Irish News: the latest news from across Ireland including crime, politics, education, health and world news

John McAreavey makes kids proud as he completes first marathon in impressive time Boots' K-beauty Advent Calendar has the best brands and a saving of €340 Diptyque launches its Sapin Christmas collection and we want a bit of everything Liz Kavanagh's husband has found a touching way to honour her after death

Get ready for a scorching Halloween night like never before! The walk concludes at the summit, where the sun will be setting on Halloween night! This Halloween, join guides and local farmers Philip and Daniel for a journey through the remarkable archaeological landscape on their farm at Newtown Hill. Attendees can shop from a variety of makers and small businesses, while enjoying a FREE fun-filled atmosphere designed for all ages.

The decline is said to be linked to reports of Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Ireland.citation needed Amongst the Republic of Ireland's Roman Catholics, weekly church attendance has declined sharply over the past few decades, from 87% in 1981, to 60% in 1998, to 30% in 2021. The 1st of February, known as St. Brigid's Day (after St. Brigid, one of the patron saints of Ireland) or Imbolc, also does not have its origins in Christianity, being instead another religious observance superimposed at the beginning of spring. These parades are colourful affairs with Orange Banners and sashes on display and include music in the form of traditional songs such as "The Sash" and "Derry's Walls" performed by a mixture of pipe, flute, accordion, and brass marching bands. Travellers would often find work in rural areas, predominantly in farming, horse trading and tinsmithing. In historic times, texts such as the Táin Bó Cúailinge show a society in which cows represented a primary source of wealth and status.

• EXILE is a unique collaborative production, merging theatre and music to explore the extraordinary life of Fenian, poet, convict, journalist and orator John Boyle O'Reilly from Dowth County Meath.
• Join Little Red as she journeys through the enchanted forest on her way to visit her fabulous D’ Granny.
• An uplifting celebration of community and friendship where everyone
• Rural areas and some religious communities hold more conservative views, but broadly Ireland is a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQ+ expats.
• Our feedback is always positive, and reflects the talent and personal connection the performers bring to our events.

The Normans invaded Ireland in the 12th century, bringing British and French influences. They had a significant influence on Ireland’s material culture at the time. The Vikings first invaded Ireland in the 8th century, from Denmark, Norway and Sweden in modern-day Scandinavia. Today, there are often notable cultural differences between those of Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian background. Irish culture has been greatly influenced by Christianity, most notably by the Roman Catholic Church, and religion plays a role in the lives of many Irish people.

Modern Ireland

Golf is accessible and affordable by international standards at many public courses. Rugby clubs at all levels are very welcoming to newcomers (you don't need to be a hero to join a local club team). Rural areas and some religious communities hold more conservative views, but broadly Ireland is a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQ+ expats. Yes – Ireland was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote (2015) and has consistently progressive LGBTQ+ legislation.

For the first time since 2023, BEATLES DAY is returning to Dublin. The UK’s biggest and most popular day time club event Day Fever is coming back to Dublin on Saturday, November 7th at the Academy, Dublin! It serves as a showcase for various tattoo styles, including traditional, blackwork, and photorealism, offering live tattooing, competitions, and entertainment for all attendees

Supermodel Christy Turlington, actor Ed Burns and TV producer/host Andy Cohen chat to IrishETV Brigid Boden during U2 red carpet event at the Apollo Theatre in NYC hosted by Sirius XM. Proud of his Irish heritage and love of Ireland, Josh Brolin learns to speak Irish on IrishETV after watching Colin Broderick's movie, Emerald City, hosted by Irish Screen America LA. The NARS Christmas makeup collection channels the energy of aprés ski season

• This elite Irish business school's virtual open day will help you find the Master's to match your ambitions
• There are quite a large number of local weekly newspapers both North and South, with most counties and large towns having two or more newspapers.
• Mary Kate O Flanagan tells six of the tales that made her a Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth on two continents, while making a case for why understanding how storytelling works will change your life.
• Enjoy a weekend filled with creativity, community and connection at our 2025 Christmas Fair.

Culture: Pubs, Music, and Literary Giants

Decorated with numerous accolades, including an MBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours list and inclusion in the 2025 Sunday Times Young Power List, Anna has become one of the most visible and exciting figures in classical music today. Featuring Britain’s Got Talent finalist Tom Ball performing live, the show blends dance, music and voice into one driving, immersive experience.​ Defying convention and reimagining t Meet our professors and students, attend our course talks, take a campus tour and discover all that Trinity College Dublin has to offer. The park will be transformed for the first time with spectacular lighting, Christmas-themed carousels, and choral performances from Sing Ireland. Dublin City Council is delighted to announce today that there will be a second TwinkleTown Christmas event and experience. This unforgettable production of Joyce's masterpiece takes place in the rich historical interior and unseen rooms of UCD Newman House.

