Podcasts about irish life

We're approaching the 4-month mark since the introduction of the new Autoenrolment scheme, now known as MyFuture Funds. The pension savings scheme obliges workers on lower wages to start saving for their retirement by deducting a small amount from their salaries, which is topped up by their employers and the State. Although Ireland was one of the last countries in Europe to introduce such a scheme, it's a big undertaking, and we don't yet know what the official take-up has been. It comes as the government is hoping to get us to save less and invest more through a proposed new Savings & Investment scheme. Shane O'Farrell is Director of Employer Solutions with Irish Life and joined Joe Lynam on the show this morning.

In questo episodio ci concentriamo su come il conflitto sia stato percepito e vissuto dalle opinioni pubbliche dell'Impero Britannico. Attraverso una prospettiva britannica, indiana, africana, australiana, neozelandese, canadese, e caraibica cercheremo di comprendere come i governi abbiano costruito il loro consenso alla guerra e come l'impero più grande della storia abbia risposto alla chiamata.Seguimi su Instagram: @laguerragrande_podcastSe vuoi contribuire con una donazione sul conto PayPal: podcastlaguerragrande@gmail.comO con un abbonamento Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/libraryScritto e condotto da Andrea BassoMontaggio e audio: Andrea BassoFonti dell'episodio:Carl Benn, Mohawks on the Nile: Natives Among the Canadian Voyageurs in Egypt, 1884–1885, Dundurn, 2009Black Canadians in uniform, Government of Canada, 2026British West Indies Regiment, National Army MuseumMihir Bose, The Magic of Indian Cricket: Cricket and Society in IndiaDavid Chandler, The Oxford History of the British Army, Oxford University Press, 1996Norman Clothier, Black valour: the South African Native Labour Contingent, 1916-1918, and the sinking of the Mendi, University of Natal Press, 1987Oliver Coates, Beyond Anonymity: Nigerian Participation in World War One Commemoration: 1919–1939, The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 53, 2025Adam Crerar, Ontario and the Great War, Canada and the First World War: Essays in Honour of Robert Craig Brown, University of Toronto Press, 2005John Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Baines, Peredur Lynch, The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, University of Wales Press, 2008Department of Veterans' Affairs, Internment camps in Australia during World War I, DVA Anzac Portal, 2021Nándor F. Dreisziger, Ethnic Armies: Polyethnic Armed Forces from the Time of the Habsburgs to the Age of the Superpowers, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1990Gerhard Fischer, ‘Negative integration' and an Australian road to modernity: Interpreting the Australian homefront experience in World War I, Australian Historical Studies 26, 1995David Fitzpatrick, Politics and Irish Life, 1913–1921: Provincial Experience of War and Revolution, Cork University Press, 1998Jack Lawrence Granatstein, Canada, 1914-1918 Online, 2018Thomas Hennessey, Dividing Ireland, World War I and Partition, Ireland in 1914, Routledge Press, 1998How The West Indies Helped The War Effort In The First World War, Imperial War MuseumE.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, Samson Books, 1978Keith Jeffery, The British Army and the Crisis of Empire, 1918–22, Manchester University Press, 1986Michael King, Te Puea: A Biography, Hodder and Stoughton, 1977Kitchener mayor notes 100th year of name change, CBC, 1/9/2016Norman Leach, Passchendaele: Canada's Triumph and Tragedy on the Fields of Flanders: an Illustrated History, Coteau Books, 2008Joe Harris Lunn, War Losses (Africa), 1914-1918 Online, 2015Stuart Macintyre, The Oxford History of Australia: Volume 4: 1901–42, the Succeeding Age, Oxford University Press, 1986James K. Matthews, World War I and the Rise of African Nationalism: Nigerian Veterans as Catalysts of Change, The Journal of Modern African Studies 20, 1982Ian McGibbon, The Shaping of New Zealand's War Effort, August–October 1914, New Zealand's Great War: New Zealand, the Allies & the First World War, Exisle Publishing, 2007Jairus Omuteche, World War 1 and Colonialism in Kenya: Perspectives through Historiography and Literary Imaginaries, Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies 10, 2024Panikos Payani, Prisoners of Britain: German Civilian and Combatant Internees During the First World War, Manchester University Press, 2013Panikos Payani, Enemy in our Midst: Germans in Britain during the First World War, Bloomsbury, 2014Christopher S. Rose, Egypt, 1914-1918 Online, 2024T. C. Smout, A Century of The Scottish People, 1830–1950, Collins 1986Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire during the Great War. 1914–1920, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1922Robert J. Talbot, 'It would be best to leave us alone': First Nations Responses to the Canadian War Effort, Journal of Canadian Studies 45, 2011The Story Of The British West Indies Regiment In The First World War, Imperial War MuseumJames W. G. Walker, Race and Recruitment in World War I, Vancouver Island University, 2001H. P. Willmott, La Prima Guerra Mondiale, DK, 2006WW1 From an Indian Perspective, Imperial War Museums, 2025In copertina: cartolina propagandista britannica pubblicata nel 1916. La Gran Bretagna, il leone, conduce i propri cuccioli, ovvero Canada, India, Australia e Sudafrica. © Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection.

The human resources (HR) function is at a critical turning point, facing what industry leaders describe as a "seismic shift" driven by artificial intelligence (AI), legislative reform, and global economic uncertainty. This was the key message at HR 2026+: Adapt or Be Overtaken – Navigating the Seismic Shift in Legislation and AI, a conference hosted by Shannon Chamber through its HR Forum, in association with Adare Trusted People Partners, and co-sponsored by Shannon Chamber Skillnet. Held at Dromoland Castle Hotel, the event brought together CEOs, HR leaders, and experts to share practical insights and strategies for organisations across the Mid-West and beyond. The clear message from the day was that HR must move from a support role to a central driver of business strategy and growth. Opening the conference, Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber, said the pace of change facing organisations has accelerated significantly, placing new demands on HR professionals. "The human resources landscape is no longer just evolving; it is undergoing a seismic shift. The goalposts for business as usual have moved, driven by the rapid pace of AI and the complexity of new legislation such as the EU Pay Transparency Directive," she said. Daragh McGreal, director, KPMG Strategy, outlined a mixed economic outlook. While Ireland continues to perform strongly, with record employment approaching three million, high export levels, and strong foreign direct investment, global uncertainty is increasing, he pointed to geopolitical instability, changing trade dynamics, and emerging security risks in Europe, alongside domestic challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs. "For HR, this means continued competition for talent, adoption of the right technology, and planning for ongoing uncertainty," he said. A CEO panel featuring Leo Clancy, CEO, Ei Electronics, and Vicky Howard, former country manager with Reagecon, a Calibre Scientific Company, explored how AI is already being used in Irish-based organisations. At Ei Electronics in Shannon, AI tools are enabling software teams to work significantly faster, while also supporting operations and customer engagement. However, the panel stressed that AI is not just about technology; it is about people and how organisations adapt. They stressed that while AI will increasingly support day-to-day work, it still requires human oversight and that organisations will begin to see a mix of people and AI-driven agents, with critical thinking and judgement remaining essential, particularly in regulated sectors The discussion highlighted HR's central role in guiding how AI is introduced and used across organisations. The EU Pay Transparency Directive was identified as one of the most immediate challenges facing employers. Jack Clarke, head of Reward at Irish Life, in a fireside chat with Derek McKay, director of Adare Trusted People Partners, described it as a scary but necessary change that will reshape how organisations approach pay. New requirements will include salary ranges in job advertisements; employees having the right to request pay comparisons; enhanced gender pay gap reporting across clearly defined groups of similar roles; and the removal of pay secrecy clauses "This will move organisations away from a black box approach to pay and towards greater fairness and openness. Done right, it can build trust and strengthen an organisation's reputation as an employer," she said. James Ryan, CEO of WorkMatters, focused on the practical opportunities AI presents for HR teams. He said that automation can significantly reduce administrative workload, allowing HR to focus more on people, culture, and strategy. "Start with the problem, not the technology. Look at where time is being lost and where processes can be improved before introducing AI," he advised. He shared examples of organisations reducing administrative tasks by up to 80%, freeing up time for more meaningful work. Keynote speaker Professor Da...

