Blogs

CLARE HEHIR rejects the notion that the Banner’s ­perceived lack of experience at Croke Park is a stumbling block.

Clare face Waterford in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship quarter-final this afternoon.

Most of the Déise side are used to the big stage, having made it all the way to the O’Duffy Cup decider in 2023.

But ahead of today’s televised clash, Banner full-back Hehir insists her crew have also enjoyed memorable moments at GAA HQ.

Sinéad O’Keeffe, Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Cahill, Jennifer Daly, Ellen Casey, Cliodhna Queally and Grace Carmody were involved when the juniors won the All-Ireland just two years ago.

Last December, Truagh Clonlara were the first Clare team to reach an All-Ireland senior club final. And while Galway’s Sarsfields were too strong, it was an invaluable experience for Áine O’Loughlin, Róisín Begley and Michelle Powell ahead of today’s outing.

Hehir’s memories are from further back — 13 years ago.

The Inagh-Kilnamona defender revealed: “Myself and Andrea O’Keefe would have played in a Féile final there when we were 14.

“We played De La Salle of Waterford. So it’s funny to be meeting them again.”

Waterford forward Beth Carton and goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan lined out that day and will take the field again this afternoon.

Clare’s last quarter-final appearance was a 2021 trip to Cork, which they lost 0-21 to 1-9.

And Hehir warned that her team-mates must not let the occasion — they are playing in front of the cameras in the curtain-raiser to a sold-out All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croker — get to them.

She said: “It’s not like no one has ever touched the grass there before and that’s a help.

“It’s just about not letting the occasion get to you, as much as you do want to enjoy it as well, because not everyone gets to play there.”

Having been relegated from Division 1A of the Very League last season — when Hehir was absent after taking a year out to go travelling — Clare showed signs of improvement, reaching this year’s Division 1B final, which they lost to Antrim.

Hehir believes that making the All-Ireland last six is another signal that things are getting better for the Banner.

She said: “The league was good, a lot of girls got a lot of game time.

“Two championship wins was great. You saw a lot of girls stepping up to the plate who would be leaders on the team this year. There was a lot of learnings from the league final. There would have been a lot of us who wouldn’t make finals too often with Clare camogie.

“And maybe that occasion might have got to us or we didn’t turn up on the day.

“So that’s something we want to rectify and we want to put in a good performance.”

With Waterford standing in the way of a last-four berth, Hehir, 27, says the Clare squad will be giving it their best shot.

She added: “We definitely won’t be sitting back and admiring them.

“Their improvement over the last few years is something we would obviously have liked to have done ourselves.

“And I suppose that this could be the day to start that.”

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

IN the sun-scorched high desert of Northern Nevada lies a tiny self-declared country with its very own dictator and armed forces.

Welcome to Molossia – an 11-acre empire with its own timezone, cookie dough currency, banned catfish, lawless sports, and a kayak-based navy patrolling distant lakes.

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Bizarre micronation Molossia has its own currency, dictator and armed forces[/caption]

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The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton[/caption]

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It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government[/caption]

And standing proudly over his micronation is Kevin Baugh, who declared himself the president, founder, dictator and creator of the Republic of Molossia.

Molossia (not to be confused with any real-world state) has stood – albeit somewhat unofficially – since May 26, 1977.

It is so small that it equals to a tenth of the size of Vatican City, the world’s smallest country.

Inspired by the satirical Cold War film The Mouse that Roared, teenage Kevin and his friend James created their own fictional country.

He told The Sun: “Back then, Molossia was known as the Grand Republic of Vuldstein.

“King James was the king, and I was prime minister.”

While James moved on, Kevin stayed on the course.

In 1988, upon acquiring land in Nevada, Molossia found a physical home.

Since then, the desert realm has been steadily growing, one eccentric decree at a time.

A sovereign state – with cookie dough currency

Molossia has all the trappings of nationhood – a flag, passports, a national garden, and even a unique currency called the Valora, based on cookie dough.

“People kind of see this as a joke, but then they come here and see the customs station and cookie-dough money, and they start to go, ‘Hey, this is kind of a real place,’” Baugh said.

The nation has a total population of 38 – 37 humans and one dog – and citizenship is strictly limited to Baugh’s family, whether by blood or marrying in.

Molossia even has its own timezone, known as Molossian Standard Time, separate from the US and observed only within its tight borders.

“We like to be unique and unusual,” Baugh explained.

And customs? Yes, there’s even a checkpoint.

“There’s a variety of things you can’t bring into Molossia… like walruses or catfish,” the dictator said.