From intimate concerts and West End-style theatre productions to family-friendly festivals and free community events, we cover everything that makes Dublin's cultural scene vibrant. Get our free Thursday email with the best Dublin events for the weekend ahead. A guide of What's On in Dublin now, including event listings, shopping, festivals in the city and much more…

Ice Skating Blanchardstown returns to Millennium Park, bringing Ireland’s largest and most exciting ice rink to Dublin. Art Source is the most exciting art event of the year, featuring 175 Irish & International artists & galleries gathering together to showcase PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, ILLUSTRATION, P When love & tragedy collide … Based on Shakespeare’s tale of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Founded in 2022, it takes over stages in London, Melbourne, and New York every Autumn, giving audiences the chance to see their favourite fun

Josh Brolin, Tom Everett Scott and Michael Gladis give praise to director Colin Broderick Sleeping With The Enemy star, Patrick Bergin, chats to Brigid Boden, IrishETV, about his latest role on BBC Eastenders, working with Julia Roberts, his new music release, Crazy in Love, and staring in Native by Linda Bhreathnach. Actor, Chris O'Dowd, talks comedy with Brigid Boden/IrishETV during Ireland Week in LA. Steven Van Zandt tells IrishETV / Brigid Boden during the U2 red carpet event at The Apollo Theatre in NYC how much he admires U2 and the magic of performing at the historic Apollo theatre with Bruce Springsteen.

Lula is declared winner of Brazil’s election as Bolsonaro rejects results

Updated list of social welfare amounts following Budget 2027, and when you will actually see the €10 increase The changes were announced to little fanfare this week, but have set off alarm bells in the housing sector. How much would it cost to introduce an electricity price cap in Ireland? The 9 at 9 Weather warnings, Dublin Marathon causes road closures and the clocks going back.

Shocking moment cruise crashes into two container ships during storm

Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century popularised Halloween in the United States and Canada. Important Christian holidays include Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, St. Brigid's Day and various Marian observances, particularly within the month of May.citation needed While many Mincéirí in contemporary Ireland are now settled, including in urban areas, they often maintain rural traditions such as horseback riding, and attend traditional fairs and festivals in the countryside. Little of this had changed by the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. These uniquely Irish sports are deeply loved, with local pride on full display during the All-Ireland Championships.

All the Christmas pantos taking place in Ireland this year

Join us this Halloween at Dublinia for a family-friendly event full of history, magic and creativity. This Christmas, enjoy the magic of Swords On Ice at Pavilions Shopping Centre. With twinkling lights, cosy vibes, and plenty of space for family and friends, it's a winter experience everyone will love.

There are currently 1,987 upcoming events in Dublin, spanning music, comedy, workshops and more. Temperatures are ten-year average daily highs; “wet” is average days with rain. July is the warmest month (19°C average high) and January the driest (12 rain days). We update our Dublin events database daily to ensure you never miss the latest additions to the city's cultural calendar.

Colin Sheridan: A fantasy but Roy Keane the right ringmaster for Man United circus

• National and international organisations have labelled Ireland as having a problem with over-consumption of alcohol.
• #BruceSpringsteen @springsteen #TheBoss and @IrishETV host @BrigidBoden #irishAncestry#SpringsteenOnBroadway #rockmusic #rockmusician #WalterKerrTheatre #TheBigApple pic.twitter.com/TY8lpN3K5B
• The island's most widely known literary works are in English, including works by James Joyce, Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and Ireland's four winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature; William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.

GAA clubs actively welcome international members for hurling and football – you don't need to be Irish to play, and local clubs are highly sociable. Dublin has multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, a diverse international food scene driven by its multicultural population, and an outstanding brunch culture. There are also a number of Summer Schools on topics from traditional music to literature and the arts. Ireland is well supplied with museums and art galleries and offers, especially during the summer months, a wide range of cultural events. Ireland has also proved a popular location for shooting films with The Quiet Man (1952), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Braveheart (1995), King Arthur (2004) and P.S. Some of the most successful Irish films included Intermission (2001), Man About Dog (2004), Michael Collins (1996), Angela's Ashes (1999), My Left Foot (1989), The Crying Game (1992), In the Name of the Father (1994) and The Commitments (1991).

Rapper Nicki Minaj urged people to vote Republican in the midterm elections during an appearance alongside US President Donald Trump at a rally in Michigan. Standing on the streets of Belgrade, as passing cars honked excitedly and revellers high-fived police officers, Sara (24) gestures to her surroundings to explain just how much things had changed for Serbia’s student-led movement. THIS week it was reported that Moscow increased tank deployments to storage units close to Finland's border – sparking fears of another Putin land grab. DRAMATIC footage shows the high-impact collision on an elevated rail line above a busy street in São Paulo, Brazil. OUR investigation into the gang comes as Gardai continue to hunt other burglary mobs across Ireland under ‘Operation Thor’

Our rink at the Pavilions Shopping Centre is the perfect place to celebrate the season, whether you're a first-time skater or gliding like a pro. Each of the five workshops takes a different theme as its starting point, and starts with a Slow Looking art tour of selected Tales from the Pale celebrates all things horrific – learn about the city’s ghosts and ghouls as you journey along the stadium’s rooftop walkway. Irish ghost stories and funerary traditions travelled with the Irish diaspora and often became entangled with local customs to form entirely new traditions over the centuries. Join us as we leave daylight behind and explore the darker side of our mythologies and histories at EPIC! A wickedly funny Halloween spectacular for all the family!

Horror as man's body found next to Disneyland entrance sparking police probe

The play follows the life of George Bailey, a man with big dreams of travelling the world and building skyscrapers, who instead finds himself rooted in his hometown by duty and heart. Adapted by Mary Elliott Nelson and directed Shedding Light on the Legacy of Segregation in North Carolina – ZNetwork by Claire O’Reilly, this new version brings the beloved story of George Bailey to life with a fresh, theatrical spirit. This Christmas, the Gate Theatre invites audiences to step into the world of Bedford Falls with a stage production of the timeless classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.