A MAN, aged in his 50s, has been killed in a crash in Co Mayo.
The man, who was the sole occupant of the only car involved in the collision, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene last night.
Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene on the R323, Knock Road, at Bracklaghboy in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo shortly after 10pm last night.
The man’s body has been removed to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
The busy road has since been closed and local diversions have been put in place.
Garda Forensic Officers are currently conducting an examination of the crash site.
Gardai have urged any persons who may have any information that could assist in their investigation to come forward.
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, involving a single vehicle, which occurred at approximately 10.10pm.
“Gardai are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 9.30pm to 10.30pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station on (096) 20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
The incident comes after a tragic weekend on Irish roads saw four people killed in separate crashes.
In Cork, 41-year-old mum-of-two Susan O’Sullivan, from Beechwood Park in Mallow and 63-year-old Mary Coughlan from King’s Square in Mitchelstown sadly lost their lives in a crash on Sunday.
The two-car accident happened around 3.45pm on Sunday on the main N72 Mallow to Killarney road near Cork Racetrack.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies have been taken to Cork University Hospital morgue for post mortem examinations.
Ms O’Sullivan was driving the car in which her two children, aged five and eight, survived the crash.
They were taken to Cork University Hospital with serious, but not life threatening injuries.
In Kilkenny, a pedestrian in her 30s lost her brave three-day battle for life after she was seriously injured in a road traffic collision on Friday.
The woman was injured following a collision on the N76 at Westcourt Demesne, Callan, Co Kilkenny around 9pm on March 28.
She was rushed to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny but died early on Monday from her injuries.
Kilkenny gardai have appealed to anyone who was on the N76 at the time between 8.45pm and 9.15pm last Friday to contact them.
And a woman also died on Mother’s Day in an N25 collision in Co Waterford on Sunday.
She has not yet been named but it’s understood she was a Polish national who has been living over recent times in Tallow.
WWE has finally allowed CM Punk a WrestleMania main event fight but it did not come easy for the superstar. Punk always wanted to main event at a WrestleMania and worked his shoes off to make that dream come true. Despite being one of the most popular wrestlers in the promotion, WWE did not fulfill […]
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A MUM has revealed how she’s “ditched” her kids to go on holiday solo – and says she hasn’t got the time to feel any guilt over it.
Catherine Lofthouse is a self-proclaimed “tight mum”.
The 44-year-old often hits the headlines with her savvy – yet controversial – tips and tricks; especially when it comes to travel.
Now, to tighten the budget further, she’s “ditched” her three boys, Alex, 12, William, 10 and Robin, five, and gone away solo – visiting Lille in France and Stratford-upon-Avon in less than a month.
Both trips only cost her £230 all in.
And the writer says she doesn’t feel guilty in the slightest about leaving her kids behind.
“I haven’t got a lot of time for mum guilt over this sort of thing,” Catherine, from Leicestershire, told Luxury Travel Daily.
“As long as my children are happy and safe while I’m away, there’s no need to feel this way.
“I think all parents, especially mums, should all try to take a bit of time for themselves.
“Although it’s often easier said than done when it comes to a busy family life and keeping all the plates spinning.
“But you’ve got to put yourself first sometimes – and if that means going away without the little ones for a few nights to give yourself a break, then so be it.”
Catherine’s take comes as recent research from Trainline revealed that 1 in 2 mums feel too ashamed to travel without their kids.
Even though 57% of them would like to get away without their tots in tow.
The writer, who is already planning her next trip to York, says these two trips are the first time she’s gone away solo.
But she wishes she had done so sooner.
She said: “I’m definitely going to do it more often and for longer periods now that I’ve done it a couple of times and it’s gone well.
“I think going away solo actually makes me a better parent.
“Instead of me dragging them around to do the stuff I’m interested in, they get to stay at home and I don’t have to hear any whining and whinging.
IF you've got plans to go on holiday with your little ones this summer, here's some advice to take on board.
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“The money I’ve saved by going by myself without my family has also meant that I’m able to splash out on them more during the school holidays.
“It’s a win all-round.”
Catherine tries to keep costs as low as possible when it comes to solo travelling.
She says that guilt would start to kick in if she was splashing the cash on herself, rather than her family.
But if she did go away with her kids for the same two trips, they would’ve cost her in excess of £600 for just travel and accommodation.
She added: “When going away with the family, I have to be realistic about how much everything is.
“And trips such as these end up not being much of a holiday as the kids are bored, hungry and tired.
“I would definitely recommend parents going away without their children if it’s doable.
“It’s great to do your own thing without them in tow sometimes.
“You’ll come back feeling refreshed and more able to be the present parent that we’re all aiming to be.
“It’s a no brainer – and you shouldn’t feel ashamed.”
BRITAIN’S Got Talent fans are convinced they’ve sussed the secret to magician Eden Choi’s trick.
Over the weekend, the 24-year-old wowed the ITV panel of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli with his savvy card trick.
In a surprise opening, a curtain lifted to reveal South Korea-born Eden standing on stage.
He then held up a red apple, took a bite and appeared to move it downwards using his mind.
Smoke billowed from Eden’s mouth while a playing card suddenly appeared in his hands.
The magician produced a seemingly endless flow of cards from his hands as they fell around him.
After showcasing a trick with a series of balls Eden, dressed in a black shirt with matching trousers, then wrapped his jaw-dropping segment with another card trick.
Yet keen Britain’s Got Talent show fans are now adamant they have clocked the method behind cards seemingly appearing out of thin air.
One posted on X: “Just watched the great magician but you can see him getting the cards out of his jacket.
“Don’t know why they raved so much.”
Another mused: “Every time magicians like this come on people go ‘actually i saw a string’ ’they had the cards up their sleeves.’
“Yeah because it’s not actual magic.. because that’s not real.”
Yet many were full of praise for Eden – and demanded he go on to win the entire series.
One fan posted: “Best thing ever. Where did the cards come from? A Vegas act but too good for this show.”
Another mused: “The magician Eden was brilliant. Wow.”
BGT have handed out many Golden Buzzer's over the years, can you remember some of the most famous
One then demanded: “Get #EdenChoi on his own show.”
Others reacted in fury when Eden missed out on a Golden Buzzer – a free pass to the next round, with some calling out a “fix.”
Instead children’s support worker Linda Mudzenda impressed Alesha Dixon with her audition and secured a spot in the live shows.
The 21-year-old wowed with her smooth rendition of Lauren Daigle’s You Say.
Judge KSI said: “That was so touching, man, seeing how beautifully you sang. I could feel the nerves as you came to the mic and then you blessed this whole room with your voice.”
Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
AXED Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn caused a stir when she first joined adult site OnlyFans in 2021.
After more than two decades on the Channel 4 series, Sarah left the acting gig behind when she was given an ultimatum by bosses – stop sharing racy snaps or leave.
The mum has always defended the controversial side hustle and slammed bosses for their “blatant hypocrisy” as she claimed her online content was no different from the lads’ magazine and calendar shoots she was asked to do while on the soap.
Now, speaking to TV and radio presenter Zoe Hardman and marketing whizz Georgia Dayton on their parenting podcast, Made By Mammas, Sarah has revealed why she’s still at it and has no plans to stop.
Sarah explained that her son, Stanley, started to realise his mum was well-known a few years ago, and even asked her if she’s famous.
“Little questions will come up,” Sarah said, as she explained that he doesn’t always get why people stop to ask for selfies in the street.
But since leaving the soap, explaining her work as an “accidental influencer” to her son has become more tricky.
Sarah said: “I’ve got this history of being on screen and being part of a big established show, but I think a lot about this, how do I explain to him what I do now?”
Despite it not being her choice to eventually leave her role in Hollyoaks, the mum confessed it was the best thing that could’ve happened to her.
“I had no choice but to make what happened successful for me because essentially I’m the breadwinner out of myself and my husband and I can’t not work,” she said.
Sarah, who played Mandy Richardson from 1996 to 2021, said she still enjoys working and wanted to set a good example for her son, as well as maintain the comfortable lifestyle the family has become accustomed to.
“We have a lovely lifestyle and I want to maintain that,” she said, “and I also want Stan to see that mum and dad work hard, and also that it’s not a chore, we do something we enjoy and that we choose to do.”
For the former actress, being seen as a “strong” woman by her son is important too.
“I think it’s so important in general, but in this time we’re living in I want him to understand that it’s ok for a woman to be the breadwinner, to be capable, to be independent,” she said.
Not only that, but Sarah said she hopes her son will grow up “to be the kind of man to call out other men who are being misogynistic.”
“I think we need more of that as women,” she said.
When it comes to her new career, Sarah said she has no plans to hold anything back from her son when he is old enough to understand it all.
As for her OnlyFans, it came at the perfect time as she felt “so worthless” on set at Hollyoaks after Covid.
“People I think have this image if you’re on TV, they think ‘well you must be successful and you must be loaded’ but they don’t know the ins and outs of the industry,” she explained.
It’s like I’ve found my purpose.”
So when push finally came to shove, Sarah put her foot down and left the show for good.
“[OnlyFans] has been the best thing I’ve ever done in terms of the freedom it’s given me,” she admitted.
And it’s not just the freedom to post whatever she likes online – Sarah said now she doesn’t have to worry about sharing her own opinion without getting it “vetted” by Hollyoaks bosses.
“It was like breathing out for the first time,” she said of not having to question herself or ask permission before speaking in interviews or posting online.
And the freedoms don’t end there, as her own boss Sarah now has complete control of her own schedule.
“It’s given my freedom in terms of time, money… there’s been so much to it,” she said.
But the best part of it all is being able to inspire and empower other women.
“It’s like I’ve found my purpose,” Sarah said.
OnlyFans is a subscription content service based in London.
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Sex workers charge monthly fees for access to pictures, videos and more.
While popular for porn, the site isn’t exclusively designed with that in mind – anyone who wants to build up a fan base and charge them for it can set one up.
Celebs like Katie Price and Kerry Katona are popular personalities on the platform.
“Whether you’re uploading tutorials, tips, behind-the-scenes footage or just endless selfies, a lot of your followers would be willing to pay for them,” the company states.
For every subscription that’s sold to a viewer, performers get 80 per cent of the cash while OnlyFans gets the rest.
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Previously, Sarah spoke to Fabulous as part of the YouTube series Shamed, which explores the effects of trolling on six famous women, where she admitted the reaction to her OnlyFans work has been mostly positive.
“One of the comments that came up the most was ‘she’s a mother.’ I think a lot of this plays into what we’ve been conditioned to feel about being a woman.
“I tick a few boxes now: I’m a woman, I’m a mother and I’m over 40. I cannot be sexy because I’m a mother and I’m over 40. How dare I?
“How dare I expose my body? How dare I do that and be okay with it? How dare my family accept that? How dare my husband be alright with it.
“It’s what we’ve been told that we can’t do. The fact I am standing up and doing it and I am enjoying it and I am successful with it, I think it just annoys people,” she said.
And despite some of the X-rated content on the site, Sarah insisted she would never venture into that sort of content.
Despite how happy she is with her choices now, Sarah admitted she does have one major regret.
“Trolls told me that I’ll regret it but I’m over two years down the line with OnlyFans now and I have zero regrets.
“Actually, that’s wrong, I do have one regret: I wish I’d started it sooner,” she said.
