Polls open in byelections; Paul Rudd on filming in Dublin; Under the Hawthorn Tree

Irish visas for Russians; ADHD and addiction; reckoning for dating apps

There are concerns ‘hostile’ agents may be among the 14,000 Russians granted Irish visas [https://irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/25/ireland-grants-14000-visas-to-russian-citizens-in-four-years-amid-calls-for-stricter-rules/] in the past four years. The Government hopes to make “swift progress” pushing forward negotiations on Ukraine [https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/ukraine-war/]’s stalled bid to join the European Union [https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/european-union/] when Ireland holds the union’s rotating presidency [https://irishtimes.com/politics/2026/05/28/government-wants-to-make-swift-progress-on-ukraines-eu-bid/] in the second half of this year. Dating apps are struggling with the AI revolution [https://irishtimes.com] as users lose faith. Can the industry recover? From today Trinity College Dublin is offering a course free of charge to anyone who wants it, in response to findings which highlight the prevalence of neurodivergence amongst users of drug addiction services. [https://irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/05/28/neurodivergence-and-addiction-i-found-the-clinics-could-be-very-stigmatising-and-judgmental/] There was a warm reception for Bertie Ahern yesterday in Croke Park as members of the muslim community gathered for the feast of Eid al-Adha. Some 500 men, women and children had gathered for the seventh annual Eid celebration at the famed GAA stadium. Presented by Aideen Finnegan ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Naval service names online; wind farm objections; most annoying phrases

The names of dozens of Defence Forces personnel, including those involved in intelligence work and sensitive counterdrug smuggling operations, are being published online by the European Union, triggering safety concerns among members. A chill wind – why are wind farms drawing so many objections [https://irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2026/05/27/a-chill-wind-why-are-wind-farms-drawing-so-many-objections-in-a-time-of-climate-crisis/] at a time of climate crisis? Does your household have the “two good salaries, but still feel broke” [https://irishtimes.com/your-money/2026/05/27/the-two-good-salaries-but-still-broke-problem-whats-behind-it-and-what-can-you-do/] problem? You’re not alone. Financial planners say they are meeting an increasing number of comparatively high-earning households who say they’re still feeling the pinch. An email has kicked off a deluge of Letters to the Editor from readers who have “reached out” to express their irritation “in terms of” the most annoying phrases [https://irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2026/05/27/the-phrases-readers-wish-would-disappear-from-public-life/] people are using in 2026. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is Sinn Féin still seen as left wing? New anti-drone technology for the defence forces

There are tensions between left wing parties and Sinn Fein on the policy direction of Mary Lou McDonald’s party following its performance in the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections. Ireland’s Defence Forces are ramping up anti-drone measures to prepare for new threats. A search for the body of Seamus Maguire, one of the so-called disappeared who were murdered and buried in secret during the troubles, is to begin. Proposals to fund graduate-entry medical fees in exchange for mandatory service is being criticised as missing the point on why doctors leave Ireland. A Department of Enterprise presentation seen by The Irish Times shows growth in employment could be about to slow significantly.   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kyne and Ennis elected to the Dáil; HSE waiting lists; the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson

The Dáil has two new TD’s; Daniel Ennis from the Social Democrats and Sean Kyne from Fine Gael. Political correspondents Cormac McQuinn and Marie O’Halloran explain who they are. Plans to rezone a stretch of protected land along Dublin’s Liffey Valley could deliver a significant windfall for billionaires John Magnier and JP McManus. New figures from the HSE show more than 32,000 adults in Ireland are waiting over a year for an initial primary care assessment. Irish activists returned home on Saturday, following their detention in Israel after attempting to reach Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to deliver aid. The trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson begins this week.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Polls open in byelections; Paul Rudd on filming in Dublin; Under the Hawthorn Tree

Voters in Dublin and Galway are going to the polls in two byelections [https://irishtimes.com/politics/2026/05/21/voters-in-galway-west-and-dublin-central-byelections-go-to-the-polls/] on Friday after intense canvassing in the closing days of the campaign and efforts by candidates to ensure their supporters turn up to vote. The Government has exceeded its annual spending target [https://irishtimes.com/business/2026/05/22/government-exceeds-annual-budget-by-average-of-51bn-since-2023/] by an average €5.1 billion in each of the last three budgets [https://www.irishtimes.com/budget/], new figures from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) indicate. Meanwhile, spending in the justice and transport areas seem set to be hit by the impact of the new levy being imposed across Government to offset a €640 million overrun in the education sector, an initial breakdown of the new savings being sought suggest. Ask any millennial which novels they remember reading as a child, and odds are they’ll list the fictional famine tale Under the Hawthorn Tree as one of them. In today’s Me Myself and Ireland [https://irishtimes.com/life-style/people/2026/05/22/marita-conlon-mckenna-i-write-what-i-see-and-what-i-feel-i-can-sense-things-i-always-have/], its author Marita Conlon McKenna says the inspiration to write it came during a ghostly dream. “I’m such a fan of this city and this country,” actor Paul Rudd tells Tara Brady [https://irishtimes.com/culture/film/2026/05/22/paul-rudd-on-filming-at-dundrum-town-centre-there-was-something-specifically-irish-about-it-it-was-kind-of-a-hoot/] while speaking about his new movie Power Ballad, which was filmed on location in Dublin. Presented by Aideen Finnegan ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.