We look at the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Phone from Xiaomi. See more here.

Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Phone from Xiaomi reviewed

The packaging is sleek, though, like other recent phones launched, you will need to have power sources ready for it. Hopefully it plays nicely with your own in-house phone chargers. It seems like Xiaomi are having another go at cracking the European markets. This in itself makes it seem like a stop start effort, maybe they don't need Europe, whereas with other brands over the last few years the new iterations, evolutions and updates have been much more regular, and, whisper it perhaps, consistent. Our testers were initially, who, oh yes, of course, but it's been a while, so they had begun to wonder if this was still a going concern. Clearly it is, but even to have that impression suggests that there is work to be done by Xiaomi to build greater brand awareness, interest and, for them, ideally, loyalty to the product.

Once they got these grumbles off their chests our testers like the phone mostly. It has a nice design, is fairly intuitive to use, and does all the usual things pretty well. That said at times they wondered if it was neither fish nor fowl. Not a blow them out of the water, top of the range device, and not a bargain basement option either. The middle ground is perhaps larger, but it can also be a little bewildering too, devices looking for a niche and an ideal home. This phone is not making a play to be your go-to gaming device for example, though it is not terrible either.

Our testers wanted to really enthuse about the phone, but like someone who has been on a first date, and then finds that an undue amount of time has passed without hearing anymore, they begin to wonder how far they should get invested in any of this. The phone has a lot of potential, but will it last, how long will it remain working like this, because they have been let down before. Is it worth committing this time around. Overall they decided to give it a cautious thumbs up, hoping that their experiences, and faith will be rewarded by decent phone longevity and an ongoing series of updates and fresh iterations. Time will tell if this is a prudent choice.

More about the phone

Xiaomi Corporation ("Xiaomi" or the "Group"; stock code:1810), a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an Internet of Things ("IoT") platform at its core, today announced the launch of Redmi Note 14 Series in the Irish market. This latest line-up includes four devices that take Redmi Note to the next level: Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 14 5G, and Redmi Note 14. With a high-resolution AI camera system, all-star durability, and impressive experience, Redmi Note 14 Series comes with all-round upgrades to bring flagship-level features to a wider audience.

Capture life's moments in extraordinary detail with powerful AI camera systems

The camera system at the heart of Redmi Note 14 Series is crafted for flagship photography. Leading the way, the Pro variants feature a powerful 200MP pro-grade AI camera system with optical image stabilization (OIS), enabling users to capture incredible detail. Moreover, the advanced zoom options provide exceptional versatility - from capturing the smallest details with 2x and 4x optical-grade lossless zoom, to reaching distant subjects with up to 30x digital zoom on Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G. Meanwhile, Redmi Note 14 and Redmi Note 14 5G are equipped with a 108MP AI camera system that delivers vibrant colours and sharp detail, making high-quality photography accessible at every price point across the series.

To further elevate the photography experience, the Redmi Note 14 Series' front cameras have been upgraded to at least 20MP. Thoughtfully designed with 0.8x wide angle zoom across the entire series, the front cameras make it easier than ever to include everyone in a group selfie, capturing and preserving shared mo...

By Julie Smith

I see brilliant individuals who don't know just how brilliant they are. I see brilliant teams who seem unaware of the extent of their brilliance. This is the confidence gap and it opens up when the felt sense of confidence lags behind the reality of capability. I advocate 'humble confidence' - a level of confidence where our sense of what we are capable of aligns with the reality of our skills and abilities. It's a solid and balanced form of confidence and it unlocks the assurance and ease that underpins sustained performance.

Closing The Confidence Gap in your team

Whilst it's possible for individuals and teams to deliver outstanding results despite the nagging self-doubt that inhabits the confidence gap, there's a price to pay: the self-doubt tax. In high performers who lack confidence, the self-doubt tax is levied in the form of overwork and exhaustion. These high performers fill the confidence gap with self-defeating habits such as over-preparation and punishingly high standards. Whilst these work in the short-term, the cumulative effect is draining and burn-out becomes a real risk.

Let me offer four practical things that you can do as a leader to close the confidence gap and unlock humble confidence in your team:

Stretch them just enough

There's a paradox that in order to build confidence, we must push ourselves to take action without it. It's the repeated experience of acting, learning and progressing - in spite of our self-doubt - that grows our confidence over time. By pushing ourselves to do something new and scary, we find out a bit more about what we're capable of. This is the truth that sits behind my suggestion that you stretch your team members just enough. This is about helping your people to be brave. Challenge them with assignments that they see as just beyond their capability and then offer your support as they gather their courage and push themselves to tackle this new and scary thing.

