In addition to the reduction in overall flying, Aer Lingus said up to 500 employees could be leaving the airline.
Jul 17, 2026
Aer Lingus is set to discontinue three Dublin – US routes, and change another Dublin – US route to summertime operation only, as part of “network and organization changes.”
The Aer Lingus Dublin – Denver route is set to be discontinued after September 28, the Dublin – Minneapolis route is set to be discontinued after October 24, and the Dublin – Las Vegas route is set to be discontinued after December 3.
Additionally, the Dublin – Seattle route will only operate in the summer after October 26.
Meanwhile, the Aer Lingus route from Dublin to Split is set to be discontinued after September 29, while the routes from Dublin to Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Malta will only operate in the summer after November.
All customers impacted by the network changes are being contacted directly and provided with reaccommodation or refund options, Aer Lingus said on Thursday.
The network changes will see overall flying reduced by 6%, Aer Lingus said.
The airline noted that, linked to these network changes, there will be a reduction in the use of two A330 aircraft and four A320 aircraft for peak summer 2027.
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The network adjustments are part of wider changes Aer Lingus is implementing “to support required improvement in its operating margin, which is needed to underpin future investment.”
Aer Lingus said on Thursday that it aims to “achieve and sustain a 12% – 15% operating margin to attract investment over the medium term.”
With the aim of growing revenues, Aer Lingus said it “will invest strategically to improve customer experience.” The airline noted it has recently commenced the installation of high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet and that next year, it will retrofit ten Airbus A330 aircraft cabins and introduce Premium Economy to deliver an “elevated inflight experience” for customers.
However, the airline said that in addition to continued investment in customer experience, “reduced costs and improved efficiency are required in the context of a number of wider challenges,” including:
Aer Lingus said that to address these challenges, it has focused on reducing supplier costs and has reduced senior management roles by approximately 25%. In the next stage, the airline proposes to reduce wider employee costs in Head Office functions by approximately 25% and make network changes to remove lower-margin flying.
Aer Lingus said it will consult with employees and their representatives regarding the Head Office function changes and the network changes, which could see up to 500 employees leaving the airline.
Aer Lingus said it will also engage with employees and their representatives on cost efficiency and productivity so that the airline “can be an investment case within the IAG group.”
“The more cost efficient and productive the airline is, the more it will be able to fulfil its network and growth ambition,” Aer Lingus said.
“The consultation and engagement process will focus on reducing redundancies and potential future redundancies and on what needs to be done to secure future investment in the business.”
Commenting on the changes, Lynne Embleton, Chief Executive, Aer Lingus, said on Thursday: “Our accelerated transformation aims to set Aer Lingus up for the future; to ensure the airline is a strong investment case and able to weather the turbulence in our industry.
“An efficient cost base, coupled with investment in our customer experience, will enable Aer Lingus to fulfil its ambition to be the airline of choice connecting Europe with North America, support future growth and continue to provide connectivity and significant economic contribution to Ireland.”
MARTIN HURSON, aged 24, was born in Cappagh, County Tyrone, on 13 September 1956.
Martin was arrested in November 1976 and was charged with possession of explosives following sustained physical abuse at the hands of the RUC. He received a 20-year sentence in November 1977, which he unsuccessfully appealed against on a number of occasions.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
An IRA Volunteer, Martin stood as a H-Blocks/Armagh candidate in the Longford/Westmeath constituency during the June 1981 general election in the South, polling extremely well but missing out on election.
He spent 46 days on hunger strike from 29 May. He died on 13 July 1981.
Shock at death of Martin Hurson
THE death of IRA Volunteer Martin Hurson on 13 July 1981, after 46 days on the Hunger Strike, was unexpected. The suddenness of his death, coming only five days after that of Joe McDonnell, came as a shock since two other Hunger Strikers – Kieran Doherty and Kevin Lynch – had been almost a week on hunger strike ahead of Martin.
Martin had replaced south Derry man Brendan McLaughlin, who was forced to come off the Hunger Strike due to a burst stomach ulcer. His health since being moved to the prison hospital had been deteriorating at a far quicker rate than that of his comrades. Throughout the Hunger Strike he had difficulty keeping down the required daily five pints of water. This problem caused him to hallucinate and he suffered from a degree of incoherence in his speech. He rapidly deteriorated towards the end.
Martin Hurson was the sixth H-Block Hunger Striker to die.
Coming two weeks earlier than might have been expected, his death disproved the assessment that the Hunger Strikers were not in danger until around the 60-day stage. Even as the young Tyrone man was dying, the vindictiveness of the prison authorities never abated. Though the family had been sent for due to his serious condition, Martin’s brother, Francie, was refused entry to the prison because he arrived after 10pm! He spent the night outside the H-Blocks gate as his brother died inside.
