Latest news with #TUDublin
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Podcast: Climate change 'has arrived' on our dinner plates
The cost of your weekly shop is increasing due to the accelerating impact of climate change across the globe, an expert has warned. Lecturer in Sustainability at TU Dublin Dr Ciarán O'Carroll told the Behind the Story podcast a new report found a "clear link" between the impacts of climate change, severe weather events and the price of food. "The cost of human-driven climate change is now on our dinner plates," he told hosts Louise Byrne and Fiona Mitchell. "Every time we get a cup of coffee - every time we're getting the staples [like] bread, veg, pesto – there's a cost in there of climate change that we are paying. He was speaking as hundreds of firefighters are battling to put out wildfires across southern Europe. Dr O'Carroll said such scenes are "unfortunately the new normal". "Europe is heating at about twice as fast [as] the global average," he explained. "We're the fastest heating continent; but we're not making the changes we need to see yet." New data from the European Commission shows the extent of the damage, with 439,568 hectares burnt since the beginning of the year. Last year in the same period the area burnt was 187,643 hectares. Dr O'Carroll said these wildfires have a bigger impact than some people may realise. "Although right now we're kind of the cusp of a heatwave but we're not seeing the extreme wildfires [that are] throughout Europe, this does really have a big impact on us," he said. "We import about 80% of our calories – we are not a food secure nation. "So, when we have extreme weather events – whether it be coffee in Brazil, olive oil in Europe, the UK with potato prices, chocolate prices [in] Ghana and the Ivory Coast – that all feeds into the price of our shops". Dr O'Carroll said the price of cocoa has seen a big increase. "Cocoa/chocolate is a really good example of what's happening to our food supply prices at the moment," he said. "For a very long time it was around $2,000 per tonne [for] 10 to 12 years. "But since 2023 it shot up to $12,000 per tonne: that's a huge jump". Dr O'Carroll said solving the problem comes down to better equity for society. "If there's a commonality in so many of the issues our societies face it's inequality – a minority of people having far more money and resource than the majority of people," he said. "If we're going to solve problems like climate change, we need a far more equitable society - whereby far more money, which is currently going to the highest earners, in fact goes to benefit wider society and wider societal needs".
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Stand-out year for Wexford as 18 producers through to finals of Blas na hÉireann
The countdown is now officially on for the return to Dingle this autumn, where the very best of Irish food and drink will be celebrated from Thursday, October 2 to Sunday October 5, with the Blas Village, Showcase, Eat Ireland in a Day market and the awards themselves all running on Friday, October 3. Now in its 18th year, Blas na hÉireann continues to grow, with more than 3,000 entries submitted from across the island, and a record number of new producers taking part. The 2025 awards also see the biggest ever expansion in categories, now totalling 190, including significant growth in fast-evolving areas such as alcoholic drinks and their non-alcoholic alternatives. The judging, which took place over May, June and July in partnership with UCC and TU Dublin, is blind-tasted and scored by a network of expert judges, including chefs, buyers, academics, restaurateurs, and industry leaders. Only the top entries from each category make it to the finalist stage, which is a huge achievement in itself. The 18 Wexford food producers are; ABP Irish Country Meats, Bean and Goose Ltd., Elderberry Farm, Eurospar Bunclody, Kennedys Butchers Bunclody, Killiane Castle Honey, Killowen Farm, Mór Taste, Naturally Cordial Ltd., O'Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co., Ryans Bakery Wexford Ltd., Saltrock Dairy, Sean Stafford Bakeries Ltd., Stable Diet, Wexford Home Preserves, Wexford Sea Salt, Zaeire Artisan Chocolates and Zanna Cookhouse. Ltd. 'It's been an exciting year for the Blas na hÉireann awards,' says Blas na hÉireann Chairperson Artie Clifford. 'That's not just in terms of the ever-growing number of entries, but in the incredible standard of produce from both long-standing producers and impressive newcomers. We've also seen huge innovation across all categories, which reflects the evolving landscape of Irish food and drink. For us, these awards are about championing the producers, and giving them the spotlight they deserve in Dingle each October. We can't wait to welcome them.' This year's Blas na hÉireann weekend will see the return of the hugely popular Eat Ireland in a Day market and the Blas Village, where 2025 finalists can showcase their products, connect with buyers, and meet with fellow producers, media and food lovers from across the country. With sustainability at the forefront once again, this year's event will continue to build on its environmentally friendly policies and support a more conscious future for Irish food. "Making it as a finalist is no small achievement. The competition intensifies every year, and the producers shortlisted really do represent the crème de la crème of Irish food and drink. The Blas na hÉireann awards weekend in Dingle is a celebration of great food, and of the people, passion and place that make that Irish food so special,' he added.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Sligo student Carrie's breakthrough at New York York International Film Awards with thriller
Carrie McDaid's graduate film, TV Night!, explores the dark side of nostalgia in a dystopian 1950s setting. A young Dromahair woman has been given a 'Best Student Film Award' at the New York International Film Awards. Carrie McDaid (23), who is a past pupil of the Ursuline College, has just finished her BA in Film and Broadcasting in TU Dublin. Related topics Gerry McLaughlin
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Why is there so much controversy over Sydney Sweeney's jeans' ad?
