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BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Open 2025: Golf fever hits Portrush ahead of golf tournament
The finishing touches are being made in Portrush as the town prepares to welcome Rory McIlroy and the golfing world for The Open Open is being held from 17-20 July with four official practice days beforehand and tickets for all eight days are sold out as 'Open fever' grips the north of the main car parks in the seaside town has already closed and is being turned into a TV compound for international the closure of the East Strand carpark, which is popular with beach walkers and sea swimmers, has led to complaints. Members of Royal Portrush golf club will also no longer be allowed to play the course after Sunday, to protect the fairways and 270,000 spectators are expected during the eight days of practice and play next fact that the East Strand carpark has closed already, three weeks before the tournament, has caused some McCarron from Causeway Coast and Glens Council told BBC News NI: "The council totally understands the frustration there. "But the carpark is being used as a key cog in the machinery of putting on this Open championship." "Through the media and through this wonderful event, there will be pictures of this part of the world shown in hundreds of millions of homes around the world," he from Portrush Primary School were given a tour of the first tee, the 18th green grandstand and practice facilities on of them, Martina, 10, said: "The grandstand surprised me, I didn't think it would be that big." Gary McNeill, head professional at Royal Portrush, showed the pupils around but public access will soon said: "From Monday, the course is essentially shut but it's available for any competitors who want to play before the official practice starts."Everything is ready. It's all in great shape." The world's top golfers will arrive next month and those who played at The Open in Portrush in 2019 will not see many changes, on or off the are some tweaks to tees and fairways, and more corporate hospitality boxes but no major NI has estimated that golf tourism is worth almost £70m to the economy annually. Extra buses and trains are being organised by Translink as organisers of the tournament, the Royal & Ancient (R&A), have urged spectators to use public transport if and ride facilities will also be Shane Lowry won The Open at Portrush in 2019 amid raucous scenes of celebration on the 18th McIlroy's recent victory in the Masters means he will be the focus of attention when the four-day tournament begins on 17 July.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Incestuous kings 'unlikely' to be buried in ancient tomb
For many years it was believed that burial at the an ancient Irish passage tomb was the preserve of kings and other dignitaries, who represented a dynasty that practised incest. But a new research paper suggests Newgrange in County Meath may not have been confined to the social elite. The tomb is 5,200 years old - older than the Great Pyramid of Giza - and is also renowned for a winter solstice phenomenon where sunlight penetrates a passage and illuminates an inner chamber, indicating an ancient understanding of astronomy. Associate professor of archaeology Neil Carlin from University College Dublin (UCD) said suggestions of "an incestuous ruling elite in Stone Age Ireland did not match our understanding of society at this time, it did not fit the evidence very well". Newgrange is a Neolithic monument constructed by stone age farmers in the Boyne Valley. It is part of a network of several prehistoric monuments in an area which is recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site. "We now have some really great examples of monuments elsewhere in Europe that contain people with very close biological ties - parents, children, grandparents etc," said associate professor Jessica Smyth, also from UCD. "This sort of aDNA (ancient DNA) evidence is much closer to the idea of a lineage or dynasty. We do not see this evidence in Irish passage tombs." The findings also claim that no other incestuous unions have been identified in Neolithic Ireland and Britain, and that there is a lack of evidence for inbreeding across prehistoric Europe. They also say the evidence found at the site does not support the existence of a 'king' of Newgrange or any hereditary power or dynasty with a shared ancestry. "People were definitely being selected for burial in passage tombs - the whole community does not end up in these monuments" Prof Smyth said. "However, we don't know the reasons behind this selection, and why they were thought to be special. "Unlike today, bodies don't tend to be buried 'whole' or 'intact' in this time period. Before they end up in megalithic monuments, bodies are broken down, sometimes cremated and even circulated around their communities." Speaking to BBC News NI, Prof Carlin said some of the materials used to build the tomb came from "distant areas". "We have chemical signatures indicating that some of the burials in some of these passage tombs are coming from beyond the locality," he said. "At Newgrange itself, we see the stones coming from as far away as 40km in and around Dundalk Bay. "So, there are all these indications that this is not about biology or lineages, this is about people being chosen as representatives of their community." Newgrange was rediscovered in AD 1699 and its interior had been heavily disturbed prior to its modern excavation in the 1960s, according to the authors "Burnt and unburnt fragments from just five people were recovered from the 1960s excavations of the tomb," said Mr Carlin. "Due to the high levels of disturbance in the centuries before that, we don't know if this number was originally much higher." Newgrange is part of a complex of monuments built along a bend of the River Boyne known collectively in the Irish language as Brú na Bóinne and the sites are managed by Ireland's Office of Public Works in partnership with the National Monuments Services of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The tomb is a large kidney shaped mound covering an area of over one acre, retained at the base by 97 large kerbstones, some of which are decorated with megalithic art. The 19m (62ft) long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. The site, which has been reconstructed, was originally built about 5,200 years ago which makes it older than Stonehenge. Newgrange is also renowned for a winter solstice phenomenon where sunlight penetrates a passage and illuminates an inner chamber, indicating an ancient understanding of astronomy. The light travels 19m, from the roof box at the entrance through the passage and into the chamber.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Ruling due on long-delayed £1.2bn A5 road scheme
Update: Date: 10:00 BST Title: Good morning Content: Eimear FlanaganBBC News NI Hello and welcome to BBC News NI's live coverage of the A5 court judgement. A decision is due imminently on the future of one of Northern Ireland's biggest infrastructure projects - a new dual carriageway linking Londonderry with Aughnacloy in County Tyrone. The current A5 is considered one of the most dangerous roads in Northern Ireland - over the past decade it had the most deaths per kilometre compared to any other local route. The new carriageway was first announced 18 years ago but since then it has been beset with delays, protests, legal challenges and was the subject of a public inquiry. Our team will bring you the very latest from the court as the ruling is delivered.