• IRA guard of honour lifts the coffin of Martin Hurson at the graveside
The following morning, Martin Hurson’s body was removed by the RUC to Omagh Hospital without consultation with the family. This was to deny mourners en route the opportunity to pay their last respects. Despite this, over a hundred cars followed the hearse from Omagh to the Hurson home in Cappagh, County Tyrone.
Relatives, friends and comrades carried the coffin for the last mile home, escorted by a uniformed guard of honour and followed by a large procession of sympathisers.
Later, at the Hurson home, guards of honour from the IRA, Cumann na mBan and Fianna Éireann stood to attention as unending lines of mourners filed past the coffin.
On Wednesday afternoon, Martin Hurson’s relatives carried the Tricolour-draped coffin, with gloves and beret on top, down the country lane from his home to the hearse waiting to take his remains to Galbally Church. A lone piper led the hearse, which was escorted by an IRA guard of honour, followed by Cumann na mBan and Fianna Éireann. Wreath-bearers headed the thousands of mourners as three British Army helicopters flew overhead.
Following the funeral Mass, the guard of honour carried the remains to the burial plot. Four armed and uniformed IRA Volunteers emerged from the mourners and fired volleys from handguns in honour of their dead comrade. They then stood for a minute’s silence.
• Martin Hurson’s sisters Josephine, Rosaleen and his fiancé Bernadette Donnelly at the funeral
Tyrone republican Francie Molloy presided over the graveside ceremonies. The 1916 Proclamation was read out and a bugler sounded The Last Post as IRA Volunteers stood to attention in salute of their former comrade.
An impassioned and comprehensive oration was given by Seán Lynch, who had been Hurson’s election agent in the 1981 general election. Speaking of Martin Hurson’s past, Lynch described the 26-year-old as “a member of a large family whose mother died when he was only a boy, a young man who played Gaelic football for the local GAA club in Galbally, a lover of all things Irish who was forced to emigrate and who returned and threw in his lot with those who dispute the claim of England to rule over one inch of Irish soil”.
Seán Lynch talked about the sacrifices of freedom fighters of the time, saying they possessed the same “virtue of patriotism, of spiritual, unselfish love of country as it was understood by Mercier, Casement, Pearse, MacSwiney, Stagg, Sands, and Martin Hurson”.
He went on to say their sacrifices would “save the cause of Irish independence from destruction at the hands of foreign enemy and native compromiser, and carry it to victory yet”. There was a certain prophetic note to Lynch’s words and again when he said that the spirit of Martin Hurson shines and “calls like a voice from Heaven, filling young hearts with courage and determination”.
He went on to outline the origins and sources of not only the horrendous conditions endured by prisoners in Armagh and the Blocks but also “all our social and political evils – the British connection”. He also pointed to the “pretence and skulduggery” of the Irish Government of the time who, six deaths later, still refused to support the prisoners’ ‘Five Demands’.
Only three days separated the funerals of Joe McDonnell and Martin Hurson. The proximity of the deaths intensified the depth of frustration and sadness felt by supporters of the Hunger Strikers. Ireland was awash with protests but the British Government still would not budge.
Catholic and Protestant church leaders unite in condemnation of mosque ‘hate display’.
Replica mosque placed on loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent
July 10, 2026 at 8:36am BST
Catholic and Protestant church leaders have said the placing of a replica mosque on a loyalist bonfire is “grossly offensive”.
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, were speaking before police moved in to remove a hate display at Moygashel, near Dungannon on Thursday.
The controversial pyre was set alight before the offensive display was removed.
The model mosque is thought to have been placed on the pyre on Wednesday and was due to be lit on Friday as part of the July 12 celebrations on Friday.
Two signs were placed on the pyre reading “secure our borders” and “end the threat of radical Islam”, while a figure holding what appears to be an ISIS flag was also added.
Images circulated on social appear to show banner hung from a fence close to the bonfire with the message “are you concerned with the current direction of our world – the Bible has all the answers”.
It is not known who was responsible for that signage.
In a joint statement the respected Christian church leaders said society “should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others”.
“The targeting of the Muslim community through crude symbols and threats of violence by sinister forces undermines these Gospel principles of respect and compassion as well as freedom of religion which is a fundamental principle of a democratic society,” they said.
The senior church figures added that “the placement of a replica mosque atop a bonfire is grossly offensive and raises tensions so soon after the unrest that destroyed property and severely impacted the lives of individuals and families.
“Christians of all traditions would be aghast at the wanton destruction of Christian imagery,” they said.
“Likewise, we should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others.”
The archbishops encouraged Christians to reflect.
“We urge Christians, and all people of good will, to reflect carefully on their actions which can ignite violence against innocent people, all of whom are made in God’s image and are therefore worthy of respect and compassion,” they said.
“We want to assure our Muslim fellow citizens and those who are living and working here of the goodwill and respect of the majority of people here.”
