hmv is returning to Limerick next week with a new store in the Crescent Shopping Centre, open from 9.30am on Friday 16 May. This will be their second store now in Ireland after Henry St opened in Mid 2023
With over 18,000 different products on offer, the 5,478 sq. ft store is the perfect destination for fans of music and pop culture to discover new items.
Record enthusiasts and collectors will be able to browse 5,000 different vinyl albums, while the store will also stock 5,500 different CDs and a wide range of music technology. For fans of pop culture and entertainment, there will be 3,000 products across franchises such as Stranger Things, Pokémon, Star Wars, Marvel and DC, as well as 300 different T-shirt designs.
On opening day, the first 50 customers to make a purchase will receive a free pop culture swag bag full of quirky Kenji or Funko products. Customers can also take advantage of amazing in-store offers, including the 2 for €50 vinyl offer.
With a performance space in-store, the hmv shop in Limerick is expected to draw signings and performances from both established international artists and grassroots local bands. Local musicians and bands who want to get a gig experience can contact staff in-store for details on how to perform through hmv’s Live&Local programme. So far, the programme has seen over 1,600 gigs performed this year in stores across the UK and Ireland.
Phil Halliday, hmv Managing Director, UK and Ireland said:“hmv has a rich history in Ireland and we’re delighted to announce we’ll be returning to Limerick with a new store inside the Crescent Shopping Centre. There’ll be deals on music, TV, and film, as well as a new dedicated performance space for both established artists and local bands, with the aim of turning the store into the best music destination in town.”
Bronwen Dawson, Store Manager, said: “Nothing beats discovering new music and pop culture products in a store filled with expert, knowledgeable staff. We’re beyond excited to be back in Limerick and we can’t wait to fling open the doors and show customers round on opening day.”
The store’s address is Unit 1, Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle Road, Limerick, V94 4X28, and its opening hours are:
Ørsted has begun construction on its second Irish solar farm in Ballinrea, located between Carrigaline and Cork City.
Once completed, the 55MW solar project will have the potential to generate enough electricity to power 16,000 homes.
Awarded a RESS 4 contract in September 2024, it’s expected the solar farm will be fully operational in 2026. Ballinrea marks Ørsted’s second solar project to take off in Ireland – following the 81 MW first phase of Garreenleen Solar Farm in Co. Carlow, on which construction began in June last year.
In solar, Ørsted’s current pipeline stands at over 700 MW, supporting the Irish Government’s 8 GW solar energy target by 2030. The investment in Ballinrea is the twenty first advanced or operational onshore wind and solar project in Ireland, powering the equivalent of 250,000 homes nationwide.
Commenting on the news, TJ Hunter, Vice President Onshore in UK & Ireland at Ørsted, said: “I am delighted to confirm that we’ve begun construction on our second Irish solar farm in Ballinrea. If we are to ultimately achieve a green energy future in Ireland, solar is a fundamental piece of the jigsaw. We have a strong solar pipeline currently at over 700 MW and we will continue to look at opportunities for solar projects in Ireland to help the government achieve its target of 8 GW of solar energy target 2030”.
“2024 marked Ørsted’s biggest ever construction year with 1.5 GW of onshore renewables and 6.7 GW of offshore wind currently in construction across the globe. While challenges remain, we are confident we are going in the right direction to create an energy system run on clean, reliable and renewable power”.
Ørsted has also bolstered its presence in Ireland, relocating to a brand-new office space on Albert Quay, Cork. The high-specification office is Ørsted’s onshore headquarters for Europe employing over 100 people, with the ambition of growing that number. Ørsted’s investment in Ireland has reached €800 million, across a mixed portfolio of wind and solar projects.
SciFest, Ireland’s largest and most inclusive STEM fair programme for second-level students has announced its return ahead of its 20th anniversary with a call for entrants to the SciFest regional fairs, taking place across the country. The SciFest programme is funded by grants from the Department of Education and Research Ireland and by private sector sponsorship, primarily by Intel, Boston Scientific, EirGrid and new partner Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
SciFest organisers kicked off the launch of the 2025 competition in Explorium with students from Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School in Co. Dublin, and announced the theme for 2025 as ’STEM is for All.’
Project entries are accepted across a range of scientific disciplines including physical and life sciences and technology. Students wishing to participate should log on to the SciFest website (www.scifest.ie) and enter online. Completed entry forms must be submitted by 12 March 2025.
The regional fairs take place across the months of April and May, with selected winners going on to compete at the SciFest National Final in November 2025. Here, they will have the opportunity to take home the overall prize and represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in the United States next year.