Why catfish?

“We got bumped from a magazine article in favor of one about noodling catfish with your bare hands.

“So I banned catfish. Easy to ban something you don’t actually have.”

Molossia welcomes daily visitors between April and October, and some famous faces have stopped by to check the tiny nation out.

Baugh revealed: “Jack Black visited in 2015 as a part of a micronation movie that he was planning to make at that time.  He visited with a rather a large entourage, all related to the movie.

“The movie was to be roughly based on Molossia, of which he had been aware for over 10 years prior.  

“It was a great visit, and he is a fun guy. It appears now that probably the movie won’t be made but again it was wonderful having him visit Molossia.”

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President Baugh pictured with Hollywood star Jack Black[/caption]

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The dictator rules the micronation from his government office[/caption]

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The country has its own post office and souvenir shop[/caption]

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It also has a constabulary and jail for unwelcome visitors[/caption]

Dryland regattas, broom ball, and burning the Guy

Despite living under a dictatorship, residents of Molossia enjoy traditions that are more whimsical rather than oppressive.

Take the Misfit Regatta, a dry land boat race every two years where cardboard “boats” race across a dry lakeboard.

Or broom ball, a lawless national sport featuring brooms, chaos ,a nd minimal structure.

Baugh explained: “It’s a sport with no rules… sword fights with broomsticks if you want.

“Games last 10 minutes because it’s so exhausting.”

And then there’s Guy Fawkes Night, the British tradition of burning an effigy of the infamous rebel.

Why celebrate it? Baugh explained: “Well, because it’s fun.

“Most Molossians are provided their own Guy… we have knockoff English food and burn the Guy in a bonfire.”

There’s also Moon Pie Day in September, a sugary twist on the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

“Instead of the moon festival, it’s the moon pie festival – and we eat those,” said the Molossian leader.

“We have no problem culturally appropriating, especially if it involves food.”

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MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

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MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

At war with a country that no longer exists

Molossia is, bizarrely, at war with East Germany.

Yes, the country that hasn’t officially existed since 1990. But Baugh insists the conflict is unresolved.

“I declared war on East Germany in the early 1980s when I was stationed in West Germany with the US Army. Got tired of being woken up for drills at 2 am,” he said.

Years later, Baugh rediscovered the declaration in a box.

He explained: “Turns out East Germany still exists… sort of.

“There’s a tiny island off Cuba that was East German territory, never addressed during reunification.

“It’s uninhabited – just marine iguanas – but technically, the war continues.”

On Molossia’s official website, you can even find war bonds to support the war against East Germany in the value of 10 valora.

But don’t worry if you’re short on cookie dough as the website accepts PayPal.

The lake navy & space agency

Molossia’s military might lies not in an army, but in its unlikely Navy.

“We tried having an Army, but the US Olympic Committee used it against us. We tried having an Air Force, but the plane never flew, and anyway it was too small to fit anyone inside,” Baugh wrote on his website.

Instead, the landlocked nation fields a naval force made up of five boats, primarily kayaks, tasked with exploring lakes and reservoirs across the western desert.

“Our goal with the Molossian Navy is to explore those watery places that dot the western landscape like gems in the sand,” the official website states.

Despite its desert location, Baugh insists the Navy is ready to defend Molossia “whenever necessary, through the means of our valiant Naval Infantry.”

Molossia also has its own air and space agency.

Founded in 1999, it has launched several rockets from its Alphonse Simms Memorial Cosmodrome – also known as the national broomball field. 

Its most notable innovation is Rocket Mail, a postal system using rockets to deliver letters across the micronation.

In 2018, teams successfully launched the P-1 Postal Rocket four times.

The agency also tested the Skylofter, a payload rocket used to study flight dynamics, ultimately launching the Molossian flag into the sky for the first time. 

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Molossia’s fortified navy[/caption]

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A Molossian one-man-show

Despite calling himself a dictator, Baugh said he is quite benevolent.

“I don’t really get involved in the day-to-day decisions of our citizens’ lives,” he explained.

“They kind of just go along with what we’re doing. And nobody really wants this job – it’s a lot of work.”

Still, there may be “rigged elections” in Molossia’s future.

“You either vote for me or… you vote for me,” he joked.

“Maybe 300 or 400 votes from a population of 38 – dictatorships are known for that.”

Any real coups or uprisings?  “No. Again, nobody wants this job. It’s just me answering emails, maintaining buildings in Red Square – that’s our town square – and running the country.”