It's a year on since Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Aidan Meagher, EY partner and co-head of the geopolitical strategy team; to hear about the impact this has had on Irish exporters and global trade.They also chat about the current market turmoil and an increasing level of cyber-attack on the operations of American companies in Ireland by Iranian interests.In the second half of this week's Inside Business, Ciarán speaks to Declan Bolger, the chief executive of the Irish Life group, one of the biggest asset managers in the country.Declan gives his thoughts on the State's new auto enrolment pension scheme, the rising costs of health insurance premiums, and the impact of AI on his sector.He also explains why Simon Harris's plan to introduce a tax-friendly savings and investment scheme will be an “absolute failure” if only viewed for the wealthy.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a year on since Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Aidan Meagher, EY partner and co-head of the geopolitical strategy team; to hear about the impact this has had on Irish exporters and global trade.They also chat about the current market turmoil and an increasing level of cyber-attack on the operations of American companies in Ireland by Iranian interests.In the second half of this week's Inside Business, Ciarán speaks to Declan Bolger, the chief executive of the Irish Life group, one of the biggest asset managers in the country.Declan gives his thoughts on the State's new auto enrolment pension scheme, the rising costs of health insurance premiums, and the impact of AI on his sector.He also explains why Simon Harris's plan to introduce a tax-friendly savings and investment scheme will be an “absolute failure” if only viewed for the wealthy.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just shy of half the entire population of Ireland has some form of private health insurance. It means that when insurance companies such as LAYA, Irish Life or VHI increase their premiums But are the price rises that we have seen of late justified? And why is that 82% of us don't shop around for better health cover? All to discuss with Brian Lee, CEO of the Health Insurance Authority.

Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised as a natural and valuable part of workforce diversity — but many organisations are still unsure how to translate awareness into meaningful workplace change. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave is joined by returning guest Stacey Machesney, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Irish Life, and Joe Redmond, HR Consultant at Insight HR. Both guests share their personal experiences as neurodivergent professionals alongside practical guidance for HR leaders seeking to create more inclusive, supportive environments. Together, they explore why neurodiversity is not a deficit or a trend, but a long-overdue recognition of different ways people think, learn and process information. The conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety, clear communication, workplace design, and leadership training — all key enablers of employee success. From recruitment practices and role clarity to sensory considerations in office spaces, Stacey and Joe offer actionable insights that organisations can implement today to better support neurodiverse employees — and ultimately improve the experience for everyone at work. Guests Stacey Macchesney – Head of Health & Wellbeing, Irish Life Joe Redmond – HR Consultant, Insight HR Topics include: What neurodiversity means Why awareness of neurodiversity has increased — and why it's not a “new trend” Personal experiences of ADHD and dyslexia in professional environments The importance of psychological safety when employees disclose neurodivergence Why clear, concise and consistent communication benefits all employees Challenges of open-plan offices, sensory overload and workplace distractions Practical supports such as flexible breaks, quiet spaces and assistive tools The risks of labelling neurodivergence as a “superpower” and overlooking challenges Why organisations must move from a medical model to a cultural framework The role of manager training and inclusive recruitment practices How ambiguous job descriptions and unclear expectations can increase stress Why one-size-fits-all approaches don't work for neurodiverse workforces The value of employee resource groups and long-term culture change initiatives Key Takeaways for HR Leaders Neurodivergence is a difference, not a deficit — and recognising this is foundational to inclusion. Creating psychologically safe environments encourages openness and enables better support. Clear goals, structured communication and measurable expectations reduce unnecessary cognitive load. Workplace design — including noise levels, lighting and flexibility — can significantly impact performance and wellbeing. Leadership teams don't need to be experts but should seek guidance and training. Inclusive recruitment practices help attract and retain diverse talent. Culture change takes time; meaningful progress often requires a multi-year, step-by-step approach. Supports designed for neurodivergent employees typically improve the employee experience for everyone. Avoid treating neurodiversity initiatives as a one-off event or awareness campaign. Listening to lived experience — with or without formal diagnosis — is essential. Organisations that proactively build inclusive cultures will be better positioned to unlock the strengths of neurodiverse talent while supporting wellbeing and performance across the entire workforce. Resources/References Read Joe's article - Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Key Insights Every Employer Should Know You can speak to Stacey and her team at Irish Life Wellbeing. Get in Touch  If you're not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you'd like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn. About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love to hear your feedback, we take requests, and we're always here to support you with your HR challenges. Immediate HR support

Almost 39,000 participants walked a record of 6.9 million steps in January this year as part of the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs Steps Challenge. Despite it being one of the wettest January's on record. Many GAA clubs did not let that stop them as they braced the wind and rain to take on the challenge. Rory O'Connor, Known by many of you as Rory's Stories on social media was one of the ambassadors of the Healthy Clubs steps challenge and joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss.

It's How I live well time! Andrea will be joined by experts to discuss ways you can improve your life…This week, Andrea is joined by Behavioural Change Specialist, Dr Heather McKee, who is working on an initiative with Irish Life, to discuss maintaining and checking on healthy habits!

Embedding workplace wellbeing takes more than good intentions and one-off initiatives. It requires people across the organisation who are willing to champion it every day. In this episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave Corkery and Laura Barry, Head of People Development at Insight HR, are joined by special guest Brian Crooke, Founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland and The Work Well Institute, to explore how wellbeing champions can bring strategy to life on the ground. Together, they unpack what a wellbeing champion really is (and what they're not), why peer-led influence is so powerful, and how champion networks help bridge the gap between wellbeing policy and everyday employee experience. The conversation covers how to select, train and support champions, the importance of role clarity and leadership backing, and how to avoid common pitfalls such as overload, lack of structure or tokenism. Drawing on practical examples from organisations across Ireland, including Irish Life and ESB, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance for HR professionals and leaders who want to embed wellbeing in a sustainable, credible and inclusive way - not just as an initiative, but as part of organisational culture. Guests Brian Crooke – Founder, Workplace Wellbeing Ireland & the Work Well Institute Topics include: What wellbeing champions are, and how they differ from mental health first aiders Why peer influence is critical to embedding wellbeing Selecting champions through voluntary, inclusive processes The importance of role clarity, expectations and boundaries Training champions to take ownership and shape their role Supporting champions without overwhelming them Governance, structure and leadership sponsorship of champion networks Measuring impact without turning wellbeing into a tick-box exercise Common mistakes organisations make, and how to avoid them What “good” looks like when a champion network is working well Useful Links & Resources Workplace Wellbeing Ireland – Wellbeing Champion Programmes Workwell Institute – Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness Insight HR – Workplace Wellbeing Consulting & Support Wellness Works Live Webinar – Designing Your Wellbeing Strategy (February 17) Get in touch If you're not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you'd like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn. If today's episode has you thinking about introducing or strengthening a wellbeing champion network in your organisation, you can arrange a confidential consultation with Laura Barry by emailing info@insighthr.ie. About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we're always here to support you with your HR challenges.

