03

LayerZero Multi-chain Applications And Potential To Revolutionize The Blockchain Industry  LayerZero is a groundbreaking blockchain interoperability protocol that is poised to revolutionize the blockchain industry. It enables seamless communication and transfer of assets between different blockchain networks, overcoming the limitations of traditional blockchain silos. This technology has the potential to unlock a wide range of new applications and use cases, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and beyond. The key to LayerZero's success lies in its ability to create a unified ecosystem where multiple blockchain networks can interact with each other. This is achieved through the use of smart contracts, decentralized oracles, and a unique verification process that ensures the integrity of cross-chain transactions. By allowing different blockchains to communicate and share data, LayerZero opens up a world of possibilities for developers and users alike. ...

Peugeot’s new 5008 has taken top spot in the large 7-seat SUV segment for the first six months of 2018, writes Trish Whelan . Big brother to the multi-award-winning 3008 SUV, Irish Car of the Year 2018, the 5008 has taken a huge 14pc of the D-SUV market year to date.   Colin Sheridan, Sales and Marketing Director at Peugeot Ireland, said the new 5008 has been a huge sales success in Europe since launch and that performance has been replicated in Ireland since initial stock arrived in late 2017, right through the first six months of this year during which Peugeot gained many conquest customers to the brand. “Over 80pc of 5008 customers are new to us,” he added. With the 2008 and 3008 SUVs, the Lion Brand’s passenger car market share jumped by +53pc June year-to-date in a market that has seen a slight decline. “With strong orders for the all-important July 182-registration plate, we look forward to the second half of 2018 with confidence.” It features three rows of seats...

Volvo Cork Week is the biennial sailing regatta based around Crosshaven and Cork harbour. This year it runs from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 July. Over the 40 years of its history, Cork Week has cemented its reputation as a world class sailing experience, flavoured with the key ingredients of friendly competition, varied sailing and superb entertainment. In partnership with Johnson & Perrott, Volvo Cork Week has seen a surge in entries for this years event as 110 boats and crews from all over Ireland, the UK and from as far away as Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong, USA have already signed up. With 28 clubs represented, it makes 2018 one of the most successful regattas to take place in Crosshaven. Gavin Deane, General Manager of The Royal Cork Yacht Club, recognises the importance of the local economy saying “it is worth up to 2 million euro to the locality”. Competitors can enjoy a packed line-up of events and nightly entertainment on-site. There are fun packed family events such as ...

Irish company, Applegreen, has launched its most advanced fuel ever, named fuelgood, writes Trish Whelan . Applegreen is one of Ireland’s leading fuel and convenience retail brands with over 184 service stations, employing approximately 2,500 people across Ireland. Not only is fuelgood their most advanced fuel ever but the company claims it is also good for your car, the environment and it will take motorists further, offering savings of up to 4c per litre, at no extra cost. The company says it cleans your engine so it can perform better and reduces harmful emissions meaning it’s better for the environment. Applegreen has improved its unleaded and diesel base fuel products with an additive to deliver an enhanced product for motorists. The rollout of the fuelgood fuel as standard begins across Applegreen forecourts nationwide and is due to be available in all its forecourts nationwide by the end of the year. Speaking at the launch of fuelgood , Joe Barrett, Applegreen Chief Op...

Opel Corsa There was a drop in new car sales for the month of June while sales of used imports were up, writes Trish Whelan .   The total new car registrations for June were down 10.4pc (1,255) compared to the same month last year (1,400). Registrations year-to-date (87,151) are 4.5pc down on the same period last year (91,215). There’s been a slight increase in New Light Commercial Vehicle registrations (LCVs) of 2.06pc (694) on June last year (680) and year-to-date are up 5.7pc (16,633). New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HGVs) are up 110pc for the month of June (185) compared to the same month last year (88) and are down 1.1pc (1,571) year-to-date. Imported Used Cars sales were up 11.5pc for June 2018 (8,142) over June 2017 (7,304) while year-to-date are 12.8pc (51,879) ahead of 2017 (46,002). Alan Nolan Commenting on the figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), SIMI Director General, Alan Nolan, said “While June has seen a decline in ne...

