Doireann Garrihy Has Many Strengths. Byelection Analysis Is Not One of Them
RTÉ’s music station 2FM has launched a fresh schedule after a wave of high‑profile departures in 2024, continuing a pattern of annual line‑up overhauls. The revamp brings new presenters while retaining veteran Doireann Garrihy, whose on‑air charisma remains a draw. However, Garrihy’s recent attempt to dissect a local byelection fell flat, exposing a gap between her entertainment strengths and political analysis. The mixed reception underscores the station’s challenge of balancing popular talent with credible news content.
Rubio and Pope Leo Discuss Middle East in ‘Friendly and Constructive’ Meeting
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to discuss a durable peace in the Middle East, as Washington and Tehran negotiate a short‑term cease‑fire that leaves Iran’s nuclear program unresolved. The diplomatic overtures helped push...
State Spending €128m on Helicopters that Cannot Lift Groups of Soldiers, Committee Told
The Irish State has approved a €128 million (≈ $140 million) contract for four H145 helicopters that lack the medium‑lift capacity required to transport groups of combat soldiers. Senator Gerard Craughwell warned the defence committee that the 2022 commission report explicitly called for two...
‘It Did so Much for My Mood’: How a New Mother Overcame Postnatal Mental Health Struggles
During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, Dublin’s Coombe Hospital highlighted a choir‑based intervention that helped new mother Collette McEntee overcome postnatal depression. The Mothers in Harmony Choir, run by senior occupational therapist Geraldine McHugh, offers ten weekly one‑hour singing sessions designed to...
Plan on Lowering Energy Costs to Be Delivered by End of September
Ireland’s National Energy Affordability Taskforce will submit a comprehensive plan by the end of September to curb soaring energy costs for households and businesses. The government has already allocated €750 million (≈$820 million) for temporary fuel tax cuts and extended fuel allowances....
‘He Was Deceased on the Ship for Several Days’: Irishwoman Describes Hantavirus Outbreak
An outbreak of hantavirus on the polar cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three deaths, including a Dutch couple, and left the vessel stranded off Cape Verde as authorities await strain identification. About 150 passengers originally boarded in Ushuaia,...
Nearly One-Third of Public Sector Job Candidates Fail to Show for Interview or Assessment
Nearly one‑third of candidates invited to public‑sector recruitment competitions in Ireland failed to attend or withdrew in 2024‑25. Over 100,000 invitations were sent, but more than 30,000 candidates dropped out, with the highest attrition in Garda recruitment (over 3,200 of...
I Have some Ideas to Improve Ireland’s Food Scene and I’m Not Just a Newly Arrived Know-It-All
Ireland’s food scene has surged in the past decade, buoyed by Michelin‑starred chefs and a growing appreciation for premium beef, lamb, cheese and marine products. Government initiatives now aim to market Irish cuisine as a tourism and export driver, but...
How Can I Get the Bank to Take My Husband Off Our €120k Mortgage as Part of Our Divorce?
An Irish couple facing divorce can have the husband removed from their €120,000 (≈ $131,000) mortgage, but the process requires bank approval. The spouse seeking sole ownership must first obtain an approval‑in‑principle, demonstrating sufficient credit, income and ability to service the...
Flight with 275 Passengers Diverts to Dublin Airport After Engine Issue over Atlantic
Delta Air Lines flight DL‑59, an Airbus A330‑941 bound for Boston, diverted to Dublin after the crew reported one engine had throttled back to idle over the North Atlantic. The aircraft, carrying 275 passengers and crew, landed safely at 12:54 p.m....
Why Is Kerrygold Butter 65% Dearer in Kerry than It Is in Berlin?
Kerrygold butter sells for about $3.29 per 250 g in Ireland, roughly 65% more than the $2.19 price in German Lidl stores. The price gap translates to $13.17 per kilo in Ireland versus $8.76 in Germany, even the larger 454 g Irish...
Man Who Had Alleged Brain Injury After Contracting Meningitis as Baby Settles Case for €9.75m
A 25‑year‑old man from Limerick, who alleges a lifelong brain injury from meningitis contracted at birth, settled his High Court claim against the Health Service Executive for €9.75 million (approximately $10.6 million). The case centered on alleged delays at St Munchin’s Regional Maternity...
