This morning’s First Edition is about the desperate attempts to make Ceuta look like an “invasion” - and how the EU’s border policies mean this is bound to keep happening. With @trillingual.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Wednesday briefing: ​How misinformation and ​a​ hardened immigration policy ​turned Ceuta ​into Europe’s ​latest ​flashpoint

In today’s newsletter: The past week shows how quickly images, rumours and ​right-wing political opportunism can eclipse the facts on the ground

theguardian.com

Fire crews had brought the Slievenamon blaze largely under control until, on Wednesday, a sharp change in wind saw the flames pushed towards a nearby Coillte forest. It’s had some asking if the type of tree planted on the mountain made this week's wildfires worse www.thejournal.ie/slievenamon-...

Has the type of tree planted on Slievenamon made this week's wildfires worse?

Sitka spruce, which originates in North America, is a staple of Coillte forests, but has long been criticised by environmentalists.

thejournal.ie

Reporting from south Tipp for @thejournal on the Slievenamon wildfires - emergency crews expect the blaze to intensify but say it could be extinguished by Saturday - while there’s still uncertainty about the cause, Coillte is adamant a fire like this doesn’t start naturally in Ireland

The Journal@thejournal.ie · 2w ago

Fire activity on the Slievenamon mountain in Co Tipperary is expected to increase as temperatures rise throughout today. The Journal’s Eoghan Dalton is in Kilsheelan as local authorities and emergency services continue to monitor the area.

Man (36) appears in court charged with assaulting woman at Tramore church - @thejournal.ie www.thejournal.ie/tramore-chur...

Man (36) appears in court charged with assaulting woman at Tramore church

The woman in her 50s is being treated in hospital following the incident.

thejournal.ie

Reporting from Tramore for @thejournal.ie after a woman was attacked at Holy Cross Church

Are developers skimping on EV chargers in new estates? I visited residents in north Co Dublin where they say they’ve been left short dozens of EV chargers. Fingal council has now opened an investigation into whether Glenveagh breached planning rules in Balbriggan jrnl.ie/7088207

Council launches probe into developer as homeowners left without vital EV charging points

Residents have argued that planning conditions required ‘all’ car park spaces to have the capability to charge an EV.

thejournal.ie

A recent data centre report from the Department of Enterprise did not include a section on the potential for higher electricity prices due to rising data centre demand. But new documents suggest that the €100,000 report should have examined the issue.

Government data centre report didn’t examine prospect of higher electricity bills

The Department of Enterprise report didn’t address rising electricity prices due to data centre demand.

jrnl.ie

so sick and burnt out last week I missed my own Irish Examiner op-ed on how communities have organised to resist the far right and repair the damage left behind once politicians have lost interest and the press have moved on to the next story www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Communities like Clonmel have fought back against the far right. Here's how yours can too

When the far-right started organising in Clonmel in 2024, Dean Buckley wasn't an activist. Learning from Roscrea's experience, his community fought back

irishexaminer.com

Think yesterday’s WLR interview is important for giving an idea of how some in FF may view this case now. I’ve also heard before that asking Brendan Kenneally about the actions he took “wasn’t my business to ask”. That had been the case until 2020 really, when anger could no longer be ignored

Eoghan Dalton@eoghandalton.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally resigned his membership after a discussion with a party official on the day the report into his cousin’s crimes was released. It was news to plenty that he was a party member up until this month. www.thejournal.ie/bill-kenneal...

Former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally resigned his membership after a discussion with a party official on the day the report into his cousin’s crimes was released. It was news to plenty that he was a party member up until this month. www.thejournal.ie/bill-kenneal...

Ex-FF TD resigned membership after release of Bill Kenneally report, junior minister says

During a tense interview on local radio, Mary Butler defended Fianna Fáil’s actions regarding its former TD.

thejournal.ie

Spent 48 hours in Makerfield ahead of the byelection for @thejournal.ie At the Brian Boru club, I heard why people are so keen on Andy Burnham’s buses - and why some fear for the future of Pride after Reform pulled support nearby www.thejournal.ie/makerfield-b...

Members of Britain's oldest Irish club weigh in on vote that could spell end for Keir Starmer

The Brian Boru club has been on the go since the 1880s in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

thejournal.ie

Founded in the 1880s, the Brian Boru club in Makerfield has hosted snooker, tug-of-war contests, and was once raided by police for illegal drinking in the 1930s - nowadays it’s all about Irish language lessons and bingo. I’ll have more from Makerfield @thejournal.ie later this eve

“I’m sick of you lot. But I know you’re a working man so I’ll talk to you.” Went out in a media-weary Ashton-in-Makerfield for @thejournal.ie ahead of the vote that could finish off Keir Starmer (also turns out the ‘Ashton’ bit is crucial) www.thejournal.ie/makerfield-e...

