Opinion

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Kathy Sheridan

Whatever happened to joy to the world? You have to look hard

Kathy Sheridan

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Michael McDowell

Should the super rich get to opt out of paying taxes in the country that enriched them?

Michael McDowell

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The AI revolution is an opportunity for Ireland – and the planet

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Fintan O’Toole

Ireland’s Christmas story is still underpinned by separation anxiety

Fintan O’Toole

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Una Mullally

Manchán Magan’s ability to fuse present and past defined a rich year in the arts

Una Mullally

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Joe Humphreys

Eoin Lenihan’s Vandalising Ireland proposes an idiosyncratic new direction for Ireland

Joe Humphreys

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Breda O'Brien

This is the week when ‘lapsed Catholics’ and ‘spiritual but not religious’ go to church

Breda O'Brien

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Patrick Smyth

What’s behind the Trump administration’s war on typefaces?

Patrick Smyth

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Pat Leahy

A decisive showdown over Micheál Martin’s leadership might be best for everyone

Pat Leahy

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Cliff Taylor

In the world of AI, a second-class business degree won’t be much use

Cliff Taylor

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Justine McCarthy

It is right to be careful about our language after Bondi. But we can’t fall silent on Gaza

Justine McCarthy

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Diarmaid Ferriter

Catholicism may be raising its head high but the body underneath is ailing

Diarmaid Ferriter

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Finn McRedmond

The cause of the great reading crisis is unknown. But the solution is obvious

Finn McRedmond

LETTERS

EDITORIALS

Martyn Turner

Martyn Turner

December 20th, 2025

In a post-truth world, the magic of Christmas is in a category of its own

In a post-truth world, the magic of Christmas is in a category of its own

By Rachel O'Dwyer

Ireland should resist cheap, tough talk on migration

Ireland should resist cheap, tough talk on migration

By Cathryn Costello

One of Ireland’s first women priests reflects on Christmas

One of Ireland’s first women priests reflects on Christmas

By Canon Ginnie Kennerley

Micheál Martin is a victim of his own success

Micheál Martin is a victim of his own success

By Gerard Howlin

Free speech will be the big EU-US battleground in 2026 – and Ireland is in the crossfire

Free speech will be the big EU-US battleground in 2026 – and Ireland is in the crossfire

By Liz Carolan

A smaller RTÉ does not mean a hollowed-out RTÉ

A smaller RTÉ does not mean a hollowed-out RTÉ

By Kevin Bakhurst

In Bondi, on the first night of Hanukkah, the intifada was truly globalised

In Bondi, on the first night of Hanukkah, the intifada was truly globalised

By Oliver Sears

At the top of the 2025 naughty list is the US, now officially in climate denial

At the top of the 2025 naughty list is the US, now officially in climate denial

By Sadhbh O'Neill

Why has Ireland abruptly decided the European Convention on Human Rights goes too far?

Why has Ireland abruptly decided the European Convention on Human Rights goes too far?

By Liam Herrick

Could we be on the verge of a techlash?

Could we be on the verge of a techlash?

By Jack Sheehan

We need to end the great social experiment on our children

We need to end the great social experiment on our children

By Eoghan Cleary

Drone sightings highlight worrying gaps in our national security

Drone sightings highlight worrying gaps in our national security

By Edward Burke

Opinions are hardening against Ireland in Britain and the US. How worried should we be?

Opinions are hardening against Ireland in Britain and the US. How worried should we be?

By Daniel Mulhall

Change to Catholic patronage of Irish schools is slow to come – for good reason

Change to Catholic patronage of Irish schools is slow to come – for good reason

By Dr Marie Griffin

Europe is in danger of becoming a plaything, not a player

Europe is in danger of becoming a plaything, not a player

By Brigid Laffan

We should be very worried about AI taking over the classroom

We should be very worried about AI taking over the classroom

By Eimear Nolan and Dirk Lindebaum

Ireland’s plan to give Tasers to gardaí is bad policy

Ireland’s plan to give Tasers to gardaí is bad policy

By Lucy Michael

Mindful gifting need not make Christmas earnest and boring

Mindful gifting need not make Christmas earnest and boring

By Sadhbh O’Neill

‘Rage bait’ is an apt word of the year for 2025. Anger can be good

‘Rage bait’ is an apt word of the year for 2025. Anger can be good

By Clare Moriarty

Tolls, buses and remote working: The short-term solutions to M50 gridlock

Tolls, buses and remote working: The short-term solutions to M50 gridlock

By Brian Caulfield

Christmas rituals assume women have endless free time

Christmas rituals assume women have endless free time

By Rachel O'Dwyer

Bringing the Ukraine war to its endgame is going to mean messy compromises

Bringing the Ukraine war to its endgame is going to mean messy compromises

By Paul Gillespie

Alice Leahy: I have learned there is no single story about being homeless

Alice Leahy: I have learned there is no single story about being homeless

By Alice Leahy

Ireland is brilliant at identifying problems and terrible at solving them

Ireland is brilliant at identifying problems and terrible at solving them

By Paul Davis

We can’t keep objecting to wind farms 10km out to sea if we want Ireland to progress

