for a spell, and now back to his roots with Cherry Orchard, O'Brien is well-placed to talk about how the various jigsaw pieces need to join together to make Irish football look nice again. 'We can't rally against League of Ireland clubs,' he said. 'That won't work. We have our partnership with St Pat's and the benefits of that are numerous. They send their coaches in here. That raises standards. But also, players will come to Cherry Orchard because they see a pathway to League of Ireland. It works both ways.' On top of this they run many laudable projects - providing their pitch to local schools, providing a sporting home for 600 members, offering a football service to people with addiction issues. But if you want to see the next Collins or Stapleton then this is one of those clubs you need to spend time at. 'The big secret is getting the right coaches,' he says, 'all the while hoping that one day governments will be in a position to finance coaches going into clubs and increasing the contact hours that the next generation are exposed to. 'Most people seem to forget that the vast majority of coaches are voluntary. Imagine if we could get the best coaches dedicated full-time to Irish football's cause. Trust me, I see it, we can produce players in this country. We have the talent. 'We've great facilities here, thanks to government sports capital grants. Through facilities we have been able to progress. With full-time coaches, so many clubs could take off as we have. It can happen. We have to believe it. Clubs like Cherry Orchard can benefit League of Ireland clubs for years and years and years.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SolarWinds Corp (SWI): Among the Tech Stocks That Are Up the Most So Far in 2025
We recently compiled a list of the . In this article, we are going to take a look at where SolarWinds Corp (NYSE:SWI) stands against the other tech stocks. Most tech stocks haven't been doing well so far this year, but this isn't a problem that all tech stocks face. The technology sector is broad, and there are always some stocks that still do well regardless of the broader market environment. Many of these companies are leading the way in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Their ability to adapt and launch new solutions has set them apart from the pack. For example, firms that reported robust growth in large customer contracts or unveiled breakthrough AI tools have seen their shares surge, even as industry giants have struggled with market volatility. It's worth looking into these winners if you're looking for opportunities in this market. For this article, I screened the best-performing tech stocks year-to-date. I will also mention the number of hedge fund investors in these stocks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A systems administrator sitting at their desk surrounded by computer monitors, overseeing a complex infrastructure. Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 21 SolarWinds Corp (NYSE:SWI) is a provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The stock is up significantly so far in 2025 due to the announcement that the company will be acquired by private equity firm Turn/River Capital in an all-cash transaction valued at $4.4 billion. The deal offers shareholders $18.50 per share, which implies a 35% premium over the average closing price of SolarWinds stock during the previous 90 trading days. This acquisition was unanimously approved by SolarWinds' board of directors and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. While awaiting the completion of the acquisition, SolarWinds has continued to enhance its business operations. The company unveiled improvements to its Partner Program on February 4, 2025. It focuses on three key areas: increasing partner profitability, enhancing partner capabilities, and providing partners with the tools needed to succeed. SolarWinds also announced on April 8, 2025, that it would participate in the GITEX 2025 global events to showcase its latest product innovations. Once the transaction is finalized, SolarWinds Corp (NYSE:SWI) will transition to a privately held company, and its stock will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The consensus price target of $18 implies 2.65% downside. SWI stock is up 29.75% year-to-date. Overall SWI ranks 14th on our list of the tech stocks that are up the most so far in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of SWI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SWI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Sign in to access your portfolio