'I'm sick of you lot': World's media descend on UK town at centre of critical vote

‘What is a Makerfield anyway?’

thejournal.ie

On their day of vindication, survivors seek State apology for Bill Kenneally’s crimes - Comes some eight years after the inquiry began, almost 14 years after Jason Clancy contacted gardaí and 41 years since Bill Kenneally could have been first stopped. jrnl.ie/7065051

On their day of vindication, survivors seek State apology for Bill Kenneally's crimes

They have also sought apologies from the gardaí, Fianna Fáil and the Diocese of Waterford.

jrnl.ie

Spoke to several upset families in Tullow, Co Carlow about this, some of whom are on the medical transfer list and in need of the larger homes for their children. But it’s those houses that are all set to end up private after a last-minute switch by the developer jrnl.ie/7060747

Developer switches half of homes in new social housing estate to private market at last minute

Carlow County Council’s chief executive Cóilín O’Reilly has apologised after families on the housing waiting list found out by seeing the homes listed for sale online.

jrnl.ie

Incredible sentence which I will not be fact checking.

now.arsenal@nowarsenal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

🚨The Arsenal parade held over 1.5million fans which officially makes it the largest event ever held in the country. Arsenal fans, simply incredible. London will forever be red. ❤️

These fees – which first came to light following reporting by @thejournal.ie last year – were €150-250 extra every month for new tenants. Renters argue they were inconsistent, varying from tenant to tenant. Ires insists they were standard but later dropped them due to legal technicalities

Eoghan Dalton@eoghandalton.bsky.social · 3mo ago

'Exceptionally busy' Ires Reit bosses turn down invite from TDs probing surprise apartment fees jrnl.ie/7044885

'Exceptionally busy' Ires Reit bosses turn down invite from TDs probing surprise apartment fees jrnl.ie/7044885

'Exceptionally busy' Ires Reit bosses turn down invite from TDs probing surprise apartment fees

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin claimed the major landlord firm is trying to “evade scrutiny” by TDs.

jrnl.ie

Gardaí believe woman who died in Waterford was stabbed during domestic dispute jrnl.ie/7025863 with @eoghandalton.bsky.social

Gardaí believe woman who died in Waterford was stabbed during domestic dispute

Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene at Grange Heights, Waterford city yesterday at 6.15pm.

jrnl.ie

Went on Inside Politics podcast yesterday talking about fuel protests, populism & liberalism. I tried to add nuance without appearing as an apologist for populism. Not sure how succesful I was! @bryanfanning.bsky.social @eoghandalton.bsky.social @lizcarolan.com www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/ins...

What the fuel protests meant

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

irishtimes.com

The number of eviction notices surged at the end of last year: up 41% year-on-year to 5,207. Today’s official data gives us the first clear picture of the rental market ahead of the Government’s major changes that took effect this month

The whistleblower is pocketing $429k of the share here thanks to some fairly intriguing provisions in US law. And Labour’s @ciaranahern.bsky.social wants to see the whole issue probed by the Oireachtas transport committee

Eoghan Dalton@eoghandalton.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The North American tourism arm of CIÉ has had to paid back $4.2m of Covid-era supports to the US government - comes after New Jersey authorities heard CIÉ Tours shouldn’t have received the money in the first place, partly as it’s backed by the Irish govt www.thejournal.ie/cie-tours-us...

The North American tourism arm of CIÉ has had to paid back $4.2m of Covid-era supports to the US government - comes after New Jersey authorities heard CIÉ Tours shouldn’t have received the money in the first place, partly as it’s backed by the Irish govt www.thejournal.ie/cie-tours-us...

CIÉ Tours paid back $4m in Covid loans to US government after whistleblower complaint

It turned out the company was ineligible for the loans, partly as it’s owned by the Irish government.

thejournal.ie

The landlord behind the evictions in Co Wexford has “decided to withdraw” the notices. Spox for Patchflow Ltd said it recognises that receiving eviction notices can be “deeply unsettling” and acknowledges the “stress this situation has caused” within the community. - @thejournal.ie

Eoghan Dalton@eoghandalton.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Tenants of 36 households in Co #Wexford were told their landlord was delivering eviction notices because of the Govt’s new rental rules, according to a leaked video. Residents heard the landlord would follow “radio shows and political debate” before making a “final decision” on their housing.

Tenants of 36 households in Co #Wexford were told their landlord was delivering eviction notices because of the Govt’s new rental rules, according to a leaked video. Residents heard the landlord would follow “radio shows and political debate” before making a “final decision” on their housing.

Renters in Bridgetown, Co Wexford are stunned after over 30 homes in their estate got eviction notices this week. Local TDs have criticised Housing Minister James Browne for it happening “in his backyard” right as new rent rules take effect www.thejournal.ie/wexford-evic...

Householders 'in shock' as over 30 homes in Co Wexford estate get eviction notices from landlord

Local TDs have criticised Housing Minister and Wexford TD James Browne due to the evictions taking place in his “backyard”.

thejournal.ie

It’s almost a year since the regulator flagged Galway’s rising rents as of more concern than other cities - but everyone expects them to keep going up. The government insists this will help with supply and, eventually, lead to a fall. There’s still no timeline on when that might happen.

Eoghan Dalton@eoghandalton.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Ahead of the big rental changes, I went to Galway for @thejournal.ie - new tenants are paying €1,850+ monthly, up 11% - homeless services criticised an 'information gap' on the changes - renters just don't believe in the tightened eviction rules unless enforcement follows

Ahead of the big rental changes, I went to Galway for @thejournal.ie - new tenants are paying €1,850+ monthly, up 11% - homeless services criticised an 'information gap' on the changes - renters just don't believe in the tightened eviction rules unless enforcement follows

Some notable votes on migration in Strasbourg this week at the European Parliament, with the push by the EU to use so-called 'third countries' to hold asylum seekers making some supporters of the restrictions nervous. www.thejournal.ie/sean-kelly-m...

Unease from Fianna Fáil MEPs at EU plan to use 'third countries' to hold asylum seekers

The plan would allow Ireland and other member states to use so-called ‘third countries’ to hold asylum seekers in immigration ‘hubs’.

thejournal.ie

MEP @mariawalshmep.bsky.social says the Taoiseach must raise the case of Seamus Culleton and the wider ICE immigration crackdown during his White House visit for St Patrick's Day. Walsh, who is a dual Irish-US citizen, says 'fundamental rights' have been harmed by ICE @thejournal.ie