Workplace wellbeing is often talked about as an HR initiative – but without leadership ownership, even the best programmes struggle to succeed. In this second episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Laura are joined by special guest Stacey Machesney, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Irish Life, to explore why leadership is the true foundation of sustainable workplace wellbeing. Together, they discuss why wellbeing cannot sit with HR alone, the dangers of box‑ticking, and how leadership behaviour, culture and work design shape the real employee experience. They examine the ethical, legal and business risks of getting wellbeing wrong, the growing impact of mental health claims, and the modern challenges leaders now face – from hybrid work and loneliness to neurodiversity and inclusion. From practical guidance on influencing senior leaders to the importance of empathy, training and role‑modelling healthy behaviours, this episode offers clear insights for HR professionals and leaders who want to move beyond surface‑level initiatives and build workplaces where people can truly thrive. Guests • Laura Barry – Head of People Development, Insight HR • Stacey Machesney – Head of Health & Wellbeing, Irish Life Topics include: • Why leadership ownership is essential for effective workplace wellbeing • The risks of leaving wellbeing with HR alone • Box‑ticking and the limits of one‑off initiatives • Leadership behaviour, culture and work design as drivers of wellbeing • Ethical and legal responsibilities around psychological health and safety • The business cost of poor mental health, burnout and presenteeism • Equipping leaders with the skills and confidence to support their teams • Neurodiversity, inclusion and the future of workplace supports • Hybrid work, loneliness and rebuilding social connection at work • How HR can build a strong business case for wellbeing with senior leaders Resources and Links - Wellness Works Webinar: Designing a Wellbeing Programme That Works - Irish Life's Health of the Nation Report 2025 Get in touch If you're not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you'd like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn. If today's episode has you thinking about leadership and wellbeing in your organisation – whether you're starting from scratch or strengthening an existing approach – you can arrange a confidential consultation with Laura Barry by emailing info@insighthr.ie. About The HR Room Podcast The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please share it with colleagues or friends and leave us a review. We love your feedback and we're always here to support you with your HR challenges.

The Fathers do not flatter us here. They speak with a severity that at first wounds, then heals, if we allow it. They do not treat resentment as a minor flaw of temperament or a passing emotional reaction. They name it for what it is: a poison that slowly erodes the soul's capacity to remember God. Abba Makarios goes straight to the heart of the matter. To remember wrongs is not simply to remember events. It is to allow those events to take up residence within us, to become a lens through which everything is filtered. The tragedy is not primarily that we remain hurt. It is that the remembrance of God grows faint. The mind cannot hold both rancor and divine remembrance at the same time. One displaces the other. When resentment is cherished, prayer becomes difficult, then hollow, then distorted. The heart turns inward and begins to feed on its own injuries. The Fathers are unsparing here because they know how subtle rancor is. Other sins shock us into repentance. A lie, a fall, a moment of weakness often leaves the soul groaning almost immediately. But rancor settles in quietly. It eats and sleeps with us. It walks beside us like a companion we no longer question. Abba Isaiah and the Elder of the Cells both know this danger. Resentment does not merely coexist with spiritual life; it corrodes it from within, like rust consuming iron. The soul grows hard while imagining itself justified. And yet, alongside this severity, there is a startling tenderness. The Fathers do not say that healing comes through argument, vindication, or emotional catharsis. They prescribe something far more humbling and far more powerful: prayer for the one who has wounded us. Not a feeling of goodwill, not an internal resolution, but the concrete act of standing before God and interceding. Again and again the teaching is the same. Pray for him. Pray for her. Force yourself if you must. Obey even when the heart resists. The story of the brother who obeyed the Elder and prayed is quietly miraculous. Nothing dramatic happens. There is no confrontation, no apology demanded, no psychological analysis. Within a week, the anger is gone. Not suppressed. Extinguished. Grace works where the will yields, even reluctantly. The healing is not self-generated. It is given. The account of the two brothers under persecution reveals just how serious this is. One accepts reconciliation and is strengthened beyond his natural limits. The other clings to ill will and collapses under the same torments. The difference is not courage or endurance. It is love. Grace remains where love remains. When rancor is chosen, protection is withdrawn, not as punishment, but because the soul has closed itself to the very atmosphere in which grace operates. St. Maximos names the interior mechanism with precision. Distress clings to the memory of the one who harmed us. The image of the person becomes fused with pain. Prayer loosens that bond. When we pray, distress is separated from memory. Slowly, the person is no longer experienced as an enemy but as a suffering human being in need of mercy. Compassion does not excuse the wrong. It dissolves its power. What is perhaps most astonishing is the Fathers' confidence that kindness can heal not only the one who was wounded, but the one who wounds. Be kind to the person who harbors resentment against you, St. Maximos says, and you may deliver him from his passion. This is not naïveté. It is spiritual realism. Demons feed on mutual hostility. They lose their dwelling place when humility and gentleness appear. Foxes flee when the ground is no longer hospitable. St. Ephraim's image is unforgettable. Rancor drives knowledge from the heart the way smoke drives away bees. The heart was made to gather sweetness. When bitterness fills the air, nothing can remain. Tears, prayer, and the offering of oneself like incense clear the space again. This teaching is beautiful because it is honest. It does not minimize the pain of insult or harm. It is challenging because it leaves us without excuses. We cannot claim prayer while nursing grudges. We cannot claim suffering for Christ while secretly rejoicing at another's downfall. The path offered is narrow and costly, but it is also liberating. Resentment chains us to the past. Kindness loosens the chain. Prayer opens the hand. Grace does the rest. --- Text from chat during the group: 00:04:55 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 332 Section B Hypothesis XLII Volume II 00:11:28 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 332 Section B Hypothesis XLII Volume II 00:11:41 Janine: Yes, thank you Uncle Father! 00:11:57 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Reacted to "Yes, thank you Uncle..." with

We're only a few weeks away from the start of auto enrollment whereby nearly everyone at work will be signed up to a pension scheme. But many employers can opt to launch their workplace retirement schemes and often do this saving with giants like Zurich, Irish Life or Aviva. As of this week they could choose to go for a brand-new Irish pension company offering a low-cost digital-only way for them to save their and their workers' retirement savings. Speaking to Joe with more on this was Ailish Dooley the Chief Executive with Zen Pensions.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: OCT 26, 2018“Samhain” (pronounced "sow-in," with the "ow" like in "cow," or “sow-een,” with “ow” as in “glow”) is an Irish Gaelic term for the time of "summer's end,” as well as a festival to mark the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter which, in the Gaelic / Celtic calendar, marked the beginning of the year. Because the Celtic day began and ended at sunset, not sunrise, the festival was traditionally celebrated from October 31 to November 1. Sanhaim is the ancient backdrop to Halloween, not only in terms of the calendar, but also in terms of basically all the modern elements of that holiday. This episode investigates the history of Samhain and its curious links to the ancient biblical worldview of demons, giants, and the realm of the dead.Articles for this episode:In public domain, via archive.org, from Hastings' Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (ed. James Hastings, John A. Selbie, and Louis H. Gray; Edinburgh; New York: T. & T. Clark; Charles Scribner's Sons, 1908–1926):“(Celtic) Cosmogony”“Celtic Feasts and Festivals”“Irish Deities”Journal articles not in public domain:Helen Sewell Johnson, “November Eve Beliefs and Customs in Irish Life and Literature,” The Journal of American Folklore 81:320 (Apr. – Jun., 1968), pp. 133-142Jack Santino, “Halloween in America: Contemporary Customs and Performances,” Western Folklore 42:1 (Jan., 1983), pp. 1-20r

