Lyrics: American country music songwriter and producer Charlie Black; American country music songwriter and music publisher Rory Bourke, and professional country music songwriter Tommy Rocco. Vocals: Canadian country-pop artist Anne Murray.
MsAnne Murray.
Back in 1983, just like today, when the world already feels full of troubling headlines, Ms Anne Murray recorded a song that really struck a chord with ordinary people. It’s about something we can all relate to; that feeling of turning on the news and just wishing, just for once, that there was something positive to hear. Written by Charlie Black, Rory Bourke, and Tommy Rocco, this song, hereunder, went on to become a number one country hit and win a Grammy. The song reminds us how much we all need a little hope, or even as the title suggests, ‘A Little Good News.’
‘A Little Good News’
‘A Little Good News’.
I rolled out this morning, the kids had the morning news show on. Bryant Gumbel was talking ’bout the fighting in Lebanon. Some senator was squawking ’bout the bad economy. It’s gonna get worse, you see, we need a change in policy.
There’s a local paper rolled up in a rubber band. One more sad story’s one more than I can stand. Just once how I’d like to see the headline say, Not much to print today, can’t find nothing bad to say, because.
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town. Nobody OD’d, nobody burned a single building down. Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain. We sure could use a little good news today.
I’ll come home this evening, I’ll bet that the news will be the same. Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane. How I wanna hear the anchorman talk about a county fair. And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care. Whoa, tell me
Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today, And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play, And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA. We sure could use a little good news today. Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town. Nobody OD’d, nobody burned a single building down. Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain. We sure could use a little good news today.
Few shrubs in the gardening world command attention quite like ‘Telopea speciosissima‘, the celebrated New South Wales Waratah.
More than just a plant, this stunning evergreen stands as a vibrant symbol of drama, colour, and botanical heritage. Native to Australia, it grows as a robust shrub reaching up to three metres in height, adorned with leathery green foliage that forms the perfect backdrop to its unforgettable large blooms.
Telopea speciosissima – New South Wales (NSW) state emblem. Photo: G. Willoughby.
For those seeking something truly special, this magnificent shrub is currently available on sale at O’Driscolls Garden Centre. This same Garden Centre is renowned for its exceptional selection of rare and unusual shrubs, earning a reputation among discerning gardeners for sourcing plants that elevate any landscape.
What truly sets the Waratah apart is its extraordinary large flower head. Each dome-shaped bloom is composed of hundreds of tightly packed individual flowers, forming a rich crimson spectacle that can measure up to 15 cm across . These blooms appear in spring, lighting up gardens with a vibrancy that is visible from afar; a quality reflected in its name, derived from Greek meaning “seen from a distance”. It is no surprise that this plant holds pride of place as the floral emblem of New South Wales and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most iconic native species.
Beyond its beauty, Telopea speciosissima offers real horticultural value. It thrives in well-drained soil with ample sunlight and rewards gardeners with long-lasting blooms that are equally prized as cut flowers. Its architectural form and bold colouring make it an outstanding focal point in any garden design.
If you wish to introduce a touch of the extraordinary to your garden, the Waratah is an inspired choice; bold, beautiful, and yes utterly unforgettable.
The number of individuals accessing emergency homeless accommodation has reached a record high, highlighting ongoing pressures within the housing system despite recent rental reforms.
New figures show that 17,517 people were using emergency accommodation in the final week of March, up from 17,308 the previous month. This total includes 11,946 adults and 5,571 children, both representing the highest levels recorded to date.
Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that homelessness in Ireland “is far too high” and emphasizing that the level of child homelessness “cannot be accepted.” He confirmed that a targeted action plan addressing child and family homelessness is expected to be published shortly.
The latest data reflects a 46% increase in homelessness since the removal of the pandemic-era ban on no-fault evictions in April 2023, when the total stood at 11,988 people. The upward trend has continued steadily in the years and months since.
Officials note that the figures account only for those in emergency accommodation and do not include individuals sleeping rough or those housed in settings such as hospitals, asylum centres, or domestic violence shelters.
This report marks the first assessment since the introduction of new rental regulations in March, including reforms around six-year tenancies. The government maintains that these measures are designed to enhance tenant security and encourage housing supply. However, critics argue the changes could lead to rising rents and increased eviction-related homelessness.
Under the updated rules, landlords with four or more tenancies are prohibited from issuing no-fault evictions for new leases starting from March. Smaller landlords may still terminate tenancies under specific conditions—such as financial hardship or accommodating a family member—but are restricted from resetting rent levels until the six-year tenancy period concludes.
The government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the housing crisis, with further policy measures anticipated in the coming weeks.
Fresh waves of job cuts announced by global technology giants Meta and Microsoft have sparked growing concern over potential knock-on effects for employment in Ireland, where both firms maintain significant operations.