We can’t keep objecting to wind farms 10km out to sea if we want Ireland to progress

By Feargal O’Rourke

PR campaigns are not enough to stop people dying on our roads. Here is what we need to do

PR campaigns are not enough to stop people dying on our roads. Here is what we need to do

By Sinéad O'Sullivan

Jack Chambers needs to tackle the culture issues in his own department

Jack Chambers needs to tackle the culture issues in his own department

By Eamon Ryan

Ireland has a choice on migration: Follow the UK into the vortex or hold on to its values

Ireland has a choice on migration: Follow the UK into the vortex or hold on to its values

By Nick Henderson

Chief Rabbi: Move to erase Chaim Herzog’s name and history is cruel hammer blow

Chief Rabbi: Move to erase Chaim Herzog’s name and history is cruel hammer blow

By Yoni Wieder

ICC judges wanted Netanyahu arrested. Now they’re being targeted by Trump

ICC judges wanted Netanyahu arrested. Now they’re being targeted by Trump

By Mark O’Connell

A short document with an enduring message: we belong to a single family with one origin and goal

A short document with an enduring message: we belong to a single family with one origin and goal

By Bishop Brendan Leahy

A neuropsychologist’s view: Arne Slot seeded a ‘loser effect’ in Liverpool. Here’s how to fix it

A neuropsychologist’s view: Arne Slot seeded a ‘loser effect’ in Liverpool. Here’s how to fix it

By Ian Robertson

In a normal country, Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff would be tried for treason

In a normal country, Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff would be tried for treason

By Lara Marlowe

Rich are getting richer, poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing

Rich are getting richer, poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing

By Patrick Smyth

Ambassador Edward Walsh: Ireland’s future is to be a bridge and interpreter between US and Europe

Ambassador Edward Walsh: Ireland’s future is to be a bridge and interpreter between US and Europe

By Edward S Walsh

Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer

Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer

By Lorcan Sirr

How different it would be if politicians had to use public transport

How different it would be if politicians had to use public transport

By Sadhbh O'Neill

Is processed food bad for you?

Is processed food bad for you?

By Eileen Gibney

Zohran Mamdani has scrambled the calculus of success for the Democrats

Zohran Mamdani has scrambled the calculus of success for the Democrats

By Jack Sheehan

The real migration crisis is not the one you’ve been hearing about

The real migration crisis is not the one you’ve been hearing about

By Ciara Smyth

A McCarthyite fervour has overtaken Ireland where Israel is concerned

A McCarthyite fervour has overtaken Ireland where Israel is concerned

By Ed Abrahamson

The belief that technology could allow us to speak to the dead is deeply human

The belief that technology could allow us to speak to the dead is deeply human

By Mark O’Connell

Two-thirds of humanity live in places where religious freedom is violated

Two-thirds of humanity live in places where religious freedom is violated

By Brandon Scott

The American dream now is to leave - at least for young women

The American dream now is to leave - at least for young women

By Margaret E Ward

Despite the fudges and bickering, Cop is still the best hope we’ve got

Despite the fudges and bickering, Cop is still the best hope we’ve got

By Sadhbh O'Neill

Ireland deserves a Minister for Finance with the right skill set. Is Simon Harris this person?

Ireland deserves a Minister for Finance with the right skill set. Is Simon Harris this person?

By Sinéad O'Sullivan

Left’s unity from Catherine Connolly campaign faces its first big tests

Left’s unity from Catherine Connolly campaign faces its first big tests

By Paul Murphy

Paschal Donohoe: prudent steward of the economy or minister for status quo?

Paschal Donohoe: prudent steward of the economy or minister for status quo?

By Olivia O'Leary, Stephen Collins, and Gerard Howlin

Neuropsychologist Ian Robertson: Troy Parrott’s words show a remarkable quality of Irish culture

Neuropsychologist Ian Robertson: Troy Parrott’s words show a remarkable quality of Irish culture

By Ian Robertson

Our psychology services are overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be like this

Our psychology services are overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be like this

By Mac MacLachlan