Kia's new generation Ceed will go on sale in Ireland on 1 August, writes Brian Byrne . It will be available in four trims, with prices ranging from €22,695. Power options will be 1.0 and 1.4 petrol, and 1.6 diesel. Safety technologies which will be standard include forward collision assiste, lane-keeping assist, high beam assist and driver attention warning. All versions will also have Bluetooth with voice recognition and a reversing camera.

A new generation Opel Combo van will be launched in September following a debut at the Hannover Commercial Vehicle Show in September, writes Brian Byrne . Based on the Citroen Berlingo and the Peugeot Partner, following the purchase of Opel by PSA Group, the van will be the 5th generation of the nameplate, and will offer load volume of up to 4.4 cu m, and up to 1,000kg payload. There will be SWB and LWB variants along with a crew cab option. The new Combo will feature a range of connectivity and safety technologies, including a permanent rear view camera. Prices in Ireland will be announced closer to launch.

"C'mon, Aggro. Do your stuff …" Aggro didn't seem particularly interested in the brace of pork chops dangled in front of his snout. Though he had cared enough to slither out of his comfortable mud on the side of the Adelaide River to join us. "Remember, keep your hands inside," our skipper and guide, Steve, warned. At that point, with Aggro up very close and personal to the riverboat, we really didn't need the reminder. The crocodile might not be showing big interest in raw chops, but a couple of fingers or a hand might well have tempted him to an appetiser. "Come on, Aggro," Steve called again, this time almost bouncing the tasty pork on the croc's nostrils. After a further investigation, swishing his tail to stay with us against the current, he made a rather half-hearted jump at the bait, but failed to win as it was whipped beyond him. Then he simply gave up and disappeared under the boat. "OK, we'll go and see if one of ...

Dubliner Derek Tohill, the former double European Rallycross Touring car champion, qualified his Parts for Cars Ford Fiesta in eighth position in Saturday’s heats of the Swedish round at Holjes, heading into yesterday’s third round of this year’s series, writes Richard Burke . However, his hopes of advancing to the final were dashed when a stewards’ decision demoted him in the results of the fourth qualifying heat, denying him a place in the semi-finals and leaving him down in fourteenth position in the European Supercar points table. His teammate Peter McGarry made it to the quarter finals in the Touring car section on his European debut, driving an older Fiesta previously used by Tohill. Kilkenny’s Ian White, the reigning Hewison National and Munster Autotest champion, was the clear winner of the Cork MC Premier Autoparts Munster round at Fermoy, 24 seconds clear of Martin Walsh, with Liam Croston close behind in third place. Photo aabove of Derek Tohill in action in Sweden at ...

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is partnering with TaxiWatch in a bid to help save lives, writes Trish Whelan . Founded by Kilkenny taxi driver Derek Devoy, TaxiWatch is a suicide prevention initiative aiming to help save lives. Developed in November 2014, the service came about after Derek saved three people from taking their own lives in Kilkenny City. Since then, over 200 people have been helped through the programme in Kilkenny alone. TaxiWatch receives hundreds of messages from people in crisis looking for help on a weekly basis. Working closely with charities in Ireland including Pieta House, Samaritans Ireland, Teac Tom and others, TaxiWatch signposts people to charities who provide free counselling and listening services. With 1,127 drivers currently signed up to TaxiWatch across Ireland and Northern Ireland, the primary aim for the initiative is to increase members. This involves getting as many tai drivers as possible signed up and trained in the SafeTALK suicide awaren...

“What’s the horsepower?” I ask Georgia Smith as her brother throttles back following a series of maritime ‘doughnuts’ in the end of evening dark off Stokes Hill Wharf, and settles the boat for its more leisurely finish towards tying up after a night out on Darwin Harbour. "Triple 300," she answers, meaning three 300hp engines. It doesn't surprise me. The MV Flatback cruiser had shown a very surprising turn of speed several times over the evening as Georgia and her two brothers — “you got the family crew tonight” — had taken us and the rest of the group on the Sea Darwin ‘Fish and Chips Sunset Cruise’ around the harbour area. The engines had been pushed to full song between points of interest, which certainly upped the experience compared to similar trips we've had elsewhere. Sea Darwin was established by Georgia’s parents, marine scientist Jim Smith and Heather King, after they and their three children had spent a year transiting the West Pacific ocean in a 40-fo...

