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a day ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Positive benefits of social media as concert goer reunited with 'special' glasses lost at gig
A young person who attended Charli XCX at Malahide during the week has detailed their gratitude after a pair of special glasses that prevents their seizures were safely returned following an appeal online. 21-year-old Molly Hickey was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder two years ago after they 'randomly' began having seizures. The condition is different for everybody, with Molly revealing they suffer with seizures brought on from stress and flashing lights predominantly. 21-year-old Molly Hickey was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder two years ago after they 'randomly' began having seizures. Pic: Supplied An avid concert-goer, Molly told that the diagnosis impacted how they attended gigs as well as events and conferences. For events and conferences, they noted that here is no awareness surrounded flash photography being dangerous for some people. 'Any time I go to conferences they're like, 'Oh, that's something I never thought about before!' They added that they have also brought it up with cinemas, after having a seizure in one where no flash warnings were provided. @mollyhickey5 PLEASE HELP ME FIND THEM (they are really expensive and so needed for me ) #charlixcx #malahide #dublin #seizures #concert @Malahide Castle & Gardens ♬ party 4 u – ㅤ Fortunately, Molly was advised by doctors that a special set of glasses could help prevent seizures at gigs and earlier in the year, with the help from their University, they managed to get pairs of the TheraSpecs Z-Blue glasses. 'You can get them in different lenses to fit you completely,' Molly explained, 'They're done to completely fit your eyes. I had two pairs, one was for really dark and one was for light, so during the day. 'Obviously, my dark ones do gigs. They're really expensive because they're not made in Ireland.' The glasses are made in America, with Molly explaining that ordering them online is both difficult and expensive. A young person who attended Charli XCX at Malahide during the week is appealing to concertgoers for the safe return of a pair of 'special' glasses that prevent their seizures. Pic:The special glasses allowed Molly to attend a string of gigs in recent months, with the 21-year-old reporting that they didn't suffer with any seizures. 'Obviously, at gigs there more at risk of falling off,' they said, adding that the glasses fell off their head during the last song at the Charli XCX gig on Tuesday night. The glasses were nowhere to be seen, with Molly and their friends spending half an hour after the gig searching the area to no avail. The special glasses allowed Molly to attend a string of gigs in recent months, with the 21-year-old reporting that they didn't suffer with any seizures. Pic: Supplied 'I genuinely don't think it was malicious,' they told later following up to confirm that following an appeal on TikTok, a concert attendee had contacted Molly to say they ahd the glasses. 'I honestly didn't think this would happen, I'm so grateful,' Molly shared, as they touched on the positive power social media can have. The glasses have been a great benefit to Molly in recent months, with the youngster revealing that their protocol if they suffer seizures is to be turned on their side, and wait for a friend or medic to be called. 'I would never go into a space where no one knows,' they said, 'I do feel it coming along so I'll usually have a minute — I'll find somewhere there's not many people and then a friend will call a medic if needed.' Responding to criticism, they shouldn't go to events due to scaring people, Molly admitted that when they started getting seizures they did stay at home but was spurred on to get out more when they spoke to someone in a similar situation. 'I think just realising this isn't going to change for me. It's not like epilepsy, there's no medication,' they shared. 'For me, it was either I could spend my whole life really scared of scaring people or step outside the door and spread awareness about it, talk about it and have conversations that would also help other people in the future that have my condition.'
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Thousands of Airbnb lettings set to become illegal from tomorrow
Housing Minister James Browne will not exempt short-term lets from emergency laws, which means thousands of Airbnb-type lettings will not be able to operate legally this weekend. The Dáil voted last night to approve emergency legislation to extend Rent Pressure Zones to the entire country. Under RPZ rules, short-term lets such as Airbnb are required to have planning permission in order to operate. Thousands of these properties will be subsumed into RPZs as early as tomorrow, when it is expected the legislation will be signed into law. Under RPZ rules, someone can let their entire home for a maximum of 90 days without planning permission, but only if it is their principal private residence. Housing Minister James Browne will not exempt short-term lets from emergency laws, which means thousands of Airbnb-type lettings will not be able to operate legally this weekend. Pic: Daniel Krason/Shutterstock A spokeswoman for the Housing Minister has confirmed to that there will be no exemptions made, despite the change effectively rendering thousands of Airbnb rentals illegal within days. 'RPZ rules will apply as they do currently when new areas are zoned as an RPZ,' she said. It comes despite lobbying from within the coalition against such an approach. Michael Healy Rae told the Irish Times on Wednesday that he was concerned about the impact the measures would have. Meanwhile, several senior sources told they expected the new laws to be flouted. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins They said that, as there is so little compliance and enforcement of the existing rules, they did not expect it to be an issue. 'We don't really expect there to be people hauled up before the courts as a result of this because they aren't being brought up in counties already in RPZs where they are clearly operating,' one source said. 'It's a matter for planning ultimately, but the current regime isn't being implemented,' a separate Government source said. The extension of the RPZs is part of a suite of changes to the rental market that were announced by Minister Browne last week. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin It is understood that Mr Browne will insist that any further changes to short-term lets will only be permitted in the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill, which is in the early stages of making its way through the Oireachtas. The extension of the RPZs is part of a suite of changes to the rental market that were announced by Minister Browne last week. Opposition TDs were scathing in their criticism of the Government's changes to the rental market last night. Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin described the emergency legislation as an 'utter shambles'. 'In my entire time in Dáil Éireann, I have never witnessed a more haphazard, back-of-the-envelope process for putting in place widespread reforms that are going to impact tens of thousands of people,' he said. Labour TD Conor Sheehan said the announcement of the rent reform plans was 'nothing short of shambolic'.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Liveline applications portal opens as Joe Duffy's finale looms
The bookies may be tipping Katie Hannon to replace Joe Duffy as host on Liveline but sources have said that it's far from decided. RTE insiders told that they have begun fielding applications from enthusiastic presenters to step into Joe Duffy's big broadcasting shoes. 'The expressions of interest portal just opened last Friday and will remain open until July 4th,' said an RTE source. Joe Duffy. Pic: RTÉ So with an Independence Day deadline looming to pitch for radio's most coveted presenting position, RTE insiders have said 'it's by no way a done deal.' 'Katie, in fairness has a good ear and the required level of patience to listen to the nation's woes,' said a source. Upfront With Katie Hannon. Pic: RTÉ 'There's a thinking in here that she's a lot more suited to this type of broadcasting than the hard-nosed current affairs,' they continued. However, although Katie fills in for Joe Duffy whenever he's on his jollies, she is by no way a 'shoo-in'. Joe Duffy in 1998. Pic: RTÉ 'There's an over abundance of talent over there and there's a dearth of gigs up for grabs. So it's a buyers market,' the insider said. 'RTE are buying so it's up to candidates to sell themselves.' And one thing that RTE won't be buying is cases of champagne or truckloads of prosecco as sources have also let slip that it's 'tea and ham sambos' for Duffy's big 'see ya later' bash. 'There's a special final show leaving party planned and after that it's some tea and light refreshments.'
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
'Cheap' shoebox flats: Plans to reverse building regs revealed
The Government is set to give the green light to controversial new proposals to reverse building regulations so as to make apartment developments 'much cheaper to build'. There are concerns of a backlash over a move that critics will say marks a return to the controversial Celtic Tiger-era 'shoebox' apartments. However, changes to building specification requirements are considered a necessary move to deliver the Coalition's pre-election promises to significantly increase the construction of new homes. The Government is set to give the green light to controversial new proposals to reverse building regulations so as to make apartment developments 'much cheaper to build'. Pic: Shutterstock One Cabinet minister told 'We are going to bring in changes very soon on all the requirements for these apartment developments, which we believe will make these developments a lot cheaper to build. 'The requirements – on minimum apartment sizes, on aspects of the buildings, on lift provisions and all that – were understandably introduced after the standard of building fell significantly during the boom. And some apartment developments had unacceptably small apartments. 'But the minimum size requirement is higher here than most other countries in Europe and there is a feeling it has gone too far in the way it inhibits developers. We are more interested in restricting aspects like excessive services requirements, provision of a certain type of lift etc.' There are concerns of a backlash over a move that critics will say marks a return to the controversial Celtic Tiger-era 'shoebox' apartments. Pic: Shutterstock The U-turn on building rules introduced after the property crash comes as the Coalition is under intense pressure to significantly increase the number of new homes across the country. This week the Coalition announced a series of reforms it hopes will entice more investors, deliver more homes and cause rents to fall over the coming years. However, behind the scenes there are fears the new measures represent only the tip of the iceberg of what is needed to deal with the housing crisis. Embattled Housing Minister James Browne has already admitted the Coalition will struggle to meet its target of delivering 41,000 new homes this year. Housing Minister James Browne. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Industry sources this weekend predicted, based on trends in the first half of the year, that the actual number could be 'significantly lower' than 25,000. One senior source told 'Far from seeing an increase in building, it is actually in reverse this year. There is chaos everywhere. Everyone – the banks, local authorities, credit providers – is pulling back. There's no cash, no commitment, no certainty. We were going at a good pace last year, but everything is frozen over now. 'Builders are closing out schemes they already had. They'd been doing that for two years – that's why the figures were so vibrant. But now they're resiling from the market… Month after month the numbers are falling.' Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were returned to power after promising to deliver 300,000 new homes over the lifetime of the government. But just days before the new administration took office in January, Central Statistics Office figures revealed claims made by former housing minister Darragh O'Brien that 40,000 new builds would be delivered last year were almost 10,000 short. Former Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien. Pic: Conor Ó Mearáin/Collins Photo Agency The same month, Sherry FitzGerald Residential & Advisory managing director Marian Finnegan told a house-building summit that the figure for 2025 would be 'at a margin of plus or minus 10%' of 25,000. Recent months have seen a rising panic within the Coalition about a significant drop in new-build commencements and also about Mr Browne's performance. The failure to get to grips with the unprecedented accommodation shortage has fractured Coalition relations. Senior Fine Gael sources this weekend told the MoS that Mr Browne has six months to show discernible progress. One minister said: 'He is running out of time. He was given a political hospital pass [in being appointed to replace Darragh O'Brien at short notice]. We understand that, but time moves on. If, in the autumn, the thing is still a mess, we will be at a crossroads. How long has Browne? He has until the second half of the year. If is not working by then he will have to move, or Fine Gael will have to move,' they said. Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris. Pic: Leah Farrell/ Another senior Government source added: '[Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon] Harris will have no choice. 'If he does not move for Browne, then people will start to think 'maybe you should go instead'. The ides of November could be very dangerous: a bad presidential election, stagnant housing figures… it could get turbulent. 'The reality is, the narrative is beginning to set and it is not a good one for this Government. 'It is one of 'here's their third attempt and everything is still getting worse'. The voters are moving towards the view that it is now time for change.' The importance of the November deadline was underlined by another senior Coalition figure, who warned: 'The reality is the shutter comes down on this Government by November on housing. 'It takes four years for real change to kick in. If the tide has not turned by November, after the Budget and the new National Development Plan, then it won't change in time for us.' Another Fine Gael source commented: 'If we hit November and we are still not turning, he [Browne] is out of a job, and we will be out next time.' Mr Browne still has support within Fianna Fáil. Junior Justice Minister Niall Collins. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Defending his party colleague, Junior Justice Minister Niall Collins told the MoS: 'James Browne is an experienced local and national politician. 'He has far more practical knowledge than these academic theoreticians of the Social Democrats like Rory Hearne.' However, some senior Fianna Fáil figures expressed concern at Mr Browne's ability to tell his party leader, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers – who heads a new task force set up to oversee major development projects – to 'butt out of housing policy and let him run the department'. One Fianna Fáil minister said: 'The problem James Browne has is that the Department of Public Expenditure and his own Department of Housing don't want to spend a penny on anything. 'He has to win that war, and that won't be easy.'
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Far-right agitator calls for Catholics and Protestants to unite against 'invasion'
A Far-right agitator and failed election candidate who has been sharing footage of rioting that erupted in the North this week has called on 'Catholics and Protestants' to 'unite against the invasion of our island'. Niall McConnell, a sheep farmer from Castlefinn, Co. Donegal, shared footage of the violence that unfolded in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, taken by a prominent former Loyalist terrorist, whom he later hosted live on his YouTube channel. The 36-year-old also wrote a series of posts in which he appeared to celebrate the shocking scenes in the North, which police said were instigated by 'racists and bigots'. Police line up to face riots in Northern Ireland. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire McConnell's online activity comes as far-right protests were staged in Limerick and Ardee, Co. Louth, over the weekend. In one message accompanying shared video footage of rioters burning down a property housing migrants, he wrote: 'Locals in Ballymena set migrants house on fire after local girls got raped! 'Enough is enough! Share this video to stop the chaos in our streets!' He went on to warn 'Ireland is at a breaking point!' and urged followers to join his political movement, Síol na hÉireann. In another post, he wrote: 'Tensions are high after two [REDACTED] raped local young girl! Protestants & Catholics MUST UNITE [sic] against the invasion of our island.' He also shared footage taken by former loyalist terrorist Mark Sinclair and urged followers to play their part in 'stopping the mass immigration invasion into Ireland' by joining his 'Christian nationalist movement'. Last month, reported how former loyalist terrorists attended an anti-immigration protest in Dublin as they continued to forge an unlikely alliance with tricolour-waving far-right nationalists in the Republic. Pic:) Although both groups are traditionally regarded as natural enemies, former UVF member and convicted armed robber Mark Sinclair told 'I'm making new brothers and sisters who are Catholic for the first time, it's amazing.' Sinclair – who has three previous convictions for armed robbery – said of the growing alliance: 'It's a big step in the right direction for an ex-loyalist and Protestant to be able to stand in Dublin amongst all those republicans with tricolour.' This week, the unlikely alliance continued as McConnell, who was eliminated on the 10th count in last year's general election, hosted Sinclair on his YouTube channel. McConnell referred to migrants, who contribute an estimated €3.7bn annually, primarily through taxes, PRSI, and work permits, to the economy, as the 'enemies of our island' and claimed they want Irish people to be 'annihilated'. Speaking on the live stream, Sinclair described himself as an 'ex loyalist prisoner' and said Catholics and Protestants need to come together as 'we cannot do this on our own'. Pic: PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images McConnell agreed, saying the two communities need to 'move forward'. He said: 'The enemies of our island couldn't care less if we are Protestant or Catholic, they hate us because we're white. They want us annihilated. That is the goal. There has to be unity. 'The same people who say 'Brits out, Africans in', I cannot understand the mental gymnastics.' PSNI chief Jon Boutcher this week warned his officers will be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind multiple nights of disorder in the North. He said a young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena – an incident that triggered protests that descended into violence – had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting. Forty-one officers have been injured in the unrest, with riotous behaviour resulting in vandalism, vehicles burned, and arson attacks on properties in several towns. McConnell has been advertising 'says no' protests in Ardee and Limerick in recent days.
