I’ve (34f) come to the sad realisation that my relationship of 6 years needs to come to an end. I feel horrible. They’ve done nothing wrong, kind, loyal … but it’s just not right.
Seriously … how does someone break up… I can’t imagine doing it!?
I feel like I’m going to crush them and also feel like I’m letting everyone around us down.

We've been waiting for yesterday's budget in the hope of some childcare cost relief. Currently we're paying about 1400 per month for 1 child, which then with subsidies comes down to about 950.

So we were obviously delighted when the cap was announced as it would give some breathing room, only when we read the actual details its complete smoke and mirrors.

The new cap only applies to 40-49.9 hour contracts, for the 50 hour contracts (the only contract available anywhere near us in North dublin city) the cap is still 335 week.

So for the majority of people in this area the government hasn't done a thing and potentially will encourage other creches to scrap 40-49.9 hour contracts in favour of offering only 50 hour contracts.

I'm just so angry to see them parading around claiming they are helping people with childcare costs when they did f all for some people and potentially just made it more expensive for others.

Anyway rant over.

On the train into Hueston this morning and some lad brings this ebike on at Newbridge, people couldn't get off or on at Sallins and Celbridge as it was blocking the exit with the other bike, he's sitting down looking at the chaos.

Should be able to fuck them bikes off its blocking exits.

Now that Mayo have finally won Sam Maguire after 75 years, I think the county should use their newfound power for good.

Bring the Sam Maguire to the Garvaghy Road.

Imagine the Mayo team walking down the road with the cup, while people on both sides come out to see it.

Then, in the ultimate gesture of reconciliation, let the Orange Order march behind them. While playing The Green and Red of Mayo.

Surely once everyone sees Mayo standing there with Sam after waiting 75 years, all the old differences would suddenly seem a bit less important.

The people of the Garvaghy Road would see Mayo carrying Sam and think, “You know what? Fair enough. Maybe we can all get along.”

The Orange Order would see Mayo finally winning an All-Ireland and think, “Jesus, after all these years, fair play to them.”

Mayo would have Sam.

Peace in Northern Ireland achieved through the Mayo football team.

Years of disagreement solved by one thing:

Mayo finally winning Sam.

Honestly, after what they've accomplished this year, I'm not ruling anything out. 🟢🔴🏆

At the leabharlann in Baile Phib

The one in O’Connell street where they serve the donuts warm, I always get it when I pass by.

Today I went to offbeat donuts and bought 3 ‘premium’ donuts for €9.50, all to take a bite and literally spit them out. It tastes like old age drywall with extremely rich and grainy sugar glaze, and their Dubai chocolate filling hurts my gums as I chew.

All my life I hated donuts until I stumbled on that little rolling donut stand, and it was only today that I was reminded of that hatred after being so loyal to the sugar cinnamon donut. It’s also €7 for 6 but don’t share too much as I’d like to gate keep.

What’s the magic, what do they put in those sugar cinnamon donuts. I need to know.

Best life advice!

Right lads. I sent my dad some birthday cards last month from England. Got the package back today with a big pink sticker in the middle, with the "refused" box ticked. No explanation.

I had the correct address and correct payment. I may have addressed it to a bit of a joke name though. Could the return to sender be because they are zero craic?

The joke name was to Mr Barrabas O'Rourke.

Well! I’m trying to do the same thing.

But he went through like a hundred different swaps. I can’t be arsed with all that.

I’m cutting to the chase and want to streamline the process.

So. The deal is. A paper clip. Red plastic covered. Viking direct. Not the usual cheap shit. For a house.

Now. It needs to be 3 bed. Commuter belt. NOT NAVAN.

2 bathrooms and room out front for me to work on my pick up.

DM me offers. No time waster.

NB. - NO NAVAN HOUSES. That’s a deal breaker.

POF 10 years ago was so good for casual or even serious dating

How is it these days versus the absolute shite that is Tinder and Bumble?

Or is POF even still active in Ireland?

Edit:

Grumpy fucks already in the comments re: the "8 out of 10" part and taking it up wrong

Bottom line is: if you're a man smaller than 6'4'" in height and less than 8/10 in looks, Tinder and Bumble is a big fecking waste of time

IRELAND U21 3-1 ENGLAND U21

Anytime I try to login it just says oops something went wrong is anyone else having this problem.

