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Expect to hear the phrase ‘Governments don’t win byelections’ a lot in the months ahead

Expect to hear the phrase ‘Governments don’t win byelections’ a lot in the months ahead

Coalition leaders will not relish Dublin Central and Galway West contests. Just ask Keir Starmer

A garda sergeant spied on two adult men having sex. But he wasn’t prosecuted. They were

A garda sergeant spied on two adult men having sex. But he wasn’t prosecuted. They were

Almost 1,000 men were convicted under anti-gay laws, and 1,700 were prosecuted. Their wait for justice is nearly over

A row over horse manure has led to community tensions in my Dublin neighbourhood

A row over horse manure has led to community tensions in my Dublin neighbourhood

Some of my fellow newcomers to the area got over-involved on local WhatsApp chat groups, more inclined to organise protests than try to understand the problem

The desire for good food and pretty clothes was there at the beginning of humanity

The desire for good food and pretty clothes was there at the beginning of humanity

The pleasure of thinking about prehistoric people was never that of laying claim to land or heritage but of familiarity and strangeness

A judge says Enoch Burke has ‘free will’. But is that true of any of us?

A judge says Enoch Burke has ‘free will’. But is that true of any of us?

Unthinkable: Some tips for anyone who feels their thoughts are being polluted by their smartphone, a mad king or even an overbearing parent

Trump’s economic moves seem contradictory and dangerous but there is a game plan

Trump’s economic moves seem contradictory and dangerous but there is a game plan

US president’s only goal is to get Republicans through the midterms in decent shape

Sam Altman’s AI comments reveal a distinctly anti-human world view

Sam Altman’s AI comments reveal a distinctly anti-human world view

I’m not convinced that AI evangelists like Sam Altman really understand how strange and creepy they come across when they talk about the future

We need to pause Leaving Cert science reform immediately

We need to pause Leaving Cert science reform immediately

It is just not possible to carry out the required assessments safely or in a way that is fair to students

We’re not bouncy castle Catholics – we’re the incense and eulogies kind

We’re not bouncy castle Catholics – we’re the incense and eulogies kind

Half of us are dubious about the afterlife, but most want church funeral with all the trimmings when we die

The Bahá’ís in Iran have been suffering persecution since the 1800s

The Bahá’ís in Iran have been suffering persecution since the 1800s

Rite & Reason: Tortured and imprisoned because of her faith, Ruhi Jahanpour highlights the ongoing suffering of her co-religionists in Iran

Simon Harris can’t stop announcing his new investment scheme. This says a lot about him

Simon Harris can’t stop announcing his new investment scheme. This says a lot about him

How the spin unfolded was both entertaining and educational, offering observers an insight into the DNA of Harris as a politician

Trump’s goal in attacking Iran is unclear. So are the consequences

Trump’s goal in attacking Iran is unclear. So are the consequences

The US has been building up a massive military deployment in the Middle East, making it difficult for Trump to back down

American money is destroying the Irish economy from the inside

American money is destroying the Irish economy from the inside

Ireland is dangerously overdependent on a small number of companies for far too much revenue

Chuck Feeney, the billionaire who gave Ireland $1.93bn, was the opposite of Trump

Chuck Feeney, the billionaire who gave Ireland $1.93bn, was the opposite of Trump

Atlantic Philanthropies made 1,616 grants to the island of Ireland totalling $1.93 billion. Its departure left a void that has been hard to fill

Paul Gillespie: What might a more equal dialogue look like in a fractious and divided world?

Paul Gillespie: What might a more equal dialogue look like in a fractious and divided world?

Worldview: Creating an alternative progressive internationalism starts with listening

Sineád O'Sullivan: If Ireland can build a beautiful sewage plant, why do we put up with ugly data centres?

Sineád O'Sullivan: If Ireland can build a beautiful sewage plant, why do we put up with ugly data centres?

There's no reason infrastructure can't be beautiful

Diarmaid Ferriter: Fianna Fáil’s founding aims haven’t aged well for the party

Diarmaid Ferriter: Fianna Fáil’s founding aims haven’t aged well for the party

Unity, a social system offering equal opportunities and fair distribution of land were among them

Justine McCarthy: Penalising a widow for taking her late husband off the insurance is callous

Justine McCarthy: Penalising a widow for taking her late husband off the insurance is callous

Insurance firms’ rules are nonsensical enough to drive you round the bend, although you’ll find that consequence is not covered by your policy

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

February 27th, 2026

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed

A system that accelerates decision-making without sufficient legal clarity risks embedding errors, unlawfulness and injustice

Newton Emerson: Visitors to Britain must now pay £16. This hasn't had the predicted results

Newton Emerson: Visitors to Britain must now pay £16. This hasn't had the predicted results

Yesterday marked the start of strict enforcement when boarding transport to the UK, hence Aer Lingus requiring passports on all flights to Britain

Finn McRedmond: Love Bono or loathe him, you’d have to be a dreadful cynic to dislike U2’s new EP

Finn McRedmond: Love Bono or loathe him, you’d have to be a dreadful cynic to dislike U2’s new EP

If art is going to be political - and I mostly wish it wouldn’t - this is the way to do it

Kathy Sheridan: Boys should be told about the heroes as well as the villains in Gisele Pelicot’s story

Kathy Sheridan: Boys should be told about the heroes as well as the villains in Gisele Pelicot’s story

Far from drowning in hatred, victimhood and despair, she has retained her faith in humanity and found new love

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

February 25th, 2026

Clare Moriarty: Parents of children with special needs should not have to fight for everything

Clare Moriarty: Parents of children with special needs should not have to fight for everything

SNA U-turn is another sign the Government just doesn’t get it

Curling and dead drummers leave me cold

Curling and dead drummers leave me cold

Media have become obsessed with personality and trivia. Quality journalism needs input, analysis and judgment

Eamon Ryan: Why Dún Laoghaire should have a full naval base

Eamon Ryan: Why Dún Laoghaire should have a full naval base

Sensitive fibre optic cables and gas pipelines are concentrated in the Irish Sea. We need to have a vessel patrolling the area immediately

Four years on, Ukrainians no longer believe in anything but the weapons they carry

Four years on, Ukrainians no longer believe in anything but the weapons they carry

Idea of just peace, war crimes trials and reparations has fallen by wayside

Fintan O'Toole: Britain’s King Charles should heed the lesson of the crumbling Irish Catholic Church

Fintan O'Toole: Britain’s King Charles should heed the lesson of the crumbling Irish Catholic Church

Abusers did not bring down the hierarchy here, it was down to the repeated cover-ups by bishops

The inconvenient truth about artificial intelligence

The inconvenient truth about artificial intelligence

Incurious scepticism is not an adequate response to the questions AI raises

Why former supermodel Tyra Banks is prompting unexpected philosophical questions

Why former supermodel Tyra Banks is prompting unexpected philosophical questions

Docuseries on America’s Next Top Model is latest example of moral certainty of the present age

Why does it take Kellie Harrington and Troy Parrott to say children need places to play?

Why does it take Kellie Harrington and Troy Parrott to say children need places to play?

State has money for American football and Ryder Cup, but little to provide youngsters with amenities

Sometimes we should be unreasonable – it allows in sorrow, hope and joy

Sometimes we should be unreasonable – it allows in sorrow, hope and joy

The word ‘reason’, like ‘natural’ and ‘common sense’, often alerts us to a hidden agenda

Is the net tightening in Ireland around Big Tech?

Is the net tightening in Ireland around Big Tech?

The seeds of this Government’s change of heart can be seen in X’s demise

The Irish jobs market is slowing and younger people are in the firing line

The Irish jobs market is slowing and younger people are in the firing line

Young people are most exposed by latest jobs-market trends, including the impact of AI on entry-level positions

Larissa Nolan: News of the search for Deirdre Jacob and Jo Jo Dullard opened a capsule into another time

Larissa Nolan: News of the search for Deirdre Jacob and Jo Jo Dullard opened a capsule into another time

The search was at a disused quarry between Baltinglass and Blessington near where I grew up. Isolated and vast, it looks like nowhere else

My grandfather’s role in rescuing the crew of a shipwreck is part of our family lore

My grandfather’s role in rescuing the crew of a shipwreck is part of our family lore

One hundred years on, I stood with the Spanish descendants of the captain, Joaquín Herrera, and looked at the wreckage

You would have to be borderline insane – or American – to feel nostalgic for 1970s Ireland

You would have to be borderline insane – or American – to feel nostalgic for 1970s Ireland

The reductive vision of a bucolic Irish past might seem absurd to most Irish people, but it lands in a different way for conservative Americans

Presbyterian Church in Ireland facing child sex abuse ‘earthquake’

Presbyterian Church in Ireland facing child sex abuse ‘earthquake’

Rite & Reason: Rev Norman Hamilton referred to ‘the still high levels of bewilderment, distress and confusion among many members of our Church, as well as in the wider society’

We face a real danger that the nuclear arms race might be about to resume

We face a real danger that the nuclear arms race might be about to resume

Worldview: The bulletin of the atomic scientists moved its estimate of the risk of a nuclear conflict, the doomsday clock, to 85 seconds to midnight

If 36,000 new houses were built last year, why were only 58 sold to buyers in Dublin?

