‘EVs Have Been Sold in Ireland as Vehicles that Need No Maintenance – and People Believe That’
Irish garage owner David Corbally warns that electric vehicles are not maintenance‑free, citing frequent battery, charger and oil‑system failures he sees in his Dublin workshop. He highlights that when repairs are needed, costs can top $5,000, far higher than typical conventional‑car service. Corbally argues that current EV subsidies focus on new‑car purchases, inflating second‑hand parts prices and discouraging refurbishment. He proposes grant incentives for refurbishing used EVs, shifting policy from sales‑driven to lifespan‑driven to improve sustainability and consumer confidence.
Investigation Fails to Determine Origin of Drones Around Zelenskiy’s Dublin Flight
Ireland’s Gardaí concluded a four‑month probe without identifying the operators of large drones that hovered near President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s flight path into Dublin in December. The incident, suspected but not proven to be linked to Russian disruption efforts, prompted the...
Managing Your Own Home Renovation? Here’s What You Need to Know
Managing a home renovation yourself turns homeowners into project managers, requiring coordination of multiple trades, constant decision‑making, and problem‑solving. Success hinges on thorough research of builders, detailed design plans, and clear cost structures, preferably fixed‑price contracts. Without professional oversight, time...
‘No Way, We Won’t Pay’: Dublin City Council Tenants Rally to Oppose Rent Increases
Around 250 Dublin City Council (DCC) social‑housing tenants rallied on April 6 to oppose proposed rent hikes of up to 50%, with average weekly rents slated to jump from €83 (≈$90) to €108 (≈$118). Higher‑income tenants could see increases exceeding...
How to Tackle Ireland’s Unhealthy Food Environment: Experts on Changes They Want to See
Irish health experts and policymakers are calling for sweeping reforms to curb the nation’s unhealthy food environment, from stricter online advertising bans on junk food aimed at children to redesigning school meal settings. They propose fiscal tools such as extending...
Trump Doonbeg Private Cottage Jumps in Value as Club Declares Record Membership
A four‑bed cottage at Donald Trump’s Doonbeg golf resort sold for €895,000 (about $980,000), marking a 70% price jump since 2021. The club announced record membership growth, with joining fees of €25,000 ($27,000) set to rise to €30,000 ($33,000) next...
Brianna Parkins: After 10 Years Writing for The Irish Times, This Is My Last Column
After a decade of weekly contributions, Brianna Parkins announces her final column for The Irish Times, marking the end of a ten‑year tenure. Her pieces, known for candid reflections on working‑class life and Irish culture, have become a staple for...
Hoxton Hotel Still Wants Injunction Against Neighbouring Nightclub Yamamori Izakaya
The Hoxton Hotel in Dublin’s city centre is pursuing a court injunction against its neighbour, Yamamori Izakaya nightclub, alleging late‑night music disrupts guests. The hotel says the noise forced it to close 31 of its 129 rooms, costing roughly €300,000...
Solicitor Claims He Was Left ‘Firefighting’ as Staff Left over Being Denied Working From Home
Solicitor Joseph McNally is suing Ferrys Solicitors LLP for an alleged sham redundancy after his Dublin practice was merged into the firm in early 2023. McNally claims staff left the Ballymun office when remote‑work requests were denied, forcing him into "firefighting" to retain upset...
How Many Missiles Does Iran Have Left?
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign has "completely obliterated" Iran's ballistic missile program, analysts say a substantial portion of the arsenal remains. Roughly 1,400 missiles have been launched, and experts estimate Iran retains about...
Inflation Could Rise to 3.2% for Year, ESRI Warns
Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has revised its 2026 inflation outlook to 3.2% from 2.1%, citing rising energy costs linked to the Iran crisis. The think‑tank warns that prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could push oil...
Children’s Hospital Deadline Will Be Missed Again, Committee Told
The €2.2 billion (≈$2.42 billion) national children’s hospital in Ireland has missed its 18th deadline, with contractor Bam confirming it will not achieve substantial completion by 30 April 2026. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has invoked contract rights, including withholding 15% of...
Opinion: We All Know How ‘Low Fares’ Work but Ryanair’s Treatment of a Grieving Woman Was Cruel
Ryanair’s ultra‑low‑fare model has long been praised for price, but an incident involving a grieving woman highlighted a stark lack of empathy. The airline reportedly refused to accommodate her after a family tragedy, prompting criticism of CEO Michael O’Leary’s cost‑first...
Unregistered Dentist Offered Treatment to Patients From Sittingroom of Dublin Apartment
The Irish Dental Council disclosed that an unregistered dentist was providing X‑ray treatments from the sitting‑room of a Dublin apartment, exposing a loophole in the Dentists Act 1985 that prevents regulation of non‑licensed practices. The council reported it could not act...
Dún Laoghaire Has Longest Driving Test Waiting Time at 21 Weeks, Followed by Mulhuddart at 20
Learner drivers in Dún Laoghaire face a 21‑week wait for a driving test, the longest in Ireland and more than double the 10‑week national target. Mulhuddart follows with a 20‑week backlog, while the national average has climbed to about 12 weeks....
Doctors Paid Thousands More for Special Waiting List Clinics than Normal Contracts
An internal HSE audit revealed that doctors running special waiting‑list clinics at Naas General Hospital were paid on a fee‑per‑patient basis, costing roughly $4,500 for a single clinic versus $1,200 under normal hourly rates – a $3,300 overpayment. The audit...
‘It’s a Heap of S**t, to Be Fair’: Mick McCarthy Unhappy with Portrayal in Saipan Movie
Mick McCarthy walked out of the Irish‑focused film “Saipan” after 20 minutes, labeling it a “heap of s**t” and sparking a debate over its portrayal of Irish football history. The outburst underscores how media representations can affect national sporting brands. In...
Student Who Sued Wall Climbing Facility and College over 2.6m Fall Loses Injuries Claim
The High Court dismissed Kathryn Yates' personal‑injury claim against the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Dublin Bouldering Gym after she fell 2.6 metres from an indoor climbing wall in 2018. Judge Paul Coffey found the injury resulted from the...
Kneecap Arrive in Cuba to ‘Shine a Light’ on ‘Collective Punishment’ by US
Irish rap group Kneecap joined an international aid convoy to Cuba, delivering 300 kg of humanitarian supplies and using their platform to denounce the U.S. embargo as collective punishment. The visit comes as Cuba’s power grid suffered a total blackout after...
Scottish Parliament Votes Against Legalising Assisted Dying After Emotional Debate
The Scottish Parliament rejected the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, voting 57 to 69 against it. The legislation would have made Scotland the first UK nation to legalise assisted dying, featuring strict safeguards such as dual‑doctor certification and...
Gerry Adams ‘Pushed’ IRA Into Attacks in England, UK Court Told
A London High Court hearing saw three victims of IRA bombings sue former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams for a token £1 in damages, alleging he pushed the IRA to carry out attacks in England during the 1990s. The claimants argue that...
Israel Says It Has Killed Iran’s De Facto Leader Ali Larijani
Israel announced that its jets struck a Tehran suburb, killing Ali Larijani, Iran’s de‑facto security leader, along with Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in separate raids. The Israeli government framed the operation as part of a broader campaign to destabilise Tehran and...
Remote Working Legislation ‘a Lame Duck’, Senior Fórsa Official Tells Conference
A senior Fórsa official labeled Ireland's remote‑working legislation a “lame duck”, arguing it offers only lip‑service and lacks enforcement. The union prefers to address flexible‑working rights through collective bargaining rather than rely on the statutory right to request remote work....