If you haven't heard of the American Eagle brand, you certainly have now after the fuss over their recent ad campaign The American Eagle Jeans ads starring actress Sydney Sweeney have caused no end of fuss since they first aired a few week ago, with US president Donald Trump joining the chorus. Dr Dee Duffy from TU Dublin and co-host of the Desert Island Dress podcast joined the Morning Ireland show on RTÉ Radio 1 to discuss the controversy. (This piece includes excerpts from the conversation which have been edited for length and clarity - you can hear the discussion in full above). On the one hand, says Duffy, there's nothing new to see here. "If you watch the ad without the controversy around it, it's an innocuous ad for jeans, nothing new to see here. Typical denim, probably atypical of an ad from 1990s or 2000s, naughties, those Calvin Klein ads, a blonde haired, blue eyed celebrity endorser of a very well-known brand in the States, but less known here, targeted towards the Gen Z target market." American Eagle jeans ad starring Sydney Sweeney So far so what so why the fuss? It's the play on words, explains Duffy, and a sense that there was an intentional controversy underpinning the seemingly innocuous advert. "There's been different versions of the ad, but the one that was particularly provoking shows Sweeney in front of a banner, which reads 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes', where she paints over the word genes and replaces it with J-E-A-N-S. So there's no ambiguity here. "What's happening is American Eagle are tapping into a societal tension happening at the moment in America where there is cultural polarisation and the cultural wars at play. They might be poking the fire in a sense and playing into white nationalism replacement theories, which is quite provocative, but it does so in such a subtle way that they can say 'nothing to see here, this is a basic ad. we're just selling jeans." Duffy says we have seen this sort of thing before. "It can be said that they are being apolitical on the surface, but they are subtly repackaging conservative values in more palatable ways if you want to really read into the advert again. But they can pull back and say 'nothing to see here'. The question is did they know what they were doing? Were they tapping into the zeitgeist or is it simply a Gen Z denim jeans advert?" For American Eagle, the controversy is all about sales. Duffy says the Sweeney ads have seen the brand's market value increase by over $200 million as a result. "If you go on to American Eagle website right now, all the jeans in most sizes are sold out. So will this sustain? This is word of mouth, this is free advertising and they've still got to put their hands up and say 'oh, we didn't mean to offend anybody, we'll take that down'. But that doesn't matter now, it's out there now in the conversation." And what about the jeans themselves? "Not that anybody's talking about the jeans, but they are a very casual style jean. They are a low rise, baggy, wide fit. They're playing into that girl-next-door, everyday kind of look, which isn't sexualized for sure. And nobody's talking about the fact that 100% of the proceeds from these jeans are being donated to Crisis Text Line, which is a nonprofit for mental health support. That's not in the conversation at all."
RTÉ News
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
The controversy around 'good jeans'
Dr. Dee Duffy, from the Enterprise Academy at TU Dublin, discusses the controversy around the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Jeans Advert.