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This week on the Any Given Runday Podcast, we welcome Dr. Sarah Kelly (@sarahke11y_ on Instagram). Sarah has a masters and PHd in Clinical Exercise Physiology from DCU, is the co-founder of Herology, has partnered with Irish Life Health with Irish Life Health Schools Fitness Challenge for years, as well as partnering with them for Wellfest for the last two yearsSarah shares her journey from a background in sports and exercise physiology to becoming a passionate runner and advocate for women's health. She discusses her experiences with marathon training, the importance of nutrition and recovery, and the unique challenges women face in the running community. Sarah emphasises the significance of proper fuelling, the role of supplements, CrossFit and the need for tailored training approaches for women, including the Pelvic Floor.09:00 Introduction to Dr. Sarah Kelly12:11 The Journey into Running14:49 Managing Training and Research18:04 Injuries and Recovery Strategies20:41 Balancing Family Life and Training23:56 Gender Differences in Training Research26:41 Advice for Female Runners29:55 Nutrition and Carb Loading for Runners32:43 Supplements and Their Importance35:29 Herology and Women's Health Supplements38:40 The Importance of Nutrition and Supplementation for Women45:02 Creating Balance: The Science Behind Female Health Supplements46:34 Building a Community: The Herology Hub for Female Health47:53 Challenging Misconceptions: The Reality of Women's Health Messaging50:53 Navigating the Marathon: Women's Health and Menstrual Cycles58:18 Post-Marathon Recovery: Nutrition and Fitness MythsHerology Website https://herologysupplements.com/Herology Instagram https://www.instagram.com/herologyhub You can find us on Instagram:@anygivenrundaypodcastThis episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories and their new Sports Recovery Kit. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store or visit their new online storeUltrapurelabs.ie You can now get 20% off all Perform Nutrition products, including their new Carb Gels, using the code 'AGR' at checkoutPerformNutrition.com

Kota, the Irish-founded employee benefits platform, has launched the country's first Instant Auto Enrolment Solution following its €12.6 million Series A investment in May. Their purpose-built solution gets Irish employers Auto Enrolment ready in just a few clicks. With 1 in 4 businesses unprepared and statutory contributions set to begin on 1?January ?2026, employers have just five months to get ready. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary is urging businesses to "act now", describing auto-enrolment as "the biggest transformation of pension policy in the history of the State." Kota's new offering enables HR and finance teams to implement a compliant occupational pension with Irish Life within minutes. I recently caught up with Luke Mackey the Co-Founder and CEO of.Kota Luke talks about his background, what Kota does, AI and more. About Kota: Launched in 2023, Kota is building the internet infrastructure for employee benefits. Empowering modern businesses to offer employees insurance and retirement benefits more easily and affordably, all through one integrated platform, app and embedded insurance solution. Powered by proprietary infrastructure, Kota removes the friction from global benefits for HR and finance teams. Founded in Ireland, Kota supports hundreds of businesses and is backed by some of Europe's leading investors including Eurazea, EQT Ventures, Northzone and Frontline, having raised over €20 million to date. See more podcasts here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Kota, the Irish-founded employee benefits platform, has launched the country's first Instant Auto Enrolment Solution following its €12.6 million Series A investment in May. Their purpose-built solution gets Irish employers Auto Enrolment ready in just a few clicks. With 1 in 4 businesses unprepared and statutory contributions set to begin on 1 January  2026, employers have just five months to get ready. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary is urging businesses to “act now”, describing auto-enrolment as “the biggest transformation of pension policy in the history of the State.”Kota's new offering enables HR and finance teams to implement a compliant occupational pension with Irish Life within minutes. I recently caught up with Luke Mackey the Co-Founder and CEO of.KotaLuke talks about his background, what Kota does, AI and more. About Kota:Launched in 2023, Kota is building the internet infrastructure for employee benefits. Empowering modern businesses to offer employees insurance and retirement benefits more easily and affordably, all through one integrated platform, app and embedded insurance solution.Powered by proprietary infrastructure, Kota removes the friction from global benefits for HR and finance teams. Founded in Ireland, Kota supports hundreds of businesses and is backed by some of Europe's leading investors including Eurazea, EQT Ventures, Northzone and Frontline, having raised over €20 million to date.

Irish Life Health, which has around 500,000 customers, has announced a 3% average rise in the cost of its plans for adult health insurance policies from October. Aengus Cox, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, reports.

Irish Life Health will hike the cost of its health insurance plans by an average of 3% from October - its the third price rise this year. To discuss this Brian Lee, CEO of the Health Insurance Authority and Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Expert with Health Insurance Ireland.

Kota, the Irish-founded employee benefits platform, has launched the country's first Instant Auto Enrolment Solution following its €12.6 million Series A investment in May. Their purpose-built solution gets Irish employers Auto Enrolment ready in just a few clicks. With 1 in 4 businesses unprepared and statutory contributions set to begin on 1 January 2026, employers have just five months to get ready. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary is urging businesses to "act now", describing auto-enrolment as "the biggest transformation of pension policy in the history of the State." Kota's new offering enables HR and finance teams to implement a compliant occupational pension with Irish Life within minutes. Organisations can sync employee data, set minimum contributions, and have eligible hires automatically enrolled, while staff get an easy-to-use platform to view and manage their savings. "We've spent thousands of hours working alongside Irish employers as they prepare for the upcoming changes" said Trevor Gardiner (QFA,RPA), Head of Benefits at Kota. "Auto Enrolment has been a really positive catalyst, prompting Irish employers to talk seriously about retirement benefits. But from our conversations, it's clear the State scheme won't work for everyone. That's why we've built a solution for companies that want more control over employee experience, cost, and compliance, without the complexity." While a positive step in improving retirement readiness, The Government's 'My Future Fund' offers limited flexibility, increases administrative burdens on employers and includes strict limits that many companies and higher earning staff find unattractive, such as: No Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVCs) and savings locked up until the National Retirement Age of 66. Fixed contribution rates with no room for employer discretion. €80k salary cap on contributions, and reduced tax relief for those taxed at 40%. A Government managed portal that gives employers no control over their employees' experience. However, choosing an Occupational Pension instead of Auto Enrolment presents the challenge of ensuring the scheme is correctly set up to qualify for full exemption. Failure to do so can result in businesses running two pension schemes simultaneously, an outcome both the Government and major pension providers agree causes unnecessary complexity and administrative burden. Yet many employers are receiving limited clarity or practical guidance from their existing brokers, leaving them uncertain about the right course of action and often unaware of these nuances. Kota's purpose-built technology solves this by automatically enrolling employees onto the employers' occupational pension as soon as they're added to their HR System, eliminating the manual work and, thereby, the potential for errors and delays typically involved. Already trusted by Remote.com and hundreds of EU scale-ups including Tines, Protex AI, &Open and Car Wow, Kota delivers a future-ready, robust approach to workplace pensions. This includes: Seamless setup: Sync HRIS & payroll to launch an occupational pension with Irish Life in a few clicks. Always compliant: Synced employee data and eligibility rules ensuring everyone stays covered by the company's Occupational Scheme. Employee engagement & understanding: Consumer-grade app where employees can access, understand and make in-app changes to their savings for retirement. Regulated & secure: Kota holds a Central Bank of Ireland intermediary licence and integrates directly with Irish Life for real-time enrolments and accurate reporting. Proven at scale: Powers benefits for Remote.com and hundreds of EU scale ups. "Thousands of Irish employers are telling us that auto enrolment is a growing concern, with little guidance from traditional brokers," added Luke Mackey, Co Founder & CEO of Kota. "Our goal is to make compliance effortless in just a few clicks, while giving employees the transparent, mobile first experience they e...

