Watch: Three meerkat pups and two bison calves born at Fota Wildlife Park
One baby meerkat was spotted in the habitat with their mother on May 13, and by the next day, two more pups had emerged, closely guarded by their protective parents, who are the dominant breeding pair within the clan.
The meerkat mob at the wildlife park now stands at 16 strong after the arrival of the new pups.
Fota Wildlife Park has also welcomed two female European bison calves born just a week apart on April 15 and 21.
The calves are the first offspring of the bull Bomer, who came from Borås Djurpark in Sweden in February 2024.
The calves are already best friends, and can be seen playing, snoozing, and soaking up the sunshine together.
The European bison, the largest mammal in Europe, was once extinct in the wild, but collaborative efforts by many zoos and wildlife parks, including Fota Wildlife Park, have helped reintroduce the species to the wild in parts of Europe and, more recently, the UK.
Park management are also reminding people that the panoramic wheel will run until Sunday, June 8. Tickets can be booked by visiting www.fotawildlife.ie.
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Irish Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
UK travel chaos as air traffic control down affecting all international flights
Major air traffic control problems have closed the London airspace, plunging travel across the UK into chaos. Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Stansted, Newcastle, Manchester, Gatwick and Luton are among the airports affected. Passengers across the UK have shared their frustration on social media, with people on planes in Liverpool and Manchester saying they're sitting on the runway with no sign of taking off. Follow along with our live blog below for the latest updates. 17:14 Chiara Fiorillo Airlines are attempting to recover their flight operations after an air traffic control (ATC) fault caused major disruption this afternoon. The technical glitch affected flights across the UK as the number of aircraft which could fly in England and Wales was restricted, ATC provider NATS said. It has left many aircraft and flight crew out of position. While the issue was ongoing, British Airways said the problem was "affecting the vast majority of our flight." 17:08 Chiara Fiorillo Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said that while the issue has been resolved, "continued disruption" is expected. She has urged passengers to check the status of their flight with their individual airlines. I am aware of a technical issue which impacted @NATS operations causing travel disruption this afternoon. I have been informed systems have now been restored but continued disruption is expected, and passengers should check with individual airports for advice. — Heidi Alexander MP (@Heidi_Labour) July 30, 2025 17:04 Chiara Fiorillo NATS, the National Air Traffic Service, is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services. The company handles over 2.5 million flights and looks after 250 million passengers travelling over the UK and across the North Atlantic every year. Beyond air traffic control, NATS also provides consultancy and delivery services in all aspects of air traffic management. NATS is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services (Image: AFP via Getty Images) 17:01 Chiara Fiorillo Passenger David Ogilvie said he is in a plane on the runway at Newcastle Airport - but has no idea when the aircraft will be allowed to depart. He told us he hasn't got "a clue what time we will be going - one minute they say we can go, then next time it's cancelled." 16:57 Chiara Fiorillo Passenger Mark Robson told us he boarded a Vueling flight to Bilbao at T4 Heathrow at 3.30pm, expecting nothing more than a thirty minute delay. However, once everyone was on board, passengers were warned they could face a delay of up to three hours. He shared: "Once everyone was on board and we were ready to depart, we were informed that, because of the breakdown in the air traffic control European communication system, all flights were grounded and we could expect to be on the plane for three hours before we could depart. "A further update from our captain says the situation is 'confusing', with some saying we should disembark while others are saying the problem is fixed. "The captain wants us to stay on the plane for now in the hope that, amongst the massive backlog of flights waiting to depart, we might get an opportunity to leave Heathrow. "I very much doubt it and am now counting the minutes until we can go home and start our compensation claim." 16:55 Chiara Fiorillo Heathrow Airport said flights have resumed following the issues - and it urged passengers to check with their airline before travelling. A spokesperson for the airport said: "Flights at Heathrow have resumed following a technical issue at the NATS Swanwick air traffic control centre. "We are advising passengers to check with their airline before travelling. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." 