Give confidence enhancing feedback

Tell your team members (clearly and frequently) what you value about their contribution. Take the time to give specific, positive feedback, and vary the mechanic that you use - the occasional voice note, text or email is great because it's something that they can come back to multiple times. And if something doesn't go well? Support your team members to pull out the learnings and to avoid the trap of black and white thinking - rarely is anything either a 100% success or a 100% failure.

Embrace 'grow not know' as your leadership mantra

As a confidence-building leader, your role is not to be the expert who knows all of the answers. Your role is to be the facilitator who supports your people to grow, enabling them to see how capable they are. In practice, this means favouring asking over telling, coaching your team members to find solutions for themselves. Useful coaching questions include "remind me what you're trying to achieve here?" "Walk me through the thinking that you've done so far?" and "If there were no constraints, what would you do?"

Step back

Set clear performance outcomes and then step back to ensure that the team has sufficient space to operate and to figure things out for themselves. Don't be tempted to step in and resolve issues or disagreements. Whilst it's likely that there will be occasions when your role as final decision-maker is required, stepping in too quickly or too often builds a reliance on you as the arbitrator and stunts the development of the team. Instead, provide support for the team to resolve difficulties between themselves. As the team builds that muscle, it will deepen their sense that they have what it takes to succeed, to tackle (together) whatever is thrown at them.

With humble confidence, your team knows where they are collectively strong and they understand where there is room to develop. They identify where they must reach out beyond the team to access the capabilities they need. The team is proud of its accomplishments to date, and kn...

Ireland's three Regional Assemblies, in collaboration with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University, are proud to announce the launch of the National Census Atlas, a groundbreaking tool that provides an unprecedented view of over 200 social, economic, and environmental indicators at the neighbourhood level across Ireland. Alongside this, a new section on the Regional Development Monitor (RDM) dedicated to key Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) indicators is also being unveiled.

This pioneering atlas is hosted on the Tailte Éireann GeoHive platform via the Regional Development Monitor (RDM), enabling users to explore a wealth of data in an accessible and interactive format. From housing trends and employment statistics to environmental factors, the atlas delivers valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens alike.

The National Census Atlas offers:

Neighbourhood-level insights: Detailed mapping of data for informed decision-making at the local level.

Comprehensive indicators: Over 200 datasets covering critical aspects of Irish life, including demographics, social and cultural factors, education, health and wellbeing, housing, employment and economy, communications and ICT, and transport and commuting.

User-friendly access: An intuitive interface powered by the GeoHive platform, making data exploration straightforward for all users.

All data in the atlas comes from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Census 2022 results, ensuring the most up-to-date and accurate representation of Ireland's social and economic characteristics.

A Resource for Evidence-Based Planning and Beyond

The National Census Atlas is primarily aimed at supporting the planning sector in Ireland, providing a robust resource for evidence-based planning and policymaking. It will be a useful support tool for Government Department and State bodies, local authorities, community groups and planning consultants.

However, its applications extend far beyond, offering valuable insights for secondary and third-level students in understanding the social and economic characteristics of the country.

Examples of the Tool in Use

The National Census Atlas illustrates its potential to support current and future policy development for key social issues. For instance:

Population change: The tool shows levels of population change over the last twenty years, highlighting areas of major population growth alongside regions experiencing continual population decline.

Household heating sources: The atlas details variations in household heating methods within and across counties, providing essential data for policies aimed at achieving a just transition from fossil fuels.

Employment clustering: Insights into the clustering of employment in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industries, and professional services can guide regional economic development strategies.

Religious affiliation trends: The tool reveals differing trends in religious affiliation between urban and rural areas, offering a nuanced understanding of cultural shifts.

Commuting patterns: Detailed data on commuting patterns to cities and large towns helps inform transport and infrastructure planning.

Setting Ireland Apart as an International Leader

The National Census Atlas is unique in its scope and detail. No other country has developed a national resource as comprehensive as this, positioning Ireland as an example of international best practice. This innovative approach highlights Ireland's commitment to leveraging data for sustainable development and inclusive planning.

Technological Advancements for Local Authorities

One of the key advancements in this tool is its ability to allow local authorities to develop their own maps tailored to their specific areas - counties, cities and towns, local electoral areas and municipal districts. This feature empowers local authorities and elected members to better understand and respond to the unique needs of their commu...

We look at the Flexi Spot Standing Desk With Brushless Motors(E9), see more about the product here.