Baugh walks around his country draped in full military uniform, ready to show off his many medals while posing in front of Molossia’s monuments.

When asked where the condecorations come from, he said: “Some of the medals that I wear were awarded to me by me for doing great things for the nation.

“This is in keeping with the look that most dictators have.

“However, most of the medals that I wear, as well as as many, many more that I do not wear, were awarded to me by other nations for contributions to their nation or the micronational world in general.”

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Molossia is bizarrely at war with East Germany, which ceased to exist in 1990 – but the conflict is unresolved[/caption]

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MOLOSSIA DICTATOR, The Republic of Molossia is a micronation located in Nevada, USA, claiming sovereignty over a small plot of land near Dayton. It was founded by Kevin Baugh in 1977 and functions as a hobby turned territorial entity, complete with its own currency, laws, and government. While not recognized by any UN member states, […][/caption]

Funding a nation on a shoestring

Operating on a “third-world budget,” Molossia does need to break away from the cookie dough and spend real world money to make the country run.

The country only spends around $2,000 to $3,000 a year, mostly funded through tourism and merchandise.

“We try to be imaginative instead of throwing money at things,” Baugh says.

Their passports, for instance, are made from cardstock and pocket calendar sleeves – designed to look like 1930s documents so they aren’t mistaken for real ones at airports.

Future plans for the desert empire

Molossia may be small, but its ambitions are… moderately bigger. There’s talk of acquiring land across the road, which would double its territory, and dreams of building a tourist railroad.

“A small one, like the kind you see in parks. But that’s a bit beyond our budget right now.”

Despite its quirky tone, Baugh insists Molossia is more than a parody.

“This is something I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into. It’s a serious project with a sense of humor.”

And for anyone wondering how the U.S. government feels about this tiny nation in its midst?

“Nothing official. We did get a Christmas card from President Barack Obama once – four months late, but who’s counting.”

So whether it’s banning catfish, waging eternal war against long-defunct nations, or ruling by cheerful decree, Molossia continues to thrive – one moon pie and broomstick sword fight at a time. 

TWISTED Putin’s brainwashing programme has plunged to new depths with a dystopian propaganda cartoon aimed at toddlers.

The animated kids’ show uses toddler versions of world leaders to plant pro-Putin and anti-Western sentiments before kids can even walk or talk.

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Sandpit features animated versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim (top left to bottom right)[/caption]

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A gentle, wide-eyed Putin with a bear and a ship symbolising the Black Sea Fleet[/caption]

Alamy

Putin’s chief propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, spearheaded the new show called Sandpit.

The producers say its aim is to “instil patriotism from an early age” and teach Russian infants to “discuss geopolitics”.

A 30-second trailer posted on Solovyov’s Telegram account shows toddler versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim Jong-un chatting on a video call.

At one point, Kim tells Macron he shouldn’t be allowed to hang out with the others because “you’re always with your grandma” – a jibe at the French president’s wife, Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior.

When Trump asks why their call is taking place on a Russian video app, Putin fires back with a jab at Western technology: “Because your Skype cut out, that’s why.”

Speaking to The Sun, Dr Alasdair McCallum, a Russian propaganda expert at Australia’s Monash University, says: “The Sandpit cartoon is taking things to new extremes.

“You have these quite bizarre AI-generated cartoons aimed at toddlers.

“The aim is to indoctrinate from as early as possible – before they can even walk.”

Dr McCallum thinks the message in the trailer couldn’t be more obvious.

He explains: “The idea is that Russia is strong and the West is weak, so Trump, Macron and Musk are depicted as goofy and incapable of making strong decisions, whereas the little toddler version of Putin is very strong and composed.”

Putin, whose face appears kind and calm, is shown wearing a crisp white judo uniform.

Next to the Russian president sit a teddy bear, a symbol of national identity, and a black toy ship, representing the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet.

Meanwhile Kim, who is currently sending troops and weapons to back Putin’s war in Ukraine, comes across as missile-mad, gripping a toy rocket tightly with both hands.

Towering missiles also loom in the background of the dictator’s room – which, with its lack of windows, resembles a bunker.

And to drive the point home further, Kim’s email address – BigBadaBoom@pyongyang.kp – is a blatant nod to explosions, paired with the mock domain of North Korea’s capital.

Erdogan, whose email address is LuxuryTurkey@booking.com, is also portrayed in a wildly exaggerated style.

Wearing the traditional fez, the Turkish president appears against an ornate, Ottoman-inspired backdrop.

While presidents like Erdogan and Macron show cracks of anxiety, Trump and Musk grin smugly.

