How to quickly revive tired, stressed skin this festive season
Drinking more water is the obvious starting point, but to truly hydrate your skin, you must care for – and repair – your skin barrier. One of my favourite quick fixes is Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Sheet Mask (€10 from Space NK). A quick tip: never leave a sheet mask on longer than directed, as it can make your skin feel even more dehydrated. And never – I repeat, never – go to sleep with a sheet mask on (unless it’s specifically designed for this, obviously). It will lock in the ingredients from the sheet mask and help restore hydration and reduce irritation.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 21:02 UTC
Two hours a night: Japan PM’s sleep schedule prompts concerns about work-life balance
Photograph: Haiyun Jiang/New York TimesJapan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is known as an inveterate workhorse. Ms Takaichi, speaking to parliament on November 7th, acknowledged that her early morning preparation had “caused inconvenience” to her staff. Why not Japan’s prime minister? Since being named prime minister only about three weeks ago, Ms Takaichi has had an unusually packed schedule. Shigeaki Koga, a former economic official, said in an interview that he could sympathise with Ms Takaichi’s frenetic first few weeks in office.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 19:39 UTC
New housing plan revealed as Fianna Fáil awaits Áras bid review
Housing initiative: The electorate will be attentive to how Tánaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheál Martin tackle the rolling crisis. The Coalition’s long-promised new housing plan was unveiled on Thursday, and while Government politicians may hope it will be the key to solving the housing crisis, the Opposition is not surprisingly underwhelmed. The Government has launched its new housing plan, called Delivering Homes, Building Communities. People seeking a home – and the Government parties – are pinning their hopes on this plan delivering as intended. Banana skinFianna Fáil politicians are waiting on tenterhooks for the completion of the review into its diabolical presidential election bid.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 18:39 UTC
‘I had read Ulysses twice by the time I moved here. It was my idea of a fun read’ – The Irish Times
So I went to the Arts Council and proposed their support to start the Dublin Review. The Dublin Review is a home for world-class fiction and non-fiction: short stories, non-fiction, essays, reportage and long-form criticism. I approached them – I felt if they could see the point of the Dublin Review, others would follow and we’d have a chance. The Dublin Review is aimed at people who just want to read the best writing. [ What makes the Irish literary magazine scene tick?Opens in new window ]I work two days on the Dublin Review and three days a week at Penguin; Penguin’s Irish operation started in 2003.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 18:17 UTC
Cristiano Ronaldo left feeling sick as a Parrott as Ireland’s World Cup campaign finally ignites
A 2-0 win over Portugal - repeat, lest you don’t believe it: a 2-0 win over Portugal - means the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of a trip to United States/Canada/Mexico next summer are alive and kicking. Cristiano Ronaldo had expressed the hope before the game that the home crowd wouldn’t boo him too much. This was a bit different, though, because, after Chiedozie Ogbene hit the post, the Troy man scored again. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures after his altercation with Dara O'Shea - he would be sent off for the incident. ‘Yap, yap, yap,’ he suggested with his blinking hand in Hallgrímsson’s direction, but after they had a frank exchange of views, they shook hands.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 17:31 UTC
Purpose-built modern library in Cork city is public’s preference, TD says
Cork City Council should move on delivering a new purpose-built library for the city to replace the library on the Grand Parade rather than trying to convert some existing building into a modern library, a local TD has urged. Cork South Central Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice said the clear consensus that emerged from a public meeting attended by about 50 people last weekend was that they believed that a new purpose-built library was the best option rather than Cork City Council trying to adapt an existing building to library use. The Irish Times contacted Cork City Council with a series of questions about plans for the new public library, including whether there was sufficient space within the Counting House building at the Beamish and Crawford site to accommodate a new 7,700sq m library. Cork City Council said: “The City Library Service is an important component of the cultural, literary, and recreational infrastructure of Cork city and its community now and into the future. “The commitment to providing a new City Library of scale and substance is one that is a priority for Cork City Council.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 13:32 UTC
Conor Murray: Some think this Irish team is dangerously old, but system is made for longevity – The Irish Times
Right now, a lot of people are convinced that this Irish team is dangerously old. That they have been allowed grow old together and that, the way things are going, Ireland are going to be too old at the next World Cup. I was 34 at the last World Cup. Photograph: Billy Stickland/InphoPeople think about the World Cup as a four-year cycle, but that shouldn’t mean four years of sacrificing everything to build for the next tournament. At the World Cup, we made too many mistakes.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 13:32 UTC
Far-right group ‘laughed, joked’ about imminent attack on Galway Mosque, court hears
Members of a violent and extreme far-right group were “laughing and joking” as they rehearsed a video statement they planned to release after an attack on Galway Mosque, a court has heard. Mr Peckauskas faces one charge of knowingly having in “his possession an explosive substance” at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise. The detective added that the charge Mr Peckauskas was facing was a serious one, carrying a jail term of up to 14 years. He said the footage showed four masked men and described as “well-founded” the Garda’s suspicion that one of those men was Mr Peckauskas. Judge Cody refused the application for bail and remanded Mr Peckauskas in custody to appear before the court again on December 11th.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 13:18 UTC
Brighten up winter by adding colour to your home – The Irish Times
Because it’s easy to define and even easier to repaint, it’s the perfect place to experiment. It’s also the perfect moment to add a splash of bold colour to your interior. A simple change that can lift a room, brighten your mood and make the dark, dreary winter months feel a little lighter. HistoryUsing bold colour to counteract darker days isn’t a new idea. In fact, small spaces often carry bold colour beautifully and rich tones or patterned wallpaper can create real impact here without feeling overwhelming.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 13:04 UTC
Troy Parrott and Chiedozie Ogbene partnership gave Ireland a new threat in famous win
A big reason for that was the excellent forward partnership of Chiedozie Ogbene and Troy Parrott, who caused Portugal’s defence all sorts of problems in the first half, helped ably by Finn Azaz when he could. The double threat of Ogbene and Parrott showed in a chance in the first half where a good ball in behind created a two-v-two with Portugal’s defence. With Portugal dominating possession, right-back João Cancelo played much of the first half like an inside forward, and admittedly he did cause Ireland problems offensively. After a long pass by O’Shea, Parrott took the ball down, dribbled and shot into the corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. Troy Parrott scores his and the Republic's second goal against Portugal.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 12:36 UTC
‘Myth is becoming a reality’: Puffins make a comeback at Isle of Muck after 25 years
A puffin on the Isle of Muck nature reserve in Co Antrim. Photograph: Ronald Surgenor/PA WirePuffins have been found nesting on a Co Antrim nature reserve for the first time in 25 years. The discovery was made by Ulster Wildlife on the Isle of Muck, off Islandmagee, and is seen as a big milestone in the recovery of the vulnerable seabirds in Northern Ireland. Two puffins were captured on camera coming out of a nesting burrow on grassy cliff ledges on the Isle of Muck this summer. The Isle of Muck nature reserve is not accessible to the public, and crossing the tidal tombolo when it becomes visible at low tide is extremely dangerous, Ulster Wildlife said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 12:02 UTC
Andy Farrell hits the refresh button hoping to breath new life into Ireland
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaks to the media ahead of the game against Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Whether it’s shown last week or this week, it will continue to be that way, because it’s the only way to be. Paddy McCarthy with Andy Farrell during an Ireland training session on Wednesday. “I think he’s got the bit between his teeth as far as what he learnt on that tour. It doesn’t always transfer but you’d rather it be that way, so that we can keep on pushing our own standards,” said Farrell.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 12:01 UTC
Does anyone believe Russia would respect Irish neutrality in a major war in Europe? – The Irish Times
Sooner or later, anyone who advocates helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression is called a warmonger. Europe and the US have had neither a clear strategy nor a clear definition of their goal in supporting Ukraine, Masala writes. If the war ends in Ukraine, Russia will have a stronger military than it did in 2022. [ Distance no protection from Russian aggression, Latvian politician warns IrelandOpens in new window ]Masala travels a great deal in Europe. “If there is a major war in Europe, there is no guarantee that Irish neutrality will be respected by the Russians,” Masala says.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 12:01 UTC
Give me a quiet quitter over a loud worker any day - there’s nothing worse
Quiet quitters are unfairly maligned in a way, because there’s another group who are way worse. Loud workers. It’s lazy and cliched to say these people only exist in middle management or consultancies or quangos, although these are the kind of natural habitats loud workers thrive in. I’ve seen loud workers though in almost all the weird and wonderful work environments I’ve been in over the years. In the old days there were only so many ways you could reorganise filing systems and fanny around with Post-it notes, but new tech has given loud workers endless ways to waste time.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 12:01 UTC
‘Let’s not over-react’: Al Gore says Donald Trump not a cause for panic
Al Gore, former US vice-president, described Trump as a modern-day King Canute. Photograph: Bennett Raglin/Getty ImagesTwenty years after he made the terrifying climate apocalypse documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, former US vice-president Al Gore is back with a new message: don’t panic. 'It’s unstoppable,' Mr Gore said. Al Gore pictured in 2006 when the film An Inconvenient Truth was released. Mr Gore said there were good young Democrats coming through the ranks and, at 77 years old, he didn’t sense a demand for another septuagenarian president.
Source:The Irish Times
November 14, 2025 11:35 UTC