Brighter days and blooming gardens can truly showcase your home at its best.

With the arrival of spring and summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to sell your home.

Brighter days and blooming gardens can truly showcase your property at its best.

Belfast Live gets the lowdown from leading estate agent, Edel Curran, Downpatrick Branch Manager of Quinn Estate Agents, with her top seven tips to help your move go smoothly and make your home stand out to prospective buyers.

Tip one – first impressions really do count

It’s all about good curb appeal. Most of us will see a house for the first time online, driving past or through an estate agent’s window meaning you have seconds to capture your buyers’ attention, so make them count!

Tip two – decluttering

Edel says: “With an astonishing eight out of ten potential buyers unable to see past other people’s possessions, clutter is a big issue. I would advise starting the ‘great declutter’ about a month before you put your house on the market. Get rid of everything you no longer need and just keep the things you want. Trust me it will really make a difference!”

Tip three – transform you kitchen into the heart of your home

A well-presented kitchen instantly appeals to buyers, making them imagine themselves settling in and preparing delicious meals. To achieve this, ensure your worktops are spotless and free from clutter; remove unnecessary items and old tea towels, leaving only the essentials.

Add a touch of warmth by brewing fresh coffee or baking bread before viewings, which creates a homely aroma and inviting atmosphere. Finish off with a vase of fresh flowers to brighten the space, and make your kitchen a welcoming, stylish centrepiece that stands out to prospective buyers.

Tip four – light

Make sure every single room in your property is presented in the best possible light. Edel tells us: “For cozy rooms like bedrooms and living rooms, I would always suggest sellers to use soft neutral colours, perhaps coupled with one strong statement colour.

“Use fresh and ironed bedlinen and cushions, with beautiful, scented candles; details matter. Create spaces that feel like a boutique hotel that you don’t want to leave, because that’s what you want buyers to feel.

“Also don’t forget to let in the light, open the curtains, open the windows so you present light, bright airy spaces as these sell really well.”

Tip five – don’t neglect your outside space

“You are selling a lifestyle that goes beyond the walls of your actual house. Think of your garden as another room and make it look as beautiful as possible; mow the lawn, tidy the weeds, hedges and shrubs, plant some flowers and freshen up with a lick of paint to make it a space your buyers can really see themselves in,” suggests Edel.

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Tip six – a practical point

If you share your home with a furry friend, arrange for them to be out of the house, perhaps on a walk with a friend, while viewings take place. You may love your furry friend but not everyone feels the same way.

Be sure to remove all pet toys, bowls, bedding and other related items from sight to create a tidy, welcoming environment. Open windows and doors to let in fresh air, and light a few scented candles to neutralise any lingering pet odours, as the smell of animals can be a major deterrent for prospective buyers.

Tip seven – and possibly the most important point

When you are decluttering don’t get rid of your personality completely, just choose some choice pieces that you can display without overwhelming the space.

Edel says: “Keeping some selected personal possessions can help prospective buyers consider how they would decorate, furnish and create their new space. The right selected items can give a feeling of welcome and warmth during viewings, enabling buyers to feel that their story can be here too.”

Quinn Estate Agents has branches in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Carryduff and Banbridge. If you are thinking of selling your home feel free to get in touch with Edel on 028 4461 2100.

For further details about Quinn Estate Agents and to explore their full range of properties, please visit www.quinnestateagents.com.

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Robert Milkins told some home truths after losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible, as he spoke about his defeat to the snooker icon at the World Seniors Championship

Robert Milkins admitted he has been guilty of “disrespecting” snooker following his elimination from the World Seniors Championship at the hands of Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Rocket was forced to dig deep to secure his place in the final by the Milkman, who led 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 in the best-of-13 contest at the Crucible. Yet in a scrappy affair, O’Sullivan’s superior class proved decisive as he clinched a 7-5 victory.

Milkins’ exit came on the back of losing his World Snooker Tour card following a dramatic dip in form for the 2023 Welsh Open champion. Just two years ago, he reached the last 16 at the World Championship, but now faces a tough battle to reclaim his tour card through Q School.

In the wake of his defeat to O’Sullivan, Milkins conceded that he had nobody to blame but himself for his troubles. He said: “I’ve disrespected the game for too long. I was struggling to get back into it.