The businessman-turned-president sits in a gaudy room, while the Tesla CEO appears fixated on his toy car.

The cartoons even have their own avatars: Putin is a bear with a red star, Kim is a mushroom cloud and Trump is the pope blessing worshippers.

Many of the references will sail right over kids’ heads, Dr McCallum admits, but he says they serve the additional aim of shocking the rest of the world.

He explains: “A lot of Russian propaganda has a kind of shock element to it.

“This is why you often see extreme messages about the amount of nukes they could drop on Britain.”

He believes the timing of the show’s launch is far from a coincidence.

UK intelligence revealed in early June that Russia has suffered huge war losses, with about one million of its own soldiers either killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine since February 2022.

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Sandpit aims to ‘instil patriotism from an early age’, according to its producers[/caption]

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A missile-mad Kim Jong-un is shown holding a toy rocket[/caption]

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A distressed Macron is teased over his older wife Brigitte, who is called his ‘grandma’[/caption]

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Putin has ramped up propaganda aimed at children[/caption]

“They need to replenish that manpower, they have to try to indoctrinate them early,” says Dr McCallum.

But he finds it hard to imagine any of Solovyov’s eight privileged, Western-educated kids – born to three different women – dying on the front line in Donetsk.

“It’s always the lower echelons of society that get fed into this propaganda mill and then go to fight and die,” he adds.

Sandpit comes as the Kremlin ramps up efforts to target children – both Russian and Ukrainian – with state propaganda.

At Russia’s Victory Day parades, prams are turned into cardboard tanks and babies are dressed in tiny army uniforms.

Youth groups like Yunarmiya, along with school visits featuring war veterans, actively expose kids – even as young as preschool age – to the world of weaponry and military culture.

While boys are targeted with militaristic messaging, girls are fed pro-natalist narratives, pushing them toward motherhood and care-giving roles, says Dr McCallum.

Teenage girls are reportedly paid as much as £1,000 to have babies in more than 10 regions across Russia, including Oryol and Yaroslavl in the west, and Kemerovo in Siberia.

A TV show previously called ‘Pregnant at 16’ – intended to discourage teenage pregnancies – was rebranded as ‘Mama at 16’ in January.

Each episode now opens with the more optimistic phrase “I’m expecting a child” instead of the former “I’m pregnant”.

The channel that airs ‘Mama at 16’ also broadcasts similarly themed shows like ‘Supermum’, ‘Maternity Ward Days’, ‘Call Me Mum’ and ‘Mama at 45’.

Its website reads: “Yu is a reality show network about the most important things for a young woman: family, children, mother-in-laws, mums, friends and, of course, love.”

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and leading TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov[/caption]

At school, children face mandatory weekly lessons called “Conversations about Important Things”, where patriotism is drilled in and dying for the Motherland is glorified.

The course was introduced in September 2022 – eight months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In September 2023, new history textbooks were distributed across Russian schools that glorify Russia, omit criticism of Stalin and portray the West as aggressors.

Children are taught that Ukraine is a “Nazi state” and that Russia’s invasion is justified – no different to Putin’s claim that it’s “a question of life and death, the question of our historic future as a people”.

Dr McCallum explains: “A central element of Russian propaganda is that Russia and ethnic Russians were the sole victors over Nazism and that Ukraine is an artificial Nazi state.

“But this doesn’t gel with the reality of a Jewish president [Zelensky] and support from European countries.”

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Russian children enrolled in the Youth Army are seen trying on gas masks[/caption]

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The Kremlin is trying to boost support for its military among children[/caption]

East2West

More Russians are rejecting Putin’s propaganda

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Russians do not rely solely on state-controlled TV.

Dependence on state TV dropped sharply from around 90 percent to just over 60 percent from 2013 to 2021, according to the Atlantic Council.

Meanwhile, over 85 percent of Russians are said to have internet access.

Despite increased Kremlin censorship, independent platforms like YouTube and Telegram remain accessible in Russia.

Many people also use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions.

The majority of Russians still back the war in Ukraine, according to the latest 2025 surveys from Levada Center, Statista, and VCIOM.

But the data reveals a growing appetite for peace talks.

Younger generations, in particular, show lower support for the conflict compared to their elders.

However, experts warn that public surveys on Russian support for the war should be taken with a pinch of salt, as censorship and fear of repercussions can dictate people’s responses.

Over 500 Russian teenagers have been arrested at anti-war rallies since 2022, according to human rights group OVD-Info.

One of them, Arseny Turbin, was just 15 when he was arrested and accused of joining the Freedom of Russia Legion – a group made up of Russian citizens fighting alongside Ukraine.

He was also charged with distributing leaflets critical of Vladimir Putin and the war.

Arseny was sentenced to five years in a youth detention centre in November last year – where he remains to this day.

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A Russian military officer accepts flowers from a girl during Victory Day parade[/caption]

MÁIRE O’CALLAGHAN was happy to pass on the mantle of Cork captain to Sarah Leahy at the beginning of 2025 but admits it took an adjustment on her part.

When she was announced as skipper of the Leeside footballers in 2022, the Mourneabbey stalwart followed in the footsteps of her cousins Ciara and Doireann O’Sullivan — both of whom lifted national silverware during their stints wearing the armband.

Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

While O’Callaghan did not get this opportunity, she did help guide Cork to a TG4 Munster SFC crown during her debut campaign as team leader before unfortunately missing the defence of their title through injury in 2023.

She continued in the role until the end of the 2024 season, but it was defensive lynchpin Leahy — from county senior champions Aghada — who was tasked with leading Cork into battle this year.

O’Callaghan explained: “I suppose it was a slight adjustment, but nothing too crazy.

“We would have always said that there wasn’t too much difference between any of the leaders on the team and the captain. It has been a slight bit of a change.

“The three years was a huge honour. To be honest, that was great for me and I’m happy to see someone else take the reins. Sarah has been a fantastic captain, so you couldn’t have asked for a better person to step in after me.

“It was great to see Ciara and Doireann captain Cork before, especially also to represent Mourneabbey at that level as well with taking over the captaincy and the three of us being there.

“It is really nice definitely and it’s a huge honour.”

First introduced to the panel in 2013, O’Callaghan spent the next decade training and playing alongside Ciara and Doireann in the Cork set-up.

That all changed in 2024, however, when the O’Sullivan sisters officially announced their retirements in March.

They had initially indicated a desire to take a break from inter-county football — Ciara for the 2024 Lidl National Football League and Doireann for the entire year — around the same time that it was revealed their sibling Meabh was also stepping away from the Leeside panel to go travelling.

Given how close she is to the O’Sullivans — as well as their sister Roisín, another former Cork player — there was a certain void when this influential triumvirate brought an end to their respective inter-county journeys.

Yet O’Callaghan is one of a number of established figures Cork boss Joe Carroll can rely upon as the squad seek to remain a force in ladies football.

O’Callaghan said: “There was a lot of my Mourneabbey club-mates that stepped away at the end of 2023. Definitely there was an adjustment period there with that.

“When you’re used to playing with a lot of the girls that you play with at club level as well . . . but everyone can make their decisions on whatever time they are ready to step away.

“It definitely was strange not seeing them three times a week for Cork training, but I get to see them still at Mourneabbey training anyway.

“We have plenty of players that have been around for a long time . . . Melissa Duggan . . . Áine Terry O’Sullivan is back, she has plenty of experience at inter-county level as well. Shauna Kelly, who I know is injured, would have brought a lot of continuity to that leadership, which is great.”

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

Kelly was withdrawn through injury 25 minutes into Cork’s TG4 All-Ireland Group 2 clash with Mayo at MacHale Park a fortnight ago.

Before that, O’Callaghan had given the Leesiders a dream start to the action when she rattled the opposition net with just 17 seconds on the clock. Had Cork failed to win this game, they would have found themselves entering into an All-Ireland SFC relegation play-off along with Donegal, Armagh and Leitrim.

In the end, the visitors came through with a 3-8 to 1-10 victory and will instead face Dublin in a quarter-final at Parnell Park today.

O’Callaghan recalled: “Mayo pushed us to the very last minute. A draw would have been enough to see them through to the next stage of the competition.

“You could really see that fight in them all throughout the game. We were really happy with how we responded to that and how we responded to a lot of things that went wrong in the game.

“We still were able to respond to all of those things. I think that is something that we’ll take away — really happy with how we dealt with it going forward into our next game against Dublin.”

While Cork would normally have played the Dubs at least once in advance of previous All-Ireland Championships, this year was different.

After suffering relegation from the top tier in 2024, the Munster side featured in Division 2, while the Jackies stayed a tier above.

This means O’Callaghan and the Rebels have not faced Dublin at all this season.

But having viewed a number of their games, she is aware of the challenge that awaits them in Donnycarney this afternoon.

O’Callaghan added: “They have fantastic strength in depth and they’ve a lot of new girls pushing through. A lot of pace and energy.

“You can see that in how they played against Meath firstly in their Leinster final. They were able to pull that back and finish really strongly, which also shows their experience.

“It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s something we’re looking forward to. I think it’s hard to keep an eye on every team in the championship because it’s quite wide open this year.

“There have been a lot of surprises, even in the group stages, with teams bowing out and teams pushing through and things like that, which is a really good sign of a championship, how unpredictable it is. It is really anyone’s opportunity to take.”

FPJ Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe has officially filed a bill aimed at establishing the Military Service Scholarship Program (MSSP), a measure designed to harness the potential of the youth in nation-building while addressing the barriers many young Filipinos face in accessing higher education. The Philippine Constitution underscores the critical role of the youth in

DUNNES Stores fans are set to love a cute new mini dress that can be worn “year-round” after it landed on racks.

The Savida Collar Mini Dress is available in stores and online now.

It is priced at just €35 and comes in sizes XXS to XXL.

The retailer said: “This midi dress from Savida is a versatile piece that can be styled year-round.

“Cut to a universally flattering silhouette, it features a sharp collar with a notch neckline, and a pleated skirt that creates graceful movement.

“Savida is available; exclusively at Dunnes Stores.”

The dress can be styled with white trainers, sandals or heels depending on the occasion.

Meanwhile, fashion fans are also loving a stunning new co-ord that’s perfect for special occasions.

Instagram user Monica, who posts under the username @mon.fesa, alerted her followers to the new arrival.

In the caption of the post, she wrote: “Check out this outfit from Savida in all the Dunnes Stores.

“I really thought it was worth trying it; the top is so different and super cute, with a zipper on the side to make it easier to put on.

“Loved the lace trim and the adjustable bodice to make it cropped or a bit longer – great idea, I have to say.

“And the skirt… Well I love silk so this is my ideal outfit, can look super cute with heels or more funky with trainers.”

In the video, she can be seen wearing a gorgeous silk co-ord, in a lovely green colour.

She stuns in the outfit that is perfect for any summer event, from weddings to a laidback occasion.

In a caption inserted into the post, Monica noted: “What do you think of the new outfit?”

The top features a plunging v-neckline, complete with short sleeves and a lace trim along the neckline.

The sides of the top are ruched, with buttons in the centre.

Monica added: “With a lace trim top and adjustable bodice. So different.”

She shows that on either side of the top are two strings to control how loose or tight the top is.

Monica added: “Both with zips to make dressing easier.”

The maxi skirt features a zip up the side and has a flattering fit.

When worn together, it looks like a stunning dress that is perfect for a wedding.

A YOUNG woman has shared how she got her hair growing back in just a few months using a bizarre ingredient.

Denise took to social media to share her progress and the transformation has left people stunned.

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Denise was losing her hair and was balding[/caption]

TikTok/@literallydenise

Denise said she had suffered with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as androgenetic alopecia which could have been the cause of her hair loss.

PCOS can cause hair loss due to the excess androgenic hormones that people with PCOS often have, which can lead to acne, thinning hair, and hair loss.

In the images, her hairline was visibly thinning and it appeared that bald spots were starting to form.

So Denise decided to start a journey to grow her hair back and shared the best products that helped get her hair growing back in just 18 weeks.

After weeks of trying different products, Denise said there were two that stood out for growing hair quickly.

The first was a Hair Syrup pre-shampoo oil treatment called Growsmary.

It’s specially designed for thin, falling hair that requires a boost in re-growth with a mixture of rosemary and thyme.

Hair Syrup bosses say: “This unique syrup contains Rosemary Essential Oil, proven to be as effective as 2.5% Minoxidil in reducing hair loss and encouraging re-growth.

“The infusion of Thyme further enhances the potency of the formula, adding its beneficial properties to this powerful blend.

“After just 4 weeks of use, users experienced up to a 35% increase in hair growth.”

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The oil Denise swears by for speedy hair growth[/caption]

While the oil makes bold claims that many may find hard to believe, Denise is living proof of how well it works.

The oil costs just £12.74 on Just My Look at the moment, making it just 20p to use per treatment.

You simply use the nozzle of the oil to apply it directly onto the scalp and massage it in before letting it sit for a few hours and then washing it out.

Thyme oil is anti-inflammatory which can help improve scalp health and get hair growing again.

It can also stimulate the scalp, helping increase blood flow to the hair follicles. This works the same way as Minoxidil, which is a vasodilator.

Denise also said she used Minoxidil on her scalp after shampoo to give it an extra boost in hair growth.

The clip has since gone viral on her TikTok account @literallydenise with over 129k views and 2,900 likes.

One person wrote: “OMG the difference.”

Another commented: “This is amazing.”

“Incredible,” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “Huge difference hun!”

“OMG,” claimed a fifth

Someone else added: “Amaze!”

IT’S BEEN over a year since a horror injury finally forced Stuart Dallas into retirement.

Though the Leeds United legend, 34, is not missing a single thing about playing and won’t even contemplate coaching until he can be “honest with himself” and give it everything.

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Stuart Dallas looks back on the first year of retirement without any regret[/caption]

AFP

The former midfielder suffered a horror injury three years ago[/caption]

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The Elland Road ace collided with Jack Grealish when disaster struck[/caption]

Ex-Northern Ireland international Dallas made over 250 appearances for the Elland Road outfit and was a pivotal part of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-winning side.

But disaster struck in April 2022 when he suffered a femoral fracture in his knee after a sickening on-field collision with Man City’s Jack Grealish.

Dallas bravely fought to save his career but the “irreparable damage” eventually forced him to hang up his boots in May 2024 following a two-year battle.

The injury was so bad it still causes him pain today – though it’s all physical rather than mental as he does not miss a thing about playing.

Speaking to Sun Sport at the Leeds American Golf for the #RifeDontMiss putting challenge, celebrating the launch of the new RIFE Black Edition putters, Dallas said: “My knee’s alright. It allows me to do what I need to do now. I still need to go to the gym and keep up the strength in it. I knew that anyway and I suppose it holds me accountable to get in the gym and stuff as well. I play a bit of padel here and there too.

“I’m able to do bits and pieces and so far I’ve not really had many problems. It’s a bit sore at times but that’s just part and parcel of it due to how complex the injury was.”

For some, watching your former team-mates storm to Championship promotion after your forced retirement would have rubbed extra salt in the wound.

Not Dallas though.

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He said: “I’m in a good place and I always have been throughout it. It’s been totally fine. I’ll be totally honest with you, I don’t miss any of it. Because of the age I was and I knew that I couldn’t physically play at that level – I don’t miss any of it.

“I’m very, very comfortable with my decision. I have a good life, a beautiful family who are healthy. I’ve got nothing to complain about.”

Daniel Farke, who Dallas spent his final year as a pro under, was the man who guided Leeds back to the top-flight.

Despite lifting the title, the German coach faced intense speculation over his future before the club backed him publicly.

And with three new additions – striker Lukas Nmecha, centre-back Jaka Bijol and defender Sebastiaan Bornauw – on board already, Dallas has no doubts that Farke deserved a shot at keeping Leeds up after bouncing back from last year’s play-off heartbreak.

He said: “He’s been brilliant. He’s remained calm throughout his whole time here and didn’t panic when things were going against him. Having worked with him I know exactly how he is and what he says in the media and how he acts is exactly the same and that’s brilliant for players.

“When he stuck his neck on the line and said that he was 100 per cent convinced that Leeds would get promoted, as a player that would give me a lot of confidence to go and perform.

“It’s definitely the right decision to keep him. What he’s achieved over back-to-back Championship seasons can’t be topped. He’ll have learned from his mistakes in the Premier League before with Norwich and is going to be obviously backed a bit better hopefully.”

Speaking of coaches, Dallas revealed his own plans to start his journey into the dug-out when confirming his playing days were done.

Though the ex-Brentford ace, who was equally at home on the pitch at full-back or in midfield, has put that on the back-burner for now – until he is ready to go into it with the same commitment he showed on the pitch.

He added: “I’ve done my badges. It’s not something where I’ve been focused on. Maybe down the line. I’ve got a lot to offer the game. At the minute there’s so many other avenues that I can go down.

“To be a coach, you’ve got to be fully committed. Not just for yourself, but for the people that you will be coaching. If I am to go into that, I want to be 100 per cent fully focused on it.

“At the minute there’s just other things going on that doesn’t allow me to do that. I wouldn’t be being honest with myself or with the people that I’d be coaching.”

Dallas appeared at the second #RifeDontMiss Challenge, celebrating the launch of the new RIFE Black Edition putters.

KELLY Clarkson shocked fans when she canceled her first live Vegas shows – just minutes before she was due to go on stage.

The much-loved singer, 43, announced earlier this year that she’ll perform a multi-month residency at Caesars Palace in Sin City.

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Kelly Clarkson had to cancel her first live shows in Vegas at the last minute[/caption]

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The singer shared the sad news with fans[/caption]

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Just hours before cancelling she shared her excitement at doing the concert[/caption]

Instagram/Kellyclarkson

Kelly’s Las Vegas residency was due to start yesterday[/caption]

Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency was due to kick of yesterday and was promising to “bring the studio experience” to the stage. 

But, with just an hour and a half until show time, she broke the bad news to fans.

Taking to Instagram, Kelly penned: “We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience with and for my incredible fans.

“I am beyond grateful that you always show up for me and I am devastated to have to postpone tonight and tomorrow’s opening at Caesars.”

Kelly said that both “prep and rehearsals” had “taken a toll” on her voice, and that she wanted “the shows to be perfect for y’all.”

The Because Of You singer added: “I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve.

“The show is truly incredible. The musicians and singers are outstanding, and I want us all to start out strong.”

She concluded the heartfelt post with: “I can’t wait to be back next weekend and show y’all what we’ve been working on.”

The announcement came just hours after she got fans going to the show excited with behind-the-scenes snaps, and wrote: “TONIGHT!!”

After news of Kelly cancelling this weekend’s shows, fans commented with one saying: “‘Totally bummed that we flew all the way to Vegas only to find out that the show was cancelled 1 1/2 hours prior to show time. So so sad!!”

While this one added: “‘I’m outside the doors”, followed by crying face emojis.

Kelly will now start her Vegas show later this month, with dates in August as well.

The residency will then take a break and resume in November.

FUTURE OF TALK SHOW

Last month, there was concern from fans that her Vegas residency could put Kelly’s talk show in jeopardy of being canceled. 

However, an insider recently assured The U.S. Sun that this wasn’t the case,

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via G

Kelly is on hiatus from her talk show while she’s in Vegas[/caption]

In fact, the team at NBCUniversal worked to make sure the residency did not interfere with the talk show. 

“NBCUni worked with the Caesars group to make sure filming didn’t overlap. Kelly’s show won’t be impacted by the residency,” the source told us.

“Everyone walked away from it happy. Caesars gets their show, NBC gets their show, and they’ll cross-promote, respectively.”

The source then added: “The Kelly Show is NBC‘s number one daytime priority and is in no way in any danger of being canceled. 

“There are big plans for the future of the franchise and the network encourages Kelly to take gigs outside of the show because it only helps her talk show’s viewership too.”

Her NBC daytime show is on hiatus for the summer, so it will not be impacted by the July and August Vegas dates. 

When The Kelly Clarkson Show resumes production in September, when Kelly will be back to focusing on her hosting duties. 

However, she was able to “find a workaround” for the November dates, and all of her talk show tapings are planned to go on as scheduled.  

CORK CITY boss Ger Nash had no complaints about Charlie Lyons red card – or Shelbourne’s easy dismissal of his side in Friday night’s 3-1 loss. 

Bottom club City were 2-0 down inside six minutes but pulled a goal back before half-time to give themselves a lifeline. 

Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

But defender Lyons was then shown a red card five minutes into the second half when referee Rob Harvey upgraded a yellow for a challenge to a red for a comment made. 

Nash said: “At half time I thought we were in the game, that we have a real opportunity to go and take some points, we are looking good in that respect.

“But the key moment in the second half is unacceptable, simply unacceptable, and had a huge bearing on what we can do in the second half.

“Whatever decision the referee made, we’re in a position where we have to be disciplined in how we speak to referees, that’s part of football. 

“I know the reasons why the referee sent him off, the tackle was deemed a yellow card offence.

“The upgrading of the situation was down to something one of my players said to him, and I won’t accept it.”

While unhappy with his own team over the red card, he acknowledged that how his side started also left them with too much to do. 

He continued: “It’s a game that passed us by that we had a chance to pick up points in. We’re in a position where we can’t do that, it’s as simple as that. 

“It’s a hugely disappointing night. The key moment in the game is how we started and how we gifted them the first opportunity, which they took. 

“I can’t explain it, I am going to have to, it’s the softness of the first goal, it’s not us…way beyond frustrating and it’s unacceptable in terms of the message we give the players.

“This isn’t kids football, this isn’t the First Division, this is the Premier Division, it’s unacceptable how we started the game.

“It’s a huge shame as a lot of the players have left a lot out there, playing with 10 men for a long time so it’s hard to analyse this game, in some respects as some players…it’s not their fault that they are playing with 10 men.

“In fairness to the lads in the rest of the half they responded and got ourselves back in the game, showed huge qualities in many respects.

“But the softness of the first goal is huge and then the red card compounds that.”