Latest news with #Meagher
STV News
a day ago
- Business
- STV News
Edinburgh economy outperforms London for first time, new data reveals
Edinburgh's economy has outperformed London's for the first time ever, according to new data. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the value of goods and services produced per head of population surpassed London's for the first time. The figures showed a gross domestic product per capita of £69,809 in Edinburgh, compared to £69,077 for London. City of Edinburgh council leader Jane Meagher welcomed the news, saying the capital has long been Scotland's 'economic powerhouse'. 'This is good news for our local businesses and employment, and shows the confidence global investors have in Edinburgh,' she said. Over the last year, the city has welcomed 27 developments funded by foreign direct investment (FDI), with shops like Sostrene Grene and MINISO to renewable energy consultants PSC. Meagher added: 'We know that Edinburgh is one of the best places to live, work and study, making it a magnet for such investment and for tourism.' 'This is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next 20 years and over four million visitors every year.' Meagher said the city now faces the challenge of ensuring the growth is 'fair and sustainable'. 'To keep thriving, we need to manage the pressures placed on our housing, transport network, environment, services and residents,' she continued. 'Everyone should be able to benefit from Edinburgh's continued economic success.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Agriland
16-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Why this farmer believes the best cattle in Ireland are in the west
Based just outside Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Tim Meagher sources only the finest 'U' grade continental, suckler-bred cattle for his store-to-beef finishing system. The farmer recently hosted a Irish Grassland Association (IGA) beef event and the consistent quality of the cattle on the farm was plain to be seen on the day. Speaking at the event, the farmer explained why he goes to the west to source the best cattle to suit his beef-production system. Meagher said: 'I was up in Roscommon Mart last year and I said to Marty the auctioneer that he was very hard on me and the cattle I had bought were a shocking price, and he said back to me: 'Ahh, but look at the potential you're buying''. 'And he was right. It's potential I go up to buy. 'I'm not going to drive 80 miles to go up and buy middling sort of cattle. You have to get the best to drive that far and that's what they have up there.' Meagher acknowledged that sourcing the type of cattle needed for his system is becoming more challenging with the decline in suckler cow numbers. He said: 'There is still a small group of people that produce those stock. The suckler is under pressure.' A sample of the type of cattle on the Tim Meagher's Co. Tipperary farm The farmer believes that the decline in suckler cow numbers is largely due to an ageing farming population and agricultural policy. Commenting on why suckler cow numbers are in decline, he said: 'It's largely, I think, from politicians and old age. 'There's a lot of people have retired out of it and the younger crew want an easier way of life, so it is changing. 'Having said that, a lot of the lads I'm competing with are also gone out of the market and we're dealing with a lot of big feedlots and things like that you're bidding against. 'It has changed and it's going to stay changing,' he acknowledged. Meagher has an old-school mantra when it comes to buying cattle. Explaining his system, he said: 'I spend 6-7 weeks buying cattle from last week of September to the second week of November with October being the peak and whatever I see in front of me, I try and buy it. 'If there's good conformation and I think there's potential there, I'll try and buy it.' The farm finishes approximately 250 cattle/year, with two-thirds of these being steers (bullocks) and one-third being heifers. Steer carcass weights can range from 500-520kg and 'the heifers are a little bit lighter', he said at the IGA event. The average grade for both heifers and steers is 'U=3='. With a major focus on grass growth and utilisation but also some concentrates used to finish cattle, the farm is delivering an impressive gross margin at €1,650/ha. The farm is producing 11t DM/ha of grass and 89% of the cattle's diet is composed of grass. The stocking rate on the farm is 2.27livestock unit (LU)/ha but Tim said: 'The stocking rate one, I don't really go by. 'I like doing somewhere between 1-1.1t of beef/ac. That's the old figure I'd rather go by. 'Every animal consumes roughly 2% of their bodyweight and if you can run it off that, that's more of a figure I like to go to.' Tim said that this year, finishing cattle are eating a reduced level of concentrates at grass, which he attributes to higher feed quality in the grass this year. He noted that last year, finishing cattle were eating higher quantities of meal at grass. Meagher said: 'There was less feeding in the grass last year'. Commenting on his finishing ration at grass, the beef farmer said: 'Everyone will tell you how to put a good ration together for the winter but no one will tell you for the summer. 'It's trial and error with me. We have come up with a ration of 75% barley and 25% soya hulls for the cattle at grass.' He noted that minerals and other balancers are included in this mix also. Advantage feeders are placed in the paddocks with finishing cattle to provide concentrates Tim evidently has a passion for good grass management as well as the type of beef cattle he produces. He said: 'I might have a passion for good cattle but I have a passion for clover as well.' Clover seed is spread on paddocks which require it, along with applications of 0:7:30. Paddocks are grazed off in 2-3 days and allowed to recover for 24 days on average.
Edinburgh Reporter
12-06-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Travellers should be given more support according to two city councillors
Travellers should be given more support by Edinburgh council, according to two city councillors. It comes amid recent tensions between travellers and local residents in the capital, with encampments recently being set up in public spaces in Newcraighall and Drumbrae Council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher proposes developing a permanent traveller site in the city over concerns around 'illegal' sites and encampments. In a motion to the council, she wrote that the 'Council notes with concern the increasing number of illegal traveller sites and encampments across the city.' She further wrote that a permanent site would 'provide a secure and safe environment for both travellers and residents who live nearby.' Meanwhile, Green councillor Alys Mumford also put out a motion, calling for the traveller community in the city to be better supported. She said that anti-traveller discrimination was 'one of the last 'respectable forms of racism''. Cllr Miller said that the city should uphold the rights of travellers, and that 'traveller communities are still one of the groups in Scotland most likely to experience social, educational, and labour market exclusion, poor health, and poverty in Scotland.' She urged the council to 'seek to find ways to facilitate traveller communities to visit or live in Edinburgh in a way which responds to their cultural heritage, while managing any potential conflicts which might arise from perceived differences in ways of living.' Both Cllrs Meagher and Mumford called for a report to be compiled by officers by September for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee on the topic. Cllr Meagher asked officers to explore potential permanent sites for the traveller community in her motion. Cllr Mumford asked for a broader report, exploring 'how [the council] can consult with traveller communities and expert groups to present a range of options to better support travellers in Edinburgh.' Both motions came just before an incident at Drumbrae leisure centre on Wednesday. A group of travellers entered a green space behind the leisure centre, which had been fenced off, and set up a campsite. Police Scotland attended the site, and a 47-year-old man was arrested and verbally cautioned. And last month, a traveller encampment on the football pitches in Newcraighall Park sprouted tension among locals. A sports day and several children's football matches were cancelled, and residents complained of waste and rubbish being left behind. The travellers moved on after a week, with council staff cleaning up the site. Travellers often set up at several sites in Edinburgh, including Cramond Beach, Gipsy Brae and the area around the Fort Kinnaird shopping centre. Edinburgh has no designated sites for travellers, however some Scottish councils do. East Lothian and Midlothian historically shared a traveller campsite at Old Dalkeith Coillery, however this closed in 2021. Historically, Edinburgh had a designated traveller site at Duddingston, but this has since closed. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh needs permanent site for traveller community, councillors warn
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Travellers should be given more support by Edinburgh council, according to two city councillors. It comes amid recent tensions between travellers and local residents in the capital, with encampments recently being set up in public spaces in Newcraighall and Drumbrae Council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher proposes developing a permanent traveller site in the city over concerns around 'illegal' sites and encampments. In a motion to the council, she wrote that the 'Council notes with concern the increasing number of illegal traveller sites and encampments across the city.' She further wrote that a permanent site would 'provide a secure and safe environment for both travellers and residents who live nearby.' Meanwhile, Green councillor Alys Mumford also put out a motion, calling for the traveller community in the city to be better supported. She said that anti-traveller discrimination was 'one of the last 'respectable forms of racism''. Cllr Miller said that the city should uphold the rights of travellers, and that 'traveller communities are still one of the groups in Scotland most likely to experience social, educational, and labour market exclusion, poor health, and poverty in Scotland.' She urged the council to 'seek to find ways to facilitate traveller communities to visit or live in Edinburgh in a way which responds to their cultural heritage, while managing any potential conflicts which might arise from perceived differences in ways of living.' Both Cllrs Meagher and Mumford called for a report to be compiled by officers by September for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee on the topic. Cllr Meagher asked officers to explore potential permanent