Sample the slow travel gems on our doorstep – they are better for you and the planet
Bell-tents at Mount Congreve Gardens, Co Waterford, where you can sleep in step with natureBooked your summer holidays yet? Slow, meaningful travel by contrast sounds pretty relaxing. In contrast to fast-paced tourism, slow travel encourages using slower transport such as buses, the ferry or trains instead of planes, and maybe staying closer to home. More places in Ireland, including Mount Congreve Gardens in Co Waterford, are embracing the principles of slow, meaningful travel. There are plenty of slow travel gems on our doorstep in Ireland.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:02 UTC
Paul Mescal and Jacob Elordi look great with a man bag. But can Conor Pope pull one off?
Jacob Elordi with a man bag in Milan, Italy. It blows my mind.”Jacob Elordi with a man bag in Milan, Italy. “Remember when Joey had a man bag in Friends and it was a big joke? According to Courtney, Ireland’s favourite Gladiator is leading the charge for the man bag, and prefers designer shopping bags to hand bags. Conor Pope looking at some man bags in Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:02 UTC
Christmas gift guide: Jewellery for someone special – or for treating yourself
From bold gold to splashy colour and nonchalant bling to subtle sparkle, our curated Christmas jewellery guide has the pieces that say “I love you”, “You deserve this” and “I’ve got great taste” all at once. Whether you’re gifting someone special or treating yourself (you’ve earned it), here’s how to bring the glow this Christmas. Notions necklace, €75 by Margaret O’ConnorManhattan Flat Hoops, €99 by Talis Chains at SeagreenBanyan Green crystal drop earrings, €82 by Dyrberg/Kern at Weir & SonsMojito Bloom bracelet, €110 by Melissa CurryBlue Nebula Earrings €89 by Aria V at The CollectiveBauhaus Rainbow Bracelet €100 by Iskin Sisters at the Collective18k gold and diamond pave ring, €3,595 by Shaun Leane at Weir & SonsFleur Bangle, €275 at MomuseDroplet Signet Ring, €2,199 at Loulerie18kt gold Diamond Synergy drop earrings, €2,400 at Momuse
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:02 UTC
The chatbot will see you now: is this the future of Irish medicine?
Northern Ireland researcher Charlotte Blease has been exploring the role artificial intelligence could play in future medical services. But here’s a hard home truth for healthcare: doctors make mistakes far more often than most people realise. Social-science research shows clinicians routinely misread patients, and when you’re burned out, rushed and juggling thousands of cases, empathy becomes performance. As The Irish Times reported, since 2014, 159 Irish doctors have been sanctioned, yet only about half of those cases were ever published. Ireland is small enough to move fast and smart enough to be at the forefront of AI implementation in healthcare.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:01 UTC
Munster still striving to reach levels of performance demanded, McMillan admits
Eight competitive matches into his reign, and halfway through the four-game Champions Cup pool stages, Clayton McMillan admits his Munster side are still searching and still striving to reach the levels of performance he is demanding. I’d probably get my head cut off if I decided that week was going to be the Leinster week,” he admitted with a wry smile, “so there’ll be a few that will miss out next week. Gloucester's George Barton (right) in action against Munster in the Investec Champions Cup Round 2 match at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, on Saturday. It won’t be easy, so just a full, honest week of preparation.”Come January, and those games against Toulon and Castres, McMillan is looking for improvement “across the board”. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/InphoThe stand-out result of the weekend was undoubtedly Glasgow’s 28-21 comeback win over Toulouse on Saturday evening.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:01 UTC
Letters home: ‘Parisians are the Dubs of France, nobody speaks to each other on the metro’
Originally from Donegal, O’Connor has observed that “Parisians are the Dubs of France”. During his daily commute, “nobody speaks to each other, nobody looks at each other”. He feels there’s lots of factors about Paris that make life “really good” for young people, citing the night-time economy. [ Ireland’s deep cultural connections with the French capital and France itselfOpens in new window ]“There’s a different sort of drinking culture,” he notes. “I’m doing an internship at a French video games company in January, which I’m really excited for.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 15:01 UTC
World Cup cash grab leaves us longing for simpler times
Ken Early takes a wander down memory lane to the nostalgia-filled days of the 1990s, before dynamic pricing was a thing, after ticket prices for next year’s Fifa World Cup were revealed last week. Asking if Mohamed Salah and Liverpool have reached the sticking point of knowing when the time is right to let go. “All of Salah and part of Liverpool are transfixed by the mirage of the player Salah used to be,” Denis writes. “There are days when all logic is lost and the unpredictable glory of sport wins out,” Gordon writes. That’ll surely put a halt to much of their Christmas festivities, the game set for the first weekend of January.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 14:50 UTC
‘When you take someone’s money, you’re working for them’: Irish entrepreneur who spurned investors
Dublin-based WineSpark founder Eamon FitzGerald is far from the first person to believe he can revolutionise the wine industry. He began running a blog under that name, charting the journey “from the corporate world through to following my dream in the wine industry”. Just four months later he was working at the company and, soon after, took on the mantle of managing director. Coming back to Ireland, FitzGerald had a dream to create something new, a business which would deliver for customers and winemakers alike. “It is a niche in the wine industry which is growing, and we are targeting that niche.”
