Latest news with #ThomasMoore
Extra.ie
05-07-2025
- Extra.ie
The Weekend Run with Liam Gaskin — A first class Wicklow run and a stark reminder on why biker safety is key
I take a road less travelled for this run. Everyone is familiar with the Wicklow Mountains, Blessington Lakes, and Powerscourt House in Enniskerry, and these routes are well-riden by Motorcyclists. However, in Wicklow, some places and roads are often neglected by bikers, drivers, and tourists. In contrast to the barren but beautiful Wicklow Mountains. I visit today the lush foothills of the Garden County. I start my run today in Kilbride, near Wicklow town and just off the N11. My first stop was Redcross, a name very familiar to N11 drivers, but I bet a town most have never visited. This is a sleepy little town, but it is renowned for its stud farms and riding schools in the area. Everyone is familiar with the Wicklow Mountains, Blessington Lakes, and Powerscourt House in Enniskerry, and these routes are well-riden by Motorcyclists. Pic: Supplied The road from Redcross to Avoca, my next stop, is not great. I'd give it 5 out of 10, but it does go through beautiful countryside. I headed to Avoca, which is famous for 'The Meeting of the Waters'. This is where the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers converge to form the Avoca River. The location was made famous by Thomas Moore's song and poem by the same name. I was foolishly misguided as I believed 'The Meeting of the Waters' was in the village of Avoca, which was wrong. I headed to Avoca, which is famous for 'The Meeting of the Waters'. Pic: Supplied You go over the bridge in Avoca heading to Woodenbridge, but instead of going left at the T-junction, go right for four clicks and voila, and you've arrived at 'The Meeting of the Waters'. In full flow, it is an incredible sight. The road from Avoca Village to the end of my run is first class, and for a biker, I would give it 8.5 out of 10. Now you have to track back on yourself to get to Woodenbridge. Set in the magnificent vale of Avoca, it is well known for one of the most beautiful golf courses in Ireland and Ireland's oldest hotel, the Woodenbridge Hotel and Lodge, established in 1608. They won a Gold Medal Hotel Award in 2024, so they continue to go strong. The road from Avoca Village to the end of my run is first class, and for a biker, I would give it 8.5 out of 10. Pic: Supplied Little known, a small, tranquil World War I Memorial Garden is in the centre of the town alongside the river. It commemorates the 1,215 Wicklow men and nine women who lost their lives in World War I. It is well worth a visit. Leaving Woodenbridge, I headed for Arklow, a large town with an interesting quay and harbour; otherwise, it's just another Irish town. My sights were set on the run to Brittas Bay, a four-kilometre stretch of golden beach, via the coast road. Leaving Woodenbridge, I headed to Arklow, a large town with an interesting quay and harbour. Pic: Supplied And what a road it was — narrow, with great twists and bends, ups and downs, an excellent biking route. Brittas Bay is famous among Dubliners who make the pilgrimage there religiously in the Summer when the Sun comes out, which isn't too often. I parked up and stretched my legs with a stroll on the beach before finishing the run at the infamous Jack White's food and drink emporium. Suppose you don't know why this pub is famous. Check it out online. Truth is stranger than fiction. Some fellow bikers stopped for refreshments in Jack Whites, which is very well known for its bar food and libations. Some fellow bikers stopped for refreshments in Jack Whites, which is very well known for its bar food and libations. Pic: Supplied As always, click this link to the Detecht map for the route of this run. Remember, when you open the map, enlarge it to see the details. Every discussion I hear on the radio, TV, and in the press regarding vulnerable road users correctly mentions pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters – but never motorcyclists. Yet the RSA statistics highlight the fact that motorcyclists are disproportionately represented in road deaths. RSA research analysed hospital data from 2019 to 2023, which found that 1,556 motorcyclists were hospitalised following road traffic collisions. Of these, almost a third sustained clinically serious injuries, which have a higher probability of long-term consequences for the casualty after the crash. RSA research analysed hospital data from 2019 to 2023, which found that 1,556 motorcyclists were hospitalised following road traffic collisions. Pic: Leah Farrell / In the first four months of 2025, ten motorcyclists have died on Irish roads. This is an increase from seven fatalities during the same period in 2024 and four in 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, 105 motorcyclists were killed, and 921 were seriously injured on Irish roads. Motorcyclists are over-represented in road collision statistics, accounting for less than 2% of licensed vehicles but 10% of road deaths. There is a common misconception that all motorcyclists are speedsters; that is patently untrue. In towns and cities all over Ireland, bikers use their bikes to commute to work, avoiding massive traffic jams and benefiting the environment by reducing emissions. Bikers who don't understand the dangers of riding motorbikes are few and far between. Pic: Damien Storan/Shutterstock The vast majority of big bikes are sold to responsible bikers who are aged over 40 and have a great sense of road safety. Many of us enjoy taking scenic rides on weekends. We also enjoy taking short and long tours around Ireland and Europe. Bikers who don't understand