Here is how Ireland could become Europe’s renewable Norway – The Irish Times
We have long realised the tourist potential of our coasts, but what about the energy potential? Imagine harnessing this Atlantic energy efficiently and on an industrial scale to become an energy exporter. The potential of Ireland’s Atlantic territory to turn this country from an energy importer to a European renewable energy superpower is enormous. Studies estimate there is a technical wind energy potential of about 600 Giga Watts (600,000 Mega Watts) in Ireland’s Atlantic waters. Instead, floating offshore wind platforms are needed, where colossal wind turbines are mounted on floating structures that are moored to the seabed using anchors.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 18:56 UTC
Stay-at-home young people are angry over housing but at least they’re happier than Italians
He issued reassurance to the angry Opposition, and those locked out of the housing market, by listing various Government actions on housing. “Hi Terry,” says Santa, addressing a strapping park ranger named Terry, who wears a high-vis. “Can Mrs Claus bring her special Christmas cookies to the deer?”“Oh no, Santa!” says Terry, selling the emotion of the moment well. Lottie O'Driscoll Murray from Cork, Ireland's contestant in the Junior Eurovision. Photograph: Aleksandra KlimczakNo Eurovision boycott for junior songwritersAmid the international ructions around Ireland’s Eurovision withdrawal, this weekend’s Junior Eurovision has flown beneath the radar somewhat.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 18:02 UTC
Edwin Edogbo ready to make stamp on Munster after overcoming injury woes
This was provided in the considerable shape of Edwin Edogbo. Munster's Edwin Edogbo comes up against Paddy Harrison of Edinburgh. It’ll hopefully be a special day.”Munster's Edwin Edogbo with young fans after the match. Munster's Edwin Edogbo. They all helped me get out of those dark days.”More than anything you wish Edwin Edogbo games.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 18:01 UTC
How Donald Trump’s ‘peace deals’ are driven by US economic interest
By early December, Trump was back in the building, now renamed the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace, celebrating his role as an international peacemaker. Some of these were not wars at all and others have not actually ended but most of Trump’s peace deals have one thing in common: a focus on American economic interests. US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the White House in October. Perhaps the greatest vulnerability of the peace plan is the extent to which it depends on Trump’s continued engagement for its success. Russian president Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska in August.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 18:01 UTC
Intel said to have pursued deals that boosted CEO’s fortune
Tan had pitched Intel’s board on buying Rivos in the summer of 2025, but he had no luck. [ Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO with Silicon Valley’s toughest turnaround jobOpens in new window ]Intel declined to make Tan available for an interview for this story. Those connections have helped Intel clinch a $5 billion investment from Nvidia and a $2 billion investment from SoftBank. Soon after his appointment as CEO, Tan took direct control of Intel’s investment arm, Intel Capital, reversing a plan to spin it off. Instead, he reorganised the company so that Intel Capital would report to him, according to two of the sources, for reasons Intel has not disclosed.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 17:30 UTC
Tourists providing five years of social media before entering US is ‘unworkable’, says Taoiseach
The US plans to demand access to five years' worth of people's social media history before entering the country. Check your social media first Opens in new window ]“I think there is very good historical connections between Ireland and the United States. “Five years for some people is an awful lot of social media. In that context, I don’t see why five years of social media [is required]. In addition to social media history, applicants would also have to submit other “high value data fields” including email addresses from the last decade, phone numbers from the last five years, biometric information and personal details of family members.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 17:05 UTC
If you drink reindeer urine after they have eaten these red mushrooms, you’ll get high apparently
Reindeer in Lapland can eat them, apparently, and their herders discovered that if they drank the reindeers’ urine after such a meal, they would get high and see such marvels as flying reindeer. Native black bee, Apis melifera melifera. Can you tell me if this is our native black bee, Apis melifera melifera? Someone suggested to me that it could be a different species, ie an ivy bee. Doireann Eames, Donnycarney, DublinThis is a honeybee, and she looks dark enough to be our native black species.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 16:32 UTC
Woman seriously injured in XL Bully dog attack
Photograph: Alan BetsonGardaí are investigating an XL Bully dog attack on a woman in Co Limerick on Friday. XL bully dogs without a certificate will be liable to be seized and euthanised. Should XL Bully owners choose not to keep their dog, they can surrender it to a council dog warden. Since October 1st last year, following a number of XL Bully attacks, legislation was passed, making it a criminal offence to import, breed, rehome or resell an XL Bully. [ Is the XL bully ban the best approach?