The Journal
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Leo Varadkar says he would sacrifice economic growth for a united Ireland
FORMER TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar has said that he would 'forgo two years of economic growth' for the unification of Ireland. Varadkar made the claim during an interview with BBC Northern Ireland's The View programme, where he described British politics as 'very vile'. He said that he did not think a date should be fixed for an Irish unity referendum, as nationalists did not have the numbers to win. He added that planning for a united Ireland should take place, however. 'I don't think a united Ireland is inevitable, I think it's something that we have to work towards,' he said. 'Look at the trajectory, and that is clear. We see it in elections. We see it in opinion polls. We see it in demographics. 'But I think there are a lot of factors that would suggest that we're on that trajectory,' he added. "Would I be willing to forgo two years of economic growth for the unification of my island? I would." Former Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar speaking to @MarkCarruthers7 about Irish unity. Read more on @BBCNewsNI Watch the interview on @bbctheview — Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) June 19, 2025 'Demographic factors, polling, even the most recent numbers showing that a very clear majority of younger people in Northern Ireland want there to be a new united Ireland.' I think those of us who believe in it have a duty to make the case for it He said Irish unity will not happen 'by osmosis or by accident', and said it is something that has to be 'worked towards'. Advertisement Last year, a report by the Institute of International and European Affairs found that a united Ireland would cost €20 billion every year for 20 years . Varadkar dismissed concerns of cost however, saying that he would 'be willing to forgo two years of economic growth for the unification of my island'. Northern Ireland 'would not like' Farage During the interview, Varadkar made clear that he hoped Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not become prime minister – though he conceded that it is possible that Farage will win the most seats in the next general election. Varadkar said he believed the possibility of Farage as prime minister 'would change the picture in terms of attitudes' towards independence in Scotland and unificiation in Northern Ireland. He added that Irish unity would become 'centre stage' if Farage took charge. 'It isn't just because a right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well,' Varadkar told BBC's The View. He explained that Reform-run councils in England were 'preventing people from flying pride or progress flags'. 'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that,' the former Fine Gael leader said. He believes there are people in Northern Ireland 'from both backgrounds, or both traditions, that have a liberal and European outlook'. 'If that's the kind of government they had in London versus a government in Dublin that was very different, it might make them more likely to vote yes to unification,' he added. With reporting from Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Unreal' feeling for friends and family of NI's world champs
Northern Ireland won their first World Cup of Darts with victory over Wales [Getty Images] Family and friends of Northern Ireland's newest world champions have said the sensation of watching them triumph felt "unreal". Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock clinched glory for NI in the World Cup of Darts on Sunday night. Advertisement The team lifted the trophy for the first time with victory over Wales in a final-leg decider. Gurney and Rock picked up a team first prize of £80,000 after beating two-time champions Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton 10-9 in Frankfurt. They were playing together for the first time but Darryl's dad Tommy Gurney said "they just clicked and pulled off something unreal." 'I am just as proud as anyone can be' Tommy said he was "one very proud father". "I can't actually put it into words, I am just as proud as anyone can be," he told BBC News NI. "Some of the family was over there with him for the final and let me just say there were just so many tears. Advertisement "I phoned him after his first game, and I told him he's trying too hard and I said; 'Just let them go', play your game, and after that he was throwing better then." Tommy bought Daryl, who grew up in Londonderry, a set of darts as a 12-year-old and after he "messed about" for a while he took the game up seriously at 14. "He just kept getting better and we knew there was something special there - I think he did a 10-darter when he was 15," Tommy said. Tommy Gurney described the victory as "unreal" [BBC] Tommy said representing Northern Ireland was special to Daryl. "He said it himself, this one is even better than any of the individuals he won," he said. Advertisement "He's won the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship, but I think this means a bit more than any of the individuals." Brian Doran is friends with Josh Rock and plays darts with him [Brian Doran] Brian Doran, who is friends with Rock and has played alongside him, said it was brilliant to see his friend win the World Cup. "I've been watching it the whole weekend and basically watch all of Josh's matches, he's unreal," Mr Doran said. "He's just been getting better and better and better in every tournament. "It just took this one major, wait to you see what he wins now." When watching his friend from Broughshane in County Antrim compete on Sunday, Mr Doran said he "goosepimples, sweating, hoping he did it. Advertisement "Because it is Northern Ireland, we are basically an underdog at times, and they actually put our name on a trophy to say we are World Cup champions. "Being friends with Josh, it's unreal. I say my friend's a World Cup champion." Julie-Ann Coll grew up on the same street as Daryl [BBC] 'Screaming at the TV' Julie-Ann Coll told BBC News NI the whole of Tullyally in Derry was incredibly proud of "hometown hero" Gurney. Ms Coll grew up on the same street as the star and is best friends with his sister. "I wouldn't have missed that final for the world. I was actually a bit sick in bed, unfortunately, but I had to watch them," she said. Advertisement "It was very tense. I always say to Stacey, Daryl doesn't like to do things the easy way. "Many times, I was crying, shaking, and screaming at the TV. "The family and just everyone here is so very proud of everything he has done. "It shows all the young people here, if you put your mind to something, practice a lot, you can achieve anything. "A World Cup coming back home, it's just unreal."