Highly Vulnerable Child in State Care Being Failed in ‘Unacceptable’ Way, Judge Says
A Dublin district judge condemned the Irish state’s reliance on unregulated “special emergency arrangements” (SEAs) for vulnerable children, labeling it a national scandal. SEAs, privately provided apartments, holiday lets or hotel rooms, house over 1,000 children without health‑watchdog inspections or...
Iran War: Trump Threatens Further Kharg Island Strikes ‘Just for Fun’
President Donald Trump warned that the United States could hit Iran’s strategic Kharg Island oil hub again "just for fun," after claiming the first strikes had largely destroyed the facility. Iran’s foreign minister warned of retaliation against U.S. energy assets...
Keith Duggan’s US Road Trip: A German Town on the Missouri Weighs Its Past - and Its Future
Keith Duggan’s road‑trip piece spotlights Hermann, Missouri, a small town founded by German immigrants in 1837 that has reinvented itself as a heritage‑driven tourist destination. The town’s historic red‑brick architecture, wineries—including the nation’s oldest family‑owned Puchta Winery—and seasonal festivals attract...
Ex-Justice Minister Alan Shatter Sues TD Paul Murphy over Epstein Claims
Former Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter has launched a High Court defamation lawsuit against People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy over an X post that falsely claimed Shatter met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The allegation originated from a misread...
Doctors at Irish Hospital Accidentally Operated on Patient’s Wrong Testicle During Surgery
Doctors at three Irish acute hospitals performed four wrong‑site surgeries in the past two years, including an operation on the wrong testicle. The incidents involved a testicle, a leg, oral structures and another genital organ, prompting criticism from patient advocates....
‘Philomena’s Law’ Backed by UK, Irish Governments to Protect Mother and Baby Home Survivors
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced support for Philomena’s Law, a bilateral agreement that will prevent Irish mother‑and‑baby home survivors living in Britain from having their state benefits reduced because of compensation received from Ireland’s redress scheme. The joint communique at...
Matt Williams: Ireland Will Lose if Scotland Bring Their Elite Mentality to Dublin
Scotland’s recent Six Nations victories over France and England showcase the power of an aggressive mental approach combined with high‑tempo play. By dominating the first 20 minutes, the Scots forced larger opponents into aerobic fatigue, turning physical dominance into a...
Trump ‘Not Happy’ with New Iranian Leader; Netanyahu Says Military Offensive ‘Not Done Yet’
U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News he is "not happy" with Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while claiming the war will end "very soon," prompting oil prices to slip below $90 a barrel. The United States and Israel...
GP Who Exposed Defence Forces Officer’s Breast Found Guilty of Poor Professional Performance
A medical council fitness‑to‑practice committee found Dr C guilty of poor professional performance after he inappropriately exposed a Defence Forces officer’s breast during a September 2022 consultation at the Curragh Camp. The panel also determined he failed to document the exam...
How to Invest: What Are the Risks of Leaving Your Money on Deposit?
Irish household wealth has hit a record €724,000 per family, yet 38 percent of assets sit in low‑yield deposits. The Central Bank reports Ireland has one of the lowest investment participation rates in Europe, with only about 2.3 percent in equities and...
Food Prices in Ireland at Risk of Rising ‘Dramatically’ Due to War in Gulf, Minister Warns
Irish Minister of State Thomas Byrne warned that the war in the Gulf could cause food prices to rise dramatically, adding to already higher energy costs. He indicated the government will assess support measures within the next week, focusing on...
Minister Wants to Speed up Development of Social Media Age Verification Tool
Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan has urged a faster rollout of a social‑media age‑verification tool tied to a government‑led digital wallet. The pilot, being built by the Department of Public Expenditure, lacks a confirmed scope or start date, and no...
AIB Plans to Return €2.25bn to Shareholders and More than Quadruple CEO Pay
Allied Irish Banks (AIB) announced a €2.25 bn capital return to shareholders, comprising a €988 m final dividend and a €1 bn share‑buyback approved by regulators. The bank posted a €2.14 bn net profit for 2025, down from the prior year, as net interest...