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Labour spent €21.50 per vote won in Meath East by-election disaster
THE Labour Party spent over €21.50 per vote won in their disastrous Meath East by-election campaign.
Hospital turned away suicidal man
A SUICIDAL man was turned away from an acute hospital mental health unit which was closed due to a staffing crisis, according to his family.
Murder accused breaks down describing self-harm upon victim's body discovery
A FAS worker accused of murdering a woman in Co Clare two years ago broke down as he explained to a Central Criminal Court jury why he stabbed himself in the stomach when the woman’s body was discovered.
Violent high-risk teen denied bail ahead of extradition hearing
A teenage fugitive described as a violent high-risk offender has been denied bail at the High Court pending a hearing against his extradition to Northern Ireland.
Hogan: Government won’t be dictated to by advertisers in booze sponsorship ban
Environment Minister Phil Hogan says the Government will not be “threatened” by any company into watering down their ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports events.
Freeze on Gardai recruitment to be ended
JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter has again said there will be new recruits to An Garda Siochana, but has not said how many or when recruitment will begin.
Shatter: Dissident republicans remain ‘severe’ threat
The threat from dissident republicans remains severe, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said.
Coalition decides against selling off forestry rights
THE Government has decided against selling off the harvesting rights of Coillte, the State forestry agency.
Outlook is gloomy: 10 more wet summers on cards
TEN more years of wet summers are on the cards, climate researchers have warned, as experts have discovered that the North Atlantic is in the midst of a rare weather cycle that increases the prospect of rain during the season.
Special needs education cuts slammed by teachers union
The country's largest teaching union has accused the Government of enforcing savage cuts on pupils with special needs
TD sent me a Christmas card – then I was sacked, tribunal told
A former secretary for Independent TD Thomas Pringle has told how she was fired from her job two days after receiving a card from him wishing her 'a lovely Christmas'.
McGuinness is 'only one who thinks he should head inquiry'
FIANNA Fail TD John McGuinness is "the only person" who thinks he should get to chair a banking inquiry, according to a member of the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Adrian Ernest Bayley given 35 year sentence for brutal rape and murder of Jill Meagher
The man who brutally raped and murdered Irish woman Jill Meagher will be jailed for at least the next 35 years.
Kenny to welcome Japanese premier
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to hold talks with prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe in Dublin.
Taoiseach is “caught up in presidential leadership” says Labour TD in Seanad row
A LABOUR TD has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of being "totally caught up in presidential style of leadership" over his stance on the Seanad.
Special needs education cuts slammed by teachers union
THE country's largest teaching union has accused the Government of enforcing savage cuts on pupils with special needs.
Health Minister Reilly: ‘Go to the pub if you want a drink’
Health Minister James Reilly wants people to return to the going to the pub if they want a drink rather than imbibing at home.
Threat to burn minister's home over abortion bill
Health Minister James Reilly has received a letter threatening to burn him and his family out of their home from an opponent of the abortion bill.
Local pub lunch is not such a secret service
Fish and chips down the pub. With the First Lady of the United States. And Bono. What could be more normal?
Outlook is gloomy: 10 more wet summers on cards
TEN more years of wet summers are on the cards, climate researchers have warned, as experts have discovered that the North Atlantic is in the midst of a rare weather cycle that increases the prospect of rain during the season.
Reilly re-opens sewage row with 'clean water' comment
HEALTH Minister James Reilly has re-opened the controversy over the location of a huge €500m sewage treatment plant by suggesting it would have endangered "clean water" for farmers.
Garda guilty of insurance fraud but is cleared of harassing garage owner
A GARDA has been convicted of insurance fraud after he lied to his broker and told them his car had been stolen when it had in fact been involved in a crash.
Trinity joins elite colleges to offer free online courses
TRINITY College Dublin is linking up with top universities around the world to offer free online courses.
Gayle: I'm owed cash by Sean too
THE wife of bust developer Sean Dunne claims that he owes her money too.