The National Pension Helpline has this morning launched the first ever online pension comparison platform in Ireland, which tracks the performance of hundreds of pension funds. The Irish Pension Fund Explorer is a free comparison tool with real-time data on 597 pension funds, aimed at promoting transparency within the industry and allowing people to make better investment decisions. The searchable database can be used to compare each fund's growth, risk exposure, where their assets are located, and the holding companies involved. It provides clear comparisons between two or more funds with interactive graphs and charts, allowing savers to view multiple funds' value and performance side by side, as well as other key stats such as management fees. Irish Pension Fund Data Resource Various funds from the same pension provider can also be pitted against each other to compare how each fund is faring, with users being able to toggle between different timeframes to get a clear picture of performance over time. There are ten significant pension fund operators in Ireland: Zurich, Irish Life, Aviva, New Ireland, Standard Life, Mercer, Acorn, Royal London, BOI and AIB. Those wishing to invest have needed to go to each provider individually or ask a broker to help them compare funds - whereas the Pension Fund Explorer allows people to view every portfolio from every provider available in Ireland in one location. The tool is free and no registration or personal details are required, giving everyone equal access to the data. Speaking at the launch, James Dorrian, Managing Director of the National Pension Helpline, said: "This new platform is a major milestone in making the pension industry more transparent and easier for the public to navigate the hundreds of funds that are available. "The National Pension Helpline was set up out of frustration for how hard it is for the average person in Ireland to get the information they need when it comes to investing in their pension. "This first-of-its-kind public resource allows users to compare the performance, asset allocations and risk profiles of hundreds of individual pension funds. "We believe that this data should be freely available without people having to trudge through and compare hundreds of documents, and the Fund Explorer enables people to compare every fund under one roof. "Investing in the wrong fund can cost you in retirement, and similarly, smart investments have a compounding effect which means that even monthly contributions can grow into a substantial pension pot in the future. "We make no claims that past performance can predict future outcomes, however, our independently sourced data can certainly give people a taste of how each fund is performing against other funds, either from the same provider or different providers." See more breaking stories here.

The National Pension Helpline has this morning launched the first ever online pension comparison platform in Ireland, which tracks the performance of hundreds of pension funds. The Irish Pension Fund Explorer is a free comparison tool with real-time data on 597 pension funds, aimed at promoting transparency within the industry and allowing people to make better investment decisions. The searchable database can be used to compare each fund's growth, risk exposure, where their assets are located, and the holding companies involved. It provides clear comparisons between two or more funds with interactive graphs and charts, allowing savers to view multiple funds' value and performance side by side, as well as other key stats such as management fees. Various funds from the same pension provider can also be pitted against each other to compare how each fund is faring, with users being able to toggle between different timeframes to get a clear picture of performance over time. There are ten significant pension fund operators in Ireland: Zurich, Irish Life, Aviva, New Ireland, Standard Life, Mercer, Acorn, Royal London, BOI and AIB. Those wishing to invest have needed to go to each provider individually or ask a broker to help them compare funds - whereas the Pension Fund Explorer allows people to view every portfolio from every provider available in Ireland in one location. The tool is free and no registration or personal details are required, giving everyone equal access to the data. Speaking at the launch, James Dorrian, Managing Director of the National Pension Helpline, said: "This new platform is a major milestone in making the pension industry more transparent and easier for the public to navigate the hundreds of funds that are available. "The National Pension Helpline was set up out of frustration for how hard it is for the average person in Ireland to get the information they need when it comes to investing in their pension. "This first-of-its-kind public resource allows users to compare the performance, asset allocations and risk profiles of hundreds of individual pension funds. "We believe that this data should be freely available without people having to trudge through and compare hundreds of documents, and the Fund Explorer enables people to compare every fund under one roof. "Investing in the wrong fund can cost you in retirement, and similarly, smart investments have a compounding effect which means that even monthly contributions can grow into a substantial pension pot in the future. "We make no claims that past performance can predict future outcomes, however, our independently sourced data can certainly give people a taste of how each fund is performing against other funds, either from the same provider or different providers."

The Dublin office of global law firm Taylor Wessing has advised on multiple high-profile deals in 2024, cementing its position as a leading law firm in Ireland for complex domestic and cross-border transactionalwork. Taylor Wessing Ireland was instrumental in delivering deals such as RIP.ie's sale to the Irish Times Group, Sherweb's acquisition of MicroWarehouse, and the acquisition of Mahon Retail Park. These market-leading transactions are a testament to the global law firm's commitment to expanding its Irish operations, while showcasing the depth of its legal expertise. The firm experienced strong growth in its banking and finance, corporate, disputes, IP, data, real estate, patents and tax capabilities, while solidifying its status as a pre-eminent law firm in its key sectors of technology, life sciences, healthcare and real estate. Highlight transactions on which Taylor Wessing Ireland advised include: Banking and Finance Global financial institution, ING Bank N.V's €55 million facility loan to an investment fund managed by Ireland's largest life insurance and pensions provider, Irish Life. The loan was used to refinance existing facilities in respect of Fernbank PRS, a residential development located in South Dublin. Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Ireland's leading online platform for death notices, RIP.ie, on its sale to the Irish Times Group. Leading global cloud solutions provider, Sherweb, on its acquisition of MicroWarehouse, a prominent player in the Irish cloud technology market. Customer communications technology provider serving financial and regulation industries Mail Metrics, on its acquisition of Adare SEC and a simultaneous equity investment by MML and debt financing by AIB and Bank of Ireland. The management team of Kyte Powertech, a leading manufacturer of distribution transformer solutions, on its sale to R&S Group, a leading provider of electrical infrastructure products headquartered in Switzerland. Activist investor, Engine Capital, on its agreement with drinks company C&C. ATC, a leading energy efficiency, heating and related automated solutions business headquartered in Dublin, on LED Group's acquisition of the company (subject to CCPC approval). LED Group is a leading platform for energy transition solutions backed by Oaktree Capital Management. Real Estate and Real Estate Finance French real estate investment fund, Corum Origin, on its €50 million acquisition of Mahon Retail Park from Ireland's leading commercial property company, IPUT. A number of global real estate investment managers on several deals including: a €100 million refinancing of a landmark development in a prime South Dublin location; a €100+ million refinancing of a landmark mixed-use development in Dublin city centre; an €80+ million financing of a logistics park in Dublin; and a Dublin city centre landmark hotel refinancing. Leading Irish investment and development partner, Elkstone through its investment fund, Geminiville Limited, on the sale of its development lands in Barna, on the outskirts of Galway. Global investment firm, Investcorp, on the acquisition and financing by Capital flow, of two retail parks from US investment group, Davidson Kempner. Advised on lease or sale and leaseback agreements for various clients, including Corum (in relation to the lease of office space at George's Quay House to Personio) and Appeals Centre Europe (in relation to the lease of new office space from Kennedy Wilson). Commenting on the extent of Taylor Wessing Ireland's activity throughout 2024, Adam Griffiths, Partner and Head of the Dublin office said: "2024 has been a year of significant growth for Taylor Wessing Ireland. I want to take a moment to congratulate our clients on a successful year and the key milestones they have achieved. As we look to 2025, Taylor Wessing Ireland remains committed to supporting our clients in their future ventures, leveraging the expertise of our partners to help them prosper and grow." Founded and led ...

Diarmaid Ferriter talks to Eamon. Diarmaid is an author and Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD. He writes a weekly column with the Irish Times.Recorded on 9th September 2024. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4th December, 2024 – Mark McDermott is joined by Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.   Bishop Denis gives a very positive message to Radio Maria listeners and its importance in Irish Life and future.  He speaks about his background and much more…. L'articolo Interview with Bishop Denis Nulty | Mariathon Special proviene da Radio Maria.

