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#Insight

A specially curated collection of content highlights from across the Irish Examiner.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Nadia Dobrianska — a fluent Irish speaker who had studied in Belfast — fled Kyiv for Cork as Russian bombs began to fall on February 24, 2022. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

spotlight

Ukrainians in Ireland: ‘Thousands of people my age are dying. We need a lasting peace’

Four years ago, life changed forever for Ukrainians as Russia launched its invasion. Liz Dunphy spoke with three women living here who are hoping for peace

<p>Bryan Meehan, with his wife Tara, at Dromgarriff, Co. Cork. Photo: Bríd O'Donovan.</p>

people

'It’s a piece of heaven, isn’t it?': A West Cork rainforest and the mission to rewild it

<p> 'Owen' had been incarcerated for 27 days in Cork Prison. File picture: Larry Cummins</p>

spotlight

Diary of an autistic prisoner: 'I only had two showers in four weeks'

Rosie O'Donnell: 'It was very strange to feel so at home in a new country. But I do'

people

Rosie O'Donnell: 'It was very strange to feel so at home in a new country. But I do'

Future Cork: The city centre enters a new golden age after decades of change

comment-analysis

Future Cork: The city centre enters a new golden age after decades of change

'You wouldn’t do to a dog what was done to Marguerita. How could there only be five years given for that?'

S news

'You wouldn’t do to a dog what was done to Marguerita. How could there only be five years given for that?'

'I have no desire to go anywhere': Inside the enclosed community of Tyburn nuns in Cork

S 'I have no desire to go anywhere': Inside the enclosed community of Tyburn nuns in Cork

Officially known as the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre, the nuns form part of a cloistered Benedictine contemplative order dedicated to perpetual Eucharistic adoration

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Inside Dublin Zoo: Hippo eye surgery, orangutan birth and elephant herpes battle

Inside Dublin Zoo: Hippo eye surgery, orangutan birth and elephant herpes battle

Niamh McGill reveals the emotional highs and lows of treating hippos, elephants, penguins and primates at Dublin Zoo

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Ian Watson: Child killer and one of Ireland's longest serving prisoners dies behind bars

Ian Watson: Child killer and one of Ireland's longest serving prisoners dies behind bars

The death of Ian Watson revives questions about a brutal 1984 murder and a justice system once shrouded in silence

Sat, 14 Feb, 2026

Fears of summer travel chaos as Cork Airport airspace closed for seven hours

Fears of summer travel chaos as Cork Airport airspace closed for seven hours

Air traffic control staffing shortages and industrial tensions raise concern over further airport closures during peak summer travel season

Sat, 14 Feb, 2026

UCC students commuting before dawn as housing crisis fuels daily parking battle

UCC students commuting before dawn as housing crisis fuels daily parking battle

Sky-high rents and a lack of public student housing are forcing UCC students into long commutes and daily parking stress

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Meet the Kenmare family who bought their hotel back from John and Francis Brennan

S Meet the Kenmare family who bought their hotel back from John and Francis Brennan

Patrick and Aileen Hanley tell Gemma Fullam how they brought Kenmare’s landmark Lansdowne hotel back to the family – and how two years on, they are still making it their own

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Graham Linehan court case

S Mick Clifford: Ireland should think twice before embracing the new left-right political divide

As culture wars intensify abroad, Ireland should resist importing polarisation, extremism and political certainties that corrode democratic debate

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

I tried a professional decluttering service — a month later, is my kitchen still tidy?

S I tried a professional decluttering service — a month later, is my kitchen still tidy?

A professional decluttering service was called for when Jess Casey decided it was finally time to clear some of the mess that has built up in her home

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Inside the final chapter of Cork’s Quay Co-Op restaurant and the movement it created

S Inside the final chapter of Cork’s Quay Co-Op restaurant and the movement it created

As the restaurant closes, the story of how the Quay Co-Op fed Cork’s counterculture and conscience comes into focus

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

Jonathan deBurca Butler enjoys relaxing over a pint at his local. It’s a simple habit woven into the fabric of his life. So how did he fare when he quit alcohol for a month?

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Why are Irish communities seeing more flooding and several 'one-in-100-year' floods?

Why are Irish communities seeing more flooding and several 'one-in-100-year' floods?

A one-in-100-year flood does not mean a flood that happens once a century. It means a flood with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Two such floods can occur in back-to-back years, or several can occur in a single decade

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Funeral of David Byrne

Platinum coffins and luxury cars: Vulgar displays of wealth by crime gangs eyed up by CAB

Platinum coffins, champagne, and luxury cars just some of the extravagances catalogued by gardaí

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

The Regency Hotel attack at 10: Inside the moment Irish gangland entered a new era

The Regency Hotel attack at 10: Inside the moment Irish gangland entered a new era

Ten years after the Regency Hotel shooting, Cormac O'Keeffe examines how the Kinahan-Hutch feud reshaped Irish crime and policing

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

File Photo Garda Strike. Tomorrow Garda members will refuse to log on to the PULSE IT system or to engage in any PULSE-related a

Two investigations, two outcomes: what the gun parts case says about garda accountability

A whistleblower’s evidence cleared internally but referred to the DPP raises unsettling questions about Garda oversight and transparency

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

I went to Lesley Giltinan's Radiance weekend — here's what I learned about women's retreats

I went to Lesley Giltinan's Radiance weekend — here's what I learned about women's retreats

As a growing number of women’s retreats launch in Ireland and internationally, Vickie Maye visits Castlemartyr Resort to experience Lesley Giltinan’s Radiance

Sun, 01 Feb, 2026

holy statues and pictures at st. brigid's well

'We are taking her back' — Why St Brigid is being reclaimed by modern Irish women

As a bold reimagining of St Brigid arrives in bookshops this weekend, Gemma Fullam speaks with author Kim Curran and fellow admirers to explore why Ireland’s newest patron saint is resonating so strongly with women today

Sat, 31 Jan, 2026

Dr Niamh Lynch: ‘After my own maternity leave, I knew I’d be a different doctor’

S Dr Niamh Lynch: ‘After my own maternity leave, I knew I’d be a different doctor’

Parents can't get enough of Dr Niamh Lynch's no-nonsense, straight talking videos to help navigate children's health. Now the Cork paediatrician has turned that advice into a book.

Sat, 31 Jan, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Major questions remain following Limerick garda trial

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Major questions remain following Limerick garda trial

In this week’s podcast, Mick swaps chairs and is interviewed by Deirdre O’Shaughnessy

Listen | Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Bored in bed

These are the top 20 questions sex experts are asked by both women and men

We chat to sex educators and therapists about the questions they’re most often asked by men and women

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Mother and daughter sitting back to back

Family waited nearly a year for support after girl sexually assaulted by peers

A mother describes an 11-month wait for counselling after her teenage daughter was sexually assaulted, highlighting gaps in State support services

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

The insider's list: 20 of the best Irish hotels for your 2026 getaway

S The insider's list: 20 of the best Irish hotels for your 2026 getaway

From newcomers to revamped favourites, Thom Breathnach selects 20 of Ireland's most noteworthy accommodation to book now

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Mick Clifford: Limerick garda trial should never have happened

Mick Clifford: Limerick garda trial should never have happened

All five defendants in the Limerick garda trial have been cleared of all charges. As Mick Clifford has been pointing out since 2020, questions remain over the ordeal they were put through

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Omoide-Yokocho in Shinjuku district of Tokyo

We spent 15 days in Japan with our teens — here's why it's the ultimate family holiday

From samurai to skyscrapers and sushi to shrines, this Asian archipelago is the ultimate destination for families with teenagers, discovers Jillian Bolger

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: Why do storms get names and how are they picked?

ieExplains: Why do storms get names and how are they picked?

Here is everything you need to know about why storms are named, how a name is chosen, and who we share names with

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Federal Agents Descend On Minneapolis For Immigration Enforcement Operations

Minneapolis is a city pushed to the brink — and the Irish are caught in between

Irish emigrants, business owners and activists describe fear, anger and solidarity as federal immigration enforcement descends on Minneapolis

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Mick Clifford: Why the Enoch Burke saga is bigger than one teacher or one school

Mick Clifford: Why the Enoch Burke saga is bigger than one teacher or one school

The Enoch Burke case highlights legal uncertainty, policy paralysis and how culture-war politics risk eclipsing students’ real needs

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

Spencer Matthews: Habit stacking allows me to take on more extreme challenges

Spencer Matthews: Habit stacking allows me to take on more extreme challenges

Aoife Barry meets Spencer Matthews as his recovers from Project Se7en that saw him complete seven Ironmans on seven continents to fundraise for charity

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Amazing sunrise and ski resort in the French Alps,Europe

S 50 fantastic holidays for your travel bucket list, from family getaways to luxury escapes

From affordable family sun breaks to luxury safaris and epic adventures, these trips offer something for every traveller

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Young female doctor examining a small girl in her office.

Nine cancer symptoms you should never ignore and how telling a doctor early could save your life

Early detection can often save lives — but the disease doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms at first, which is why noticing small changes matters

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Jess Redden and Rob Kearney on family life, wellness habits and finding balance at home

Jess Redden and Rob Kearney on family life, wellness habits and finding balance at home

The couple share their approach to health, parenting, balance and building sustainable habits in their Dublin home

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Mick Clifford: Why did Margaret Loftus wait 13 years for justice after a brutal assault?

Mick Clifford: Why did Margaret Loftus wait 13 years for justice after a brutal assault?

Margaret Loftus’s 13-year struggle exposes how institutional delay compounds the trauma of domestic violence victims

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

The strange comfort of watching the Beckhams fall apart

The strange comfort of watching the Beckhams fall apart

Brooklyn Beckham’s public split from his famous parents offers uncomfortable insight into celebrity families, control, and generational resentment

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: Why Elon Musk can’t buy Ryanair despite his online jibes

ieExplains: Why Elon Musk can’t buy Ryanair despite his online jibes

Despite online bravado, strict EU ownership rules mean Elon Musk cannot buy or control Europe’s largest airline

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

West Cork diver makes remarkable discoveries with Ireland's second commercial submarine

West Cork diver makes remarkable discoveries with Ireland's second commercial submarine

Former naval service diver John Kearney and his team at Muirí Carraige Aonair Teo uncovered the wreck of a trawler sunk by a U-boat in the Second World War

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Dingle v St Brigid's - AIB GAA Football Senior Club Championship Final

S When the aliens come, show them Dingle's epic with St Brigid’s in the All-Ireland club final

From a distance, the outsider might understand the All-Ireland club finals even better than we do; that this is not about sport at all, but about people gathering to remind themselves who they are

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Retro cute portrait young adult

Blue Monday 2026: Health and wellbeing experts share 19 little things that make them happy

From a pharmacist to a high-performance coach, GP and breathwork teacher, Gemma Fullam asks 19 people to share how they find happiness in their everyday

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Zen person with headphone

Suzanne Harrington: The A-Z of wellness woo dominating social media this year

Suzanne Harrington looks at the wellness nonsense dominating social media this year

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

From horses to High Court rulings: the long history behind Catherine O’Brien’s crimes

From horses to High Court rulings: the long history behind Catherine O’Brien’s crimes

A decade-long trail of fraud, court absences and shifting identities ended with Catherine O’Brien’s conviction and imprisonment

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

EDDIE HOBBS

S Mick Clifford: Inside Ireland’s first Maga-style forum and the rise of populist disaffection

A close look at Ireland’s emerging populist right, its grievances, contradictions and the absence of a unifying political figure

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

The lights that guide us — the story of Ireland's great lighthouses

The lights that guide us — the story of Ireland's great lighthouses

They are centuries-old beacons of light, but Ireland's lighthouses retain just as much power and potential today. Rachel Gaffney spoke to policymakers, historians, and industry leaders at a marine heritage and tourism conference in Dublin that explored the future of our great lighthouses

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

'It's all she wanted, to be a mother', Laura Liston's grieving husband tells coroner's court in Limerick

'It's all she wanted, to be a mother', Laura Liston's grieving husband tells coroner's court in Limerick

Fergal Mannion recalled how his late wife held their son for a few minutes with 'tears of joy in her eyes', before she 'fainted and dropped the baby in the birthing pool'

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

'My family are my all': Peadar Ó Riada reflects on life, music, and his recent cancer diagnosis

S 'My family are my all': Peadar Ó Riada reflects on life, music, and his recent cancer diagnosis

Cork musician Peadar Ó Riada talks about his illness, and the big list he still plans on getting through

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Woman rides bicycle with basket along the banks of the Seine

Judge's comments show bias against cyclists is 'deeply embedded' in Irish society

There are five actions we can take to save lives on our roads, if we choose to implement them

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

This Galway home comes with a business — an alpaca farm

This Galway home comes with a business — an alpaca farm

On the market with a guide of €670,000, Curraghduff Farm has 22 acres of land divided into two sections

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026