Dublin braces for 350k tourists & rugby fans as travel chiefs in ‘one of the busiest’ February bank hol weekends alert
AN estimated 350,000 tourists and rugby fans will scrum their way through Dublin Airport this Bank Holiday Weekend.
Officials are gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the calendar year, with tens of thousands expected in town for the St Brigid’s bank holiday.
The first long weekend of 2025 kicks off with the Six Nations visit of the old enemy at a sold-out Aviva Stadium, with England fans set to descend on the capital.
The Dublin Racing festival is also completely sold out with a warning from organisers that all boxes and suites are nearly gone.
They said: “All private suites, hospitality, premium level areas and The Real Deal are sold out for Day 1. Only general admission is available to purchase.”
And the Dublin City Celebrating Women initiative returns for its fourth edition this weekend with over 80 events across the city.
Ballsbridge will see thousands of rugby fans from early doors before the Six Nations clash kicks off at 4.45pm.
Sarah Ryan, Director of Communications at daa, explained how the airport was prepared for a massive few days.
She said: “It’s going to be a busy weekend in both the departures and arrivals halls at Dublin Airport.
“We’re expecting several thousand England rugby fans to arrive in for the big rugby game on Saturday evening in Aviva Stadium and they’ll be joined by thousands of tourists from around the world who are visiting Ireland for a winter break.
“Events and festivals are a big driver of inward tourism these days and the addition of the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend and the accompanying festival of events around the country is proving to be a popular reason to visit Ireland at what was previously a quiet time of year.
“A lot of Ireland-based travellers will also avail of the long weekend to get away for a city break, some winter sun or to visit loved ones overseas.”
She added: “Events and festivals are a big driver of inward tourism these days and the addition of the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend and the accompanying festival of events around the country is proving to be a popular reason to visit Ireland at what was previously a quiet time of year.
“A lot of Ireland-based travellers will also avail of the long weekend to get away for a city break, some winter sun or to visit loved ones overseas.”
Sarah said an average of 85,000 passengers will go through the two terminals each day this weekend.
She added: “Top tips for the coming weekend include preparing in advance for security, with all liquids in hand luggage being 100mls or under and enclosed in a clear plastic bag.
“Passengers should also plan how they are getting to and from the airport.
“Demand for our car parks is high, but we do have spaces available and passengers should book in advance online to ensure a space and to get the best price available.”
With thousands of passengers flocking to and from the airport, people are urged to avail of public transport.
She continued: “They could join the almost one-third of passengers who now travel to the airport by bus via one of the 1,070 daily bus connections now operating here every single day, including the new 24-hour number 19 route.”
The new 19 bus route, which runs between the airport and the city centre, travels through the busy suburbs of Ballymun and Drumcondra.
The 24-hour route will depart the airport 66 times per day between Monday and Friday, 58 times per day on Saturdays and 57 times per day on Sundays.
My sex drive is high so I sleep with other men but now my man wants the same
DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER years of being unsatisfied with our sex life, my husband gave me the green light to sleep with other men.
My sex drive had always been higher, so it meant I could get what I wanted whilst still being transparent in our relationship.
Yet, now he’s admitted he wants to sleep with other people too, and I can’t help but feel disrespected.
I’m 48, my husband is 52, and we’ve been together for nearly 20 years.
Our relationship is amazing, and we’re still very much in love, but one thing that has always bothered me is our lack of sexual passion.
I tried for years to make peace with it, and despite how much I love him, I constantly found myself falling into bed with other men.
I’ve had a string of affairs over the course of our relationship, and every time my husband found out one way or another.
Each discovery devastated him, but after a while he grew to understand that it had everything to do with my sexual needs and nothing to do with my love for him.
We eventually came to the agreement that I could be non-monogamous so long as I was open and honest with him.
This has worked a charm for us, and we’ve been stronger than ever.
That was until he came to me asking if he could explore with other women too, which left me feeling hurt.
How is this fair when my sex drive is so much higher? I feel like I’m not enough for him.
