Micheál Martin
Photo: The White House, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- 4d ago
Dónal Lunny, pioneer of Irish traditional music, dies aged 79 in Dublin
Lunny, a founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, died on Friday, 23 October 2026, in St James's Hospital in Dublin, his family said.
- 6d ago
Irish Dáil votes 79 to 71 to drop UN approval for troop deployments
The bill also raises the number of Defence Forces personnel that can be deployed without parliamentary approval from 12 to 50. Opposition parties say the change undermines Irish military neutrality.
- Oct 20
Minister Jim O'Callaghan stands by rape-case claim in solicitors' legal aid row
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan kept his claim that solicitors deliberately affected rape trials, telling the Justice Committee on Tuesday, 20 October, that he would meet the Law Society.
- Oct 13
Several feared dead in house fire in Waterford city; gardaí give no toll yet
A house fire in the Birchwood housing estate south of Waterford city, in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 October 2026, has left several people feared dead. The deceased are understood to be from one family, and gardaí have not yet confirmed a number.
- Oct 12
Around 300,000 Irish public sector workers strike, closing schools and cancelling appointments
Schools, courts and weather forecasting were disrupted on Wednesday, 14 October, as unions pressed the government over pay and the rising cost of living.
- Oct 11
Thousands march in London, Berlin and Dublin over Gaza as strikes continue
Several thousand people marched through central London on Saturday, while about 3,500 rallied in Berlin and an estimated 10,000 marched in Dublin, three years after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
- Oct 10
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant bans Orange Order Drumcree parade down Garvaghy Road
The ban overturns a Parades Commission determination that allowed 35 Orange Order members to walk the Garvaghy Road on Sunday, September 27. It follows a stand-off of almost two weeks in Portadown and a request from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher that Bryant review the ruling.
- Oct 6
Irish government to unveil €8.65 billion budget package with tax cuts and childcare caps
Ministers Simon Harris and Jack Chambers will present Ireland's Budget 2027 at 1pm, outlining €7 billion in spending measures and €1.65 billion in tax adjustments backed by a €6.9 billion fiscal surplus.
- Oct 2
Irish ministers clash over Budget 2027 spending limits as Jack Chambers enforces 6% cap
Irish coalition ministers are negotiating allocations from a €7 billion spending package ahead of Tuesday's budget announcement, facing demands from the Department of Public Expenditure to curb departmental bids.
- Oct 2
Seventeen EU leaders oppose cuts to agriculture and cohesion in 2028–2034 budget
Leaders from seventeen member states submitted a joint letter to EU presidency holder Ireland, rejecting proposed spending cuts to regional cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy ahead of the October summit in Brussels.
- Oct 1
Irish government faces Dail pushback over plans to raise citizenship residency to eight years
Opposition and government backbenchers in Dublin are demanding transitional relief as ministers move to extend citizenship residency requirements from five to eight years, while Taoiseach Micheal Martin defended national migration policy in an interview.
- Sep 29
Germany and five EU net payers demand cuts to €1.98 trillion budget plan
Six net contributor governments have sent a joint letter to the Irish EU presidency demanding cuts of several hundred billion euros from the proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
- Sep 25
Drumcree parade dispute pushes Northern Ireland executive into crisis after Garvaghy Road standoff
Nationalist demonstrators blocked 35 Orange Order marchers in Portadown after the Parades Commission reversed a 28-year ban, prompting DUP demands for criminal referrals against First Minister Michelle O'Neill.
- Sep 24
Andy Burnham opens debate on UK ties with European Union at Labour conference
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Labour Party conference that Brexit has done more harm than good, outlining plans to explore closer alignment with the European Union at a November summit.
- Sep 20
Irish Coalition prepares 8.5 billion euro Budget 2027 package ahead of October announcement
Finance Minister Simon Harris and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers are finalising an 8.5 billion euro budgetary package for 6 October, balancing housing demands against demographic forecasts.
- Sep 13
Donald Trump backs Irish unification during Dublin visit alongside Prime Minister Micheal Martin
United States President Donald Trump said he supports uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, prompting Downing Street to reaffirm its opposition to a border referendum.
- Sep 12
Donald Trump endorses united Ireland during Dublin visit as British government rejects border poll
US President Donald Trump stated his support for a united Ireland during talks with Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin, prompting Downing Street to rule out any upcoming referendum under the Good Friday Agreement.
- Sep 12
Donald Trump backs Irish unification and predicts end to Iran war during Dublin visit
Arriving in Dublin for a 48-hour trip, the US president met with Irish leaders and predicted that Northern Ireland would eventually unite with the Republic.
- Sep 11
Visegrad Four leaders meet Irish Taoiseach to demand EU budget protections and threaten vetoes on energy rules
Prime ministers from Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary gathered at Bratislava Castle on 10 September 2026 with Irish leader Micheal Martin, pledging to veto European climate rules that raise electricity prices.
- Jul 24
Irish review finds no proof Aughinish alumina reaches Russian arms, but cannot rule it out
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said the investigation could not confirm or deny that alumina from the Limerick plant enters Russian military supply chains, citing a lack of verifiable trade data.
