Lucy Cafe review: Flavours of Ukraine in Dublin 8, shaped by loss, love and the hands of nonnas
It could sound sentimental, until you scroll through Lucy Cafe’s Instagram and see three Ukrainian grandmothers folding dumplings and shaping pancakes at a high counter on Upper Clanbrassil Street. Photograph: Nick BradshawBorscht with pampushka (soup). Photograph: Nick BradshawCheesy spinach varenyky (dumplings). Photograph: Nick BradshawSyrnyk (cheesy pancakes with craft cherry sauce). Photograph: Nick BradshawLucy Cafe, 6 Clanbrassil Street Upper, Dublin.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 11:00 UTC
Number of renters seeking help from housing charity rises more than 20% in a year
The number of renters at risk of homelessness and seeking help from housing charity Threshold has jumped by more than 20 per cent since last year, according to its latest report. While most of the cases are continuing, 97 households have been unable to secure alternative accommodation. Tenancy termination continued to be the top issue for renters contacting the charity, accounting for 37 per cent of queries. In the same period, the charity says it intervened to keep 872 households in their homes or supported them to secure alternative housing. In one example, the charity highlighted the case of a UK student who failed to secure private rental accommodation before her arrival in Dublin due to “fierce competition”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 10:33 UTC
Pay review in major hospitals to follow Limerick CEO salary disclosure
The examination of voluntary hospital salaries comes amid escalating tensions between the Limerick hospital and the HSE. Illustration: Paul ScottThe Health Service Executive (HSE) is examining salaries in all voluntary hospitals around the State after it emerged a Limerick hospital has been paying its chief executive a higher salary than her pay band stipulates. In August, The Irish Times reported that the salary of Emer Martin, chief executive of the St John’s Hospital in Limerick, was increased to that of a higher pay band – breaching the consolidated public pay scales. The HSE said the voluntary hospital is considered H2, under which chief executives can earn between €99,829 and €106,866. “Compliance with public sector pay policy is a clearly defined condition within the Service Level Agreements between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and each voluntary hospital.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 10:32 UTC
All bets are off as gambling virus runs rampant through US sports
Another current player is charged with supplying inside information about injuries to assist those betting huge sums on basketball matches. Much like ESPN trying to retain credibility on these matters after trousering $2 billion for allowing its brand to be used for gambling, it was too little too late. They can’t express indignation now when they and those who run the league long ago sold their souls to gambling corporations. Seven years have passed since the US supreme court legalised sports gambling and changed all that. There was also a helpful link where fans were encouraged to bet that tally on FanDuel, the official gambling partner of the club.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 10:31 UTC
Joy for Dublin special school after garden transformed into autism-friendly space
Denis O'Reilly, director of Difference Days, with brothers Rory and Dylan O'Connor and their mother Yvonne Nolan at Saplings Special School, Rathfarnham. Photograph: Bryan Meade/The Irish TimesParent Yvonne Nolan says she “knows the difference” the work of the Difference Days organisation has made for students at Saplings Special School in Rathfarnham, Dublin. It just feels very surreal that it’s happening.”On the day, they created a zen den – a free-standing multi-use sensory room – raised beds and accessible pathways in the school’s garden. Roman Przewoznik, originally from Poland, has been principal of Saplings School for the past three years after joining the school 10 years ago. Some elements, such as the zen den, were funded by SMBC Aviation Capital.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 10:31 UTC
Homebuilders ‘extremely concerned’ about supply of housing going forward
Homebuilders are “extremely concerned” about the supply of housing going forward due to “significant delays” in many of the housing supply determinants, the Oireachtas has heard. Photograph: iStockHome builders are “extremely concerned” about the supply of housing in the future due to “significant delays” in many of the housing supply determinants, the Oireachtas has heard. CIF chief executive Andrew Brownlee said the supply of zoned land was the issue he was “especially concerned about”. “Unless we zone and service more land housing supply will not increase.”He said: “Some local authorities have yet to commence the process of varying their development plans and increase the amount of land zoned for housing. “For example, create exemptions for larger water and wastewater infrastructure projects by classifying them as a strategic infrastructure development,” he said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 09:45 UTC
Immigration debate: Dáil hears ‘Ireland of the welcomes’ in danger of being lost forever
The Minister was speaking in a Dáil debate on international protection on Wednesday, during which he outlined measures being taken to deal with asylum applications within 12 weeks. The Minister pointed to immigration figures as he outlined measures to deal with asylum applications. From 2022 to 2024, in the region of 44,000 to 45,000 people came to Ireland, claiming international protection, he said. Last year, he continued, they delivered 14,000 first decisions on asylum applications, compared to 8,500 in 2023. Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy said the international protection system was dysfunctional.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 23:28 UTC
RTÉ confirms move to wind down inhouse documentary unit
Photograph: CollinsRTÉ is set to wind down its in-house television documentary unit as it continues to find cost savings after the financial and governance crisis that shook the national broadcaster in 2023. “We have spoken to the in-house documentary team about some changes to how we will produce documentaries for RTÉ television and RTÉ Player next year,” the spokesman said. “RTE’s flagship TV documentary unit is just the latest to be earmarked for complete closure. This follows the closure of RTE’s religion department, as well as plans to hand both Fair City and The Late Late Show over to the private, for-profit sector. In May, RTÉ announced plans to switch production of some religious programming, specifically “Christian worship content”, to outside producers.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 23:11 UTC
Ireland’s attack not far from firing despite All Blacks setback, says Sexton
Back in the grim Covid-affected echo chambers of 2021, Johnny Sexton adamantly maintained that Ireland’s attack would click despite opening Six Nations defeats against Wales and France. Ireland’s kicking game is Sexton’s primary remit, and described their kicking efforts as excellent during the 20-minute spell when they were reduced to 14. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho“It’s a little bit of both, really,” said Sexton. A little bit unlucky on one, a little bit unlucky on another, and maybe on another one we could have played the edge instead,” said Sexton. Did we do it a little bit too much on Saturday?
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 23:06 UTC
Co Wexford man sues over alleged injuries sustained in arrest following car chase
It is Mr Bowe’s case that, arising from injuries allegedly sustained in the incident, he was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, causing him to suffer with fatigue, tremors and other symptoms. Mr Bowe is seeking damages for the alleged injuries suffered. A civil trial into Mr Bowe’s case opened this week before Mr Justice Micheál O’Higgins and a jury at the High Court. After some time – about 10 and 15 minutes, said Mr Bowe’s side – Mr Bowe said he stopped his car and proceeded to run through a field. On seeing the flashlights of pursuing gardaí, Mr Bowe said he put his hands up, remained on his knees, and said “you have me”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 23:02 UTC
Temporary supports for new Ukrainian college students to end for next academic year
There were 1,255 Ukrainian refugees studying in Ireland’s universities during the last academic year and some 600 more in further education courses. Previously tuition fees were paid for full-time Ukrainian students through the Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme (TTFSS). This saw the applicable EU tuition fee for the student paid to the Ukrainian student’s third-level institution. Previously all Ukrainian students were entitled to a financial stipend. Ukrainian students who began their third level education in previous years and have continued their studies from September continue to have their fees covered under the Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme this year.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 22:54 UTC
Hamas armed wing says it will hand over body of hostage as airstrikes continue in Gaza
Photograph: Mohammed Saber/EPAThe armed wing of Hamas said it would hand over the body of a hostage at 7pm on Wednesday, while the Israeli military said it had killed two Palestinians who had approached an area it occupied in a “threatening” way. The Israeli military was not able to immediately clarify to Reuters whether the incidents were related. Hamas turned over all 20 living hostages held in Gaza in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian convicts and wartime detainees held in Israel. Hamas has so far returned 21 of the 28 bodies of hostages buried in Gaza. In return, Israel handed over 285 bodies of Palestinians had killed since the war began in October 2023, Gaza health authorities said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 22:05 UTC
M&S takes €154m profit hit from cyber attack
M&S has said it believes DragonForce, a group of largely Russian cyber criminals, was behind the attack. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA WireMarks and Spencer has said it will take a £136 million (€154 million) hit to its annual profits from a cyber attack that caused havoc with the UK high street retailer’s online sales earlier this year. The attack caused a 55 per cent fall in first-half profits to £184.1 million, down from £413.1 million a year earlier. However, chief executive Stuart Machin said he expected profits in the second half to rebound “to be at least in line with last year”. Growth in food sales, its largest business by revenue, offset a decline in fashion and home and beauty, which was hard hit by the cyber attack.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 21:02 UTC
Four-year-old made sit on bedroom floor in days before death, murder trial hears
Ms Rowland said the prosecution intends to prove that there were a series of assaults on the boy that escalated on March 13th. Ms Rowland told the jury that the deceased’s mother and father had been in a relationship for some years, but split up and began new relationships. She told gardaí that he was a “bold, cheeky child” who would be put on the bold step. When the boy was grounded, the accused told gardaí, he was not allowed to leave his room and could not sit on his bed but had to sit on the floor. He remained grounded in his room for the following three days even though there were two different family celebrations with other family members visiting over those days, Ms Rowland said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 20:39 UTC
Norway suspends $2.1tn oil fund’s ethics rules to avoid selling Big Tech stakes
Norway's finance minister Jens Stoltenberg said that Norway has suspended its ethical investing rules to avoid its $2.1tn oil fund being forced to sell out of Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet due to their work for the Israeli government. Norway’s centre-left government pushed an urgent proposal through parliament on Tuesday, putting the work of the independent ethics council on hold. Mr Stoltenberg said the ethics council had planned soon to look into technology companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google owner Alphabet, as well as those on a UN blacklist issued in July. The existing arrangement has involved the oil fund’s ethics council giving recommendations on whether to sell out of a specific company to Norway’s central bank, which houses the fund and takes the final decision on whether to divest. But we need to handle them better than we have done so far in the ethical guidelines.”The fund’s ethics council welcomed the review, adding that it had noted the “political disagreement” about companies connected to Israel and Gaza.
Source:The Irish Times
November 05, 2025 20:36 UTC