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RTÉ News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Orange Parade passes through Ardoyne interface without incident
An Orange Order parade has passed the interface Ardoyne shops area in north Belfast without incident. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) mounted a security operation after the Parades Commission granted permission for the homeward part of the Twelfth parade to take place this morning. The area had been the location for violent confrontations linked to Orange marches in the past. However, a deal was reached in 2016 which instigated a moratorium on return parades while engagement over future agreement between the Orange Order and a nationalist residents' group was sought. The return parade this morning - applied for under the name "The Ligoneil Combine" - involved one band and 50 members, with only hymn music permitted on its way past through the area. There was no protest staged by residents as the march passed through. Fr Gary Donegan, director of the Passionist Peace and Reconciliation Office, said there had been "trepidation" in the Ardoyne community about the parade. He said: "We had eight years of an agreement which facilitated morning parades with no return. "Things started to break down in that agreement two years ago. "Ultimately, yesterday passed by peacefully with no issues, but the return was always the issue. "When it was determined this would actually happen there was a lot of sense of trepidation within the community, a lot of sense of tension. "People were just hoping it would pass by, which it did. "Now we can get on with the Sunday Masses and services as normal." Fr Donegan said there had been a "conscious decision" by the community not to hold a physical protest against the march. He said: "Because of the sense of the tension in the lead-up to this, the less attention drawn to it the better. "It passed through there, it is over and now we can start to go back to normality again." Fr Donegan said future return Orange parades through the area are now in the "hands of the Parades Commission". The parade followed traditional Twelfth of July celebrations yesterday which brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets across Northern Ireland. The festivities marked the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. Meanwhile, the traditional 13 July events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place tomorrow. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. The Twelfth celebrations came after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday nights.
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Clare dynamo Donegan shines as Leona's putter goes cold at Women's Irish Open
Aine Donegan loves the spotlight and she showed at Carton House that she's not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best when she opened with a two-under 71 in the KPMG Women's Irish Open. The Lahinch amateur arrived in Co Kildare running on fumes after teaming up with Beth Coulter to help Great Britain and Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy for the first time in 20 years just last weekend. The 23-year old from Ennis plans to turn professional after the World Amateur Team Championships later this summer and in outscoring her illustrious playing partners yesterday— Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist and star attraction Leona Maguire — she's clearly no wallflower when it comes to performing under pressure. "I loved it,' said Donegan, who had to hole two four-footers and a five-footer for pars on her last three greens. "I love playing in front of a crowd, it's way more fun and you get more adrenaline from that, but it was great.' Her 20-year-old Irish teammate Emma Fleming from Elm Park leads the home challenge over the O'Meara Course, where a four-under 69 left her tied for ninth, just two shots behind Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini — last year's Order of Merit winner — and Spain's Blanca Fernandez. They shot 67s to lead by a shot from England's Hannah Screen and Mimi Rhodes, Swedish Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom and her compatriot Lisa Pettersson, Alexandra Swayne from the U.S Virgin Islands and world amateur number one Lottie Woad. Sagstrom got to eight-under after an eagle at the fourth (her 13th) but shanked her third and tripled bogeyed the fifth. Donegan is well-placed in a tie for 25th with Elm Park rookie Anna Foster, who was five under after ten holes before frittering away three strokes as the wind got up from midday. "I probably would have taken it, I suppose,' said the Co Clare woman, who birdied three of her first four holes en route to her 71 as Maguire holed little on the greens for a one-under 72 and Nordqvist posted a 75. 'It's good, I could have gone a lot better. I started well, I was three-under through four, and I hit a few loose shots around the middle of the round and got better towards the end." After playing all four rounds in the US Women's at Pebble Beach in 2023, Donegan played on the winning Curtis Cup team last year and can't wait to join the pro ranks. "I'm looking forward to it,' she said. 