Latest news with #Swords
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
HSE acquires 16-acre Swords site and offices for more than €20m
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has acquired a prime development site in Seatown, Swords, Co Dublin , for in excess of €20 million. The price paid represents a slight premium on the €19 million agent Knight Frank had been guiding when it first offered the property to the market in January, 2024. The 16-acre site at Swords Business Park, which is close to a proposed stop on the Metrolink service, includes am 18,581sq m (200,000sq ft) office building, which was originally constructed in 1996. The building was formerly occupied by American-headquartered car rental company Hertz . Hertz put the property up for sale last year with a view to relocating its Irish operations to a smaller office facility. It is likely that the company's decision to sell its Seatown unit came in response to its introduction of hybrid working in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and its reduced office footprint requirements. With only about 7 per cent of Hertz's former building occupied, it will allow the HSE the flexibility to carry out a refurbishment/extension of the building, while the balance of the 16-acre site provides significant scope to develop an extensive complex. The property falls under the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029, under which the entire site is zoned 'Metro and Rail Economic Corridor". The objective of this zoning is to 'facilitate opportunities for . . . high-density, mixed-use employment-generating activity and commercial development'. Furthermore, it seeks to 'support the provision of an appropriate quantum of residential development within the Metro and Rail Economic Corridor'. Some of the uses permitted include office, residential, retail, health centre and hospital. READ MORE [ Paul Sheeran seeking €5.5m for jewel in company's crown just off Grafton Street Opens in new window ] [ Arrow Capital Partners seeks €9.75m for Longford logistics facility Opens in new window ] As well as being close to the proposed Seatown stop on the Metrolink, which is due to start construction in 2027, the site is also located within 500 metres of the main street in Swords village. This provides easy access to a wide range of restaurants, cafes and shops. In addition, Dublin Airport is just 4km away from the site, while the M1 Motorway is within 2km via Junction 4. The sale of the site was handled by Knight Frank.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Irish gamers gear up for midweek midnight launch of Nintendo Switch 2
The most anticipated gaming event in years takes place in Ireland this week with special midnight launches for the hugely anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, with the Japanese gaming giant predicting 15m sales of the device worldwide and software sales of 45m. Nintendo's first version of the Switch is believed to be the most popular gaming unit in Ireland, and globally revived the fortunes of the Japanese gaming giant, which has sold more than 150m units since its 2017 launch. There will be a flashback to the heyday of late night queues for computer game releases as branches of Smyths stores will open at midnight on Thursday for pre-order collection and limited sales of the Switch 2. Indeed the Dublin Swords branch is holding a pre-opening party from 11pm on Wednesday, one of a select number in UK and Ireland, with other stores opening an hour later. Last month, Nintendo said it expects to sell 15m Switch 2 units and for operating profit to rise 13% to 320bn yen (€1.96bn) in the year ending March. Many analysts believe this sales figure could be significantly higher, with sales of 20m units and higher predicted. "Nintendo clearly wants to play it safe and chose what is a cautious but probably reasonable forecast," said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy. The consoles have been on sale on pre-order for the past month, with the basic Switch 2 console pack starting at around €469, and the Mario Kart World pack costing €35 to €40 more. The Switch 2 will be 'backwards compatible' for most games, meaning original Switch games can be played on the new device. It has a larger screen than its predecessor and allows for online gaming and chat with other players. The Switch 2 launch will also test the Japanese company's ability to manage supply chains to minimise disruption from US president Donald Trump's trade war. Nintendo has opened stores and its characters feature in theme parks and film but it remains dependent on the console business. For the year ended March, operating profit fell 46.6% to 282.5bn yen (€1.73bn). Nintendo expects to sell 4.5m units of the original Switch this year and 105m software units for that system. Additional reporting by Reuters
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Motorcyclist involved in collision with Garda Kevin Flately dies in hospital
The motorcyclist involved in the checkpoint collision that killed Garda Kevin Flatley last month has died. The man, who was in his 30s, was admitted to hospital after the incident at Lissenhall near Swords, North Dublin, on May 11th. Gardaí said the man was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital on Saturday evening. Garda family liaison officers are providing ongoing support and information to both families involved. READ MORE Garda Flatley (49), who lived in the Balbriggan area, was hit by a motorcycle while carrying out a speed checkpoint. Investigations are ongoing.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tarot Horoscope Today: Zodiac Sign Predictions for May 30, 2025