“There are signs of playing well but I just missed too many easy balls. It will come but I’ve got to put a couple of weeks in now before Q School.”

The 50-year-old then opened up about how he finds facing the seven-time world champion a daunting prospect. He added: “Ronnie scares the hell out of me always. I respect Ron. No other player does that to me.

“It is bad enough playing him when you are playing well. But when you are struggling, you’ve got no chance.”

The confirmation that Milkins had lost his tour card, which he first won in 1995, came after he was beaten by top amateur Patrick Whelan in World Championship qualifying.

Speaking to the Metro ahead of the World Seniors, he had said: “My heart weren’t in it [against Whelan]. And I know it’s sad because it’s such a big game. I sort of panicked a bit, even from 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, thinking, ‘What the hell is going on here?’

“He didn’t really miss much. His safety was really good. I give him a lot of credit. I thought he was very good. But it’s just up to me to get out of the rut now and try and get back to where I should be. At least on the tour.”

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan said on Saturday that playing conditions at the Crucible were far from perfect, following problems with a table earlier in the week. He said: “None of the players would make excuses, and we’re not making excuses.

“I thought me and Milkins were cueing well. But sometimes, you can fall out of position, chasing the ball. It’s hard to keep potting, especially under pressure. So I thought we did well under the conditions.”

O’Sullivan will face the winner of Saturday evening’s semi-final between Craig Steadman and Joe Perry. Sunday’s best-of-19 final, which gets under way at 12.30pm, will be shown live on Channel 5.

It’s time… here’s part of my preview. The “Don’t Blink” tag is not marketing hyperbole; it is a warning. With a combined knockout ratio that suggests the judges will have a very quiet night, this Wardley-Dubois fight is likely to be decided by who lands first and who can absorb the inevitable storm.

It remains a classic encounter between a disciplined, heavy-hitting contender in Dubois and an ultra-confident, opportunistic champion in Wardley with “destructiveness” at the core of both game plans.  

Dubois will need to prove he has moved past his previous emotional shortcomings. His power remains his trump card, but his ability to box behind the jab, as instructed by Charles, who has affirmed to The Telegraph that his charge “has all the skills and boxing ability above his opponent that should give us the win”. That belief, and those skills, will be the key to whether DDD is victorious – or not.

Meanwhile, Wardley the champion thrives on doubt. He will look to draw Dubois into a brawl early, in my opinion, testing his chin and his composure. If Wardley can force an early exchange, we could see a very short night. 

My prediction for this fight is that it could be won by the fighter who remains most tactical in the first four rounds. Expect a frantic, explosive start, but should the fight pass the halfway mark, it will become a battle of the experience of Dubois’ high-level world title fights and maintaining his fortitude versus Wardley’s ability to stay in the fight and find the equaliser at any point as the rounds wear on. I might suggest it will not go twelve rounds, but anything could happen in this fight.

For Dubois, the stakes could not be higher. A win makes him a two-time world champion at 28—a feat that would silence the critics, validate his team’s unorthodox methods, and put him right back in the conversation for undisputed honours. A loss, however, would be catastrophic, a signal that his “Dynamite” has lost its fuse.

Remaining British passengers and crew aboard MV Hondius will be heading back to the UK on Sunday

Two British nationals confirmed to have hantavirus have been hospitalised, while a third suspected to have the virus has left the cruise ship MV Hondius affected the deadly virus.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed the three cases this week and has now confirmed that the two Brits determined to have hantavirus have been hospitalised, one in South Africa and another in the Netherlands. The third British national case left the ship on Tristan da Cunha where they live and are being monitored by health services on the island.

British nationals including passengers and staff remain aboard MV Hondius headed for the UK.

None of the British nationals on board are currently reporting symptoms, but they are being closely monitored, the UKHSA has said.

The hantavirus cruise ship outbreak has been traced back to a birdwatcher who visited an infamous landfill site.

UK government staff are preparing to support the British nationals when it docks in Tenerife on Sunday, May 10. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

British passengers and crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK government staff to an airport and a chartered flight will fly them back to the UK.

Passengers, crew and medical teams on the flight will wear personal protective equipment such as face masks as they travel back to the UK and as they transfer to Arrowe Park Hospital, on the Wirral.

The UKHSA has assured that “risk to the public in the UK will remain very low.”

While at Arrowe Park and within 72 hours, public health specialists will assess the passengers and decided whether they can isolate at home or if they will need to isolate at another suitable location.

All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for up to 45 days upon returning to the UK.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said: “We continue to work at pace with our international partners to ensure the safe repatriation of British nationals from the MV Hondius.

“The safety and well-being of those on board remains our number one priority.

“Established infection control measures will be in place at every step of the journey, and passengers will receive full support throughout, including during their period of isolation.

“We recognise that this has been an incredibly difficult and unsettling time for those affected and their loved ones at home.

“As they prepare for their journey back to the UK, we ask the media to respect the privacy of passengers and their families during what remains a challenging time.”

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An 82-year-old grandfather has raised thousands for sick children after completing a gruelling 24-hour water marathon and breaking two world records.

Tony Fahey, from Cheshire, recruited a four-person team of two sons and two grandchildren and worked with a designer to build a human-powered watercraft he describes as ‘a boat with a cross-trainer on it’.

The team planned to take turns in two-hour shifts but Tony himself took on the first leg and smashed his own personal best with a stretch of 2hrs 20mins, during which time he covered an impressive five miles — the longest any of the team did in one hit — and scooped him two world records.

The gargantuan effort took its toll, and Tony was carried off the pontoon when he finished.

The team – sons Sebastian and Christian, granddaughter Aimee and grandson Charlie – who took it in turns to ‘walk on water’ through the night, have been training five days a week for the challenge, which they had hoped would be record-breaking.

They set out to cover 80km, but their GPS tracker finally read 104.97km, taking them into the record books yet again.

There was little rest, with fatigue and cold setting in after dark. A blow-up bed set up by the water gave respite here and there – but, Tony said, this was a battle of wills.

Despite putting the work in beforehand, they knew it would be tough. 

‘It’s not an easy thing to do,’ Tony told Metro. ‘This challenge took its toll on my 82-year-old body like nothing before. The non-stop walking, pulling and pushing motions drove through every muscle and joint. Exhaustion really set in when the sun set and we continued without a break. 

‘‘I wanted to quit more times than I could count.’ 

Tony, a former powerboat racing champion, is no stranger to endurance – nor to breaking records.

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In 1977, he persuaded legendary racing mechanic Leo Villa OBE – chief engineer to Sir Malcolm Campbell and Donald Campbell and a key figure behind their historic land and water speed record efforts – to mentor him.

Villa came out of retirement to support Tony’s entry into Formula One powerboat racing where he achieved great success in Grand Prix events, including the famous Paris 6-hour race, competitions in Belgium and races on Lake Windermere, where he reached speeds of 158mph. 

Within just one year, Villa’s mentoring led to Tony breaking two world records and one British national record: the R6-category speed World Record (which remains unbroken today), the world production-engine powerboat record and the British National water speed record.

Tony came up with the idea to raise money for Make-A-Wish after a life-changing accident in February 2021, where he was hit by a car travelling at 50mph while out on his daily walk during the covid pandemic.

He suffered severe injuries and was told he might never walk again. During his 18 month rehabilitation, he spent many hours on the cross trainer to regain strength in his legs. 

The experience inspired Tony, who has six children and 16 grandchildren, to want to help others, especially children, who are facing illness.

‘My greatest wish is to raise as much money as possible for the children,’ he said. ‘This is only the start of what I want to achieve for Make-A-Wish. I plan to take on more challenges, each one pushing me more than the last.

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What does he make of inevitable comparisons to the unforgettable Captain Tom? ‘People have kindly compared me to the late, great Captain Sir Tom Moore, who inspired us all with his garden laps for the NHS,’ he says. ‘I’m no Captain Tom, he was a true national hero who captured the hearts of the nation at 99. But like him, at 82, I simply wanted to push my limits for a cause bigger than myself.’

Pushing through the night, the team wrapped up the challenge and were helped from the water by crowds that had gathered, including Tony’s five siblings and his children and grandchildren.