Speaking ahead of the competition’s 20th year, Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO said:
‘SciFest is back for 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited. I would urge all students to get involved and enter, no matter your background or circumstance, to explore the wonderful world of STEM and all it has to offer. Previous winners of the competition are thriving and have gone on to achieve incredible things, from launching their own start-ups to studying at prestigious institutions like Oxford University. SciFest opens the door to an array of opportunities.
As we plan for our 20-year celebrations, we look forward to an exciting year ahead in which the competition will grow to even greater heights. I want to take a moment to thank our sponsors for their continued support, without which none of this would be possible. We can’t wait to see the fantastic and innovative projects that lie ahead, so don’t miss out! Sign up today and be part of this exciting journey.’
The competition has grown rapidly since its inception in 2006 and drew over 15,000 student participants last year. SciFest aims to support students in research development, critical thinking, and problem-solving, all the while fostering an interest in STEM. It is free to enter and is open to students of all backgrounds and circumstances.
Skullcandy has just announced the release of their all new Crusher ANC 2 Headphones, the newest edition to the iconic Crusher Franchise. The headphones take Skullcandy’s patented Adjustable Sensory Bass to the next level and we have tried and tested and you will love it and also comes with the addition of Active Noise Cancelling, upgradable features, hands-free voice control and more, all for an unbeatable price of $229.99 MSRP. With up to 60 hours of battery life, rapid charge technology and customizable EQ modes, these headphones are perfect for tech-savvy audiophiles who crave an immersive audio experience. And we have been testing these out for some time now and delighted to do so as I am a huge fan of the crusher range but not only that their other products too which you can find here on site and there is lots to pick from.
The Crusher ANC 2 headphones have been designed to deliver personalised, customizable experiences for every listener, with Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, users are enabled to create and tune features to their unique hearing preferences. If you are a fan of bass there is no need to look anywhere else for bass driven headphones plus you can customise these to your own taste. Lightweight and durable, these headphones boast design updates with comfort-ability in mind. Having tested these out long enough now I am the type that wears my headphones or earbuds for hours on end and these are super comfortable with no clamping effect or get sweaty either.
Built with larger ear cups, an asymmetric yoke and a notch in the headband for improved comfort, ideal for all day wearing. The headphones are also flat-folding and collapsible, packaged in a durable travel case, making them perfect for on-the-go use. Again a carry case provided which will keep your headphones safe and away from dirt or dust and this is something instilled in me for many years now as I have a big range of headphones I use in a cycle over time and keep them protected and all look like new today even ones that are near ten years old.
“This latest generation of Crusher gives fans the bass response they loved in its predecessors, with the added feature of Active Noise Cancelling,” said Jason Luthman, Director of Global Product Management.“We have been refining and improving the Crusher Technology for over a decade now, Crusher ANC 2 is our 7th iteration in the family. For those looking for a premium headphone, the all-new Crusher ANC 2 has it all and will no doubt deliver the world-class listening experience they crave, while layering on robust, in-demand features at a ridiculously good value.”
Skullcandy iQ app
Skullcandy developed a user experience centred around individual customization. Users can personalise the proprietary haptic bass one of three ways; rotating the adjustment wheel on the left ear cup, using the hands-free voice command “Hey Skullcandy, More Crusher,” or creating bass preferences directly on the Skull-iQ app. Adjustable four-mic Active Noise Cancelling not only detects and cancels noise but can now be customised and refined. Users can also set up a Personal Sound profile to tune Crusher ANC 2 to their unique hearing through a short hearing test on the app. We go through the app below and show you what is involved here and again the Skull iQ offer and experience to make life so handy for you without having to touch your phone or headphones when using it to do all the things you usually do with your headphones and more.
Up to 60 Hours of Battery Life (ANC off) –And up to 50 Hours of Battery Life with ANC turned on.
Rapid Charge –10 minutes of charging gives you up to 4 hours of playtime
Adjustable Sensory Bass – Skullcandy’s patented bass technology, is responsible for the experiential bass for ‘Music You Can Feel’
Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling – Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality
Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology®–Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on and adjust Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, Take Photo and more
Over-the-Air Updates – Update headphones via the Skull-iQ App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the headphones
Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels
Multipoint Pairing – Seamlessly pair to multiple devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer
Clear Voice Smart Mic –Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear
Preset & Custom EQ Modes – Choose one of the preset EQ modes or create your own custom EQ
Customizable Button Functions – Personalize your headphones by customizing your on-board button controls
Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic connection and pairing with the last device used
Built-In Tile Finding Technology– If headphone is misplaced, simply “ring” it from the Tile app
Durable, Lightweight Design – All-day comfort with asymmetrical, ergonomic earcups
Conclusion
Skullcandy have done it again with a winning pair of cans and I certainly welcome the new addition, they have been on a roll of late with their collabs too and if you want headphones that you own and you take control of with excellent ANC sound and bass with sensory adjustment these are what you need right now.
