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FORGIVE me this week for taking a trip down memory lane.

You will see there’s a method in the madness, and many of the horses who have won today’s feature betting race, the Ladbrokes Trophy, deserve a plug as they became household favourites.

Go back far enough . . . and legends Crisp and Pendil landed this afternoon’s big handicap chase and, once upon a time, it fell to Combs Ditch, who spent much of his time chasing home stars in the King George.

Since 1988, when the contest was rebranded, winners have numbered Grand National heroes Rhyme ‘N’ Reason and Rough Quest, as well as grey legend Desert Orchid, who galloped home in 1990 under 12st 3lb!

Two performances that stand out for me came in 1989 and 11 years later in 2000 — thanks to Bonanza Boy and Gloria Victis.

Both were trained by the genius Martin Pipe, with the former never going a yard before flying home late from off the pace for a remarkable victory under Peter Scudamore.

Gloria Victis was a beautiful class act, and won as a novice with Richard Johnson up.

After Kempton he took on the best in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and was running a belter up front until narrowly headed and falling two out. Sadly he broke a leg. Pipey was in bits.

It’s funny how things happen, but Gloria Victis is significant because, prior to winning here, he hacked up in the Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase over Christmas. Which brings us to HYLAND (3.35) who, I suspect, will take all the beating today.

Nicky Henderson’s youngster also ran in the Feltham, now known as the Kauto Star, and stayed on really well to keep the very decent but now sidelined The Jukebox Man honest.

Hyland is a much better chaser than hurdler, and generally jumps well, although he did make an error at the first that day which didn’t help his cause.

Nico de Boinville takes the ride on an improving stayer who banged in two wins at Cheltenham earlier this term. Hyland has every chance for Henderson who took the prize with the useful Marlborough.

Hyland is not the only novice in the line-up. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White team up with Lowry’s Bar, who comes into the event with similar form. After two wins, Lowry’s Bar was beaten by Hendo’s Jingko Blue at Windsor. A mistake three out that day made a big difference.

Hobbsy has taken the prize with Dr Leunt, Gunther McBride, Farmer Jack and Quinz so knows what it takes to deliver the goods.
Like Hyland, Lowry’s Bar promises to be a Grand National type one day.

Of the more regular handicappers, Our Power should enjoy conditions and did well to land this race last year.

He’s only 3lb higher in the handicap but is now ten. Stable companion Katate Dori has taken a couple of Class 4 events recently but this is Class 1 and he’s down in trip. He needs to do more.

Elsewhere on the Kempton card ITV also show the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase. Rubaud ran well at Warwick last time but I’m not sure about this step up in trip. He’s probably the most talented in the field.

I suspect there will be a strong gallop on with both Imperial Saint and Ashdale Bob possible front-runners and I’ll take BOOMBAWN (1.50) to cause a minor upset at a price.

My selection was well beaten by The Jukebox Man at Newbury, but prior to that had won well from off the pace at Wincanton. I have a feeling he’s a fair bit more skilled than his current rating suggests.

Most eyes will be on MONDO MAN (2.25) in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle.
The former class Flat performer — once fifth behind Look De Vega in a French Derby — made his jumps debut at Ascot when a fair second to the exciting Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba.

Mondo Man pulled Caolin Quinn’s arms out of their sockets that day but still found time to jump well and stay on nicely.

Connections have put all sorts of gear on him to try and get him to settle and the son of Mondialiste who cost a bomb is obviously held in high regard by Gary and Josh Moore.

The Triumph will be very much on their minds if he wins.

It’s very much the calm before the Cheltenham storm at the moment, but there is lots to like about Kempton’s big card.

I’m told Hyland means ‘proud’ in Gaelic. So go on, please make me proud this afternoon, lad. Yeeehaaa!

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HOW one’s heart bleeds for the BBC as it struggles to get by on just £5.4 billion a year, a miserly sum when you have 102 on-air presenters paid more than £150,000 a year.   

The BBC’s income last year, bleats the corporation’s latest report, is 30 per cent down in real terms over the past decade.

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Huw Edwards received nearly £200,000 from the BBC between his arrest and his resignation[/caption]

BackGrid

Disgraced Edwards has still not paid back a single penny to the corporation[/caption]

Alamy

There is no better example of unfairness than licence fee prosecutions – three quarters of which are of women[/caption]

But I know where it could get £200,000 from, if it helps. 

When disgraced former newsreader Huw Edwards was convicted of offences involving child abuse images last summer BBC Director General Tim Davie admitted that he had known about his arrest the previous November.   

Yet between then and April 2024, when Edwards finally resigned from his job, he had continued to receive his full salary.    

He wasn’t working at the time because he had been suspended and then signed off sick when he was caught paying £35,000 to a young male fan in return for naked pictures.

Given that Edwards was paid a whacking £475,000 it meant that he received nearly £200,000 between his arrest and his resignation.   

That is more TV licence fee revenue than the BBC takes annually from a thousand households.   

No matter, said Davie. The BBC would demand the money back. And if Edwards was uncooperative, it would look at legal action.

Guess what? It appears that Edwards has still not paid back a single penny.  

Edwards was lucky to have been spared jail. There are plenty of seedy men like him who have spent time behind bars for downloading child pornography.

Instead, he has been allowed to withdraw into genteel retirement in his native Wales courtesy of you and I.   

What many hard-working people would give to have had the chance to amass a pension fund of £200,000. But that, of course, is only what Edwards was paid during the last five months of his employment.   

His pension pot is worth far, far more – according to some estimates he could be enjoying a pension of around £300,000 a year. 

There seems to be no chance that he will be stripped of that pension. Davie said last year that it would be “nigh on impossible” to claw it back.

On the other hand, what about the £200,000 Edwards was paid during those last five months of his BBC employment when he wasn’t working and was known to have been charged with serious criminal offences?   

Perhaps it is too much for him to do the decent thing and return the money voluntarily. If you are going to look at sexual images of children, clearly there is something wrong with your moral compass. 

But why the feebleness on the part of the BBC?

Easier targets

It is outrageous that the salary was paid in the first place. And how ironic, given the mercilessness of the contractors charged with collecting the licence fee on behalf of the BBC.  

I don’t have much sympathy for people who are deliberately evading paying the licence fee, but many of the nearly 50,000 people prosecuted last year for evasion do not fall into that category.  

They include seriously ill people who have forgotten to pay while they undergo treatment, and people on low incomes who have been struggling to pay rent as well as utility bills.

You can’t listen to the BBC long without being lectured to about some grave injustice when women are claimed to be getting a poor deal, yet there is no better example of unfairness than licence fee prosecutions – three quarters of which are of women.    

Perhaps TV Licensing finds them easier targets.          

The last government tried to put things right by promising to decriminalise the licence fee so that it would become just like any other utility bill – TV Licensing would have to send you multiple reminders to pay before collecting the money through the civil courts.    

That would have spared people on low incomes the crushing blow of receiving a criminal conviction for being late in renewing their TV Licence.   

But the BBC complained bitterly that it would reduce their income, and the Conservatives were too pathetic to follow through with their promise.

The BBC should never have been paying Edwards £425,000 a year in the first place

It has been the same with every government over the past generation.  

They have known that the licence fee is an anachronism – a hangover from the days when the BBC was the only channel available on television.  

But they have seemed too frightened to reform it.

The BBC should never have been paying Edwards £425,000 a year in the first place. It says it needs to compete for talent with commercial stations.   

But surely the whole point of being a public service broadcaster – which would be the only justification for the licence fee – is that you are not competing with commercial broadcasters.

The BBC has tried to have it both ways for far too long.  

The Huw Edwards scandal must be the moment of realisation when the government finally does away with the licence fee and makes the BBC earn its keep, like any other broadcaster.  

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Many of the people prosecuted last year for evasion include seriously ill people, or those on low incomes[/caption]

A GARDA probe is underway after a severed human hand was discovered at a primary school.

The find was made today at Our Lady Immaculate school in Darndale, north Dublin.

A scene is being preserved as the State Pathologist has been notified.

Cops will now carry out inquiries how the severed limb ended up there and who it belongs to.

As part of this, the remains will be brought away for DNA analysis.

A garda spokesman told the Irish Sun: “Gardaí were alerted to the discovery of partial human remains at a premises in Darndale, Dublin 17 this afternoon.

“A scene is currently being held and the State Pathologist has been notified, in line with standard practice.

“The remains will be removed for examination and DNA analysis, which will assist Gardaí in confirming the identity and determine the course of the investigation.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

There were no students at the school today as it is during the mid-term break.

Garrett White - The Sun Dublin

DJ Khaled is the latest rapper to receive an ominous black coffin on his doorstep as the Grammy Award-winning producer is dragged back into his reported feud with Drake.

The creepy makeshift casket, with an upside-down white cross in the center and the words “RIP Drake” and “RIP OVO” written on it, was left outside the front gate of DJ Khaled’s Florida home on Saturday evening.

SWNS:South West News Service

SWNS:South West News Service

The coffin was dropped off at Khaled’s Miami residence by two people who pulled up to the property in a truck and claimed to be from a delivery company, according to TMZ.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

A TEENAGER obsessed by murder wanted to carry-out a mass shooting at his own school.

The boy “idolised” the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in the United States in 1999, which saw 12 students and a teacher gunned down.

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The teen “sympathised” with killers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris[/caption]

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The psychotic pair murdered 12 students and one teacher[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

At the time, Columbine was the deadliest shooting at a high school in US States history[/caption]

The teen repeatedly spoke about doing the same at his own Edinburgh secondary describing the “Doomsday” when he would “clear it out”.

He also held racist and pro-Nazi views.

The boy – who the court heard identified as trans – had already been referred to a UK-wide programmed designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who stabbed three young girls to death last year, was previously referred to the same scheme.

A large-scale police probe was sparked in the summer of 2023 after a social media photo of him at school in full combat-gear and carrying an imitation gun caused panic among pupils and parents.

The now 17 year-old – who cannot be identified due to his age – appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today.

He pleaded guilty – via his defence KC Shelagh McCall – to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act.

The crimes spanned between June 2022 and July 2023.

The teenager had his bail revoked by judge Lord Arthurson pending sentencing next month.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell told how, on June 20 2023, the boy had turned up at school wearing boots as well as cargo trousers and had brought with him a military tactical vest and helmet.

Mr Farrell: “He was later seen at the school carrying an imitation firearm while wearing the vest and helmet.

“A photograph was circulated on social media. It was taken and published without his knowledge.

“The image provoked a considerable degree of fear and alarm among pupils and parents.

“Police were advised by a parent who saw the image.”

Officers went on to discover that the boy had a TikTok account which had footage of him in black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask.

Mr Farrell: “One piece of commentary referenced school shootings.”

The teenager was immediately suspended.

It emerged the vest and helmet were part of a costume for a short film he had been involved in for a drama class. He had been the “kidnapper” and had used a “prop gun”.

Police, however, went on take statements from other pupils who knew the boy.

Mr Farrell: “They provided information that the boy had exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours over a period of time.”

“The greatest concern was suggestion he had divulged to various people a desire to carry out a school shooting similar to that which had taken place in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado in the USA.”

Classmates recalled how the boy “spoke excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm” when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings.

He “sympathised” with the pair behind it – Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris – and would copy how they had dressed.

One girl said he “idolised school shooters in America”.

Mr Farrell: “In November 2022, he told her how he would go about carrying out a school attack.

“He explained that he would start on the second floor and that he would ‘clear it out’ using guns.

“He would then move downstairs continuing to shoot until police arrived, at which point he would turn the gun on himself.”

The boy described a possible mass shooting at his school as “Doomsday”.

He said it would occur on April Fool’s Day or his last day of sixth year.

Mr Farrell: “He spoke about setting up trip wires at fire exits and of placing ‘pipe bombs’ at the school.”

The boy claimed he would buy a 3D printer to help construct a firearm.

He was said to be so “interested” in Columbine that he stated he wanted to change his name “in an act of homage” to Klebold.

Mr Farrell: “One pupil told police that the boy wore the same black trousers, trench coat, cap worn backwards and circular glasses as favoured by one of the Columbine pair.

“He often made comments that he “looked like a school shooter’.”

The boy told another classmate that he would “place a bomb in every second classroom”.

He would then shoot people as they fled the building.

The boy further openly chatted about the making of what were described as deadly “pressure cooker bombs”.

The court heard he wanted to get a job in a gun shop and steal firearm parts “one by one”.

The boy told one girl he met online that he wanted to carry out a shooting as he was being bullied and was “fed up” being there.

He had also told her that he wanted to “poison” people by getting them to drink something.

His phone was described as being “full” of photos and videos of shootings as well as others of Hitler and Nazi Germany.

The boy had further claimed “n*****s are good for nothing” and that they “should be wiped out”.

The teenager was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on July 9 2023.

A number of his electronic devices were seized. There were various files on a mobile phone including about ‘homemade’ firearms and poisons.

The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to “glamourise” the mass killing.

