Latest news with #CoClare
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Science
- Irish Times
Eye on Nature: If bees can't see red, why is one drawn to this red poppy?
I saw this red poppy with a bumblebee inside. I always thought that bees couldn't see red and so never visited red flowers. This bee seems very busy inside this one. J Rushe, Co Clare You are right: bees cannot see the colour red; their eyes don't see colours at that end of the spectrum. But at the other end, the ultraviolet end, they see very well. There are well-defined markings in ultraviolet in poppies and this is what attracts bees in to seek for food. Interestingly, the same species of poppy in the Middle East does not have these UV markings, and there they are pollinated by beetles. Linnet. Photograph supplied by S Woods What is this bird that I saw perched on a grass stalk in Irishtown Nature Reserve in early June? There were loads of them there. S Woods, Dublin This is a linnet, which has become quite uncommon because the intensification of our grasslands for cattle has greatly reduced the biodiversity of species found there. Linnets feed on a variety of seeds, especially thistles, and the use of herbicides and hedge removal has also contributed to their decline. Irishtown Nature Reserve is an excellent habitat for them and shows the value of such places. READ MORE Box tree caterpillar. Photograph supplied by C Birch The bush near where I live is covered in caterpillars, which are eating all the leaves. They seem to produce sheets of webs as well. This is a close-up of one caterpillar. C Birch, Dublin This is the box tree caterpillar, which can decimate any species of Buxus – the species used in box hedging, which will grow into a sizeable bush if not clipped. This species of moth was first recorded here in 2017 and has spread rapidly since, to the detriment of box hedges. The cherry ermine moth has also been busy this summer, defoliating species of flowering cherries and covering them with webs too. Whole cherry trees can be affected, as was one in Dublin's Herbert Park, among others. Bee swarms. Photograph supplied by Fred Fitzsimons There were two swarms of bees side by side hanging from a cherry tree in my garden here in Carrickmacross. They appeared at the same time. The big one is 12-15 inches long. Does this mean that two queens left the hive at the same time? They were recovered by a beekeeper. Fred Fitzsimons, Co Monaghan The old resident queen who has overwintered in the hive will leave with a swarm if the hive gets too full, leaving the about-to-hatch new queens to fight to the death for the queenship of the vacated hive. There is only ever one resident queen bee in a hive. The swarm, with the queen inside, can cluster on a convenient tree waiting for its scouts to return with information of a suitable place to take up future residence. Two swarms with two different queens from two different hives coincidentally used this halting site at the same time. The weather was really good in May and bee numbers increased enormously. Coots at UCD. Photograph supplied by M Bell Coots are breeding on the pond in UCD, the most recent one beside the law school. They have at least two young. M Bell, Co Wicklow Build it (or in this case, excavate it) and they will come. This – the most recent UCD lake – was constructed in 2013, replacing an existing car park, and is a haven for biodiversity. Coots prefer shallow water with lots of bottom vegetation for feeding, with reed beds and other waterside plants for nesting cover. The male brings the nesting material (dead water plants) and the female arranges it and lays the eggs. Please submit your nature query, observation, or photo, with a location, via or by email to weekend@
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
US scrutiny of social media may be a positive move
Sir, – On reflection, isn't it good that the US state department is committed to protecting its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through its visa process by demanding a review of online social media activity of visa applicants? Have we become too flippant in our use of social media, provoking unnecessary and perhaps dangerous anger and hatred? Demanding that social media profiles must be made public to allow the review of online activity may perhaps ensure more respectful and responsible in online commentary. No bad thing, eh! – Yours, etc, READ MORE GERALDINE GREGAN, Clarecastle, Co Clare.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Former Ryanair pilot further remanded over €10m cannabis seizure
A former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million of cannabis is in the process of having the material independently analysed, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, solicitor Ted McCarthy said the independent analysis of the material will help determine a bail application for Brendan O'Mara. Mr O'Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance following the seizure of about 500kg of cannabis valued at an estimated €10 million at his home on May 7th. Mr O'Mara appeared in court via video-link from Limerick Prison after a judge refused him bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. READ MORE Sgt John Burke told the court the Garda investigation is complex and 'involved the seizure of €10 million worth of cannabis'. He said two gardaí are working full-time on the investigation, which involves international contacts and ongoing inquiries into devices that were also seized. 'I take on board what the State has said,' Mr McCarthy said. 'We ourselves are in the process of having the material independently analysed. 'The outcome of that will determine our bail application, which is imminent.' Judge Alec Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on July 9th. Mr O'Mara faces two charges – possessing cannabis for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis. At a bail hearing on May 10th, gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Electric car runs out of road
Sir, – I am currently sitting waiting in a queue at the Galway Plaza for one of only two high-speed chargers to come free on my journey on the M6 Galway motorway. I also stopped at an Athlone motorway service station and again all the chargers were occupied. Meanwhile, all the petrol and diesel cars are buzzing around and are filled in 2-3 minutes! The lack of a proper charging infrastructure makes any long distance journey very difficult, if not impossible, in Ireland. It is a national disgrace and flies in the face of the Government's environmental targets and commitments. READ MORE I would strongly urge any perspective buyers of new cars who regularly do long journeys to stay well clear of fully electric vehicles while our charging infrastructure is still so poor. – Yours, etc, BERNARD FARRELLY, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
What will €299,000 buy in Kilkee and Co Wexford?
Town St Joseph's, Dunlicky Road, Kilkee, Co Clare DNG O'Sullivan Hurley, €299,000 This double-fronted, semidetached four-bedroom dormer bungalow is on an elevated site 200m from the blue blag, horseshoe-shaped beach in the town of Kilkee . The bay-fronted house has a separate livingroom and kitchen, with two of its four bedrooms downstairs. It extends to 115sq m (1,237sq ft) and is in need of modernisation. A small yard at the back has pedestrian rear access. Plus: Within skipping distance of the beach Minus: The G Ber rating needs attention Ballinvegga Farmhouse, Ballywilliam, New Ross, Co Wexford Country Ballinvegga Farmhouse, Ballywilliam, New Ross, Co Wexford Liberty Blue, €295,000 This four-bedroom, two-bathroom farmhouse has a lovely country-home aesthetic. It has a broken-plan parquet-floor livingroom, leading through to a flagstone kitchen. There's a home office, wood-burning stove and bedrooms under the vaulted eaves, with low-set cottage windows. Built in the 1880s, this property was once home to Annie Power, the grandmother of Eamon Cleary, who bred the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle-winning mare named in her honour. It comes with 3.6 acres of land, haybarn and outbuildings. Plus: A storied house with outbuildings to convert Minus: Its F Ber rating will need improvement
