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Our oldest is turning 17 and for the few months until they get their own wagon I was going to add them to my insurance so I can get them out driving a bit.  My car is a basic 1.6 diesel that would hardly be worth £1,000 and has over 200,000 miles.

I appreciate there is no such thing as cheap car insurance but wondering if anyone has any recommendations / good experience when adding an L driver to their own insurance.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gyy9vkw0o

No surprise.

I see the guys on Off the Ball reckon Brian Hayes possibly the best dual star in the county at the moment.  Surely Brendan Rodgers and Shane McGuigan would have to be up there, All Stars in football at county level and made the All Ireland Club Hurling All Stars team last year.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2025/1125/1545673-derrys-mcatamney-released-by-new-york-giants/

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/1120/1544996-new-affordable-homes-scheme-launched-in-co-kildare/

An 'affordable' housing development yet 3 bed houses start at €365k....

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/1119/1544862-gold-mine-tyrone/

Yanks putting the squeeze on.

[my kids haven't a hope of getting on the ladder.]

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/1119/1544755-property-prices-up-7-6-in-12-months-to-september/

No sign of the bubble bursting yet.

House prices now 23% higher than they were the time of the last crash.

I wonder how house prices in the north compare.
Every now and again I take a look on propertypal and houses seem really expensive. a 4 bed detached is a 350k plus and plenty of them well into the 400k mark.

my kids haven't a hope of getting on the ladder.

Average age of the first time buyer in the US is now 40, says it all.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/1119/1544755-property-prices-up-7-6-in-12-months-to-september/

No sign of the bubble bursting yet.

House prices now 23% higher than they were the time of the last crash.

https://news.sky.com/story/inside-the-town-where-6-out-of-7-children-grow-up-in-poverty-and-live-in-fear-of-homelessness-13470171


Not to be overly cynical but if you lived in an area rife with poverty and you struggled to keep your own head above water why would you make things more difficult for yourself by bringing children into an environment like this.

Not all pregnancies are planned in fairness.

Agree 100% but the couple in the article were not a couple of teenagers.

https://news.sky.com/story/inside-the-town-where-6-out-of-7-children-grow-up-in-poverty-and-live-in-fear-of-homelessness-13470171


Not to be overly cynical but if you lived in an area rife with poverty and you struggled to keep your own head above water why would you make things more difficult for yourself by bringing children into an environment like this.

Has anyone a cheap APP or programme to use without breaking the bank? I have a gym membership but I am looking at something to coach and guide me. The  prices are extortionate and I do not have the budget to afford £300 a month.

There's a fella from Banbridge I think called Sean Casey who has an app called glean. Seems to be a decent spud and no big ego. Donates a fair bit to various charities too.

https://www.gleanapp.com/

He is a great lad. Proper decent fella and has had massive success. Haven't used Glean but have bought recipe books in the past and they were great. Would imagine Glean will be top quality as well

True he comes across as one of the more genuine ones, whereas in the PT / lose weight circuit there seems to be some real bullsh#tters though.

[Subsequent to a follow up prompt from me I received a terse 2 line reply.]

In my own personal experience, on the few occasions that I have felt the need to contact my local SF "representatives" I have been largely ignored. Subsequent to a follow up prompt from me I received a terse 2 line reply. Thought I might contact my local DUP rep with the same query, what a difference. A courteous response within 7 days promising to look into my questions and 2 further letters to keep me updated on progress.
SF are happy enough to show up for a smiley, back slapping photo opportunity but don't be asking them any "awkward" questions.

That's two lines  more than  I got

Maybe they only do work in areas where they  are really fighting for a seat.  A comfortably strong  nationalist  area, no need to do anything . Sure we'll get in anyway . A strong unionist  area with little to no hope of winning a seat , why bother.

Seems to be the way, with demographics heading the way they are they don't need to do much and they will still get the votes.  They could put up a scare crow as a candidate and it would still get voted in, would probably no different to some of their current cohort.  A lot of men lying 6 foot under did not make the ultimate sacrifice for these numpties to be filling their pockets, and those of their 'employed' siblings no doubt.

Luke Barrett is set to link up with Ciarán Meenagh and the Derry senior football management team for the 2026 campaign.



Ex-Donegal selector Barrett - who most recently coached Loughmacrory to the Tyrone senior club championship -  had stepped away from his role with Donegal back in September to "pursue further education."

Via Derry now, didnt seen his name mentioned before

With Owenbeg being a further drive than Convoy I would be fairly confident the extra 'mileage money' made his mind up for him no doubt.

[Public you get full pay for 6 months then half for 6]

I think if u reread what it say, it's says people on long term sick are responsible for the distorted figure.

But presumably genuine long term sick is equally possible in the private sector.

With the same pay conditions while sick ? Highly unlikely in the majority of places

Public you get full pay for 6 months then half for 6 I think? Or could be full for 12 months.

Private you get SSP in most cases which is sweet feck all.

I joined the public sector 5 years ago after being in the private for 20+ when I read about the 6 months full and then 6 months half I thought it was a misprint.  In the time I have been there I think I might have been off 3 days.

I have found if you say boo to anyone they immediatley play the stress card and off they go on full pay for a few months.

A lot of people where I work complain about how sh+t their job / place of work is but they will never leave it.  A lot of them would not last 5 mins in the private sector.

[KinnegoTra Na RossanMurderholeSilver Strand (Malin Beg branch)Shell beach (bit of a walk, but worth it)Five FingersDunreeCuldaffMagheraCarrickfinnTramore (great / safe for the dogs)BallymastockerKinnegarLeenanTullagh]

Tramore isn't even the best beach in Donegal.

Dog walking / campervanning, camping etc down the years, off the top of my head, Donegal beach wise:

Kinnego
Tra Na Rossan
Murderhole
Silver Strand (Malin Beg branch)
Shell beach (bit of a walk, but worth it)
Five Fingers
Dunree
Culdaff
Maghera
Carrickfinn
Tramore (great / safe for the dogs)
Ballymastocker
Kinnegar
Leenan
Tullagh

Been to most of them, we are spoilt by having such beaches in this country.

Mind you for some people in the wee 6 Donegal would be as foreign to them as Australia, for them it has to be Portrush, Castlerock, Millisle, Kilkeel etc.