Meta has confirmed plans to eliminate approximately 8,000 roles globally; around 10% of its workforce, while also scrapping a further 6,000 unfilled positions as part of a sweeping restructuring effort.
Although the company has not specified the extent of Irish impacts, previous reports indicate that job losses have already touched its Irish operations, with roles previously identified as at risk amid wider restructuring.
Risk to Ireland’s Tech Employment Base. Ireland hosts Meta’s European headquarters and employs roughly 1,800 staff locally. While no precise figure has been confirmed, the scale of global reductions and hiring freezes raises concerns that Ireland could face further job erosion as the company pivots towards AI-led efficiency.
Industry analysts warn that artificial intelligence is enabling companies to “do more with smaller teams,” potentially reducing the need for large regional workforces over time. This structural shift may disproportionately affect countries like Ireland that rely heavily on multinational tech employment.
Microsoft Signals Similar Direction. Microsoft has taken a softer approach but with similar implications, offering voluntary redundancy packages to around 8,750 employees, roughly 7% of its US workforce. While framed as voluntary, the move reflects a broader realignment toward AI investment and cost control. The company is committing tens of billions to AI infrastructure, signalling that future hiring priorities may shift away from traditional roles.
AI Investment Driving Workforce Transformation. Both companies are dramatically increasing spending on artificial intelligence, with Meta and Microsoft each committing over $100 billion to AI-related infrastructure and development. This investment surge is widely viewed as a key driver behind workforce reductions across the tech sector, where automation and productivity gains are beginning to replace certain job functions.
Implications for Ireland. The developments highlight several risks for Ireland:
Reduced hiring pipelines as thousands of roles are eliminated or left unfilled.
Potential future layoffs if global restructuring deepens.
Shift in job profiles, favouring specialised AI talent over broader operational roles.
Increased vulnerability of multinational-dependent employment.
With Ireland’s economy closely tied to multinational tech firms, the transition to AI-driven efficiency could mark a significant turning point in the stability and nature of jobs within the sector.
Conclusion. While both Meta and Microsoft present these changes as strategic investments in future growth, the immediate outlook suggests heightened uncertainty for workers, particularly in international hubs like Ireland. The acceleration of AI adoption across Big Tech is not only reshaping business models but may fundamentally alter employment patterns, raising urgent questions about the resilience of Ireland’s tech workforce in the years ahead.
In 2024, Ireland was compliant with EU Emissions Reduction targets for all five major pollutants: ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter. Consistent implementation of existing national policies is key to meeting 2030 targets.
Taking the long view, many pollutants have seen significant decreases since the 1990s. Particulate matter, which can have significant impacts on human health, is down by 67 per cent. Pollutants associated with acid rain have also reduced dramatically: sulphur dioxide is down by 96 per cent and nitrogen oxide is down by 67 per cent.
Ammonia emissions, which arise almost entirely from agriculture, remained within EU limits for the third consecutive year.
Reductions in sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter were largely driven by lower fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment for 2024.
The pollutants are:
ammonia.
non-methane volatile organic compounds.
sulphur dioxide.
nitrogen oxides.
fine particulate matter.
Agriculture accounts for over 99% of ammonia emissions in Ireland and was previously non-compliant with EU targets in 2020 and 2021. The ongoing adoption of low-emission slurry spreading, in combination with a reduction of dairy cattle and other cattle numbers, has brought ammonia emissions into compliance with the EU Emission Reduction target for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. This reflects the impact of on-farm adoption of a range of good farming practices.
Commenting on the findings MsRoni Hawe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “Ireland is on track to meet its 2030 EU Emissions Reduction targets for all five major air pollutants. The EPA’s assessment confirms that this progress is delivering clear benefits for air quality, human health and sensitive ecosystems, and shows that targeted policies and practical measures are achieving measurable reductions in emissions.”
She added: “Low-emission slurry spreading alone avoided an estimated 8,526 tonnes of ammonia being released to the atmosphere. That’s seven per cent of the national total, making it one of the most effective actions in reducing national ammonia emissions. Continued and wider adoption of these practices is essential to sustain progress on air quality.”
Beyond ammonia, Ireland is in compliance with EU Emission Reduction targets for the other air pollutants. In 2024, Sulphur dioxide decreased by 4.4 per cent; fine particulate matter by 1.9 per cent; nitrogen oxides by 1.3 per cent and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 1.0 per cent. Less fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating has been key in reducing these emissions.
Commenting on these findings Dr Tomás Murray, Senior Manager of EPA Emissions Statistics said: “This is good news. We can hit our 2030 air pollutant reduction goals if we stay on course with the National Air Pollution Control Programme. By moving away from fossil fuels to generate our electricity and continued adoption of a range of good farming practices, we aren’t just achieving targets but also actively protecting our health and our environment.”
For further details on these figures, see the EPA report Ireland’s Air Pollutant Emissions: Trends and Outlook on the EPA website HERE.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments