Lunchtime in Eire
Breakfast time still in NYC
Having bacon in either of these places now?

Your Friday lunchtime catch-up

Friday, October 30, 2015

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

IRELAND

Bank of Ireland is apologising to its customers after a number that wages have not been paid into their accounts. The bank says it was aware payments to some accounts had been delayed and said it was working to resolve the issue.

An improvised device has exploded in a residential area of Dunlavin in Co Wicklow. The blast damaged two vehicles and the area was sealed off.

College authorities in Cork should fund special Garda units to police residential areas plagued by drunken students.

Gardaí have most likely saved lives and dealt a significant financial blow to one of the biggest trafficking gangs in Ireland after a major gun and drugs haul.

A Labour minister has reignited the war of words within the Coalition over rent control, as a solution to the crisis has yet to be found.

WORLD

A transgender woman who headbutted a bar manager will remain behind bars – but a judge in the UK has said prison officials should reconsider where she serves her sentence.

Britain’s domestic spy service chief says Islamist militants pose the biggest threat to the country that he had seen in his 32 years in intelligence, as he called for new digital surveillance powers to keep Britons safe.

SPORT

Manchester United have attempted fewer shots than Norwich, Watford and Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League this term and their reluctance to pull the trigger has them on course for their fewest efforts in a season in 15 years.

Never one to mince his words, Conor McGregor has attracted a lot of attention with a strongly worded post discussing the remembrance poppy.

RUGBY WORLD CUP CENTRE

The end is near. It is six weeks ago today since England opened the Rugby World Cup with a win at Fiji’s expense at Twickenham, but the hosts will be nowhere to be seen tomorrow as New Zealand and Australia bring the final curtain down on the latest chase for the Webb Ellis Cup, writes Brendan O’Brien

For more latest news, views and banter visit our Rugby World Cup Centre HERE

BUSINESS

Ireland’s tax regime may again face the international spotlight, at an uncomfortable time for the country, after two of the world’s pharmaceutical giants yesterday confirmed they are in talks over a mega billion dollar merger that appears to be driven by Irish tax considerations.

Financial results from IAG show that Aer Lingus made an operating profit of €45m since it joined the airline group in August.

ANALYSIS

China has feigned outrage at the US sailing a warship within 20km of one of its islands. It’s all about it wanting to protect military power, writes Bill Emmott

LIFESTYLE

Sick of the commercialism of Hallowe’en nowadays? Want to return to Samhain’s roots? Well maybe it’s time to take a trip to the Aran Islands, says Ken Phelan, and check out the vibrant local traditions of All-Hallow’s Eve.

VIDEO

Gardaí have most likely saved lives and dealt a significant financial blow to one of the biggest trafficking gangs in Ireland after a major gun and drugs haul.

Weapons and drugs found in Tallaght at Garda HQ Phoenix Park

VIRAL

Today, we stumbled across this photo on Twitter of a man who casually boarded his Ryanair flight from Glasgow, to find that he was sitting next to his doppleganger.

Wouldn’t you just love to work with these guys. Dublin-based business Wolfgang Digital recently moved into a new office - and they decided to make the most of the season by leaving a Halloween-themed greeting in the lift of their building to greet their new neighbours.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Need for Speed’s urban sprawl will act as a place for people to be free to do what they want to do, a gangster’s paradise if you will. Those are the none-too-subtle hints dropped by its launch trailer, at least.

MOVIES: The Queen of Ireland is now in cinemas and it’s already earning plenty of attention thanks to amazing reviews from audiences and critics and great box office returns, making it the highest grossing Irish documentary ever released.

TECH: Snapchat has added Speed Modifiers, which will let people get more creative with their videos.

SHOWBIZ

Boy George shocked the audience during filming on – before backtracking, saying he’d only ever owned a poster of the star. .

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

Amid the crackle of gunfire, billowing smoke, and explosions from grenades, Irish troops launched a seaborne attack on an enemy stronghold, eventually subduing its defenders.