Pfizer's 'Smart Factory Co-pilot' and Irish Life's CARA, which revolutionises claims processing, were among the big winners at this year's AI Awards, which was held at the Anantara Marker Hotel in Dublin. Other winning entries included companies focusing on early cancer detection, protecting children from cyberbullying and developing remote working hubs to reduce carbon emissions. Powered by AI Ireland, in conjunction with principal sponsor Microsoft Ireland, the awards are designed to support the growth and development of data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence in Ireland. Ronan Geraghty, COO Microsoft Ireland, celebrating the winners said, "Microsoft Ireland is proud to support the AI Awards for the sixth consecutive year and since their inception. The transformative impact of AI in Ireland has been remarkable, fostering innovation across healthcare, sustainability, academia, and beyond. AI AWARDSThese awards have played a crucial role in nurturing the indigenous AI ecosystem, and we are delighted to be at the heart of this vibrant community, championing technological advancements and supporting Irish AI talent." The 12 winners from the 2024 AI Awards are the following: Best Application of AI in a Large Enterprise Pfizer Global Supply - for developing the "Smart Factory Co-Pilot," an AI-driven solution that monitors manufacturing processes, detects issues and provides real-time insights to optimise yield, reduce costs and improve quality. This innovation enhances decision-making and is being expanded across Pfizer to support its goal of becoming an AI-driven company. Best Application of AI in Consumer/Customer Service Irish Life - for CARA, which revolutionised claims processing by using advanced AI to enhance speed, accuracy and customer satisfaction. CARA streamlined operations, integrating with legacy systems and ensuring compliance. It significantly improved processing times and set a new standard in the insurance industry, with plans for broader AI applications. Best Application of AI in Healthcare Axial3D - for their new software platform, which automates the creation of patient-specific 3D anatomical models from 2D scans, drastically reducing development time and costs. This innovation enhances surgical precision and scalability, transforming patient-specific solutions from niche applications to routine practices in global healthcare. Best Application of AI in a SME BuyMedia - for their AI-powered platform which helps SMEs in Ireland and the UK overcome advertising challenges by simplifying planning, purchasing, execution and learning. It offers data-driven insights, a centralised marketplace and automated campaign management, enabling SMEs to compete effectively with larger enterprises and improve their ROI. Best Application of AI in a Startup Durotimi AI - for their work in enhancing early cancer detection by providing GPs with real-time decision support through AI-driven analytics. The platform is transparent and adaptable, and integrates seamlessly into healthcare environments. They improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce delays, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and potentially saving lives. Best Application of AI to achieve Social Good CeADAR ReLeafHubs - for their Remote Working Hubs (RWHs), which uses AI tools to reduce carbon emissions, alleviate urban congestion and boost rural economies. Aimed at supporting sustainable and balanced development., it employs the myRWH.app for personalised hub recommendations, AIDTs for real-time monitoring and GCNs for analysing user patterns. Best Use of Responsible AI and Ethics Chirp - for developing an ethical, AI-powered solution embedded at the smartphone's OS level to detect and block harmful content like cyberbullying, grooming and self-harm. Their privacy-by-design approach prioritises child safety and agency while involving parents without violating children's privacy. Best Application of AI in Sustainability SynCarbAI- for tackling ...

Do you ever feel like your career is stuck, even though you know you're capable of so much more?You've climbed the ranks and have the accomplishments to prove it.Yet, despite all you've achieved, something feels off - maybe you're itching for a change but worry it's too late, or you're struggling to find the balance between career success and a personal life.In this episode of The 360 LeadHERship Podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Barbara O'Malley, Chief People Officer at Irish Life Group, to talk about making courageous career moves, setting clear boundaries, and the importance of advocating for ourselves as women in leadership. Barbara's story is so inspiring -she moved from finance to HR at a senior level without adding extra degrees, using her existing skills and passions to find a role that truly fits.This episode is packed with insights and actionable steps, especially for any woman ready to take control of her career path and find a new level of balance.Tune in to discover: [00:02:00] How Barbara Pivoted From Finance to HR Executive Level[00:05:15] How to Leverage Your Existing Strengths for a Career Shift.[00:09:45] The Power of Using Your Voice To Create Your Own Path[00:15:30] Barbara's Journey Of Setting Boundaries & Finding Balance [00:26:45] Menopause in the Workplace and Reshaping Workplace Culture[00:30:55] Gen Z Advisory Board: Listening to the Next Generation[00:35:10] Must Hear: Barbara's Top Takeaways for Women in LeadershipWant more?Download My proven 5-step Survive to Thrive method™️ to give you the tools to thrive in high-pressure environments, without sacrificing time with your family or compromising your performance, even if you don't believe it's possible yet!What are you waiting for?

A generational divide has emerged in Ireland's health and wellbeing standards with more than half of younger adults considered in ‘poor health'. That's according to the Irish Life 2024 Health of the Nation annual research report. We discuss the findings of the report with Dr Carol Rogan, Psychologist with Irish Life.

InsTech, has launched its "State of Irish Insurtech Report 2024, to position Ireland as a global centre for insurance innovation, where industry giants and start-ups can come together to collaborate and create the next generation of insurance solutions. The findings of the new report were presented to Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Neale Richmond in a productive meeting on the potential for the sector. As the independent, neutral convener InsTech.ie plays a pivotal role in Ireland becoming a leader for insurance technology and insurance innovation. It champions Irish Insurtechs, supporting them to scale into international markets, by building awareness of the depth and breadth of insurance innovation emerging from Ireland. Founding members include AA, Allianz, Aviva, Axa, FBD, Irish Life, VHI, Laya, Scor, Unum and RSA/123.ie. One of the first activities InsTech.ie conducted back in 2022 was the mapping of the indigenous Insurtechs in Ireland. Each year InsTech updates this map and it has now grown to 114 Insurtechs. To coincide with the release of the latest version of the map, InsTech.ie conducted a survey of Irish Insurtechs to gain a better understanding of the landscape in Ireland and learn more about how it can support them to scale and encourage better, stronger collaboration across the ecosystem. On receiving the report Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Neale Richmond said, "Innovation in the Insurtech sector has the potential to pass on huge benefits to customers. Ireland hosts all of the world's top 10 global software companies and 11 of the top 15 global insurers. With a strong track record in both insurance and technology, Ireland has all of the elements to create a powerful cluster of insurance innovation and is a natural hub for the next wave of disruptive Insurtech firms. This InsTech report gives us a framework to explore the opportunities." On the launch of the report InsTech.ie CEO Gary Leyden said, "We have seen huge growth in the number and funding of Insurtech startups in Ireland and it has the potential to be a global centre for insurance innovation . The main finding of the survey this year is that there is an acknowledgement between incumbents and startups in the insurance sector that they can work together to a greater extent and have an increasing appetite to do so. This has the potential to deliver better experiences to consumers. " Leyden added, "InsTech.ie will be the forum to encourage greater innovation and we will be announcing more initiatives to support incumbents and startups collaborate and innovate together in the coming months." Some key findings of the survey in the report include: Background of Founders: 39% of founders came from an insurance background. Interestingly, a greater number of respondents stated that they came from a non-financial services background. Ambition: 90 percent Insurtech startups are seeking to enter into new markets. Challenges: Founders listed "resistance to change" as the main barriers to implementing technological innovations in the insurance industry. Potential for innovation: 68.7percent of stakeholders surveyed said emerging technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain) were "essential for innovation and growth." Ireland has witnessed a range of successful startup ventures, with the Irish Insurtech cluster being led by Fineos. Fast-growing companies such as Kota and DOCOsoft are also providing crucial technological solutions for the insurance industry. Working with their large incumbent members and these startups InsTech.ie aims to accelerate further collaboration and innovation in the industry. For the full report please download here: https://www.instech.ie/2024-irish-insurtech-report See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using wha...

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Declan Bolger, CEO of Irish Life

For this week's Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Financial Advisor with Irish Life, David Roche to answer all of your pension questions!Segment with thanks to Irish Life. To learn more or to get trusted pension advice, you can check out irishlife.ie/pensions.

Marama Labs, a life-sciences instrumentation start-up, has secured €280,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland to fund the expansion of the company's Irish operations. Enterprise Ireland's High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) investment is part of the company's Q4 2023 seed-plus round led by leading Irish VC The Yield Lab Europe and brings the total funding of the round raised by Marama Labs to €2m. The company, founded in New Zealand in 2019, is led by Irish-born CEO and co-founder Dr Brendan Darby with offices in Dublin and Wellington (New Zealand). The investment from Enterprise Ireland will be used to fund the expansion of Marama Labs' Irish operations, opening a commercially-focused applications lab in North Dublin and hiring a life-sciences applications team to support its customers in the Northern Hemisphere. Dr Brendan Darby, CEO and Co-Founder of Marama Labs, said: "We are delighted to have secured investment from Enterprise Ireland as part of our recent capital raise. Ireland's position as a leader in the global life sciences industryprovides the perfect launchpad for Marama Labs to scale our commercial footprint in the Northern Hemisphere life sciences market. "I am personally very excited about working with Enterprise Ireland to build out our Irish activities and leverage the unique life sciences skills available in Ireland. Our mission is to become a global leader in scientific instrumentation, removing bottlenecks in the chemical analysis of liquids, enabling faster and cheaper development of life-saving products." Tom Kelly, Divisional Manager, Industrial & Life Sciences at Enterprise Ireland said: "Congratulations to the team at Marama Labs on its recent investment wins. Enterprise Ireland's HPSU investment in this highly innovative company will support its exploration into the rapidly growing life-sciences market and the expansion of its operations in Ireland." Marama Labs develops novel spectroscopy technology that can rapidly analyse the chemistry of highly complex high-value liquids in industries such as life sciences and fermentation. Its CloudSpec product is able to quantify crucial quality information about new classes of therapeutics, called nanomedicines, in seconds, compared to hours it takes with existing technologies. Marama Labs is working with some of the world's leading therapeutic manufacturers to speed up their drug discovery and manufacturing workflows, with the life sciences product due to launch on the market in 2025. Marama Labs, a Victoria University of Wellington spinout company, was founded in 2019 in New Zealand by physicists Dr Brendan Darby (CEO), Dr Matthias Meyer and Professor Eric Le Ru (CSO), when they discovered a fundamentally new way to optically interrogate highly cloudy liquids using light-based sensors; the breakthrough led to the development of its CloudSpec UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing Initially commercialised for winemaking analysis, Marama Labs has widened the CloudSpec applications into the life-sciences market, where opaque liquids are a major hurdle for drug discovery, process monitoring, quality assurance and new product development. CloudSpec's unique ability to measure UV-Vis spectra of highly turbid samples, like lipid-based nano-medicines, has caught the attention of the life-sciences industry. Commercial trials are underway with leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in Europe and the US, for optimising vaccine development workflows. Compared to expensive and time-consuming analytical techniques like HPLC and fluorescent-based assays, which can take hours to get a result, CloudSpec can obtain the same information in a few seconds. See more stories here.

On this week's show:Barbara Brennan poured her personal experience of mental illness into her work with See Change, working for many years with the organisation to remove mental health stigma in the workplace, championing their green ribbon campaign. She has since go on to set up her own business Mental Health Matters specialising in best practice mental health policy, procedures, strategy, training and changing culture in organisations such as An Post, Irish Life and Ibec. Barbara remains at the forefront of changing the conversation around mental illness and health.Having turned around two picky eaters in her house Louise Lennox has retrained to help others give their children a love for food.

The Dublin Leadership Summit is to return for the third time on October 3rd 2024. Held at the prestigious Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, and hosted by AAB and The Dublin Network, this event has become a must-attend on the annual business calendar. Not only is The Dublin Leadership Summit designed to be the preeminent networking event of the year, but it also seeks to impart and upgrade leadership skills for all attendees to stay ahead in today's fast-evolving business landscape. Dublin Leadership Summit October 3rd One of the key drawing cards for The Dublin Leadership Summit has always been the speakers. This year, the Summit has raised the bar even higher with renowned leaders from the worlds of business and sport. An Esteemed Panel of Speakers. Attendees are guaranteed to be entertained and informed by the esteemed panel of speakers who will appear on stage at The Leadership Summit. All of the speakers are recognised thought leaders in their fields - and one is even known as a guru! Kingsley Aikins, CEO of The Networking Institute, will serve as the event's host and MC. Known as the "guru of global philanthropy", Kingsley's extensive experience spans multiple industries and countries. His mission is to teach the power of networking, and he has shared his insights on prestigious platforms like TEDx. Caroline Dunlea, CEO of Core Optimisation, brings over 15 years of experience in digital growth and transformation. Under her leadership, Core Optimisation has become a key player in the Irish and UK markets. Caroline's achievements have earned her recognition as a finalist in the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Emerging category and the winner of the 2019 Women in Tech Entrepreneur Award from the Dublin Tech Summit. Louise Phelan, former Vice President of PayPal Ireland and current Board Member of Ryanair, is a strategic advisor with extensive experience in leading Fortune 500 companies. Her expertise spans global operations, strategic planning, and fostering innovation. She has been recognised for her work, including receiving the Sir Michael Smurfit Business Achievement Award and her role in supporting female entrepreneurship. John Purdy, Founder and Chairman of Ergo, is a trailblazer in Ireland's tech industry. Over the past 30 years, he has led Ergo to become a €200m business, spinning off successful companies like Fenergo and FlowForma. John's contributions to the industry have earned him the Tech Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, and his leadership insights are highly sought after in both media and business circles. John Martin, CEO of Shamrock Rovers F.C., has a unique blend of leadership experience in both sports and the corporate world. His extensive career includes roles in coaching, corporate strategy at Irish Life, and now leading Shamrock Rovers. His leadership in sport and CSR initiatives demonstrates how success can be driven by strong community engagement and innovation. Why Attend? As the name says, The Dublin Leadership Summit is about bringing together Irish professionals to take a deep dive into the topic of leadership. After all, when leadership is mastered, it becomes the driving force behind innovation and transformation - two areas organisations can ill afford to neglect. The Dublin Leadership Summit aims to equip attendees with practical knowledge, actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to become more effective leaders. Whether you're a business executive, entrepreneur, or sports professional, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from Ireland's most accomplished leaders. By attending, participants will: Learn Proven Leadership Strategies: The panellists will share firsthand experiences and methods for overcoming challenges and achieving sustained success. Gain Networking Opportunities: The event is a hub for connecting with hundreds of like-minded professionals across various industries, expanding your network with key decision-makers. Drive Innovation in Your Organisation: Ins...