Speaking as he celebrated with a large bottle of champagne, Tony says: ‘I’ve endured difficult physical challenges before, not least the journey that brought me to the point where I could even dream of walking on water. Yet I have no hesitation in calling this the toughest of them all. When I felt like quitting, my team kept reminding me of the children we are doing this for and together we pushed on to the end.’

Depleted but not defeated, the irrepressible pensioner is already cooking up another challenge. ‘We made it – battered, exhausted but unbroken and already thinking of the next,’ he says.  

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‘I rebuilt myself step by step,’ he said. ‘But this isn’t just about me. It’s about proving what’s possible, no matter your age or circumstances. 

To donate to Tony’s fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/page/tonywalkonwater

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Lidl said the rollout of its new Lidl Plus Points scheme was designed to give shoppers even better value.

However, it has been heavily slammed online from loyal shoppers, many of whom announced they would be shopping elsewhere because of the change.

One disgruntled customer said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Over the years I’ve got to a point where I now do most of my shopping at #Lidl. Your #lidlapp has played a BIG part in that decision.

@LidlGB Congratulations on massively downgrading the Lidl Plus app experience. Under the previous coupon plus scheme I had to spend just £10 to get a free bakery item. Now, I have to spend £70 under the new points system to get it. Might go back to shopping at @Tesco

— Richard Ieuan Davies (@TheRavingRich) May 6, 2026

“Like many others on here though, I fear (sadly) that you’ve just made what will prove to be a VERY costly mistake.”

Another wrote: “I’m gonna miss shopping at Lidl, but now you have scrapped your loyalty scheme, and introduced a pathetic points system, I may as well shop elsewhere. Your CFO must think Lidl customers re dimwits.”

Someone else commented: “Congratulations on massively downgrading the Lidl Plus app experience.

“Under the previous coupon plus scheme I had to spend just £10 to get a free bakery item. Now, I have to spend £70 under the new points system to get it. Might go back to shopping at @Tesco”.

@LidlGB I’m gonna miss shopping at Lidl, but now you have scrapped your loyalty scheme, and introduced a pathetic points system, I may as well shop elsewhere. Your CFO must think Lidl customers re dimwits.

— anything i like (@NetBored) May 6, 2026

In response to the criticism, a Lidl GB spokesman told us: “We do not see Lidl Plus Points as a downgrade.

“This year, we are investing significantly more into the Lidl Plus app, helping customers save even more when shopping at Lidl.

“That includes a significant 60 per cent increase in investment into personalised coupons, responding to demand from shoppers who want more deals on the things they love.”

Recommended reading:

Lidl shoppers get 100 free points in new app update

Lidl making major change to checkouts after trial in stores

Shoppers could get a ‘free BBQ’ by switching supermarkets

How can you use Lidl Plus Points effectively?

They further pointed out that Lidl Plus Points can be spent whenever shoppers choose, rather than within fixed redemption rates.

Customers will consistently earn more than 1 point per £1 with campaigns such as Rewards of the Week, double points, triple points, or free points on selected products.

To mark the launch, both new and existing customers will receive 100 free Points.

Which is your favourite supermarket? Let us know in the comments

Sean Lynn’s side were beaten 33-12 out in Belfast

Wales’ Women’s losing run went on after a 33-12 Six Nations defeat away to Ireland in Belfast.

Sean Lynn’s side have now lost their last eight matches, while their last win in the Six Nations was in April 2024. Having shown plenty of encouraging signs in attack against England last time out, their trip to Ireland was a flatter performance on the whole.

Wales did start well, but Aoife Wafer handed the home side the lead against the run of play after the back-row’s forced her way over the line.

The visitors did hit back, with Georgia Evans marking her first start of the tournament with a try from close ragnge.

Ireland had a try for Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald ruled out for double movement, but it wouldn’t be long before they were ahead again.

Wafer turned provider, shaking off a number of Wales players to set up Beibhinn Parsons.

Ireland moved further ahead just before the break, with Brittany Hogan crossing for their third after relentless pressure.

Ireland were reduced to 14 after Moloney-MacDonald kicked out at Evans.

However, Wales failed to capitalist on the numerical advantage – eventually losing Jasmine Joyce to the sin-bin.

Just before the hour-mark, Wafer grabbed her second to seal the bonus point for Ireland.

