A MEME of US Vice President JD Vance mocked up as a baby was waved in the Dail today as concerns were raised about new social media checks on students travelling to the States.
The baby meme of the American VP exploded on social media in the wake of that infamous meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this year.
The Ukraine leader was scolded by President Trump in the Oval Office that shocked the world with JD Vance playing a cameo role by fuming at the Ukraine leader: “Have you said thank you once?”
The meme again hit the headlines this week when a Norway student claimed he was denied a visa to the US because he had the photo of a baby face JD Vance on his social media.
The US government recently put in place a new rule which requires students travelling to the States to hand over their social media accounts to be checked by American officials.
The US claims that these social media checks are to ensure people travelling to the States do not intend to harm Americans or its “national interests”
Student Mads Mikkelsen told local media in Norway that he was denied entry to the US at Newark International Airport on June 11 after handing over his phone to immigration officials who found the baby face meme of JD Vance on his device.
The 21-year-old claimed he was threatened with a fine or five years in prison if he did not provide the password to allow them to search his device.
He was sent back to Norway after they found the photo.
However, a spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security claims that this is untrue.
They said: “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik used the incident to raise the issue of social media checks for Irish J1 students who traditionally travel to the States every summer in large numbers.
Waving a photo of JD Vance mocked up as a baby, the Dublin TD said: “We’re watching a major incursion on freedom of expression unthinkable in a western democracy.
“This week a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at Newark Airport and sent back to Oslo. Why?
“He had this meme on his phone. A meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. Extraordinary.
“Extraordinary that a young person with this amusing meme on their phone depicting a public person that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo.”
Deputy Bacik asked the Minister of Justice what he was going to do to reassure Irish students travelling to the US this summer on J1 visas.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has labelled these social media checks as “excessive” while Tanaiste Simon Harris plans to engage with the new US Ambassador to Ireland on the issue.
In response to the Labour leader’s Dail meme stunt, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “There’s very little I can do about the US immigration system – like I’m trying to put rules on the Irish immigration system, I can’t control the US immigration system.”
The Fianna Fail Minister said it was regrettable that the US had introduced the new measures but he predicted that Irish J1 students will continue to travel to the States despite the checks.
A WOMAN was “dragged” out, forced into a car on Monday night, and driven for 90 minutes after alleged threats to petrol bomb her Co Kildare home over a missing dog, a court heard.
Samantha Leeson, 34, of Priory Square, St Raphael’s Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare, and 36-year-old Richard O’Leary, of Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, Dublin, were charged with burglary and threatening to damage the woman’s door and windows in Castletown, Celbridge.
They were refused bail when they appeared separately before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court today.
Detective Garda Conrad Casey objected to their bail, maintaining they were caught red-handed.
He alleged that at 10.10 pm on June 23, unemployed father of five Richard O’Leary arrived at the woman’s home with others in ’08-registered Volkswagen Jetta.
Mother of two, Ms Leeson, allegedly drove the car.
The contested bail hearings were told that gardai obtained excellent quality CCTV footage with audio from a neighbouring premises showing the car arriving at the property.
Detective Garda Casey alleged Ms Leeson exited the driver seat, and the court was told that a panel on the front door was broken.
The detective claimed Ms Leeson was roaring and shouting: “Get out here now or there’s petrol bombs going through the doors, and get out here now before I break every other window.”
It was alleged that Ms Leeson gained entry to the house, followed by Mr O’Leary and another unnamed male. The woman gave a statement that they came in “against her will”, the judge was told.
The court heard the CCTV showed Ms Leeson “dragging the woman out of her house by her clothing, she is begging the female to stop, but she doesn’t, and she is forced into the Volkswagen Jetta that is parked in the driveway, forced into the back seat.”
The footage was not played during the hearing.
The court was told two males, including Mr O’Leary, sat on either side of the woman, making it difficult to escape. Approximately an hour and a half later, gardai stopped the Volkswagen Jetta at Fortunestown Lane in Tallaght and found the woman still in the car, it was claimed.