Did you know that, apart from Western astrology, tarot readings have their own unique energy, with each card symbolizing a specific meaning of life? Tarot is divided into two parts: the major arcana and the minor arcana. The major arcana highlights karmic lessons and the 'why' behind life's events, while the minor arcana signifies daily lifestyles and the 'how" of life. Today's article will provide free tarot readings for each zodiac sign as predicted by astrologer Neeraj Dhankher for May 30, 2025. Also Read A tarot reader says, these 2 zodiac signs are likely to witness romantic sparks by May end A surprising moment may arise that offers deep connection, attention, or understanding in its own unique way, warming your heart. This moment could come from a loved one or even from a stranger, but it must feel sincere. Allow yourself to fully receive this energy, just this once. You don't always have to play the role of the strong one. Feeling seen is an essential part of feeling supported. Lucky Tip: Accept compliments without explaining them away. The one that once looked like a block will become the very reason you push forward. That struggle or delay has sharpened your focus, and you shall now feel more than ever that tripartite of dedication, will, and energy. Where before this challenge would have drained you of your energy, half may now be storing it as power. You are not running away from the problem- you are really moving through it. And that makes all the difference. Have trust in your ability to turn the resistance around into progress. Lucky Tip: Use past setbacks to drive today's effort. Your emotions today will be calm, clear, and wise. Any little thing that tries to shake you will not sway you from your inner stability. With this great clarity, you are making a decision that seems to be logical and heartfelt at the same time. Listen to your intuition; your mind may not be able to reach places where your heart can. This fine balance of intellect and emotion is your gift today, and it will lead you true. Lucky Tip: Trust how peaceful your choice feels. A gentle sign or a sudden moment today will offer a confirmation regarding something you've been wondering. It could be the feeling, the message, or even someone's words, but it will now feel a bit clearer about taking the next step. Doubts will not perhaps be wiped away, but the idea of direction will form, and yet after you realise that your intuition had been nudging you all along, right, won't disappoint you anymore. Now proceed with much certainty. Lucky Tip: Follow the sign that feels gentle. Tarot Card: Four of Swords If something unexpected puts a pause in things today, you might initially find it frustrating. The delay offers you an opportunity—a cancellation or sudden stillness grants you space to reconnect with yourself. Use this calm before the storm to breathe, reflect, or just empty your mind for a bit. In fact, your energy had been scattered recently, and at long last, this pause allows your centre to get back into focus. Let yourself feel the calm without feeling guilty. Lucky Tip: Step back to move ahead stronger. There is more to be learned today if you stay quiet and listen, rather than structuring everything. Someone might toss out an insightful phrase, while your own thoughts might dwell on what should have been an obvious answer when you stopped forcing the issue. Today, silence carries wisdom. Allow your genuine curiosity to lead you instead of your desperate need to stay in control. The answers are already in the process of being formed; they just require some space. Lucky Tip: Pause before replying to anything important. Tarot Card: The Wheel of Fortune The answer may just escape you while you're looking for it today, but when you choose to stop grasping for it, it might softly knock at your door. The mechanics of life are quite peculiar when it comes to revealing the truth in your absence. A seemingly mundane moment may bring with it clarity that one would never expect, or an unexpected voice might reach your ears carrying words that you really needed to hear. Let go of all timelines and open yourself to the flow. Lucky Tip: Stay open, not fixed, in thought. It is highly reflective today, and upon introspection or looking back, you will realise just how strong you have become. The wonderful thing about this is that you don't need to explain it to anyone else. Your strength speaks so loudly. Whether you are done or still in the middle of it all, your strength and resilience are built into how you walk today. Take a seat and allow that pride to sink gently into your heart. You have come very far, and today you will feel it deep within. Lucky Tip: Hold your head high without reason. Today, when you plan every detail, don't trust the flow. When you let go of control and let things happen on their own, the results might be rewarding. Life is eager to give you a new experience, but that will happen only upon freeing your mind from controlling every step. Relax into the moment and say yes when the offer seems light. Watch how