Terminally ill Irish teen Donal Walsh makes emotional plea to end youth suicide - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:02:55 PDT

Drunk Irish teen charged with threatening to kill Guyanan president - 17-year-old told bodyguards he'd like to shoot Donald Ramotar (IrishCentral)

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:02:52 PDT

An Irish teenager on a gap year in the small South American state of Guyana has been charged with threatening to kill the country's president.

Cillian Crosson, now seventeen years old, was a high-achieving student at his hometown of Dundalk, and has plead not guilty to the offense before a hearing of the local magistrate's court.

Prosecutors allege that the teen remarked that he would like to shoot incumbent president Donald Ramotar in the head, but lawyers for Mr Crosson have argued that the remarks were not intended seriously and were made in the course of a drunken conversation.

Enda Kenny urges Britain to stay in EU at packed London School of Economics address (IrishCentral)

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:17:26 PDT

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny used a highly anticipated speech at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE) yesterday afternoon to urge Britain to stay in the European Union (EU) and to set out Ireland's vision for the remainder of its presidency of the organization.

"We regard Britain's contribution to the EU as being of exceptional importance," the Prime Minister told the packed crowd.

British-Irish pub chain O'Neill's in Irish dance world record jig attempt for St Patrick's Day - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:16:54 PST

Britain's best known chain of Irish pubs, O'Neills, it bracing itself for a world record attempt at the most number of people Irish dancing simultaneously this March.

The record breaking attempt will be made on March 14th, three days' before St Patricks Day, and will be held at the company's 49 pubs across the UK.

Fianna Fáil edging closer to power as latest poll confirms rise (IrishCentral)

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:01:58 PST

UK rushes to scoop up Irish teachers as jobs run thin at home (IrishCentral)

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:01:43 PST

UK recruiters are reportedly stepping up efforts to head-hunt out of work Irish teachers, as jobs continue to run thin on the ground at home.

The teachers - many of whom have been unemployed for months - have been enticed by equal or more lucrative pay packets than what they would receive in Ireland.

Irish American comic Des Bishop challenges attitudes on drink - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:01:39 PST

U2 frontman Bono's former Mercedes a flop as eBay auction goes bidless (IrishCentral)

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:46:17 PST

Irish Aid blown on swimming pool pumps and flagpoles — latest scandal rocks official government development programme (IrishCentral)

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:31:07 PST

Website lets you buy piece of Ireland for $50 - cashing in on Irish American nostalgia? - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:31:17 PST

London's young Irish immigrants hopeful for a brighter future at networking event (IrishCentral)

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:31:08 PST

Starving students faced with college drop-out amid rising tuition costs in Ireland (IrishCentral)

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:45:53 PST

Although precise figures on the number of students dropping out of third level education due to financial issues is impossible to quantify, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) say the number is already high and could rise further if additional increases are made to the cost of attending third level.

College financial aid system buckles under pressure, leaving thousands in the lurch about grants (IrishCentral)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 05:30:39 PDT

Ireland's top business school ranks in global top 100 - high-flying grad-school counts CEOs, business leaders, among its alumni (IrishCentral)

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 05:00:27 PDT

Emigration plague grips Ireland - soaring unemployment and relentless pessimism forcing Irish to seek a future abroad (IrishCentral)

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 06:32:58 PDT

National Redhead Convention raises the pride of the country's gingers - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 05:01:41 PDT

Local redhead Kenneth Gordon cooling off
with an ice cream at the redhead convention.
A County Cork seaside town played host to the third National Redhead Convention last weekend, a morale-boosting one day extravaganza for the country's throngs of gingers, a gig organizers billed as a change to celebrate Ireland's emblematic hair colour, challenge hair-based discrimination, and have a great family day out.
This year was the third installation of the one day festival, a day long bonanza of everything and anything to do with red hair.
Activities included red balloon launches, red face painting, and certificates of red hair-edness for all participants.

Drama in Donegal as country singer Daniel O'Donnell's belongings fall into sea (IrishCentral)

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 05:16:37 PDT

There were dramatic scenes off the Donegal Coast on Monday morning when construction materials for renowned singer Daniel O'Donnell's home-to-be fell into the ocean.
The truck was carrying tiles and other parts for 'wee Daniel's' home when it careered precariously off a pier and into the waiting Atlantic below.