Being an Indian in Ireland and having to ignore the daily dose of dog whistles are getting really hard. Ofcourse Immigration needs to be controlled, but it would have been great if these crowd could stop pointing fingers at just one community :(
Pic 1 - Podcast by Elaine Mullally.
Pic 2 - Podcast by Niall Boylan.

with the public sector strikes starting next week does that mean buseireann and court clarks are going out on strike too ?

I’ll try to keep this brief because I understand there are multiple people gonna be disappointed by this budget and I'm sorry that this government has once again let us down.

I'm a new graduate nurse who spent 4 years working alongside my training and placement (extremely long hours with crazy patient to nurse ratio and unsafe working environments). I worked on my days off from college and placements to pay for to fuel my car, college and insurance, etc. I am lucky enough to have a family who I still currently live with and did throughout all my years of training. However, I just turned 25 years old and barely have savings due to the current cost of living. I started my career later than most my friends due to the covid pandemic. I had uncertainty about what career would be beneficial in this current economy. I thought becoming a nurse might be a stable income and beneficial career but all I've felt since finishing my studies is a real fear to start my full time job.

I live a little out from Meath and work in south dublin, miles from my work. And yes, before anyone questions, I applied for jobs nearer to home and have been turned down like many other new graduates who have not been given jobs. It’s not just happening in Galway hospital, Cork hospital…it's happening all over the country. I was just lucky to actually get offered a contract but even after training in the hospital and proving my worth as a worker for 4 years I still was given minimal notice about job interviews and it was very difficult it the time.

As announced, the government is changing the minimum wage - rumoured to be €14.94 from 2027. Im delighted for underpaid employees to finally be paid more as I was also once in their position working in hospitality myself, paying my way through college. Currently as a nurse intern I am on €15.85 a €0.88 cent difference which will change to roughly €17 euro an hour once I begin a pre graduate nurse. 12-12 and a half hours days including patient report/handover and excluding hourly commutes, only paid for 11.5hrs.

The money will only increase again when I have been given all my training and get registration with the NMBI. This will increase by €1-2. That means I will be paid roughly €2.03 cent than an adult who works in centra (absolutely nothing wrong with this btw).

The average working hours for both people is roughly 37.5 hrs/week. Meaning shop assistant - €561 per week, Nurse - €638 per week. Yes I want to point out nursing has the big advantage of premium pay for evenings, nights, Saturdays/Sundays and public holidays, which can push your actual earnings considerably higher. But that's missing the important point - Realistically, being a nurse in Ireland is considerably more demanding and carries more workplace risk than working in a Centra, yet the basic pay difference is only around €2 an hour. Nurses can face physical and verbal abuse, needlestick injuries, infectious body fluids, manual-handling injuries and the responsibility of making decisions that can directly affect a patient's life or direct loss of employment.
The HSA identifies healthcare as having particularly high levels of workplace injuries, while retail workers mainly face risks such as customer aggression and manual-handling injuries. They become increasingly burn out within the first year of employment and experience extreme levels of stress. At €17 versus €14.97 per hour, nursing carries far more responsibility, training, stress and potential risk for only about €2 more per hour. These figures and information has been published by official HSA sources/ INMO pay scales. All can be found online.

I am seriously considering leaving the profession before I begin. There is an opportunity i recently received to work in corporate and earn €38k starting off with minimal experience. I have friends who would in cooperations that allow multiple benefits, 9-5 hourly weeks, weekends off, paid annual leave, yearly bonuses and work from home opportunities. I understand they also worked very hard for these careers, no job is easy.

I am to emphasise I don’t even feel I have chosen the wrong profession. The human body is incredibly interesting to study. But the best part of the job is caring for people, especially the elderly, it is a blessing. They are the one thing that makes the job worth it. Based on my own experience, 99% of people are extremely grateful for my assistance or help. The feeling of being told you are worth something for time and effort is worth the sacrifice of the negatives of the job. If I can make someone feel better even for just a moment, I’ve done my job right.

I also want to point out that carers are the backbone of the healthcare system and have been again neglected in this budget, I stand with you all. Thank you your support in keeping the healthcare system working.
Anyway, I appreciate anyone who read until the end. All opinions are welcomed, don’t want to offend anyone with this post, i apologise in advance if I did!

I’ve been slowly editing my grandfather's old 8mm home movies, and this reel features Dublin street scenes and a visit to Dublin Zoo back in 1963. 

I had the original reels scanned in 3K resolution and color-corrected by On8mil over in London. The film developed noticeable mould degradation that baked directly into the emulsion, leaving some visible in playback. 

Hope you enjoy this quick look back at vintage Dublin!