The PSNI has come under renewed criticism after refusing to remove loyalist paramilitary propaganda erected at an Eleventh Night bonfire site on the outskirts of north Belfast, despite recently acquiring enhanced legal powers to tackle such displays.
UVF banners and other paramilitary insignia appeared in the Ballyduff area of Newtownabbey in recent days as part of the annual display of sectarian triumphalism surrounding the Eleventh Night bonfires ahead of anti-Catholic parades by the Protestant Orange Order.
Although amendments to Britain’s ‘Terrorism Act’ were introduced earlier this year, granting the PSNI greater authority to remove paramilitary displays, the force has once again failed to act against openly displayed UVF propaganda.
The PSNI’s reluctance to enforce the law against loyalists has reinforced evidence of unequal policing and the state’s tolerance of sectarian intimidation from unionist and loyalist organisations.
Among the banners erected at the site in Newtownabbey is an expensively produced display depicting two masked and armed UVF figures carrying assault rifles. Other signs prominently feature the insignia of the UVF and its youth wing, the Young Citizen Volunteers (YCV).
One banner declares: “The prevention of the erosion of our identity is now our priority – Ballyduff, Glengormley.”
Another glorifies the “1st East Antrim Battalion” of the UVF alongside an image of a masked gunman, while listing a number of loyalist districts across east Antrim.
The bonfire itself is draped in flags, including one bearing the emblem of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment—the regiment responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry in January 1972, when 14 unarmed civil rights marchers were shot dead.
A further flag commemorates a a local UVF commander who died in 2020, highlighting the continued public glorification of loyalist paramilitaries.
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte said the displays constituted clear breaches of the law.
“Decades after loyalist ceasefires, loyalist paramilitary organisations continue to operate as organised criminal gangs, exploiting working-class communities while enriching themselves,” he said.
“The erection of these disturbing paramilitary displays breaches multiple laws, including the Terrorism Act. Nowhere else in Britain would armed terrorist propaganda be tolerated in this way. The PSNI should exercise its powers and remove these displays immediately.”
Earlier this year, PSNI Deputy Chief Bobby Singleton told the Policing Board that “failing to act” over paramilitary flags and emblems was no longer an option.
But last week it emerged that East Belfast UDA flags had again been erected close to Garnerville, despite years of controversy surrounding the display of loyalist paramilitary emblems in the area.
At a recent Policing Board meeting, Alliance Assembly member Peter McReynolds admitted loyalist paramilitaries were effectively “giving two fingers” to the PSNI and Stormont departments and openly mocking the authorities’ repeated failures.
FDNY bantamweight Stephanie Valentin [left] in action against Despoina Karatziou of Mendez Boxing. Valentin lost on points.
FDNY boxers raise $80k
July 08, 2026 by Jay Mwamba
With local Irish amateurs Tim Egan and Declan Friel on the card, the Fire Department of New York [FDNY] boxing club raised $80,000 for charity at its10th annual “Thrilla in Camilla” show at St. Camillus Church in Rockaway Beach, Queens.
The event, under open skies, included eight FDNY pugilists against opponents from various clubs in the New York.
“We donated $50,000 to Tunnel to Towers [Foundation] and another $5,000 each to the Patrick Brady Foundation, the FDNY Foundation, the Fire Family Transport Foundation, the Fight for Firefighters Foundation, the NY Firefighters Foundation and the Friends of Firefighters Foundation,” said FDNY Boxing Club president Bobby McGuire. “A great night.”
Tunnels to Towers has been a major beneficiary of FDNY boxing proceeds before. This current donation brings to $300,000 FDNY’s support to Towers in the past three and a half years. The Foundation provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star/fallen first responder families, builds smart homes for injured veterans, and works to end veteran homelessness.
Members of Donal Ward’s BUA Boxing Gym in Astoria, Dundalk’s Timmy Egan and Donegal product Declan Friel were both victorious on the “Thrilla in Camilla” card. Egan outpointed Bronx firefighter Oliver Patrouch in their 165-pound scrap while Friel recorded his first amateur win with a commanding performance over emergency medical technician Patrick McKeown in the 158-pound division.
The other results were [FDNY boxers listed first]:
Welterweight – John Marrero [FDNY EMS St. 3] lost a split decision to Merrick Hickaro [Woodside Boxing Club];
Bantamweight – Stephanie Valentin [FDNY Eng. 294] came up short in an action-packed scrap with Despoina Karatziou [Mendez Boxing Club];
Cruiserweight – Kyle McGrath [Champs Boxing] defeated Jeremy Witherspoon [Woodside];
Heavyweight – Jason Bergin [FDNY Ladd. 5] was victorious via split points over Aiden Haran [Woodside];
Heavyweight – Sean Massimo [FDNY Ladd. 59] beat Eric Wendt [FDNY Div. 3]; and
Super Heavyweight – Dmitriy Teplitskiy [FDNY Ladd. 173] edged the game Josh Bungalso [Woodside].