the dangers of riding motorbikes are few and far between. We all bid each other farewell with 'ride safe'. I genuinely don't know the answer to that question, but there are myriad reasons why these deaths happen. Yes, some of them are due to speeding, of course, but there is a lot more to it than that. Bikers don't dice with cars because they know they have the torque to draw away. Pic: ABD/Shutterstock Several years ago, I was stopped at a set of traffic lights as I came onto St. Stephen's Green. I was on a Honda Gold Wing, which is a very big bike, probably half the width of an average car. A driver came up behind me and ran into me. She shunted me forward, but fortunately, I had my front brake engaged, so I managed to keep the bike upright. When I asked the lady what she was doing, her response was: 'I didn't see you.' My response was: 'How could you not see me?' That is the most common excuse drivers give when they collide with a motorcycle. I read some research years ago that stated motorists have a mental black spot when it comes to motorcyclists. They genuinely don't see us. Consider the facts. Bikers refrain from using their phones while driving, unless they have a Bluetooth helmet. Bikers typically don't bother with their hair or makeup when riding. Bikers don't dice with cars because they know they have the torque to draw away. Every single biker I know will tell you that if you lose focus or concentration when riding, you're in trouble. Pic: Damien Storan/Shutterstock Whereas car drivers chat to friends and family who may be in their vehicles, bikers don't. We don't have heaters in winter to make us sleepy. Every single biker I know will tell you that if you lose focus or concentration when riding, you're in trouble. Unlike some motorists, we strive to be 100% aware of our surroundings at all times; yet, we sometimes still end up in accidents. Before I lead you to believe that all bikers are saints, let me reiterate that some bikers do speed. However, speeding cannot be responsible for all the deaths. Other road users need to accept some responsibility. I will always take the centre position in the lane I'm driving in, and yet occasionally a motorist or a trucker has tried to squeeze me into the kerb. This is incredibly dangerous, as we are driving a two-wheeled vehicle that requires delicate balance. Some of the best-trained motorcyclists, the Gardaí, have accidents. Pic: ABD/Shutterstock Some of the best-trained motorcyclists, the Gardaí, have accidents. I'm aware of a Motorbike Garda who was T-boned by a car and suffered some injuries and damage to his personal bike, and he has completed more advanced driving courses than I could dream of. Suppose we are not heard in the context of the road safety discussion if we are not seen by motorists. If we are not communicating the statistics around fatalities and injuries caused to motorcyclists, the stats will continue to grow. If we are not heard, we will never be seen. No matter how big or small your motorbike is, always maintain your position in the centre of the lane you're driving in. This will reduce the tendency for drivers to try to squeeze past you, possibly causing you to swerve out of the way. Approximately 127,000 bikers in 1,038 cities rode out to raise funds and awareness for men's mental health and prostate cancer. In May of this year, an event that began in Australia 14 years ago to support Movember raised an astounding €6.5 million for the cause. The Rome Riders. Ladies first, I see. Pic: Supplied In Ireland, 670 bikers from Cork, Clonmel, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Tullamore and Westport raised over €100,000 for The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. That is a lot of wonga in any man's language. Kildare were the most represented with 244 bikers registered to ride out. The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride has raised over €42 million since its inception in 2012. Movember has been the official charity partner of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride since 2016. Both organisations share a simple goal: to bring people together and change the face of men's health. Funds raised by The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride help to power Movember's work across two of the most complex issues facing men around the globe: prostate cancer and mental health. A number of riders from the Netherlands and France took part. Pic: Supplied The concept is simple, I might add, distinguished gentlemen and ladies: Riding classic and vintage bikes, dressing in appropriate gentlemen's attire, and going for a fun run. Here's the wrap video from 2024. It features many triumphs that have supported the event for 12 years. It's a brilliant watch. I know one guy with a Harley Classic Soft Tail who would like this and has the wardrobe to suit. A number of riders from the Netherlands and France took part. Pic: Supplied To help motivate and focus participants' minds on the goal of fundraising as much as possible, the organisers and their sponsors put up some great prizes. A Triumph Bobber, CMSNL Moto GP VIP Experience, a Hedon & DGR 2025 Helmet and 10. Brett Eyewear Sunglasses. The recipients of the above are picked at random, I understand, but for the biggest fundraisers globally, there are three more Triumph Bobbers, 100 Hedon Helmets, and six exclusive MotoGP and World Superbikes VIP Experiences on behalf of CMSNL. And loads more. I know, I know, May is a little late for Movember, but would anyone in Ireland be chomping at the bit to ride out in November? No! If you're inclined to dress up and ride out to raise funds for Movember in May 2026, have a look here.
Sky News
26-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Why weight loss jabs might not be a wonder drug
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Recent years have seen the advent of weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy. They work by suppressing users' appetites, leading to weight loss. They've been described as wonder drugs but now, new figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show they may be associated with inflammation of the pancreas, which could lead to death. Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore about these new findings and how cautious they should make us. We also hear from Lorna, a mother who got acute pancreatitis while she was on a weight loss drug - she believes the drugs are not worth the risks.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
ABRDN EQUITY INCOME TRUST: UK has never looked so good
Few investment trusts are currently in expansion mode, but Abrdn Equity Income is quite an exception. On the back of some good returns over the past year, the £170 million trust recently issued 175,000 new shares, raising more than £600,000 in the process – money that was gleefully invested in the UK stock market by manager Thomas Moore. For Moore, who has been at the trust's helm for more than 13 years, the successful share issue reflects the fact that investors are 'looking at the UK stock market again'. 'As a manager, I'm licking my lips,' he says. 'The market is in a sweet spot after years of shrinkage in the cohort of investors prepared to buy UK shares.' He also believes the trust's mix of high dividend yield (6.4 per cent per annum) and strong share price gains is proving a compelling choice for many investors. 'We're delivering a winning formula, comprising a mix of income and capital growth,' he adds. The numbers are appealing. Over the past year, the London-listed trust has generated a total return of 24.2 per cent – in excess of both the FTSE 100 (up 8.5 per cent) and the broader FTSE All-Share Index (7.9 per cent). It has also outperformed the average for its UK equity income peer group of 13.6 per cent. Alongside this, the trust has a 24-year track record of annual dividend growth. In the last financial year (to the end of September), it paid quarterly dividends totalling 22.9p a share. So far this year it has declared two dividends, each worth 5.7p a share, with the second payment to be made at the end of this month. To put these payments into perspective, the shares are worth around £3.56. To complete the rather glossy picture, the shares trade at a small premium to the value of the trust's assets – the shares of most investment trusts stand at a discount to the value of their underlying assets. Moore is very much an investor who goes in search of cheap UK shares which provide an attractive dividend yield. 'I'm not worried about buying cheap shares,' he says. 'I stay close to the companies we invest in.' He says there are plenty of good value companies around, 'throwing off lots of cash' which can be used in part to fund dividends – or share buy-backs. It means the trust's 50-strong portfolio comprises the likes of investment house M&G, insurer L&G and tobacco giant British American Tobacco with compelling yields – 7.9, 8.5 and 6.6 per cent respectively. Moore says that at the moment he is able to find attractively priced shares with good yields from right across the UK stock market – among both the FTSE 100 as well as smaller companies. One of his favourite portfolio stocks is airline Easyjet. Although the dividend yield is modest at just over 2 per cent, he is convinced that the company has the potential to double its earnings. Once the company's investment in new and bigger planes is complete, in the process boosting earnings, he believes that more money will be diverted towards paying dividends and completing share buy-backs. 'Both historically and when compared to rivals, such as Ryanair, its shares look cheap,' adds Moore. Although Moore is pleased with the way the trust is performing, he is 'not counting his chickens'. He says: 'For now we're in a good spot, but we have to be mindful of the challenging macroeconomic backdrop and the potential for disruption in the bond markets.' The trust's stock market identification number is 0603959 and the ticker AEI. Annual charges total 0.86 per cent.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
VB: Traffic safety officer, eyewitness testify in fatal hit-and-run case
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A man charged in a fatal hit-and-run earlier this year was back in court Thursday, hoping for a judge to reconsider the conditions of his bond, but that request was denied. Michael Shippy is accused of hitting and killing Thomas Moore, 63, along Bonney Road in the early hours of Jan. 31. He faces multiple charges, including felony hit-and-run and DUI. In court, two witnesses testified before a Virginia Beach judge: a traffic safety officer and a man who witnessed the moments leading up to Moore's death. The eyewitness, whose identity is being withheld for privacy, said he was driving home from work around 1:30 a.m. when he spotted Moore lying on the right side of Bonney Road, a two-way road. He said Moore appeared conscious and responded faintly when he asked if he was OK. According to the eyewitness, he did not step out of the vehicle during this time for safety reasons. Moments later, the witness told the court he saw a black SUV approach. That's when he heard a loud 'smack.' He called 911 and repositioned his car in front of Moore's body to shield it from other drivers. He testified that he watched the SUV stop briefly at a red light at the intersection of Bonney Road and Rosemont Road before turning and leaving the area. A Virginia Beach police officer who specializes in traffic investigations said officers later tracked the SUV back to Shippy, who claimed he had been at a bar that night with his girlfriend but denied driving on Bonney Road the night of the incident. However, during a search of the vehicle, officers found reddish-brown smears beneath the SUV and navy-blue fibers matching the description of Moore's clothing. Swabs were sent off for testing to determine whether the stains were human remains. Officers also recovered several zip-top baggies containing cocaine. Four of Shippy's supporters were present in court, including his mother, who became visibly emotional. She told 10 On Your Side that her son 'isn't a murderer' but declined to comment further. Shippy remains in jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
UK weather: Warmest start to May on record - but will the hot spell continue?
The UK has seen its warmest start to May on record as temperatures soared to over 29C in the spring sunshine. The Met Office said 29.1C (84.3F) had been recorded in Chertsey, Surrey, passing the previous 1 May record of 27.4C (81.3F) set in Lossiemouth in 1990. Earlier in the day, the mercury reached 28.6C (83.4F) at Kew Gardens in southwest London and Wisley in Surrey. Thursday was also the warmest day of the year so far, beating the previous high of 26.7C (80F) reached in Wisley on Wednesday. But the heat is not expected to last, with cooler weather starting to drift in from the north on Friday. Temperatures are expected to ease by Friday and Saturday, meaning cooler conditions of 14C to 18C across the UK. Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: "Temperatures tomorrow will be slightly reduced from what we've seen today, possibly 26 or 27 degrees in the far southeast of England through the day tomorrow." What has led to the hot spell? Forecasters said the hot spell has been due to the jet stream remaining stuck north of the country, allowing high pressure to settle. Last month was also the sunniest April in the UK since records began in 1910, with 47% more sunshine hours than the long-term meteorological average, and the third warmest April on record, according to provisional Met Office figures. Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK last month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded. And Tyne and Wear had its second driest April on record, with only 7% of its usual rainfall. Scientists see fingerprints of climate change all over tumbling records Thomas Moore Science correspondent @SkyNewsThomas Britain has basked in the early taste of summer. The warmest May Day, the third warmest April and a spring that has so far beaten temperature records dating back to 1884. But this is more than just natural variation. Scientists see the fingerprints of climate change all over the tumbling records. Maps released by data analysts Climate Central show that across large parts of the country, human-induced climate change has made the high temperatures four or even five times more likely. The warm - and dry - weather this spring has led to a steep rise in wildfires. Figures from Europe's satellite monitoring service Copernicus show that more than twice as much land has been burned so far this year in the UK as the average for a whole year. Latest data shows 29,484 hectares (72,857 acres) have been scorched in 2025, compared to a yearly average of 12,613 hectares (31,167 acres) between 2012 and 2024. Temperatures will fall sharply into the Bank Holiday weekend. But the fire risk remains 'very high to extreme' across much of Scotland and 'very high' for large parts of England. The warmth that brings joy to many of us also brings jeopardy. Boy's body recovered from lake Meanwhile, the recovery of a 16-year-old boy's body from a lake in Nottingham prompted emergency services to warn about swimming in lakes and rivers. Chief Inspector David Mather, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water - regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently." The London Fire Brigade said its crews responded to 565 water-related incidents last year and have already attended around 160 in the first quarter of this year, with incidents ranging from rescuing people to animals stranded on lakes and ponds. 'Water temperatures can be dangerously cold' Assistant commissioner for prevention and protection Craig Carter said. "Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how fit or experienced they are. It can lead to water inhalation, and, in the worst cases, drowning." The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) offered similar warnings, advising those planning to swim at a lifeguarded beach to swim between the red and yellow flags. Fire services warned that the warm weather means there is a "heightened" risk of grass and wildfires which can spread more easily during the dry spell, as firefighters have been battling what they described as a large wildfire in the Peak District. The RAC also cautioned drivers on the roads, with spokesman Rod Dennis saying breakdowns are expected to "soar", while the NHS reported searches for hay fever advice had doubled from Monday to Wednesday.
