Ireland's new rent reforms are already backfiringPROPERTYBy Johnny Gannon, Fair Deal PropertyIreland's private rental market entered a new legislative era on 1 March 2026 with the Residential Tenancies Act. The reforms promise greater security for tenants whilst offering landlords a clearer rent reset pathway at the end of each six-year cycle. In Dublin and other urban centres, where tenant turnover is frequent, institutional landlords expect rents to rise consistently over time. Many regional landlords own a single property as a long-term investment. Yet by making conditions unattractive for small regional landlords, they will reduce the rental stock in smaller towns and villages.

CSO figures show the median income in Ireland rose by 4.7 per cent (€2,744) to €61,666 last year. Photograph: iStockThe median household income in Ireland has topped €60,000 for the first time. Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicate that the median (or middle value) household disposable income in Ireland last year rose by 4.7 per cent (€2,744) to €61,666. When adjusted for inflation, the increase in real household income was 2.4 per cent. The 10 per cent of households with the lowest disposable income had average nominal disposable income of €329 per week, compared with €3,496 per week for the 10 per cent of households with the highest disposable income.

From baby boom to bust: Why women in Ireland are having fewer children and what it means for the futureBirth rate collapses from almost four in 70s just 1.47 nowIreland has dropped well below replacement birth rate levels. Stock image: GettyEilish O'Regan Today at 06:30The average number of children born to a woman in Ireland in her lifetime has dropped to 1.47 – the lowest in more than 50 years.

Will the US and Israeli war on Iran soon be over? And, second, would an end to the war for Donald Trump mean it has also ended for Iran, Israel or both? In sum, a ceasefire, not peace, seems a plausible near-term outcome, largely driven by Trump’s worries over oil prices. Oil prices could hit $150 a barrel and prices of gas in the EU (per megawatt hour) could hit €120. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2026[ How the Iran war is impacting the world’s economiesOpens in new window ]

Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAThe true significance of the role played by Gerry Adams in the IRA did not become clear until he was arrested in 1973 alongside leading IRA figures, a former British army officer has told a UK court. Witness A told the court that Adams was among a group arrested in a raid on a home in the Lower Falls area of Belfast in July 1973. The group, which included leading IRA member Brendan Hughes, was brought to a nearby RUC station where Adams gave a false name. Former British army colonel Richard Kemp also rejected a charge that he also had “no direct evidence” that linked Adams to IRA membership, or to any bombings. Shane Paul O’Doherty, who ran a letter-bombing campaign for the IRA in the 1970s, told the court that the last IRA member to testify against a senior IRA figure was stabbed in the face and eyes.

Yellow wind warning issued for the entire countryMet Éireann has issued a yellow wind warning for the entire country on Thursday. The wind warning will come into place at midnight and will last until 6 pm on Thursday. A yellow rain warning has also been issued for Donegal on Thursday. The warning comes into place at 6 am on Thursday and lasts until 6 am on Friday. Rain will clear with afternoon temperatures of four to right degrees over much of the northern half of the country and reaching eight to 11 degrees further south.

A three-year-old boy has died from his injuries after he was hit by a car in Finglas, Co Dublin. The incident occurred on Wednesday at 8:40 am, when a child was hit by a car in the underground car park of Charlestown Shopping Centre. A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to support the family at this time. The scene is preserved, and a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators is being carried out. Anyone with information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Peter Mandelson trousered a £75,000 severance payment when he was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last year - but asked for more than half a million pounds. In September, Keir Starmer dramatically sacked him from the role after it emerged he coached Jeffrey Epstein through "years of torture" over underage sex charges. The PM has since said that Lord Mandelson "repeatedly lied" to him over the extent of his relationship with Epstein. The files confirmed Lord Mandelson received a £75,000 severance payment - but that he asked for £547,201. The disgraced peer has already faced demands to hand back or give to charity the "golden goodbye" pay-off he received.

Arne Slot has made no secret of who should take Liverpool blame as finger pointed againThe Liverpool head coach has made no secret of where the blame lies for the club's struggles this seasonView 3 Images Arne Slot has been quick to protect his Liverpool players in the press (Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)There's no question as to where Arne Slot has pointed the finger of blame for Liverpool's struggles this season. ‌His team suffered a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray on Tuesday night for the second time this season. Here, we examine what Slot has said when it comes to accepting the blame. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out." View 3 Images Slot has been under pressure at Liverpool this season (Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)‌"Our first focus should be on getting results.

File photograph: GettyRules allowing new data centres to use fossil fuels to generate a portion of their own electricity are facing a High Court challenge by three environmental groups. The legal application, taken against the State’s energy regulator – the Commission for Regulation of Utilities – was lodged with the High Court on Tuesday. The move allows new data centres to set up by commissioning new wind and solar farms to match their needs. These renewable projects do not need to connect directly to the data centres but must feed into the national electricity supply the same amount of power as the data centres use. This is due to rise to 30 per cent in the coming years even before any new data centres are granted permission.

Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after the United States killed their leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said on Wednesday. “Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television. “We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever,” Infantino said, adding that he thanked Trump “for his support”. If the US refused to host the Iran team it could risk being removed as a World Cup host by Fifa. That is what happened to Indonesia three years ago when the country refused to welcome Israel for the men’s Under-20 World Cup eight months after the Israeli team qualified.

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FIFA statement on cancelling World Cup as Iran withdraw and Donald Trump speaksFIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer has responded to the suggestion of postponing this summer's World Cup because of the United States' war with IranView 3 Images Gianni Infantino claims Donald Trump says Iran are welcome to compete in the World Cup (Image: Getty Images)FIFA have already said this week that the World Cup is "too big" for them to postpone over the United States and Israel's war with Iran. "Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup," Ahmad Donyamal said in a television interview. "And the World Cup will go on, obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified." For you who have not experienced the World Cup, the World Cup is very special because it's truly global and it brings everybody together.

Eddie Jones described a Grand Slam as an opportunity to “beat your chest a little bit” before his England clinched one on the last day of the Six Nations in Paris 10 years ago. This is the Championship where winning the title is never quite enough. The contrast with the scenes 12 months earlier, when Ireland beat England to claim their fifth win of the spring, was palpable. Andy Farrell had described the prospect of doing that Slam at home against England, on St Patrick’s week, as the stuff “dreams are made of”. Just think of this Six Nations and the speed with which fortunes and perceptions have changed.

Arsenal are 'desperate cheats' who play 'illegal' football and would not be valid Premier League champions, John Obi Mikel has claimed in an astonishing attack. Mikel said: 'When I watch Arsenal play right now, they depend solely, solely on corner kicks. So that is what I mean, that Arsenal are trying to cheat their way to winning the Premier League. 'Win it the right way, play the game the right way, and win the game the right way, which is legally. Unless the Premier League right now, from this weekend, stamp that out.