Champions Tipperary lead the way with seven hurling All Stars for 2025
All-Ireland champions Tipperary lead the way with seven players selected on the PwC 2025 All Stars hurling team. This is the first year since 2017 that there is no Limerick inclusion on the All Star team. It is also another milestone for the Maher family, bringing to nine the total number of All Stars won as Ronan’s older brother Padraic claimed six during his Tipp career. The three nominees for Young Hurler of the Year are: Adam English (Limerick), Darragh McCarthy (Tipperary), Robert Doyle (Tipperary). All Star hurling team: Rhys Shelly (Tipperary); Robert Doyle (Tipperary), Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny), Seán O’Donoghue (Cork); Eoghan Connolly (Tipperary), Ronan Maher (Tipperary), Ciarán Joyce (Cork); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Jake Morris (Tipperary), Andrew Ormond (Tipperary), Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin), Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), John McGrath (Tipperary), Brian Hayes (Cork).
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:31 UTC
Ireland ranks near bottom in global workforce quality ranking
Young adults are a 'global generation' exposed to a wider world through technology and social media. Photograph: iStockIreland has been placed near the bottom of a global ranking of workforce quality compiled by recruitment firm Hays, with high costs and pressure on the availability of skilled workers impacting its position. Developed by advisory firm Oxford Economics, the Hays Global Talent Tracker ranks the Republic 33rd out of 35 of the world’s leading economies, behind European competitors like Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. Hays Ireland said that while the Republic ranked well in some pillars of the study – including talent innovation and participation – the ranking was dragged down by poor performances elsewhere. The economy’s ranking fell sharply within the pillars of talent value and talent market flexibility, the firm said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:29 UTC
The Irish Times view on the unemployment figures: youth jobless figure needs to be watched
The latest unemployment figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the Irish jobs market remains generally strong. Youth unemployment is traditionally higher and the EU average is just under 15 per cent. Nonetheless, the rise in youth unemployment here is a trend which needs to be watched. The increase in youth unemployment may also indicate general softness in areas of the market, despite labour shortages in others. The indications are that the jobs market remains broadly healthy, but this trend of rising youth unemployment does require careful monitoring.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:24 UTC
Daily Telegraph’s agony aunt faces a conundrum – a mother worried that her son is turning ‘Irish’
Photograph: Getty ImagesThere was an interesting problem on the Daily Telegraph’s agony aunt page the other day, in which a concerned mother in London worried that her teenage son was turning “Irish”. The mother herself was half Irish, on her father’s side, so the teenager was in a high-risk group for developing symptoms. I might also add in passing that “Polly Amory” would be an excellent name for an agony aunt. The Normans started it, becoming famously “more Irish than the Irish themselves” and launching the Eight Hundred Years of Impressionism. It can only have been to acknowledge overseas competition from the offspring of our emigrating monks and scholars that, for clarity, he had to be known as “Irish Irish John”, or “John, the Irishman from Ireland”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:19 UTC
Dublin drainage project will not be operational before 2032 ‘at best’, says Uisce Éireann
Photograph: Eric LukePlanning delays affecting the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, including a second legal challenge, mean it will now be “at best” six years before it becomes operational, Uisce Éireann has forecast. In a written statement to the committee Niall Gleeson, chief executive of Uisce Éireann, said that, having secured permission for the Dublin drainage project in July, it is “disappointing the decision is being challenged for a second time”. The drainage project, which is to include a new treatment plant in Clonshaugh that will serve up to 500,000 people, was identified as necessary more than a decade ago. “As a result of the planning delays experienced, at best, the project may be delivered and operational by 2032. Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann said it intends to submit a planning application before the end of the year for its controversial “once-in-a-generation” Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP).