16:53 Chiara Fiorillo NATS said in its latest statement: "Our engineers have now restored the system that was affected this afternoon. "We are in the process of resuming normal operations in the London area. "We continue to work closely with airline and airport customers to minimise disruption. "We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused." 16:50 KEY EVENT About 30 minutes after issuing an initial alert, the agency said engineers had fixed the problem and that it was "in the process of restoring normal operations." 16:43 Chiara Fiorillo More than 700,000 passengers suffered disruption when flights were grounded at UK airports on August 28, 2023 after NATS suffered a technical glitch while processing a flight plan. 16:40 Chiara Fiorillo The National Air Traffic Service, or NATS, said its engineers are "working hard to resolve the problem as quickly as possible." However, currently it's unclear how long the disruption will last. Aircraft over London this afternoon 16:36 Chiara Fiorillo Newcastle Airport has confirmed all departures are currently suspended because of the technical issue. The airport shared the update on X and said it will provide more information in due course. Important passenger information An issue in London's airspace is impacting national airport operations and all departures are currently suspended. We will provide an update in due course. — Newcastle International Airport (@NCLairport) July 30, 2025 16:33 Chiara Fiorillo Several flights scheduled to arrive at UK airports are being forced to conduct holding patterns or divert elsewhere. 16:31 KEY EVENT A statement from air traffic control provider Nats said: "As a result of a technical issue at Nats Swanwick air traffic control centre, we are limiting the number of aircraft flying in the London control area in order to ensure safety, which is always our first priority. "We apologise for any delays this may cause. "Our engineers are working hard to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and we are working closely with airlines to help minimise disruption. "At this stage we cannot say how long it will be before operations are back to normal. "Please check with your airline on the status of your flight." 16:27 Chiara Fiorillo In a statement, Gatwick Airport said the technical issue meant there are currently no departures while the situation is being resolved. "A technical issue impacting Nats is affecting all outbound flights across the UK," the airport said on X. "There are currently no departures from London Gatwick while the situation is being resolved. "We are working with Nats to resume flights as quickly as possible. Inbound flights are still landing at the airport. "Passengers should check the status of their flights with their airline." 16:25 KEY EVENT Gatwick airport has said an air traffic control "technical issue" is affecting all outbound flights across the UK. 16:24 Chiara Fiorillo Flightradar, which monitors air traffic at all time, said the issues is affecting southern parts of the UK. The greatest impact will be felt at Heathrow Airport, which is the biggest airport in the country, it added. Per @eurocontrol technical issues have closed the London CTA, affecting flights across the southern UK. Flights holding outside the CTA, diversions and delays are expected to mount. Greatest impact will be to Heathrow. — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 30, 2025 16:12 Chiara Fiorillo Flights are facing disruption this afternoon with no planes landing or taking off from Heathrow. According to reports, this could be due to "radar issues" affecting air traffic.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Kids don't want to leave' – Ireland's newest attraction loved by families announces big addition to open this weekend
DUBLIN'S newest attraction loved by families is set to launch its brand new dinosaur-themed room this weekend. 'Dinosaurs – An Immersive Journey into the Prehistoric World' will open to the public at Dream Point in Point Square Mall, Advertisement 2 Kids will love the new Dream Point experience 2 The new room will open in just days This marks the first-ever showcase of the hit dinosaur installation anywhere in Developed by leading European immersive creators, Dinosaurs – An Immersive Journey into the Prehistoric World transports visitors back hundreds of millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs. Through 360-degree floor-to-ceiling projection, cinematic soundscapes and interactive animation, audiences will step into a prehistoric world brought stunningly to life across four themed chapters: 'The Awakening', 'Explosion of Life', 'Depths of the Waters', and 'The Prehistoric Kingdom'. Visitors will encounter more than 30 species of dinosaurs and marine reptiles, including iconic favourites like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus, Stegosaurus and soaring Pterodactyls, as well as immersive underwater scenes featuring ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL The experience combines awe-inspiring visual storytelling with fascinating educational content, appealing to children, families, and anyone curious about our planet's ancient past. Dan Gleeson, one of the two Gleeson brothers who founded Dream Point, said: 'Dream Point has always been about pushing boundaries and setting new standards for family experiences in Ireland. 