The Irish Times view on investment fraud: just the latest online scam
Seemingly plausible clips featuring Irish or international figures – typically with a financial background – talking about a new investment opportunity. Garda figures show a 21 per cent increase in investment fraud in the last three months and the sums of money are significant. Investment scams totalled €31 million last year and the average loss in recent months has been €30,000 to €40,000, with some losing significantly more. While it may be like a game of “Whack-a Mole”, online platforms need to be pushed to do more to police this activity. The advice to those browsing investment options online is that if something seems too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 11:06 UTC
Glitch Raises €2 Million in Seed Round
Glitch, a Dublin, Ireland-based provider of an AI-powered digital advertising platform, has raised €2 million in Seed funding. InvestorsThe round was led by Elkstone, with participation from Gaingels, HBAN, and several European angel investors. Glitch Use of FundsThe company will use the funds to grow its commercial teams, support international expansion, and launch new product features. About GlitchFounded by Aisling Browne and Kingsley Kelly, Glitch is an Irish startup based in Dogpatch Labs, Dublin, that aims to simplify digital advertising for business-to-business marketers. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, Glitch empowers small marketing teams to run high-performing campaigns without the complexity of traditional ad management systems.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 10:05 UTC
Should I consider allowing my child to study abroad?
In 2024, more than 2,000 Irish students were studying in the Netherlands. There are almost 400 English-taught undergraduate degree programmes in the Netherlands, which is by far the most popular study destination for Irish students going abroad. In 202 4 , there were more than 2,000 Irish students studying in the Netherlands. In terms of overall popularity, Groningen tops the destination charts for Irish students. From a subject perspective, the most popular disciplines with Irish students in the Netherlands are psychology, business/economics and physiotherapy.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:58 UTC
Bus Éireann could face €20m hit over five years if key Expressway routes remain unchanged
State-owned transport company Bus Éireann would face a financial impact of more than €20 million on its balance sheet over five years if five routes, under review, were left unchanged, external consultants have advised. The Irish Times reported on Monday that a review was under way on the viability of Expressway routes operated by the company. The Expressway services are run on a fully commercial basis by the company and do not receive financial support from the exchequer. Informed sources said that while all Expressway routes were under review, a number of services in particular were being examined. In September 2020, Bus Éireann announced that it would discontinue Expressway services between Dublin and Cork, Galway, and Limerick.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:48 UTC
Australia are wounded and written off, which is exactly why Ireland must up their levels
Rob Valetini of Australia (centre) walks off the pitch after his team's defeat to Italy in Udine, Italy, last Saturday. That result makes Ireland warmer favourites while also setting them up for more of a fall at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night. Farrell will appreciate as much as anyone that, more often than not, Australian sides are at their most dangerous when wounded and written off. Back in 2003, when hosting the tournament, they were given little or no hope of beating a star-studded All Blacks side which had beaten them 50-21 in Stadium Australia in Sydney en route to a Tri Nations clean sweep. Ireland’s Bundee Aki scores a try against Australia at the Aviva Stadium three years ago.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:40 UTC
Why Ryanair is scrapping physical boarding passes, and what it means for you – The Irish Times
Ryanair says customers who want its official boarding pass can get one by accessing their booking on its website or app. According to Ryanair, moving to digital-only boarding passes – or DBPs as they are being called – will lower “airport costs and fares for all Ryanair passengers”. Once the online check-in is completed, a Digital Boarding Pass will appear automatically in the app on your phone. But what if I don’t have a smartphone and can’t access the Ryanair app? But could I not just pretend my phone had died and then get a boarding pass printed out?