Man Who Quit After Anti-Traveller Slur Used at Work Meeting Wins €15,000
Kieran Reilly, a member of Ireland’s Traveller community, was awarded €15,000 (approximately $16,350) after the Workplace Relations Commission found his former employer, Energy Centre Limited, liable for harassment. The incident occurred during a sales meeting on March 12, 2025, when...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review: Lovely Clothes. Savage Quips. And a Cameo by a Celebrated Irish Golfer
The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci for a glossy, two‑hour sequel that leans on fan service rather than fresh storytelling. Andy Sachs loses her digital‑era media job and is thrust into...
AI Job Losses in Ireland Likely to Hit Women and ‘Younger Workers’ Hardest, Says Report
Ireland’s cabinet approved a National Economic Social Council report outlining a coordinated response to the rapid rollout of artificial intelligence. The report warns that 63% of Irish jobs are in highly AI‑exposed occupations, with women and younger workers at greatest...
Oil Price Climbs Above $110 for First Time in Three Weeks as US-Iran Peace Efforts Falter
Oil prices rose above $110 per barrel for the first time in three weeks as US‑Iran peace talks stalled, leaving the Strait of Hormuz largely shut. The lack of diplomatic progress revived fears that higher energy costs will force central...
Large Increase in Number of Complaints over Disability Discrimination at Work
Complaints alleging disability discrimination in Irish workplaces jumped 52% in 2025, rising from 410 to 622 under the Employment Equality Acts. Including goods and services cases, total disability complaints reached 915, representing nearly a third of all equality complaints filed...
US Envoys Travel to Pakistan for Peace Talks; Iran Says Direct Negotiations Not Planned
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Islamabad to convey Tehran’s position on restarting US‑Iran peace talks, while the United States dispatched special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan. Iran’s foreign ministry stressed there will be no direct...
Tax Evasion, AI Use and an Irish Sprinter’s Bikini Photos: Specsavers ‘War’ Reaches the High Court
A High Court judge has urged Specsavers and Sean Power, co‑owner of its Ennis store, to end a protracted legal "war" that spans tax‑evasion claims, alleged expense fraud, AI‑generated filings, and the use of sprinter Ciara Neville's bikini photos in...
‘It’s a Pretty Substantial Disaster’: More Flight Cancellations Likely as Fuel Crisis Bites
European airlines are scrambling as jet‑fuel prices surge past $2.50 per gallon, driven by the Red Sea crisis and oil futures above $100 a barrel. Lufthansa cancelled 20,000 short‑haul flights, while KLM grounded 150 flights, citing financial infeasibility. Carriers such...
AI Boom Threatens to Cause ‘Significant Upheaval’ for Irish Tech Jobs
Ireland’s government warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence could cause significant upheaval in the nation’s tech‑heavy labour market within the next decade. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said officials are already tasked with gauging AI’s impact as companies like Meta cut...
MasterChef’s New Presenter Anna Haugh: ‘I’m Really Proud I Come From Tallaght’
Anna Haugh, the Dublin‑born chef‑owner of London’s Myrtle, joins Grace Dent as a new presenter on the BBC’s revamped MasterChef. The pair replace former judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode after misconduct investigations, marking a fresh, all‑woman lineup. Haugh uses the...
Duo Behind Michelin-Starred Variety Jones to Open New Casual Restaurant This Weekend
The Higgs brothers, chefs behind Dublin’s Michelin‑starred Variety Jones, are launching a new casual eatery called Mongoose on April 26. Located at 78 Thomas Street – the original Variety Jones site – the 28‑seat restaurant will serve a concise à...
New Irish Rail IT System Is ‘a Slowly Developing Shambles’, Says Dáil Committee Chairman
Ireland’s Dáil Public Accounts Committee warned that Indra Group’s €200 million‑plus (≈$215 million) next‑generation contactless ticketing programme is at risk after the contractor’s train traffic‑management system ran into severe delays and cost overruns. Over €31 million (≈$33 million) has already been spent on the...
‘It Doesn’t Make Sense’: Seasoned Drivers Treated Like Learners Due to Ireland’s Licence Rules
Melissa MacKinnon and Michael Hogan, seasoned US drivers, discovered that Ireland does not allow a direct exchange of US licences, forcing them to undergo a two‑year re‑licensing process. Their experience reflects a broader trend: a 96 percent rise in US‑to‑Ireland relocations...
Larger €9bn Surplus Forecast Increases Pressure on Coalition for Spending Increases
Ireland’s latest fiscal forecasts show the general government surplus jumping from about €5 billion ($5.5 bn) to over €9 billion ($9.8 bn) for 2024, driven by stronger growth and data‑centre investment. The projection lifts the spending ceiling by €700 million ($763 m) to €118.5 billion ($129 bn) and...
Student Who Sued UCD on Study Issue After Alleged Rape Loses Bid for Costs
A medicine student who sued University College Dublin over an alleged rape was denied an award of legal costs after the High Court ruled she bore some responsibility for the publicity that led UCD to seek a variation of the...
Will Ryanair Have to Follow Aer Lingus and Cut Flights?
Aer Lingus announced the cancellation of 430 summer flights, citing mandatory aircraft maintenance, but industry observers suspect soaring jet‑fuel prices and supply worries are the real drivers. The move comes as European carriers such as KLM and Lufthansa also trim schedules...
Sadhbh O'Neill: The Simple Text Message that Helped France Reduce Its Electricity Usage by 10%
France’s grid operator launched the Ecowatt app, sending colour‑coded text alerts that prompted households to shift usage away from peak periods. The campaign, part of a 15‑point “energy sobriety” plan, trimmed electricity consumption by 10% in December 2022. Across the EU,...
How to Invest in Crypto, CFDs and Private Equity
Alternative investments—crypto, private equity and contracts for difference (CFDs)—are gaining attention among affluent Irish investors seeking diversification. Crypto remains volatile, with Bitcoin swinging over 10% in March 2024, and regulators warn of high risk and no compensation protection. Private‑equity access...
Trump Claims Iran to Suspend Nuclear Programme, with Deal to End War ‘Mostly Complete’
President Donald Trump announced that Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely and that a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war is "mostly complete." Simultaneously, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial traffic during the 10‑day...
Ammi and Martina Burke Appeal Criminal Contempt of Court Finding
Ammi and Martina Burke, mother and sister of jailed teacher Enoch Burke, are appealing a High Court ruling that found them guilty of criminal contempt after a two‑week jail term for disruptive conduct at a February hearing. They argue the...
High Court Strikes Down Central Bank Sanction over ‘Serious Errors’ in Investigation of Fund Manager
The Irish High Court struck down a Central Bank prohibition that barred a former fund‑management chief executive from holding senior roles in regulated financial services. Judge David Barniville found the regulator’s investigation riddled with serious procedural errors, including the absence...
International Protection Bill Passed in Dáil Vote After Three-Hour Debate
Ireland’s Dáil approved the International Protection Bill by an 86‑62 vote after a three‑hour debate, marking the most extensive overhaul of the country’s asylum law. The legislation aligns Irish rules with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, tightening eligibility, speeding...
One-Week Ceasefire in Lebanon Expected to Take Effect as US-Iran Truce Efforts Continue
The United States is pressuring Lebanon to adopt a one‑week ceasefire that could begin Thursday, synchronizing with the tentative US‑Iran truce set to expire on April 22. Tehran has framed the Lebanon pause as a prerequisite for a broader framework agreement...
How Other Countries Are Responding to Surging Oil Prices - and Why Spain Is in a Good Position
Rising oil prices triggered by the Iran‑Houthi conflict have prompted a patchwork of policy responses across Europe. The United Kingdom, grappling with high debt, has resisted new fuel‑duty cuts beyond a £5 bn ($6.3 bn) annual program, while Germany introduced a two‑month...
Child Psychiatrist Jailed for Sexual Abuse of Teen Has Registration Cancelled by High Court
The Irish High Court ordered the permanent cancellation of child psychiatrist Amirul Mohd Yunos’s medical registration after he pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences involving a teenage girl. Yunos, who worked at a CAMHS centre in Clonskeagh, is serving an 8½‑year...
Bawag: What Can Irish Consumers Expect?
Bawag, Austria’s fourth‑largest bank with a €72 billion (≈ $78 billion) balance sheet, is expanding in Ireland after its Cerberus‑backed acquisition of PTSB and the mortgage lender MoCo. The bank plans to accelerate cost‑cutting, targeting a cost‑income ratio below 60 % by 2028, while...
Fuel Protesters Appear in Court over Alleged Dangerous Driving on M1 in Co Louth
Two truck drivers were brought before Louth District Court in Drogheda on Tuesday, charged with dangerous driving after a fuel‑protest blockade on the M1 in County Louth. The incident, which occurred Monday evening, is the first court case linked to...
Irishman Anthony Whelan Appointed to Senior Job in European Commission
Anthony Whelan, an Irish senior civil servant and former adviser to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has been appointed head of the European Commission’s competition directorate. The role places him at the helm of the EU’s most influential antitrust and...
‘I Will, Yeah’: How a Very Irish Phrase Presented a Challenge for an Immigrant Doctor
Migrant doctors in Ireland highlighted cultural misunderstandings that can jeopardise patient care, such as a common Irish phrase that led a GP to miss a smoking‑cessation intervention. At an Irish Medical Organisation conference, doctors from Sudan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan shared...
An Post Customer Finds His Parcel in Green Bin After Second Attempt to Send It to France
An Post admitted a serious service failure after a customer’s parcel destined for France was found in a green bin on a second delivery attempt. The mishap, reported alongside a similar incident, prompted the postal operator to issue a public...
Does It Make Sense to Walk Away From My Tracker Mortgage Rate?
A retired couple in Ireland with a €78,400 (≈$85,500) tracker mortgage at 3.1% is weighing a switch to a five‑year green fixed rate from AIB, likely around 3.2%, or a comparable offer from PTSB at 3.0%. The tracker adds roughly...
Inside the New York Apartment of Samantha Barry, the Irishwoman Headhunted by Anna Wintour: ‘I Really Wanted a Working Fireplace’
Samantha Barry, global executive director of Glamour, bought a one‑bedroom pre‑war co‑op in Gramercy, Manhattan after a three‑month search. She insisted on a walkable commute to her Condé Nast office and a working fireplace, sealing the deal with a personal letter...
David McWilliams: Is Ireland the Worst Run Country in Europe?
Economist David McWilliams argues that Ireland is Europe’s most mismanaged economy, pointing to unchecked spending and weak cost control. He highlights the national children’s hospital, originally budgeted at €650 million (≈$715 million), which ballooned to €2.24 billion (≈$2.46 billion) by 2025 – a 220%...
‘I Love My Job, but the Loneliness Is Hard’: Reality of Life as a Travel Influencer
Ireland’s top travel influencers—Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, Cassie Stokes, Brinsley McNamara, Stephanie Barry Woods and Niamh Flynn—reveal a mixed reality of high‑profile social media reach, lucrative brand deals and personal challenges. While average creators earn €30,000‑€60,000 (≈$32k‑$65k) and a few hit six‑figure salaries, the work demands constant algorithm...
Netanyahu Faces Domestic Backlash in Israel as Iran Conflict Enters New Phase
Israel’s cease‑fire with Iran ended a five‑week campaign that fell short of its three stated goals: regime change, eliminating the nuclear threat, and crippling Iran’s missile program. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu highlighted military successes but acknowledged the conflict is not...
New Critical Infrastructure Laws Will Block Climate-Based Legal Challenges
Ireland’s Critical Infrastructure Bill, slated for enactment by July, will bar legal challenges to public infrastructure projects on climate grounds. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers argues the measure will cut “unjustified” lawsuits and accelerate water, transport and energy projects...
Netflix Documentary on Killing of Jason Corbett Nominated for Emmy
Netflix’s documentary "A Deadly American Marriage"—co‑produced by journalist Brian Carroll—has been nominated for an Emmy. The film revisits the 2015 killing of Irish‑born Jason Corbett in North Carolina, the subsequent legal battles, and the 2024 release of his wife and...
Fuel Protests Set to Cause Disruption on Major Routes Across Ireland Today
A national fuel protest erupted across Ireland today, with convoys assembling from 7 a.m. and converging on major motorways such as the M50, M1 and M7. Demonstrators are targeting soaring diesel, petrol and heating‑oil prices linked to the Middle‑East war and...