If 36,000 new houses were built last year, why were only 58 sold to buyers in Dublin?

In reality, we don’t actually know for certain how many houses we’re building

What can be done to improve shambolic mental health service for younger people in Kerry?

What can be done to improve shambolic mental health service for younger people in Kerry?

It is somehow ironic that the services have succeeded in substantially reducing the use of physical restraint, yet the entire system continues under this restraining governance model

Here’s what the rapid U-turn on special needs assistants tells us about this Government

Here’s what the rapid U-turn on special needs assistants tells us about this Government

Taking services away has greater political cost than not providing them in the first place

David McWilliams: Ireland’s low urban population has left us with a problem of extreme commuting

David McWilliams: Ireland’s low urban population has left us with a problem of extreme commuting

As Clare and Tipperary people know, Ireland has become a country of sprawl, of suburbs creeping into countryside and towns and villages choked with traffic

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

February 21st, 2026

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

February 20th, 2026

Why is Ireland boycotting the Eurovision but not the Nations League?

Why is Ireland boycotting the Eurovision but not the Nations League?

Some people claim boycotts make no difference. No one will even notice Ireland’s absence from the Eurovision, they say. Well, the people of Ireland will notice

Few predicted just how deep AI’s race to the bottom would go

Few predicted just how deep AI’s race to the bottom would go

ChatGPT is the scourge of educationalists and others who care about research, writing, intellectual autonomy, truth and accuracy

Stephen Collins: Andy Farrell had a point. The way we talk about Ireland is way too negative

Stephen Collins: Andy Farrell had a point. The way we talk about Ireland is way too negative

Despite all the griping, Irish people are still optimistic

Newton Emerson: New UUP leader’s remarks leave unionists bemused and nationalists offended

Newton Emerson: New UUP leader’s remarks leave unionists bemused and nationalists offended

Jon Burrows’s comparison between Bloody Sunday and Ireland’s failure to extradite terrorists will have offended nationalists and left unionists bemused

Opinion

EditorialsAn Irish DiaryLettersCartoon

Promo Image

Pat Leahy

Expect to hear the phrase ‘Governments don’t win byelections’ a lot in the months ahead

Pat Leahy
A garda sergeant spied on two adult men having sex. But he wasn’t prosecuted. They were

A garda sergeant spied on two adult men having sex. But he wasn’t prosecuted. They were

By Brian Sheehan
A row over horse manure has led to community tensions in my Dublin neighbourhood

A row over horse manure has led to community tensions in my Dublin neighbourhood

By Larissa Nolan
Sam Altman’s AI comments reveal a distinctly anti-human world view

Sam Altman’s AI comments reveal a distinctly anti-human world view

By Mark O’Connell

Promo Image

Joe Humphreys

A judge says Enoch Burke has ‘free will’. But is that true of any of us?

Joe Humphreys
Promo Image

Cliff Taylor

Trump’s economic moves seem contradictory and dangerous but there is a game plan

Cliff Taylor
Promo Image

Breda O'Brien

We need to pause Leaving Cert science reform immediately

Breda O'Brien
Promo Image

Jennifer O’Connell

We’re not bouncy castle Catholics – we’re the incense and eulogies kind

Jennifer O’Connell
Promo Image

David McWilliams

American money is destroying the Irish economy from the inside

David McWilliams
Promo Image

Paul Gillespie

What might a more equal dialogue look like in a fractious and divided world?

Paul Gillespie
Promo Image

Diarmaid Ferriter

Fianna Fáil’s founding aims haven’t aged well for the party

Diarmaid Ferriter
Promo Image

Justine McCarthy

Penalising a widow for taking her late husband off the insurance is pretty callous

Justine McCarthy
Promo Image

Newton Emerson

Visitors to Britain must now pay £16. This hasn’t had the predicted results

Newton Emerson
Promo Image

Finn McRedmond

Love Bono or loathe him, we could all do with a little more of his sanctimony

Finn McRedmond
Promo Image

Kathy Sheridan

Boys should be told about the heroes and villains in Gisèle Pelicot’s story

Kathy Sheridan
Promo Image

Michael McDowell

Curling and dead drummers leave me cold

Michael McDowell

LETTERS

Letters to the Editor, March 2nd: On the US and Israel attack on Iran, going to the White House and pronunciation problems

The price of electricity

What makes a good eulogy?

