Irish officials thought they had five times as many free tickets for a U2 tour of the United States, with newly released Government files revealing that diplomats were left in an "embarrassing situation". However, they were told the band wanted to limit the allocation to 10 tickets per night. The consul general in Boston said this "puts us in an embarrassing situation" as potential guests had already been approached for their preferred dates. Why not ask your contact if you could put a few more than the 10 per night on your list if situation is embarrassing?" The band did not perform at the tower, with Johnny Hallyday and Stevie Wonder among the main acts on the day.

Gardaí said that there had been eight serious collisions across the country over the past week which saw a number of people sustain serious or life-threatening injuries. Despite over 2,100 checkpoints being conducted over the past week, a further149 people were arrested for driving under the influence of a stimulant, while a further 4,600 people were detected for speeding offences. One driver was detected speeding at 207km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N18 in Ballinacurra (Weston), Co Limerick. There will be lots of people out socialising and travelling to meet friends and families and enjoy the celebrations. New Year’s Day will be a family day with people travelling to meet loved ones,” he said.

The £55 million attraction in Co Down, developed in partnership with HBO and Warner Bros Discovery, opened in February 2022 following the conclusion of the six-season fantasy drama which was filmed in Northern Ireland. Costumes and props at the Game Of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge (Niall Carson/PA)However the privately owned company has reported a net trading loss of £7.1 million over an extended 15-month accounting period, covering September 2023 to December 2024. Andrew Webb, chairman of the board of the Game Of Thrones Studio Tour, said they are hoping to make progress. He said: “We are delighted to report strong visitor growth in 2025, building on the significant momentum achieved in 2024. Visitors interact with a display at the Game Of Thrones Studio Tour (Niall Carson/PA)“This performance is testament to the quality of the experience we offer and the dedication and professionalism of our team.

Here are some of the most dramatic sea and sand-related snaps taken by the Press Association news agency’s photographers during 2025:Waves crash over the harbour wall in Folkestone, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)Storm Eowyn battered the UK at the end of January. A person walks their dog on a wind-swept beach at Tynemouth in north-east England (Owen Humphreys/PA)The strong wind creates some unusual conditions on the beach (Owen Humphreys/PA)A kitesurfer enjoys the windy conditions at Littlehampton beach in West Sussex (Joe Sene/PA)The stormy winter gave way to a dry spring and by June, parts of the UK were experiencing a heatwave, bringing sun-seekers to beaches around the country. Jubilee Beach in Southend was packed with people enjoying the sun (Lucy North/PA)Another heatwave followed in July 11 as temperatures soared above 30C. A man takes shelter from the wet weather beneath an umbrella as he walks along the promenade in Blackpool (Peter Byrne/PA)A grey sky and choppy waters put most people off venturing out (Peter Byrne/PA)And the stormy weather returned in December, with Bram battering the UK coast with high winds and heavy rain. People on Bournemouth Pier as the wind blows in (PA)

A woman has died following a road crash in Co Fermanagh. Police said Hanna Tanasova, 28, who was originally from Ukraine, died in hospital after a collision between a car and a van in Lisnaskea on December 5. A police spokesperson said officers responded after a Vauxhall Insignia and a Renault Traffic van collided on the Crom Road at around 4.40pm. “Colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and a number of people were conveyed to hospital,” they said. “You can get in contact with officers on 101, quoting reference number 989 of 05/12/25.”

Less than 60 tickets left for 'We Will Rock You”Music lovers who were unlucky enough not to find tickets for the 2026 Tullamore Musical Society production of “We Will Rock You” in their Christmas stocking are reminded to grab tickets quickly, as there are now less than 60 tickets left for the show, which opens on Sunday, February 15 next. Demad for tickets to the musical featuring the music of one of the world's most iconic rock bands, Queen, haa been unprecedented, with all tickets for the Friday night performance completely sold out for the past number of weeks. The Sunday and Wednesday night performances have just seven and six seats available respectively, while the best chance of grabbing a ticket are for the Monday (21 tickets) and Tuesday night (23 tickets) performances. “We Will Rock You” which was written by Ben Elton, with music and lyrics by Queen, will open in the Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore on Sunday, February 15 next for a five night run. Tickets are priced at €25 each and are available from the Esker Arts website www.eskerarts.ieThe Director of the 2026 production from Tullamore Musical Society is Mullingar's Chris Corroon, with choreographer Laura Douglas and Musical Director, Enda O'Connor.

When a former Al-Qaida insider turned MI6 asset says the house is wired with explosives, the appropriate response is not to complain about the smoke alarm’s tone. As reported by the Daily Mail, he is a man who stood inside the machinery of terror, watched its cogs turn, and then risked his life dismantling it from within. Dean also predicts a rise in “lone-wolf” attacks, the low-tech, high-impact assaults that bypass intelligence nets and exploit open societies. The Daily Mail article deserves credit for amplifying a warning many would prefer to muffle. Worth reading in full in the Daily Mail here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15415969/hundreds-al-Qaida-agents-ready-carnage-UK-MI6-spy.

The summer of 2002 conjures many memories, but in Ireland it will always be remembered as the moment Roy Keane pulled out of the FIFA World Cup in Saipan. The country was left deeply divided following Keane’s fallout with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy in the build-up to the tournament. A new film starring Éanna Hardwicke as Keane and Steve Coogan as McCarthy explores the intense and complex rivalry between captain and manager. Hardwicke, 29, a Cork native, says he feels a special connection to playing Keane, having grown up just “down the road” from him. Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy and Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane in Saipan.

Irish Examiner chief photographer Dan Linehan is stepping away after a remarkable forty-five year career at the paper, capturing so many stories, moments and memories from Munster and beyond, a legacy of imagery that will be admired for generations to come. Tom Coffey who has been photographed by Dan over the years and is a well-known character in the horse fair and farming community, gives his reaction to Dan's departure. The Irish Examiner Picture Desk team wishes to express sincere thanks to Dan Linehan for his outstanding contribution and dedication over the years, and to wish him every success in his future work.

The new year begins with a worrying statistic about biodiversity — 90% of Ireland’s protected habitats are in “unfavourable” conservation status, according to a recent report. The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland, 2025: Summary Report, commonly referred to as the Article 17 Report, is published every six years. Information from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and other relevant sources supplements the data. The report presents a comprehensive overview of the conservation status of the 59 habitats and 60 species in Ireland that are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. Minister O’Sullivan said while the scale of the challenge is significant, targeted conservation work in communities across the country is beginning to reverse negative trends.

Offaly duo Clodagh Leahy (left) and Grace Teehan lift the Jack McGrath Cup after their side’s 2025 All-Ireland intermediate camogie final win. 2025 review: Camogie and minor glory lit up the yearLast year when the Offaly Independent reviewed the Offaly GAA scene from 2024, the glorious All-Ireland triumph of the U20 hurlers obviously took centre stage. Offaly captain Cian McNamee lifts the Larry Murray Cup after his team's win over Louth in the 2025 Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship final. Mickey Harte’s arrival as joint manager alongside Declan Kelly caused ripples of excitement to course through Offaly football circles in 2024. The Tyrone legend’s influence reaped dividends in the 2025 Allianz Football League which saw Offaly secure promotion from Division 3.

People who access illegal TV streaming services are potentially liable to prosecution for criminal offences, including under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006. New warning issued to those using illegal streaming devicesFACT’s latest campaign has seen thousands of messages sent to people across the UK, warning they are not anonymous and watching unauthorised content carries "serious risks". Those customers have now been contacted directly to warn them of the dangers of continuing to use illegal streaming services. FACT chairman Kieron Sharp said: “This campaign makes it clear that end users of illegal streaming services are breaking the law. “We would encourage anyone who is considering using illegal streaming services to consider the risks to themselves, their families, and their wider communities."

Cork auctioneers selling new properties in Cork reported very high levels of first-time buyer demand for properties costing up €500,000. Sherry FitzGerald’s new homes division in Cork say that first-time buyers bought 80% of 500 new homes they sold up until December. Another development popular with first-time buyers was the Lake View in Midleton, where Sherry FitzGerald homes had over 80 sales to date. Savills in Cork say first-time buyers accounted for 85% of all new homes sales. Savills also reported strong first-time buyer demand for three-bedroom semis costing €475,000 in a newly launched development at Carlton, also at Castletreasure in Douglas.

In the near future, the sight of robots trundling through rural fields could be as familiar as that of combine harvesters and tractors, according to Professor Gerry Lacey. He believes technological advances are key to solving the looming problem of how to feed the world’s growing population. Another old method being reimagined for the 21st century involves a robot using boiling water to weed crops. Technological developments, too, can engage a younger generation in farming, helping to tackle labour shortages in the sector. Including the VistaMilk Research Centre, which, they said, will “transform an already world-class dairy sector into a global leader”.

The body of a young man has been pulled from a river in Ireland's County Cork nine days after reports that someone had entered the water. Shea McCabe, from County Tyrone, disappeared in the early hours of December 18 near the Brian Boru Bridge in what his family have described as a 'freak accident'. They scoured the River Lee, as well as Lough Mahon and the Cork Harbour areas over the Christmas period. Crosshaven Coast Guard said in a statement: 'This was a huge team effort and has not stopped until we had closure. She wrote: 'Our family lost Shea's brother Jason in October 2023 & our mother just 7 months later in May 2024.