Why does Trump hate Europe?
Illustration: Paul ScottUnited States president Donald Trump has described Europe as “weak” and “decaying”. It does seek change in Europe, however. The document states that the “character” of Ireland is “strategically important” to the Trump administration. Europe is the most powerful remaining force upholding the rule of law, which Trump has sought to dismantle as he furthers his interests. A thriving liberal Europe is also threat as an example of an alternative system, a proof of concept of liberal democracy that people in the US can look to, having a cultural impact.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 08:08 UTC
Change to Catholic patronage of Irish schools is slow to come – for good reason – The Irish Times
The question illustrates all that is wonderful and yet problematic about the primary school landscape in Ireland. It is also wonderful because many Catholic schools are named after women and look how long it took us to get even the Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin. A parent recently told me that he preferred Catholic schools because you “knew where you stood with them”. The last Programme for Government had a target of 400 primary schools for divestment. Irish bishops, as the patrons of Catholic primary schools, and in conjunction with the Catholic Education Partnership – which represents Catholic education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels – are in the process of establishing a group to facilitate the divestment conversation.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 08:03 UTC
Christmas gift ideas for book lovers of every stripe
The winner of crime fiction book of the year at this year’s Irish Book Awards, this is perfect for anyone who loves pacy, twisty page-turners. Photograph: Merlin Holland ArchiveWinner of History Book of the Year at this year’s Irish Book Awards, Great Irish Wives turns the lens towards those often-unacknowledged figures in history: the women who were instrumental in their famous husband’s success. Yearly subscriptions (€34) or two-year subscriptions (€68) are available on thedublinreview.com. Yearly subscriptions (€34) or two-year subscriptions (€68) are available on thedublinreview.com. Yearly subscriptions (two issues) are €22 on tolkajournal.org.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:58 UTC
Two men dead following four-vehicle collision in Tipperary
Two men have died following a four-vehicle crash in Co Tipperary on Saturday. Shortly before 6pm, gardaí and emergency services responded to the collision on a local road at Killeen, Ballinunty. Two women in their 20s who were travelling in a second car were taken by ambulance to Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel. The road remained closed on Saturday night to facilitate an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. Anyone with information is asked to contact Thurles Garda station on 0504 25100, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:49 UTC
Ulster cough up 14-point lead as Cardiff come back to snatch win at the death
Callum Sheedy is mobbed by his Cardiff team-mates after scoring the winning penalty during the Challenge Cup game against Ulster at Cardiff Arms Park. Flannery ended the half with a conversion to put Ulster 14-12 ahead to lead for the first time in the game. Werner Kok of Ulster scores a try during the Challenge Cup match at Cardiff Arms Park. CARDIFF: L Halfpenny; J Adams, H Millard, B Thomas, T Bowen; C Sheedy, A Davies; R Barratt, D Hughes, K Assiratti; G Nott, R Thornton; J Botham, D Thomas, A Lawrence (capt). ULSTER: S Moore; W Kok, J Hume, B Carson, Z Ward; J Flannery, C McKee; S Crean, T Stewart (capt), T O’Toole; H Sheridan, C Irvine; D McCann, S Reffell, B Ward.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:42 UTC
Playwright Seán O’Casey’s daughter: ‘He never seemed old to me... he was quite adventurous’
Shivaun O’Casey lives in Ashburton in Devon, not far from Totnes, where she grew up. Shivaun O’Casey, a former actor, has just published a memoir. Next Year will be a Good One; Life with Seán O’Casey, My Family and Theatre. Seán O’Casey: The bulk of his papers were sold to the New York Public Library by his widow after his death in 1964Have any of these documents been published before? Photograph: Alan BetsonFiach Mac Conghail, then director of the Abbey Theatre, and Shivaun O'Casey at the O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College in 2012.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:33 UTC
‘My son is considering a trade or apprenticeship option, but should he make a CAO application too?’
If I have one piece of advice for parents, it is to ensure your child reads the 2026 online CAO handbook carefully. He is a very hands-on young man and was considering exploring a trade or apprenticeship option. He now feels that maybe he should reconsider and make a CAO application. They visualise their engagement with clubs and societies, going on Erasmus programmes abroad, travelling and working abroad during the summer holidays, and working abroad in Australia or the Middle East for a period after graduation. [ Where CAO points are likely to settle in 2026Opens in new window ]My advice would be to let your son apply to the CAO now, or by the January 20th deadline, for early application costing €35.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:31 UTC
Drones over Dublin Bay: What happened during Zelenskiy’s visit to Ireland?
