BIG STORIES

Major booking platforms face potential multimillion-euro fines under new Irish short-term letting laws

Major booking platforms face potential multimillion-euro fines under new Irish short-term letting laws

Online accommodation platforms including Airbnb and Booking.com could face substantial financial penalties amounting to millions of euro under Ireland’s new short-term letting regulations set to take effect in May 2026. The measures, outlined in the newly published General Scheme of the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill, establish a mandatory registration system for all short-term … Read more

Birr Castle and Dunsink Observatory join Ireland's UNESCO heritage shortlist

Birr Castle and Dunsink Observatory join Ireland’s UNESCO heritage shortlist

Two significant locations with deep astronomical heritage—Birr Castle Demesne in Offaly and Dunsink Observatory in west Dublin—have been added to Ireland’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Properties today, coinciding with World Heritage Day celebrations. Minister James Browne announced the additions, noting that increasing Ireland’s number of UNESCO World Heritage Properties remains a key government … Read more

Cork one step closer to Luas as proposed 18km route and stops revealed

Cork one step closer to Luas as proposed 18km route and stops revealed

A preferred 18km route for the proposed Luas light rail service in Cork has been unveiled, with a public consultation now open until June 9. The route would run from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, featuring 25 stops including key locations like Munster Technological University, Cork city centre, Kent Station, and Blackrock. Plans also include a … Read more

Easter weekend to bring 'unsettled' weather as rain warnings issued for Cork and Kerry

Easter weekend to bring ‘unsettled’ weather as rain warnings issued for Cork and Kerry

Met Éireann has warned that Ireland is set to experience increasingly “unsettled” weather conditions over the Easter weekend, with heavy rainfall and potential flooding expected in parts of the country. Status Yellow rain warnings have been issued for Cork and Kerry, coming into effect at 11pm tonight and remaining in place until noon on Friday. … Read more

Revolut launches instant access savings for under-18s, offering up to 2.5% interest

Revolut launches instant access savings for under-18s, offering up to 2.5% interest

Revolut has introduced instant access savings accounts for users of its ‘Revolut <18’ app, tailored for children aged 6–17 and linked to a parent or guardian’s main account. This new feature is designed to help young users grow their pocket money by earning daily interest—just like adult accounts—with no cap on how much interest they … Read more

Pharma giants warn of potential €100bn investment shift away from Europe

Pharma giants warn of potential €100bn investment shift away from Europe

Major pharmaceutical companies have issued a stark warning to the European Commission that they may redirect up to €100 billion in planned European investments to the United States and other regions. According to a report in the Irish Times, a letter signed by several pharmaceutical heavyweights—including Ireland-based operations of Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and MSD (known … Read more

Northern lights expected to be visible across Ireland tonight, weather permitting

Northern lights expected to be visible across Ireland tonight, weather permitting

A geomagnetic storm is expected to make the Aurora Borealis visible throughout Ireland tonight, though cloud cover may interfere with viewing opportunities in some areas. Professor Peter Gallagher of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) Dunsink Observatory confirmed to The Journal that a “big solar storm” occurred two days ago, sending a burst of … Read more

Irish property market continues strong growth with 8% annual price increase

Irish property market continues strong growth with 8% annual price increase

Property prices across Ireland have increased by 8% in the year to February, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This represents a slight easing from the 8.2% annual growth recorded in January. The CSO Residential Property Price Index reveals significant regional variations, with prices outside Dublin climbing by 8.7%, … Read more

Fuel prices hold steady for third consecutive month according to AA Ireland

Fuel prices hold steady for third consecutive month according to AA Ireland

Motorists across Ireland have experienced a period of price stability at the pumps, with the latest AA Ireland Fuel Survey for April revealing that fuel prices have remained unchanged for the third month in a row. According to the report, petrol continues to be priced at an average of €1.80 per litre, while diesel holds … Read more

Government delays living wage implementation until 2029

Government delays living wage implementation until 2029

The Irish government has pushed back the timeline for implementing a living wage by three years, with the measure now set to take effect in 2029 rather than the previously planned 2026. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke confirmed the delay on Tuesday, explaining that immediate implementation would have required wage increases of 8-9% this year, which … Read more

Gardaí raise concern over ‘citizen journalists' filming on-duty officers, call for measures

Gardaí raise concern over ‘citizen journalists’ filming on-duty officers, call for measures

Gardaí have raised alarm over the growing trend of so-called “citizen journalists” recording interactions with officers for social media content. At the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), calls were made for stronger protections to shield gardaí and their families from the mental strain caused by on-camera provocation. Inspector Amanda … Read more

Health insurance affordability under threat as premiums spike 12%

Health insurance affordability under threat as premiums spike 12%

Irish households faced a substantial increase in health insurance costs last year, with premiums jumping by almost €146 despite a slowdown in insurance claims, according to the industry regulator. The annual market report from the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) revealed that insurers collected an additional €400 million from premiums in 2024 compared to 2023, as … Read more

Free HRT scheme to launch June 1 after months of delays

Free HRT scheme to launch June 1 after months of delays

State-funded hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women will finally begin on June 1, nearly six months after it was originally scheduled to launch, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has announced. The scheme, which was unveiled as part of last October’s budget and initially promised for January 1, will provide patients with access to HRT products … Read more

Trump targets Irish pharmaceutical industry in latest tariff threat

Trump targets Irish pharmaceutical industry in latest tariff threat

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is considering implementing tariffs on pharmaceutical imports in the “not too distant future,” once again specifically mentioning Ireland as a key pharmaceutical exporter to the United States. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump suggested that new tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry would be similar to those recently … Read more