'Our new Dinosaur Room is spectacular, interactive and wonderfully educational. "Both parents and children alike are going to be amazed by this room! Advertisement Most read in News Travel "We were blown away when we first went to view it overseas and knew instantly we needed to get it for the Dream Point Experience here in Dublin. 'We are thrilled to be the first destination in Ireland to host it, and we can't wait for families to experience it together from this Sunday.' Dream Point, housed at Dublin's Theatre of Light in the Point Square, has rapidly become a Dublin family favourite since opening earlier this year. Spread over 21,000 square feet, it is home to Ireland's largest ball pit, a glow-in-the-dark corridor, an inflatable forest, an upside-down photo room, interactive art spaces, their vibrant 'Dream Café' and much more. Advertisement At Dream Point, everything has been designed as much for Instagrammable moments as for hands-on family fun. Co-founder of Dream Point, John Gleeson said: 'We're so thrilled that since opening in late April, Dream Point has been praised not only for its high-quality build and beautiful aesthetics but also for how much fun kids and families are having, which is the most important thing. 'The real challenge? Getting the kids to leave!' The new dinosaur room adds to Dream Point's existing 90-minute timed experience, with no changes to ticket pricing. Advertisement Entry starts at €18.80 for adults, €14.60 for children, and family bundles from €43.05. VIP tickets remain available for those looking for enhanced experiences.
Irish Post
14 hours ago
- Irish Post
Ireland's tourism industry urged to expand beyond US amid sharp drop in visitors
IRELAND'S tourism leaders are calling for a diversification of the country's tourism strategy following a significant drop in international visitor numbers this year. Figures released by Fáilte Ireland reveal an 18% decline in tourists arriving from all major overseas markets between January and April compared to the same period last year. The decline is most pronounced among visitors from key European markets. Revenue generated from British tourists dropped by 52%, while French and German tourist spending fell by 55% and 53%, respectively. The figures have raised alarm within the industry, with stakeholders stressing the need for a broader international outreach to reduce dependency on any single market. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), emphasised the importance of recalibrating Ireland's tourism focus. 'We cannot afford to rely so heavily on North American visitors. A series of economic factors are impacting travel decisions, particularly from the US, and we need to be prepared for that,' he said in an interview with RTÉ Radio 1. Among the challenges cited is the weakening of the US dollar—down approximately 15% in recent months—and mounting concerns over tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. These factors are making long-haul travel less appealing to US tourists, who have traditionally been Ireland's most valuable market. While Walsh insists the US market must still be defended and nurtured, he believes a strategic pivot is essential. 'We need to deepen ties with the American market, yes—but we also need to be more active in reaching out to Europe and beyond,' he said. However, Ireland's competitiveness as a tourist destination is also under scrutiny. According to Eurostat, Ireland ranks as the second-most expensive holiday spot in Europe, a factor that is likely to dissuade cost-conscious travellers amid tightening economic conditions in countries like Germany, France, and Britain. 'When families are budgeting for holidays, the second or third trip is often the first to be cut,' Walsh explained. 'Ireland, unfortunately, is increasingly being seen as one of those optional destinations that can be skipped.' Another barrier to growth, according to ITIC, is the current cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. The existing limit of 32 million passengers per year is seen as a bottleneck for expansion, particularly as Ireland relies heavily on air travel to connect with overseas markets. 'We're an island—we don't have the luxury of land borders. If we want to grow tourism sustainably, we must expand access, starting with lifting the cap at Dublin Airport,' Walsh argued. He also highlighted the potential role of regional airports in easing the pressure on Dublin and stimulating tourism in less-visited parts of the country. 'There's an opportunity to do more with regional airports. Government could offer better support so those hubs can attract more airlines and open new routes.' As Ireland looks to rebound from the tourism downturn, industry leaders stress that a coordinated and proactive approach is critical. From increasing airport capacity to marketing more broadly across Europe and emerging markets, the message is clear: the status quo is no longer sustainable. 'If we want to remain competitive and protect the 257,900 jobs tied to tourism in Ireland, we must adapt to the new global travel reality,' Walsh concluded. See More: Fáilte Ireland, ITIC, Irish Tourism, Tourism
