Latest news with #Davy
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
GAA ace Davy Fitzgerald breaks silence on son's rehab for ‘out-of-control gambling addiction' after €35k bank thefts
CLARE hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald has said he is 'proud' of his son for facing up to his gambling addiction and seeking treatment. Colm Fitzgerald recently 3 Davy Fitzgerald with his son Colm in 2013 Credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE 3 Colm avoided jail after stealing €35,000 from his employer Credit: Brendan Gleeson Speaking for the first time about his son's case, In an interview with 'I don't want to go into it too much but so far, so good. He's trying very hard. Read more on Davy Fitzgerald 'There was a lot of stuff he had to go through but I'm proud of him. He would get a lot of stick and sometimes you have to take that. Sometimes you do things you shouldn't do, you accept them and you move on.' Last month a The The Games are an outdoor pursuits-style competition for corporates and business to raise funds for the charity's life-saving work. Most read in The Irish Sun Davy said: 'The Samaritans do such a great job. 'I've spoken openly before about my own mental health struggles in the past and I truly believe in what the Samaritans do, giving people the time and a safe space to work through their problems. Fans condemn ugly scenes as Davy Fitzgerald and Waterford rage over late decision that sees Clare edge victory 'Speaking through your thoughts and having someone to listen, in confidence, is often what someone needs to see a way out.' The GAA man admits he feels under pressure himself, being recognised on the street, but tells himself to ignore the negatives. 'YOU'LL SNAP AT THEM' He said: 'I get both sides of it. 'You don't mind nice people coming up to you who want to stop and chat. But you'll meet the opposite as well. Someone who has a go and you'll snap at them and regret it afterwards. "That happened to me recently. Something was said. I didn't like it and I thought there was no call for it. 'I reacted and I shouldn't have. No matter what was said to me. I should have let it go.' ACTION NEEDED But the hurling manager and former player believes people have to face worse from online trolls. Davy said: 'I've no problem with people's opinion but not when it gets personal. Stuff on social media can affect your family. 'I can't believe there isn't legislation there to stop it. 'It's something I call on the Government to deal with. Freedom of speech is one thing but having a go at people just isn't right. It's tough when people online just want to attack you.' CHARITY EFFORTS Davy repeatedly stressed the importance of being able to talk to someone about a problem. He has teamed up with adventurer Dane Galligan, his TV co-star from The challenges include balance beams, monkey bars, and the ultimate test — the 'Final Climb for Samaritans' — a 12ft ramp featured on Ireland's Fittest Family. GET INVOLVED SAMARITANS Away Day Games will be held on Friday, September 26 at Wanderers Stadium, Dublin 4. For more info and to register visit: Samaritans is a suicide prevention charity which encourages people to reach out for support before an issue becomes so overwhelming you see no way out. Its volunteers answer more than half a million calls and emails every year to its freephone number 116 123 and email jo@ supporting people with a range of concerns including mental health issues, loneliness and isolation, family and relationship problems, as well as from people who are feeling suicidal. 3 Davy Fitzgerald has been manning an impressive charity campaign Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UK's Bellway raises full-year volume forecast to 8,600-8,700 homes
BENGALURU: British homebuilder Bellway raised its forecast on Tuesday for the number of homes it expects to build this financial year to 8,600-8,700, from 8,500 previously, supported by stronger spring sales and improved customer demand. Its shares rose about 5% as the company said it was sold out for the year to July 31, and that it expects to build 20% more homes across this fiscal year and next. Home sales in Britain picked up recently ahead of the April 1 expiry of temporary tax incentives for affordable and first-time buyers, supported by gradual interest rate cuts. Data on Tuesday showed UK pay growth slowed and unemployment rose to a four-year high in the three months to April, possibly easing the way for more rate cuts. "Ultimately, lower rates in the UK should lead to lower mortgage rates and better affordability in the housing market, a key factor in the ultimate recovery in the sector," said Colin Sheridan, an analyst at Davy. Shares of rival homebuilders Persimmon , Barratt Redrow , Taylor Wimpey and Berkeley Group were up between 1.8 and 4%. Government efforts to boost housing supply, including a 2 billion-pound pledge for 18,000 affordable homes, have raised optimism in the sector, though builders are worried about the impact of a building safety levy, now delayed until late 2026. Bellway constructs everything from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom family homes and luxury penthouses. The company said it now expects an average selling price of around 315,000 pounds ($425,502) this financial year, up from a previous forecast of 310,000 pounds, as the final quarter will include a higher proportion of private completions. Its forward order book, a indicator of near-term demand, was up 7.7% year-on-year to 5,759 homes, as of June 1. In contrast, Bellway's bigger rival Persimmon last month said it was cautious about how economic uncertainty could affect affordability and demand.
Cambrian News
09-06-2025
- Health
- Cambrian News
Cyclists to set off from Barmouth on 330-Mile ride for MND
Justin said: 'To offer my support during these difficult times, a team of great friends and I have been putting together challenges and events to help raise much needed funds for the charities which have been supporting Davy during his MND journey.