SNA reallocation does not solve underlying problem

Camhs review in Kerry represents deeply concerning moment

When Pat Ingoldsby met Vivienne – a Dublin love story
An Irish Diary

When Pat Ingoldsby met Vivienne – a Dublin love story

EDITORIALS

The attacks on Iran are dangerous, ill-conceived and illegal

Keir Starmer has suffered another heavy blow

History of State apologies shows words are not enough

Dive into a book today and embrace the silence


Cartoon

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

February 27th, 2026


The Bahá’ís in Iran have been suffering persecution since the 1800s

The Bahá’ís in Iran have been suffering persecution since the 1800s

By Dr Brendan McNamara

Simon Harris can’t stop announcing his new investment scheme. This says a lot about him

Simon Harris can’t stop announcing his new investment scheme. This says a lot about him

By Gerard Howlin

Trump’s goal in attacking Iran is unclear. So are the consequences

Trump’s goal in attacking Iran is unclear. So are the consequences

By Vincent Durac

If Ireland can build a sewerage plant this beautiful, why allow such ugly data centres?

If Ireland can build a sewerage plant this beautiful, why allow such ugly data centres?

By Sinead O'Sullivan

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed

By Liam Herrick

Parents of children with special needs should not have to fight for everything

Parents of children with special needs should not have to fight for everything

By Clare Moriarty

Why Dún Laoghaire should have a full naval base

Why Dún Laoghaire should have a full naval base

By Eamon Ryan

Four years on, Ukrainians no longer believe in anything but the weapons they carry

Four years on, Ukrainians no longer believe in anything but the weapons they carry

By Lara Marlowe

Why former supermodel Tyra Banks is prompting unexpected philosophical questions

Why former supermodel Tyra Banks is prompting unexpected philosophical questions

By Laura Kennedy

Is the net tightening in Ireland around Big Tech?

Is the net tightening in Ireland around Big Tech?

By Liz Carolan

Presbyterian Church in Ireland facing child sex abuse ‘earthquake’

Presbyterian Church in Ireland facing child sex abuse ‘earthquake’

By Alf McCreary

We face a real danger that the nuclear arms race might be about to resume

We face a real danger that the nuclear arms race might be about to resume

By Patrick Smyth

If 36,000 new houses were built last year, why were only 58 sold to buyers in Dublin?

If 36,000 new houses were built last year, why were only 58 sold to buyers in Dublin?

By Lorcan Sirr

What can be done to improve shambolic mental health service for younger people in Kerry?

What can be done to improve shambolic mental health service for younger people in Kerry?

By Mac MacLachlan

Irish people should have the option of calling an Uber or a Bolt

Irish people should have the option of calling an Uber or a Bolt

By Brian McHugh

Stop fixating on Border polls and start a respectful conversation about Ireland’s future

Stop fixating on Border polls and start a respectful conversation about Ireland’s future

By Graham Spencer

Blocking of Rotunda development to preserve a dilapidated streetscape defies belief

Blocking of Rotunda development to preserve a dilapidated streetscape defies belief

By Tom Matthews

Is Seamus Culleton paying for Ireland’s ‘woke’ visa approach?

Is Seamus Culleton paying for Ireland’s ‘woke’ visa approach?

By Niall O'Dowd

‘Getting things done’ is good, but not at the expense of the planet

‘Getting things done’ is good, but not at the expense of the planet

By Sadhbh O'Neill

What can schools realistically do to support students’ mental health and wellbeing?

What can schools realistically do to support students’ mental health and wellbeing?

By Selina McCoy and Caoimhe Dempsey

You have more transparency buying a steak in Ireland than you do a home

You have more transparency buying a steak in Ireland than you do a home

By Ciarán Mulqueen

Should parents be held responsible for children’s activities online?

Should parents be held responsible for children’s activities online?