'I think the fact that so many Irish girls are on the LET makes me look forward to it a little bit more. Just to have a few people to always travel with is nice.' IMPRESSED: Leona Maguire is impressed by what she has seen from Aine Donegan. Pic :Seb Daly/Sportsfile Maguire was impressed by what she saw from Donegan, having played with her in Dromoland Castle two years ago. 'She played great,' Maguire said. 'She got off to a very hot start. Two under is a very nice start for her. I played with her in this a few years ago in Dromoland, and I was kind of surprised she didn't actually turn pro this week. But she's a great player, and it will be a great experience for her this week.' As for her round, the Co Cavan star admitted her score was not a great reflection of how well she hit the ball from tee to green. 'I played some really nice golf,' she said. 'I feel like I've left quite a few shots out there and didn't take advantage of some of the shots on my back nine, but overall, it's still an under-par round to start the week… Overall, I'm happy with how I gave myself lots of chances. Hopefully, I can take more advantage of the par fives tomorrow.' Fleming won the Victorian Amateur Championship in Australia last month and took that form back home as she made five birdies in her four-under 67. 'I missed the cut last year and made the cut the year before, so hopefully I can do better this time,' said Fleming, who is unsure about a professional career. 'I'm studying economics and finance (in UCD), I am trying to move forward with my academics and then maybe, you never know. 'My family is very academically orientated. We have always valued academics as a strong Plan B if you were going to turn pro or whatever. I am into my third year now, so I have two more years to decide. We will see.' World number 19 Charley Hull threatened to go low when she birdied four of her first five holes in the windier afternoon conditions. But she had to settle for a three-under 70 alongside Douglas' Sara Byrne (75) as she bogeyed the eighth and ninth before following birdies at the 10th and 13th with a three-putted bogey at the last. 'The greens were a little bit bobbly towards the end after the rain,' Hull said. 'That's why I three-putted the last. But no, pretty good, pretty happy. The wind definitely got up this afternoon. So looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.' Just five of the 16-strong Irish contingent were inside the cut line with Canice Screene's level par 73 leaving her amongst the top 60 professionals who will make the weekend. Tramore's Anna Dawson was just outside the mark after a battling 74 featuring four birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey at her 12th hole. Friday Tee Times First hole 8.00am: A Swayne (ISV), B Navarrosa (USA), C Kauffmann (GER) 8.12am: E Moosmann (SUI), K Arwefjall (SWE), A Klotz (FRA) 8.24am: C Williams (WAL), D Du Toit (RSA), A-C Mora (FRA) 8.36am: K Napoleaova (CZE), M MacLaren (ENG), E Grechi (FRA) 8.48am: L Young (ENG), C Screene (IRL), P Mack (GER) 9.00am: D Forbrigd (NOR), S Kibsgaard Nielsen (DEN), H Lee (ESP) 9.12am: C Herbin (FRA), S Bringner (SWE), M J Moreno (NIR) (a) 9.24am: H Tamy Kreuzer (GER), E Givens (ENG), R Scanlon (IRL) (a) 9.36am: T Toscano (ESP), A Magnusson (SWE), C Finne-Ipsen (DEN) 9.48am: T Mazarino (NOR), A Latorre (ESP), H Bakshi (IND) 10.00am: S Nuutinen (FIN), G Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), A Abom (IRL) (a) 1.00pm: H Screen (ENG), L Harm (GER), U Wikstrom (FIN) 1.12pm: P Babnik (SLO), L Pettersson (SWE), B Coulter (IRL) (a) 1.24pm: D Harry (WAL), S Tarning Soenderby (DEN), T Cheenglab (THA) 1.36pm: L Walsh (IRL), M Sagstrom (SWE), C Tamburlini (SUI) 1.48pm: A Foster (IRL), M Rhodes (ENG), C Gainer (ENG) 2.00pm: L Maguire (IRL), A Nordqvist (SWE), A Donegan (IRL) (a) 2.12pm: A Fuller (ENG), K Bennett (AUS), A Dawson (IRL) (a) 2.24pm: C Noja (GER), D Dagar (IND), N Komulainen (FIN) 2.36pm: M Hinson-Tolchard (AUS), A Huang (CAN), E Penttila (FIN) 2.48pm: C Chevalier (FRA), L Mcclymont (SCO), G Iziemgbe Oboh (NGR) 3.00pm: T Melecka (CZE), A Nobilio (ITA), E Fleming (IRL) (a) Tenth hole 8.00am: R Davies (ENG), E Hamilton (ENG), B Fernandez (ESP) 8.12am: L Fuenfstueck (GER), C Laffar (ENG), J Wrigley (SWE) 8.24am: P Delacour (FRA), A Hewson (ENG), K Rudgeley (AUS) 8.36am: A Wilson (NIR), O Cowan (GER), L Woad (ENG) (a) 8.48am: B Law (ENG), O Mehaffey (NIR), K Davidson Spilkova (CZE) 9.00am: S Byrne (IRL), C Hull (ENG), G Hall (ENG) 9.12am: N Nadaud (FRA), L Sobron Galmes (ESP), M Kobori (NZL) 9.24am: P I Schmidt (GER), F Fernandez Cano (ESP), A Utama (THA) 9.36am: A Sauzon (FRA), M Hernandez (ESP), M Martin (ESP) 9.48am: T Martin (ENG), M Sanz Barrio (ESP), M Hoogeboom (NED) 10.00am: M Finn (SWE), C Sattelkau (GER), M Simmermacher (ARG) 1.00pm: N Host Husted (DEN), M Dennis (ENG), T Malik (IND) 1.12pm: K Macdonald (SCO), S Bregman (RSA), S Kemp (AUS) 1.24pm: A Zanusso (ITA), B-J Smith (ENG), P Mackova (CZE) 1.36pm: M Haddioui (MAR), L Hall (WAL), K Henry (SCO) 1.48pm: A Fanali (ITA), A Garvey (NZL), W Keh (NZL) 2.00pm: R Meekers (NED), V Gimmy (GER), V Bouvet (FRA) 2.12pm: L Beveridge (SCO), A Walsh (AUS), A Prashanth (IND) 2.24pm: G Ding (HKG), A Angurasaranee (THA), O Costello (IRL) (a) 2.36pm: H Gregg (USA), M Skarpnord (NOR), A Taylor (ENG) 2.48pm: E Peronnin (FRA), J Baker (ENG), E Sudow (SWE) 3.00pm: A Uehara (JPN), D Zalewska (POL), R Gardner (NIR) (a)
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- Sunday World
'Danger to society' who subject ex-partner to ‘reign of terror' is resentenced
Scott Donegan pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to the false imprisonment of an ex-partner during a four-hour ordeal at his home on November 9, 2022. The Court of Appeal has ruled that a sentence of eight years and seven months was not unduly lenient for a 'danger to society' who inflicted 'a reign of terror' on his former partner and threatened to stab a man to death. However, the court ruled that the cumulative sentences imposed on Scott Donegan (39) could not stand due to how they were structured by the sentencing judge, and he was resentenced today. Donegan, of Knockmore, Kilmilhil, Co Clare, pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to the false imprisonment of an ex-partner during a four-hour ordeal at his home on November 9, 2022. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife at the same address on the same date contrary to Section 11 of the Offensive Weapons and Firearms Act. Detective Garda Donal Corkery told the Ennis court that Donegan took the mobile phone off the woman and forced her to sit in a chair 'where she was frozen out of fear due to the aggressive behaviour of Mr Donegan'. Scott Donegan News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 Det Corkery stated that Donegan ran at the woman with a knife and put her in fear. The detective said Donegan then grabbed the woman by the throat and squeezed her windpipe. He said that Donegan told her that he had a Glock handgun and a shotgun. Det Corkery said that four of Donegan's previous convictions were for assault against three ex-partners when Donegan went under the name of Paul McMenamy. This incident was committed while Donegan was on bail for a separate matter, relating to a charge of making threats to kill on April 19, 2021, when he verbally abused a man and threatened to stab him to death. The total sentence imposed for all offences at the Circuit Criminal Court in Ennis in September 2023 was eight years and seven months, with the final nine months suspended. Judge Francis Comerford imposed 20 months for the offence of making threats to kill, with this sentence made consecutive to a sentence of 83 months for the false imprisonment and the production of a knife. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed this sentence, saying it was unduly lenient. In delivering judgement today, Mr Justice John Edwards said the court did not fault the sentencing judge for regarding the false imprisonment offence as being the most serious offence, as the judge had carefully assessed the respondent's culpability in a careful and rigorous manner. He said the sentencing judge was right in regarding the production of a knife as being an aggravating factor, as was the respondent's previous record. However, Mr Justice Edwards went on to say: 'The sentencing judge was significantly in error in how he structured his sentence.' He said it was clear that, where an offender is being sentenced for an offence committed while on bail, the sentence imposed should be made consecutive to the sentence imposed for the previous offence. Mr Justice Edwards said that the sentencing judge was required to make the sentences for false imprisonment and the production of a knife consecutive to any sentence imposed for the offence involving threats to kill. However, the sentencing judge had instead made the sentence for threats to kill consecutive to the other sentences. He said that while the court found that the sentencing judge's failure to apply the statute correctly made no practical difference to the overall sentence, the sentences could not stand as presently structured. He added that it did not follow, however, that the court regarded the overall sentence as unduly lenient. Quashing the original sentence and moving on to resentencing, Mr Justice Edwards said that for the offence of making threats to kill, the court would nominate a headline sentence of 25 months and discount five months to reflect mitigation, leaving 20 months. For the false imprisonment and the production of a knife, which were committed while the respondent was on bail, the court nominated a headline sentence of 10 years and five months and three years and four months, respectively. Having considered mitigating factors, he reduced the sentences to six years and eleven months and 25 months respectively, to run concurrently. Mr Justice Edwards said this was to be consecutive to the 20 months for the offence of making threats to kill. Mr Justice Edwards said the court would suspend the final nine months, making a cumulative sentence of seven years and ten months to be served. Conditions of the suspended portion of the sentence are that Donegan is to keep the peace for three years post release, have no contact with the injured parties, and submit to supervision by the probation services. In her victim impact statement, the Co Clare woman told the court that Scott Donegan 'is a danger to society, and he has scarred and damaged me for life'. The woman said that Donegan imposed 'a reign of terror' on her during the four-hour ordeal despite her begging him to stop. She said: 'I believed that I would be killed by him and never see my children or family again.'
