A team of archaeologists from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has uncovered more than 1,000 historical artefacts during a three-week excavation at the Green Fort in Sligo town. The site, perched on Fort Hill, is a significant remnant of the town’s 17th Century defences and represents one of only 65 bastioned forts known across Ireland. The … Read more
A judicial review challenging plans to develop housing on the site of the former Central Mental Hospital will add approximately €30 million to the project’s overall cost, the Oireachtas housing committee has been told. John Coleman, chief executive of the Land Development Agency (LDA), informed TDs and senators that the legal challenge would result in … Read more
Ireland is experiencing a surge of warm weather this week, with temperatures expected to peak at 23 degrees on Friday as the jet stream draws heated air from continental Europe across the country. Met Éireann forecaster Mark Bowe explained that the pleasant conditions are being driven by atmospheric patterns that are pulling warm continental air … Read more
Ireland’s new opt-out system for organ donation has come into effect today under the Human Tissue Act 2024, fundamentally changing how the country approaches organ transplantation by presuming consent unless people actively choose to opt out. Under the new legislation, individuals who do not wish to be organ donors must now add their name to … Read more
The Irish State has sold its final shareholding in AIB, completing a 16-year journey that began with the bank’s rescue during the 2008 financial crisis and generating €305.3 million in the process. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe announced the sale of the State’s remaining 2.06% stake at €6.94 per share through an accelerated bookbuild transaction, marking … Read more
The introduction of a second, targeted child benefit payment remains under consideration for Budget 2026 as the government explores options to address child poverty, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed. Speaking ahead of budget preparations, Martin said the government was examining “all options” for a second tier of child benefit payments that would specifically target families … Read more
Ireland’s largest trade union body has called on the government to abandon its “over-dependence” on corporation tax receipts, warning that the current economic model is unsustainable and leaves the country vulnerable to external shocks. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), representing more than 800,000 workers across Ireland, made the appeal at the National Economic … Read more
Irish households purchased a record 93 million electronic devices in 2024, representing a dramatic surge in consumer appetite for electrical goods driven primarily by the popularity of vaping products and renewable energy installations. The figures, released by Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland, show that electronic device sales have increased by 75% over the … Read more
Card transactions in Ireland reached a record high of just over 80 million in May, with Metallica ticket sales and favorable weather driving increased consumer spending across multiple sectors, according to AIB data. Overall spending increased 9% year-on-year and 2% month-on-month in May, with cumulative spending from January to May 2025 also up 9% compared … Read more
Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan will meet with representatives from five major social media companies on Monday, demanding the implementation of robust age verification systems as the government declares an end to the “Wild West” era of online platforms. The Fine Gael minister is expected to confront executives from Meta, TikTok, Google, LinkedIn, and X over … Read more
Almost 5,000 people who have been assessed and allocated home support hours are waiting for carers to be assigned, while funding is not an issue, new figures reveal. The data shows 4,888 people are waiting for home support carers to help them remain living independently, despite having completed assessments and being allocated care hours. An … Read more
The Catholic Church in Ireland will introduce an updated Confirmation pledge from next year that includes a commitment for children not to vape until they turn 18, expanding the traditional alcohol abstinence promise. The new pledge will see 12-year-old children making their Confirmation commit to abstaining from alcohol, smoking, and vaping until they reach 18 … Read more
Irish residents took 2.9 million outbound overnight trips in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO’s Household Travel Survey, which measures national tourism patterns, shows that spending by Irish residents on overseas trips reached €2.2 … Read more
The 43rd meeting of the British-Irish Council will take place in County Down on Friday, with artificial intelligence set to be a key focus as representatives from across the British Isles gather to discuss political developments and shared challenges. The summit, established under the Good Friday Agreement to promote mutually beneficial development, will bring together … Read more
The Department of Education has announced new smartphone policies for Irish schools, implementing a complete ban for primary students while stopping short of an outright prohibition for post-primary pupils. All primary schools will be required to introduce new policies that ban both the use of and access to smartphones during the school day. The comprehensive … Read more