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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Seagulls on top of a bandstand in St Stephen's Green.Alamy Stock Photo April Fool's pranks: A seagull net over St Stephen's Green and a Ha'penny Bridge charge Here’s a roundup of some of the April Fool’s Day pranks being pulled here and abroad. 11.05am, 1 Apr 2025 Share options THE AURORA BOREALIS? At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country? Well, not quite. Nevertheless, BBC NI’s weather presenter Barra Best might succeed in getting people to look skywards this afternoon with his April Fool’s Day prank. He’s posted on X about the supposed “rare solar weather event called ‘Aurora Borealis Maximus’ – last seen in 1842”. Northern Lights will be visible over Ireland today at around 3pm, during daylight. Experts say it’s caused by a rare solar weather event called “Aurora Borealis Maximus” – last seen in 1842. Send photos this way. pic.twitter.com/6Jmq8ipP3u— Barra Best (@barrabest) April 1, 2025 “Northern Lights will be visible over Ireland today at around 3pm, during daylight,” jokes Best on X. Elsewhere, you don’t need to worry about getting hit with a fee if you’re crossing the Ha’penny Bridge today. Discover Dublin, with close to half a million followers on Instagram, took to the app to caution about supposed plans to introduce a €1 fee for crossing the famous bridge. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DiscoverDublin (@discoverdublin) “The historic bridge will now see the reintroduction of the fee due to rising restoration and maintenance costs of the famous bridge,” Discover Dublin said in its prank. “The €1 charge will be collected via contactless payment terminals installed at both entrances.” And don’t worry, there are no plans to cover St Stephen’s Green with a massive net at a cost of over €8m due to seagulls who carried away a tourist, as Lovin Dublin joked on its social media page. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Dublin (@lovindublin) Meanwhile, there’s no need for Dublin Airport passengers to worry about their headwear, after an April Fool’s from the airport “as of today, that caps can no longer be worn at Dublin Airport”. “The ban does not apply to bobble hats, stetsons or bucket hats,” joked Dublin Airport. Passenger Update Passengers should note that, as of today, caps can no longer be worn at Dublin Airport. Caps & national airports don’t go well together & must be removed prior to entering the terminals. The ban does not apply to bobble hats, stetsons or bucket hats.🧢 pic.twitter.com/3EkNvx5iH3— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 1, 2025 And while some people might like the thought of painting their kitchen in “full Irish breakfast fragrance paint”, don’t get caught out by this prank by Stillorgan Decor. Advertisement Full Irish breakfast and strawberry fragrance paint might sound like a good idea, but not so much with the fish fragrance paint. Stillorgan Decor prankStillorgan Decor on Instagram Stillorgan Decor on Instagram Meanwhile, don’t worry, “Mary” wasn’t screwed out of a prize on RTÉ 2FM’s Breakfast show. She took part in the show’s A-Z quiz for a €10,000 prize and flawlessly made it all the way to Z before the line cut off. Mary was brought back on, gave the correct answer, but was informed that they couldn’t accept it as the time had elapsed. “I’m so sorry Mary, that was an incredible performance,” said the hosts. Later, the hosts said they were “shaking” and were inundated with irate messages. “When we don’t hear the answer, we can’t give the prize,” said Carl Mullen. However, they brought Mary back on to reveal that it was a “big fat April Fool’s”. Newstalk also got in on the act, joking that US President Donald Trump had made an offer to buy Shannon Airport. Donald Trump on the 4th hole at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co. Clare, during his visit to Ireland in 2023Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Meanwhile, FlightRadar 24 posted on X that the most tracked flight right now was the AF9999 flying from Paris to New York – an Air France Concorde. In 2003, Air France and British Airways announced the retirement of Concorde due to rising maintenance costs and low passenger numbers. Most tracked flight right now - #AF9999 flying from Paris to New York. pic.twitter.com/g1PRn8h1YD— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 1, 2025 Darts fans may also have been left disappointed by a prank claiming that the legendary Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor was coming out of retirement to face teenage star Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler. Who's ready? ☢️⚡ 12pm. The Nuke vs The Power.#TeamTarget pic.twitter.com/Tk6vfZB8WT— Target Darts (@TargetDarts) April 1, 2025 “How do I watch this,” replied one social media user who was duped by the Target Darts prank. Elsewhere, Terry’s Chocolate promised to make “mundane teeth brushing a delight” with its prank about a new “Chocolate mint Toothpaste”. Terry's 'Chocolate Mint Toothpaste'Terry's Chocolate Terry's Chocolate Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. 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Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion april fool's day april fools Aurora Borealis northern lights St Stephen's Green Terry's Chocolate News in 60 seconds supporting boys and men Opinion: Our focus should not be on 'toxic masculinity', but on why men and boys feel so lost 23 mins ago The Daily Poll Will you partake in any April Fools' Day pranks? 26 mins ago Crunch time US tariffs could halve Irish pharma exports over five years as Government braces for impact 45 mins ago ballyhaunis Man (50s) dies following single vehicle collision in Co Mayo last night sunny spells Ireland weather: Sunny conditions expected as temperatures to hit 18 degrees Good Morning The 9 at 9: Tuesday Meet the Beatles - Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan to star in Fab Four biopics On Yer Bike Parents banned from driving kids to four schools' gates in new Dublin initiative Meath brothers jailed for sexually abusing and raping female relative Defence Forces called in to help with search for missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine embezzlement trial Marine Le Pen attacks five-year ban from running for office as 'political decision' more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. 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