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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
No flies on us as we look forward to new views of the Open
An air exclusion zone will be enforced around Royal Portrush for the duration of The Open – from 4.30am to 9pm every day – with the use of drones included in the order. The Police Service of Northern Ireland warned the public, 'if you are detected breaching this order and end up with a criminal record, your travel and career prospects will be negatively affected'. The order, however, doesn't apply to Sky Sports' use of drones for their extensive coverage of the championship, which will include a Spidercam that will supply aerial shots from the 18th green, alongside a number of other innovations. The four-point wirecam system will provide immersive experiences of play unlike any seen before in a live TV production for golf. Suspended above the 18th green, aerial views and unique angles will bring to life the natural undulations of the hole and short shots around the green before the greatest walk in golf is captured as the champion golfer of the year is crowned on Sunday. READ MORE During approach shots the Spidercam will be in a resting position behind the 18th green. Spidercam has been used widely in TV coverage of other major sports, including soccer, rugby and cricket in the UK and will complement existing technology, including a plane camera, aerial drones, bunker cameras and Toptracer, which has been introduced in recent years by The R&A and European Tour Productions to enhance live coverage of The Open. Francesco Molinari with the Claret Jug after winning the Open in 2018. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images Donald plots US downfall Francesco Molinari has been brought on board as one of Luke Donald's vice-captains in Europe's bid to retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York in September. 'He knows how to win Ryder Cups, having been on three winning teams, and I think that's really important for us. We obviously have a tough task ahead of us trying to win away,' said Donald of drafting in Molinari to join his brother Edoardo, Thomas Bjorn and José María Olazábal in Europe's backroom team. Of that task facing Europe, Molinari admitted: 'You just have to look at the stats to see how difficult it is to win the Ryder Cup away from home. It hasn't happened that often recently, so it is a big challenge but it is a big opportunity to try to do something that, if it does happen, will be remembered for a long, long time.' Molinari's thoughts this week will be on being competitive in The Open, which he won in 2018. Since then, he has managed two top-15 finishes, tied-11th here at Royal Portrush in 2019 and tied-15th in 2022. Upswing in golfers A new report issued by the R&A to coincide with the 153rd Open has shown sustained growth of golf around the world, with 108 million adults and juniors playing across all formats of the sport in the governing body's affiliated markets, excluding the United States and Mexico. The research figures highlight total adult participation of 64.1 million – adult golfers playing one or more of the many formats of golf – an increase of 1.8 million since 2023, with simulator golf, adventure golf and driving range use included in the participation figures along with the traditional 9- and 18-hole on-course players. Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said: 'I am delighted to see participation continue to grow in our affiliated markets across the world, encompassing 148 countries. Over 100 million people playing golf in some format is significant and highlights the sport's sustained appeal. 'The growth in non-traditional formats such as driving ranges, adventure golf and simulator golf, is helping drive participation among adults and juniors on a global scale while on-course activity also remains very popular. By the Numbers: 1 Pádraig Harrington will have the honour of hitting the opening tee-shot in Thursday's first round of the championship. The Dubliner won two Claret Jugs in back-to-back years, in 2007 at Carnoustie and 2008 at Royal Birkdale. He is the current US Senior Open champion. One payback for getting to hit the opening tee shot – which Darren Clarke performed in 2019 – is a very early alarm call for the 6.30am tee time. Word of Mouth 'In the last two weeks I've played Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Hogs Head and Adare Manor. So, I've played some of the best courses we have in the country. I went and I parked myself down in Waterville last week, and I spent the week down there. I played golf every day, played a lot of golf. The weather was almost too good, that was the issue. There wasn't enough wind. The sun was shining too much and it was too warm. But it's been an amazing couple of weeks. 'I haven't been home to Ireland since Christmas, so I've been home for the last three weeks. I've had a nice time being back home, and I kind of feel a little bit rejuvenated and ready to go again. I've had a busy season, and it's about to be another kind of busy next three or four months, as well. I feel like I'm ready to go again' – Shane Lowry on playing bucket-list golf in returning to the scene of his great win in 2019. Social Swing Current forecast for The Open at Portrush: heavy, possibly thundery showers lurking for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. But when the sun breaks through? Near 20 – BBC weatherman Barra Best giving the bad and good news. A very enjoyable week at #genesisscottishopen As always the hospitality from The Renaissance Club and @DPWorldTour was first class. The course is really maturing into a great venue. Looking forward to getting a few more good breaks like the 7-iron below @TheOpen – Pádraig Harrington , with a video clip of a kind bounce and near hole-in-one. Fun week in Spain. Great to get the team win for @LegionXIIIgc and captain @JonRahmOfficial. See you soon Portrush – Tyrrell Hatton , who is likely to be a strong contender given his past wins on links terrain. In the Bag: Chris Gotterup (Genesis Scottish Open) Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) 5-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 Utility iron: TaylorMade RSi TP UDI (1) Irons: Bridgestone 220 MB (4-9) Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46 and 52 degrees), TaylorMade MG Proto (56 and 60 degrees) Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Trump and Ukraine: a step in the right direction
Reflecting his 'disappointment' with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, US president Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Ukraine with a commitment of 'billions' of dollars of US weapons that he said Europe would pay for. He also pledged to impose 'secondary' sanctions of 100 per cent on countries that bought Russian oil and gas, unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire within 50 days. Trump's about-turn on Russia was welcomed effusively by Nato secretary general Mark Rutte at a meeting in the White House on Monday. Rutte said it was 'completely logical' for Europe to pick up the tab for the weapons, including Patriot air defence missile systems, unspecified long-range missiles and munitions, much of which would be supplied quickly from European stocks and then replenished by the US. Trump's commitment to new sanctions on Russia and those trading with it echo provisions in a bipartisan bill before Congress. His insistence that the US will not pay for the weapons will do much to quieten the vocal opposition within his Maga movement to any direct US engagement in the war – and also provide a huge business opportunity for the country's defence industry. The Patriot systems are crucial to Ukraine's air defences against Russia's increasing use of hypersonic ballistic missiles in attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Long-range missiles will give the Ukrainians an enhanced ability to strike weapons factories and storage facilities deep inside Russia. READ MORE In recent weeks, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with his Russian counterpart over the lack of progress on a ceasefire, which he had promised to broker during his presidential campaign. Exasperated with the Russian president's continued refusal to contemplate an unconditional ceasefire and the escalation of Russian bombing, he told reporters last week that it was necessary to bolster Ukraine's defences and resumed the delivery of US weapons to the country that had been temporarily paused. 'Putin really surprised a lot of people,' the US president said, explaining his volte face. But the only one surprised by his intransigence was Trump himself – although no-one yesterday was going to point that out. Praise for his wisdom and enlightened insight was the order of the day from the Nato chief, who listened straight-faced as Trump boasted of his diplomatic achievements. Europeans and other western allies will take comfort from the reality that Trump's new policy appears to return the US to the common front against Russia that Joe Biden had forged, and to the US traditional commitment to Nato. Although Trump has yet to recognise the justice of Ukraine's demand for the full restoration of its territory and seems to be motivated, in part at least, by pique over Putin's tactics, this latest move is an important step in the right direction.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the State's national debt: essential to recognise the risks
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has been the subject of some unfortunate headlines in recent days, following the payment of some €5 million to a bogus account from one of its subsidiaries, the Irish Strategic Investment Fund. It goes without saying that the decisions and systems which allowed this to happen must be investigated and all efforts made to get the money back. There is a message here, too, for the public about the increasing sophistication of financial scams. The revelation came as the NTMA published its 2024 annual report and its headline results for the first half of this year. Here, the news is broadly positive. While Ireland's national debt is still high in cash terms – at around €218 billion at the end of last year – it has fallen as a share of national income. Also, the cost of servicing the debt remains at a relatively modest €3.2 billion each year and is unlikely to increase much in the near future. This reflects a limited amount of fund-raising by the State in recent years due to the strong state of the public finances and also the fact that much of the debt is locked in for a significant period of time at fixed interest rates. So far in 2025, the NTMA has issued €5.25 billion in new borrowings – up to recently the running total at this stage of the year would typically have been twice that amount. The NTMA deserves credit for its management of the national finances and particularly for locking in as much as possible of State borrowings during the period of exceptionally low international interest rates. READ MORE It also has €30 billion in cash reserves to call on, enough to act as a safeguard if trouble hits. This cash could help the State through a temporary period of difficulties. However, as we saw after 2008, structural changes in the public finances –in particular permanent alterations in tax trends – still require money to be found elsewhere. Here, the obvious risk for Ireland is a fall-off in corporate tax revenues. The strength of the public finances and the cash pile in the NTMA coffers give Ireland time to reduce its exposure to this risk. But it does not remove it.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
South Dublin councillors agree to cut local property tax by 7.5% for next four years
Members of South Dublin County Council have voted to reduce the Local Property Tax (LPT) by 7.5 per cent for the next four years. The annual charge on residential properties is used to fund services provided by local authorities. Each local authority may reduce or increase the rate of the tax in its administrative area by 15 per cent. The decision to cut the rate for the next four years was approved by members in a vote by a margin of 25 votes to 14. READ MORE The motion was proposed by Cllr Mick Duff (Independent), who said he had the support of other independent councillors as well as members of Fine Gael , Labour and Fianna Fáil . Mr Duff said the decision to reduce the tax until October 2029 would ease the burden on homeowners and give council chief executive Colm Ward certainty in his budgets for the coming years. The move comes in advance of changes to the LPT scheme proposed by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe . The changes include a revaluation to take place on November 1st, with these valuations applying next year and continuing for five years. However, while most house valuations are expected to increase, Mr Donohoe has played down the impact of the changes. He said about 96 per cent of properties would remain in their existing band, with the majority of property owners – those with properties valued at €525,000 or lower on November 1st – paying between €5 and €25 extra a year. Properties above that value, or properties which move up a band, will see a higher increase in their LPT charge. Mr Duff said the review of the LPT 'is going ahead anyway', but what councillors had done was to bring certainty to the annual debate over the charge. He acknowledged the initial aim was to eliminate the charge entirely over the coming years, but said 'that is now going to be [a matter] for the next council'. At Monday's meeting members were also told the council exceeded its social housing target of 1,821 new homes between 2022 and last year. In a progress report on the council's housing delivery action plan for 2022 to 2026, council staff said the figure for social homes came in at 1,825. Council staff said the number of new social homes due to come on stream by the end of next year was 3,700. The homes are being delivered through a range of initiatives including the local authority building its own homes, partnerships with approved housing bodies, through Part V of the Planning and Development Act and leasing. Councillors were told up to the end of last year the local authority had built 566 new homes and 15 were acquired as 'turnkey' properties – meaning they were ready to move into. Approved housing bodies had built 123 and obtained 528 as 'turnkey' properties. Part V of the Planning and Development Act, which allows the council to buy properties from developers at cost, delivered 593 homes.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
England triumph in final-day Lord's thriller as India fall short despite Jadeja heroics
At the end of an undulating third Test match that morphed into an intense battle of the wills, it was England who emerged victorious at Lord's on Monday. India were 23 runs short of their target when, at 4.54pm local time, Mohammed Siraj repelled a bouncing delivery from Shoaib Bashir, only to see it trickle back on to the stumps and send a bail falling to the ground. It was a galling way for the tourists to go 2-1 down, while the hosts still resembled the survivors of a disaster movie. Both sides deserve credit for five dramatic days; the second of two back-to-back Tests that began in a heatwave and hit boiling point once a row about time-wasting blew up on the third evening. Unlike similar scenes at Lord's four years ago – Virat Kohli's '60 overs of hell' match – England just about kept their heads. Their players and supporters were put through the ringer, however, with Ravindra Jadeja's marathon 61 from 181 balls turning 112 for eight at lunch into a slow-burn thriller that drove India within touching distance of their 193-run goal. The needle notably also melted away once the celebrations subsided, Joe Root among those to console the bereft Siraj and shake hands with Jadeja following an incredible rearguard. – Guardian Full report to follow