Flexi Spot Standing Desk With Brushless Motors(E9) reviewed

The desk base and surface top come in to different packages. Both of these have a serious heft to them. If your postman does not collapse then you are good to go with the assembly process. This particular model is one of their top of the range products, and it does offer a feeling of stability and ideally, longevity too. The fact that the company is also selling the desk with a twenty year warranty further suggests that they are confident about it's durability and long life time too. This is a good thing too, because, while our testers went up and down numerous times with the controls, adjusting the height level of the desk top, it is of course impossible replicate twenty years of repetitious usage. That said, apart from your standing up moments, you would imagine that, for the most part it will be more often used in one, favoured setting. With this caveat in mind our testers were positive and enjoyed the user experience for this desk.

Welcome to FlexiSpot's Mega Factory!

More about the standing desk

Exceptional Stability

Enhanced Columns with Semi-T Leg Structure With a thickened semi-circular joint at the column, E9's T-shaped base enhances the desk's stability. Thickest Column LegMade from high-quality carbon steel, it is the latest column design among market standing desks, measuring 95.6mm, 26mm thicker than average. Well-designed Leg Structure Compared to inverted structure, unmatched stability can be delivered with upright three-stage leg design.

Superior Sturdiness

Steady when movingThe liquid in the water glass stays smooth as E9 moves. Sturdy at the highest levelAs the E9 rose to its maximum altitude, all angles of push remain sturdy. Stable under higher loadsE9 can withstand push-ups performed by adult men.

Strong Load-bearing Capacity and Durability

Smooth TransitionsThe dual-motor system runs more smoothly with brushless motor technology, reducing vibration due to the lack of brushes and commutators. Ultra-long service lifeBrushless motors extend E9's service life to 71 years*, allowing it to be used from youth to old age, namely three generations. 180kg Weight BearingWith a dynamic weight capacity of up to 180kg, the E9 can support multiple heavy equipment, while most desks can only handle 125kg.

*Based on third-party testing under a light load of 30kg, simulating over 260,000 height adjustments (calculated at 10 adjustments per day, 365 days/year). Actual lifespan may vary with load and usage conditions.

Intelligent Operation

Smart TouchscreenInnovative touchscreen design for easy height adjustment.

Ideal Memory Function4 Preset heights for personalized sitting and standing positions.

Child LockSafety child lock design prevents accidental operation and gives your family peace of mind.

USB Charging PortConvenient USB charging port provides easy access to power, ensuring efficient work and life.

Tidy Workstation

Magnetic Fabric Cable Cover The desk also comes with a magnetic fabric cable cover to keep your workspace looking spick and span. Visually organized and attractive Friendly to family with furry friends

See more product reviews here.

The 11th annual I Wish Showcase, held today at the RDS in Dublin, saw 4,000 female students gather to be inspired to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Maths (STEM). Today's event - the largest I Wish Showcase to date - was officially opened by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Taoiseach said: "I'm delighted to attend today's event, with 4,000 brilliant young minds gathering under one roof, ready to reimagine the world through STEM. I Wish proves that with opportunity, role models and determination, there are no limits to what girls can achieve - breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and building a brighter, more inclusive future for all."

With 45% of girls citing a lack of access to female role models as a barrier to STEM careers according to a recent I Wish survey, 46 speakers engaged directly with students at the all-island event, showcasing the power of visible role models in shaping aspirations and breaking barriers. Among them were Olympic sprint star Phil Healy; Olympic rower Zoe Hyde; Olympic relay star and Deloitte's Strategic Project Lead, Claire Dunne (née Bergin); and international rally driver Aoife Rafferty, who shared their journeys of perseverance, ambition and success.

This year's event also features the largest-ever exhibition hall, with over 30 exhibitors from leading Irish and global companies and organisations showcasing exciting STEM career opportunities. Highlights included the Sport Innovation Hub in collaboration with Sport Ireland's HER Moves campaign, where students explored how technology is transforming sports through interactive activities like rowing machines, reaction boards and jersey design stations. The Food Science Hub, led by Carbery, Kerry Group and Dawn Meats, demonstrated STEM's impact on the food industry with machine learning tools, cheese-making tasks and problem-solving games.

Engineering and construction activities range from a Giant Jenga game with Jones Engineering to mini-golf with Regeneron, alongside insights from companies such as Sisk, Crown and Dornan on the evolution of careers in construction. Students also discovered the role of STEM in business and innovation with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Adding to the excitement, the Podcast Hub, in collaboration with Virgin Media, allowed students to record live podcasts, with a select few invited to visit the studio post-event to record their own.

I Wish co-founder Caroline O'Driscoll highlighted the significance of providing access to inspiring role models, stating: "The findings from our most recent annual survey report make it clear that while progress has been made, systemic barriers persist, preventing too many young girls from seeing STEM as a viable career path. Collectively, we must give real choices to girls and ensure that they have every opportunity to take their place in the economies of tomorrow.

"At our Showcase, over 4,000 teenage girls get the opportunity to listen to the lived journeys of some amazing female trailblazers. This in turn allows them to see what a career in STEM is truly like, understand the variety of careers and pathways available and the positive impact that STEM has on our world."

I Wish, a multi-award-winning programme showcasing the power of STEM to female students in Ireland and across the globe, has held its renowned annual Showcase since 2015, engaging with over 65,000 students in this time, hosting over 1,000 speakers, and partnering with over 130 industry leaders.

I Wish co-founder, Gillian Keating extended her thanks to the leaders in STEM from pharmaceutical, technology, food, sports and engineering sectors taking part in the event: "Each year it is magical to watch the ambitions of young girls from across the country expanding in front of our very eyes as they take in all that they can be through careers in STEM. We're so grateful to our partners, both multinational and indigenous, who take part in the showcase demonstrating t...

ZeroRisk, a leader in merchant risk and compliance management software has announced it has raised $4 million in a funding round led by Elkstone. ZeroRisk will use the funding to expand its U.S. presence where it serves a number of Tier 1 acquiring banks.

Founded in 2023 to redefine compliance and cybersecurity, ZeroRisk transforms end-to-end merchant management for leading financial institutions across the globe. Its technology streamlines payment card industry compliance and delivers real-time data insights for acquiring banks, payment service providers, digital sellers, and other financial institutions to manage complex portfolios.

ZeroRisk's Merchant Management platform is a unified, cloud-native solution that turns complex processes into one scalable system. The software allows users to manage all aspects of merchant risk and compliance such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and the NIST Cyber Security Framework. By leveraging vast amounts of data, the platform provides real-time analytics, dynamic risk scoring, and actionable insights. This helps organisations identify vulnerabilities and surface cyber risks before they become critical issues. The platform also integrates automated compliance workflows and a curated solutions marketplace, allowing users to proactively enhance performance, and improve decision-making.

"ZeroRisk's platform sets a new standard for merchant risk management at acquiring banks, expanding beyond cybersecurity and compliance to address broader merchant risks and other critical compliance standards'" said Gary Nolan, Co-Founder and CEO of ZeroRisk. "This funding allows us to scale globally and continue delivering innovative solutions to our customers."

The payment card industry is grappling with increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and mounting regulatory demands. The majority (80%) of global companies fail to meet PCI compliance standards, particularly in the SMB space, underscoring the critical need for enhanced security measures and strict adherence to evolving regulations.

Zerorisk's platform is addressing these threats by providing enterprise-grade security solutions tailored for small and mid-size businesses at scale. Through advanced risk intelligence, automation and seamless compliance enablement, Zerorisk empowers SMB's to protect their businesses with the same level of security as larger enterprises. By democratising cybersecurity, ZeroRisk is bridging the gap between regulatory complexity and practical, cost-effective protection - ensuring that every merchant, regardless of size, can operate with confidence in an evolving threat landscape.

ZeroRisk will use the new financing to expand its operations globally, particularly in the U.S. market. The company is hiring for 40 roles across a variety of functions, including data science, user experience, product, engineering, and sales and marketing. These new roles will enable the firm to enhance the delivery of cutting-edge solutions that empower acquiring banks, ISOs, and merchants with real-time insights and advanced compliance tools.

"ZeroRisk is uniquely positioned to help acquiring banks manage the complexities of merchant portfolios in an evolving cyber risk landscape," said Niall McEvoy, Head of Venture at Elkstone. "Their scalable solutions and innovative use of AI are setting a new standard for risk management in the payment ecosystem, and we're proud to support their ambitious plans for growth."

See more stories here.

Amazon has signed its latest power purchase agreement in Northern Ireland, for the Corlacky Hill Wind Farm. Once constructed, the wind farm, located near Swatragh, will consist of 11 turbines with a total capacity of 47 megawatts (MW). The wind farm is projected to inject £2.5 million into Northern Ireland's economy, according to the wind farms developer ERG, and will support Amazon's Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040.