Diarmaid Ferriter talks to Eamon about his new book The Revelation of Ireland 1995-2020. Diarmaid Ferriter is an author and Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD. He contributes a weekly column to The Irish Times.Recorded on Friday 6th September 2024. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myles is joined by Liam O'Callaghan, author of the book 'Blood & Thunder: Rugby and Irish Life: A History'

In a study conducted by Metamo in partnership with Amárach Research, it has been revealed that Credit Unions across Ireland have undergone substantial change over the past five years. The study, which surveyed Credit Union members nationwide, found that 58% of members believe their Credit Union has undertaken considerable transformation during this period. The findings underscore the dynamic evolution within the Credit Union sector, driven by technological advancements and an increasing demand for modern financial solutions. According to the research, 79% of members agree that technology is crucial in managing their daily lives. Metamo, a joint venture between Fexco and 16 of Ireland's largest credit unions, has been recognised as a strategic enabler and catalyst for this change within the credit union sector. Through cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and a customer-centric approach, Metamo is driving innovation and excellence, improving overarching infrastructure and capabilities in the sector. Since its establishment in 2019, Metamo has achieved several key milestones that underscore its pivotal role in the sector: Strategic Joint Venture: As the first of its kind in Ireland, Metamo has significantly enhanced its capabilities and expanded its reach within the credit union sector, enabling CUs modernise and digitalise with leading-edge technology. Innovative Solutions: Metamo offers innovative solutions like the Total Lending Solution and Bespoke HR services, supporting credit union boards, CEOs, and management teams. Metamo has recently reached a landmark milestone of 30 credit unions engaging their services, with combined assets of over €5 billion, empowering over 1,200 staff, and supporting over one million members nationwide. Strategic Partnerships: Metamo has formed strategic alliances with Irish Life and Allianz to enhance its financial advisory service offerings. Financial education is central to credit unions, with 60% of members seeking more comprehensive advice and 85% trusting their credit union over major banks. These partnerships help credit unions expand their range of financial products and services. Metamo's Total Lending Solution (TLS): TLS uses advanced technology to analyse loan application data and Open Banking inputs, delivering personal loan decisions in as little as three minutes, compared to several days with traditional methods. TLS is fully integrated with credit unions' core and digital solutions, and enables online loan approvals anytime, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. A key value-added benefit is a first-class data analytics and reporting feature, powered by Salesforce Tableau, providing real-time insights for better operational outcomes. Neale Richmond, TD, Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance said: "In an environment where Credit Unions need to evolve to cater for changing member's needs, it is incumbent on the sector to embrace innovative solutions and technologies. Metamo has successfully deployed some of these solutions across the sector and I strongly encourage their continued innovation and support of the Credit Union sector." "Since 2019, Metamo has grown and become viewed as a catalyst for positive change in the Credit Union Sector," said Denis Cleary, CEO of Metamo. "By bringing together best in class technologies and industry partners we have developed a sophisticated set of products and services that enable the Credit Union to modernise and adapt to members' demands and deliver a new suite of services in collaboration with their strategic needs." See more stories here.

An Irish Olympic champion for the ages, Ronnie Delaney won Gold in the 1500m at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne in 1956. He was recorded for Irish Life and Lore in 2019 at the RDS in Dublin. This podcast features details of his young life, leading up to that memorable gold medal win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

College students from Dublin have been learning data science skills and putting them into practice to suggest policies that could support people facing homelessness. The students from Larkin Community College and St. Joseph's, Fairview, used publicly available short-term letting data to find out how much housing is available to rent across four areas - the city of Dublin, Dunleary, Fingal, and South Dublin. They presented their findings at a recent showcase event, detailing how many people could be supported into housing from the €242 million of funding allocated by the Irish government to tackle homelessness. Analytics and AI leader SAS sponsored the project, which is part of the global education initiative P-TECH, founded by IBM. It aims to equip young people with the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st-century jobs and ongoing education. It includes a number of partners from industry and education, as well as a school and two colleges. As part of the five-week course, the students visited SAS' Irish headquarters in Dublin, where they took part in a range of team-building activities and learned how to use software such as SAS Visual Analytics and SAS Visual Statistics. They also developed their project management and presentation skills. Jean de Villiers, Head of Analytics at SAS Ireland, said: "As always, it was a pleasure to work with such inquisitive and talented students who discovered how data can be used to devise solutions to real-world problems. In just a few weeks, the team learned valuable new data analytics skills that could help set them up for a future career in tech. "Demand for use of data across every industry, including the appetite for artificial intelligence (AI), means that it's critical to the economy and our society that the next generation have the opportunity to learn data literacy and analytics skills. The tech industry offers highly rewarding career pathways, and we want to open them up to as many people as possible." There is a major shortage of people with the data-related skills that businesses are looking for. SAS conducted a survey of decision-makers from major firms in the UK & Ireland, with an average of 27,000 employees, which revealed that 44% of firms surveyed plan to invest in AI technology but 63% said their staff did not have the AI skills necessary and 61% did not have enough staff to deliver the benefits of AI. Compounding this problem, 53% of respondents were unsure what AI qualifications and skills were needed. De Villiers added: "Initiatives like P-Tech play a key role in ensuring that organisations have the capabilities they need to make the most of new technologies so they can innovate and grow - and we are pleased to be able to share our expertise through training." Alongside SAS and IBM, other P-Tech industry partners include Irish Life, Salesforce, Cisco, Virgin Media and Irish Water. SAS offers a number of training courses aimed at people who want to gain or build on their data analytics skills.

New research from pension provider, Irish Life, suggests women need to work eight years longer than men to achieve the same pension pot at retirement - leaving more working women at risk of old age poverty. Director in Employer Solutions at Irish Life, Shane O'Farrell tells us more.

Women in Ireland need to work eight years longer than men to achieve the same pension pot at retirement, according to startling new research by Irish Life. How can this persistent inequality be addressed, and what steps can be taken to close this gap? Pat discusses with Shane O'Farrell Director of Employer Solutions at Irish Life.

Vincent tells a fascinating story about his father, his naval experiences during WWI, and being unable to settle after returning to his farm in Kerry. His subsequent migration to Meath, leaving his family behind, is discussed in detail. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using sound clips from the Irish Life and Lore Archive, in this podcast, Kerryman Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and his extraordinary and dangerous work is recalled by Sr. Noreen Dennehy who speaks for the first time about her experiences of working with him in helping to shelter Jews from the Nazis in Rome during WW11.Monsignor O'Flaherty's nephew, also named Hugh O'Flaherty, is also included in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow is International Women's DayNew research from Irish Life finds that women are less confident than men when it comes to making financial decisions with 1 in 3 women not confident at all in making financial decisions. To advise those who may have apprehensions about financial planning, Kieran was joined by Laura Duffy, Certified Financial Planner from Irish Life

In 2009 Maurice O'Keeffe travelled to the Falkland Islands in the remote South Atlantic Ocean to compile recordings for Irish Life and Lore with members of the small population living there at that time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tá sé ina imní go bhféadfadh árdú a bheith in ann do thaillí árachais sláinte an chomhlachta Irish Life – an ceathrú uair i mbliana a leithide tarlaithe san earnáil seo.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: October 26, 2018“Samhain” (pronounced "sow-in," with the "ow" like in "cow," or “sow-een,” with “ow” as in “glow”) is an Irish Gaelic term for the time of "summer's end,” as well as a festival to mark the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter which, in the Gaelic / Celtic calendar, marked the beginning of the year. Because the Celtic day began and ended at sunset, not sunrise, the festival was traditionally celebrated from October 31 to November 1. Sanhaim is the ancient backdrop to Halloween, not only in terms of the calendar, but also in terms of basically all the modern elements of that holiday. This episode investigates the history of Samhain and its curious links to the ancient biblical worldview of demons, giants, and the realm of the dead.Articles for this episode:In public domain, via archive.org, from Hastings' Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (ed. James Hastings, John A. Selbie, and Louis H. Gray; Edinburgh; New York: T. & T. Clark; Charles Scribner's Sons, 1908–1926):“(Celtic) Cosmogony”“Celtic Feasts and Festivals”“Irish Deities”Journal articles not in public domain:Helen Sewell Johnson, “November Eve Beliefs and Customs in Irish Life and Literature,” The Journal of American Folklore 81:320 (Apr. – Jun., 1968), pp. 133-142Jack Santino, “Halloween in America: Contemporary Customs and Performances,” Western Folklore 42:1 (Jan., 1983), pp. 1-20rThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4656375/advertisement

In partnership with Irish Life , we bring you: The crucial link between the planet and your pension - because making the right investments can end up being more environmentally friendly than taking the bus! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.