things arrange themselves. You are being guided. Lucky Tip: Say yes without knowing the outcome. Pause in silence today; it seems ordinary now, but later it may grow into something quite meaningful. Something may stick in your mind, deepen in your heart, or whittle itself into an idea. Inspiration rarely knocks on a loud door; instead, it silently checks the back window. Even if for the bare minimum, gift yourself a moment of solitude. Today, in silence, you will absorb light that will uplift you tomorrow. Lucky Tip: Embrace stillness to refresh your mind. You may come to realise today that the treasures you seek so earnestly—peace, love, or comfort—are all around you. They may not appear like what you dreamt about ages ago, but they appeal to your present self. That is the truest victory for you. Have a chat, share a smile, or simply share a moment with someone who will show you how wonderfully full your life has become. Do not be in a rush to run away. Contentment must meet you exactly where you are. Lucky Tip: Look around instead of looking ahead. Today will remind you that presence in and of itself, with calmness, and heart, could touch a soul even more than perfect outcomes. Someone near you may thank you for the support they felt without you really needing to say or do anything. Allow yourself to be present without pressure- the calm of being around you provides security to others, and that is a quiet strength not many possess. Trust your way of holding space. Lucky Tip: Just listen, without fixing anything. Neeraj Dhankher (Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi) Email: info@ neeraj@ Url: Contact: Noida: +919910094779 Choose sun sign to read horoscope
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, May 27th: On housing, cycling and the decline of retail
Sir, – That Dublin could run out of capacity for new homes by 2028 because of a delayed sewage plant sounds like satire – but it's deadly serious. In the middle of a housing crisis, with rents through the roof and wages barely moving, we're now being told that even if we wanted to build, we might not be able to. This isn't just poor planning – it's State failure. The Greater Dublin Drainage project has been talked about for over two decades. In that time, entire cities have been built elsewhere. Here, we can't even get past the paperwork. People are running out of patience. You can't keep telling families to wait while the cost of living climbs and the promise of a home drifts further out of reach. Scarcity like this – when it's avoidable and clearly political doesn't just fuel frustration. It risks something deeper: a loss of faith in the system itself. If we don't get serious about delivery, don't be surprised when the politics start to get serious too. –Yours, etc, READ MORE GAVIN REDDIN, Swords, Co Dublin. Sir, – Not a day goes by without mention of Ireland's housing crisis – yet it only seems to get worse. It's hard to avoid the conclusion that our politicians either lack the will or the ability to fix it. I have some sympathy for them, because any meaningful solution would probably mean reducing the paper value of what many homeowners believe is their greatest asset. (I'll leave it to the economists and philosophers to explain the difference between cost and value.) Perhaps I can help by going back to first principles. What is a house? Well, in Ireland – much like Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's, 'Through the Looking Glass' - a house is whatever the planning officers say it is. And what they say it is will typically cost you €500,000 or more, and probably won't look very interesting. But here's the thing: it's not actually that difficult to build a perfectly good home for a fraction of that price. The problem is, such a home wouldn't satisfy the planning department's arbitrary rules and definitions. So what if we changed their job? What if the planning authorities stopped defining what a house must be, and instead focused on planning the services – the roads, water, power, waste, broadband – that are needed wherever people choose to live? Let the buyer decide what kind of house they want, and what they can afford. As for how to appease current homeowners who are worried about falling values ¨– I don't know. But I do know that there's an entire generation coming up that doesn't give a damn about propping up old property values. They just want somewhere to live. – Yours, etc, JOHN HOLSTEAD, Ventry, Co. Kerry Public spending and fiscal policy Sir, – The Central Bank's call for the exchequer to 'anchor' fiscal policy is probably long overdue (Saturday May 24th): Public expenditure has continued to exceed budgetary limits and targets, mainly as a result of an increase in current, and mainly recurring, expenditure, which taxpayers will be asked to finance in the event of a downturn. Meanwhile, investment in upgrading key infrastructure lags, not to mention housing. The Universal Social Charge (USC), introduced 17 years ago as a temporary measure, continues to levy incomes when the emergency it was designed to fund is long over. The disposition of nearly all parties to find new or increased expenditure programmes just because the exchequer is in surplus, has to stop. Instead what is needed is a root and branch review of existing expenditures to improve efficiency and eliminate waste. – Yours, etc, JOE LENIHAN, Collins