The Herald Scotland
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
How Labour beat the odds — and rocked the SNP
To be fair to the press pack, it was not just the commentators, pundits and bookies who rubbished the party's prospects in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Some of the criticism came from inside the tent. Last week, one Labour insider told The Times the party should expect to get 'quite considerably humped'. Another told the Record: 'It was supposed to be a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP, but we selected a donkey and look like coming third.' Jackie Baillie, Anas Sarwar and Davy Russell (Image: Colin Mearns/The Herald) The thing about donkeys though, is they are known for being sure-footed, steady and persistent — especially when the going gets tough. Mr Russell, a well-known local figure who had been dismissed by some as the 'invisible man' after swerving media appearances and hustings, proved quietly effective. READ MORE The by-election was triggered by the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie in March. She was just 57 and had been on leave following a stage two breast cancer diagnosis. In 2021, Ms McKelvie won the seat with 46% of the vote and a majority of 4,582. Labour's victory was narrow — they took 31% of the vote, winning by just 602 votes. The SNP's Katy Loudon took 29.4%, while Reform UK came a close third, with 26.2%. It was, in the end, unquestionably a three-horse race. 'At the start, we were not picking up a lot of support for Reform,' one Labour MSP said. 'And that did change. Reform supporters became more vocal and visible at the start of the by-election. I think, truthfully, what everyone was hearing is that the voters were happy with none of us. That is really how it started.' But that presented the party with an opportunity. 'We were able to really promote Davy as a local champion — somebody who will stand aside from what is going on nationally and just be at a grassroots level, take up the issues of the people here and really fight for them. 'We saw a glimpse of that when Davy was at a visit and journalists were there and he was asked about Winter Fuel Payments. He said this should be reinstated across the board. He did not look for lines to take — he just said what he believed. And I think people like that.' The party source also said not to underestimate the power or popularity of lawn bowls in South Lanarkshire. Mr Russell is a keen bowler, playing to a high standard. He was due to take part in a big international tournament on Saturday. Behind the win was what Labour insisted was a textbook ground operation. 'We worked unbelievably hard to get our voters out,' Labour's Michael Marra told The Herald on Sunday at Friday's victory rally. 'The numbers in the result were the numbers we were seeing in our campaign. So in that respect, I was not surprised. 'But given everything that has been said against us in recent months, it is a big change — a shift in momentum towards the Labour Party — and it means there is now the real prospect of a Scottish Labour government next year.' By polling day, Labour's campaign had identified 7,000 likely supporters — and then mobilised an army of activists to get them to the ballot box. Labour spin doctor Ollie Milne, Anas Sarwar, Party general secretary Kate Watson, and MP Joani Reid (Image: PA) 'We would have known about a lot of postal voters who had already told us they had voted Labour, so we would not have gone back to their doors in the final days or on polling day. Polling day was really focusing on people who were Labour promises,' one campaign insider said. That highly targeted get-out-the-vote strategy paid off. 'We had big teams of Labour students, people from the local party, neighbouring constituencies as well — lots of Lanarkshire members and councillors out — but also people from all over the country, including Scottish Parliament candidates, who understood that a Labour defeat in this by-election would have been bad for their campaigns. A Labour victory would really turbo-boost their own.' READ MORE There is still some anger in the party about the SNP's treatment of Mr Russell. 'It was really unfair,' one source said. 'Some of our opponents said Davy was in hiding, but he was on the doorstep.' There are some in the SNP who believed the party's attacks on Mr Russell went too far — made their campaign seem 'middle class' and detached — and ultimately backfired. 'We played the man, not the ball,' said one MSP, asked why they thought the party had fallen short. Others, however, are not letting his victory get in the way of their aspersions. Former SNP MP John Nicolson took to social media to suggest Mr Russell — a former senior council official in Glasgow, responsible for a team of 2,000 workers — would not be clever enough for Holyrood. The ex-broadcaster said Mr Russell would find committee work 'a struggle'. 'But brighter members will cover for him, at least initially,' he added. Party activists watch the counters at Thursday's by-election count (Image: PA) Polling expert Mark Diffley said the result should not have surprised those looking at the numbers in recent polls. 'The SNP has lost on average 15 percentage points in the polls between 2021 and now, and Labour has only lost two,' he said. 'Cards on the table, I thought the SNP would win narrowly, because actually their vote share in Hamilton went down by more than what the average opinion polling is telling us — by about three points. 'And had they gone down by what I thought — 13 or 14 points — they would have won the seat. 'I also think, you know, some politicians said this was a two-horse race. That was really never going to be the case. I think a lot of people did get sucked in. It was always going to be close.' In his final appeal to voters, Mr Swinney said voting for the SNP was a chance to 'defeat the gutter politics of Nigel Farage'. Speaking to journalists, he said Labour were 'out of it' and it was a straight fight between his party and Reform. 'I think the First Minister framed it like that because he wanted to appeal to Labour voters,' Mr Diffley added. 'It was the Labour voters that decided this election. They got 32% in 2021. Where were they going to go? And it turns out a lot of them stayed with Labour.' Reform's Thomas Kerr said the First Minister's comments undoubtedly helped his candidate, Ross Lambie. 'It highlighted us — got us more publicity than what we were getting. The more John Swinney and Anas Sarwar were talking about Reform, the better we were going to do, because people saw it as a sort of cynical political establishment stitch-up against us.' Reform candidate Ross Lambie, deputy leader Richard Tice and Cllr Thomas Kerr (Image: PA) 'I think everyone who was listening to John Swinney's spin on this will now take what he says with a massive pinch of salt,' Mr Marra said. 'The campaign the SNP ran, trying to embolden and push Reform forward at every opportunity, was not just disingenuous in terms of the result — it was also dangerous, let us be clear about that. 'It was a strategy to get them to 2026, to not talk about their record — about the state of our hospitals, about NHS waiting lists, about the state of our schools. I do not think that is now an approach that can hold.' However, Mr Kerr was willing to give the First Minister the benefit of the doubt. 'I am willing to take John Swinney at his word,' the Glasgow councillor added. 'I do think he genuinely thought that was the case. I do not think he was playing games. I genuinely think he was a bit shaken about the support Reform was getting.' At his press conference on Friday, Mr Swinney insisted there had been progress for his party, when the result was measured against their dire performance at last year's general election. 'Last summer, I think people would have doubted the SNP could have been in contention to win a by-election in Hamilton after the severe loss we suffered. But we were in contention. We were not strong enough to win, but we were in contention — and we will build on that.' 'There has been progress — but that, in of itself, is not enough,' one SNP MSP told The Herald on Sunday. 'The party needs to stop talking to itself and take a step back and reflect on ordinary people's perspective. It should have been doing that years ago. Here we are a good way through some really tough times — where people are hanging on by their fingernails — and we have been tinkering. 'It simply cannot be enough to rely on Labour to fail.' They said it was time for Mr Swinney to make changes in his top team. 'I think a proper ministerial reshuffle is required, and an exercise undertaken to seek new policies. For example, I would call in the former MPs who have experience but have had time to refresh their perspective. 'I can sense that many — for the first time — are now nervous, and rightfully so. 'On independence — again, it can never be enough to simply run a competent devolved government without a vision of what could be.' On Friday, Mr Swinney said he would 'consider all issues around the ministerial team'. Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Màiri McAllan, he added, would return from maternity leave soon. READ MORE Another senior SNP insider said they were not surprised by the defeat. 'I knew that we were going to lose it. What was the reason to vote SNP? We are not inspiring anybody on independence, because we are not talking about it — and it is nowhere to be seen in the party's message. 'Then we are pitching ourselves against Reform in a way that I think is totally unhelpful — and it backfired massively. It is almost like trying to replace the old SNP v Tory or SNP v Labour strategy. 'You cannot do that with a party that has never been in government — that does not carry that baggage — that does not have that resentment. 'People are voting Reform from all directions, including many former SNP voters. What is the reason for SNP? Well, it is independence.' (Image: PA) 'I think it is really disappointing the way the leadership has chosen just not to talk about what the SNP stands for,' they added. 'It is a very odd thing. I joined in 2007 when Nicola and Alex were the joint ticket and was very much attracted to that partnership because it spoke to different parts of Scotland. 'Right now we have got John and Kate, who are, I think, speaking to one part of Scotland. I am not sure they are talking to everybody.' While they thought Mr Swinney's leadership was safe, they predicted the internal elections for key posts — national secretary, party president, maybe even depute leader — could get 'spicy'. 'I think we will see some movements in those spaces.'
RTÉ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Breaking ECB cuts interest rates for eighth time in a year
The ECB has cut interest rates for the eighth time in a year by one-quarter of a percentage point, which brings its rate down from 2.25% to 2% The move will immediately benefit tracker mortgage customers and put downward pressure on other rates. With inflation now safely in line with its 2% target, today's decision is uncontroversial, shifting the focus to what signals ECB President Christine Lagarde might send about policy ahead. Some investors are already pricing in a pause in July, and some conservative policymakers have also advocated a break to give the ECB a chance to reassess how exceptional uncertainty and policy upheaval both at home and abroad will shift the outlook. The ECB's latest macroeconomic projections signal weaker economic growth in 2026 and softer inflation outlook for both 2025 and 2026, according to Davy. "These projections represent a downward revision from the estimates published in March," said Stephen Grissing, Director and Investment Strategist with Davy Private Clients. "The Euro Area economy remains exposed to elevated risks as trade tariff negotiations with the United States continue. The heightened uncertainty surrounding these talks threatens to disrupt cross-border trade and potentially undermining business confidence in the region. "The downward revisions to both growth and inflation projections increase the likelihood of further monetary easing by the European Central Bank. "Futures pricing indicates an additional one to two further rate cuts by the end of the year, which would bring the deposit facility rate to 1.75% or 1.5%. Mr Grissing added that lower interest rates will be welcomed by homeowners, farmers and companies as they continue to benefit from lower borrowing costs.
