IRE - The Irish Times

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1. Christmas week weather: Mix of rain and dry spells but no snow

   Met Éireann forecasts Christmas Day will be largely dry with cloud, sunny spells and light rain

2. Almost 48,000 children received new baby grant in its first year

   Grant was set up on December 1st, 2024, and is paid to families of babies born or adopted after that date

3. Man who died after car skidded off Cork road into river named locally

   Joice Thomas (34) from Kerala, India, had become a father for a second time just four months ago

4. Thousands gather for Winter Solstice sunrise from ancient tomb at Newgrange

   Joyous atmosphere as around 2,000 people gather to mark astronomical phenomenon

5. Dalkey woman could decide if Netflix-Warner Bros merger goes ahead

   Plus: Ozzy Osbourne’s Irish friend, Guinness arrives to chain pub, and Greta Thunberg’s view of Ballinahinch

6. Dublin City Council spends €58m on homeless accommodation in three-month period

   Companies owned by Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney and his wider family were paid about €7m

7. Taoiseach demands ‘proper justice’ for Pte Seán Rooney as he visits Irish troops in Lebanon

   Micheál Martin met Lebanese prime minister to express ‘anger at slow pace of criminal justice system’

8. Fota Wildlife Park reopens to the public following bird flu outbreak

   Popular tourist attraction in Co Cork was closed for 10 weeks in ‘challenging’ period for staff

9. Defence Forces took ‘correct decision’ not to shoot down rogue drones, says Taoiseach

   Micheál Martin was speaking during a visit to Lebanon to meet Irish peacekeepers on Saturday

10. Small plane that crashed in Waterford had issues with fuel pump and faulty spark plug

    Light aircraft was en route to France from Sligo last month when sole occupant reported technical problems