The ‘Cable Cowboy’: The US billionaire who made Ireland his home-from-home
But despite owning 2.2 million acres there, John Malone has made Ireland his home-from-home over the past decade. The first was the cable provider UPC – later to become part of Virgin Media Ireland. Paul Farrell was vice-president of commercial at Virgin Media Ireland when Malone and the rest of his board came to Ireland in 2018. Farrell and the Virgin Media team presented Malone with the plan to rebrand TV3 as Virgin Media Television and to seek “synergies” between it and the broadband business. In the room that day in 2018 was Liberty Global chief executive, and Malone’s right-hand man, Mike Fries – who will assume the role of chairman in 2026.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:38 UTC
James Lowe feels pain of opportunity that slipped away but promises Ireland will bounce back
They seemed stunned as much as disappointed by the way a seemingly winnable game was wrenched away from them. At the start of the second half, we were good, but when you don’t convert pressure into points it probably shows with the outcome. “We put ourselves in a position for the game to go deep and unfortunately we just didn’t. “But I don’t think anything will come from it. Because he’s got one gear, and you don’t want to get that shoulder on a Thursday, that’s for sure.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:36 UTC
Does a Pacino-De Niro bromance ad contain the seeds of a cure for male loneliness?
I was startled by all the cool male friendship ads, given the alarming stories about an epidemic of male loneliness and a diminution of friendship and romance in the lives of men, especially young men. The human condition is very, very complicated.”Not the solipsistic world that many young men are creating for themselves with pliable, eager-to-please AI companions and fantasy love objects. “When a woman doesn’t have a romantic relationship, she pours that energy into her work and her friends,” he said. “When a man doesn’t have a romantic relationship, he pours that energy into porn and conspiracy theories. “Young men need male role models, they need friends, and ideally a romantic partner,” he said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:34 UTC
One man remains in custody after mass stabbing on train in England, police say
Nine people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday. The man being held, after brandishing a large knife, is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire, eastern England. Forensic investigators at Huntingdon train station in England on Sunday. Olly Foster said he was in coach H when a man ran past warning passengers of a man “stabbing everyone, everything”. A forensic investigator records evidence from inside the train at Huntingdon station on Sunday.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:33 UTC
Woman accompanied by armed garda to court obtains protection order against ex partner
Photograph: Stephen Collins/CollinsA woman who says she is in fear of her ex partner after he allegedly did “horrible things” to her has obtained a protection order. Describing the situation as “very serious”, the judge granted a protection order. The woman previously got an interim barring order on an ex parte basis (one side represented in court) against her son. When her case came back to court on Thursday, he did not attend and the woman sought a full barring order. A woman who said she fears for her life due to her estranged husband’s behaviour got a protection order.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:32 UTC
Seán Moncrieff: Why would anyone want to be a radio presenter?
In Ireland, there have been only a handful of people who got to leave on their own terms. The rest don’t get their contracts renewed or have them terminated or are quietly edged out. If you tot up, for instance, the number of people who host national speech radio shows, it is a very short list. Radio presenters don’t get recognised on the street. My first radio gig was It Says In The Papers on Morning Ireland.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:26 UTC
TV lads’ verdict on Ireland’s performance against the All Blacks? Not very well done
There wasn’t a Zimmer frame in sight, though, when Ireland took to the field, but the panel wasn’t entirely hopeful about their prospects. And you know what they say: it’s hard enough battling the All Blacks with 15 men, never mind having one sinbinned soldier. Undercooked? The 14 men only went up the pitch and scored a try, 78-year-old Tadhg Furlong going over the line. At least the Virgin Media lads could head to the cosy green room for a hot toddy, Wagyu steak and chips.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:04 UTC
Ivan Yates work on Gavin campaign sparks political and media fallout
Controversy over coaching provided by broadcaster and former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates to Fianna Fáil’s presidential campaign has sparked an internal Government row and fallout over his media work during the election. He said Fianna Fáil could not “just dismiss” questions about the media training work Mr Yates did with Jim Gavin. Mr Yates sparked a campaign-trail controversy when he suggested that were he working with Fine Gael, he would “smear the bejaysus” out of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly. A Fine Gael spokesman said it has not used Mr Yates for media training or similar work. Mr Yates did not respond to a request for comment.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 19:00 UTC