sites for the traveller community in her motion. Cllr Mumford asked for a broader report, exploring 'how [the council] can consult with traveller communities and expert groups to present a range of options to better support travellers in Edinburgh.' Both motions came just before an incident at Drumbrae leisure centre on Wednesday. A group of travellers entered a green space behind the leisure centre, which had been fenced off, and set up a campsite. Police Scotland attended the site, and a 47-year-old man was arrested and verbally cautioned. And last month, a traveller encampment on the football pitches in Newcraighall Park sprouted tension among locals. A sports day and several children's football matches were cancelled, and residents complained of waste and rubbish being left behind. The travellers moved on after a week, with council staff cleaning up the site. Travellers often set up at several sites in Edinburgh, including Cramond Beach, Gipsy Brae and the area around the Fort Kinnaird shopping centre. Edinburgh has no designated sites for travellers, however some Scottish councils do. East Lothian and Midlothian historically shared a traveller campsite at Old Dalkeith Coillery, however this closed in 2021. Historically, Edinburgh had a designated traveller site at Duddingston, but this has since closed. Cllrs Meagher and Mumford's motions will be discussed at the next full Edinburgh council meeting, set to take place on Thursday, 19 June, which you can view here.
Irish Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'It's like taking a huge family on holiday' New York have Tailteann contingency
The New York hurlers and footballers are like ships in the night as they cross the Atlantic this week. The hurlers made history by winning the Lory Meagher Cup last Saturday against Cavan, seven days after beating Monaghan in the semi-final, with their presence in the fifth tier competition a bone of contention for some. On Sunday evening, the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final draw pitted the footballers against Offaly on Saturday and, by chance, they had already booked into the Tullamore Court Hotel so, as chairman Sean Price says, 'it's a home game for both teams'. Indeed, managers from either side, Offaly's Mickey Harte and New York boss Ronan McGinley, brother of ex-Antrim manager Enda, both hail from the Errigal Ciarán club in Tyrone. Westmeath native Adam Stones is a starter for the hurlers and footballers and so enjoys an extended break back in Ireland, but the bulk of the travelling party will land in Dublin tomorrow morning and the logistical challenges of getting two teams over and back in such a short timeframe is challenging, though Price deflects the credit elsewhere. 'I had to dress up and put on a suit and look smart,' he said of landing in Dublin last Saturday ahead of the Meagher final. 'That's all I had to do, really, in fairness. 'There's great people there. Mick Stones, he organised the hurlers. Sorting out the hotels and the buses and the whole lot. 'And then the footballers, Cayla Fletcher, she's from Kilcormac, outside Tullamore. She played underage for underage camogie for Offaly. So, she organised the trip. 'The managers, Richie Hartnett and the hurling, he carries the load, but everybody else is with him. And Ronan McGinley carries the load with the footballers. There's an awful lot of great people there. 'It's kind of like taking a huge family on a holiday. You've the lad that'll turn up on time. You've the lad that'll be late. You'll have the lad that'll forget his passport. You'll have the lad that'll have two passports. It's a whole family event, really.' But while the hurlers were always likely to play two games while here, it's far from certain for the footballers - but a contingency still needs to be in place in case they beat Offaly to reach a quarter-final the following weekend. 'We have reached out to a couple of different hotels,' Price, a Kerry native, explained. 'The Tullamore Court, they're working with us. Just to have the contingency. 'The bus is the same thing. 'Are you available next week?' kind of job. 'And the same thing with the flights. We've booked some flights. We've asked all the boys that if they can take a week and use it as vacation, you know, that would be great. 'We see the enormity of the task. I mean, look, Offaly's young lads are mad for running. They're Division Three champions. 'That's a big step up for us, you know. But it's a challenge we have to embrace. But we do have a plan B and C. Because, look, you have to kind of plan that way, 'Some fellas might have to go back through work. We've identified them. Some fellas will have to come back on Sunday, no matter what. 'I think one fella can't fly with us on the Wednesday night. He just can't get the time off because a lot of guys have taken time off for different things. So we've contingencies in place for everything. 'But look, we just have to go with it and that's it. We can't complain. There's no point in complaining. It's not Offaly's problem, it's our problem.'
