3+ week, 6+ day ago (320+ words) December is a month to indulge in all things festive and fun " to get stuck into seasonal crafts and stoke up that Christmas spirit, to attend plays and pantos and pick up gifts at craft fairs. But with so much on around the country, it can be hard to know where to start. Here's our guide to some of the best things to get you in the festive mood across Ireland in December. There are few things more special than a candlelit performance. To kick off the December celebrations, a cast of West End singers and a live band will perform favourite Christmas hits by candlelight at University Concert Hall Limerick. So tune up for a singalong to classics such as White Christmas, Santa Baby, O Holy Night and many more. Tickets "40/"35. uch.ie Speaking of candlelit performances, head to…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (504+ words) Sally Hayden of The Irish Times has been named Irish Journalist of the Year 2025 at the Irish Journalism Awards, in Dublin on Wednesday. Ms Hayden also won the accolades for Best Foreign Coverage and Features Journalist of the Year, bringing the number of her awards to three. The awards programme celebrates the best of Irish journalism across 23 categories, ranging from podcasts and political coverage, to opinion, news reports, sports, and video journalism. In all, The Irish Times won eight awards at the competition, the highest number of any news publisher. R'is'n Ingle was named Columnist of the Year Broadsheet for her work which included articles on her life with cancer. Rosita Boland was the winner in the Arts Journalism and Criticism category. Her works included an article expressing disappointment after revelations about Alice Munro's daughter's sexual abuse showed what Boland…...

2+ week, 7+ hour ago (361+ words) Every November, Irish news publishers gather in the Mansion House in Dublin to recognise the best work of the previous year. At a time when the values " and, for many outlets, the business models " that underpin a free press are facing real challenge, the Irish Journalism Awards ceremony is always a reminder of the vigour and vitality of the industry at its best. The Irish Times won eight awards on Wednesday at this year's ceremony " more than any other title. Over 50 of our journalists had been shortlisted. The overall award, Journalist of the Year, went to Sally Hayden, who was also selected as the winner in two individual categories " Foreign Coverage and Feature Writer (Broadsheet). Sally has been based in the Middle East for the past year, and her winning portfolio of work encompassed assignments in Syria, Lebanon and the…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (697+ words) They started as little acts of bravery - many Abroad stories we've published in November and will in the months to come. There were many messages from Irish people living abroad with submissions or ... Each emigrant story started as a coy act of bravery Abroad newsletter: Dormant nostalgia can arise unexpectedly in December Emigration issues and stories from the Irish diaspora. Members can contribute their own experiences and views They started as little acts of bravery - many Abroad stories we've published in November and will in the months to come. There were many messages from Irish people living abroad with submissions or interview proposals sent in that coy and bashful Irish way: "I thought my story might make something?' "I wrote this story in case you might be interested?'. What emerged on speaking to Irish people around the world, were your…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (343+ words) Despite his literary promise, however, Hanly's greatest gifts lay as a broadcaster. Rejoining RT, he teamed up with the late David Davin-Power as inaugural co-host when Morning Ireland was first broadcast in November 1984. One hour in duration, starting at 8am, the programme got off to a rocky start, alienating morning audiences more used to presenters like Mike Murphy. With Hanly behind the mic, however, the show hit its stride. The turning point was Hanly's 1985 interview with Fianna F'il dissident Des O'Malley, who accused Charles Haughey as no longer fit to be taoiseach. (Hanly, thorough as ever, later chastised himself for not asking O'Malley why he had served Haughey as minister for so long.) It set the template for Hanly's signature style: incessantly probing, impatient with spin, his richly rasping tones primed to jump on any inconsistency. For the next 20 years, until…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (195+ words) Attendees to the inauguration of Catherine Connolly at Dublin Castle. Video: Bryan O'Brien Naomi O'Leary reports on how Michael D. Higgins challenged the non-political nature of the role of president during his 14-year term. Video: Ronan McGreevy Interviewed by David McCullagh on his new radio programme, Ivan Yates has said that he "broke no rules" in controversy over Jim Gavin media coaching. Video: RTE President Michael D Higgins made his final scheduled public appearance at a Remembrance Sunday service in Patrick's Cathedral. Video: Enda O'Dowd Cliff Taylor looks at a new report from the Department of Finance and how Ireland's younger generation may end up with end up paying higher taxes. Against the background of the Fianna F'il coaching controversy, a leading political communications trainer puts our reporter Harry McGee through his paces. TD Richard Boyd-Barrett, speaking in the D'il for…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (927+ words) Two existential political problems are competing against each other on our front page this morning In our lead story, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) warns only modest progress has been made by countries on climate pledges to reduce carbon emissions, "leaving the world heading for a serious escalation of climate risks and damages. A report published yesterday said that "lack of ambition and action means exceedance of 1.5 degrees is approaching. This breach is based on a long-term average rather than a single year's temperature. It comes as world leaders including Taoiseach Miche'l Martin gather in the Amazon city of Bel'm in Brazil for a summit tomorrow in advance of Cop30. The conference is bringing Mr Martin away from domestic politics, which continues to be haunted by the country's enduring housing crisis. Also on the front page is a bleak report that…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (225+ words) It's a far cry from the days when poet Nuala N" Dhomhnaill was told by her mother that writing in Irish was "mad'; or had a man sneeringly ask her "oh, is there a word for sex in Irish?' at a reception in the American embassy. At times, she felt that she was seen as a "linguistic spectre'. Traditional storytelling still underpins much of Irish literature, and a central figure in folklore is that of the Cailleach. She is a goddess associated with the land, winter, and with the otherworld of the dead " often depicted as a veiled hag, with one eye and deathly pale skin. Other IMRAM events this year include a round-table discussion on literary translation, chaired by Prof Michael Cronin; an interview with poet and children's author "ine N" Ghlinn; the Discovery Lectures, two free talks on…...

6+ day, 11+ hour ago (619+ words) Growing up in Co Kerry, Colm Dalton would often go to pubs with his musician parents playing in seisi'ns. But it wasn't until years later, when teaching English in London, that the importance of the pub as a de facto ambassador for Irishness in every pocket of the world really hit him. His international students would "always ask about pubs" no matter where they were from and his idea to try to visit every Irish-themed hostelry in the world "grew and grew", he says. "I had a student from Mongolia " he worked in Irish pub in [the capital] Ulaanbaatar. It's a lot of people's gateway into Irishness and into how Ireland's identity is different," he says. "One day a friend was back from Brazil where she was in Molly Malone's beach bar. I said "I'd love to go if I…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (299+ words) Technology entrepreneur Garry Moroney has been appointed as chief executive of The Irish Times media group. Mr Moroney has been chief executive of Roomex, a travel management platform, since September 2019. He will take up his role with The Irish Times on December 1st. Staff at the group were informed of the appointment on Wednesday. Mr Moroney is an experienced CEO and entrepreneur with a successful career in the international technology industry. He founded and led two successful Irish-based software businesses, Clavis Insight and Similarity Systems, guiding them from start-up through to acquisition by major international companies. Earlier in his career, he worked as a management consultant with professional services group McKinsey. He holds an MBA from Trinity College Dublin and a degree in Engineering from UCC. Mr Moroney steps into a role that has been filled on an interim basis by…...