The Latest Breaking News from Shire

How Silicon Valley misreads The Lord of the Rings

On October 30 2025, the Department of Homeland Security in the United States posted a Tolkien meme. It pictured Merry Brandybuck – one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s four hobbit protagonists in The Lord of the Rings – speaking to another hobbit Pippin at the climax of The Two Towers, the second…

The Conversation · Jun 10

I had elevenses with a Took, cooked my finest taters, and built my own smial, but Tales of the Shire still left me feeling flat

After a long wait, I had high hopes that Tales of the Shire would flesh out its bland demo with a more enjoyable endgame. Unfortunately, developer Wētā Workshop failed to deliver.

TechRadar · Oct 26, 2025

Stardew Valley-infused Lord of the Rings life sim Tales of the Shire almost had its hobbits speaking Westron – but while "die-hard Tolkien fans" would've loved it, "there just wasn't enough to go on"

The language "would sound a little bit like Simlish," too

GamesRadar · Jul 29, 2025

Perthshire revel in rekindling relationship with Welsh rugby club Pontarddulais

The travelling party arrived in great numbers - more than 50 - for a friendly match last Friday

Daily Record · Feb 15, 2023

Locals, tourists fed up after town's only cafe closes following change from local hands

The town of Guilderton at the mouth of the Moore River welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But the town's only cafe has closed after it changed from local hands.

ABC News · Feb 8, 2023

Eritrean troops seen leaving Ethiopian town of Shire

Large numbers of Eritrean troops have left the town of Shire in Ethiopia's Tigray region where they fought in support of government forces during a two-year civil war, a resident and two humanitarian workers told Reuters on Saturday.

Reuters · Jan 21, 2023

Perthshire captain Mat Rae highlights importance of fast start to 2023 and expects different Greenock challenge

The Eagles are determined to start the new year with a spring in their step and nudge closer to teams above

Daily Record · Jan 6, 2023

Eritrean soldiers pull out of major Tigray towns, eyewitnesses say

Eritrean soldiers have pulled out of the towns of Shire and Axum in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, three eyewitnesses told Reuters.

Reuters · Dec 30, 2022

The remarkable story of the 'Cockle Lady of Shire' and how she's being remembered decades later

A community that refused to let her lovely memory fade

Bristol Post · Nov 12, 2022

Witnesses allege Eritrean abuses during Ethiopia peace talks

Witnesses in Ethiopia's embattled Tigray region tell The Associated Press that forces from neighboring Eritrea are killing some civilians and looting as they and allied Ethiopian forces head for the regional capital

The Independent UK · Oct 29, 2022