Irish senator Eamonn Coughlan wants sports along with religion to be examined in Irish high schools (IrishCentral)

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 05:01:33 PDT

Irish Senator Eamonn Coughlan (FG) has said that Physical Education (PE) - traditionally the 'sport' element of Ireland's high school curriculum - should be upgraded to an examinable subject.
The call follows the upgrading of other traditionally less emphasized high school programmes, such as Religious Education, to the ranks of those subjects which can be taken in the Leaving Certificate, the finishing exam in the Irish high school system.

Romanian meter-plunderers on the loose as Irish low-security prisons breeched again (IrishCentral)

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:01:15 PDT

Two Romanian brothers who escaped from what's been described as a low security part of Castlerea Prison are on the loose, prompting a nationwide search for the pair.
The meter-plunderers' escape is the second time this year that inmates have made a dash from detention facilities that certainly wouldn't give Alcatraz a run for its money: this April three escapees had to be re-captured after evading security personnel at an 'open prison', a kind of penal bed-and-breakfast where inmates are given a key to their own cells and trusted not to escape.

Sean Quinn's nephew spotted at second GAA match – continues to evade arrest (IrishCentral)

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 06:01:14 PDT

The fugitive nephew of disgraced banking tycoon Seán Quinn has made his second public appearance over the weekend, being spotted once again at a GAA match.
Despite a High Court warrant having being issued for his arrest some ten days ago, and an unsuccessful 'manhunt' launched to ascertain his whereabouts, Peter Daragh Quinn looked relaxed and carefree when he was photographed by the Irish Independent attending a football fixture on Sunday.

Irish health Minister Roisín Shorthall's anti-alcohol crusade: minimum pricing and ban on sports sponsorship could take effect this year (IrishCentral)

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 05:31:09 PDT

The Junior Minister with responsibility for health, Roisin Shorthall (Lab), is showing no signs of letting up on her battle to tackle Ireland's drink problem, with tough minimum pricing legislation now promised to come in as soon as this Fall.
The anti-sponsorhip proposals tabled by the Minister of State (non-Cabinet Minister) seek to impose a ruthless crackdown on drinks sponsorship for both sporting and cultural events, and have already reportedly provoked dissension from full Cabinet Ministers including Minister for Sport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar.

'Project X' viral Facebook party in County Cavan stopped after police intervention - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 06:46:41 PDT

Irish police were forced to monitor a Co. Cavan teenager's Facebook page after an unintentional 'public' event led to a hundreds-strong crowd congregating around his house.
The panicked teenager was reportedly forced to cancel the social media fueled party after his parents informed him that a member of the police's drug unit had been in touch to inform them that possibly thousands of strangers were planning to throng the house in what had rapidly turned into a viral internet sensation.

Eli Lilly boss confident about big pharma's future in Ireland (IrishCentral)

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 04:30:43 PDT

The CEO of one of the worlds biggest pharmaceutical giants says that he's confident about Ireland's future and points to the “quality” and “work ethic” of its young college grads as a key reason for that belief.

Irish court finds homeless, drug-crazed, bi-polar man guilty of airport rampage - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:00:39 PDT

A homeless Corkman who hijacked a police traffic vehicle before embarking on a crazed rampage around the city centre and airport has been convicted on 12 counts at a Cork Court, despite an expert witness' claim that he was psychotic and on medication at the time.
Edmond Stapleton (38) hijacked a Garda Traffic Corps' vehicle in Cork City center after threatening to kill the patrolling officer at knife-point.

Dutch academic claims almost half of Irish families would be 'better off' on social welfare than at work (IrishCentral)

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:45:08 PDT

A controversial Dutch academic once member of a prestigious Dublin think-tank has made headlines by airing the claim that 44% of Irish families would be better off drawing the Dole (collecting social welfare) than working.
Richard Tol, a somewhat eccentric looking Dutch economist well-known for his bizarre hair-dos, contributions to theirisheconomy.ie, and for once working at the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute), said that he will likely publish the working paper under the auspices of the University of Sussex, where he now works, rather than through the ESRI, from which he has since resigned.

Chinese restaurant looking for "interns". Lucky candidate will gain valuable experience in physical activities like "walking" (IrishCentral)

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 06:45:14 PDT

The Irish Government's flagship internship-finding programme, Jobbridge.ie, has posted an internship listing for a waiter at a Chinese restaurant, prompting amusement and disbelief from summertime jobseekers around the country.
Amazingly, despite a feature-length newspaper article and a gone-viral Facebook status, the job description - at least at the time of writing - remains posted on the website.