The drones appeared shortly after Ukrainian president Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s aircraft touched down in Dublin Airport. The Yeats was positioned in Dublin Bay, about 13 nautical miles out to sea. Most western European naval vessels would not have such concerns. The Irish Naval Service does not have this technology. It is not clear if he was basing this view on intelligence yet to be made public or sharing the widely held suspicions of European security services.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:31 UTC
Oracle move opens questions for AI’s investment boom
In September, Oracle signed a deal worth $300 billion with OpenAI to build huge data centres to drive the firm’s computing power. Those data centres were due to start coming online in 2027. Yet barely three months later, Oracle has reportedly pushed out the completion date for some of those centres to 2028. It is perhaps, though, one of the early signs that not all of those $1.4 trillion data centre commitments for OpenAI will ultimately be fulfilled. [ OpenAI chief Sam Altman: ‘This is genius-level intelligence’Opens in new window ]What does that tell us about AI today?
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:30 UTC
Nicola Pierce: ‘I started to write Great Irish Wives without any idea I would be a widow by the time it went to print’
Tell us about your new book, Great Irish WivesIt was a middle-of-the-night idea. I started this book as a wife without any idea that I would be a widow by the time the book went to print. The biggest difference between the two was sourcing photographs for the history book and that was a learning experience. The only writing I have managed to do, aside from getting Great Irish Wives to print, is document this first year of widowhood in my journal. Great Irish Wives (O’Brien Press) won History Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 07:29 UTC
Kilkerrin-Clonberne make it five-in-a-row thanks to third-quarter scoring blitz
Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s Hannah Noone celebrates with the trophy after the Galway club made it five-in-a-row of AIB All-Ireland club SFC titles after victory over St Ergnat's Moneyglass at Croke Park. Photograph: Tom O’Hanlon/InphoAll-Ireland women’s SFC final: Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) 2-8 St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-5Chloe Miskell and Lynsey Noone grabbed goals in either half at Croke Park on Saturday evening as Kilkerrin-Clonberne defeated St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass to earn their fifth AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Championship crown in succession. St Ergnat's goalkeeper Áine Devlin and umpire Aaron Douglas wave a shot wide during the final. ST ERGNAT’S, MONEYGLASS: A Devlin; C Graffin, N McIntosh, L Stewart (1-2); A Leahy, S O’Neill, R Bradley; A Kelly, EL McAreavey; C Griffin, M O’Neill (0-1), L McCann; B Devlin, C Carey (0-1), E Mallon. Subs: A Griffin for Bradley (44 mins); B Devlin (0-1) for Kelly (45); A Boyd for Leahy, J Darragh for Mallon (both 57); R McErlain for McCann (60).
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 06:15 UTC
Garda Taser trial to begin next week after ‘comprehensive’ training
From Thursday, 128 uniformed gardaí from four designated stations will be authorised to carry Tasers. Photograph: GettyFrontline gardaí set to be armed with Tasers as part of a trial next week have undergone “comprehensive” training “grounded in human rights principles”. From Thursday, 128 uniformed gardaí from four designated stations will be authorised to carry the weapons that release an electric charge to incapacitate targets. [ Tasers - shocking new departure for Irish policing Opens in new window ]The selected stations are Kevin Street Garda station, Store Street and Pearse Street in Dublin and Waterford Garda station. [ Will arming gardaí with Tasers change the way Ireland is policed?Opens in new window ]On average there have been two Taser deployments per month over the last five years.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 06:01 UTC
Knives Out director Rian Johnson: ‘Daniel Craig never requires encouragement to go big’
It takes some strength of character to remain something like a normal guy when you’ve been through the Star Wars mill. That ultimately led to him writing and directing Star Wars: The Last Jedi, from 2017. A life without people griping on social media about his Star Wars choices. Any trade-off in terms of anonymity that came with Star Wars was worth it for the experience of making a Star Wars movie. For all the honour of shooting the second of the Star Wars sequels, Johnson is now probably best known for those Knives Out films.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 04:05 UTC
Santa arriving by helicopter and suites for €19,000: Christmas in Ireland’s five-star hotels
The children are meeting Santa around the hotel Christmas tree and someone else is preparing the turkey. The five-star Castlemartyr Resort has its own unique selling point – Santa will be arriving to its grounds by helicopterThe five-star Castlemartyr Resort in Co Cork has its own unique selling point – Santa will give Rudolph and the gang a rest, instead arriving by helicopter. Comerford and his staff are looking to recreate the homely Christmas experience in the big manor house, which dates back to 1750. Over the Christmas period their culinary offerings will be no less fancy, availing of a local supplier known for their “bespoke black leg Turkey”. “Nobody wants to be overrun on Christmas Day,” he says.
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 03:54 UTC
Lost Christmas: From TV guides to sending cards, some traditions fade while others endure
Christmas is not frozen in amber, even if our instincts are to pretend somehow it can or should be. Those elements are consistent, but the expression of them changes.”One curious example of this is the recent evolution of the Christmas pudding. Still, that’s not the only reason why people send fewer Christmas cards than they used to, or why younger generations might not (yet) have taken up the practice. Christmas cards remain “a really, really strong Irish tradition”, McHugh says. Does visiting a winter lights installation now count as a festive tradition?
Source:The Irish Times
December 14, 2025 02:56 UTC