Ireland thought they had scored a fifth, only for Neve Jones to have her try chalked off by the TMO.

The final minutes saw Joyce cross for Wales’ second.

However, it would be the hosts who had the final say – with Hogan powering over for her second.

Wales face Italy in their final match as they look to avoid a second winless Six Nations campaign.

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Paula Barker, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, told the BBC: “I have enormous respect for both Gordon and Harriet, but I would have had even more respect for them if they had declined the offer of, quite frankly, non-jobs and told the prime minister that it’s time for a change and he should set out his timetable.”

Lucy Barnard struck a pothole on the way home – but the impact damaged her car exhaust.

A pregnant mum was nearly killed by a pothole after it damaged her car exhaust – and filled the vehicle with deadly gases.

Lucy Barnard, 26, was driving home on Walney Island, Cumbria, when her black Ford Fiesta hit a pothole and she heard a rattling sound.

Lucy had a carbon monoxide (CO) detector fitted in her car after her brother died from the colourless and odourless gas in 2023 and noticed the number on the screen begin to rise.

After getting home with partner Callum Legge, 25, and their two children, she decided to test to see if the exhaust was leaking, by opening and closing her windows to allow and restrict oxygen in the car.

To their terror, carbon monoxide levels inside the car were as high as 180 parts per million, which can be deadly to humans.

The mum is super aware of carbon monoxide dangers after an inquest ruled her brother Michael Barnard, 36, unwittingly died after his car filled up with the deadly colourless gas in August 17, 2023.

She is now campaigning for a legal requirement for cars to be fitted with carbon monoxide detectors.

Lucy said: “It’s given me a bit of PTSD in a way. It is heartbreaking to have experienced how my brother died. I feel so lucky that we had the detector and that I followed my own advice of not travelling in a car unless it has one in it.

“If we didn’t know it could have killed us. It is all a strange coincidence that it happened to my family. I knew exactly what was happening when we were doing the test, and it really was scary.

“You see this kind of thing happening and think it’ll never happen to you – but then it does, and it puts it all into perspective. This just proves it can happen to anyone at any time in any car model.”

An inquest at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court in February 2024 heard Michael’s carboxyhemoglobin levels were at 63 per cent, which was consistent with death.

The average level for a non-smoker is between 1 to 2 per cent, and in smokers it is 5 to 10 percent, according to the NHS.

It was revealed the toxic gas had entered into his white Volkswagen Scirocco through his faulty heating system when he was parked in his favourite spot on Walney Beach in North Scale, Cumbria.

He was later found by a dog walker, who had raised the alarm after she saw Michael slumped in the driver’s seat at around 6:35 am the next morning, August 18.

Lucy has said that after they suspected their car was leaking carbon monoxide, the first test they did was opening their car windows to see if it will lower, which it did.

Then they decided to pull the windows up and turn the heating system on full, which caused it to spike 180 particles per million (ppm). Around 200 ppm or greater will cause physical symptoms and is fatal in hours, according to co2metre.com

Lucy is currently six months pregnant and during pregnancy, exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the baby in the womb, potentially affecting its growth and development, according to the NHS.

Lucy revealed her dad, Terry, 63, looked at the car and said the exhaust was badly damaged from the pothole.

Lucy said: “We shot out of the car and haven’t used it since. We plan to scrap it, to fix it will cost almost as much as we bought it for so there was no point.

“We also don’t feel comfortable if we did get it fixed, getting inside or somehow having it just in case it was to leak again.”

The mum is now calling for greater awareness of carbon monoxide risks in vehicles, warning that the “silent killer” could be affecting more people than realised.

Cars are not legally required to carry carbon monoxide detectors but she wants to change that. Last year, she started a petition.

She needs 100,000 signatures for the UK Parliament’s Petition Committee to consider whether the issue should be debated.

Lucy said: “This could be happening to so many. It’s absolutely crazy. I think there will be more deaths if this isn’t addressed.”

She is urging people to invest in carbon monoxide detectors. Reflecting on the incident, she believes the presence of the detector ultimately saved her family.

“It was me, my partner and my children in the car,” she said. It could have taken all of our lives. This is definitely not spoken about enough.”

A link to Lucy’s petition can be found here.

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