Irish TV boss in hot water over notorious RTÉ documentary "Mission to Prey" (IrishCentral)

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 05:15:24 PDT

The chairman of Irish State broadcaster RTÉ, Tom Savage, is facing a tabloid grilling in Ireland over his role as head of Dublin-based the Communication Clinic and that company's involvement in the broadcaster's ill-fated 'Mission to Prey' documentary.
The TV boss is now also facing increased pressure to explain how his leadership of the TV station does not pose a direct conflict of interest with his directorship at The Communication Clinic - a public relations outfit that has gained a reputation as the go-to PR firm for Irish politicians and political parties since its foundation in 2004.

Coder Dojo takes Ireland by storm – new tech initiative gets Ireland's kids coding (IrishCentral)

Tue, 22 May 2012 05:15:08 PDT

An Austrlian-born entrepreneur with a penchant for global reforestation is the unlikely figure behind Coder Dojo, a sprawling network of 'coding clubs' where Irish teens can come together and help programme a dazzling array of hi-tech projects.
Bill Liao, whose credentials, beside global philanthropy, include a listing as the co-founder of global business network Xing.com, founded the movement with James Whelton, a schoolboy who had the bright idea of founding a computer club at my old highschool, the wonderful PBC Cork, before deciding to take things to the next level.

Traveller horse race provokes outrage -- dramatic police chase footage goes viral -- VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:45:15 PDT

Dramatic footage of Irish Travellers holding 'sulky' horse races on a busy Cork commuter road has gone viral, while police have promised to prosecute those involved in holding the unofficial races.
The amazing footage (below) has been viewed almost 200,000 times on YouTube, and featured in a BBC report. It shows unidentified members of the Travelling Community racing horses on the wrong side of a major Irish highway, before a police car joins in the chase, as oncoming traffic swerves to avoid collision.

Pioneering Irish website FixMyArea.com outdoes local authorities and shows power of social activism (IrishCentral)

Sat, 05 May 2012 07:00:39 PDT

Here's a fantastic piece of social entrepreneurship that people need to hear more about.

Jerry Buttimer - just an Irish politician "who happens to be gay" (IrishCentral)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:15:15 PDT

A well respected Irish politician, Jerry Buttimer (FG), has this weekend come out as gay.
The Deputy joins the a small but growing club of openly gay Irish politicians, and has said that he has received 'lots of support' for the announcement since it was made over the weekend.

Irish fleeced on water meters - Government plan to charge $400 for water meters that are on Amazon for $40 (IrishCentral)

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:30:12 PDT

As Irish public ire switches focus from the household tax to the equally unpopular water charges, public awareness is growing that the Government is wasting millions of Euro fleecing homeowners on the installation of them.
The Irish Independent points out that a colossal €350m ($462m) was thrown down the toilet (well, the drain) by not opting for a private sector service provider, while Mayo TD Dara Calleary (FF) has called for Irish householders to be given the right to install their own meters rather than fork out the exorbitant €300 ($500) the Government is demanding for them, pointing out that a DIY job would save the taxpayer vasts sums of money, while still providing reliable and tamper-proof recordings of domestic water use.

Irish senator Rónán Mullen embroiled in abortion spate after -- victims claim he was "smirking", "nasty", at meeting (IrishCentral)

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:45:11 PDT

One in five Irish children hear voices -- startling findings show "auditory hallucinations" common among Irish children (IrishCentral)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:10 PDT

Almost one in five Irish children between the ages of 11 and 13 have reported 'hearing voices' -- a symptom experts claim could be an early warning sign for a wide variety of mental health illnesses -- according to the findings of a leading Irish research group.
Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons found that the incidence of auditory hallucinations was highest among the 11-13 age category, the majority of whom, worryingly, were found to be also suffering from a diagnosable mental health condition besides the hallucinations.

Irish Education Ministry to clamp down on cyber-bullying -- four students suspended over teacher Facebook remarks (IrishCentral)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:15:15 PDT

The Irish Department of Education announced it is to step up its clamp-down on cyber-bullying after four Dublin high-school students are expected to be expelled from school after posting defamatory comments about their teachers on Facebook.
40 other students were similarly disciplined at Oatlands College, Dublin, this time for merely 'liking' the offensive status updated, while other sources say that the teachers were also subject to "vile" allegations on other social networking media such as Twitter.