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: You’re upset with your husband wanting to explore things with other people, but it’s likely his desires are rooted in seeing you do the same thing.
For any open relationship to work, you both need to be secure in your relationship, be excellent communicators, and be able to completely trust each other.
It would be best to discuss things carefully with your husband and figure out what to do going forward.
While you shouldn’t agree to him seeing other women if it makes you uncomfortable, you also need to consider if it’s fair for you to continue sleeping with other men too.
If you can’t agree on this, you may need to talk it through with a counsellor, who can guide you. You can contact Tavistock Relationships (tavistockrelationships.org).
My support pack on non-monogamy will also help.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
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Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
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Водіїв обкладають великими штрафами через верхній одяг
Bikini-clad Bella Hadid plays in the snow and more star snaps
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new girlfriend Estelle Behnke puts on leggy display as she and Liverpool star head out on date
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD headed out on a date with new girlfriend Estelle Behnke.
The stunning brunette put on a leggy display as the pair were photographed out together.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was pictured with new girlfriend Estelle Behnke[/caption] They enjoyed a date night together in Manchester[/caption] Estelle stunned in a short black dress[/caption] Estelle showed off the outfit in a selfie picture on Instagram[/caption]The Liverpool star was spotted wearing a grey top with blue jeans and white trainers.
Estelle, 24, looked glamorous in a short black dress with matching black leather boots.
The couple visited the Dishroom Indian restaurant together in Bridge Street, Manchester.
They started seeing each other after Trent split from the daughter of Hollywood star Jude Law, Iris.
He was spotted with Estelle on a date night at the Italian hotspot Cibo in Hale, Cheshire in November.
Trent, 26, then whisked her away for a £6,000-a-night trip to a five-star Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds.
A source told The Sun: “It’s very early days but they are officially dating — they seem really into each other.
“Trent hasn’t been single long and is enjoying spending time with Estelle.
“They’re just really enjoying each other’s company and seem quite smitten.”
Estelle is a popular Instagram model with over 44,000 followers on the platform.
Her social media account is full of pictures which shows her love of travelling.
Trent previously dated Hannah Adkins and was romantically linked to Dua Lipa in 2021.
Trent was free for a date night after being left at home for Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to PSV.
The Reds had already qualified for the last 16 of the tournament and manager Arne Slot opted to take the opportunity to rest star players.
The Dutchman insisted that Trent and other players had the time off and were not expected to be training.
The defender has been heavily linked with an exit from Anfield in recent months.
His contract at the club expires at the end of the season and Real Madrid have been tipped as a potential destination.
However, Los Blancos have become frustrated with negotiations and appear to have moved on to target Joshua Kimmich.
She often shares snaps from her travels[/caption] She can usually be seen in a glamorous outfit[/caption] Fans go wild for her pictures in the comment section[/caption]TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MOVES FROM THE JANUARY WINDOW
James Haskell reveals he’s been forced to spend £70k on operations to stop his body falling apart after brutal injuries
JAMES Haskell has counted up the total cost of keeping his body from falling apart – and it tallies at an eye-watering £70,000.
The former England rugby union player needed so much medical treatment during his career on the pitch that he ended up forking out from his own pocket.
The star suffered many brutal injuries during his rugby career[/caption] James forked out on operations, physios and medication[/caption]James, who spent the majority of his competitive rugby days with the London Wasps, said he had to cough up the cash to ensure his body kept “functioning”.
The star was hit with a host of injuries while playing professional rugby, including a torn bicep, an ankle injury that required surgery and a fused finger.
He also suffered from pain in his neck, shoulders, back, hips, and toes during his sporting career.
The star, 39, made the confession while speaking on Spooning with Mark Wogan.
James admitted: “I think we spent about 70 grand on operations, medical treatment, physios, injections, prescriptions just to keep by body functioning.”
Meanwhile, dad-of-one James has also lifted the lid on his split with wife Chloe Madeley, 37.