He had recorded another clip of him at his own school which seemed to “mimic the actions” of the American shooters.

Police also seized a journal in which the boy had made various sinister remarks.

One stated: “I can’t wait to hold my gun again in my gear. Hoping I’ll get a bomb…kills this time. Will be unstoppable.”

The hearing was told the boy had previously been referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme due to concerns.

The first – in November 2022 – was as a result of worries raised by fellow pupils.

The visit at the family home included a terrorism officer attending.

It was said this initial meeting appeared to “go well” and that the boy “engaged” with the police.

It was then decided at that time the involvement of Prevent would end.

However, the boy continued to openly discuss school shootings although no further action was taken.

The second referral was then made in June 2023 after the image of the boy in the combat gear at school was circulated online.

A probe – sparked by the deputy head teacher – had revealed “a catalogue of episodes” of the boy displaying “a variety of alarming behaviour”.

The court heard a more recent concern was flagged up by the college the boy now attends of him allegedly remarking that he was “annoyed at getting caught”.

Defence advocate Miss McCall had asked the teenager to remain on bail pending sentencing.

She described the accused as “vulnerable” with on-going issues.

But, Lord Arthurson did not continue bail. The boy instead is expected to be sent to a secure-unit for young people or what was described as a “place of safety”.

Sentencing was deferred for reports.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, 18, killed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar at a dance class last July.

Last month, he was jailed for a minimum of 52 years.

He was referred to the Government’s Prevent scheme three times by teachers.

SHARLENE Mawdsley has unveiled her ‘brighter’ look after a quick trip to the hairdressers.

The 400m sprinter shared a video that recapped the before, during and after for her Instagram followers.

@sharlenem1

Her hairdresser working right in the middle of the makeover job[/caption]

@sharlenem1

Using whatever these things are called…[/caption]

@sharlenem1

The glossy end result where Sharlene hailed ‘the colour and the blend’[/caption]

Amusingly, it was soundtracked by a pop song called ‘Blondie’ by English artist Maisie Peters.

Its chorus goes ‘I’ll f**k your life up as a blonde’ so it was an apt choice as the 26-year-old diverted from her natural brunette colour.

Getting back to matters slightly more aligned with her daily life as a world-class athlete, the Tipperary native last week criticised a Netflix documentary series for ‘not showing the reality’ of athletics.

The TV series – named Sprint – was released last year and charts the careers of a group of elite runners.

According to IMDB, it ‘provides an insider’s perspective on the high stakes and mental toughness of sprinters.’

However, while Mawdsley did watch the show up to a point, she believes it did not give fans an insight into the inner workings and sacrifice in the sport.

She told RTE: “We’ve discussed it as athletes between ourselves, even just with my training group.

“It’s very glamourised and I think that’s the side of the sport people see quite often.

“You see us going out to the track with our hair done, our make-up done, our tan is on and we’re looking our best.

“You don’t see us puking on the side of a track in training and I feel it would have been nice had they showed that a little bit more.

“I think there was a lot of noise made in Sprint, whereas that’s not actually the reality of our sport.

“Of course, it’s a part of it but it’s not the 95% of it that they didn’t show.

“It would be nice if you could see more of that.”

She is an active user of social media, through which she gives her followers an inside look at her own progress.

This includes training camps in the likes of South Africa and the Tenerife.

With that territory comes negative and troll comments, with Mawdsley admitting to such in an interview with the Irish Independent.

The Newport AC export said she tries not to get bogged down when it comes to media attention.

She explained: “Mostly I don’t think twice about it, but then you are walking down the street with your groceries and someone stops you for a picture.

“The crying on TV was a big one, because it showed people how much it meant to us.

“I am sitting here at the track and these are the days that no one sees that you have to dig in and do the work.

“The majority of the attention has been good — I get messages from mothers all the time saying how much of an impact it has on their daughters.”

Attention in traditional media has brought with it scrutiny on social media.

She added: “I definitely get comments.

“Someone posted under one of my training posts last week: ‘All of this training for fourth at the Olympics.’

“Sometimes I’ll bark back and say, ‘How did you get on at the Olympics?'”

THE Airtricity League First Division match between Wexford FC and Longford Town has been postponed.

Following torrential rain in the area on Thursday night and Friday morning, the playing surface was deemed unplayable.

Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

In a statement on Friday afternoon, the League of Ireland confirmed that the match, scheduled for this evening, had been called off.

It said: “Following a pitch inspection at Ferrycarrig Park amid heavy rainfall in the area, tonight’s SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division fixture between Wexford and Longford Town has been postponed.

“We will issue a new date for the fixture in due course.”

Wexford FC followed this up with a short social media statement of its own.

It read: “We regret to confirm that tonight’s game has been postponed due to the heavy rainfall last night and this morning.

“Ticket purchasers will be contacted via email”

It is not the only First Division fixture that is under threat from the conditions.

UCD are due to host Bray Wanderers at the UCD Bowl on Friday night, with the home side having lost their first game and the visitors having won theirs.

A pitch inspection took place on Friday afternoon at 2:15pm.

Following the inspection, the League of Ireland confirmed that a second inspection will take place at 5:30pm, after which a final decision will be made.

As well as five games in the First Division, there will be four fixtures in the Premier Division.

Shamrock Rovers, as a result of their elimination from the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, will not be in action.

Instead, the pick of the matches will see Derry City welcome Bohemians to the Brandwell.

The Gypsies will be in buoyant mood going in, having beaten Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday.

Elsewhere, Drogheda United will host Sligo Rovers, while champions Shelbourne travel to the RSC to face Waterford.

And finally, Stephen Kenny‘s St Patrick’s Athletic travel to face Galway United.

That game will be shown live on Virgin Media.

Kick-off at Eamonn Deacy Park is at 7:45pm.

DUNNES Stores designers have brought back a must-have lounge set – and have also dropped in a gorgeous new colour.

The Airlayer Collection is available online and in stores across the country.  

dunnesstores.com

dunnesstores.com

The fashion giant announced the set is now available in a gorgeous purple shade.

The retailer said: “Your favourite sweat set is back in a brand new shade.”

Shoppers will be scrambling to get their hands on the Airlayer Ultra Soft Crew Neck Sweatshirt in purple.

Dunnes Stores chiefs said the sweatshirt has any “airy feel”.

They said: “Elevate your everyday with this airlayer sweatshirt.

“Lush cosy fabric, with a smooth knit and a lightweight, airy feel.

“Featuring a classic crew neckline and two handy pockets, it’s perfect for both lounging and working out.”

Choose from a bold cobalt blue, cool bone shade or light-grey.

The soft sweater, retailing at €15, comes in sizes XS to XXL.

Style with the matching Airlayer Ultra Soft Joggers, also €15.

Dunnes Stores designers said the pants will “elevate your everyday” wardrobe.

They said: “These joggers feature a cuffed leg, side pockets and an elasticated waist.

“A comfortable essential perfect for lounging and exercising.”

The cosy joggers have the same smooth knit and lightweight fabric.

And jetsetters will love the cosy set for traveling in style.

The Irish retailer has been delighting fans with the new spring-summer releases.

Instagram user Kate, who posts under the username @chasingtrendswithkate, shared a short video to the platform for her followers.

In the caption of the post, she noted that the pieces were “new arrivals” in store.

The Gallery Stella Embroidered Jacket is now available online and in shops around the country for just €40.

It’s the ideal piece for layering over an outfit to add a smart touch.

And it’s a unique item that adds flair to whatever you pair it with.

The smart jacket costs €40 and can be found in sizes 8 up to 20.

And luckily for fans of the look, all sizes are still up for grabs online.

It features a slouched shape at the shoulders and a bold black and white pattern with a round neck.

Fashion bosses said the jacket has a “sophisticated” look.

An official description of the item reads: “Crafted from pure cotton with an edge-to-edge design, this collarless jacket from Gallery is a sophisticated outer layer

“Boasting intricate embroidery, it effortlessly elevates day-to-day ensembles.”

dunnesstores.com

dunnesstores.com

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the outcome of the Europa League – and it doesn’t look good for Manchester United.

The Red Devils have endured a miserable season so far.

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A supercomputer has predicted Man Utd to crash out early in the Europa League knockout stages[/caption]

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It’s better news for Tottenham[/caption]

They currently sit 15th in the Premier League table with just 29 points from 25 games.

And their hopes of a trophy are now pinned on the FA Cup and the Europa League.

Ruben Amorim and Co have been handed a difficult last-16 draw in Europe’s second-tier competition.

United will face La Liga side Real Sociedad for a place in the quarter-finals.

However, a supercomputer from Slingo predicts they will suffer a 5-3 defeat on aggregate.

The algorithm – which has given Man Utd an 11 per cent chance of winning the competition – suggests Amorim’s side will lose 3-2 away from home and 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are predicted to win their last-16 meeting with AZ Alkmaar 2-0 on aggregate.

Spurs are then tipped to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

PA

Tottenham have been predicted to reach the final[/caption]

The supercomputer has predicted a thrilling affair between the two teams, with Spurs ultimately winning 5-4 after two legs.

Ange Postecoglou and Co are then expected to face Lazio in the semi-finals.

Should that be the case, they are predicted to win 3-2 on aggregate to secure a spot in the final.

However, that is where the Europa League journey will come to an unfortunate end for Spurs.

According to the supercomputer, Tottenham will lose 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao in the Spain final.

It would mean Bilbao would win the title in their own city – at San Mames Stadium.

The teams expected to miss out on the final are Lazio and Real Sociedad.

Lyon, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Rangers, Roma, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen and FCSB are also set to fall short of Europa League glory.

IRISH jetsetters are being warned about potential disruption to flights in and out of Dublin Airport.

Ryanair issued an urgent warning regarding high winds today, February 21, 2025.

The low cost airline have warned that some flights may be disrupted as a result.

Ryanair chiefs confirmed that affected passengers will be notified.

All passengers travelling to and from Ireland today should check their Ryanair app for latest updates.

In a statement posted on the website, Ryanair chiefs said: “Potential disruptions to/from Ireland (Fri 21 Feb) due to high winds.

“Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling to/from Ireland Fri 21 Feb should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.

“We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by these weather conditions, which are outside of Ryanair’s control and affect all airlines operating to/from Ireland Fri 21 Feb.”

It comes as 23 counties have been slapped with Status Yellow weather warnings before “rotten” conditions blast Ireland this weekend.

Met Eireann confirmed that multiple coastal counties in the country have been slapped with a wind and rainfall warning as Ireland braces for the weather to take a turn for the worse this weekend.

Met Eireann has warned of very heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and the risk of local flooding on Sunday.

The forecaster has placed Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow under a Status Yellow Wind and Rain warning.

The alert, which warns of “very strong and gusty southerly winds together with spells of heavy rain” on Sunday, will be in place from 2am that morning and remain there until 3pm.

Difficult travel conditions, localised flooding, fallen trees, loose debris and poor visibility were all outlined as possible impacts of the weather.

Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo will be placed under a nine-hour Status Yellow warning from 3pm on Sunday until midnight.

Met Eireann told people in those counties to expect difficult travel conditions, fallen trees and loose debris.

The UK Met Office has placed Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry under a Status Yellow wind warning from 3am on Sunday until 3pm that afternoon.

A number of flights to and from Belfast City Airport have been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.

The Met Office issued a status yellow weather warning for Co Antrim, Co Down, and Co Armagh from 6am this morning until 1pm this afternoon.

Belfast Airport said: “While Belfast City Airport remains open and operational, due to adverse weather conditions there may be disruption to flights across the UK.

“Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight directly with the airline before travelling to the airport.”

A number of Aer Lingus flights to the UK have been cancelled.

A 9.50am trip to Birmingham in England was cancelled, with a flight number EI 3642.

And flight EI 3652 to Edinburgh, set to take off at 10.20am, was also cancelled.

An 11.00am flight to Manchester, EI 3610, has been scrapped, and so has flight EI 3672 to Leeds Bradford which was set to leave at 11.05am.

FLIGHTS INTO BELFAST SCRAPPED

And a number of flights into Belfast Airport have also been cancelled.

Flight number EI 3651 from Edinburgh, Scotland to Belfast City has been scrapped.

It was set to depart the Scottish capital at 8.20am.

At 8:35am, an Aer Lingus flight from Birmingham to Belfast City was set to take off, but flight number EI 3641 has been cancelled.

The list of axed flights also includes flight EI 3601, set to depart Southhampton at 08:55am.

Flight number EI 3621 from Cardiff to Belfast City, set to take off at 8.55am, has been cancelled.

And an 11.55am flight from Birmingham to Belfast City, EI 3643, has been scrapped.

Flight EI 3653, with an 11:40am departure time, from Edinburgh to Belfast City, has been cancelled.

Also axed are flights EI 3611 from Manchester to Belfast City and flight EI 3623 from Glasgow to Belfast City.

Lastly, flight number EI 3673 from Leeds Bradford to Belfast City, with a take off time of 12.45, has been cancelled.

Customers to various airports have been strongly advised to check their flight status before heading to the terminals.

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