Dublin Airport opens new €320m runway
Dublin Airport has opened its new €320 million runway today, following a six-year project.
The 3.1km runway is expected to expand annual passenger numbers past the current 30 million figure, while the airport's operator, DAA, said the new runway will also help grow the Irish economy.
"We can add more flights, we can add more destinations - it makes us more appealing as a destination," DAA's Graeme McQueen told Newstalk.
"We're fighting on a daily basis with airports all around the world to bring routes and services into Dublin, into Ireland - if they don't go to Dublin, they will go elsewhere in Europe.
"It's an exciting day for Dublin Airport and a really exciting day for Ireland as well," he added.
Roscommon burglary victim (93)
A 93-year-old woman who was the victim of an aggravated burglary in Co Roscommon is "undaunted and refuses to be intimidated", according to her son.
Una Farrell's son, Richie, told RTÉ Radio's Today with Claire Byrne show that his mother and two brothers were "coping very well" after the incident in Ballintubber during the early hours of Monday morning.
On Tuesday, gardaí said a gang of up to six masked men broke into the business premises which is attached to the Farrell's home.
During the course of the incident, Ms Farrell and her two sons were held hostage in a room while the gang ransacked the property.
"They're fine, they're shaken, not stirred as we say. It's a very unfortunate, very unsavoury, very unpalatable thing to happen in a decent society," Mr Farrell said.
Number of births up 16% while average age of mother increases
The number of births were up 16 per cent in the first three months of 2022, increasing by 2,236, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
While deaths decreased by 0.3 per cent, or 29 fewer deaths, compared to the same period in 2021.
There were 8,254 male births and 7,877 female births in the first quarter of 2022.The 16,131 births represent an annual birth rate of 12.9 per thousand population. An increase of 1.7 in the rate that was recorded in the first quarter of 2021.
The average age of all mothers in the first quarter of 2022 was 33.3 years, which is an increase of 0.2 years when compared with the same period of 2021, while 10 years ago the average age was 31.8 years for the same period.
More than two in five (43.6 per cent) births were outside marriage/civil partnership.
Westmeath's Rachel Duffy crowned 2022 Rose of Tralee
The Westmeath Rose, Rachel Duffy, has been crowned the 2022 Rose of Tralee, making her the first winner from the Lake county.
Duffy was confirmed as this year's winner following Tuesday night's final, and was presented with her sash by 2019 winner Dr Sinead Flanagan.
The annual festival suffered two years of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year marked the 61st Rose of Tralee International Festival, featuring 33 Roses from around Ireland and the world.
Duffy, from Rosemount, graduated from NUI Galway last year having studied Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies and Spanish, and plans to return to complete a Master's Degree in order to become a Spanish and English teacher.