Mr O’Leary was allegedy in the front passenger seat at this point.
The judge noted the alleged injured party was not in court, and the detective could not say why.
However, he asserted that his objection to bail was based on concerns about witness intimidation and that the pair would not appear in court.
The detective agreed with Mark McMahon BL, for Mr O’Leary, that it was the female in the video who purportedly made the threat to burn the property.
However, he added that it was a “joint enterprise”.
Counsel said Mr O’Leary had no connection with Celbridge and was cooperative, which the detective accepted.
He said Mr O’Leary was not rich and had no real relationship with the complainant.
Detective Garda Casey said that imposing bail conditions would not alleviate his fears.
Mr McMahon submitted that his client showed a degree of good faith by identifying himself on CCTV.
Solicitor Leonard Leader told the court Ms Leeson had been friends with the complainant, but the relationship deteriorated.
He told the court that the mother of two was a dog-lover who had asked the woman to look after her dog. Despite requests, information on the pet’s whereabouts was not forthcoming.
Mr Leonard said: “She thought that the dog had been entered into dog fights.”
The detective agreed that was the background.
Pleading for bail with conditions, the solicitor said the woman, who also resides in Clondalkin, Dublin, had two young children, and “the prospect of prison terrifies her”.
He also argued that there was insufficient evidence to predict she would fail to turn to court.
Judge McHugh stressed they had the presumption of innocence but said the charges were very serious. Noting the garda evidence and defence submissions, he denied bail in each case and remanded them in custody.
Mr O’Leary will appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday, while unemployed Ms Leeson will face her next hearing at Blanchardstown District Court via video link on July 1.
Both were dressed in grey sweaters and black pants but did not address the court and have yet to indicate pleas.
The charges are under the Theft and Fraud and Criminal Damage Act, which carry 14 and 10-year sentences, respectively. Legal aid was granted.
TEAM Ireland swimmers will be in action in Samorin, Slovakia and Rome, Italy this week.
A summer packed with international meets continues with the European U23 Swimming Championships and the Sette Colli International.
Both competitions will run from June 26-28.
2025 will be just the second edition of the European U23 Swimming Championships.
Swim Ireland hosted the inaugural championship at the Sport Ireland Campus in 2023.
Ireland topped the medal table with six golds from Mona McSharry (3 golds), Ellen Walshe (2 golds, 1 silver) and Daniel Wiffen (1 gold, 2 silvers).
Nine athletes will compete for Ireland European Aquatics Under 23 Championships.
This will form a final World Championships preparation meet for five athletes who are Singapore-bound, Cormac Rynn, Ellie McCartney, Eoin Corby, Evan Bailey and Jack Cassin.
The remainder of the team, Brandon Biss, Lottie Cullen, Maria Godden and Oisin Tebite will focus on this Championships as the pinnacle point for their summer racing.
In Rome, Paris Olympians Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe and Tom Fannon will compete against some of the world’s best
The Sette Colli International at the Foro Italico will be a final preparation meet for the trio ahead of Singapore.
Eight of the nine swimmers in Samorin will be in action in heats on the opening day of competition.
Biss gets the team underway in the 200m Backstroke; Rynn and Bailey compete in the 200m Freestyle, while Cassin will swim the 100m Butterfly.
Godden swims the 50m Backstroke, Corby the 50m Breaststroke and McCartney the 200m IM. Ireland will also enter the 4 x 100m Mixed Medley Relay.
In Rome, Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry competes in the 100m Breaststroke, Olympic finalist Ellen Walshe swims the 200m Freestyle, and Olympic Semi-Finalist Tom Fannon will take to the blocks for the 50m Freestyle.
Ellen Walshe will be confident heading into competition having set eight Irish records in the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest back in December.
The Dublin native finished top 10 in four races including a fifth place finish in both the 200m and 400m individual medley.
Mona McSharry is also in flying form having qualified for the World Championships by winning the 100m breaststroke final at the Irish Championships in April.
The Sligo native won Ireland’s first medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics with her bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke.
Tom Fannon also secured World Championships qualification in April with an impressive Championship Record 50m Freestyle of 21.78, well inside the required World Aquatics A time of 22.05 and was just outside his Irish Record of 21.74 from Paris.
THERE’S a big shock Love Island shock as the steamiest villa game yet gets underway, with stars snogging, sucking fingers and acting out sex positions – and it’s bad news for Alima.
The game happened after Helena Ford, Emily Moran, Dejon Noel Williams and Remell Mullings were taken for a night away at the Casa Amor villa with newcomers Will, Giorgio, Caprice and Poppy.
And it certainly helps the OG Islanders get to know the new Islanders over at the sleepover.
Playing Truth or Dare, Dejon dares Remell to kiss an Islander of his choice and he kisses Poppy.
Remell then dares Helena to do her favourite sex position with Giorgio, and Poppy kisses Dejon after being dared to kiss the person she’s most attracted to other than the person she chose.
Things heat up even more when Giorgio dares Dejon, who is coupled up with Meg, to kiss the Islander he’s most attracted to and he snogs Caprice and they both rate it 10/10.
Dejon then asks Remell who he would choose between Alima and Poppy if there was a recoupling and he hesitates but says Poppy.
Later that evening, OG Love Island boys Dejon and Remell have a catch up, and he asks him where his head is at.
Dejon advises him: “You’ve got to look long term… whoever you see a long term future with, that’s the one you pursue.”
And then Remell questions whether he’s feeling things with Caprice, to which he responds: “What me and Caprice have could be something good, but what me and Meg have is something special.”
As the evening goes on, it’s evident that Remell could be putting his eggs in Poppy’s basket.
The flirty game, that also involves finger sucking and more cheeky questions and dares, comes as it’s revealed that two boys and two girls have been sent packing after the shock sleepover twist – but it’s not who fans might think.
Viewers have speculated the OG Islanders will be invited to bring a bombshell back to the villa.
But this series has been full of whiplash twists – and even the OGs from week one after not safe from this shock cull.
This will leave fans even more gobsmacked when they learn who the victims of the mass cull are.
A source said: “Four islanders have gone in one sweep but it won’t necessarily be who fans think.
“The sleepover Islanders’ return really shakes up the villa dynamic.”
The ‘The Sleepover’ has already begun stirring up trouble, with fans goading for Remell to be axed.
Despite being in a seemingly happy couple with Alima back in the main villa, the social media influencer has wasted no time in exploring his options.
He immediately made a beeline for Poppy, 22, who seemed more than happy to accept his advances.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
PAUL O’Connell has added highly-rated sports psychologist Caroline Currid to his Ireland coaching staff for this summer’s tour.
O’Connell is leading a youthful Irish squad in two tests against Georgia and Portugal on July 5 and 12 respectively.
Per the Irish Examiner, the 45-year-old has a long working relationship with Currid that traces back to his own playing days when he would consult her for advice.
Currid’s CV would suggest she is a vital asset to any team she aligns herself with.
In Gaelic football she’s worked with the Dublin and Tyrone panels when they both wound up lifting Sam Maguire.
But it’s in inter-county hurling she seems to really have the Midas touch. The former junior Sligo ladies footballer aided Tipperary’s players on their road to hoisting Liam MacCarthy in 2019.
But it’s with the Limerick hurlers that she’s most synonymous as it became an almost annual part of captain Declan Hannon’s triumphant All-Ireland speech that he’d give her a special shout-out.
It may only be a coincidence but the only three years she hasn’t been part of John Kiely’s staff in recent years just so happen to be this year, 2024 and 2019.
The Treaty failed to attain their ultimate goal of winning the All-Ireland title in each of those years.
O’Connell’s squad includes 11 uncapped players, although Tom Ahern, Michael Milne, Shayne Bolton, Nathan Doak, Ben Murphy and Tommy O’Brien have previously been in camp.
Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin all win their first call-ups whilst Ulster trio James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward will train with the squad in Dublin before it leaves for the matches in Tbilisi and Lisbon.
Robbie Henshaw was ruled out through injury whilst Iain Henderson and Rob Herring were not considered following recent lay-offs.
But O’Connell can still call on established stars such as captain Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ryan Baird, Calvin Nash, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale.
Brothers Cian and Sam Prendergast are both included whilst Paddy McCarthy will hope to follow in the footsteps of his older sibling Joe by pulling on the green jersey.
Speaking at the squad’s announcement earlier this month O’Connell said: “I believe we have a strong blend of youth and experience for what will be a trip into relatively uncharted territories this July.
“Georgia have made great strides in recent years, and they have made significant investment in their rugby programme which has established them amongst the leading emerging sides in international rugby.
“Under the experience of Richard Cockerill they have built on a traditionally strong forward unit with a talented backline and they will provide a tough test for us.
“Portugal showcased their attacking prowess during the Rugby World Cup 2023 and Simon Mannix is a coach I know having worked with him previously.
“They play with confidence and we’re expecting another tough test.
“With 15 players away with The British & Irish Lions, this tour presents an opportunity for those on the fringes to impress the coaching team.
“A number of players have been really close to selection in recent times and it’s important that everyone grasps the challenge that’s ahead of them.
“Every moment on the training field and across the two-match Series will count and there’s a great opportunity for players to step up and impress.
“I would like to congratulate Craig on his selection as captain.
“He is a real leader with a strong personality and it is a huge personal honour for him and an opportunity that I know he will relish over the coming weeks.”
Ireland play in the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on July 5 with a 6pm Irish time start and it’s a 7pm kick-off a week later when they take on Portugal in Lisbon’s Estádio Nacional do Jamor.
SAVVY shoppers have spotted a huge swing chair at Sports Directs for £45 – down by as much as 70 percent.
The garden must-have comes as Brits prepare for barbecues and sunny get-togethers.
Sports Direct describes the item as follows: “Relax this summer on this Royale 3 Seater Swing.
“Cool down in the shade under the canopy, rocking back and forth on the swing to chill out on a hot summers day.”
The swing chair measures 170cm wide, 110cm deep and 150cm tall.
It’ s also available in different colours, including cream, grey and black.
Meanwhile, home and garden retailer The Range is selling its Riviera 3 Seater Combo swing for £199.99.
The Range’s swing may cost four times as much as Sports Directs’, but it’s larger at 190cm wide and 176cm tall – and it comes with a cushioned seat that converts into a bed, along with two pillows.
Sports Direct first introduced its garden furniture section on its website last year, listing over 700 products.
This move aligns with the strategy of Frasers Group, Sports Direct’s parent company, to diversify its product range beyond sports equipment.
Sports Direct, founded in 1982, is nonetheless one of the UK’s biggest sports retailers.
Billionaire Mike Ashley owns around 73 percent of Frasers Group.
Under Ashley, the company has expanded its range of brands to include House of Fraser, Jack Wills, Flannels, GAME and Evans Cycles.
In the UK alone, there are about 488 Sports Direct stores, with the majority – 394 – located in England.
London has the highest number of Sports Direct outlets, with 12 stores across the city.
The company has expanded rapidly across the UK and Europe, often snapping up struggling retail chains.
While it’s popular with bargain hunters, it has also faced criticism over working conditions and business practices in the past.
Sports Direct has recently closed some of its UK stores as part of a strategic shift towards larger flagship locations.
The retailer shut its store inside Glasgow‘s Silverburn shopping centre.
It has also closed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge and its outlet in Dundee’s Overgate Shopping Centre.