Hospital turned away suicidal man
A SUICIDAL man was turned away from an acute hospital mental health unit which was closed due to a staffing crisis, according to his family.
RTE runs up €65k rent bill at closed London office
RTE has spent an estimated €65,000 in rent on empty offices in central London for the past nine months following the closure of its bureau there.
Let's face it – we're the most beautiful, jokes O'Gara
THE beaming faces of international rugby star Ronan O'Gara and Pat O'Connell, the Cork fishmonger who famously shared a joke with Queen Elizabeth, now grace the halls of one of the country's airports.
TD sent me a Christmas card – then I was sacked, tribunal told
A former secretary for Independent TD Thomas Pringle has told how she was fired from her job two days after receiving a card from him wishing her 'a lovely Christmas'.
'Vile' threats made against hospital staff after Savita died in care
'VILE' threats made against staff at Galway University Hospital following the death of Savita Halappanavar were handed over to gardai because of fears they could be targeted.
Pack your bags for possible jail term, judge tells IBM worker over disk row
AN IBM employee in dispute with her employer over her salary has been told by a judge to have her bags packed and ready for a possible prison term.
US media says magic missing for Obama girls
TRINITY College may have reminded them of Hogwarts, but the Obama children looked like they would have preferred to be at a Harry Potter theme park than poring over dusty documents showing their distant Irish heritage.
President stresses importance of learning from history
PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has emphasised the importance of understanding history – at a time when the future of the teaching of the subject is in doubt.
Six out of 10 victims' families say killers get short sentences
MORE than six out of 10 families of murder or manslaughter victims are unhappy at the sentences their loved one's killers receive.
State told to help Magdalene survivors
SURVIVORS of Magdalene Laundries should be paid "comprehensive compensation" including unpaid wages, pensions and rehabilitation supports for forced labour, according to the Irish Human Rights Commission.
Forensic tests vital in sex attack probe
GARDAI say the results of forensic tests will be crucial to their investigation into a serious sexual assault on a vulnerable young woman with learning difficulties.
Lambert fans snap up puppeteer's memorabilia
Some of the secrets behind the star of the TV show 'Wanderly Wagon' may have been contained in a little dog-eared pamphlet, 'Ventriloquism for Beginners', once priced '9d'.
'Why did you do this? You can go to hell'
Gardai believe the mother and daughter were murdered some time between 2.15pm and 5.30pm on Saturday. Their bodies were not found until a friend called to the house on Sunday night.
O'Reilly vows to restore 'democratic legitimacy' if elected EU Ombudsman
THE Irish nominee for the post of European Ombudsman says she would strive to restore the EU's "democratic legitimacy" if she was elected.
GPO exhibits will honour 1916 but 'must not cause offence'
AN POST is planning a new exhibition space in the country's busiest post office which will allow it hold exhibitions commemorating the 1916 Rising, 1913 Lockout and World War I.
Seanad plan is a danger, says rebel Mitchell
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny's plan to abolish the Seanad has been challenged as a "danger" to democracy by Fine Gael rebel Olivia Mitchell, writes Michael Brennan.
Judge calls for new laws to help young forced into marriage
NEW laws may be needed to help young people placed in arranged or forced marriages, a Supreme Court judge has said.
Jannina coasting her way around the country
A 62-year-old English woman has been quietly trekking around the coast of Ireland to raise money for wildlife charity Tusk.
Mental health chief slams HSE for 'failing' the young
THE head of one of the country's mental health facilities has warned that the care system is "failing" young people.
Home-tax spot checks
INSPECTORS are carrying out spot checks on properties to track down people who are still evading the second home charge four years on. Donegal County Council has deployed staff working in its Non Principal Private Residence division to inspect properties countywide in a bid to ascertain ownership and liability for the €200 levy.
Kennedy flame to light the way home on anniversary of his historic visit
A SPARK lit at the 'Eternal Flame' at the graveside of former US President John F Kennedy will be whisked to Ireland to mark the 50th anniversary of his historic visit.
New forum will aim to lower cost of health insurance
Health Minister James Reilly is set to step up his campaign to control health insurance costs by appointing an outside expert to chair a forum of health insurance companies.
Date set for trial of Dana's brother
A DATE has been set for the trial of the brother of former presidential candidate and Eurovision winner Dana Rosemary Scallon, who is charged with three counts of child molestation, writes Shane Hickey.
Farmer told inspector 'I'll get you', court hears
A well-known farmer who is accused of injuring a Department of Agriculture vet by allegedly driving a loader into a gate and "catapulting him into the air" told the man he would get him, the High Court heard.
Dragon's mum and pet groomer settle rent row
THE proprietor of a pet grooming salon has settled a €70,000 rent arrears claim by her landlord, the mother of former RTE 'Dragons' Den' star Niall O'Farrell.
Garda cocaine inquiry halted
A DISCIPLINARY inquiry into an allegation that two gardai took cocaine during a social trip to Liverpool will have to be halted and reconstituted following a High Court ruling.
Businessman consents to €19m order against him
A CO Tipperary businessman has consented to judgment orders of more than €19m being granted against him over unpaid loans and guarantees.
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Children facing special needs assistance cuts of 25%
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (Into) claimed that schools with more than 20 pupils who need resource classes or additional support face losing one of those dedicated teachers.
erumo BCT to recruit 416 new staff
Terumo BCT manufactures products used in the treatment and transfusion of blood at its plant in Larne, Co Antrim.
Pro Life Campaign calls for abortion free vote
Galway West TD Brian Walsh told the Taoiseach last night that he couldn't vote for the bill as it passes through the Dail.
Fire from JFK eternal flame being brought to Wexford
A spark lit at the 'Eternal Flame' at the graveside of former US President John F Kennedy will be whisked to Ireland to mark the 50th anniversary of his historic visit.
New bowel surgical theatre opened in Limerick
The theatre has been described as one of the most advanced in the country.
Ronan O'Gara one of the 'Faces of Cork'
The former Ireland and Munster out-half is not going without leaving his mark on his former city.
Garda convicted over insurance fraud
A Garda has been convicted of deceiving an insurance company into paying him over 10,000 euro after his car was stolen.
Michelle Obama and Bono in Finnegans pub, Dalkey
Credit: ellemacdougall1
Bono and family arrive at Finnegans pub in Dalkey
Irish musician Bono and his wife Ali arrive at Finnegans pub in Dalkey for lunch with US First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia. Credit: Amélie Dollé
Obama family meet Bono for pub lunch
Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia meet Bono in Finnegan's pub, Dalkey for a family lunch. Credit: Oliver Mccabe
Eye Health
Spice up your specs …. With Melanie C
Specsavers has launched the search for Ireland’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2013
Do you have Ireland’s most unbreakable friendship?
Specsavers has launched the search for the most unbreakable childhood friendship
Fun in the sun can damage your eyes
The sunshine and light evenings inspire us to get outside and make the most of the finer weather
Features
Introducing the new Commission Free* Sterling and US Dollar Cards from An Post
The new, secure way to buy Sterling and US Dollars from the Post Office
Calcium, osteoporosis and Coeliac Disease
People with coeliac disease have a higher risk of developing the bone disease osteoporosis
John Rocha talks eyes
John Rocha, known for his signature muted tones, has brought in a vibrant palette for his debut foray in to eyewear
Features
Be fab at 50 ‘Shouts’ Lulu with new Aurora Collection
Lulu unveils a collection of glasses created specifically for stylish women aged 50 plus
Should’ve gone to Specsavers …New Hawkeye will give refs a clear view
‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’, will be a phrase aimed less often at referees, now that the new Hawkeye points detection technology is going live at Croke Park.
A splash of colour as … John Rocha and Specsavers join forces
Bright crimson, blush pink and indigo blue are the keynotes in one of the biggest fashion stories of this year. Designer John Rocha has launched his first ever eyewear collection, teaming up with Specsavers.