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 15:47 UTC
Munster v Gloucester live updates: Champions Cup match from Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Munster Rugby's Mike Haley (centre) celebrates scoring his team's second try during the Investec Champions Cup match at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 15:47 UTC
EU freezes €210bn of Russian assets ahead of pivotal Ukraine peace talks
The EU froze indefinitely €210 billion of Russian sovereign assets held in the bloc on Friday as Kyiv and its European allies sought to strengthen their hand at a critical phase in US-orchestrated peace talks. The freezing paves the way for a loan to be raised against the assets to prop up Ukraine’s defence. EU leaders still have to overcome strong objections from Belgium, where the assets are mostly held, at a summit next week. The Trump administration has ratcheted up the pressure on Kyiv to sign a peace deal with Russia by Christmas on largely unfavourable terms first drawn up between Washington and Moscow. The Ukrainian army was pushing Russian forces back, Mr Zelenskiy said, claiming its resistance there would strengthen Ukraine’s hand in talks.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 15:12 UTC
Irish fishing industry warns of thousands of job losses after quotas slashed in EU deal
According to the Seafood Ireland Alliance, Ireland's fishing quota will be reduced by 57,000 tonnes next year following an early morning deal among EU member states. Aodh O’Donnell of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation said the deal would deliver a €94 million hit and threaten the survival of many Irish vessels and seafood businesses. “The EU has failed Ireland’s fishing industry repeatedly. “These amounts of fish allocated to Ireland from other member states protected our fishing fleet from periods of severely depleted quotas. Regrettably, a group of member states chose to block the invocation of The Hagues this year.”
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 14:58 UTC
New nationwide train timetables come into effect from Sunday
The most notable changes are to a number of peak-time direct services between Mallow and Cobh/Midleton via Cork. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienIrish Rail customers have been reminded to check for potential changes to services when new timetables come into effect on Sunday. Full timetables are available at irishrail.ie and on the Iarnród Éireann app, and commuters have been urged to check them before travel. The new platform is being delivered under the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme to increase the capacity of the network. Irish Rail said the programme is part of a number of projects designed to facilitate up to a 10-minute service frequency for the Cork rail network.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 14:45 UTC
The Irish Times view on the flu wave: an early and unwelcome visitor
The early and intensifying wave of influenza sweeping across Ireland presents a challenge to the resilience of the health system. Such an early onslaught emphasises long-standing structural vulnerabilities in the Irish health service. This early surge exacerbates the challenge. Among adults over 60, uptake sits at 56 per cent versus a 75 per cent target. This early flu surge exposes the fault lines in a health service operating at the limits of capacity.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 13:08 UTC
Low sex drive, brain fog, exhaustion: Is testosterone the quick fix for women in midlife?
Into this landscape enters a new supposed miracle tonic for women: testosterone. Another trial is planned, but for now, “there is no good evidence that giving premenopausal women testosterone will be beneficial”. “All the published studies show that the only evidence of benefit is for postmenopausal women who are bothered by low libido,” Davis says. In Ireland, doctors can prescribe testosterone for women, but only off-label and only in carefully selected cases, such as postmenopausal women distressed by low libido. She prescribes testosterone when low libido is causing distress, usually after menopause or after surgical removal of the ovaries.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 13:00 UTC
Charges needed in Dublin as morning traffic peak now worse than London, Dublin Bus says
Gwen Morgan, Dublin Bus's director of service operations, says congestion charges could make it 'too costly' for motorists to drive into Dublin. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins PhotosCongestion charges to “discourage” motorists from driving in Dublin city centre should be introduced to improve bus services, as average speeds in the capital are now slower than London, according to a Dublin Bus official. Gwen Morgan, director of service operations at Dublin Bus, said congestion is increasing year-on-year and significantly affecting average speeds during peak times. Speaking to The Irish Times this week, she said the average speed in the city centre was 13.4km/h during peak morning times in October, compared with an average of 14km/h in London. She said congestion charges could be introduced “zonally” or near certain “pinch points” in the city centre, such as Church Street, Dame Street and Pearse Street, where services “suffer greatly from congestion”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 13, 2025 12:52 UTC