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:08 UTC
Bank of Ireland failure to disclose loan sale in legal case ‘bizarre’, Supreme Court judge says
Bank of Ireland agreed the sale to Pepper Finance on December 4th, 2024, and the Supreme Court heard the case the following day. Bank of Ireland agreed the sale to Pepper Finance on December 4th, 2024, and the Supreme Court heard the case the following day. Bank of Ireland's conduct in case was 'unsatisfactory', says Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne. Ms Justice Dunne noted that nobody had told the Supreme Court of the deal at any point. He challenged these findings in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 13:30 UTC
Google’s Pixel Watch 4 review: best option for Android users not with Samsung
The latest addition to the range is the Pixel Watch 4. All you need is the Pixel Watch app, which is widely compatible with Android devices – Android Go aside – and it should all work smoothly. Although the Pixel Watch 4 keeps many of the same design features as the previous generation, there are some differences. The Pixel Watch 4 throws one curve ball though: it uses a different charger. Everything elseThe Pixel Watch 4 comes in two case sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and there is an option for an LTE version too.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 12:00 UTC
State’s underlying exchequer deficit widens to €4.2bn
The Department of Finance said tax receipts, the main source of exchequer revenue, rose 3.2 per cent on the year to €78.8 billion in the 10 months to October. Tax receipts, the main source of exchequer revenue, rose 3.2 per cent on the year to €78.8 billion. [ Exchequer revenue could decline over next 40 years under scenario in major new reportOpens in new window ]It said a fall-off in such receipts could lead to a decline in exchequer revenue over the next four decades, relative to the size of the economy. “Those projections, which I published on budget day, incorporated a substantial upward revision to revenues, mostly on corporation tax. The corporation tax figure for October alone was €1.13 billion, up 165 per cent on the year.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 12:00 UTC
Construction companies bought just a third of the land sold for housing last year
Individuals accounted for 46.5 per cent of the volume of residential land sold during the year, as well as for 11.3 per cent of the value. Furthermore, construction companies were the sellers for 11 per cent of the volume of residential land sold and 30.8 per cent of the value, while individuals were the sellers for 70.7 per cent of the volume and 40.2 per cent of the value. By way of comparison, the median price per acre of agricultural land in 2024 was €9,988. The total value of residential land sold amounted to €186.8 million, which was an increase of 84 per cent on the €101.5 million recorded in 2023. Land that was subject to the tax accounted for €128.8 million, or 69 per cent, of the land sold.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:58 UTC
Horse trainer alleges billionaire Luke Comer offered him bribe to take doping blame
Eugene Gleeson SC, instructed by solicitor Robbie Dore, for Mr Gorman, was granted permission to serve notice on the proceedings on Mr Comer and his horse training firms Brookville and Seattle Slew Ltd. Listen | 36:12It said Mr Comer had not directed or authorised this conduct. Mr Comer had sought “to bribe me such that he could seek to cynically exonerate himself”, he said. Mr Comer said that if Mr Gorman accepted responsibility he would provide him with a small yard to train horses. Mr Gorman’s solicitor sought to serve proceedings seeking the information on the defendants, including Mr Comer, who is resident in Monaco, and did so.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:57 UTC
US supreme court appears sceptical of legal basis for Trump tariffs
A protestor outside the US supreme court, which is hearing arguments on the legality of the Trump Administration's tariffs. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesUS supreme court justices on Wednesday appeared sceptical of Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose a series of tariffs in a closely watched hearing in Washington. The case was brought by groups of US businesses, who were joined by 12 US states, that argued they had been harmed by Mr Trump’s tariffs. Mr Trump has framed the case as existential. But other conservative members challenged Mr Trump’s use of IEEPA, which no other president has invoked to impose tariffs.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:54 UTC
Ireland ‘must not be seen as the easy place to get into’, says Minister
Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs, said migration would be a priority for the Irish presidency of the EU Council next year. Photograph: Alan BetsonGovernment policy should make sure that Ireland is not seen as excessively easy to get into for migrants and asylum seekers, according to Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs. The migration issue will be a priority for the Irish presidency of the EU Council, which begins in July 2026, he said. He added that “we definitely want to make sure that we’re not seen as the easy place to get into because that damages our credibility as well within the European Union”. Mr Byrne’s Spanish counterpart, Fernando Sampedro, also spoke at the event, highlighting the “shared priorities, the shared perspective and strong mutual understanding” between Ireland and Spain.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:50 UTC
Irish start-up’s affordable sensor could transform how we measure soil health
William Butterly, founder of Bionua: 'Soil health is the single most important element as we depend on it for so many things.' On the product side, it has developed a breakthrough sensor that measures soil health in real time at a fraction of the cost of traditional soil-monitoring methods. “The idea for the sensor came from a realisation that there was no way to monitor soil health and get verifiable data at an affordable cost,” Butterly says. This, in turn, gives an accurate measure of soil health. The company is now starting field trials for its soil monitor while applying for patents and looking to raise about €300,000 to fast-track the technology to market.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:37 UTC
Almost €150m spent on preparations for new National Maternity Hospital
The new National Maternity Hospital is to be built on the St Vincent’s hospital campus at Elm Park, Dublin. Photograph: Nick BradshawMore than €147 million has been spent so far on preparations for the planned new National Maternity Hospital in Dublin. [ National Maternity Hospital bill projected to reach 10 times original costOpens in new window ]Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt. Photograph: Dara Mac DonaillMr Watt said significant enabling works were required for the National Maternity Hospital project. The completion date is informed by the programme of works developed by the successful tenderers and will be fully confirmed by the PCSA process.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:36 UTC
Gavin Pepper will not pay legal costs in case taken against him by debt firm, judge rules
The proceedings became moot when Mr Pepper made the concessions in the terms of reliefs sought by Pepper Finance. Brian Conroy SC, appearing for Pepper Finance, said an order for costs should be made against Mr Pepper. This, Mr Justice Cregan said, does not necessarily mean Pepper Finance and Mr Wigglesworth are entitled to legal costs. He noted Mr Pepper gave the undertakings sought by Pepper Finance, something the court must have regard for. He noted that Mr Pepper later offered to pay €2,500 in costs, which Pepper Finance agreed to and, in turn, intended to donate the money to charity.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:34 UTC