Category: News

Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson will head to the big night without an acceptance speech in his pocket. Abrahamson received a nod for his work on Room, which is also nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay and best actress for star Brie Larson.

Former president Mary McAleese has hailed the transformation in relations between the UK and Ireland in the 100 years since Dublin’s Easter Rising. In a speech to MPs and peers in the Palace of Westminster, Mrs McAleese discussed how once-fraught diplomatic links across the Irish Sea were now positive.

Ireland’s two main political parties are coming under intense pressure to forge an unprecedented alliance as confusion reigns over the possibility of a new government. A seismic split in the general election vote has thrust bitter enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail into a bout of soul-searching as to whether they can come together to… Continue reading Fine Gael and Fianna Fail face pressure to forge alliance

Tanaiste Joan Burton scored a narrow victory in the final live leaders’ debate, analysis of reaction on social media has shown. While none of the four party chiefs landed any killer blows, research by data scientists at Adoreboard, a semantic analytics firm based at Queen’s University, Belfast put the Labour leader a fraction ahead.

Enda Kenny has declared himself “man enough” to admit his mistakes and move on after coming under pressure over his latest gaffe in the final days of the general election campaign. Opponents seized on the Taoiseach’s apparent admission in a live television debate that he personally appointed a Fine Gael supporter to a State board… Continue reading Enda Kenny: 'I'm man enough to admit my mistakes'

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out resigning after his government suffered a resounding thumping in the General Election. With the Republic’s political future in disarray and several coalition combinations on the table, the Fine Gael leader refused to be drawn on the prospect of a pact with traditional adversaries Fianna Fail.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has blamed Fianna Fail supporters returning to the fold for his party’s slump in the polls. He said the result in the previous elections in 2011 was extraordinary. It followed the collapse of the Celtic Tiger and unhappiness over how his rivals handled the financial crash.

Ryanair has pledged to actively campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union at the upcoming referendum. Michael O’Leary, chief executive of the no-frills airline, claimed that Brexit would not allow the country to save money or reduce bureaucracy.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has rejected suggestions that UK withdrawal from the EU would require border checks to be reinstated with the Republic. Ms Villiers, who is campaigning for Brexit, said there was “every reason to suggest” that the UK and Ireland could maintain free movement under the kind of common travel area arrangement… Continue reading Brexit 'would not mean UK-Ireland border checks', says Villiers

Around two million voters have cast their ballots in one of the most uncertain general elections in Ireland’s recent political history. As polling stations closed at 10pm political parties were estimating around two-thirds of the 3.3 million-strong electorate had voted.