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:38 UTC
Olympic boxing medal winner Aidan Walsh retires: ‘I didn’t enjoy it, that’s hard to say’
Aidan Walsh: 'Whenever you start winning those medals, there’s a lot of stress and anxiety and burn out that comes with it.' I didn’t enjoy it, that’s hard to say, but I’ll be open and honest.”At 28, Walsh is still in his boxing prime. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Ireland’s Aidan Walsh with Makan Traore of France. “And I wish I could give my medal to Michaela, she deserves that Olympic medal far more. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Ireland’s Aidan Walsh makes his way to the athlete exit.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:38 UTC
‘Life in Dublin was very chaotic. It was bad then and I’m sure it’s worse now’
“Ireland was everything I was looking for, but I’m not sure if I knew that. I just knew that I wanted to see it.”Barbara Vieira (27) moved to Dublin when she turned 19. It was bad then and I’m sure it’s worse now.” She is now based in Sligo. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienWhile she found life in Dublin chaotic, Vieira feels at home in the Irish countryside. “I think Ireland truly understands me better than Brazil.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:30 UTC
US Senate approves Bill to bring likely end to record government shutdown
After the vote, Senate majority leader John Thune thanked unpaid staff and Capitol police who stood near him on the floor. All other Democrats, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, voted against it. “We will not give up the fight,” Mr Schumer said, adding that Democrats have now “sounded the alarm” on healthcare. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had criticised Mr Schumer in March after his vote to keep the government open. But he praised the Senate Democratic leader on Monday and expressed support for his leadership throughout the shutdown.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 09:25 UTC
Survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools set to be offered State financial help – The Irish Times
Survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools are set to be offered financial assistance, priority access for social housing and a range of healthcare supports provided by the Government. [ Thousands of child abuse records kept in storage costing €80,000 a yearOpens in new window ]Survivors of industrial and reformatory schools abuse, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Mary Donovan on day 40 of their hunger strike outside the Dail. There would also be new health liaison officers specifically for industrial and reformatory school survivors. It is understood the Government’s proposals would also see local authorities being instructed that survivors of industrial and reformatory schools be prioritised for social housing needs. The Government is also understood to be looking at issuing an apology to those who were boarded out from industrial and reformatory schools.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 08:50 UTC
Owen Doyle: Outcry over Lood de Jager red card shows rugby chiefs need to take a stand
After a long discussion with his assistants, Australian referee Angus Gardner brandished a straight red card in the direction of Lood de Jager. The officials had decided that not only did the offence reach the yellow card threshold, but it also reached red. World Rugby clarified in August that the straight red card would be applicable for acts that are “highly dangerous and intentional”. It can take the shape of a clear, unequivocal statement that it was correct not to go to the bunker – that the issuing of a red card was appropriate. Shrugging off the red card, the Springboks got down to business and demonstrated that the loss of a player can be overcome.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 07:45 UTC
Rassie Erasmus’s coaching takes South Africa to a higher level
To say South Africa exploded a few cosy theories would be the understatement of the rugby year. So much for the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Springboks. If anything, ‘Rassie’ Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are starting to make everyone else look laissez-faire by comparison. If South Africa do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be no doubt whatsoever. South Africa head coach Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus reacts during Saturday's Test against France in Paris.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 07:11 UTC
European shares soar on hopes of end to US government shutdown
Guinness owner Diageo saw is shares rally as the group announced a new CEO. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/BloombergEuropean shares rose on Monday as investors globally cheered signs that the record-long US government shutdown could soon come to an end. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up 1.4 per cent at 572.82 points, logging its best day in nearly three weeks. Shares in Dalata Hotel Group ceased trading on the Dublin Stock Exchange today after its €1.4 billion sale to Scandinavian investors has completed. Shares of health insurers dropped after the US Senate struck a deal to end the 40-day federal shutdown without extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, setting up a December vote on the issue instead.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 04:35 UTC
Irish emigration has changed. Now it’s claiming my friends in their 40s – The Irish Times
My friends are moving to Australia, which, as Suzy put it, in geographical terms is the same as moving to space. “What’s hardest,” Suzy said, staring into one of the fishbowl gin and tonics we were drinking, “is that your friendships won’t grow from here. There are the obvious reasons – children, work, fatigue – but there’s also something subtler: a collective retreat from effort. I sometimes wonder if part of what we call friendship fatigue is really exhaustion with the work real closeness takes. Real friendship, like any long relationship, needs a tolerance for discomfort.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 03:48 UTC
US president Donald Trump meets Syrian leader al-Sharaa at White House
The United States said on Monday it was partly suspending enforcement of some of its toughest sanctions on Syria for another 180 days as its president Donald Trump hosted Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House for landmark talks. In an unusually low-key welcome, Mr Sharaa arrived without the fanfare usually given to visiting foreign dignitaries. He entered through a side door instead of through the West Wing main door where cameras often capture Mr Trump greeting VIPs. US President Donald Trump with President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May. But even though Mr Trump has already removed many sanctions on Syria, a major stumbling block remains – the 2019 Caesar sanctions, considered the strongest measures.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 03:23 UTC