The third generation Citroen Berlingo light commercial vehicle, dedicated to professionals, is set for launch at the end of this year, writes Trish Whelan . Now called Berlingo Van, it is available to order. This newcomer makes a generational leap in terms of styling and equipment and gains new features for extra comfort and modularity. It marks the renewal of a best-selling LCV.   Designed for all uses, and adapted to all professions, the new model comes in two sizes, M and XL.   Citroen say it is efficient with its large load volume, easy access and numerous cabin configurations including the Extenso Cab or the Crew Cab.   Citroen Berlingo Van is built on a new platform for better handling, more comfort and more security. It comes equipped with 20 driver assistance systems and four connectivity technologies together with latest-generation engines including the new BlueHDi 1.5 diesel, the PureTech 1.2 petrol and the EAT8 automatic gearbox. ...

Potholed roads not only make journeys uncomfortable but harsh impacts with severe potholes can also cause damage to a vehicle’s wheels, tyres and suspension systems resulting in hefty repair bills for car owners,  writes  Trish Whelan . Ford is helping limit the impact of damaged roads for drivers of its new Focus by introducing innovative pothole detection technology. The system senses when a wheel is falling into a pothole and adjusts the suspension so that the wheel doesn’t fall as far into it. Because the tyre and wheel don’t drop as far, they don’t strike the opposite side of the pothole as harshly. The rear suspension can respond even faster than the front with a signal from the front wheel providing a pre-warning to the rear wheel before it reaches the pothole. This all happens in a split second. The new Focus pothole detection system is a feature of the car’s optional Continuously Controlled Damping technology which every 2 milliseconds monito...

With today, Thursday, set to be the hottest day on record this year, Skoda Ireland are highlighting the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars during the warm weather, writes Trish Whelan . The initiative is part of ongoing dog welfare efforts from the Skoda brand which urges car owners to consider the dangers of leaving pets in cars during this heat wave. Their campaign reveals that even a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal to a dog. The inside of a car can reach 47deg C in just one hour on a 22deg day, while at 26deg C outside, it can reach 37deg inside a car in the space of just 10 minutes. They are advising dog owners: *Never leave your dog in a car in warm weather, even if it feels cool outside * Don’t excessively walk or over-exercise your dog * Avoid walking your dog at the hottest time of the day - often morning or later in the evenings can be cooler * Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog * Dogs can get sun burned especiall...

Tesla has passed the 400 mark in its installation of Supercharger locations in Europe, writes Brian Byrne . This represents some 3,200 actual charging units in the network, placed on major roads on all well-travelled routes across Europe. The average charge time for Teslas on long distance journeys in Europe is 30 minutes adding up to 270km of range. Tesla has added capacity to existing locations along major routes, as well as adding density to the network with new sites.

Fiat Ireland are offering customers welcome bonuses of up to €6,000 or 0 per cent APR finance on selected models until 31 July 2018, writes Trish Whelan . Whether you are a new or returning customer, Fiat can offer you cash savings of up to €6,000 through their new Welcome Bonuses. These are available by model and include: up to €1,750 on the Fiat 500 and 500L models; €1,250 for the Fiat Panda; €1,400 on the Punto; up to   €4,000 on the 500X and €6,000 on the 124 Spider. Customers opting for a Fiat Tipo model can benefit of a diesel:petrol price match offer (with a saving of €1,750 over previous diesel pricing) plus welcome bonuses of up to   €2,500 across the Tip family (hatchback, station wagon or saloon). Alternatively, customers can select a low rate finance of 9 per cent APR (Personal Contract Plan or Hire Purchase) across selected Fiat 500, 500X and 124 Spider models. Paul Hunt, Managing Director FCA Ireland says “Simplicity and transparency a...