Your Thursday lunchtime news catch-up

Enda Kenny has launched a withering attack on the economic policies of Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fáil governments; an investigation is underway after shots were fired at a house in Co Kildare; how a missed golf putt cost sponsor €128m; and John Creedon takes on the Wild Atlantic Way. Here’s today’s lunchtime irishexaminer.com round-up.

Thu, 23 Jul, 2015 - 01:00

TOP STORY

Fianna Fáil governments to blame for economic collapse, says Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has launched a withering attack on the economic policies of Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fáil governments.

IRELAND

Bullets fired through front door of house in Kildare estate

An investigation is underway after shots were fired at a house in Co Kildare.

‘Stuka dive-bomber’ gulls killing mature sheep inland

Giant seagulls have begun attacking and killing mature sheep inland in South and West Kerry, it has emerged.

SPORT

Blackpool owner considering supporters takeover bid

Blackpool Supporters’ Trust’s bid to buy the Sky Bet League One club may not be dead in the water after owner Owen Oyston revealed he was “seriously considering” their proposal.

In the zone: How Jimmy Barry-Murphy has rejigged Cork’s approach

If Jimmy Barry-Murphy didn’t know he was doing something extraordinary, he must surely have realised it when Dónal Óg Cusack lauded his changing of the script after the qualifier win over Clare last Saturday week.

WORLD

VIDEO: Peru set to make first contact with tribe

Peru will try to make contact for the first time with an Amazonian tribe that largely lives isolated in the jungle, part of a bid to ease tensions with nearby villages after a bow-and-arrow attack in May.

Third death confirmed in Czech train crash tragedy

The death toll after a collision between a high-speed train and a truck in the eastern Czech Republic has reached three after a passenger died in a hospital.

ANALYSIS

VICTORIA WHITE: It’s difficult to conceive, but we are creating new generation of orphans

I don’t have enough compassion for infertile couples... I will never quite know how it feels, writes Victoria White.

LIFESTYLE

John Creedon take on the Wild Atlantic Way in epic roadtrip

It’s the Irish roadtrip that is proving an enormous success internationally, so John Creedon couldn’t resist getting back into his trusty VW van and setting forth on the Wild Atlantic Way, says Ailin Quinlan.

EXAMVIRAL

Has Katy Perry hit out at Taylor Swift over her feud with Nicki Minaj?

Katy Perry has seemingly got her claws stuck into Taylor Swift following her Twitter to and fro with Nicki Minaj over the MTV VMA nominations.

VIDEO: Would you give money to a homeless father or a homeless drunk?

Coby Persin, known for his social experiment videos took to the streets of New York City to test the charity of pedestrians.

TECHNOW

GAMING

Game characters madeover by eating disorder support group, http://t.co/Oui3D5BYXq http://t.co/fyGWD6r6Nz PSR pic.twitter.com/ftEkVUPK0B
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) July 23, 2015

#VIDEO #JurassicPark Special Edition adds heels for laughs http://t.co/Ef0iq1KAdI (PSR) #JurassicParkHighHeels pic.twitter.com/MlVBq0JQGi
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) July 23, 2015

#GoogleMaps' #YourTimeline will track your location history http://t.co/tlXcdlFT37 (PSR) pic.twitter.com/3XBe1EEY5l
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) July 23, 2015

BUSINESS

Ryanair shares rise amid ‘cuddly Michael effect’

Shares in Ryanair were boosted yesterday after one of its smaller rivals — British low-cost airline easyJet — forecast profit growth of 14%, and on expectations that the Irish airline’s new “cuddly” customer-service focus is paying off.

Missed golf putt costs sponsor €128m

Stock markets and their fascination with sports stars was thrown into sharp focus when a missed putt by US golfer Jordan Spieth led to a shares rout that wiped $140m (€128.6m) off the value of his clothing sponsor, Under Armour.

SHOWBIZ

Richard Hammond returns to TV with Jungle Quest