By Dr Finola Kennedy

Washington’s bulldozer diplomacy has nudged Europe closer to China

Washington’s bulldozer diplomacy has nudged Europe closer to China

By Denis Staunton

Big tech is profiting from deepfake videos of celebrities selling face cream and Bitcoin

Big tech is profiting from deepfake videos of celebrities selling face cream and Bitcoin

By Liz Carolan

We don’t need more prison spaces – we need more alternatives to prison

We don’t need more prison spaces – we need more alternatives to prison

By Joe Costello

Lucy Letby case should be a warning to other maternity hospitals

Lucy Letby case should be a warning to other maternity hospitals

By Chris Fitzpatrick

Coolglass wind-farm ruling puts every public servant in Ireland on notice

Coolglass wind-farm ruling puts every public servant in Ireland on notice

By Eamon Ryan

Ireland doesn’t learn from infrastructure failures. We repeat them

Ireland doesn’t learn from infrastructure failures. We repeat them

By Paul Davis

I am a recovering restaurant critic and here’s why the Michelin hullabaloo makes me feel queasy

I am a recovering restaurant critic and here’s why the Michelin hullabaloo makes me feel queasy

By Trevor White

We risk over-diagnosing anxiety. There’s another way to look at it

We risk over-diagnosing anxiety. There’s another way to look at it

By Ian Robertson

Archbishop John McDowell: Ireland must not succumb to the racism gripping the US

Archbishop John McDowell: Ireland must not succumb to the racism gripping the US

By Archbishop John McDowell

Powerful men are being damaged by the Epstein files. But not Trump’s friends

Powerful men are being damaged by the Epstein files. But not Trump’s friends

By Daniel Geary

New rent rules will make the market even more dysfunctional

New rent rules will make the market even more dysfunctional

By Lorcan Sirr

Ireland’s justice system is operating with too many data blind spots

Ireland’s justice system is operating with too many data blind spots

By Mark Garrett

Should Ireland introduce a legal ‘duty of care’ for rainwater?

Should Ireland introduce a legal ‘duty of care’ for rainwater?

By Sadhbh O'Neill

Have we a right to know where company directors live? A journalist and a lawyer debate

Have we a right to know where company directors live? A journalist and a lawyer debate

By Colm Keena and Neil Keenan

Churches in Ireland are taking steps to be better stewards of what is painful and broken

Churches in Ireland are taking steps to be better stewards of what is painful and broken

By Rev Dr Karen Campbell

Blaming Met Éireann for floods is wrong. Who rezoned the floodplains?

Blaming Met Éireann for floods is wrong. Who rezoned the floodplains?

By John Sweeney

Ireland’s debate about e-scooters and scramblers is unmoored from reality

Ireland’s debate about e-scooters and scramblers is unmoored from reality

By Sinéad O'Sullivan

‘My comrades are struggling and freezing and dying.’ Exhaustion is sapping Ukraine’s spirit

‘My comrades are struggling and freezing and dying.’ Exhaustion is sapping Ukraine’s spirit

By Lara Marlowe

No, objecting to the enormous wealth of billionaires is not begrudgery

No, objecting to the enormous wealth of billionaires is not begrudgery

By Clare Moriarty

Ireland’s reluctance to speak out against Trump’s Board of Peace is shameful

Ireland’s reluctance to speak out against Trump’s Board of Peace is shameful

By Alanna O'Malley

Storm Chandra commuter chaos is made far worse by a dysfunctional transport system

Storm Chandra commuter chaos is made far worse by a dysfunctional transport system

By Brian Caulfield

Ursula von der Leyen: Europe is not retreating behind tariff walls, but diversifying

Ursula von der Leyen: Europe is not retreating behind tariff walls, but diversifying

By Ursula von der Leyen

Could Ireland be the connecting point for a subsea super-cable linking Europe and Canada?

Could Ireland be the connecting point for a subsea super-cable linking Europe and Canada?

By Eamon Ryan

One man whose family were on Schindler’s list chatted with the son of an SS officer

One man whose family were on Schindler’s list chatted with the son of an SS officer

By Oliver Sears

Dublin Bus is offering €15,000 for ideas. Here’s one for free: channel Michael O’Leary

Dublin Bus is offering €15,000 for ideas. Here’s one for free: channel Michael O’Leary

By Sinéad O'Sullivan

Why is Steve Bannon so determined to find an ‘Irish Trump’?

Why is Steve Bannon so determined to find an ‘Irish Trump’?

By Liam Kennedy

Time to restore Brigit’s distaff as a symbol of peace and healing

Time to restore Brigit’s distaff as a symbol of peace and healing

By Mary Condren

Please Elon Musk, don’t make me defend Ryanair

Please Elon Musk, don’t make me defend Ryanair

By Mark O’Connell


Inside Politics

Inside Politics

Our politics team's behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Sent Monday to Friday when the Dáil is in session

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