Avenue, Dublin. On your bike Sir, – Joe Humphreys in his 'Unthinkable' piece ( 'Cyclists versus drivers: How to avoid road rage ' May 26th) suggests that 'taking a Zen approach could help motorists and cyclists to be less judgemental about each other' . All very well , however whilst cycling recently I was almost meeting my maker by a large SUV more suitable for the rocky mountains than suburban Dublin . As a cyclist I can assure your columnist there is no 'moral superiority ' merely the will to avoid injury or death on the roads . Sometimes rage is the only appropriate response. – Yours, etc, MIKE MORAN, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Sir, – Joe Humphries' article on the dangers of cyclists feeling morally superior to cars had the worthy aim of increasing mutual respect on roads, but he missed something. He didn't mention those who are neither in cars nor on bicycles. As a walker I rarely have a problem with cars; they mostly stay off pavements, stop at red lights and respect crossings. In contrast, cyclists often ignore all three with impunity, which is why pedestrians can no longer amble along the pavement in a relaxed fashion or trust the green man to provide a safe crossing. No doubt Humphries is the sort of responsible rider who stays off the pavement and always obeys traffic lights – in which case, well done he – but many cyclists don't obey the rules of the road, which is why pedestrians sometimes feel less affection for cyclists than they otherwise might. – Yours, etc, DAVID HARRIS, Coptic St, London. Joe Humphreys admits that as a cyclist, he sometimes experiences a sense of moral superiority . As a pedestrian of many years standing, I wonder if that superiority also applies to the cohort that cycle on footpaths? My most recent episode involved having to give way to a female cyclist on a footpath which ironically is parallel to a dedicated cycle lane. You couldn't make it up! –Yours, etc, FRANK J BYRNE, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Inaction on Gaza Sir, –Una Mullally has accurately and eloquently identified 'the hypocrisy that drives people stone mad' when it comes to 'the lack of a concerted international effort to stop what Israel is doing in Gaza' (Why are Kneecap facing consequences when Israel is not? May 26th). But what if there is an even more uncomfortable explanation for such hypocrisy and inaction? What if the governments of European 'democracies' are actually complicit in Israel's alleged crimes? Israel enjoys privileged access to European markets under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (1995). Article Two of this Agreement renders its provisions dependent on 'respect for human rights and democratic principles', a respect long absent from Israel's treatment of Palestinians within Israel itself and in the territories that it occupies. The illegality of this occupation was reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice in July 2024. The EU has consistently resisted calls for the suspension of the Agreement, while certain European countries (Germany, Italy, Britain) have continued to export arms to Israel since the onset of its current campaign against Gaza. The Irish Government has turned a blind eye to the transit of arms to Israel through Irish airspace, allows the USAir Force to use Shannon Airport in furtherance of American support for Israel, and has failed to stop the Central Bank from selling Israeli war bonds across the EU. If European governments are truly complicit in Israel's alleged crimes while the majority of their citizens oppose them, this raises questions about the genuineness of what Michael McDowell has recently called 'Europe's model of enlightened liberal democracy'. Surely we cannot afford to leave such questions unanswered? – Yours, etc, RAYMOND DEANE, Primrose Avenue, Dublin 7. Sir, – Last weeks's statements of concern about Gaza, from some world powers and the EU are welcome. However, they do not lessen the impetus to enact Ireland's Occupied Territories Bill (OTB). The list of powerful nations included all the major external suppliers of bombs and weaponry used on Gaza's devastated territory. Each has already had the option of withholding supplies or using them as a lever for a ceasefire. In reality, mighty nations and power blocs are often bound by commercial and strategic interests, or alliances that can override the inhumanity of bombing starving children. Smaller countries can be less compromised. Against the background of a broken world order, the Tanaiste Simon Harris's commitment to, at last, enact the OTB offers hope. Properly enacted, it will be a peaceful but practical counterbalance for less powerful countries to employ. It focuses on objective illegality, rather than imposing blanket boycotts. Thus it will not involve blameless Israelis or citizens of other countries where the OTB might be deployed. The Occupied Territories Bill (2018), as proposed b y Senator Frances Black reads as a moderate. cohesive whole. Re-drafting, or even tinkering to placate, could render it ineffective. It has a potential to sanction any illegally occupied territory in the world. It is vital that this remains in the Bill, in a disordered world, where UN motions are ignored or vetoed, with impunity. The delaying of the OTB, over a five-year period when it offered a potential for peace in Palestine and