Mint
09-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Seattle Businesses Take Canadian Cash at Par to Lure Sports Fans
(Bloomberg) -- For years, the arrival of the Toronto Blue Jays in Seattle brought a familiar sight: tens of thousands of exuberant Canadians pouring into the city to cheer on their baseball team. But this year, the crowds are noticeably thinner. Keen to bring them back, Seattle is offering a hefty discount — in hopes of reviving the cross-border tradition during three games this weekend against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Iconic seafood restaurant Ivar's, the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center are among dozens of businesses participating in the promotion that accepts Canadian dollars at par all weekend. With the loonie worth just 72 US cents, that effectively gives visitors who show Canadian IDs about a 30% discount. 'I think we're earning goodwill, which is what we wanted with our neighbors,' said Ivar's founder Bob Donegan. 'But we are not seeing a significant increase in the number of Blue Jay fans coming to Seattle.' Tourism officials on both sides of the US-Canada border report that travel has dropped sharply amid political tension and economic uncertainty. At the Blaine, Washington border crossing, a major entry point for visitors from Vancouver, southbound traffic was down 52% in the first two weeks of April compared to the same period last year. Passenger arrivals on Air Canada flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport dropped 66% in March. Canadians cite frustration with US policies under President Donald Trump, including tariffs and his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state. Other travelers are avoiding the US over fears of being detained or pulled aside for questioning at the border as part the Trump administration's broader immigration crackdown. Adding to the strain, Canada's economy is showing signs of weakness. Data released Friday showed the country's unemployment rate rose to 6.9% in April amid job losses in sectors like manufacturing that are affected by tariffs. The program to accept Canadian currency, called 'Open Arms for Our Canadian Friends,' includes hotels, restaurants and even transportation companies like FRS Clipper, a boat service between Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia, as well as Kenmore Air, which runs seaplanes between Washington State and western Canada. Even with this effort, Donegan said that looking out his window on Friday, he saw none of the signature Blue Jays ballcaps that typically swarm the area during the games. He also said interviews that he's done with Vancouver radio stations in recent days have been followed by angry fans calling in to say they're 'so irritated with the American policy that they are not coming to town.' 'They're typically delightfully goofy Canadians who are so friendly and so focused,' Donegan said. 'So we miss them a lot.' More stories like this are available on
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local library system operations ‘unaffected' after federal agency elimination
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Tom Green County Library System is assuring citizens that its current operations 'remain stable and unaffected' after a federal order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services 'to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law' was issued. The order, issued on March 14, stated that 'the non-statutory components and functions' of several government agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 'shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.' The order also stated that 'such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.' The Institute of Museum and Library Services provides federal funding for library and museum services in the United States. One such method is through the population-based Grants to Services program, which the agency's website describes as 'the largest source of federal funding support for library services in the U.S.' Shannon, Blue Cross Texas in contract talks In response to questions raised regarding its funding, Tom Green County Library Director Jill Donegan released a statement. Donegan said that it is 'business as usual' at the library system. 'While the discontinuation of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is concerning, our current operations remain stable and unaffected,' Donegan said. Donegan stated that the library system 'is fortunate to receive strong support from the county, community, an active Friends of the Library group, and other key stakeholders.' Donegan also said the library system has learned from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that, as of this time, the services most likely 'to be affected by the loss of IMLS funding are the interlibrary loan program (ILL) and access to the current selection of TexShare databases.' 'At this time, these are the only two services that could potentially undergo changes due to the loss of the IMLS,' Donegan said. Donegan expressed gratitude toward the community amid nationwide uncertainty among other library systems. 'As libraries across the country are facing uncertainty, we are especially grateful to be part of a community that values and supports its public libraries,' Donegan said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