Irish father makes impassioned plea for end to binge drinking culture -- the times are changing (IrishCentral)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:45:10 PDT

Eugene Mulrooney, the grieving father of Caolan Mulrooney, a Cork engineering student found dead at the base of a 30 foot cliff last December, has made an "impassioned plea" for an "open debate" about Ireland's drinking culture.
Mulrooney's comments were made after today's inquest at Cork Coroners' Court which returned a verdict of accidental death in the tragic affair.

Kerry politician calls for less road signs using compelling logic -- locals "know where they're going anyway" (IrishCentral)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:00:14 PDT

Kerry politician Michael Healy Rae, scion of the famous Healy Rae political dynasty, has called for a reduction in the number of road signs on Irish roads on the basis that they're a "waste" of taxpayers' money.
The Independent politician's latest publicity stunt comes after a high profile appearance on the charity television show Celebrities Gone Wild resulted in a phone use debacle in which the TD stood accused of making over 3,500 unauthorized calls from official Leinster House phones to curry favor with voters.

Irish university hosts first ever entrepreneurship conference (IrishCentral)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:30:19 PST

An Irish university today opened its first ever entrepreneurship conference in a telling sign of the times.
University College Cork (UCC) today officially commenced its first ever 'Innov8' week, with college president Dr Michael Murphy telling staff and students that colleges had to equip students to be "job-creators rather than job fillers" at a time when jobs, whether fixed or temporary, are increasingly hard to come by.

Irish student considers taking YouTube to court over cab-fare fracas (IrishCentral)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:30:17 PST

Second bailout for Ireland or not? Irish government split on what comes next (IrishCentral)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:17 PST

Irish colleges blows through €750k on cabs -- university expenses under review again (IrishCentral)

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:15:18 PST

An Irish taxi

The more things change, the more things stay the same.
If there was one adage that could sum up public sector spending in Ireland, that could quite possibly be it.
The latest expenses revelation concerning Ireland's publicly-funded university sector is that they've managed to spend a stellar €750,000 ($952,000) on cabs in the last two years alone.

Occupy Cork moves camp, as local councillor calls them attention seekers - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:30:22 PST

Cork's contribution to the Occupy movement has moved camp, prompting Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill to label them as attention seekers.
The motley group of what by now must be veteran, if not professional, protesters, has relocated to just a few hundred meters away on Oliver Plunkett St.

Enda axes former Taoisigh expenses - but too late to reclaim Bertie's €367,000 windfall (IrishCentral)

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:16 PST

Surge in welfare cheats as Irish struggle to cope with ongoing recession (IrishCentral)

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:45:16 PST

Joan Burton

Ireland's social welfare system, colloquially known as 'the dole', is buckling under the strain of a never-ending economic depression, latest numbers show.
Startling figures appearing on RTÉ.ie show that the number of reported welfare frauds has sky-rocketed from barely 600 in 2006 to over 16,000 this year.
That's an over 20-fold increase, and although not all of those reported can be assumed to have been 'cheating' the system, it's a safe bet that at least some of those reported were not unfounded.

'Dead cat' plague strikes Ireland -- motorists' antifreeze pinned down as the unlikely culprit (IrishCentral)

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:45:42 PST

Radical politician invited to Irish university -- BNP leader Griffin calls Holocaust "profitable lie" and finds gays "revolting" (IrishCentral)

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:45:14 PST

Irish police pose as prostitutes -- unprecedented Garda sting nets 27 convictions as police promise further crackdowns (IrishCentral)

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:30:18 PST

Female Irish detectives posed as prostitutes in an unprecedented sting operation that saw a total of 21 man convicted of soliciting 'ladies of the night'.
The US-style operation, one of the first on this scale for the Gardaí, took place over almost a month in Limerick city centre and its environs, ultimately bagging the cops a total of 21 convictions before Limerick District Court, all of whom were directed to make a donation to a local charity by the judge.

ICBlog: Danny Boy

National hero Donal Walsh loses battle with cancer - teen's optimism and courage inspired thousands (IrishCentral)

Irish professor with multiple sclerosis Marie Fleming loses landmark right-to-die case in Irish Supreme Court (IrishCentral)

Irish government cracks down on scam motorists - stamp out loopholes to scrub penalty points (IrishCentral)

Terminally ill Irish teen Donal Walsh makes emotional plea to end youth suicide - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Drunk Irish teen charged with threatening to kill Guyanan president - 17-year-old told bodyguards he'd like to shoot Donald Ramotar (IrishCentral)

Enda Kenny urges Britain to stay in EU at packed London School of Economics address (IrishCentral)

British-Irish pub chain O'Neill's in Irish dance world record jig attempt for St Patrick's Day - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Fianna Fáil edging closer to power as latest poll confirms rise (IrishCentral)

UK rushes to scoop up Irish teachers as jobs run thin at home (IrishCentral)

Irish American comic Des Bishop challenges attitudes on drink - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

U2 frontman Bono's former Mercedes a flop as eBay auction goes bidless (IrishCentral)

Irish Aid blown on swimming pool pumps and flagpoles — latest scandal rocks official government development programme (IrishCentral)

Website lets you buy piece of Ireland for $50 - cashing in on Irish American nostalgia? - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

London's young Irish immigrants hopeful for a brighter future at networking event (IrishCentral)

Starving students faced with college drop-out amid rising tuition costs in Ireland (IrishCentral)

College financial aid system buckles under pressure, leaving thousands in the lurch about grants (IrishCentral)

Ireland's top business school ranks in global top 100 - high-flying grad-school counts CEOs, business leaders, among its alumni (IrishCentral)

Emigration plague grips Ireland - soaring unemployment and relentless pessimism forcing Irish to seek a future abroad (IrishCentral)

National Redhead Convention raises the pride of the country's gingers - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Drama in Donegal as country singer Daniel O'Donnell's belongings fall into sea (IrishCentral)

Irish senator Eamonn Coughlan wants sports along with religion to be examined in Irish high schools (IrishCentral)

Romanian meter-plunderers on the loose as Irish low-security prisons breeched again (IrishCentral)

Sean Quinn's nephew spotted at second GAA match – continues to evade arrest (IrishCentral)

Irish health Minister Roisín Shorthall's anti-alcohol crusade: minimum pricing and ban on sports sponsorship could take effect this year (IrishCentral)

'Project X' viral Facebook party in County Cavan stopped after police intervention - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Eli Lilly boss confident about big pharma's future in Ireland (IrishCentral)

Irish court finds homeless, drug-crazed, bi-polar man guilty of airport rampage - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Dutch academic claims almost half of Irish families would be 'better off' on social welfare than at work (IrishCentral)

Chinese restaurant looking for "interns". Lucky candidate will gain valuable experience in physical activities like "walking" (IrishCentral)

Irish TV boss in hot water over notorious RTÉ documentary "Mission to Prey" (IrishCentral)

Coder Dojo takes Ireland by storm – new tech initiative gets Ireland's kids coding (IrishCentral)

Traveller horse race provokes outrage -- dramatic police chase footage goes viral -- VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Pioneering Irish website FixMyArea.com outdoes local authorities and shows power of social activism (IrishCentral)

Jerry Buttimer - just an Irish politician "who happens to be gay" (IrishCentral)

Irish fleeced on water meters - Government plan to charge $400 for water meters that are on Amazon for $40 (IrishCentral)

Irish senator Rónán Mullen embroiled in abortion spate after -- victims claim he was "smirking", "nasty", at meeting (IrishCentral)

One in five Irish children hear voices -- startling findings show "auditory hallucinations" common among Irish children (IrishCentral)

Irish Education Ministry to clamp down on cyber-bullying -- four students suspended over teacher Facebook remarks (IrishCentral)

Irish father makes impassioned plea for end to binge drinking culture -- the times are changing (IrishCentral)

Kerry politician calls for less road signs using compelling logic -- locals "know where they're going anyway" (IrishCentral)

Irish university hosts first ever entrepreneurship conference (IrishCentral)

Irish student considers taking YouTube to court over cab-fare fracas (IrishCentral)

Second bailout for Ireland or not? Irish government split on what comes next (IrishCentral)

Irish colleges blows through €750k on cabs -- university expenses under review again (IrishCentral)

Occupy Cork moves camp, as local councillor calls them attention seekers - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Enda axes former Taoisigh expenses - but too late to reclaim Bertie's €367,000 windfall (IrishCentral)

Surge in welfare cheats as Irish struggle to cope with ongoing recession (IrishCentral)

'Dead cat' plague strikes Ireland -- motorists' antifreeze pinned down as the unlikely culprit (IrishCentral)

Radical politician invited to Irish university -- BNP leader Griffin calls Holocaust "profitable lie" and finds gays "revolting" (IrishCentral)

Irish police pose as prostitutes -- unprecedented Garda sting nets 27 convictions as police promise further crackdowns (IrishCentral)