Israel, is a matter of profound regret. This must not be compounded by further unnecessary delay or revision of its impact. – Yours etc PHILIP POWELL, Dublin. A bridge too far Sir, – David Raleigh ('Decades of 'daily frustration' over traffic end as Killaloe-Ballina bridge opens, May 23rd) notes that decades of frustration due to traffic congestion ended on May 22nd due to the opening of the new Brian Boru bridge over the river Shannon. He omits to mention the frustration that the official opening generated. At one o'clock on May 22nd it was announced that the bridge was open. Some of us were gullible enough to believe that this meant open to traffic. However, this did not happen until 5.30 pm. Ironically, the tailback on the approach road to the old bridge was three or four times its normal length while the politicians and those who were officially invited were congratulating themselves on the new bridge which was cordoned off on both sides. It was an exercise in political arrogance and hardly an example of bridge building. – Yours etc MARGARET LEE. Co Tipperary Not united on Man United Sir – Michael Walker's excellent piece on just how bad things are at Old Trafford ('Once people were desperate to join United; now United are just desperate', Sport, May 24th) made for sobering reading for the many Red Devils fans here. Yet, a powerful punch was pulled by not mentioning Scott McTominay. The poor judgment of letting the talismanic Scotsman go last summer should be reframed as outright lunacy after his key role in Napoli winning the Serie A title this term. He scored a dozen goals (no United player got into double figures in this season's Premier League) and was voted Serie A's MVP (Most Valuable Player). Shame on the United decision makers. –Yours etc BRIAN QUIGLEY, Dublin 9. Drowning the oceans Sir, – Last week I went to David Attenborough's latest film: Ocean. In my opinion, this film is vital viewing for us all as it reveals a level of marine/ oceanic destruction beyond anything the general public currently conceive. It highlights the immense contribution the ocean and its life make in the capture of carbon, and the production of oxygen, as well as providing food in this highly complex and extraordinary ecosystem. It shows clearly how our industrialised fishing and the methods this uses is contributing more to global warming and destruction of our planet than much of what we are doing on land. The film portrays the stark reality of the impact of our current highly industrialised fishing industry on our oceans and seas– throughout the globe including the deep seas and Antarctic areas which previously had been less exploited. It shows mega bottom trawlers drawing vast metal chain or beam based nets along the floors of the oceans. These sweep everything in their track into their nets in this dredging process. As the metal based nets work their way across the oceans' floors, metal claws dig into the oceans' beds, breaking their surfaces to extract as much as can be taken, regardless of whether what is dredged up will later be deemed marketable. It seems to be the crudest, most wasteful, and most destructive form of fishing imaginable. On land, these practices currently being conducted throughout our global marine waters might be compared to a legitimised and approved scorched earth policy. This type of fishing doesn't make sense as it is the antithesis of sustainable practice. The film tells us that currently approximately 3 per cent of the world's oceans are being preserved from exploitation. This is not adequate to save our oceans or ourselves. The film has been released in preparation for the UN's World Oceans Day in June which is campaigning for 30 per cent of the world's oceans to be preserved from exploitation. It seems to me that supporting this campaign and taking action to realise this level of preservation of our waters, is not only good for all on this earth, but on the most basic level supports human self-interest. I hope that we as an island nation play our part in the realisation of this goal. – Yours, etc, MARY O'BRIEN, College Road, Galway. Trump's tariffs Sir, – Donald Trump's extended tariff deadlines are almost as numerous as BAM's completion deadlines for the new national children's hospital. – Yours, etc, PAUL DELANEY, Dublin. Retail regeneration Sir, – As I walked through my local town-well, technically, Armagh is a city – I was struck by the sheer number of charity shops, hairdressers, and coffee outlets now dominating its streets. This isn't unique to Armagh; towns across the UK and Ireland are following the same dispiriting pattern. Meanwhile, traditional businesses like butchers, grocers, and independent pubs are quietly disappearing from our high streets. We must act to arrest this drift towards commercial monoculture. Local authorities could offer grants to improve shopfronts, providing incentives for entrepreneurs to take over vacant premises, and investing in broader streetscape revitalisation. They might also consider planning restrictions to prevent over-concentration of similar business types. A town centre should serve as the beating heart of commerce and community – not merely a corridor of caffeine and coiffure. Without intervention, we risk losing the diverse, vibrant high streets that make our towns distinctive and genuinely useful to residents. - Yours, etc, ENDA CULLEN, Armagh.