"Amazon is committed to providing the infrastructure and services our customers need, while also helping powering our operations more sustainably," said Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy at Amazon for EMEA. "We recognise that the electrification of our society, along with digitalisation, requires investment in energy sources and grids we depend on if we are to access the full potential of AI. That's why we have invested in more than 230 solar and wind projects in Europe, making us Europe and the world's largest corporate renewable energy purchaser in 2024."

Investing in the renewable energy sector

Across the island of Ireland, Amazon has enabled a total of six wind farms, which when completed, will provide 373 MW of carbon free energy, enough to power the equivalent of more than 298,000 homes.

Amazon supports the global transition to carbon-free energy and accelerating the decarbonization of electricity grids. For example, as part of a strategic collaboration with Bord na Móna, an Irish semi-state climate solutions company, Amazon Web Services (AWS) will become the firstbusiness to join the Bord na Móna Eco Energy Park in the Irish Midlands, subject to regulatory and planning consent. This Eco Energy Park is the first of its kind in Ireland and will support large-scale industrial growth backed by wind and solar power, and flexible generation to support grid resiliency.

In addition, Amazon supports Ireland's ambitious offshore wind targets, and its leadership in digital infrastructure presents a unique opportunity to drive forward climate, economic, and social goals. To realise this potential requires a concerted effort from government, industry, and the private sector, with technology companies playing a crucial role through corporate power purchase agreements in supporting future offshore wind projects and fuel Ireland's digital transition. Find more in Cloud Infrastructure Ireland's report here.

Supporting local communities

Amazon met its 100% renewable energy goal seven years early in 2023, and has invested in enough renewable energy projects globally to power the equivalent of 24.6 million European homes. The renewable energy projects Amazon enables not only helps match the electricity consumed by our operations, but also provide new sources of carbon-free energy to the local communities where our customers, vendors, and employees live and work. They also help create jobs, support local businesses and the economy, which are all part of Amazon's commitment to become a more sustainable company.

Learn more about Amazon's broader carbon-free energy strategy here.

See more stories here.

We look at the Flexispot Ergonomic Office Chair(BS14). See more about it here.

Flexispot Ergonomic Office Chair(BS14) reviewed

When this package comes you might need a fit and healthy postman, as the package came in 26 kilos. It is not unliftable, but it is certainly on the heavier side. That side, for the price that it is, you would perhaps expect a fair amount of heft for your chair. Some other chairs we have reviewed have come ready to go, preassembled, whereas for this one you are going to have to put this one together yourself. We're not saying it is difficult or tricky to do, but you will just need to get your Lego / IKEA mindset on when this one comes.

FlexiSpot | Discover Professional Comfort - BS14 Ergonomic Chair

Once installed our testers were very positive about it. They enjoyed sitting in it, spinning in it (not to be encouraged, but you know how testers can be) lounging in it, stretching back, and even, finally doing some work sitting at a desk too. They felt that it seemed quite robust, comfortable and good for encouraging you to even get some work done. The flexibility and options for adjusting to your optimal back position were all great. As always you might need to remember to do this, but as the creators would say, that is up to you to remember to do, rather than the fault of the chair. As always if you are going to be spending a lot of time sitting down, having a great chair is definitely something worth investing in.

Pursue a Healthier Sitting

Let's expect our chair BS14 to be a reliable companion in both your work and life! It aims to help you maintain an ergonomic, correct, and comfortable posture, in terms of:

(A) Adapts to the body's natural movements;

(B) Offers sufficient support based on biomechanics;

(C) Relieves lower back, neck, and upper limb pain.

8° Forward Seat Tilt

You can adjust the seat angle forward, promoting an open hip angle. The tilted position helps to reduce pressure on your lower back and encourages a more natural and upright posture. Additionally, this function helps prevent slouching and alleviate discomfort associated with prolonged sitting by engaging core muscles and promoting spinal alignment.

Supportive Headrest

The headrest is designed with versatility in mind, which features both height and angle adjustments to ensure the perfect fit for every user. Crafted with soft-to-the-touch material, it gently contours to the curve of your neck, preventing neck problems, and allowing the musculature of the neck and shoulders to relax.

Multifunctional Armrests

The armrests are engineered to offer multiple adjustment options that are easy to use. They can be adjusted up and down, forward and backward, inward and outward. This ensures that your arms receive optimal support in any sitting position, relieving tension in the upper back and neck.

Designed to contour to the curves of your body, promoting a healthy posture and reducing fatigue from prolonged sitting. It offers comprehensive support from head to legs, featuring independently adjustable lumbar support for additional lower back relief. Adaptable to your dynamic needs, with an adjustable headrest, armrests, backrest, and seat. Constructed with high-quality breathable mesh fabric and a "waterfall"-shaped high-density foam cushion for durability and comfort, making this chair an ideal choice for professional use.

See more about the chair here.

A lucky Vodafone Business customer will get to answer Ireland's call and bring their business to the big screen at a packed Aviva Stadium as Ireland host France in round three of the Six Nations Championships on March 8th.

Vodafone provides business support to over 60% of Irish businesses. The Bring your Business to the Big Screen initiative is worth over €25,000 to the successful SME and is open to Vodafone SME Business customers.

Vodafone is offering its winning partner some of its own in-stadium pitch-side branding for the highly anticipated Six Nations fixture against France. The winning business will also receive an exclusive video content package, two VIP tickets to attend the match and see their brand advertised, as well as an exclusive invitation to meet the team at their Captain's Run the day before the match.

Last year's Six Nations clash between Ireland and France attracted a TV audience of over 1 million viewers in Ireland and 6.6 million viewers in France and when Ireland last hosted the French in Dublin in 2023, the fixture delivered a 70% share of Ireland's TV audience.

As the two tournament favorites go head-to-head, the Aviva Stadium will be at full capacity adding another 50,000 people to the number who will be exposed to the company's brand. To enter, companies must visit the Vodafone.ie business website and fill out a simple form - entries must be submitted by the 7th February, 2025.

Over 2,000 SMEs applied to participate in Vodafone's 'Bring your Business to the Big Screen' initiative in 2024 which provided four small Irish businesses exposure during the Autumn Nations Series at the Aviva Stadium in November 2024 - SOS Cookies (Limerick), The Farmhouse.ie (Longford), JANDO and Lotts & Co. (both Dublin) were featured on pitch-side and digital screen advertising during the game.

Amanda Nelson, CEO at Vodafone Ireland said: "This initiative is one of the most rewarding for our Vodafone Business team as we get to leverage our Irish Rugby sponsorship to the benefit of one of our SME customers. This scheme will expose their brand to over 1 million people in Ireland and will also deliver significant exposure overseas. Ireland and France are the favourites for this year's Six Nations title, which will increase interest even further in the fixture and provide a fantastic platform for one of our SME customers to share in the spotlight."

Vodafone Ireland has been the main sponsor of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) since 2016. As part of this sponsorship, Vodafone shares a number of exclusive benefits with its customers, allowing them to feel part of the #TeamOfUs.This competition along with practical supports like V-Hub, a free digital support service offering tailored advice to help businesses navigate their digital transformation journey, are just some of the ways Vodafone is supporting small businesses.

"What's occurring?" is an expression regularly used in one of my favourite TV shows, which finally ended this Christmas.

Gavin and Stacey was one of those shows where you cared about everybody. When discussing the show with people, you realised that the characters' names were on the tip of their tongues, and each person had their own favourite.

This is the sign of a good storyline created by great writers who have developed fully rounded characters. People you care about, as opposed to cardboard characters you see in lots of movies and TV programmes.

Of course, none of the above would be possible without a cast of actors who could put flesh on the bones of each person.

I would have liked to have attended one of their house parties on the show. They were great events full of music, laughter and bonhomie!

The Irish House party:

When I listen to Irish people discussing their childhood, they all remember the house parties where everyone sang and played a musical instrument, even if it was just the humble comb with some paper wrapped around it.

These were times when, as they would say now, we had nothing, but managed to enjoy ourselves from time to time.

All that was needed was an excuse: the afters of a wedding, a funeral, friends and family up for the match, a christening. We just want to get together to provide some short-term relief from the Ireland of our past.

It would appear now that "we're a great little country", but we need to be careful not to forget who we are and where we came from.

When did you last have a group at your home for an evening of fun and music?

The event I'm talking about does not need to be a significant, costly event which requires a lot of time and effort.

Why not have some friends and relatives over for a beer, wine, and snacks.

With just a plate of sandwiches or very dodge pizzas, (Tayto cheese and onion constitutes a snack), tell some stories, perhaps sing a few songs, recite your favourite poem or reminisce about family and friends.

Now, I hear the objection: we can't drink and drive, and of course, you can't.

But you could hop in a taxi, the cost would still be less than an indifferent meal in a pub or restaurant, which provides little or no interaction or stimulating conversation.

Come on, take the plunge!

Tell people what's occurring and have a good time for yourself and those you who have not seen in an age.

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie