It was so big it couldn’t use the English Channel, Suez Canal or Panama Canal.

The biggest ship in the world was longer than both the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. It was known as the Seawise Giant and became one of the longest self-propelled ships in history.

The boat, later called Happy Giant, Knock Nevis and Mont, was built in Japan between 1974 and 1979. It had the greatest deadweight tonnage of a ship ever recorded.

Fully laden, it was 657,019 tonnes and was the heaviest in the world. Seawise Giant had a draft of 24.6 meters (81ft) and a length of 458.45 meters (1,504.1 ft).

Due to its size, it was incapable of navigating the English Channel, the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal.

The ship has a long history, and was created by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan, as an Ultra Large Crude Carrier.

It remained unnamed for a long time and was identified as its hull number, 1016. The ship suffered severe vibration problems during sea trials, and an unknown Greek owner refused to take delivery of it.

Eventually, the Japanese shipyard sold the ship thanks to a deal with Hong Kong Orient Overseas Container Line. Yet, they wanted to lengthen the ship by several meters and add 146,152 tonnes of cargo capacity.

Two years later, the ship relaunched as the Seawise Giant. In 1988, it was damaged during the Iran-Iraq war after fires erupted aboard the ship, and oil spread into the water.

The ship was still intact but was so damaged it was not deemed economical to repair.

However, a Norwegian investment firm bought the damaged ship. Over the next few years, it was repaired and renamed Happy Giant.

Up until 2004, the ship was owned by various Norwegian investment firms. It was then purchased by First Olsen Tankers and renamed Knock Nevis.

The ship was converted into a primarily moored storage tanker in the Persian Gulf.

However, it was then taken on by new owners Amber Development and named Mont. It had one final voyage to India where the ship was scrapped.

The ship was beached in December 2009 and due to its size, it took until the end of 2010 for it to be scrapped. The Seawise Giant’s anchor was saved and is on public display in Hong Kong.

It goes down in history as the longest ship ever constructed at 458.45 meters and is taller than many of the world’s tallest buildings. The Eiffel Tower stands at 330 meters and the Empire State Building at 443 meters.

In an unusually unpredictable Oscars race, there is only one moment experts agree is a dead cert – Jessie Buckley, on stage once again, to collect the award for best actress.

The big honours started with a Critics Choice award in January. A Golden Globe followed, then a BAFTA, and most recently, a statuette at the Actor Awards.

Buckley is the only acting nominee to take home all four this year, and she has picked up other smaller awards, too. The Oscar, it seems, is hers to lose.

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Gold Derby, the LA based authority when it comes to awards predictions, rates her chance of winning at an almost unbeatable 97%. “It’s really been a crazy award season, it’s been pretty unprecedented,” says Debra Birnbaum, the site’s editor-in-chief. But Buckley, she says, “is a sure thing… a pretty safe bet”.

If Buckley does win, she will make history – the first Irish actress ever to take home the award.

The 36-year-old is being recognised for her portrayal of Agnes, the wife of Shakespeare in Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet. The film chronicles the couple’s grief following the death of their young son, and puts the bard, played by Paul Mescal, in the backseat as Agnes’s story takes centre stage. Buckley’s raw, emotive performance has moved audiences to tears.

In a sea of A-list Oscar nominees, including two-time winner Emma Stone, critics have singled her out as “one of the finest actresses of her generation”.

“To be in a room with all those incredible artists, that, for me, is the greatest thing,” Buckley told Sky News last month, speaking about her awards and nominations. “That and being a mom.”

The actress gave birth to her first child, a girl, last year, and she has paid tribute to her in her speeches so far. “I’d like to share this with my daughter,” she said of her BAFTA. “I promise to continue to be disobedient so that you can belong to a world in all your mad, complex wildness as a young woman.”

This is Buckley’s second Oscar nomination; her first was for best supporting actress, for her performance in The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, in 2022. She has also starred in other Oscar-nominated films, such as Women Talking, alongside Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, and Judy, opposite Renee Zellweger, and won several awards for her leading performance in the West End revival of Cabaret.

But she has been quietly honing her talents since she was young, growing up in Killarney, Co Kerry. Her rise to fame came when she was a teenager, appearing on the BBC reality show I’d Do Anything, which sought to find an unknown lead to play Nancy in the West End revival of the musical Oliver!, in 2008.

Buckley came second, but continued to pursue her love for the stage and screen. She went on to appear in series including Taboo and The Last Post, before breakout roles in British films Beast and Wild Rose, and the critically acclaimed HBO/ Sky series Chernobyl.

Back in 2019, when Wild Rose was released, Buckley said she grew up without a TV at home until she was “about eight or nine”, and that her first experience of wanting to act was watching a “Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland film… it was like my mind had been exploded into kind of like magic”.

Now, not only has she reached the highest accolades for her achievements on screen, but she is also a Mercury Prize nominee, too – shortlisted in 2022 for her collaborative album For All Our Days That Tear The Heart, with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.

‘You couldn’t take your eyes off her’

For those who knew her at the Ursuline Secondary School, in Co Tipperary, her success has come as no surprise. Music teacher Joan Butler, who joined the school in 2006, Buckley’s final year, says it was clear she would go on to big things.

“We’re so proud of all our students here, but Jessie stood out… even as she began along her career path, as being somebody with a very special talent,” she says. “She was in a production of West Side Story in my first year teaching… Spellbinding is the word we use here as we’ve been talking about her and remembering her time here.

“You couldn’t take your eyes off Jessie on the stage or when she was singing or even at the piano. It’s a star quality that is very, very rare. I can still remember I was playing violin in the pit orchestra, looking up the stage… the whole room just stopped, mouths open, watching this rehearsal. And I remember turning to some of the students and going, watch her girls, she’s going to win an Oscar one day.”

Now, Buckley could very well achieve that dream.

After seeing the actress tackling such physically and emotionally demanding scenes during the filming of Hamnet, her cast and crewmates say it has been incredible to see her hard work and talent recognised.

Hamnet set decorator Alice Felton, who is also up for an Oscar herself, nominated in the production design category, says they have “all been in tears” watching Buckley receive her awards.

“Because we watched her throughout filming give her heart and soul to that,” she says. “We’d be crying at the edge of set before the music was laid in, before everything was done.

“She’s a beautiful person. She gave everything to that role and she’s part of the team. She used to sleep in the bed in the attic [in their house in the film]. So I’d go up to redress the set and she’d be tucked up having a little nap. She just lived in the spaces and we’re all so happy for her.”

Irish stars show support in LA

In Los Angeles in the days leading up to the Oscars ceremony each year, the US-Ireland Alliance hosts the Oscar Wilde Awards, celebrating Irish talent.

They have had a lot to toast in recent years, including nine nominations for The Banshees Of Inisherin (starring another former Ursuline pupil, Kerry Condon) in 2023. And in 2024, Cillian Murphy became the first Irish star to win best actor, for his performance in Oppenheimer.

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This year, Buckley is the person everyone is talking about.

Gleeson, who starred alongside her in the animated Christmas special The Scarecrows’ Wedding, told Sky News: “We’re already celebrating Jessie Buckley.

“She is an absolutely amazing actor. She’s so incredible in the film and I’ll be delighted, delighted if she wins. But we celebrate her all the time.”

Singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy also highlighted Buckley’s musical talents. “I think people are largely unaware of how great a singer she is,” he said. “She’s just an incredibly talented person, so we’re very excited for her.”

And speaking at the premiere of the Peaky Blinders film earlier this month, Murphy himself showed his support. “She’s incredible,” he told Sky News. “I’m just so happy for her, she’s unbelievable in that film.”

For the young students at Ursuline hoping to follow in Buckley’s footsteps, the actress is an inspiration.

“We are so excited to see everything that will come after this as well,” Ms Butler says. “Thank you so much to her for everything that she has done in inspiring our students and showing them what can be possible.”

Here’s how the Swansea City players rated during the 2-0 defeat to Wrexham at the Cae Ras on Friday

Swansea City saw their play-offs take a huge blow as they were beaten 2-0 by Welsh rivals Wrexham at the Cae Ras on Friday.

Nathan Broadhead put the hosts in front, before Liam Cullen’s own goal late in the game sealed the win for Phil Parkinson’s men, who are now eight points clear of the Swans in sixth.

Here’s how the players rated on a frustrating night.

Lawrence Vigouroux 6

Nothing to really take issue with. Got something on Broadhead’s opener, but would be harsh to blame him.

Josh Key 6

Some bright moments in the first half, but influence in possession faded. Was given a hard time defensively too.

Ben Cabango 7 – STAR MAN

Competed pretty well in face of a physical aerial threat. A decent showing.

Cameron Burgess 6

No player won more aerial duels. Was unfortunately caught out by Broadhead for the opener, however.

Wrexham will argue he was fortunate to stay on the pitch given his second-half handball. A frustrating performance too. Subbed.

Marko Stamenic 6

Another to have some bright moments in the first half. Denied by a great save from Okonkwo. Subbed.

Goncalo Franco 7

Was at the heart of Swansea’s promising first-half. No player made more tackles. Was another whose influence faded after the break, however. Subbed.

Ethan Galbraith 6

Confident enough on the ball. But couldn’t quite make his mark on the game.

Ronald 6

Looked fairly lively early on. Pace caused a few problems for Thomason in particular. Tailed off after the break, though. Subbed.

Zan Vipotnik 5

Should have scored in the first half, but was otherwise pretty quiet on the night. Should probably have had a penalty, though.

Gustavo Nunes 6

A little too untidy at times, but the quality of his delivery created a couple of promising opportunities that should have been converted in the first half. Subbed.

Subs

Eom Jisung (on for Ronald 59) – Got into some good positions, but didn’t really make the most of it – 6

Malick Yalcouye (on for Franco 59) – Missed a couple of decent opportunities – 6

Liam Cullen (on for Nunes 59) – An own goal on a night he’ll want to forget – 5

Melker Widell (on for Stamenic 75) – Pretty anonymous – 5

Leo Walta (on for Tymon 85) – Likewise – 5

Residents living on Mount Stewart Street in Seaham say they fear converting the Dawdon Miners’ Hall into 11 apartments would “destroy the fabric of the street”, as they reminisce about the loss of the “hub of the community”.

The building has sat empty since the Covid pandemic, but now plans submitted to Durham County Council promise to give it a new life as eight two-bed and three one-bed “high quality” apartments.

But Kathleen Fox, 57, told the Echo: “It could destroy the fabric of the street.

“We used to go to the club when we first bought the house; my husband’s dad was a miner, and he was always in there.

“It’s a big worry to us who go in there, it’s just terrifying.”

She added: “Then there’s the issue of parking, there isn’t room.

“Mount Stewart Street has always been difficult for parking, especially as it’s a bus route.”

June Lowes, 91, who has lived on the street her entire life, added: “During the Second World War, if you wanted something to eat, you went to the Miner’s Hall.”

June’s daughter, Gail, told us: “In the early 80s, during the miners’ strike, it was the hub of the community.

“It had a soup kitchen, and the miners’ wives would get food there. Sadly, such a communal hub is no longer there; it survived two wars and two miners’ strikes, but didn’t survive Covid.”

In the planning application, documents state ‘Dawdon and the wider Seaham area comprise a predominantly working-class community with modest household incomes and a high proportion of lower-value housing stock.’

The building sits on Mount Stewart Street in Dawdon, Seaham. (Image: Google Street View)

It adds, ‘In this context, delivery of new, high-quality accommodation through adaptive reuse provides a significant contribution to local regeneration.’

The application, which proposes eight two-bedroom apartments and three one-bedroom apartments, states that the change of use ‘encourages the reuse of community buildings where they are no longer viable’.

However, several ward councillors and residents have raised concerns about the loss of the building’s historical and community value, alongside objections related to anti-social behaviour and parking under the new, proposed plans.

Councillor Chris Fairs, another who feels strongly against the plans, said: “This site and its immediate surroundings already experience persistent anti-social behaviour (ASB) and associated nuisance.

“In my view, the proposal would materially worsen those issues and would also create poor living conditions for future residents unless major changes and robust controls are secured.

Councillor Andrew Harrison expressed similar reservations, stating: “In my view, intensifying this site to 11 separate dwellings – with increased daily movements, visitors, deliveries and refuse generation – creates a clear risk of worsening ASB, undermining community safety, and causing avoidable harm to neighbouring residents’ amenity.”

Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning manager, said: “We have recently received a planning application seeking to convert the former miners’ hall in Dawdon into 11 flats.

“All comments received in response to this consultation will be carefully considered in line with usual processes.”

On Monday, March 9, Councillors Chris Fairs and Andrew Harrison met with residents to further discuss the plans.

At the meeting, the developer stated there would be around 10 resident parking bays added, but residents told both councillors they do not believe this is sufficient.

Both councillors were told during the meeting that clearing work has already started, but reiterated that building works should not proceed unless/until planning permission is approved.

The application is currently ‘pending consideration’.

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An NHS doctor issued a warning about urinating too often

A doctor has issued a warning over toilet habits, outlining an important two-hour guideline. The expert warns that emptying your bladder too frequently might be sending confused signals to your brain.

How many times you need the loo daily depends on numerous variables. Your food and fluid intake, caffeine consumption, ambient temperature, plus stress and anxiety levels all play a part.

Yet what many don’t appreciate is that excessive trips to the bathroom can trigger lasting consequences. In a clip shared on social media platform TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia provided further insight.

The NHS medic outlined the optimal frequency for urination. He stated: “You should be peeing, on average, every two to four hours, even if you’re well hydrated.”

Therefore, nipping to the loo hourly could prove problematic. “And if you’re peeing every hour, you’re training your brain to misfire, and you could be creating urge incontinence.

“Your bladder and brain communicate in a feedback loop. Your bladder fills with urine over two to four hours.

“Stress receptors in the bladder wall detect the volume increase and when your bladder is half full, so around 150 to 200 ml, the stretch receptors send a signal to your brain, and then you get a mild urge awareness that your bladder is filling.”

He added: “And that process is normal. But if you pee every time you feel even a hint of bladder fullness, even at small volumes like 50 or 100 ml, your brain starts learning the wrong pattern.

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“You constantly respond to small bladder volumes. Your brain recalibrates. It starts thinking, ‘bladder at 50,200 mil – time to pee’.”

This can lead to a reduced capacity for urine storage. Dr Kukadia, also known online as Dr Sooj, explained: “Now the urge signal gets stronger, more frequent and more intense.

“Your stress receptors become hypersensitive, and they start firing at lower volumes. Basically false alarms.

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“You are literally rewiring your brain bladder connection to misfire. And this is how you develop urge incontinence.

“The sudden, uncontrollable urge to pee even when your bladder isn’t full and that is a learned pattern.”

Fortunately, there are measures you can take to counteract this. Dr Sooj advised: “But you can retrain the brain bladder loop. When you feel a strong urge, stop, and stay still.

“Tighten and relax your pelvic floor rapidly, kind of like you’re trying to stop a pee midstream. This sends a competing signal to your brain to override the urgency. You are teaching your brain that small bladder volumes do not require immediate emptying.”

If you’re dealing with urinary incontinence

The NHS website advises booking an appointment with your GP if you’re experiencing any form of urinary incontinence. It states: “Urinary incontinence is a common problem and you should not feel embarrassed talking to them about your symptoms.

“This can also be the first step towards finding a way to effectively manage the problem.”

“It’s like Baileys – but way better.”

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While Baileys remains the household name for Irish cream, another liqueur is stealing the spotlight among enthusiasts. Irish locals and online commenters are increasingly championing Coole Swan, praising it as a smoother, higher-quality alternative made with simple, natural ingredients.

The buzz has spread across travel forums and Reddit, where seasoned drinkers frequently recommend it over the mainstream competition. One fan on Tripadvisor recently declared it their “drink of choice for about a year now,” while another shopper noted they were “excited to try” the premium blend after seeing such glowing reviews.

If you’re looking to upgrade your bar cart, you can currently find a bottle at Tesco for £20. As part of a Clubcard deal, the price is reduced from its usual £26.50 making it the perfect time to see if this “hidden gem” lives up to the hype.

With the present offer available, customers have an opportunity to sample the award-winning beverage for less. Unlike numerous Irish creams that depend on flavourings, Coole Swan maintains it focuses more on a selection of premium ingredients.

Each bottle combines single malt Irish whiskey with genuine Belgian white chocolate, fresh Irish dairy cream sourced from the brand’s own farm in County Cavan, and a hint of vanilla for equilibrium. According to the brand, the outcome is a lighter, smoother liqueur containing less sugar and delivering a more authentic flavour, reports the Mirror.

The Coole Swan Cream Liqueur is available from Tesco

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Coole Swan is said to deliver the finest single malt Irish whiskey, real Belgian white chocolate and fresh Irish cream

Due to its fresh ingredients, it’s important to note that the bottle requires refrigeration once opened. The brand has also secured over 90 international accolades, including victories at the San Francisco Wine and Spirits Awards, a 96/100 score from Wine Enthusiast and was named the top Irish cream liqueur by Tasting Table, surpassing Baileys and various other rivals.

For those seeking a present around Mother’s Day or Easter, or simply a creamy post-dinner beverage, the liqueur can be savoured chilled over ice, incorporated into cocktails or enjoyed slowly on its own. An alternative within a similar price bracket is the Irish Mist Honey Liqueurs for £24.50, reduced from £27.70, on Amazon.

This combines honey and ‘complex spice notes’, alongside some fruity undertones and a hint of vanilla, according to the listing. It arrives in a 700ml bottle and nearly 3,000 customers have given it high marks on Amazon, with an average 4.8 out of five-star rating.

Master of Malt also stocks the Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur (70cl) for £28.50, reduced from £29.49. Made in County Cork, individual batches of fresh cream are combined with triple distilled Irish whiskey within 48 hours of collection, with the cream obtained from five family-run farms in the area, to produce this drink, the website states.

On the Coole Swan website, shoppers have given the whiskey high ratings, with one customer commenting: “Really enjoyed making some amazing cocktails with it! Yummy.”

Another remarked: “Silky smooth and too easy to drink. Absolutely delicious!” A third reviewer added: “Coole Swan Superior Irish cream Liqueur as it says on the bottle. I am Irish and this is my favourite one, I would highly recommend it.”

On Trustpilot, there were some somewhat contrasting reviews, as one individual noted as part of a lengthier assessment: “My order arrived damaged so I emailed Coole Swan to let them know. The response was personal, friendly and professional. Absolutely no question, a replacement was sent the next day.”

Another customer stated: “It’s like Baileys – but way better.”

But one driving instructor has revealed the one thing you need to do in order to nail parallel parking in seconds.

Parallel parking involves parking your car parallel to the curb, and often has to be carried out while parking in between two stationary vehicles.

The wheel needs to be turned at exactly the right moment, in order to avoid hitting the parked cars, as well as the curb.

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Francis Noakes, an online driving instructor has revealed the one hack you need in order to nail the tricky manoeuvre in seconds.

In a clip shared on TikTok the driving instructor behind Driving School TV shared a minute-long video revealing exactly how to do it.

The first step is to line up your vehicle with the car you want to park behind, while checking all of the mirrors for oncoming traffic and pedestrians, before slowly starting to reverse slowly.

Francis reveals that you will know when to start turning the wheel by looking at the wing mirrors.

The next crucial step in order to ensure that your car ends up perfectly parallel with the curb is to check your wing mirrors for dangers.

At this point, Francis turns the wheel twice towards the curb, before turning it back towards the road so that the car is parked parallel with the curb. 

He then proceeds to bring the car to a stop and put it in neutral with the handbrake on.

Francis said: “I’m reserving until I can see the back of my car in the back passenger window.

“There it is, I’m going to take one nice gentle turn to the left, keeping up my observations.

“Then what I’m looking for is for the back of the car to hit the curb in the [wing] mirror.

“It looks like the back of the car is touching the curb.”

Road signs many drivers don’t know

The RAC advises that parallel parking is a great skill because it allows you to park in a smaller space than would be possible if you were driving forward into it.

By reversing in, a driver can take advantage of a single empty space, not too much longer than the car.

Parallel parking might also be the only option to get a space in town and city centres where space is a premium.

After Wrexham secured a huge 2-0 victory over Swansea City, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney offered an update on the development of the Racecourse Ground

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have made it clear the development of the Kop Stand is expected to finish in 2027. When the work is complete, the capacity of the Racecourse Ground is expected to rise to around 18,000 spectators.

Right now, there is only three stands at the home of the Red Dragons, but the huge 7,750 seater Kop Stand will be enormous when it’s complete. And according to Reynolds, everything is going according to plan, with initial time frames going as expected.

The Hollywood duo joined Sky Sports News’ commentary team for their side’s 2-0 Championship home victory over Welsh rivals Swansea City. After the match, Reynolds was asked about the development of the stand.

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When asked if 2027 was still realistic, Reynolds replied: “That’s what we are thinking. That’s the idea. They usually say it takes twice as much time for any construction job, but I think we’ll get this on time. We’re going to get this on time and on budget.”

The construction of the Kop Stand is being funded through a mixture of public and private investment. It has received heavy backing from the Wrexham council, with reports from 2023 revealing a significant portion of a £25m Welsh Government grant was directed to the Kop Stand.

However, the fact public money has been put towards its construction through a non-repayable grant, despite the fact it will help the stadium host football and rugby internationals as well as concerts, was criticised by football finance expert Stefan Borson.

In the Guardian, he expressed concern about the fact taxpayer money was being put towards the stadium despite McElhenney and Reynolds, whom he described as being “very wealthy and liquid,” being so invested in the club. Nevertheless, host of the Price of Football podcast Kieran Maguire explained this kind of arrangement was not unusual when it comes to stadium developments.

He said: “Public-private partnerships are common. I think you’ve got to look at where the rewards are going. Will the owners of Wrexham benefit from this? Yes. Will the community benefit from this?

“That’s where the people making the decision in terms of the grant need to look and they will have assessed it. They will feel that the increased profile it could potentially bring to Wrexham as a town, if the ground is going to host international matches, outweighs the costs. West Ham play at a former municipal stadium and Manchester City do the same. I don’t see any fuss about those clubs.”

Reynolds and McElhenney celebrated on the television as Nathan Broadhead’s first half strike and an own goal from Swansea’s Liam Cullen moved them into the play-off places. Phil Parkinson’s side are still battling to get into the top six.

Their triumph over the Swans means they are now six points clear of seventh placed Southampton, who hold a game in hand over the Red Dragons. With nine games to go, every victory is precious for Parkinson’s team, who face Watford next Tuesday and Sheffield United the following Saturday.

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