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 06:45 UTC
Three dead following ‘weekend of carnage’ on Co Tipperary roads
There have been expressions of shock and sympathy in Co Tipperary after three men died in two separate crashes in the county over the weekend. They have been asked to contact Clonmel Garda station. The county board said Tipperary GAA wished “to extend its heartfelt and sincere sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in Tipperary this weekend”. Anyone with information is asked to contact Thurles Garda station on 0504 25100, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any station. Clonmel Garda station can be reached at 052 617 7640.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 06:40 UTC
Fourteen fishermen rescued from boat driven onto rocks near Dingle Harbour
14 fishermen rescued from boat driven onto rocks near Dingle Harbour. Video: Kevin FlanneryFourteen fishermen are recovering after being airlifted to safety by the Irish Coast Guard after their fishing boat went ashore on rocks in storm conditions near Dingle, Co Kerry on Sunday morning. After landing its catch, the French registered FV Fastnet lost power as she was leaving Dingle Harbour and began drifting on to the rocks at Bínn Bán near the mouth of the harbour. The Dingle Coast Guard Unit was also mobilised but the lifeboat was unable to get a tow aboard the fishing boat due to a combination of rough seas and shallow water. There are now concerns it will break up on the rocks at Bínn Bán.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 06:40 UTC
Defence Forces made significant contribution to refugee crisis response, figures show
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy inspects the Irish Defence Forces guard of honour during his visit to Dublin earlier this month. The response is called Operation Fáilte and forms part of the Defence Forces’ “aid to the civil authority” duties. The Defence Forces’ contribution to the government response to the refugee crisis was greatest in 2022 at the start of the war in Ukraine when 3,429 workdays were required. In addition to work from members of the Permanent Defence Forces, 378 workdays were required from the Reserve Defence Forces since Operation Fáilte began three years ago. The Defence Forces also provided storage containers and 500 sleeping bags to the Department of Integration in response to the crisis.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 06:11 UTC
Sinn Féin investigates property portfolio as greater transparency set by new accounting rules
The four act as trustees of the local Sinn Féin organisation, according to Tully. “We discuss everything with Pearse Doherty.”Doherty, the Donegal TD and Sinn Féin spokesman on finance, is the party’s joint national treasurer along with Senator Conor Murphy. “It was bought as a Sinn Féin hall.”McGonigle was elected as a Sinn Féin councillor in the 1980s, but is now honorary vice-president of Republican Sinn Féin. In 2023, the Sinn Féin press office told The Irish Times that the hall in Gulladuff was not owned by Sinn Féin. For many years the Sinn Féin accounts were audited by Kinsella Mitchell and Associates, of Prussia Street in Dublin 7.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 06:11 UTC
First phase of Ireland’s Pro-League campaign ends in two 2-1 defeats
The first phase of Ireland’s FIH Pro League debut ended in two 2-1 defeats over the weekend, Belgium the victors at Abbotstown on Saturday before England won at the same venue on Sunday afternoon on the occasion of Katie Mullan’s 250th cap. Having trailed by two goals at half-time against Belgium, Sarah Torrans got Ireland back in to the game in the third quarter when she finished off fine work by Sarah Hawkshaw. But Belgium, ranked third in the world, held on to make it four wins out of four in Dublin, a repeat of their 2-1 win over their hosts last Wednesday. Ireland finish this phase of the competition on two points, earned from their 1-1 draw against England and subsequent victory in the penalty shoot-out. They will travel to Tasmania in February where they will play Australia and Argentina twice.
Source:The Irish Times
December 15, 2025 05:27 UTC