Nine hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after mass stabbing on London-bound train
Nine people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday. Nine people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday evening. A 10th person suffered non life-threatening injuries, and two men were arrested in what prime minister Keir Starmer called an “appalling incident”. British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings, which happened on the 6.25pm train service. Mr Starmer posted on X that the incident was “deeply concerning”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:45 UTC
Christmas is cancelled as Limerick mayor says market not good enough
The war on Christmas rages in that home of festive cheer, Limerick city. John Moran, the city’s directly elected mayor, cancelled the Christmas market proposed for the area around the statue of Daniel O’Connell, which the council had advanced all the way to publishing a road closure notice. It’s public money, so we decided we would push it off until next year,” he told the Limerick Leader. You need to get ahead of these things, and that’s part of what I think we need to improve.”Is no Christmas market better than a bad Christmas market? Racing pigeons only know how to get home, so if you’re buying a new one, it’ll just head back to the loft you got it from.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:32 UTC
Legendary novelist Roddy Doyle joins Finding Our Voices book talk Nov. 18
The grassroots, statewide nonprofit Finding Our Voices invites everyone to join a free, online talk on Tuesday, Nov.18 at 2 p.m. with Booker Prize-winning novelist Roddy Doyle who will be “Zooming” in from Dublin, Ireland. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/patrisha-mclean-my-deeply-controlling-ex-husband-don-mclean-1.4407458McLean said she reached out to Roddy Doyle just after the domestic violence arrest of her then-husband and 20 years after being "bowled over" by his first book written in the voice of domestic abuse survivor Paula Spencer. He replied that, "Paula Spencer is the character I'm most proud of." The Finding Our Voices Book Club is part of Finding Our Voices’ broader mission to break the silence surrounding domestic abuse and shine a light on the complexities and patterns of the issue. “These explorations with authors of memoir and fiction remind us that domestic abuse hides in plain sight and takes many forms.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:31 UTC
Jarlath Regan: I worked my tail off to bring my son home to experience school in Ireland
Jarlath Regan: 'After 10 years in London, knowing that you’re home at last is a joy I’ll never be able to describe.' Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillThe Ireland I grew up in felt very grey; it didn’t feel like there was a lot of colour. It was definitely an achievement that I don’t think those that don’t leave fully understand. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish TimesI worked my tail off so I could bring my son home and allow him to experience Irish secondary school. This interview, part of a series about well-known people’s lives and relationship with Ireland, was edited for clarity and length.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:31 UTC
Five things we learned from Ireland’s 26-13 defeat to New Zealand
Andy Farrell has a choice to makeIreland’s Jack Crowley chips over Fabian Holland of New Zealand during Saturday's Test match at Soldier Field. Photograph: Gary Carr/InphoThis was another match tucked away for Ireland’s young outhalves, Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast, and the pivot debate rages on. When the Ulster lock entered the game on 23 minutes, Ireland were a deserving 10-7 ahead. Maybe that’s what ensured there was payback at the end as New Zealand accelerated past tired Ireland at the finish line. US experiment has had its momentIreland's games against New Zealand at Soldier Field have been memorable occasions, but they are not beneficial to Ireland as the home team.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:27 UTC
Ireland’s dining etiquette offenders: from phone calls to licking the knife
Dining etiquette isn’t about starched napkins or memorising which fork is which; it’s about creating an environment that everybody can enjoy. Personally, I have no issue with elbows occasionally resting on the dining table; however, I do draw the line at licking a knife (you know who you are) or using a napkin as a tissue. In the words of one of my good friends and regular dining companions, “Don’t let good manners ruin good food”. And then there’s service charge. Dining etiquette should start with one basic law: no more truffle oil, anywhere, ever.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:26 UTC
Gardaí believe accelerant used to start fire in Drogheda asylum centre
CCTV shows the moment a fire is started on the stairs of the International Protection Accommodation Service centre, Drogheda. An accelerant was used to deliberately start a fire at asylum seeker accommodation in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Halloween night, gardaí believe. The scene of a suspected arson attack on a centre housing asylum seekers on George’s Street Drogheda, Co Louth. The incident occurred at the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre on George’s Street at approximately 8.15pm. Let us celebrate it.”The scene of a suspected arson attack on George’s Street, Drogheda.
Source:The Irish Times
November 02, 2025 16:14 UTC