The couple called time on their marriage in October 2023, shortly after filming their ITV documentary, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair.
The pair co-parent their two-year-old daughter Bodhi and James has nothing but praise for the mother of his child.
James said: “Chloe is an amazing woman, extremely talented. She’s made me a much better person being with her.
“Now we’re separated.. you separate essentially because you want to make sure your daughter has the best possible life.
“I think when you have a child, you have a responsibility and everything your other wishes go out the window.
“As you grow in relationships, marriage is a really interesting thing, because a lot of people change, elements change, careers change, and you kind of, the confines of it mean that everything else grows but it doesn’t grow.
“So now the ability for us to co-parent is so important.”
James did go on to admit that the arrival of Bodhi in August 2022 put a big strain on his relationship with Chloe, who is the daughter of TV legends Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
Virgin Radio broadcaster Mark said: “The other thing that a lot of people don’t talk about, and they feel like they shouldn’t, is how much your relationship changed when they were a child.
“That puts an enormous strain on any relationship.”
James agreed, adding: “Of course. I think that’s why it’s interesting.”
MOVING ON
Earlier this month, it was said that James has moved on with a new woman.
The MailOnline reported that James has been secretly dating 34-year-old Helen Barclay for just over a year.
Chloe, meanwhile, recently revealed that she hopes to have more children one day.
In a Q&A with fans, the fitness fanatic did admit that she is currently single and would only have more kids if she meets the right person.
Chloe said: “If I met the right person, I would for sure. But it’s not something I want to do enough alone, if that makes sense.
“I change my mind about this a lot though, so you might have gotten a different answer from me last week.”
James split with his wife Chloe Madeley in October 2023[/caption] He said the break-up will give their daughter ‘the best possible life’[/caption] James speaks highly of Chloe and they happily co-parent Bodhi together[/caption]I tried the Logitech G923 Trueforce wheel again and it’s still a great entry point for sim racing fans
The first time I tested the Logitech G923 Trueforce was close to its release in 2020.
After testing dozens of wheels, I returned to the G923, and it’s still a very reliable entry-level unit.
The Logitech G923 Trueforce is still best in its class and a cinch to set up.[/caption] The G923 attaches firmly onto your desk and is smaller compared to other wheels[/caption]Assembling the Logitech G923 Trueforce reveals its real strength.
It strikes the perfect balance for those who want a steering wheel with believable feedback and an accessible user experience.
Setting it up took just around 10 to 15 minutes.
The docking system is built-in. Two small buttons on the sides activate the clamps, which you then rotate by hand.
It’s a very simple setup, and the grip on the table is firm.
The cables are crammed into the bottom of the wheel, with four recesses in which you can tuck them very neatly.
The Logitech G923 Trueforce is noticeably smaller than other wheels I’ve tested recently, but that doesn’t mean less care has been taken with it.
The all-leather wheel rim and exposed stitching give it a true racer look and make it comfortable and pleasant to grip even without gloves.
I tried the PS5/PC version, and the PlayStation buttons all have the right clickiness. Only the directional cross is a tad softer.
The built-in rev indicator just above the logo in the reflective glass is cute, functional, and well-nested in the overall design.
The sequential paddle shifters have a problem, though.
You can hear their click before they finish their run, and this often makes you think you’ve shifted gears but really haven’t yet.
The setup experience on F1 24 was great. I always like a lighter brake, so I switch the brake and clutch pedals as soon as possible.
With other brands’ steering wheels, this simple task can take a long time and even prove unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the G923 Trueforce makes it as trivial as it sounds.
The face buttons are clicky as they should be, while the D-pad is a bit soft[/caption]I was also surprised by how light the pedal unit is and how, despite its light weight, it manages to stick to the floor all the time.
That said, steering feels very accurate, and it was as if I had never stopped using the wheel in these nearly five years.
When in the middle of the track, the feedback is lighter than on direct drive wheels, of course.
On curbs, instead, it’s hard enough to keep you away from them.
Steering can be a bit light. This changes from game to game, and in fact, the results are different even from F1 24 to WRC, proving a great deal of versatility.
But at first glance, with default settings, this makes it more suitable for sports racing than street racing, like the most recent Assetto Corsa Evo.
Along with the steering wheel, I also tested the Logitech Driving Force Shifter. It’s meant to be purchased separately, at a list price of £54.99, but it’s the perfect complement to the G923.
Shifting gears has a credible weight to it, and the device, despite a shorter lever and smaller knob, is very realistic. The quality of the leather materials is really good, too.
The only downside is that the clamps often don’t keep it fixed to the table when you shift gears, which can be rather annoying in the heat of the moment.
The experience itself is a revelation. Using the H-pattern shifter completely changes how you look at racing games, bringing you much closer to how cars are actually driven.
That’s especially true in rally games, where you need to keep one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the gearshift at the start.
After a learning curve of very few minutes, it’ll be very hard to go back.
Officially priced at £379.99, but now often found on sale, the Logitech G923 Trueforce still represents the ideal entry point into the world of steering wheels.
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I’m feeling so down since my online match ghosted me
DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER years of being single and lonely, I was over the moon when I finally connected with a man online.
Our conversations flowed effortlessly, and I was so excited to meet up with him, but now he takes ages to reply to me and I’m feeling beside myself.
I’m 42, he’s 45, and we matched on Plenty of Fish. We hit it off straight away and quickly started texting daily.
Every day I’d be on the edge of my seat waiting for his replies, and I’d be lying if I said my feelings weren’t developing.
I couldn’t help myself from getting excited as he told me about all the dates he wanted to take me on, and I was counting down the days until we met.
Then last week his replies got slower and slower until he eventually messaged to cancel our dinner plans and ghosted me.
Now I’m feeling so disappointed and down. I keep rereading our conversations over and over again to find out what went wrong, and it’s eating away at me.
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: It’s normal to get your hopes up and start imagining all the possibilities when you like someone, so it’s understandable you’re feeling disappointed.
As painful as it may be, instead of trying to find a reason as to why things changed, instead try to focus on what his behaviour says about him.
If he doesn’t have the emotional maturity or grace to explain himself to you, then he’s shown what type of partner he would have been.
My support pack Love Online will help you navigate things going forward.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.
Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
I’m worried what my narcissistic daughter-in-law will do now she’s pregnant
DEAR DEIDRE: MY daughter-in-law is the most conniving and narcissistic woman I’ve ever met, and now that she’s pregnant, I’m sick with worry that my unborn grandchild will become a chess piece in her selfish games.
I’m 65, my son is 34, and his wife is 32. They’ve been together for three years, and it’s safe to say it’s been a complete nightmare.
From the moment they met, she’s been intent on isolating him and turning him against his entire family.
At the beginning we tried so hard to make her feel welcome and accepted.
My wife took her out for lunch, we bought her thoughtful gifts for Christmas and birthdays, and we even went as far as inviting her on our family holidays.
Yet all she’s done is repeatedly throw our kindness back in our faces.
From being outright rude and making snarky remarks to manipulating situations to make our son think badly of us, she’s gone above and beyond to cause trouble in our family.
We’ve tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but as time passes, the more distant our son becomes, and it’s clear she’s the root of the problem.
Now she’s pregnant, I’m feeling a mix of conflicting emotions. While I can’t wait to be a grandfather and see my son become a dad, I’m worried.
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: As hard as it is to accept, unfortunately you can’t do anything about your son and his relationship.
He is an adult, and he has to decide what is right for him and his growing family. All you can do is continue to do as you have been by offering kindness and support.
You could have a talk and mention that you’ve noticed he’s distant. Ask him if anything is worrying him and let him know you will always support him no matter what.
Avoid criticising your daughter-in-law though as this would make him feel conflicted and is likely to push him further away.
You can find further support through Family Lives (www.familylives.org.uk, 0808 800 2222).
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.
Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk